Lyon eliminated the La Liga giants at the same stage last season, Real’s sixth straight failure to make the quarterfinals, and there will no doubt be a few nervous home fans at the Bernabeu for the second leg on March 16.
Before Tuesday, Real’s record at Lyon’s Stade de Gerland was three defeats, no goals scored and six conceded but things seemed to be looking up when former Lyon striker Karim Benzema netted for the Spanish club in the 65th minute.
However, an 83rd-minute equalizer from Bafetimbi Gomis rescued a draw for the home side and left the tie nicely balanced for the second leg at the Bernabeu.
“I come away feeling a little sad,” Real’s Portuguese defender Pepe told reporters.
“We deserved to leave here with a win, unfortunately it wasn’t to be and we have the match at the Bernabeu to get through,” he added.
Real, bidding for a 10th continental title, will be firm favorites to progress given they have won all 19 home games in all competitions since Jose Mourinho took over as coach at the end of last season.
Right back Sergio Ramos, whose header against the bar was one of Real’s many chances on Tuesday, said the draw was a positive result.
“You always have to be optimistic and dream about getting through the tie,” he told reporters.
“The return game is at home and in front of our own fans and we have to progress,” the Spain international added.
Ramos acknowledged Lyon had been superior in the early stages of the match.
“We know Olympique and they have a great team,” he said.
“In the first half they moved the ball around better and were more dangerous.
“But the (Real) team knew how to react in the second half. We passed the ball around better and created some clear chances, and there were also the doubts over the penalty.”
Real’s claims for a penalty when the ball appeared to strike Yoann Gourcuff’s arm in the area were waved away by the referee.
“Unfortunately, they (the match officials) didn’t see it,” defender Ricardo Carvalho said. “I don’t understand it because everyone saw that it hit Gourcuff’s elbow.”
Ancelotti says Chelsea can conquer Europe
In Copenhagen, Carlo Ancelotti believes Chelsea’s 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen proved his forward are capable of firing the team to Champions League glory.
After the misery of last weekend’s FA Cup exit against Everton, Nicolas Anelka gave Blues boss Ancelotti some much-needed breathing space as his double-strike put Chelsea within touching distance of the Champions League quarterfinals.
Defeat against the Danish minnows in the last 16 first leg at an icy Parken Stadium could have proved fatal for the under-pressure Ancelotti, but Anelka’s lethal finishing ensured the Italian won’t have to worry about being frozen out just yet.
AdChoices
Ancelotti opted to leave Didier Drogba on the bench as he played a 4-4-2 formation with Anelka and Torres spearheading the attack.
Anelka showed his class as he netted two clinical finishes to take his tally in Europe this season to seven goals in six games, while Torres went close to breaking his duck following his blockbuster move from Liverpool.
Drogba has been out of form lately but he remains a formidable option to have on the bench and Ancelotti insists the trio won’t complain about being rotated to keep them fresh for an assault on the Champions League.
Asked if they were the best in Europe, Ancelotti said: “Yes, I think so. We want to maintain their fitness, but rotation could do them good with the Premier League and the Champions League.
“They are accepting my decisions without problems, and this is important. To have them available at the moment, it’s important at this time of year.
“We have fantastic strikers. I have to make a decision about the games, to put them in or not.
“Didier played for two hours against Everton. Torres and Anelka were fresh and, together, they played well.”
Although Torres was unable to convert three good chances, Ancelotti insisted the Spain striker’s movement and commitment more than made up for his wayward finishing.
“His performance was really good,” Ancelotti said. “There’s a little bit of disappointment because he could have scored. But it doesn’t matter. His movement with Anelka was so good.
“Anelka was able to score and Torres had a lot of opportunities that he created with his movement. He will score in the next game.”
Chelsea’s display was a vast improvement on Saturday’s shock FA Cup defeat to Everton but Copenhagen also looked every inch a side who had not played a competitive game for two-and-a-half months.
Anelka opened the scoring in the 17th minute when he pounced on a poor pass by former Chelsea winger Jesper Gronkjaer and drove home a fierce strike from the edge of the area.
The former Arsenal forward struck again in the 54th minute as he drilled Frank Lampard’s pass into the bottom corner.
