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PARIS. — Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde shrugged off his team’s struggles in front of goal after they were held to a 0-0 draw away at Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League football last-16 tie on Tuesday night.

The Spanish side had most of the chances at the Groupama Stadium, with Luis Suarez firing just wide in the second half, although it was Lyon who came the closest when Martin Terrier hit the bar early on.

Lionel Messi and co. were once again left frustrated on the road at the business end of the competition, and have now gone six away matches without winning in the Champions League knock-out rounds, scoring just a single goal in that time. It is a run that goes back three years.

Desperate to end Real Madrid’s recent European dominance, Barca must now finish the job when the teams meet again at the Camp Nou on March 13, but Lyon remain in the tie. Barcelona’s form needs to improve between now and then, though – they have drawn four of their last five matches in all, and have scored just once, from a penalty, in their last three outings. — AFP.