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By Iain Rogers

MADRID, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Real Madrid’s 1-1 Champions League draw at Olympique Lyon on Tuesday went some way towards ending their jinx against the French club but the players were frustrated at their failure to secure a decisive victory.

Lyon eliminated the La Liga giants at the same stage last season, Real’s sixth straight failure to make the quarter-finals, and there will no doubt be a few nervous home fans at the Bernabeu for the second leg on March 16.

Before Tuesday, Real’s record at Lyon’s Stade de Gerland was three defeats, no goals scored and six conceded but things seemed to be looking up when former Lyon striker Karim Benzema netted for the Spanish club in the 65th minute.

However, an 83rd-minute equaliser from Bafetimbi Gomis rescued a draw for the home side and left the tie nicely balanced for the second leg at the Bernabeu.

“I come away feeling a little sad,” Real’s Portuguese defender Pepe told reporters.

“We deserved to leave here with a win, unfortunately it wasn’t to be and we have the match at the Bernabeu to get through,” he added.

Real, bidding for a 10th continental title, will be firm favourites to progress given they have won all 19 home games in all competitions since Jose Mourinho took over as coach at the end of last season.

POSITIVE RESULT

Right back Sergio Ramos, whose header against the bar was one of Real’s many chances on Tuesday, said the draw was a positive result.

“You always have to be optimistic and dream about getting through the tie,” he told reporters.

“The return game is at home and in front of our own fans and we have to progress,” the Spain international added.

Ramos acknowledged Lyon had been superior in the early stages of the match.

“We know Olympique and they have a great team,” he said.

“In the first half they moved the ball around better and were more dangerous.

“But the (Real) team knew how to react in the second half. We passed the ball around better and created some clear chances, and there were also the doubts over the penalty.”

Real’s claims for a penalty when the ball appeared to strike Yoann Gourcuff’s arm in the area were waved away by the referee.

“Unfortunately, they (the match officials) didn’t see it,” defender Ricardo Carvalho said. “I don’t understand it because everyone saw that it hit Gourcuff’s elbow.”

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Ken Ferris

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Labels: champions, frustrated, league, Reuters

{ Sebastian Vettel?admitted he was frustrated by a lack of track of time despite setting the pace on the opening day of F1 testing at Catalunya.

The?Red Bull?driver suffered a number of minor trips off track in the damp conditions that greeted teams during the morning, which led to the team carrying out a number of precautionary checks as a result.

Those checks took longer than expected which in turn meant Vettel was unable to return to the track until the closing moments of the session although he was still able to set the quickest time of the day with a late lap knocking?Fernando Alonso?off top spot.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t complete many laps today, as we had a long break – longer than expected,” he said.

“It wasn’t anything big, nothing broke, but at the test if you think there might be a problem then you’d rather take the car apart and check.

“The boys did their best and we still got some runs towards the end of the day – not as much as we’d like, but the car feels good and hopefully we’ll do more tomorrow.”

Head of race engineering Ian Morgan agreed with Vettel that it was frustrating to have lost time on track.

“It was frustrating today, as we lost some time making checks to the car during lunch,” he said. “It’s what testing is for, but we would have liked to complete more laps today.”

Crash.net / Eurosport


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Labels: despite, Eurosport, frustrated, setting, Vettel, Yahoo

{ Jones: Frustrated

SKY SPORTS ON SKY
There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more. Cardiff boss Dave Jones was disappointed to see his side drop two points after Burnley notched a late equaliser for a 1-1 draw.

Steve Thompson came off the bench to level the scores against his former club in the 74th minute at the Cardiff City stadium after Michael Chopra put the hosts ahead in first-half stoppage time.

And Jones was frustrated not to take a maximum haul as the second-placed Bluebirds bid for promotion from the Championship this season.

Jones said: "It was a difficult game and we probably should have seen it out but the manner we conceded so late on was very disappointing.

"It was the only time we switched off but they have good players and we gave the ball away far too easily during the second half.

"It was a soft goal to give away and you cannot leave the near post unattended. If it was from the centre of the goal then fair enough but not from that position.

"I don't think the referee had a good game as he didn't let the game flow but that is not the reason we have drawn the game as we should have gone for the jugular in the first half when we were well on top."

Despite earning a point, Clarets boss Eddie Howe felt his side deserved to be heading back to Lancashire with all three.

He said: "I think we deserved to win the game as we were in control apart from the opening 15 minutes.

"We bossed possession particularly in the second half and although before the game I would have been pleased with a point, now it's over I think we should have had all three.

"To concede right on half-time was a disappointment, particularly as their player had time for two touches.

The former Bournemouth boss added of the eighth-placed Clarets: "I would love to think we could make a late surge towards the play-offs but we have some tough games coming up.

"I have kept my philosophy from my Bournemouth days and inherited some very good players here so hopefully we can carry on the good work."

Howe also reserved special praise for Thompson, who netted for only the third time this season.

"Steve Thompson was delighted to score against his former club," Howe admitted.

"His attitude is first-class and he has been rewarded with his goal."

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{

Globe and Mail

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall proud but frustrated BBC Sport Proud but bitterly disappointed was how Stuart McCall summed up his first semi-final defeat as Motherwell manager after they went down 2-1 to Rangers. "All I asked of them was to give a good account of themselves. To come off the back pitch as good as ... Rangers 2 Motherwell 1: match reportTelegraph.co.uk Naismith relishing Old Firm fixture flurryYahoo! Eurosport UK Rangers 2 - 1 MotherwellBBC News The Press Association -stv.tv -Goal.com all 119 news articles »

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Labels: frustrated, manager, McCall, Motherwell, proud, Sport, Stuart