[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Bayern Munich recovered from the loss of star Franck Ribery to a red card in the first half todefeat Lyon, 1-0, in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal series on Wednesday.
Arjen Robben, the hero of Bayern’s series againstManchester United, had the only goal against Lyon with a shot that took a deflection off teammate Thomas Mueller but appeared to have Lyon keeper beaten
Both sides finished with 10 men.
Ribery, questioned by French police as a witness in a Paris prostitution investigation,was sent off for stomping on Argentine Lisandro Lopez‘s ankle in the 37th minute.
He faces a two-game suspension, which would keep him out of thefinal if Bayern advances.
“If you see it closely,” said Bayern coach Louis van Gaal, “it was not a red card. It is more a yellow so I hopethat for Bayern and himself he will be banned for only one game.”
Lyon’s Jeremy Toulalan received two yellow cards three minutes apart and exitedin the 54th minute.
Lyon coach Claude Puel says Toulalan’s exit changed the complexion of the game.
“We started well,” he said, “butwe lost the ball too easily. In the second half, we were too weak with the ball. Ribery’s red card allowed us to take control of the match but then we then we had our player sent off. Then 10 against10 became a very difficult match for us.”
April 21 in Munich
Bayern Munich 1 Lyon 0. Goal: Robben69.
Bayern Munich — Butt, Lahm, Van Buyten, Demichelis, Contento, Robben (Altintop, 85), Schweinsteiger, Pranjic (Gomez, 63), Ribery, Mueller, Olic(Tymoschuk, 46).
Lyon — Lloris, Reveillere, Cris, Toulalan, Cissokho, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Ederson (Michel Bastos, 71), Pjanic (Makoun, 55), Delgado(Govou, 79), Lopez.
Red Cards: Bayern Munich — Ribery 37; Lyon — Toulalan 54.
Referee: Roberto Rosetti(Italy).
Att.: 68,000.