Bayern Munich were forced to share the spoils with Lyon in their Champions League fixture on Tuesday evening, with the German champions coming from behind after Juninho had given a first half lead with a free-kick that skimmed into the net off Martin Demichelis. Ze Roberto equalised in the second half with a superb header...Bayern Munich retaliated to Olympique Lyon’s strong start to take a point at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday evening. The French club had started strongly, taking the lead through Juninho in the first half before a strong second half performance from the German champions gave them a deserved point.
A brisk start to the match saw both sides share chances in an exciting opening period, with left-back Philippe Lahm making an encouraging early incursion into opposition territory for Bayern after eight minutes only to see his shot fielded well by the vigilant Lloris.
Lyon would also make encouraging signs early in proceedings, with Fred forcing Rensing into a fine save before Réveillère nearly provided an unlikely source of a goal moments later when his shot skimmed wide of the target.
When he last played Bayern Munich away from home, Juninho had scored with a wonderful free-kick. Again one of the diminutive Brazilian’s set plays would prove the catalyst for Lyon’s opening goal midway through the first half as his swirling effort skimmed off the head of home defender Martin Demichelis on its way into the net.
For the most part, Lyon would hold on impressively until the half time interval but there were a couple of scares for Lloris’ goal. Immediately prior to opening the scoring, an incisive run from French international Franck Ribéry had forced Lloris to punch away and, quickly after the scoring had been opened, Bayern again threatened.
This time it would be Luca Toni who would come close for the Germans but his low drive was turned away by the outstretched fingertips of Lloris; a really fine save.
Lyon would suffer a blow before half time as Sidney Govou was forced off with a knee problem but this did not prevent their side defending stoutly as a team and limiting the number of opportunities their hosts had to strike at goal.
The second half was a different story as Bayern started with far more purpose, immediately forcing the visiting side onto the back foot. A superb pass threatened to release Toni after just three minutes of second half play but Lloris was quickly out to stifle the danger. The Italian then headed wide from a superb Ribéry centre as Bayern continued to offer a real threat in attack.
Inevitably a goal had to arrive and it dually did so just seven minutes into the second period. Oddo made superb progress down the right and centred for Ze Roberto to head into the left hand side of the net, leaving Lloris utterly helpless.
With the momentum swinging firmly in the way of the Germans, Benzema attempted to restore Lyon’s lead but his stinging effort was repelled by the gloves of Rensing.
Real chances would then be limited in the final half hour of the game as Lyon attempted to hold onto what they possessed while Bayern looked for a second goal that would continue their perfect start to the Champions League campaign.
The Germans did have the upper hand but Lyon continued their stubborn resistance, threatening to buckle only at a couple of moments. Ribéry sparked occasionally into life, picking up a lose ball at the edge of the box and striking dangerously at goal, forcing Lloris into a fine stop.
Lyon’s young goaltender then had to be at his very best to push away a Schweinsteiger free-kick that had taken a touch off Bodmer and threatened desperately to land in the Lyon net.
Benzema would have one last effort for the guests as they sought an unlikely winner on the counter-attack but he, again, found Rensing in fine form.
Prior to kick-off, Lyon had intimated that a point would be considered a good result from arguably the most tricky venue in Group F. Head coach Cluade Peul will be a little disappointed with the number of times his side managed to be breeched by a dangerous looking Bayern set-up but, with a double header against the so-called minnows of Steau Bucharest to come, he, like Jurgen Klinsmann, the Bayern leader, will feel confident of progressing to the knock-out stages.
Bayern Munich: Rensing; Brendo, Oddo, Lahm, Lucio; Demichelis, Ze Roberto, Ribéry (Borowski, 81’), Schweinsteiger; Klose, Toni
Yellow Cards: Klose 58’
Lyon: Lloris; Réveillère, Mensah, Cris, Bodmer; Juninho (Boumsong, 85’), Toulalan, Makoun; Govou (Ederson, 35’), Benzema, Fred (Mounier, 74’)
Yellow Cards: Mensah 19’, Juninho 59’, Makoun 60’, Cris 77’
0 comments:
Post a Comment