Real looked on course to end a run of three successive defeats at the Stade Gerland when substitute Karim Benzema scored with almost his first touch against his former club midway through the second half.
Real Madrid were denied a rare victory at Olympique Lyon when striker Bafetimbi Gomis struck late to earn his side a 1-1 draw in a cagey Champions League last-16 first-leg match on Tuesday.
Real looked on course to end a run of three successive defeats at the Stade Gerland when substitute Karim Benzema scored with almost his first touch against his former club midway through the second half.
But Lyon equalised seven minutes from time when the ball looped off a defender from a free kick straight to the unmarked Gomis who struck from close range.
Despite conceding a late equaliser, Real look well placed to reach the quarter-finals after going out of the competition in the first knockout round in the last six seasons.
"We got a useful and important result, finally putting an end to our bad run at this stadium," Real director general Jorge Valdano told Spanish television.
"The team played very well and it was an authentic European match with a lot of intensity.
"In the second half we could have run away with the game, including the possible penalty, but we got a very favourable result in the end.
"We have a team that inspires confidence, especially in the Bernabeu."
Early initiative
Lyon seized the early initiative with the lively Michel Bastos shooting over and Real rarely threatened until Cristiano Ronaldo's long-range free kick was pushed away by the diving Hugo Lloris.
Gomis missed the best chance of the first half on 34 minutes when his shot was deflected over after Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas failed to hold Bastos's cross on a damp surface after persistent rain.
The hosts, roared on by their noisy fans in the famous Virage Nord stand, had other chances but Real hit the post earliy in the second half from Ronaldo's dipping free kick from out wide and Sergio Ramos rattled the bar with a header from a corner.
The visitors also had a big shout for a penalty turned down before Benzema, cheered by Lyon fans as he came on, struck.
Real coach Jose Mourinho had denied striker Benzema a start against his former club, plumping for Emmanuel Adebayor up front, but the Togolese struggled to make an impact.
Lyon rarely threatened to get back into the match but they struck from nowhere when a hopeful free kick from just inside the Real half took a huge deflection and fell kindly for Gomis who volleyed the ball crisply into the net as the Spaniards appealed vainly for off side.
The second leg takes place at the Bernabeu on March 16.
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