Five Lyon fans ‘injured in Barcelona with one taken to hospital’ after supporters clash with police

Five Lyon supporters have reportedly been injured in Barcelona ahead of the Ligue 1 side’s Champions League last-16 clash with the Spanish league leaders on Wednesday.

Four fans were treated for the effects of pepper spray while one supporter was taken to hospital due to a wound, according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER via AS.  

Thousands of French supporters have descended on the Catalan city ahead of the second leg of the European cup tie, which is finely poised after the first leg finished goalless.

More than 5,000 fans have made the 330-mile trip across the border into northern Spain

More than 100 known ultras have also made the trip and some fans clashed with police

Fans lit flares and let off smoke bombs as the atmosphere intensified ahead of kick off

Barcelona’s police unit – Mossos d’Esquadra – and the Barcelona Urban Guard were deployed

More than 5,000 fans were expected to make the 330-mile trip with more than 100 ultras from the group ‘Bad Gones’ among them. 

The ultras announced on social media that they would base themselves at the Plaza de Artos, which is near to the Nou Camp and typically a place where anti-fascists rallies are held. Some groups of anti-fascists arrived holding banners which read: ‘tout le monde deteste fascistes’ (everyone hates fascists). 

Barcelona’s police unit – Mossos d’Esquadra – and the Barcelona Urban Guard were deployed in the early hours of Wednesday morning to greet the fans of Les Gones with the aim of preventing clashes between rival groups of supporters. 

Five fans were reportedly injured ahead of kick off, with four treated for effects of pepper spray

Fans lit flares and let off smoke bombs as the atmosphere intensified ahead of kick off

One fan was also treated for a wound, according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER 

Lyon supporters have been making their presence felt in the city, with fans lighting flares and setting off smoke-bombs in the hours leading up to the match. There were also clashes with police near the Nou Camp ahead of kick off.

The game starts at 8pm (9pm CET), with the side currently third in the French top flight aiming to progress further than rivals Paris Saint-Germain in this year’s tournament.

PSG crashed out last week against Manchester United, losing the second leg of their tie 3-1 at the Parc des Princes.

Lyon have been boosted by the return of captain Nabil Fekir for their trip to the Nou Camp, after the French international missed the 0-0 draw at the Groupama stadium through suspension.