Win FREE tickets to the Cheltenham Festival as well as up to £1,000 in FREE BETS. Click here for more info!

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti and his Lyon counterpart Gérard Houllier were both satisfied after a goalless draw left their Champions League first knockout round tie in the balance.

“We had a few problems at the start of the match because we didn’t immediately come to terms with the way to play to challenge Lyon,” admitted Spalletti.

“The game was open, there were a lot of scoring chances for both sides, and I’m largely satisfied with how my team played. We didn’t keep the ball very well but we played well enough. The draw is not a bad result for us, even if we are going to play the second leg away from home. That doesn’t matter too much at this level.

“In our away matches in the last two years we’ve always managed to score a goal,” he added.

Roma’s slow start to the game was down to nerves, explained Spalletti.

“It took us a little time to gain confidence. But after that we played well. In the return leg I think both teams will be prepared to risk a little more.”

Houllier said a draw was a fair result on the balance of play.

“The result is a fair one,” he conceded. “It was a typical Champions League game between two teams who tested each other out and were evenly matched.

“I’m happy with the way my players played. It was a typical Champions League match. Very intense, very hard-fought.

“We had 16 shots on goal and hit the post and I think overall the Roma goalkeeper was more involved than Grégory Coupet. I’m satisfied with the score and for me, it’s a step forward towards the quarter-finals.


Win FREE tickets to the Cheltenham Festival as well as up to £1,000 in FREE BETS. Click here for more info!