No goals but AC rue missed chances against Lyon

Lyon 0 AC Milan 0

A tense match at the Stade Gerland saw neither side truly dominate, but Milan were left ruing three clear-cut chances squandered by their normally reliable striker and captain Andriy Shevchenko.

While there is still all to play for in next Tuesday’s second leg, Gerard Houllier’s Lyon team know they will have to produce something special at the San Siro if they are to reach the semi-finals for the first time.

Six-time European champions Milan, who are desperate to atone for their catastrophic defeat to Liverpool in last season’s final, will feel confident of progressing into the next round.

All their best opportunities to grab a precious away goal came in the opening 45 minutes, when midfielders Gattuso and Seedorf ruled the roost in the centre of the pitch.

Genuine chances for the home side remained few and far between early on, and Milan keeper Dida was only given one real test in the first half.

Milan had less of the play in the second half, but Lyon were still unable to create much to trouble Dida.

Some neat work saw both Norwegian striker John Carew and Tiago test the Milan defence with shots in quick succession, but that was as good as it got.

LYON: Coupet, Clerc, Cris, Cacapa, Abidal, Tiago, Diarra, Pedretti (Clement 68), Wiltord, Carew (Fred 63), Malouda.

AC MILAN: Dida, Costacurta (Maldini 62), Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho, Gattuso, Pirlo (Vogel 85), Seedorf, Kaka, Gilardino (Inzaghi 62), Shevchenko.

Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria).