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Barcelona\u2019s low-scoring run continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.<\/p>\nBarcelona\u2019s low-scoring run continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.<\/p>\n
The usually free-scoring Catalan giants drew three games in a row before battling to a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday, scoring only four goals across the four games.<\/p>\n
Three of those came from Lionel Messi, including two penalties, but the Argentina star was unable to add to his tally against a stubborn Lyon side who were without their suspended captain and top scorer Nabil Fekir.<\/p>\n
The visitors could have opened the scoring in the first minute when Ousmane Dembele found himself in space on the left-hand side of the penalty area, but the 21-year-old flashed a half-volley wide of the post.<\/p>\n
And just two minutes later Lyon\u2019s fans must have feared the worst when Houssem Aouar brought down Messi just outside the area, only for Messi to uncharacteristically fire the free-kick harmlessly over the bar.<\/p>\n
Aouar, who was shown a yellow card for the foul, then drew a good save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the other end before the Barcelona goalkeeper produced an even better one to tip Martin Terrier\u2019s swerving free-kick onto the bar before gratefully gathering the rebound.<\/p>\n
An end-to-end contest was producing plenty of chances and Ivan Rakitic curled a shot wide after being set up by Sergi Roberto, while Messi was also off target following a delightful one-two with Jordi Alba.<\/p>\n
Lyon looked dangerous on the counter-attack and almost broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Memphis Depay flashed a half-volley just wide, while at the other end Messi\u2019s shot was parried by Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.<\/p>\n
Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde replaced Dembele with Philippe Coutinho as his side sought a first away win in the knockout stages since 2016, but Luis Suarez was inches away from connecting with a ball that was fizzed across goal and Lopes was again equal to a shot from Messi.<\/p>\n
Messi\u2019s night was summed up as he twice fired shots into Lyon\u2019s defensive wall from a last-minute free-kick and the home side deservedly held on to keep a clean sheet and leave the tie in the balance.<\/p>\n