Barcelona huffed and puffed but failed to blow Lyon away as the round of 16 Champions League first leg at the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday night ended in a goalless draw.
Lionel Messi was predictably a central figure but the little magician couldn’t quite weave his magic in France. The hosts posed a threat on the break but Barcelona were able to cope.
It was another poor European night away from home for Luiz Suarez while Ousmane Dembele complemented Messi well before his bewildering substitution in the second half.
The Catalans will be disappointed to come away from Lyon without an away goal given the kind of chances they squandered.
It does however set up an enticing second leg back at Camp Nou in three weeks’ time.
LYON LEAVE MESSI OPEN
Sure, Barcelona set up in a 4-3-3 formation with Messi’s name appearing on the right flank but it’s a poorly kept secret that he doesn’t actually operate out wide.
The Argentine consistently pops up centrally in the final third and Bruno Genesio would’ve been well aware of that especially since he spent his Saturday night watching the Catalans’ 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid at Camp Nou.
Yet, Messi was inexplicably afforded far too much space to get on the ball and create chances. Lyon lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Memphis Depay playing off Moussa Dembele in Nabil Fekir’s absence. That may have been in an effort to maintain a more compact shape but Barca’s lack of width down the right meant the midfielder deployed on the left was perhaps wasted.
Tanguy Ndombele had a good game but he and Houssem Aouar were busy competing with the trio of Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Ivan Rakitic in midfield while Messi always had space to receive the ball and turn.
The Blaugrana talisman was a little out of sorts – as he was over the weekend as well – and failed to take advantage of the freedom he enjoyed, particularly in the first half.
SUAREZ’S DROUGHT AWAY IN EUROPE
It’s utterly baffling but Luis Suarez, one of Europe’s elite strikers, hasn’t scored an away goal in the Champions League since he hit the back of the net against Roma back in 2015. It’s now over 24 hours since the Uruguayan got on the scoresheet on the road in Europe.
He failed to register a single shot – or key pass – in the first half at the Groupama Stadium. That changed in the second period but the result was still disappointing.
When receiving the ball 12 yards from goal, he was like a deer caught in the headlights. He wrestled with the option to lay the ball off for the onrushing Messi or pull the trigger on the turn. He hesitated for too long and ended up awkwardly stabbing it towards goal with the defender and keeper smothering his effort.
Then an excellent cut-back from Jordi Alba found him in acres of space inside the box 20 minutes from time but he fired a left-footed effort wide.
24h - As of the 22nd minute of tonight's game against Lyon, Luis Suarez has gone a full day of game time (1440 minutes) without scoring away from home in the Champions League, last netting against Roma in September 2015. Strange. pic.twitter.com/7mzz0w03AO
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 19, 2019
MANAGERIAL DECISIONS
We’ve already touched on how Genesio’s set-up saw Lyon afford Messi too much room but his decision to start Maxwel Cornet on the bench was curious as well. Yes, Martin Terrier who played in his stead did force Marc-Andre ter Stegen into an outstanding save in the first half but he didn’t really threaten down that left flank.
Pace on the break was the biggest weapon in Lyon’s armour against Barca but Cornet’s absence from the starting line-up meant that was mitigated and Nelson Semedo – whose defending can be exposed at times – was afforded a comfortable night.
Meanwhile, Ernesto Valverde’s substitution of Dembele in the 67th minute was questionable as well. The Frenchman had three key passes and four shots during his time on the pitch.
Messi benefited from his presence as well and looked frustrated once he was hooked and the Lyon defence weren’t stretched as much.
