Sluggish Juve taste defeat in Lyon
Juventus's hopes of achieving the Champions League last eight suffered a blow when the two-times European Cup winners slumped to a 1-0 defeat within their last-16 first leg at Olympique Lyonnais on Wednesday.
Midfielder Lucas Tousart scored the only goal in the opening half to provide Lyon, who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the very first time since 2010, a deserved win.
It had been Lyon's first victory over Juventus, who suffered their first defeat in your competition this season.
Serie A leaders Juventus lacked quality, with Cristiano Ronaldo rarely getting into scoring positions, and they will have to improve in the return leg on March 17 if they are to progress.
About 2,700 Juventus fans travelled from Piedmont, an area neighbouring the coronavirus-hit Lombardy, as the overall game went ahead as planned despite concern over the virus.
On the pitch, Lyon were at their best, with Houssem Aouar and new signing Bruno Guimaraes inspiring their team.
"We were not the favourites and rightfully so, but we believed that people could unsettle Juventus," said midfielder Aouar.
"But let's not get overly enthusiastic, there's one full game left."
Juventus have only won four of their last eight competitive matches and captain Leonardo Bonucci remarked that the team had improved.
"We smudged our first half, sometimes it happens," he said. "We gifted half plus they scored at an instant when they were good at hurting us."
After a cagey start, Lyon made a clear chance when Karl Toko-Ekambi's header at the near post from Houssem Aouar's corner hit the crossbar.
Aouar then burst into the area and delivered a cutback that Tousart put in to the top corner from close range to place the French side ahead after 31 minutes.
Juve were at the time down to 10 men as Mathias De Ligt was getting treatment for blood on his head after being accidentally stamped on by team mate Alex Sandro.
The visitors threatened through Ronaldo however the Portuguese shot just wide at the end of a counter-attack as Juve looked short on confidence.
The Italian side increased the pressure following the interval as Lyon tried to relax and desire to hurt Maurizio Sarri's team on the break.
Paulo Dybala went close for Juve with a volley, substitute Gonzalo Higuain wasted a number of chances and Dybala had a goal ruled out for offside as Lyon held firm.
