Tottenham v Lyon

Bale 45′, 90′

Lyon 1

FT 90 +4
HT 1-0

By Matt Monaghan BBC Sport

Gareth Bale scored with two free-kicks as Tottenham beat Lyon in a Europa League round of 32 first leg meeting full of stunning goals.

After previously missing an open goal, Bale brought White Hart Lane to its feet with a devilishly swerving 35-yard effort just before half-time.

Lyon's Samuel Umtiti replied with a technically perfect half-volley from the edge of the box to level the game.

But Bale struck again deep in injury-time to give Spurs a narrow advantage.

History lesson

While this match contained three stunning strikes, the excitement levels paled into insignificance when compared to the 4-3 Uefa Cup Winners' Cup thriller between the sides at White Hart Lane in December 1967

In Lyon, Tottenham faced a club whose standards had declined since winning seven French league titles in a row in the previous decade, as well as making the Champions League semi-finals in 2010.

While former Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris dropped to the hosts' bench because of manager Andre Villas-Boas's policy to play Brad Friedel in cup competitions, ex-Spurs midfielder Steed Malbranque marked his return to north London with a start.

Despite the hosts making the brighter beginning, Lyon demanded a penalty when top scorer Bafetimbi Gomis went down in the box when Jan Vertonghen stuck out his leg. Contact between the pair seemed minimal at best, and last season's Champions League final referee Pedro Proenca declined to point to the spot.

Tottenham looked to use their superior pace all over the pitch to force the breakthrough and Emmanuel Adebayor, making his first start in more than a month after being away at the Africa Cup of Nations, should have put his side ahead when he snatched at a delightfully-weighted through-ball from Mousa Dembele.

Bale has been in lethal form of late, scoring Tottenham's last four goals, but he proved that even the greatest players are still fallible when he missed from well inside the visitors' area with the goal at his mercy following full-back Kyle Walker's burst down the right flank.

Bale's brilliance

Bale's brace of free-kicks took him to 17 goals in all competitions this season, with four of his last six strikes coming from distance

Redemption was soon coming for the Welshman, though, as he brought the Tottenham support to their feet once more when his astonishing free-kick dipped past the helpless Remy Vercoutre.

It was a strike worthy of Lyon great Juninho Pernambucano, who has made a career on the back of such breathtaking long-range dead ball attempts.

Stung by conceding the opening goal, the French side improved after the break and levelled things up in majestic fashion. Left-back Umtiti raced onto William Gallas's clearance, leaving Friedel dumbfounded as he watched the 19-year-old's shot rocket into the top corner of the net.

Lyon have earned a reputation as a conveyor belt of talent thanks to the exploits of former players such as Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and Karim Benzema.

Judging by Thursday night's evidence, the production line seemed still to be in action as 21-year-old attacker Alexandre Lacazette almost grabbed an impressive strike of his own as he dribbled through four defenders at speed before shooting straight at Friedel.

Tottenham struggled to regain momentum after the equaliser and were not even boosted by the introduction of January signing Lewis Holtby from the bench.

And so Spurs again looked to Bale for inspiration. He did not disappoint, as deep into injury-time he hammered in another outstanding strike to gain his side a slim lead for next Thursday's second leg at Stade Gerland.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Tottenham Hotspur

24 Friedel
05 Vertonghen
13 Gallas
28 Walker Booked
32 Assou-Ekotto
02 Dempsey (Holtby - 67' )
07 Lennon (Sigurdsson - 79' )
08 Parker (Livermore - 90' )
11 Bale
10 Adebayor
19 Dembele

Substitutes

25 Lloris
16 Naughton
20 Dawson
33 Caulker
14 Holtby
22 Sigurdsson
29 Livermore

Lyon

01 Vercoutre
05 Lovren
06 Fofana Booked
13 Reveillere
15 Bisevac
23 Umtiti Booked
17 Malbranque (Grenier - 82' )
21 Gonalons
09 Lopez (Ghezzal - 88' )
10 Lacazette
18 Gomis

Substitutes

16 Lopes
04 Kone
14 Dabo
07 Grenier
12 Ferri
31 Ghezzal
25 Benzia

Ref: Proenca

Att: 31,762

Match Stats

Possession 55 45

Shots

8 7

On target

5 5

Corners

6 4

Fouls

11 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:58 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +2:54 Goal scored

Goal - Gareth Bale - Tottenham 2 - 1 Lyon Gareth Bale grabs a goal direct from the free kick from outside the area high into the middle of the goal. Tottenham 2-1 Lyon.

90:00 +1:50

Maxime Gonalons challenges Gareth Bale unfairly and gives away a free kick.

90:00 +1:01 Substitution

Substitution Scott Parker leaves the field to be replaced by Jake Livermore.

90:00 +0:44

Gareth Bale takes a shot. Save by Remy Vercoutre.

89:43

Gareth Bale crosses the ball.

88:29

The ball is swung over by Clement Grenier, clearance by Jan Vertonghen.

88:10

Jan Vertonghen concedes a free kick for a foul on Milan Bisevac. Direct free kick taken by Milan Bisevac.

87:43 Substitution

Substitution Rachid Ghezzal comes on in place of Lisandro Lopez.

84:53

Kyle Walker gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Samuel Umtiti. Free kick crossed right-footed by Clement Grenier, Gylfi Sigurdsson makes a clearance.

84:08

Benoit Assou-Ekotto sends in a cross, clearance made by Maxime Gonalons.

81:52 Substitution

Substitution Clement Grenier on for Steed Malbranque.

79:02

Direct free kick taken by Scott Parker.

79:02 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Gueida Fofana for unsporting behaviour.

78:56

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lewis Holtby by Gueida Fofana.

78:16 Substitution

Substitution Gylfi Sigurdsson is brought on as a substitute for Aaron Lennon.