Italian giants AC Milan came back from a goal behind to hold German champions Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first-leg that took place on Tuesday. Bayern skipper Michael Ballack gave his side the lead before a Andriy Shevchenko spot-kick that saw the game end in a 1-1 draw. The German powerhouse dominated the pitch throughout the first-half but squandered a host of chances to open their score due to mediocre performances from strikers Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro who lacked the finishing touch. Nevertheless, Ballack put Bayern up front after firing a throbbing shot from 25 meters, that left Milan goalkeeper Dido licking his wounds in the 23rd minute. Milan started the second-half with an aggressive approach that shattered Bayern's defence, but without any serious threat on the German net. Ukranian international Shevchenko canceled Ballack's goal with a penalty-shot that Milan picked-up after Bayern defender Valérien Ismaël appeared to have touched the ball in the area in the 56th minute.
Lyon midfielder Juninho The Tuesday thriller also witnessed two new debutants in the Champions League, Bayern and Milan goalkeepers Michael Rensing, who stood in place for injured veteran Oliver Kahn, and Australia's Zeljko Kalac who replaced Brazil's Dida around the 70th minute. Elsewhere, French outfit Olympique Lyonnais edged closer to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with a deserved 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadium. Lyon midfielder Juninho Pernambucano netted his side's winner from a brilliantly mastered free-kick 25 meters away from the goal in the 64th minute. Both clubs put on average performances in an equal-sided first-half, before the French champions picked up their pace in the second-half, that witnessed Sidney Govou receive his marching orders. The Champions League round of 16 second-legs will take place on March 8th.
