Published on 12:00 AM, February 28, 2020

Juventus fall at Lyon

Lyon midfielder Lucas Tousart celebrates after scoring the only goal in their Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Juventus, who fired blanks at the Groupama Stadium on Wednesday and must now overturn a 1-0 defecit. photo: Twitter

Cristiano Ronaldo drew a blank as a Lucas Tousart goal handed Lyon a surprise 1-0 win over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in France on Wednesday.

Tousart netted in the 31st minute to give Lyon a lead to defend when they head to Turin for the return on March 17.

They then survived late pressure to claim their finest European result since defeating Manchester City in last season's group stage.

"It was a top-class first-half performance from us. It was much harder in the second half, but I was happy with how we hung in there," said Lyon coach Rudi Garcia. "I said to the boys that when you're at home in the first leg it's very important not to concede, and now we need to go and score there. We must remain humble, it's only half-time."

Maurizio Sarri's side have genuine ambitions of lifting the trophy, but they could not claim a precious away goal.

"In the first half it was not the Juve that we know. We didn't get going in attack. I am struggling to understand certain things," said Sarri, who thought his team could have had two penalties.

"We didn't do enough given this was a Champions League match but fortunately we still have 90 minutes to turn it around."