Real Madrid vs. Olympique Lyon: UEFA Champions League knockout round – Preview
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid take on Olympique Lyon in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout round fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, 16 March, 2011.
The first leg at the Stade de Gerland finished in a 1-1 draw and the fixture awaits a result in Madrid. Karim Benzema scored against his former club while Bafetimbi Gomis scored the equaliser.
Real Madrid have faced Lyon three times in the last five seasons and still have been unable to beat the French side in the competition. The seven clashes between the two sides have produced four wins for Lyon and three draws.
Real Madrid
The Los Blancos have had an impressive 2010-11 season under manager Jose Mourinho and are currently in second place behind http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 with 70 points. The Madrid giants are also in the Copa del Rey final where they meet rivals Barcelona in April 2011.
Real Madrid topped the Group G with 16 points in a tough group comprising the likes of AC Milan and Ajax Amsterdam. They are still unbeaten in the competition and won five of the six games played, drawing one. Madrid have scored a brilliant 15 goals in the
competition and conceded only two.
Olympique Lyon
The French giants have not been at their usual best in the season and have struggled for consistency. The Les Gones are third in the Ligue 1 table behind Lille and Rennes with 48 points.
Lyon were the runners-up in the Group B with 10 points behind Schalke 04. The French club managed to go through facing some tough competition from Schalke and Benfica. They won three games and lost two, scoring 11 goals in the process.
Team news
Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be fit for the clash after suffering a hamstring injury against Malaga CF whereas Gonzalo Higuain and Kaka remain long-term doubts. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Karim-Benzema-c20350 will start against his former club as the lone striker with Ronaldo playing
just behind him as the second striker. Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil will start on the respective wings to give the hosts the edge in wider positions.
Olympique Lyon
The visitors will welcome back Lisandro Lopez in the starting line up. The Argentinean is expected to start as the lone striker upfront with support from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michel-Bastos-c25461 and Cesar Delgado from the midfield.
Players to watch
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ronaldo-c31735
The Portuguese sensation has scored a stunning 37 goals in the season in a total of 39 appearances for the club. The goal machine has also provided 11 assists. Madrid have not progressed to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League for a long time now
and Ronaldo will be hoping to play a part in leading his side to victory.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-Lloris-c16408
The Lyon stopper has been influential for the club in the campaign so far and has been one of the few positives for the Les Gones. He will surely have a tough game as Madrid have been deadly at home all season. If Lyon go through, it will definitely be because
of the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 international.
Prediction
Although Madrid have been unable to beat Lyon in the competition, this match will surely end the hoodoo. The Los Blancos have not lost at home all season and are also unbeaten in the competition. It looks highly unlikely that they will lose this time. Madrid
are expected to win the tie 2-0 and move to the quarterfinals.
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