Barca, Lyon seeking to ease domestic pressure

BARCELONA: Barcelona and Lyon have watched healthy leads at the top of their domestic leagues diminish in recent weeks but reacted in different ways ahead of today's Champions League last 16, second leg.

When the pair drew 1-1 in the first leg in Lyon two weeks ago, Barca were mired in a miserable run that enabled Spanish champions Real Madrid to reduce their Primera Liga advantage to just four points from 12 in early February.

The Catalans stretched the lead back to six with a 2-0 home win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday as Real were held at home by city rivals Atletico, but coach Pep Guardiola and his players remain under pressure.