Lyon against AC Milan

MILAN SUB: Pirlo off, Vogel on. The Swiss midfielder comes on to give his side a little more bite as they try to close out the final few minutes.

Cris advances forward from the back, trying to give his side an extra man going forward, but Milan have got everyone back now. There's little room to create anything.

SHOT! Tiago fires in a shot from distance; it seems to swerve in the air, and Dida is content to push it over the crossbar for a corner.

A slick Lyon passing move ends with the ball being fed in to Fred on the edge of the area, but his cute flick deceives everyone.

Milan will consider themselves favourites for the second leg, should the score remain 0-0 here. But Lyon will take heart from their clean sheet, and know an away goal in Milan might prove crucial.

The Lyon fans are still trying their best to will their side on, but Milan are starting to look confident again.

SHOT! Shevchenko cuts in from the right wing and fires in a low left-foot shot, but Coupet is able to gather on the bounce.

Another Seedorf corner from the Milan leftl this time Capaca heads clear. The visitors are showing a bit more willing.

This has been a typical first-leg game; both sides showed early willing to attack and get themselves a foothold in the tie, but neither have wanted to over-commit and concede goals that will make it difficult in the second leg.

Milan win a rare corner; Seedorf takes his time over the set-piece, and when he does finally send it in to the middle, Coupet claims easily.

Still more than a quarter of an hour left, but the pattern of the remainder of this game seems to be set; Lyon attacking in numbers, and Milan hoping to hit the home side with a rare break.

At times, Milan are defending with all eleven men; they are offering little going forward at the moment. I don't think the substitute Inzaghi has touched the ball yet.

Malouda skips past Maldini on the left and sends over a good cross, but Kaladze has positioned himself well and heads clear. More promising signs from the home side.

SHOT! Tiago is found after another nice passing move from the home side, but his turn-and-shot from the edge of the area is easily saved by Dida.

Although Milan seemed to start the match with attacking intentions, they have retreated in to their shell since the break; they seem to have settled for the 0-0.

The home fans have turned the volume up a notch as Lyon try to reward this good spell with a crucial goal to take in to the second leg.

LYON SUB: Pedretti is replaced by Reveillere. A second change by Houllier. Pedretti looked a little disappointed to be brought off; he was playing quite well, I thought.

The home side are starting to play some nice football now; they are working the ball about at pace in the final third, and really working the Milan defence.

The game is opening up a little now, and Lyon look slightly the more threatening; the arrival of Fred has given them more pace and movement up front.

Clerc finds himself some space down the right, and is found by a good pass from Wiltord, but his clipped cross is headed clear as Wiltord waited.

WIDE! Diarra gets on the end of a half-clearance, but his volley from the edge of the area is rather scuffed, and bobbles a yard wide.

Maldini has gone over to play at right-back, not his natural side; that might be an area that Lyon feel they can exploit in the final stages of this game.

LYON CHANGE: Fred replaces Carew; the young, dynamic Brazilian comes on to replace the significantly less-mobile Carew.

MILAN SUBS: Inzaghi replaces Gilardinho, Maldini replaces Costacurta. Two changes, but two quality replacements for the Italians.

The game is becoming a little more stretched; as Lyon press high on the Milan midfield and defence, they are leaving more space in behind them for Kaka and Seedorf to run in to.

Lyon are pressing very high up the pitch at the moment, and it is really putting pressure on the Milan back four, who are being forced in to mistakes with their passing.

Pedretti strikes the free-kick goalwards, but the Milan wall stands firm and blocks.

Costacurta is shown the first yellow card of the evening when he is penalised for tripping Malouda, advancing through the middle.

Wiltord shows good determination to track back and put in a good challenge on Seedorf, who had advanced down the left.

RUBBISH! Wiltord robs Nesta on the edge of the area, plays the ball to Carew, but the giant striker hopelessly miskicks with only Dida to beat.

This feels like a tie that is going to go the full 180 minutes; it is so tight at the moment.

Pirlo spots Serginho in some space down the left wing, but his pass skips off the turf and runs out for a goal-kick.

Milan work the ball well from left to right as they progress in to the final third, and win themselves a corner as Kaka's cross is deflected behind. Much better from the visitors.

