CL : Olympique Lyonnais vs Real Madrid

By: Megame | February 21st, 2011

David vs Goliath, or a Battle of Titans? Rarely has the now usual CL encounter between OL and Real seemed more balanced, or, rather, less unbalanced. In the past 3 Gerland encounters, Lyon were the obvious underdogs, Madrid and their Galacticos the archfavourite. It should have been a whitewash, Real über alles, yet… they lost. This year, Madrid had fantastic signings, not only on the pitch as the most notable of them was the talismanic Special One. The team is better balanced, and whilst they didn’t initially click altogether, it now seems to be the case. They’ve been very successful, but not completely irresistible, as Barca showed the world how to derail the machine, their high pressing and ball kidnapping leading to a 5-0 humiliation. On the OL side, after a miserable start Lyon embarked on a good series of games without defeats (without being really convincing, though), that ended with a couple of counter performances; but the team have been improving a lot recently, and are in a better position ahead of this match than last year… Although, here also Arles-Avignon showed the world what to do to derail the machine

Joke aside, Real will obviously be the odds favourites; but one can feel the Lyonnais believing in themselves and their ability to up their game and rise to the occasion; and Mourinho’s been preparing this game so meticulously (coming himself to attend the St Etienne derby, missing his team’s last training session before that week’s Liga game), that you can feel OL is probably being taken more seriously they have ever been.

lyon-real-madrid-

What is also different this year is that there were far less signs of overconfidence coming from Spain. Indeed, one of the keys to last year’s victory had been the complacency, and to some extent the lack of respect that the Spanish press and some Real players had been displaying before the game. So not only were the Lyon players completely wound up ahead of the game which made them determined as ever on the pitch, they also had a remark or two to make to their opponents in the tunnel after the game.

So to get a feel for the atmosphere on the Real side ahead of the game, it looked interesting to have the viewpoint of a good follower of the club, Tanuj from TheRealMadridFan, who kindly answered my questions:

Lyon Offside : Real Madrid faces Lyon again this season, whom they’ve never beaten in 6 matches. Why is that?
The Real Madrid Fan : I think it is more to do with our complacency and mindset that goes into playing Lyon. Additionally, Lyon are very good at home and they’ve proven that against us with their wins in 2005/06 and 2006/07 group stages. Despite not boasting of high profile players, Lyon do well as a collective team and work hard which makes them harder to beat.

Lyon Offside : What do you think are the reasons for Los Biancos to be confident for this game?
The Real Madrid Fan : We have been good in front of goal and in defence. There is good understanding between the midfield in Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria with the forward choices in Ronaldo, Benzema and Adebayor. Overall, we won’t be complacent especially with Jose as manager and his experience in Europe, it would prove handy.

Lyon Offside : And why should they be wary?
The Real Madrid Fan : First and foremost, Lyon hold the psychological advantage. They would have the majority of the support, home leg to start the tie with, the burden of going past the ‘Round of 16′ and of course, grinding out a result at Stade de Gerland. Lyon have had a great record in the league and in the Champions League when it comes to home games with St. Etienne as the only loss. Then individually, the likes of Bastos and Gourcuff would pose a threat to our defence. Lisandro’s injury makes him uncertain for the game which is a positive for us. Cris in Lyon’s captain is a very good defender which we saw in the tie last season.

Lyon Offside : What tactics do you think Mourinho will use?
The Real Madrid Fan : Mourinho has employed the same tactics in most of his games and am thinking he would continue with the same. Four in defence, two defencive midfielders, an attacking trident and a striker. As for the strategy, the team and the fans wouldn’t even mind a 1-0 victory as long as we get an upper edge and most importantly an away goal. So it would all come down to who would score first. If we score first then I would expect Jose to employ defencive strategies to maintain that lead and take it to Bernabeu. On the other hand, if Lyon scores first then we would push for an away goal even if it doesn’t lead to a win.

Lyon Offside : And if you were Claude Puel, what tactics would you use to beat Real Madrid?
The Real Madrid Fan : I would say our vulnerabilities lie in set pieces. Even though we’ve been better in defence this time around than for some years, set pieces can hit us hard. Alongside, quick counter attacks can catch our defence out which we’ve seen happen against Barcelona this season. These two tactics and if employed efficiently can put Lyon through comfortably.

