Ajax, Lyon battle to a scoreless draw

Lyon held Ajax to a 0-0 draw Wednesday in their opening group game of the Champions League.

Ajax had better possession in the first half but created few meaningful chances.

Lyon forward Bafetimbi Gomis could have put his side in front after 23 minutes but his shot went just wide after combining well with Jimmy Briand.

Gomis had another chance moments later but Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer palmed his effort away.

Michel Bastos had another good attempt for Lyon in the first half, cutting through the Ajax area before sending his drive wide.

Vermeer intervened to block Bastos' close-range strike in the 55th.

Ajax captain Jan Vertonghen fired tamely at Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 60th after collecting a through ball from Miralem Sulejmani.

Three minutes later, Lloris made a diving save to stop Christian Eriksen's shot from 20 yards (meters).

Sulejmani had the best chance for Ajax when he went clean through on goal with Lloris in the 75th, but the goalkeeper saved with his legs.

Clement Grenier thought he had grabbed a late winner for Lyon but saw his 85th-minute volley drift narrowly wide.