Milan have been a bit sloppy at the back since the brea; a few passes are going astray and they have been penned in a little by the home side.

Nesta needs some treatment after going down heavily in a challenge with Wiltord; he is led from the field by the Milan physio, but looks okay.

Diarra's shot from 30 yards is blocked by Gattuso, who comes flying across to make the crucial challenge.

Lyon will want to take a lead over to Milan for the second leg, but they will also be wary of giving away a crucial away goal; it's a fine balance.

Carew is penalised as he challenges for a header with Nesta on the half-way line; he looks aggreived with the decision. You win some, you lose some.

An early corner for the home side, but Malouda's centre is easily cleared. Poor delivery from the wide-man.

Lyon kick off the second half.

HALF-TIME: Shevchenko has had a couple of good chances, but has been foiled by Coupet.

HEADER! Carew can only plant his header from six yards straight at Dida as he got on the end of Malouda's cross from the left.

SHEVCHENKO! The Milan striker gets the better of Cris in a race for a through-ball; he gets away a firm shot on goal from the edge of the area, but it is straight at Coupet, who punches clear. Great chance.

Serginho sends over a cross from the left, but Coupet comes a long way to claim, acrobatically. One for the bedroom wall, that one.

Costacurta tries to beat Abidal for pace down the right. That was never going to happen.

Kaka again looks suspiciously at the pitch after his attempted cross flies high over Coupet's crossbar.

WIDE! Pedretti links up well with Malouda, but his shot from 25 yards is sliced wide of Dida's goal. A good chance to test the keeper, but he rather rushed his shot.

Wiltord finds Carew with a short pass out to the right wing, but the lanky striker's attempted cross is dreadful; goal-kick.

Clerc curls in a good ball from the right wing, but no Lyon player attacks the near post and the ball drifts harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

The tempo of the game has dropped a little as half-time approaches.

The Milan defence seem to have come through that tough spell; they are a little more organised now and look to be back on top of Wiltord and Carew.

Wiltord tries to set Carew free down the right channel, but Kaladze comes across to make the tackle.

Pirlo takes the ball off Tiago in midfield, but the Italian can't quite find the pass to release Shevchenko down the middle.

Nesta makes a good tackle on Malouda on the left-edge of the penalty area; an important challege, as the Lyon forward was almost past him.

Lyon will be keen to take advantage with a goal here; they have been on top for the last five or ten minutes, and will want to make their pressure tell.

There are whistles from the Lyon crowd every time Milan have a spell in possession; they are a passionate bunch down here.

Costacurta is warned for a foul on Malouda; no booking.

The referee isn't really helping the flow of the game; he is being a bit picky at the moment.

Cris is starting to dominate at the back for Lyon; he is beginning to read the danger coming down the Milan left and is covering Clerc with some intelligent defending.

We've got a real game on our hands now; Lyon, after a slow start, have really come in to the game and are starting to trouble the ageing Milan back four.

SAVE! Maluda wins his side another free-kick. Pedretti sends in another excellent cross, which evades everyone and skips off the turf, needing Dida to turn it around the far post at full-stretch.

CARELESS! Pedretti releases Maluda with a good ball inside Costacurta, but his cross from the left is woefully over-hit. Carew was waiting, unmarked for an easy pull-back.

Gattuso is caught by a late challenge by Tiago; no booking, which is fortunate for the former Chelsea man - he is one yellow away from missing the second leg.

Carew shows good strength to hold off Kaladze and win his side a throw, deep in the Milan half. Lyon are starting to come in to the game a little more now.

Maluda sends the ball over to the far post, but Cris can't direct it back across the face of goal and Costacurta eventually clears.

Tiago is pulled back by Pirlo, resulting in another free-kick to the French champions. Maluda fires the cross in to the middle, and Shevchenko is forced to head out for the first corner of the night.

Pedretti curls another free-kick in to the crowded penalty area, but this time Nesta is able to head clear on the penalty spot.

BRILLIANT RUN! Kaka dances past a couple of challenges down the left, cuts past Clerc and gets in to the penalty area, but the ball takes a bobble as he attempts to slide the ball across to Shevcheko, resulting in an ugly shank. Goal kick.