Lyon Offside : Finally, who do you think has the most pressure ahead of this game?
The Real Madrid Fan : Hard to say really. Lyon would be under pressure that they’re at home and have a 6-0 record against us to build on while the media scrutiny has always been on Real Madrid for not going past the last 16 stage and we would have our sights set on “La Decima” (The Tenth) which would put further pressure on our players. Lets just hope its a fantastic game with flowing football and we see goals in it.

Thanks Tanuj, I hope, too. I don’t expect too many goals, though…

Probable teams:
Real Madrid : Despite his wishes and those of the many family and friends who will be at Gerland, I think Karim will start on the bench. We might expect the usual away formation, but Mourinho has been unusually secretive regarding his team compo, cancelling the Lyon training and barricading the tactical setup of his team. This may indicate a tactical coup. So 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3? Which rabbit will come out of the wizard’s hat?
My guess : Casillas, Arbeloa, Pepe, R. Carvalho, Marcelo, X. Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria, Özil, C. Ronaldo, Adebayor.

For Lyon, there’s little to be guessed, as Puel is likely to stick at least partly to the 4-2-3-1 which has been giving good results recently, even if it may prove tricky in a CL home game. The two main unknowns are the CBs, with 3 candidates for two spots, and the right winger, with Briand and Delgado competing for the spot.
My guess : Lloris, Réveillère, Cris, Lovren, Cissokho, Toulalan, Källström, Delgado, Gourcuff, Bastos, Gomis.

Allez les Lyonnais, make us proud!

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Champions League, Claude Puel, Jean-Michel Aulas, Lisandro Lopez, Previews/Reviews, Team News and Rumors

« Lyon vs Nancy : the starter … and the non-starters | Home | Puel, new stadium … Aulas speaks, Puel answers. »

ground penetrating radar

It was a fighting match i must say a good game of succor.
Megame

For those of you who watched the OM vs ManU game yesterday, what did you think? I found it a bit boring to be honest. OM has statistically more chances to qualify, but based on quality of play I'd say OL was better, don't you think?
john

Agreed. But as much as I can't stand those baby blue buggers, I'm praying they take down Man U. Aside from the fact that I want Alex Ferguson to notice Mandanda, thereby taking his attetion off of Lloris, and the postive attention a win would bring for L1's image, it would obviously be a colossal coup for two French squads to knock-out two giants of football at the same time. Imagine the shock on the faces of the uninitiated and obnoxious, acolytes who think that there is nothing beyond the Premiership and La Liga. My eyes are getting watery at the prospect.
Megame

The beauty of this is that it's actually quite possible this year...
Russ

yea it shocks me how Lyon cant run away with the French League, they clearly demonstrate that they are the superior side in France when it comes to the Champions League. Marseille were a bit poor and disappointing for me. They just can't seem to raise their game in the CL like we can. We did not look out of place with a European heavyweight like Madrid, while Marseille just dont have the confidence in themselves to compete with a club like United. The difference is Marseille played scared, and Lyon did not
lefutur

I disagree. I saw both games and I thought both Marseille and Lyon looked good. Remy was awesome and very dangerous against Man U.
john

I've always said we need two coaches: one for the CL, and one for the league.
sdzsdz

so proud of les gones!! i may have broken a table in celebrations for the critical bafe goal, and im buying new tables to break for the return leg!
ALLEZ l'OL!!!!!!
Russ

I have a comment thats not really related to the game: Watching this PSV Lille game and several other PSV matches, I am convinced that if we do decide to sell Bastos in the summer, Balazs Dzsudzsak would be the perfect replacement. He has everything you want out of a Left-footed Winger. He is class. Juventus is a front-runner to buy him at the moment so I say we sell Bastos to Juve and acquire him with the Bastos sale.
Cabreralj

How much would he cost? And remember, we don't really need a left-footer if Lisandro is going to be kept out on the left. I think they will go with an Lilo-Bafe-Lacazette axis- if Lisandro is happy where he is now. I like Payet, though he's sure to be overpriced just special for us. He is a right footer, though he can play on both sides, and has excellent deadball skills as well. He reminds me of Bastos in so many ways. But we just have too many wingers at the moment and it seems like some of them will be moving out due to lack of PT. I think eventually, Pied and Briand will be on the way out. Did Delgado renew his contract?
Megame

According to B. Lacombe, talks regarding the renewal of Delgado's contract have been taking place on tuesday and are said to be progressing in a positive way.
Nikhil Apte

By the way, John last posted in November (?) and Inara last posted in December (?), what's happening?
Megame

I'll answer for Inara as she may not see your question : she got overloaded with her postgrad work and couldn't find the time to post like she used to for many years.

