Twin disappointments for the last two remaining French clubs in European competition as AS Monaco and Olympique Lyonnais lost the first leg of their respective competition’s semi-finals. Monaco went down 2-0 at home to Italian champions Juventus, with Gonzalo Higuain doing the damage for the visitors.
Lyon’s chances of making it to their first ever European final also look slim after a 4-1 loss to Ajax Amsterdam. Mathieu Valbuena’s away goal gives them a glimmer of hope, but few would bet against Ajax reaching their first final since 1996 at Parc Olympique Lyonnais next week.