Abidal is forced to make a good sliding challenge to cut out the danger down the right as Gattuso gets forward. More good play by the visitors.

Costacurta has played a couple of nice balls down the channel for Kaka and Shevchenko to chase; he looks very comfortable, the veteran defender.

AWFUL! Carew has Lyon's first shot of the evening, though he screws his left-foot volley high and wide from just outside the penalty area.

Milan are looking ominously good; they are cutting Lyon apart, mainly down their left-hand side, where Clerc is having trouble dealing with the threat of Serginho and Seedorf.

GREAT SAVE! Milan have got the bit between their teeth. They break at pace, again down their left; a low cross is just behind Kaka, but he is able to knock the ball back to Shevchenko, on the edge of the area; he strikes the shot well, but Coupet saves with his legs.

WIDE! Kaka cuts in from the left wing and fires a low shot in on Coupet's goal, but it flies a couple of yards wide of the near post. Shevchenko is angry with his team-mate; he was in an excellent position.

Milan have started the better; they are playing the ball around in midfield with real confidence, and their important players - Kaka, Seedorf and Pirlo - are getting a lot the ball.

Serginho breaks down the Milan left and sends over a cross; this time Cris mis-kicks when attempting to clear, but Cacapa is able to sweep up behind him.

Both these sides' strengths lie with their forwards, so it is no real surprise that we have got such an open, attacking game at the moment, though Milan are starting to look the more dangerous.

Seedorf gets past Clerc far too easily on the Milan left, but his low cross is just behind Gilardino and Cris clears.

Gattuso needs some treatment after being winded in a clash with Diarra in midfield. He's soon back up on his feet, and play goes on.

CHANCE! Shevchenko sprints on to Kaka's pass; the Ukranian striker shoots low, but Coupet saves with his legs. Good chance for the legendary predator.

Costacurta becomes the fourth-oldest Champions League player ever tonight.

Pirlo eases past his marker in midfield before he is brought down by Cacapa. The ball is lofted in towards Gilardino, but the defender jumps high to head clear.

Both sides are playing with what seems to be a fluid 4-3-3 formation, so both sides have set out to win this match from the off.

The game has started at a great tempo; both sides are zipping the ball about and playing with real confidence. I've got a good feeling about this one, readers...

This isn't the biggest stadium in Europe, but it does generate an excellent atmosphere; there are just over 40,000 fans in tonight, and they are really getting behind the home side.

Pedretti fires in a superb free-kick in to the penalty area, but Dida comes through a crowd to punch clear.

There is a fantastic atmosphere inside the Stade de Gerland; the Lyon fans are making a real racket.

The average age of the Milan defence is 33, with Costacurta just a month short of his 40th birthday; Lyon will be hoping to exploit a perceived lack of pace at the back of the Italian side.

Milan kick off. They are all in white, with Lyon in their dark blue home strip. It's a mild, dry night in France, and the pitch looks excellent.

Hi, welcome to ESPN Soccernet's coverage of AC Milan's trip to Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Strap yourself in, readers; this is going to roc.

The home fans have turned the volume up a notch as Lyon try to reward this good spell with a crucial goal to take in to the second leg.

LYON SUB: Pedretti is replaced by Reveillere. A second change by Houllier. Pedretti looked a little disappointed to be brought off; he was playing quite well, I thought.

The home side are starting to play some nice football now; they are working the ball about at pace in the final third, and really working the Milan defence.

The game is opening up a little now, and Lyon look slightly the more threatening; the arrival of Fred has given them more pace and movement up front.

Clerc finds himself some space down the right, and is found by a good pass from Wiltord, but his clipped cross is headed clear as Wiltord waited.

WIDE! Diarra gets on the end of a half-clearance, but his volley from the edge of the area is rather scuffed, and bobbles a yard wide.

Maldini has gone over to play at right-back, not his natural side; that might be an area that Lyon feel they can exploit in the final stages of this game.

LYON CHANGE: Fred replaces Carew; the young, dynamic Brazilian comes on to replace the significantly less-mobile Carew.

MILAN SUBS: Inzaghi replaces Gilardinho, Maldini replaces Costacurta. Two changes, but two quality replacements for the Italians.

