LIVERPOOL: Bayern Munich showed all their Champions League experience and quality organisation as they held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their last 16 match at Anfield on Tuesday.
At Lyon, the French side kept Barcelona's vaunted attack in check as the sides also drew 0-0 in their first leg match. (Details below)
The result leaves it all to play for in the second leg in Munich on March 13, although the German side will be without defender Joshua Kimmich who will be suspended after picking up a yellow card.
It is no accident that Bayern have reached the semi-finals of this competition in six of the last seven seasons and they showed their pragmatic calmness to subdue Liverpool's normally lively front three.
Mohamed Salah, the man Liverpool look to for moments of inspiration, to create a goal out of nothing, had a night to forget with one of his poorest displays in this competition.
Liverpool simply could not find the fluency and rhythm that brings the best out of their forward line although they will be pleased, in the absence of their defensive rock Virgil van Dijk, to have kept out Bayern.
There were few clear-cut chances in the game although Liverpool created several half-openings in the first period.
The first was one of the best they managed -- Jordan Henderson looking for Salah, who had snuck in behind Niklas Sule, but the Egyptian's toe-poke at full stretch was straight at Manuel Neuer.
At the other end, their goalkeeper Alisson Becker had to be alert to keep out a mis-hit clearance from Joel Matip that hit him in the chest.
Kingsley Coman fired into the side-netting after a sloppy give away from Alisson but that was a rare sign of jitters from either defence.
Bayern were content to sit deep after the break and the closest Juergen Klopp's side came in the second half was a diving header from Sadio Mane in the 86th minute which Neuer pushed around the post.
This was not a night that will go in the list of great European encounters at Anfield, a fact reflected in a rather flat atmosphere for much of the game, but Liverpool know they still have a chance to progress.
"You're playing an experienced team. They've been here and done it for five or six years," said left back Andy Robertson.
"We've kept a clean sheet, could've scored a couple of goals but the tie is well and truly alive. If we score there it's crucial."
At Lyon, France, Lionel Messi failed to add to his six goals so far in the competition, while Luis Suarez had the goal gaping but sliced a shot wide with 20 minutes left after latching on to Jordi Alba's pass from the left.
When Messi picked out Sergio Busquets five minutes from the end, the midfielder's rasping shot from the edge of the penalty area drew a fine save from Anthony Lopes.
Messi had the goal in his sights in the last minute with his second free kick of the night, but struck it into the wall and did the same with the rebound.
Both goalkeepers did well in a contest free of any cynical or heavy fouling, with Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen making two fine saves inside the first 10 minutes from midfielder Houssem Aouar and forward Martin Terrier.
Although Lyon spent much of the half chasing Barcelona's slick midfielders, Barca's approach play too often broke down around the penalty area. Suarez was the biggest culprit, wasting several promising moves with unusually hurried passes.
Coach Ernesto Valverde's side won the Spanish league last season and lead it again. But Barcelona has not reached the Champions League final since winning the competition for the fifth time in 2015.