Alexandre Lacazette scored the only goal of the game as Lyon beat APOEL Nicosia 1-0 in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at the Stade de Gerland tonight.
It was the Cypriot outfit's first appearance in the knockout stages of the competition and their inexperience showed as Lyon dominated the early stages.
The hosts were denied two first-half penalty appeals when the referee adjudged challenges on Ederson and Lisandro Lopez to be fair.
Michel Bastos had Lyon's best chance of the opening 45 minutes but his effort was tipped over the crossbar by APOEL keeper Dionissis Chiotis.
Lacazette then stepped up to score the winning goal when his deflected effort from the left eluded Chiotis in the visitors' net.
Both sides seemed content with the result as neither showed a willingness to attack in the latter stages, leaving the tie well balanced heading into the second leg in three weeks' time.
Joe Fish
