- FOLLOW LIVE BUILD-UP FROM LYON
- Génésio: “You need balance against Barcelona”
- Hosts missing Fekir through suspension
- Barcelona won just once in last four games
- Return takes place in Spain on 13 March
Reporter’s view (David Crossan, UEFA.com): Lyon have saved their best football for the really big occasions this season; should they play as they did over the two games against Manchester City in the group stage, they’re capable of giving Barcelona a fright. Being without inspirational captain Nabil Fekir complicates matters and Lyon cannot afford their standards to slip. Perform like they did in scraping past Guingamp on Friday and this tie will be over before the second leg in Spain.
Possible line-ups
Lyon: Lopes; Dubois, Marcelo, Denayer, Mendy; Tousart, Ndombele; Traoré, Depay, Aouar; Dembélé
Out: Fekir (suspended), Gouiri (cruciate)
Doubtful: Denayer (groin), Ndombele (ankle)
Misses next game if booked: none
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitić, Busquets, Vidal; Dembélé, Messi, Suárez
Out: Rafinha (knee), Cillessen (calf), Arthur (hamstring), Vermaelen (calf)
Doubtful: none
Misses next game if booked: none
Key battle
Lyon coach Bruno Génésio has a selection headache in the absence of Fekir – once dubbed the ‘French Messi’. He will have to decide whether to stick with his usual 4-2-3-1, a system designed for the skipper; in this scenario, Depay is likely to pull OL’s strings in the middle. With Houssem Aouar on the left, it would be the template that did for City on matchday one. Genesio can also opt for a 4-3-3 with Ndombele, Tousart and Aouar in midfield and Traoré, Dembélé and Depay in attack.
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Form guide
Lyon
Last game: Lyon 2-1 Guingamp (15/02)
Form: WLWWWWWDDL
Barcelona
Last game: Barcelona 1-0 Valladolid (16/02)
Form: WDDDWWLWWW
Bruno Génésio, Lyon coach
Manchester City and Barcelona are two attack-minded teams. We produced two good games against City, and we can do it again against Barcelona even though they are a bit different with a superstar [Lionel Messi]. You need a balance when you play Barcelona; you need organisation, discipline and to put them under pressure each time you have the ball at your feet.
For me, the starting XI is clear; only medical elements [surrounding Jason Denayer and Tanguy Ndombele] can change it.
Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona coach
We have been waiting a long time to play this game and we have been looking forward to it, as I expect Lyon have, too. They are a great team, and are having a good campaign thus far, having not lost in the Champions League yet.
They’ve got good attackers who can launch counters at you. What I like most about them is how they press and not allow you to play your game as a team, rather than a collection of individuals. It’ll be a tough match.
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