Bayern Munich are hoping UEFA will show leniency when a decision is made on Franck Ribery's Champions League red card.

The Frenchman was sent off in the 37th minute of the 1-0 semi-final first leg win against Lyon for a clumsy challenge on Lisandro and will face at least a one-game ban - with Bayern desperately hoping it will be no more than that. If the Bavarian club reach May's final then Ribery would be badly missed.

"He didn't lunge at him with his leg," said Bayern coach Louis van Gaal. "It is a harsh red card, but you can give it.

"Franck gave the referee the chance to send him off by standing on his foot for longer than necessary. I hope he only gets banned for one match."

Ribery's team-mate Arjen Robben, who scored the winning goal in the victory, said: "It has been a tough week for him but we have got to help him because we need him.

Arjen Robben's second half goal was enough for the German side to clinch the victory, but it was a bad tempered match and both teams had a player sent off.

Lyon were reduced to ten men nine minutes into the second half after Jeremy Toulalan picked up two bookings in quick succession.

Robben, enjoying a superb first season in Germany, netted the only goal in the 69th minute when his long-range strike took a slight deflection off the head of team mate Thomas Mueller and beat keeper Hugo Lloris.