There will be three minutes of added time to be played.
89'
This could prove costly for Lyon! Messi attempts another run on goal, but is felled by Mendy in promising free-kick territory just outside Les Gones’ penalty area! Nervous times for Lyon supporters as Messi stands over the ball.
The wall stands tall though, and Messi’s second effort bounces clear once more before Lyon clear! The hosts hold on as we approach injury time!
88'
Nélson Semedo gets yellow.
Semedo takes out Aouar, forcing referee Cakir to equal the card count between the two sides.
87'
The resulting set-piece falls towards the path of the Blaugrana talisman, who weaves his way to space before having a pop at goal that was always going wide, despite Suarez’s efforts to get his head on the shot at the far post!
84'
Pape Cheikh enters the game and replaces T. Ndombélé.
NDombele, whose combative midfield display earns him a standing ovation from the home faithful, comes off for Cheikh in Genesio's last change of the match.
83'
Another pass by Rakitic is cut out by a Lyon centre-back - this time, an acrobatic interception by Denayer stops any lingering Blaugrana threat, and the ball goes out of play.
81'
A. Vidal enters the game and replaces Sergi Roberto.
That card was Roberto's last contribution of the game, as Vidal is brought on to bring some attacking impetus to a Barca midfield stifled by some brilliant defending by their hosts.
80'
Sergi Roberto gets yellow.
Roberto fouls Depay, earning himself a booking and Barca's first of the match.
Marcelo makes a brilliant interception, cutting out Rakitic’s pass towards Suarez just as the forward was about to turn away from the Lyon skipper! Backs-to-the-wall defending from Les Gones expected in these final 10 minutes, the bus firmly parked to stop the constant wave of Blaugrana shirts.
77'
Barca are getting closer and closer to breaking the deadlock! Mendy carelessly gives the ball away to Suarez who floats in a lovely ball towards Messi only for Dubois to close the Argentina forward down and prevent any further threats! However, Messi is able to play in Suarez, who cuts it back to the onrushing Alba whose wild effort goes high and wide of Lopes’ goal!
Minute
Description
76'
M. Cornet enters the game and replaces M. Terrier.
Terrier is hooked off as Genesio brings on Cornet for his second change of the game.
72'
Play stops as Terrier goes down, seemingly due to cramp. He quickly gets back up though, and Lopes immediately takes the goal kick.
69'
L. Tousart enters the game and replaces B. Traoré.
Genesio also makes his first substitution of the match, taking Traore off and replacing him with Tousart as he looks to tighten things up in midfield.
67'
Philippe Coutinho enters the game and replaces O. Dembélé.
Valverde makes the first change of the match, bringing Coutinho on to replace Ousmane Dembele whose second half didn’t match the display of the first.
61'
Lyon almost have another opportunity on goal as Moussa Dembele takes the ball past Lenglet, but his touch is too heavy and Ter Stegen safely gathers it.
60'
The home crowd are on their feet as Depay runs at a scrambling Pique, and the Lyon forward does well to go past the centre-back only for his low cross to be intercepted by Ter Stegen!
56'
Denayer does brilliantly to track Suarez’s movements as the Uruguay forward tries to go through on goal, and the latter is put off long enough for Lyon skipper to sweep up the danger and clear the ball away. The Lyon centre-back pairing have performed admirably considering the front three they are up against.
54'
Lenglet earns the ire of the home fans once again after tripping Depay following a tussle for the ball. He escapes a booking this time, but is on referee Cakir’s watchlist for the remainder of the game.
49'
Denayer, who has had an excellent game so far, manages to sweep up any threat from Messi after the latter takes a poor touch following a Rakitic pass. The loose ball goes as far out as the Croatia playmaker, but his shot is blocked and Lyon clear.
47'
Depay does very well to win a throw-in deep in Barca’s half after putting Pique in an awkward position as the centre-back tried to play the ball. However, the Blaugrana regain possession and are swarming their opponents’ half with attacking intent.
46'
No changes to either side at the interval, although Genesio has shifted tactics and is now lining up his charges in a 4-4-2, moving Depay up top to partner Moussa Dembele while Traore and Terrier occupy the wide positions in midfield.
Lyon get play restarted as the second half gets underway!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: LYON 0-0 BARCELONA
44'
What a vital touch by Denayer there! Without the Lyon centre-back’s intervention, Alba’s brilliant pass would have sent Messi clear on goal with only Lopes to beat!
42'
Ousmane Dembele has another pop at goal after cutting in from the left once again, only for his shot to go wide of Lopes’ goal.
39'
To the jeers of the home faithful, Lenglet wins a free-kick in the centre circle despite looking to have fouled Depay as the latter was about to embark on a run towards the Barca half.
38'
Suarez is penalised for an aerial challenge on Lopes following a long spell of tiki-taka in the Lyon half, the Uruguay forward having attempted to get on the end of a lofted Ousmane Dembele ball after being put through superbly by Messi.
36'
Suarez manages to win the ball off the Lyon defence and tries to chip Lopes with an ambitious lob that the Lyon keeper easily catches.