The game is becoming a little more stretched; as Lyon press high on the Milan midfield and defence, they are leaving more space in behind them for Kaka and Seedorf to run in to.

Lyon are pressing very high up the pitch at the moment, and it is really putting pressure on the Milan back four, who are being forced in to mistakes with their passing.

Pedretti strikes the free-kick goalwards, but the Milan wall stands firm and blocks.

Costacurta is shown the first yellow card of the evening when he is penalised for tripping Malouda, advancing through the middle.

Wiltord shows good determination to track back and put in a good challenge on Seedorf, who had advanced down the left.

RUBBISH! Wiltord robs Nesta on the edge of the area, plays the ball to Carew, but the giant striker hopelessly miskicks with only Dida to beat.

This feels like a tie that is going to go the full 180 minutes; it is so tight at the moment.

Pirlo spots Serginho in some space down the left wing, but his pass skips off the turf and runs out for a goal-kick.

Milan work the ball well from left to right as they progress in to the final third, and win themselves a corner as Kaka's cross is deflected behind. Much better from the visitors.

Milan have been a bit sloppy at the back since the brea; a few passes are going astray and they have been penned in a little by the home side.

Nesta needs some treatment after going down heavily in a challenge with Wiltord; he is led from the field by the Milan physio, but looks okay.

Diarra's shot from 30 yards is blocked by Gattuso, who comes flying across to make the crucial challenge.

Lyon will want to take a lead over to Milan for the second leg, but they will also be wary of giving away a crucial away goal; it's a fine balance.

Carew is penalised as he challenges for a header with Nesta on the half-way line; he looks aggreived with the decision. You win some, you lose some.

An early corner for the home side, but Malouda's centre is easily cleared. Poor delivery from the wide-man.

Lyon kick off the second half.

HALF-TIME: Shevchenko has had a couple of good chances, but has been foiled by Coupet.

HEADER! Carew can only plant his header from six yards straight at Dida as he got on the end of Malouda's cross from the left.

SHEVCHENKO! The Milan striker gets the better of Cris in a race for a through-ball; he gets away a firm shot on goal from the edge of the area, but it is straight at Coupet, who punches clear. Great chance.

Serginho sends over a cross from the left, but Coupet comes a long way to claim, acrobatically. One for the bedroom wall, that one.

Costacurta tries to beat Abidal for pace down the right. That was never going to happen.

Kaka again looks suspiciously at the pitch after his attempted cross flies high over Coupet's crossbar.

WIDE! Pedretti links up well with Malouda, but his shot from 25 yards is sliced wide of Dida's goal. A good chance to test the keeper, but he rather rushed his shot.

Wiltord finds Carew with a short pass out to the right wing, but the lanky striker's attempted cross is dreadful; goal-kick.

Clerc curls in a good ball from the right wing, but no Lyon player attacks the near post and the ball drifts harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

The tempo of the game has dropped a little as half-time approaches.

The Milan defence seem to have come through that tough spell; they are a little more organised now and look to be back on top of Wiltord and Carew.

Wiltord tries to set Carew free down the right channel, but Kaladze comes across to make the tackle.

Pirlo takes the ball off Tiago in midfield, but the Italian can't quite find the pass to release Shevchenko down the middle.

Nesta makes a good tackle on Malouda on the left-edge of the penalty area; an important challege, as the Lyon forward was almost past him.

Lyon will be keen to take advantage with a goal here; they have been on top for the last five or ten minutes, and will want to make their pressure tell.

There are whistles from the Lyon crowd every time Milan have a spell in possession; they are a passionate bunch down here.

Costacurta is warned for a foul on Malouda; no booking.

The referee isn't really helping the flow of the game; he is being a bit picky at the moment.

Cris is starting to dominate at the back for Lyon; he is beginning to read the danger coming down the Milan left and is covering Clerc with some intelligent defending.

We've got a real game on our hands now; Lyon, after a slow start, have really come in to the game and are starting to trouble the ageing Milan back four.

SAVE! Maluda wins his side another free-kick. Pedretti sends in another excellent cross, which evades everyone and skips off the turf, needing Dida to turn it around the far post at full-stretch.

