Real Madrid versus Olympique Lyon – UEFA Champions League: Match Preview
After gaining a vital one all draw against Real Madrid at their home stadium, Lyon now have to travel to Santiago Bernabéu for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round of sixteen tie against Jose Mourinho’s team. On Wednesday, 16th
of March Lyon will take the field against Real Madrid. Let’s take a look at how both the teams will line up for this matchup...
Real Madrid
Going in strong in their domestic charge for the La Liga title, Los Blancos must conquer their fears now against Lyon. Last season, Madrid capitulated in fine style at the round of sixteen stage of the UEFA Champions League as they drew against Lyon in the
second leg at Santiago Bernabéu after losing the first leg by a goal to nil in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899. Jose Mourinho will be looking to work his magic this time around and break the curse that Madrid have been infected with in the past few years with regard to the UEFA Champions
League.
More interestingly, Real Madrid are the only UEFA Champions League team with a clean sheet record at Santiago Bernabéu. Mourinho’s men have not conceded a single goal at their home stadium in the European Cup. Out of their last five competitive fixtures,
Madrid have won three and drawn two. However, Madrid have not won against Lyon in their last seven meetings with the former French champions.
Olympique Lyon
After winning their latest match in the French League, Lyon are in good form at the moment. Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Claude Puel’s team have won three and drawn two. Despite the fact that Lyon knocked Real Madrid out of the UEFA Champions
League last season, it should be noted that no French club side has ever won against Los Blancos at their home stadium. Additionally, Lyon have a terrible defensive record when it comes to their away fixtures in the UEFA Champions League. Claude Puel’s team
have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight consecutive away fixtures.
Moreover, Real Madrid’s away goal gives the Spanish giants a well deserved advantage whilst giving Lyon a mandatory headache. The French outfit now have a massive job to do at Santiago Bernabéu against an extremely well rehearsed Real Madrid side.
Team News
Real Madrid might be without their star Portuguese winger, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 for the match. The ex-Manchester United forward missed Real’s latest league outing as well. A late fitness test is scheduled to determine Ronaldo’s fitness levels on Wednesday morning
in Madrid. Gonzalo Higuain is a sure shot absentee for the nine time European Cup winners due to his fitness issues whereas Mesut Ozil, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sami-Khedira-c32325 and Karim Benzema are all fit to start for Jose Mourinho’s team.
Expected Real Madrid Line up: Casillas, Ramos, Carvalho, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alonso-c5254, Granero, Ozil, Benzema, Di Maria, Adebayor
Lyon will miss their Brazilian winger http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michel-Bastos-c25461. Bastos picked up an unnecessary yellow card in the first leg at Stade de Gerland thus he will miss the second leg at Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid. However, Claude Puel’s team can take heart from
the fact that Lisandro Lopez is fit enough to start for Les Gones after returning to goal scoring form at the weekend by leading Lyon to a two nil win over FC Sochaux.
Expected Olympique Lyon Line up: Lloris, Réveillère, Cris, Lovren, Toulalan, Gourcuff, Delgado, Lisandro, Briand, Gomis, Kallstrom
Key Players
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AS-Real-c38478 Madrid’s first substitution of the match. Benzema
has been prolific to say the least in the UEFA Champions League this season; the Frenchman has bagged a goal for every 55 minutes he has been on the field for Mourinho’s team in the European Cup.
Lyon will bank on their Argentinean forward Lisandro Lopez to fire them through to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League. Les Gones will have to score at Santiago Bernabéu, if they aspire to match their ambitions of participating in the quarterfinals
of the UEFA Champions League. The best way to do so will be to entrust Lopez as the striker has netted four goals in Lyon’s last two matches in the French league.
Prediction
Real are the favourites to win this tie. Despite the fact that Lyon do posses a tricky strike force, Mourinho’s men have enough talent in their ranks to pull through to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Prediction: 2-0
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect the official editorial policy of
www.bettor.com
Tags: