An early goal from Andres Iniesta and a second half penalty from Leo Messi were enough to earn Barça a draw in an intense encounter in Lyon. Ronaldinho was left on the bench for the first time in a game that mattered since joining Barça which meant a start for both Bojan Krkic and Eidur Gudjohnsen. The point means Barça have now definitely finished top of Group E thanks to Stuttgart beating Rangers in the group’s other game tonight.

Barça began with a goal in their first attack. Xavi gave the ball to Messi who took the ball forward 20 metres, the Lyon defence were all watching Messi which gave Bojan room on the right, when Messi passed to Bojan the youngster delivered a superb low centre towards Iniesta who also found space running in from the left, Iniesta met the ball with a firm side-footed shot from 15 yards low past the Lyon keeper.

Barça’s lead lasted only until the seventh minute. Lyon won a free kick just inside Barça’s half. Juninho took it and his high cross avoided everyone and bounced up into the net past a surprised Valdés. Puyol should have got his head on the ball, and Fred was clearly offside just in front of Valdés, but the goal stood.

The game continued at a terrific pace and there were more chances at both ends in the first 16 minutes. Twice Toure tried his luck from distance, one went just over and the other produced a fine save from Vercoutre who tipped the ball wide for a corner. Fabio Santos had a great chance at the other end after a mistake from Zambrotta, but his shot was straight at Valdés. There was also what looked like a penalty on Messi but the ref waved play on.

It was a pretty good start from Barça but as the first half wore on Lyon began to take charge. On 28 minutes Govou had a great chance well saved by Valdés, the rebound fell to Juninho whose soft shot was cleared off the line by Eric Abidal. As half time neared tempers began to flare. In the 44th minute Toure was booked after tussling with Juninho and threatening words were exchanged. Moments later Rijkaard was sent from the touchline for protesting. The half ended with various Barça players arguing with the ref, and even substitute Thuram had words with the fourth official.

Bojan had done very little apart from the pass for Iniesta’s goal, in the 57th minute he appeared again, this time sending a dainty pass through to Messi whose progress into the area was stopped by a foul from Squillaci, this time the ref pointed to the spot. Messi scored another cool penalty, he seems capable of tapping the ball in while always sending the goalie the wrong way. Class.

Unfortunately Messi was booked for taking too long to return to his own half after the goal, some refs always want to be more important than the players. Xavi and Puyol quickly followed Messi into the ref’s book, both for fouls. Barça then had their best spell of the game but Gudjohnsen missed two chances and Messi had another shot well saved by Vercoutre.

With 20 minutes remaining Ronaldinho came on for the unfortunate Gudjohnsen, Rijkaard might have done better to take off Bojan at this point, Gudjohnsen wasn’t playing well but he always works hard to get back and defend. In the 79th minute Lyon attacked down Barça’s left, the ball was pushed through to Keita, and Abidal who had an otherwise excellent game against his old club, brought him down for a penalty. Juninho hammered the kick high into the centre of the goal to make it 2-2.

Barça could have won it at the end. First, Ronaldinho found Xavi but his shot was deflected wide for a corner. Then with five minutes to go a fine crossfield pass from Ronaldinho found Messi who cut into the area, reached the by-line but his attempted pass back to Bojan was intercepted by a defender.

A draw was probably a fair result. Barça will be happy to finish top of the group while Lyon will now have to beat Rangers in Glasgow to get second place in the group. There were good performances from Abidal, Toure and Milito while Gudjohnsen, Puyol and Zambrotta were all below par. Bojan wasn’t in the game much but he played an important part in both goals, his only shot came in injury time and was a hopeful attempt from 25 yards that went well wide. If he wants the record for youngest Champions League goalscorer he still has the game at home to Stuttgart and the two legs of the last 16 to achieve it.

Barça: Valdés 6, Zambrotta 5 (Marquez m81, 5.5), Puyol 5, Milito 7, Abidal 7.5, Xavi 6.5, Toure 7, Gudjohnsen 5 (Ronaldinho m70, 6), Messi 6.5, Bojan 6, Iniesta 6.5.

Booked: Toure, Messi, Xavi, Puyol. 

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