As for John, I'll let him answer. But no, it wasn't a coup d'etat from my side ;)

And since you raise the question, anyone interested can contact us to become a regular or occasional poster of the Lyon Offside.
Nikhil Apte

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Juni still has it in him. :)
Michael

Juni the King :)
muaz

Juninho! lalalalalala Pernambucano! lalalalalala
Nikhil Apte

Happy with the result! :D Bastos getting a yellow card meaning Lisandro HAS to be fit by March.
Pied too, must have been a world record for shortest time on field to get booked.
Pjanic needs more time on the field and he DID come on with a different attitude, blasting the ball goal-wards with his first touch!
Happy that Benzinho didn't celebrate! And happy with the way Lyon didn't shrink into a corner after conceding, as was the case against Bayern.

As for the second leg, if extending history, Casillas has NEVER managed a clean sheet against Lyon. Has conceded 11 goals in 7 matches!
I'm hoping for an exciting 2-2 'victory' for Lyon. :D

Oh, and Megame, could Disqus default settings be changed to Sort by Newest First? Particularly useful for reading any posts that were entered when the match is/was on.
Megame

Hi Nikhil
Thanks for the Casillas stats, that's comforting... Although I'm pretty confident we'll score at least once.

Regarding Disqus, the way comments are being sorted is entirely of your choosing, it's just a setting appearing on this page, just on top of the comments, below the red sentence "Showing -- comments". Can you just try and confirm it works?
Nikhil Apte

It does work, good thing it seems to add that information in the cookie. So I guess anyone coming in here will have to do that once on each browser.
Megame

Correct, sir!
muaz

agree on 'newest first'! Can?
Megame

It's a setting on your own page, so you can do what you want! Isn't it wonderful? :)

Maybe it's because of this that some readers are not comfortable with Disqus. But once you know that, it's a pretty good system, I think.
muaz

got it
Luke99

Claude Puel may have problems in Ligue 1 but hes definitely starting to build his reputation and make himself a big name in the champions league with Lyon give him Bruno Alves , Ezequiel Lavezzi and Raul Meireles and im 100% positive he will win the champions League
muaz

yeah, with this kind of reputation, who knows, many great players would want to join lyon next season
John OM

as much as i hate OL domestically, us Ligue 1 teams have to stick together and support each other in Europe so we can get the respect we deserve. So proud that Gomis got that goal back after a tough match that didn't go the way Ligue 1 supporters would have hoped for. Can't wait to see what happens at Madrid. Hoping for a repeat of last year. It's no shock to us that there is more than talent in France. Allez Lyon, Allez l'OM, allez Ligue 1!
Megame

Good mindset. And AFAIAC I will be supporting OM tonight.
luke99

this was a great a performance from Lyon and to be honest i think they can do it this year too imagin this lyon team with ederson and Lisandro in the next leg Allez OL
Carvivlie

I think the team can be really proud about the way the played and maybe a bit angry that they didn't win. Great attitude to take into this weekend's big fixture against Lille. Also, Bastos is out for the return leg but hopefully Licha will be back. I see Licha and Briand both starting against RM.
Mark A. Duckworth

Really a great game by Lyon. Unfortunate that they will not have Bastos in Madrid, but the way they play.. they can definitely get the game to penalties. Winning away against a Mourinho side is difficult, but it just seems that if anyone will do it it is Lyon against Madrid to do it.
Michael

Delgado was a monster in the first half
Stanley

we should definitely draw positives from this game...the team fought really hard. we are still in it and Gourcuff i think had maybe one of his best games in a lyon shirt. Definitely best champions league game in a Lyon shirt. ALLEZ OL!! we should be proud the team didn't give up
Michael

I'm little sad,but we still have a chance for q-finals :)
What would happen if Gomis scored in the first half......
Carvivlie

Don't make yourself miserable with the what if's from the first half. You'll go crazy.
Michael

I hate Real and Mr.Special very much
Carvivlie

That's right...get it all out ;))
Michael

haha :D
john

I love it: These idiot hispanic commentators were I live were just saying how unconvincing Gomis looked to them, and he scores a minute after.
john

