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		</div><p>Barcelona’s low-scoring run continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.</p>
<p>The usually free-scoring Catalan giants drew three games in a row before battling to a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid on Saturday, scoring only four goals across the four games.</p>
<p>Three of those came from Lionel Messi, including two penalties, but the Argentina star was unable to add to his tally against a stubborn Lyon side who were without their suspended captain and top scorer Nabil Fekir.</p>
<p>The visitors could have opened the scoring in the first minute when Ousmane Dembele found himself in space on the left-hand side of the penalty area, but the 21-year-old flashed a half-volley wide of the post.</p>
<p>And just two minutes later Lyon’s fans must have feared the worst when Houssem Aouar brought down Messi just outside the area, only for Messi to uncharacteristically fire the free-kick harmlessly over the bar.</p>
<p>Aouar, who was shown a yellow card for the foul, then drew a good save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the other end before the Barcelona goalkeeper produced an even better one to tip Martin Terrier’s swerving free-kick onto the bar before gratefully gathering the rebound.</p>
<p>An end-to-end contest was producing plenty of chances and Ivan Rakitic curled a shot wide after being set up by Sergi Roberto, while Messi was also off target following a delightful one-two with Jordi Alba.</p>
<p>Lyon looked dangerous on the counter-attack and almost broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute when Memphis Depay flashed a half-volley just wide, while at the other end Messi’s shot was parried by Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.</p>
<p>Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde replaced Dembelé with Philippe Coutinho as his side sought a first away win in the knockout stages since 2016, but Luis Suarez was inches away from connecting with a ball that was fizzed across goal and Lopes was again equal to a shot from Messi.</p>
<p>Messi’s night was summed up as he twice fired shots into Lyon’s defensive wall from a last-minute free-kick and the home side deservedly held on to keep a clean sheet and leave the tie in the balance.</p>
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