Lyon 2-2 Barcelona
Juninho Pernambucano scored with a free-kick and a penalty as Olympique Lyonnais twice came from behind to seal a potentially crucial 2-2 draw with FC Barcelona, who have now qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Long-range effort
Lyon's captain cancelled out Andrés Iniesta's early strike with a long-range set piece, before replying to Lionel Messi's spot kick with a penalty of his own ten minutes from time. The hard-fought point ensures Lyon will travel to Glasgow on Matchday 6 knowing that an away win would take them ahead of Rangers FC into second place in Group E.
Bojan role
Despite the dual absence of Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho was confined to the Barcelona bench, as coach Frank Rijkaard offered a first start in the competition to Bojan Krkić in attack, flanked by Messi and Iniesta. The move appeared inspired when, with just three minutes played, the 17-year-old Spaniard created the opening goal, racing onto Messi's pass and delivering a perfectly weighted, low cross that was stroked home by Iniesta.
Juninho leveller
Lining up without top-scorer Karim Benzema, who failed a late fitness test, the French title holders struggled to get a touch early on as the visitors imposed their passing game, yet just as it looked like becoming a long evening for the home fans, Juninho struck. The Brazilian's free-kick was intended as a cross, but after Fred had failed to make contact, the ball crept inside the far post with Victor Valdés rooted to the spot.
Valdés vigilant
The hosts subsequently settled to their task and created another fine opportunity on 14 minutes after some tenacious closing down by Fábio Santos had forced a mistake in the Barcelona rearguard. The Brazilian midfielder, preferred to Kim Källström, latched onto Fred's lay-off, only to direct his powerful drive straight at a vigilant Valdés.
Abidal intervention
Yaya Touré drew a fine fingertip save from Rémy Vercoutre moments later, though it was Lyon who looked more dangerous and threatened to take the lead on 28 minutes. Fred slipped Sidney Govou through and when he was denied by the onrushing Valdés, Juninho's follow-up was cleared off the line by Eric Abidal on his return to Stade de Gerland.
Juninho inspiration
Juninho was again providing the inspiration, firing another dipping free-kick narrowly over the crossbar as Alain Perrin's men continued to press. Rijkaard was ordered to the stands before half-time as his frustration boiled over but his players quickly regained their composure after the break. Without the cutting thrust of Benzema, Lyon were struggling to make inroads, while Barcelona appeared increasingly dangerous on the counterattack and deservedly retook the lead on 58 minutes.
Gudjohnsen chances
Messi was felled by Sébastien Squillaci in the penalty area and the irrepressible Argentina striker picked himself up to score from the spot. Kader Keita was immediately sent on in place of Fred in attack, but the more Lyon pressed the more exposed they became, and Eidur Gudjohnsen missed two fine chances to the double Barcelona's lead, firing his first effort over and seeing the second saved by Vercoutre. That saved proved vital when, with time running out, Abidal tripped Keita, allowing Juninho to send Valdés the wrong way from the spot.
Stuttgart 3-2 Rangers
Ciprian Marica struck five minutes from time as VfB Stuttgart earned their first points of the UEFA Champions League campaign and dealt a significant blow to Rangers FC's hopes of progressing to the last 16.
Lyon test
Rangers had looked on course for a valuable win on 27 minutes, when less than 60 seconds after replacing Lee McCulloch, Charlie Adam scored with his first touch, lashing in from close range after Carlos Cuéllar had headed in a corner into his path. Cacau equalised on the cusp of half-time, however, before Pável Pardo completed the turnaround on 62 minutes, his fizzing shot taking a slight deflection off Roberto Hilbert as it crept inside the post. Barry Ferguson made it 2-2 but Marica's goal means that Rangers must now beat Olympique Lyonnais in a winner-takes-all Matchday 6 encounter at Ibrox. Stuttgart already knew they could not climb from fourth place in Group E.
Lively start
The match was preceded with an impromptu dance between Rangers mascot Broxi Bear and his VfB counterpart Fritzle but any amicability was soon forgotten in a committed opening. Rangers could have taken the lead on seven minutes but DaMarcus Beasley scuffed his shot with only Raphael Schäfer to beat, and the home side responded immediately as Hilbert broke and delivered an arcing cross that hit Carlos Cuéllar and looped into the arms of the grateful Allan McGregor.
Box to box
While Broxi and Fritzle had done their pre-match routine, German cruiserweight Firat Arslan was interviewed by the stadium announcer and the end-to-end game had more the tempo of a boxing bout than a waltz. Just as Stuttgart began to threaten, Rangers hit back with a sucker-punch, with Jean-Claude Darcheville surging past Matthieu Delpierre before firing a weak effort into the side-netting. At the other end Ciprian Marica, enjoying a rare start in place of the injured Mario Gómez, sent Cacu clear with a delicate touch but McGregor came to Rangers' rescue, saving with his legs.
Cacau flick
True to form, the visitors hit back; Ferguson's shot trickling agonizingly past the upright following a heavy Delpierre deflection. From the resulting corner Ludovic Magnin cleared David Weir's header off the goalline and although McCulloch's injury could have knocked Rangers off their stride, Adam had other ideas. Having lost their previous Group E fixtures it could have been a telling blow yet VfB took stock, and upped the tempo as half-time approached. Cacau and Sami Khedira both had openings before the pressure finally told two minutes into added time, Cacau adroitly flicking in Pardo's driven cross following a short corner.
Ferguson equaliser
Rangers' misery was compounded three minutes after the restart as they lost Beasley to injury and Stuttgart took hold of the game. Just after the hour Pardo made it 2-1, but the lead lasted just eight minutes before Ferguson side-footed into the empty net after substitute Steven Naismith had dispossessed Delpierre and sent in a cross that Schäfer could only to palm into the Rangers captain's path. Marica had the last word, however, flicking in Magnin's cross via a Weir deflection.
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