Arjen Robben scored a second half winner as Bayern Munich beat Lyon 1-0 in the first leg of a Champions League semifinal on Wednesday which both sides finished with 10 men.
Robben found the net in the 69th minute with a shot that took a slight deflection off his teammate Thomas Mueller.
Earlier, Bayern's star winger Franck Ribery was sent off in the 37th minute for a challenge on Lisandro and Lyon defender Jeremy Toulalan went off with his second booking in the 54th.
Bayern had more chances throughout the match, while Lyon relied on rare counterattacks and created few threats.
The result was one of the outcomes Bayern had been wishing for, with Lyon failing to score an important away goal. In the other semifinal, Inter Milan beat defending champion Barcelona 3-1 on Tuesday.
Robben, who has scored several decisive goals for Bayern this season, cut inside from the right flank and sent a shot that took a slight deflection off Mueller and slipped under goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Mueller ducked in an attempt to stay out of the way but the slight deflection was enough to catch Lloris on the wrong foot.
Ribery was sent off for a challenge on Lisandro after losing the ball. Ribery stepped on Lisandro's ankle with his right foot, leaving the Argentine to be carried off the pitch. Lisandro returned a couple of minutes later to a barrage of boos from the partisan crowd.
Last week, Ribery provided testimony for investigators probing a suspected prostitution ring believed to have operated out of a Paris nightclub.Sophie Bottai, Ribery's lawyer, says no charges were filed against him and that he was not held in police custody.
Lyon lost the man advantage when Toulalan received his second booking of the match from referee Roberto Rosetti of Italy for a foul on Bastian Schweinsteiger. Toulalan's first booking was only three minutes earlier.
Bayern dominated the early action and Schweinsteiger's header went close after a corner from Robben.
Ribery shook off his markers but shot wide in the 18th minute, then Ivica Olic sent his effort wide of the mark after a good pass from Robben.
Bayern dominated the first 20 minutes with Lyon never threatening.
After Ribery's dismissal, Lyon managed to shake off some of the pressure and Kim Kallstrom tested Bayern goalkeeper Joerg Butt with a fierce shot from 30 meters (yards). Butt tipped it over.
With both teams down to 10 men, the game picked up pace and an effort from Robben from inside the area went close.
At the other end, a mix-up in Bayern's defense nearly led to an own goal.
Lloris made a good save to foil Schweinsteiger. Substitute Mario Gomez had a close-range header sent it straight at Lloris shortly before Robben found the net.
Robben had another effort stopped by Lloris before being substituted in the 86th minute.
Lyon substitute Sidney Govou nearly grabbed a late qualizer when he sent in a low shot from the edge of the penalty box which flew just outside the post in the last chance of the match.
