01/10/2008 10:39 AM
Ze Roberto's 52nd-minute header earned Bayern Munich a point from its Champions League Group F clash by drawing 1-1 with Lyon at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Martin Demichelis put Lyon ahead midway through the first half when he headed a free-kick by Juninho into his own net but Ze Roberto, the former Brazil midfielder, rescued a point for the German champions.
A draw was the least Bayern deserved after it dominated a hard-working Lyon side happy to play on the counter-attack.
It keeps Jurgen Klinsmann's men, who beat Steaua Bucharest 1-0 a fortnight ago, top of their pool while it was Lyon's second point following their 2-2 home draw against Fiorentina.
Bayern, struggling in ninth place in the Bundesliga after back-to-back defeats, did most of the pressing in a lively first half, but visiting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was only tested a couple of times.
Striker Luca Toni's height caused the Lyon defence problems all match and he rose to head an early Franck Ribery free-kick over.
Lloris was then on hand to snaffle up a Philipp Lahm effort after the left-back had beaten a handful of Lyon players with a foraging run down his wing.
Juninho's trademark free-kicks were Les Gones' main source of danger and before Demichelis' own goal, the Brazilian whipped in a set-piece that compatriot Fred headed too close to goalkeeper Michael Rensing.
Lyon right-back Anthony Reveillere fired a long-range shot just over in the 18th minute but his side were soon ahead.
Juninho's free-kick from a central position was fired into the area and Demichelis, in two minds whether to make a clearance with his head, could only get a glancing flick which sent the ball into the corner of the net.
Bayern piled forward in search of the equaliser, Toni twice going close in the latter stages of the first half.
The Italy international firstly drew a magnificent fingertip save out of Lloris with a low left-foot drive before heading wide from eight yards out.
The striker was at it again at the start of the second period, having a shot deflected just wide and then heading a Bastian Schweinsteiger cross past Lloris' right-hand post.
A goal was coming and it arrived in the 52nd minute, Klose being set free down the right and crossing for Ze Roberto to head home. Lloris got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.
Lyon invited pressure by continually giving the ball away and its central-midfield duo of Jeremy Toulalan and Jean Makoun worked overtime to stem the tide.
Ederson, on as a 36th-minute substitute for the injured Sidney Govou, fired in a cross that Karim Benzema failed to get enough purchase on but that was a rare foray forward for the French team.
At the other end, Ribery dragged a left-foot shot wide while Lloris was fortunate to fumble free-kick at the feet of team-mate Mathieu Bodmer rather than an in-rushing Bayern player.
The hosts' final chance fell to Toni, but once again he could not get the better of Lloris with a volley.