CARELESS! Pedretti releases Maluda with a good ball inside Costacurta, but his cross from the left is woefully over-hit. Carew was waiting, unmarked for an easy pull-back.

Gattuso is caught by a late challenge by Tiago; no booking, which is fortunate for the former Chelsea man - he is one yellow away from missing the second leg.

Carew shows good strength to hold off Kaladze and win his side a throw, deep in the Milan half. Lyon are starting to come in to the game a little more now.

Maluda sends the ball over to the far post, but Cris can't direct it back across the face of goal and Costacurta eventually clears.

Tiago is pulled back by Pirlo, resulting in another free-kick to the French champions. Maluda fires the cross in to the middle, and Shevchenko is forced to head out for the first corner of the night.

Pedretti curls another free-kick in to the crowded penalty area, but this time Nesta is able to head clear on the penalty spot.

BRILLIANT RUN! Kaka dances past a couple of challenges down the left, cuts past Clerc and gets in to the penalty area, but the ball takes a bobble as he attempts to slide the ball across to Shevcheko, resulting in an ugly shank. Goal kick.

Abidal is forced to make a good sliding challenge to cut out the danger down the right as Gattuso gets forward. More good play by the visitors.

Costacurta has played a couple of nice balls down the channel for Kaka and Shevchenko to chase; he looks very comfortable, the veteran defender.

AWFUL! Carew has Lyon's first shot of the evening, though he screws his left-foot volley high and wide from just outside the penalty area.

Milan are looking ominously good; they are cutting Lyon apart, mainly down their left-hand side, where Clerc is having trouble dealing with the threat of Serginho and Seedorf.

GREAT SAVE! Milan have got the bit between their teeth. They break at pace, again down their left; a low cross is just behind Kaka, but he is able to knock the ball back to Shevchenko, on the edge of the area; he strikes the shot well, but Coupet saves with his legs.

WIDE! Kaka cuts in from the left wing and fires a low shot in on Coupet's goal, but it flies a couple of yards wide of the near post. Shevchenko is angry with his team-mate; he was in an excellent position.

Milan have started the better; they are playing the ball around in midfield with real confidence, and their important players - Kaka, Seedorf and Pirlo - are getting a lot the ball.

Serginho breaks down the Milan left and sends over a cross; this time Cris mis-kicks when attempting to clear, but Cacapa is able to sweep up behind him.

Both these sides' strengths lie with their forwards, so it is no real surprise that we have got such an open, attacking game at the moment, though Milan are starting to look the more dangerous.

Seedorf gets past Clerc far too easily on the Milan left, but his low cross is just behind Gilardino and Cris clears.

Gattuso needs some treatment after being winded in a clash with Diarra in midfield. He's soon back up on his feet, and play goes on.

CHANCE! Shevchenko sprints on to Kaka's pass; the Ukranian striker shoots low, but Coupet saves with his legs. Good chance for the legendary predator.

Costacurta becomes the fourth-oldest Champions League player ever tonight.

Pirlo eases past his marker in midfield before he is brought down by Cacapa. The ball is lofted in towards Gilardino, but the defender jumps high to head clear.

Both sides are playing with what seems to be a fluid 4-3-3 formation, so both sides have set out to win this match from the off.

The game has started at a great tempo; both sides are zipping the ball about and playing with real confidence. I've got a good feeling about this one, readers...

This isn't the biggest stadium in Europe, but it does generate an excellent atmosphere; there are just over 40,000 fans in tonight, and they are really getting behind the home side.

Pedretti fires in a superb free-kick in to the penalty area, but Dida comes through a crowd to punch clear.

There is a fantastic atmosphere inside the Stade de Gerland; the Lyon fans are making a real racket.

The average age of the Milan defence is 33, with Costacurta just a month short of his 40th birthday; Lyon will be hoping to exploit a perceived lack of pace at the back of the Italian side.

Milan kick off. They are all in white, with Lyon in their dark blue home strip. It's a mild, dry night in France, and the pitch looks excellent.

Hi, welcome to ESPN Soccernet's coverage of AC Milan's trip to Lyon in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Strap yourself in, readers; this is going to roc.