34'
Messi sends the ball in the box, but the opportunity ends with a Lenglet header that flies high over the bar.
33'
L. Dubois gets yellow.
Dubois becomes the second Lyon player booked by Cakir following an unnecessary barge on Suarez near the touchline.
30'
Pique is forced to make an excellent last-ditch challenge to deny Moussa Dembele in the box after Depay’s pass managed to slip through to the path of the Lyon forward! Nothing comes of the subsequent corner though.
29'
Roberto is given the freedom of the Groupama as he runs towards the Lyon penalty area unchallenged, but his pass towards Semedo is poor and intercepted. However, Messi is able to get a shot through which forces another Barca corner, but the home defence capably deal with the danger.
23'
Roberto plays in a great ball towards the onrushing Semedo, who manages to force a corner off Mendy. Messi’s set-piece only goes as far out as Mendy, who heads the ball away only for Barca to regain possession in the Lyon half.
21'
Suarez attempts to run in on goal despite the sea of white shirts in front of him, but only ends up fouling Denayer after felling the Lyon centre-back in the home side’s penalty area.
14'
Depay has his pocket picked by Messi, who goes on another one of his runs down the middle only for his shot to be blocked by Denayer despite Suarez being in a better position!
11'
NDombele trips Ousmane Dembele out on the wing, conceding a free-kick in the process. Messi sends one in the box and the delivery is cleared only as far out as the recipient of the foul, whose effort is high and over the bar.
7'
It’s a fast start at the Groupama, as Ousmane Dembele forces a corner for Barca after more penetrative play from the winger. The set-piece is played short to Messi, but nothing comes of it and Lyon get the goal kick.
4'
However, Messi’s lofted effort sails harmlessly over the bar as the Lyon faithful breathe a sigh of relief.
3'
H. Aouar gets yellow.
Cakir has no choice to book Aouar following his foul on Messi as the latter was through on goal after taking advantage of some sloppy play from the Lyon midfielder. Barca now have a free-kick in dangerous territory with Suarez and Messi standing over the ball.
2'
Busquets concedes the first foul of the match, tripping Aouar as the Lyon midfielder tried to play his way out of possession. The home side are struggling to get the ball out of their own half in these opening minutes.
1'
The hosts are decked out in all-white with their distinctive red stripe across the shoulders, while the visitors are sporting their fluorescent yellow away kit.
Referee Cuneyt Cakir blows his whistle, and Barcelona get us underway at the Groupama!
Ousmane Dembele snatches at his shot after bursting down the left wing, dragging his chance wide as Barca create the first opportunity on goal.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of this Champions League round-of-16 first-leg between Lyon and Barcelona at the Groupama Stadium!
This may come as a surprise to many given their historical pedigree, but this is the first time in seven seasons that Lyon have reached the knockout rounds of the Champions League. While Bruno Genesio’s charges head into this fixture as the underdogs, they have only lost one of their last 13 on home turf in European competition, and come into this game on the back of six wins in their last seven in all competitions. However, they will have to play this first-leg without their talisman Nabil Fekir, whose one-match suspension is a huge blow to Les Gones.
While this makes it the 15th straight season that Barcelona have made the knockout rounds of the Champions League, they haven’t won the competition since 2015 and Ernesto Valverde’s men will be chomping at the bit to break Real Madrid’s streak of three tournament wins in a row. Despite going into the match as favourites also having never been beaten by their hosts, the Blaugrana are without a win in their last five knockout games away from the Camp Nou, and must remain vigilant of the threat posed by their dangerous opponents.
And without further ado, let’s take a look at how both sides line up, starting with the hosts.
BARCELONA XI (4-3-3): Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic; Lionel Messi (c), Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele.
SUBSTITUTES: Mathieu Gorgelin, Marcal, Oumar Solet, Kenny Tete, Pape Cheikh, Lucas Tousart, Maxwel Cornet.
LYON XI (4-2-3-1): Anthony Lopes; Leo Dubois, Marcelo (c), Jason Denayer, Ferland Mendy; Tanguy NDombele, Houssem Aouar; Bertrand Traore, Memphis Depay, Martin Terrier; Moussa Dembele.
The players are out and kick-off is drawing near as the Champions League anthem blares around the Groupama.
With the first-leg still at a goalless stalemate, Genesio will want to keep things tight at the back while looking to use the pace and power of their forwards to trouble a Blaugrana defence that isn’t looking too formidable in such hostile conditions. As for Barca, Valverde will want to take a lead back to the Camp Nou, so an away goal will be the main priority for the next 45 minutes.
And that wraps up our coverage. We hope you enjoyed our commentary, and until next time, goodbye!
With the second-leg not scheduled to play until the 13th of March, both sides have plenty of domestic action to contend with, each having four weeks of football to play before they lock horns with each other once more. Genesio’s Lyon will look to continue their fine form in France as they head southwards to play Monaco on Sunday, while Valverde’s Barca aim to vanquish any lingering threats to their title from fourth-placed Sevilla at their turf a day beforehand.
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