LYON (AFP) - Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde shrugged off his team's struggles in front of goal after they were held to a 0-0 draw in Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday (Feb 19).
The Spanish side had most of the chances at the Groupama Stadium, with Luis Suarez firing just wide in the second half, although it was Lyon who came the closest when Martin Terrier hit the bar early on.
Lionel Messi and Co. were once again left frustrated on the road at the business end of the competition, and have now gone six away matches without winning in the Champions League knockout rounds, scoring just a single goal in that time. It is a run that goes back three years.
Desperate to end Real Madrid's recent European dominance, Barca must now finish the job when the teams meet again at the Camp Nou on March 13, but Lyon remain in the tie.
Barcelona's form needs to improve between now and then, though - they have drawn four of their last five matches in all, and have scored just once, from a penalty, in their last three outings.
"We played good football, but you have to hit the target as well, and we didn't," Valverde said.
"We are on the right road, though, and the tie is still up in the air. We will try to win it in front of our fans.
"I am not happy with the result, but I am happy with the performance and with what we created.
"We didn't score, but that is how it is. It is not easy to win away from home in the Champions League."
The visitors - who started with Sergi Roberto in midfield rather than the out-of-form Philippe Coutinho - had good reason to be wary of their hosts, who have excelled in big games this season.
Bruno Genesio's team had taken four points from a possible six against Manchester City in the group stage and recently won at home to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
They are still unbeaten in Europe this season, although this was their sixth consecutive draw.
"It's a satisfying result because it leaves us with a chance for the second leg, and we didn't concede. If we can score at the Camp Nou we'll have a chance of going through," said Genesio.
He admitted that he had hoped for an even better performance, but Lyon were missing their World Cup-winning captain Nabil Fekir due to suspension here.
It was the 21-year-old Terrier who surprisingly started in his place, and he delivered the most exciting moment of the first half for the crowd of almost 58,000 with a thunderous strike from 20 metres out in the ninth minute that was tipped onto the bar by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The same player later shot over at the end of a fantastic move, while Houssem Aouar had earlier been denied by the goalkeeper, but it was Barcelona who enjoyed the longer spells of possession.
Ousmane Dembele - one of two Frenchmen in the away line-up - came closest for them in the first half, although their best chances came after he had been replaced by Coutinho midway through the second period.
Suarez came within inches of breaking the deadlock 20 minutes from time, firing narrowly wide from Jordi Alba's cutback. He has now gone 16 away matches without scoring in the competition.
Coutinho had a powerful shot beaten away by Anthony Lopes, with the Lyon goalkeeper also frustrating Messi and Sergio Busquets as Barcelona dominated but departed without a potentially precious away goal.
"It is a little bit of a disappointment, but there is still the second leg to come and we hope to do better," said defender Clement Lenglet.
At least they extended their unbeaten record against Lyon to seven matches, but there remains hope for the French club ahead of the return.
The £3.5million Spurs paid Burnley for Kieran Trippier back in 2015 has proved to be an absolute steal. While the 28-year-old had to initially bide his time on the sidelines following his move to White Hart Lane, Trippier is now first choice for club and country.
Jordan Henderson is adamant Liverpool head into Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final, first-leg showdown with Chelsea brimming with the confidence and belief they can take a step closer to Wembley. The Reds welcome the Londoners to Anfield on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run in all
Tottenham 0-1 West Ham: Michail Antonio hits winner as Mauricio Pochettino's side lose for the first time in their new stadium and prepare for Champions League semi-final with narrow defeat
West Ham's Michail Antonio inflicts Spurs' first defeat at
Football: Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran ease past Oman into
Football: Arsenal inflict first domestic defeat on Solskjaer to surge into top four. Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring their second goal.
Arsenal Inflict First Domestic Defeat On Solskjaer To Surge
Sandal-throwing UAE fans mars Qatar's crushing win. 29 Jan 2019 - 19:24. Qatar punished unwelcoming hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a politically charged clash marred by disgraceful crowd
Hostile crowd awaits Qatar in Asian Cup semi-final against
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours Premier League / 13 January 2019, 12:40pm / Chelsea's Willian has said he is staying at the club amid speculation he may leave.
Willian eager to stay at Chelsea despite exit rumours
Spurs are back at this stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2011 when they were beaten by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. Pochettino wants Tottenham to be 'brave and
Pochettino wants Tottenham to be 'brave and aggressive
'We can score at Barca' Barcelona striker Luis Suarez celebrating with Lionel Messi (left) and Arthur after an own goal by Luke Shaw gave them a 1-0 first-leg win in their Champions League quarter
Solskjaer: We Can Score At Barca - PredictionBoard
(FILE) Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino controls the ball throughout a soccer match in Liverpool, north-west England on March 6, 2018. PAUL ELLIS / AFP Jurgen Klopp revealed Roberto Firmino has suffered a torn groin muscle after Liverpool powered again to the highest of the Premier League with a 5-Zero rout of Huddersfield on …
9 Nigerians Arrested In US For $3.5m Fraud - Latest News
United were awarded a penalty in the 17th minute after Robert Snodgrass brought Juan Mata down with a clumsy challenge just inside the box. Paul Pogba struck the spot-kick down the middle and in
Paul Pogba urged to quit 'pathetic' penalty run-up after
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola just as delighted with defence as attack after Burnley rout. It is now five games, and more than 500 minutes, since City conceded a league goal
Pep Guardiola names two simple ways Man City can STILL
Why Tottenham's surprise Champions League progress means Pochettino's project is at risk Chairman Daniel Levy is determined to put Spurs among Europe's elite as evidenced by the
Pochettino reveals how Spurs must progress to the next stage
New chapter for Tottenham as stadium hosts first game which leads to the stadium, for the first of two test events. "I remember the feeling when we played our last game there, it was
Football: New chapter for Tottenham as stadium hosts first
Barcelona are 12 points clear at the top of La Liga. (Source: Reuters) Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with four games to play.
Football: Barcelona on verge of La Liga title after beating
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen