UEFA Champions League is back on stage this week with two Spanish Football Clubs down for action. Tomorrow Atletico de Madrid hosts Juventus Fc, while tonight FC BARCELONA has travelled to Lyon to face Olympique.
Here is a summary of the main events of the Barça-Lyon game, along with goalscorers & the final result.
FC BARCELONA went into this game with the needed respect to attempt to avoid surprises & put forward the best available starting 11 as seen above. Olympique is young, brave & rapid which has Barça on alert & knowing that this is a potential "danger match".
Great entertaining first 45 minutes with an open and end to end Football game along with goal opportunities going to both teams. FC Barcelona was slightly more superior the first half over Lyon, but the French team had the clearer goal chances. Barça goalie Ter Stegen had to work while Barça midfielder Sergi Busquets had a great goal opportunity towards to final part of the half that was not to be. Overall very even first 45 minutes.
The 2º half saw a more determined FC Barcelona looking to score the important away goal. The Spanish team created plenty of opportunities & could have done damage to Lyon, but lacked goal. In fact, LUIS SUAREZ had some very clear opportunities in front of goal of which he could not finish off. The Uruguayan is going through a "bad streak" in front of goal & tonight he was clearly visibly frustrated.
FINAL RESULT 0 - 0
The elimination is wide open with the return match soon at Barcelona to decide the outcome.
Spanish Football was on the European Football stage as one of its Clubs Real Sociedad took a 2 - 0 aggregate advantage over French Club Olympique Lyon in the 2º leg match of the preliminary Champions League phase & attempt to join FC Barcelona, Real Madrid & Atletico de Madrid in the Group draw to be held tomorrow at Monaco.
Fantastic home atmosphere as the local fans embraced with warmth Real Sociedad for this vital & historic match. The end result was a 2 - 0 win that settled the tie 4-0 on aggregate to the Spanish Football Club & gave them the ticket to Champions League.
Deserved victory throughout both matches, with a serious, concentrated & brave performance tonight keeping out the formidable French team & creating many occasions of goals. Many opportunities that were missed by Real Sociedad that created some frustration but that was released when Carlos Vela headed a Griezmann pass in the 67th min. The Mexican International forward Vela then got the second goal in the very last moment ( 90+1 min) to round off a great night. Great performance from mentioned players & Seferovic who was also excellent & team inspiring.
The city of San Sebastian & Spanish Football is celebrating tonight.
Excellent result for Spanish Football Club Real Sociedad defeating Olympique Lyon 0 - 2 in the 1ºst leg of the Champions League preliminary qualifier. Deserved victory away that should make things a little more easier for the return 2º leg where Lyon will have to go all out.
The match was settled by two extraordinary goals that will be travelling around the global in the next 24 hours. When Real Sociedad was still nervous & struggling to find themselves, young Griezmann appeared & scored the first goal in the 16th min in an overhead fashion that was absolutely spectacular.
This allowed Real Sociedad to settle & dominate the match, while Real Sociedad goalie Bravo kept the occasional dangers from Lyon out as they arrived in his area, with great save included.
The second half started as the first ended & in a counter-attack Real Sociedad forward Seferovic received the ball from 40 mts & surprised everyone - & the Lyon goalie - by shooting at goal to score the second in the 50th min. Marvellous long range effort that caught everyone out.
Then Real Sociedad decided to settle for the result & this gave back the initiative to Lyon which created chances for them & they even hit the bar from a corner. However Lyon defender Bisevac received a red card in the 75th min & left his team with 10 men & in doing so without steam. Real Sociedad settled again , controlled & nearly got a third.
Real Sociedad leaves France with a better than expected result & has to defend it well & keep out Lyon in the return game. They are close to achieving a Champions League place for this season, lets hope they can hold on. If they play like tonight they should be able to do so & create Club history again.
