Olympique Lyonnais threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday, leaving their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League in the balance.
UEFA Champions League, Group F
Olympique Lyonnais 2 – 2 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 
THE MATCH
Having followed their stunning win away to Manchester City by drawing at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and away at Hoffenheim, this return encounter with the Germans was pivotal for Bruno Genesio’s side in their quest to reach the last 16, something OL have not done since the 2011-12 season.
In a response to patchy recent form which had seen Lyon win just twice in seven games, Genesio started with a three-man central defence as Jérémy Morel came into the line-up. And in the rain the home side looked to be out of sight at half-time.
They went in front in the 19th minute as Ferland Mendy crashed a shot off the post and several chances to score from the rebound were passed up before Nabil Fekir eventually converted.
Anthony Lopes then kept Lyon in front with a good save to deny former OL player Ishak Belfodil’s attempt from close range at a corner, and the home side then doubled their lead before the half-hour mark. Tanguy Ndombele was the scorer, meeting a Mendy cutback with a first-time strike from 14 yards that went in via a wicked deflection off Kevin Vogt, the Hoffenheim captain (28′).
Hoffenheim reduced to 10 men
The visitors looked to be dead and buried when they had Ghanaian defender Kasim Nuhu – making his Champions League debut – sent off for a second yellow six minutes into the second half. Jason Denayer then turned a Memphis Depay free-kick into the net moments later but the effort was disallowed for offside.
And Hoffenheim were given hope when Andrej Kramaric was allowed to advance through the middle before beating Lopes with a low shot from 22 yards (65′).
Still OL should have been out of sight, but they missed a hatful of opportunities to add to their lead, although Fekir was denied by a good Oliver Baumann save after being played in by Depay (73′).
When these teams met a fortnight ago, Lyon were denied a victory when Joelinton equalised in the second minute of injury time. And history repeated itself here. A Kramaric free-kick from the right was helped on by Joelinton and Pavel Kadeřábek arrived to beat Lopes at the far post.
The result means the group remains wide open. Lyon remain in second place and in a position to qualify, with Hoffenheim and Shakhtar three and four points back respectively. But Genesio’s team still have to face Group F leaders City at home before going to Ukraine, so it will not be easy.
THE PLAYER: Ferland Mendy
The talented left-back, playing further forward with Genesio deploying three centre-backs, displayed his attacking potential by having a part in both of Lyon’s goals. Mendy crashed a shot off the woodwork in the build-up to the opener, and then set up Tanguy Ndombele’s strike for Lyon’s second of the evening.
THE STAT: 7
This felt like a defeat in the circumstances, but Lyon are now unbeaten in their last seven Champions League matches, winning two and drawing five.
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