• 

LYON, France, Feb 27 – Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank as a Lucas Tousart goal handed Lyon a surprise 1-0 win over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in France on Wednesday.

Midfielder Tousart netted from close range in the 31st minute to give Lyon a lead to defend when they head to Turin for the return on March 17.

The goal came with Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt off the field receiving treatment, but it was just reward for an excellent first-half performance by a Lyon side enduring a mediocre campaign in Ligue 1.

They then survived late Juventus pressure to claim their finest European result since defeating Manchester City in last season’s group stage.

Maurizio Sarri’s side have genuine ambitions of winning a trophy that has evaded Juventus for almost a quarter of a century now, but they could not claim a precious away goal here, with Paulo Dybala seeing a late effort disallowed.

This match went ahead in front of a full house at the Groupama Stadium, including around 3,000 Juventus supporters who were allowed to attend despite calls from some French politicians to block their access amid fears about the spread of the coronavirus, with a significant number of cases having been recorded in northern Italy.

Those fans, and the Juve squad, would have crossed the Alps with confidence. The Serie A leaders came into this tie as overwhelming favourites against a Lyon team struggling domestically and looking like possibly the weakest team left in the competition.

The visitors’ attack was led by a Ronaldo in fine shape, with the 35-year-old having scored in all nine appearances in 2020. He had netted 19 times since the beginning of December.

He and his club — who have lost five Champions League finals since last lifting the trophy in 1996 — are in a hurry to succeed in this competition.

They might have hurried into an early lead here, with a hanging Ronaldo cross in the fourth minute, aimed at Juan Cuadrado at the far post, almost dropping under the bar and in.

Lyon’s home form has been especially poor this season. However, bidding to win a Champions League knockout tie for the first time in a decade, they began to gain the upper hand.

With France international Leo Dubois back after injury and new signing Bruno Guimaraes anchoring the midfield, they looked more accomplished than they have for some time.

– Juve saved by woodwork –

Karl Toko-Ekambi, another January signing, headed off the bar from a Houssem Aouar corner midway through the first half. It was a warning to Juve of what was to come.

Sarri’s team found themselves temporarily down to 10 men as De Ligt was left stricken, blood streaming from a head wound, following a collision in the Lyon area.

With the young Dutchman off, Lyon pounced. Aouar was the creator with an incursion into the box from the left before he teed up Tousart to score from six yards.

With De Ligt back on, his head heavily bandaged, Lyon continued to threaten, Toko-Ekambi twice firing just off target.

Juventus sent on Gonzalo Higuain and Aaron Ramsey midway through the second half and they began to push Lyon back.

Nevertheless, they struggled to create clear chances, with Ronaldo rarely looking like adding to his recent goals tally and left frustrated when he had a hopeful late penalty appeal waved away.

Higuain should have done better from close range late on before Dybala was denied by the offside flag, and the Turin giants will have to turn the tie around in three weeks.

However, they can look to what happened at the same stage a year ago for inspiration — on that occasion they needed to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Atletico Madrid, and a Ronaldo hat-trick did the job in the second leg at home.

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

u2018Commanderu2019 Okoth through to Tokyo Olympics

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Tousart gives Lyon edge against below-par Ronaldo and Juventusrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Jesus, Bruyne give Man City comeback win at Real Madridrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Ireland vs Italy Six Nations tie postponed over coronavirusrn

rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn 1 hour ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Prize money for Safari Golf tour increasedrn

rn rn Golfrn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Man City register appeal against European banrn

rn rn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Olympics on, organisers say, as virus hits Japan eventsrn

rn rn rn rn rn 7 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn

• SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
• Wanyama, Samatta teammates at Aston Villa? by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 u2013 Aston Villa has emerged as…
• Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve…
• Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
• Lavatsa makes Gor return as window shuts by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 u2013 Edwin Lavatsa has marked a…

rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Tousart gives Lyon edge against below-par Ronaldo and Juventus

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Jesus, Bruyne give Man City comeback win at Real Madrid

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 27th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ireland vs Italy Six Nations tie postponed over coronavirus

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Prize money for Safari Golf tour increased

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Man City register appeal against European ban

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL ARSENAL FINISH TOP FOUR IN 2019/20 EPL SEASON?

ntt
• NO
ntt
• YES
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Olympics on, organisers say, as virus hits Japan events

rn rn rn rn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

LeBron outguns Zion as Lakers clip Pelicans

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Virus forces Japan Davis Cup tie behind closed doors

rn rn rn Gamern rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nadal off the mark in Acapulco

rn rn rn Gamern rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Five ties to watch in the Europa League

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn u2018Commanderu2019 Okoth through to Tokyo Olympicsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Greg Snow keeps cool to claim Karen trophyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ireland vs Italy Six Nations tie postponed over coronavirusrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Kenyans in hunt for table tennis Olympic slotsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Prize money for Safari Golf tour increasedrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn

• SportPesa announce change of its global sponsorships by ALEX ISABOKE NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 17 u2013 Hours after English Premier League…
• Wanyama, Samatta teammates at Aston Villa? by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 29 u2013 Aston Villa has emerged as…
• Gor boss Polack explains Kipkurui absence by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 u2013 Gor Mahia head coach Steve…
• Everton to terminate SportPesa contract by ALEX ISABOKE LONDON, United Kingdom, Feb 16 u2013 English Premier League side…
• Lavatsa makes Gor return as window shuts by Timothy Olobulu NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 1 u2013 Edwin Lavatsa has marked a…

rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn Timothy Olobulurn u2018Commanderu2019 Okoth through to Tokyo Olympicsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Greg Snow keeps cool to claim Karen trophyrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ireland vs Italy Six Nations tie postponed over coronavirusrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Kenyans in hunt for table tennis Olympic slotsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Prize money for Safari Golf tour increasedrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 26th Feb 2020rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */