Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP)

A shooting star in an overcast sky. Against Cristiano Ronaldo's Juventus, Lyon vows to light up a gloomy season, but its irregularity and fears around the coronavirus prevent it from dreaming too much, Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in the eighth leg of the Champions League.

Rudi Garcia's team may remain in the running in four competitions, but the Groupama Stadium is still waiting for an opportunity to roar. But despite the opponent's pedigree, the atmosphere is already sealed.

The epidemic of the new coronavirus, which rages in the North of Italy, casts a shadow over the meeting, where nearly 3,000 supporters, from all over the Boot, are expected in the sold-out enclosure.

While Juventus will play in camera its next match on Sunday against Inter to avoid any risk of spread, Wednesday's match is kept in "its initial configuration", according to an OL press release published Tuesday- midday.

But the mayors (LR) of Décines-Charpieu, where the stadium is located, and of the neighboring town of Meyzieu raised their voices to ask for a ban on the arrival of transalpine tifosi, "in the name of the precautionary principle, and also prevention of any disturbance to public order ".

"We are focused on the field and not on anything else. We let our leaders manage health problems with the coronavirus," said Garcia, already struggling with a difficult sports atmosphere.

- After Messi, Ronaldo -

The last European evening in Lyon in the fall, spoiled by clashes between players and ultras despite qualifying against Leipzig (2-2), embodied the paradox of a club torn between its sad seventh place in Ligue 1 and its course flawless in Cups, the best for eight years.

It takes Juventus, with its stars Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala or Gonzalo Higuain, and its world champion Blaise Matuidi, to rally everyone behind a common goal.

"We will be at home, the stadium will be full and we will have the support of our public. Why not create the feat?" Summarized goalkeeper Anthony Lopes in an interview with AFP.

But it's unclear whether the 60,000 spectators will get their money's worth. Lyon advance without certainty, so that a 0-0, like the one obtained against FC Barcelona by Lionel Messi last season at this stage of the competition, will seem like a good result.

First there is a historic ceiling: six of the last seven Lyon appearances in 8th ended in elimination, the only exception dating from 2010 (semi-finals).

- No anti-Ronaldo plan -

And this season, Lyon seemed to lack air when it came to climbing. The slap received against Paris SG (4-2) in early February confirmed the weakness of a defense lacking benchmarks, and an orphan attack from Memphis Depay, his best goal scorer in C1 (5 goals), injured .

The ambitious Juve is logically favorite, especially since she has, with Ronaldo, five-time winner of the competition, the ultimate guide in the Champions League. The Portuguese, far from being reached by the age limit (35), has had his most prolific season (25 goals) since his arrival in Piedmont in the summer of 2018.

"We don't have an anti-Ronaldo plan. We have to solve the problems collectively," said Garcia.

The Portuguese, as usual, will focus all eyes. But Lyon could well adapt to a secondary role in the blockbuster "CR7".

Without the pressure of the classification which prohibits any missteps in Ligue 1, the young Houssem Aouar and Moussa Dembélé are expected. The promising Rayan Cherki (16) could also put stars in the eyes of the public, enamored by the talent of the latest prodigy from the formation of "Gones". Enough to dream?

© 2020 AFP