Lyon coach Claude Puel lavished praise on Hugo Lloris after the France keeper excelled in the Champions League quarter-final elimination of Bordeaux.
Lyon, who won the first leg 3-1 last week, went through 3-2 on aggregate after losing 1-0 to their French rivals in the second leg.
Bordeaux went close to a second goal that would taken them through when a late Wendel header produced an wonderful save from Lloris, who also shone in the first leg.
“It came down to detail,” Puel told reporters after the game. “Then there was that match point for Bordeaux (Wendel’s header) and Hugo saved it for us.
“Hugo came up with the save we needed, once again. With such a great goalkeeper you can go places.”
Lyon controlled much of a highly-tactical affair as they clinched a semi-final against Bayern Munich.
“This is very important for the club and really great for the players,” Puel said after Lyon made the semis for the first time, becoming the first French club to reach the last four since Monaco’s run to the final in 2004.
“Bayern have just knocked out Manchester United and are used to playing big European matches so it will be tough but we’ll get ready for it.”
Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc said Lyon’s European experience was a key factor in their win.
“They had been there before and it certainly helped them,” said Blanc. “European experience played a big role tonight and that’s something you can’t buy in supermarkets.
“They had it and we didn’t. Apart from that I can’t reproach my players.
“If I have any regrets it’s from the first leg, not from tonight. If that Wendel header had gone in it would have been just the perfect scenario,” added Blanc.