That 40mill for Benzema bought us a ticket out of the CL.
john

I wish Lacazette had been included in the squad. We have to stick with Gomis for the rest of the match- no more fowards. It would've been nice to go with Pied-Briand-Laca in the last 10mns.
john

Cris and Bastos out for the next leg?
Michael

I think that Cris can play,Bastos is out
john

Had I gone with this feeling I had all day: that Benzema was going to score and sink us, and bet a million dollars this morning, I'd be rich.
Mark A. Duckworth

He didn't sink anything, though. As the Fox anchor said, nothing is won in the first leg.
Carvivlie

Keep it up Lyonnais!!!!
Megame

Well guys, I'm pleased with what I see! How about you?
Nikhil Apte

Doing well as of the 29th minute! :D
Ozil is invisible and Gourcuff is toying with the Madrid backline, WHAT A SIGHT! :D
Megame

And Bastos, too!
Nikhil Apte

Agreed! Delgado was on fire too! And I forgot to mention Khedira, which I did because he was also invisible. :P
It was a Xabi show for Madrid in the first half.
Carvivlie

Lineups are in and RM are going more defensive at the back, taking out Marcelo for Arbeloa.
ederson honorato campos

I will just say : Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!!!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!!!!!
Michael

It's not just Lyon vs Real it is also Football vs Money
Russ

UP LYONNAIS ALLES LES GONES TODAY WE WILL SEE THE BEAUTIFUL LYON JUST AS HUGO SAID IT THE OTHER DAY 2-0 TO OUR BOYS WE WILL ALL BE PROUD LYONNAIS SUPPORTERS IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY BEEN CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Megame

Still more than 3 hours to wait... Can't get the game out of my head. Maybe I should make a diversion, start another topic.

Oh yes, I found one:

Do you guys like dogs?
Pjanic

I"do like "underdogs"
Dror

I cant remember the last time i anticipated a match so much, time doesn't pass i i simply cant wait :S
as for Real being favorites, of course they are, but all i all i don't think a Lyon win tonight would be considered a massive shock.
at these levels of football anything can happen, both 2-0 for Lyon and 0-3 to Madrid sound like logical results, its up to the randomness of the game to decide :)
Michael

I agree with you,time doesn't pass :)
Theo

Yes, the time just won't pass. I can't wait!
Michael

Theo you are alive :)
Theo

Haha, yes ;)
I am reading this blog regularly but didn't write much. I hate this disqus thing.
Megame

Yes Theo, did you read in this page the discussions with Nikhil and Muaz regarding the Disqus settings? This may be the reason you're unhappy with this system.
Nikhil Apte

I think you may want to change the 'Sort by' settings on top to Newest First. :)
Megame

Yes Theo, we've been missing you!
Carvivlie

As Gourcuff stated, there is less and less logic to football. Real should have won last year (based on the pedigree of their players) and didn't. Though they say they won't be overconfident, I think they can't help themselves. Hopefully, this will play into Lyon's hands.
Nikhil Apte

Good article!
Megame, sorry I couldn't reply the last time after the Nancy match. What I was happy about was that Pjanic, Pied, and Briand got goals, something that should do them a world of good as all of them have been substitutes lately!
Lyon might just miss Lisandro, but I'm not sure he would have been very effective if in front of the goal with Carvalho and Pepe around. Ah, anyway, Kallstrom is doing really well, so is Toulalan, Gourcuff, and even Gomis! :D
I feel good about this team. I'm cautiously optimistic!
Megame

No problem Nikhil, I know you've been busy making voodoo dolls to nail for each and every member of the Real team, substitutes, staff, cooks and gardeners.
Megame

And you nailed this one well, too : "cautiously optimistic" is indeed what could describe how many of us feel.
Aleksander

Allez Lyonnais!
Pride of Lyon

I think it will be a hard time, but you never know with Lyon.
Michael

One more thing-fu*k you Mr.Special
Michael

We can win this,and show the world that money can't buy the CL title :) :) :)
Pride of Lyon

I am impressed by Zidane who says he knows how Lyon plays... I have been following them for a long long time, and the only thing I can say is that I have no idea how they have been playing in the las 2 years ;)
muffin

Let's not get overconfident for this match, or be too negative about it. What happens, happens, if our players give their best we should be proud no matter the result. We're still facing the richest club in the world with the most expensive coach, so there should be pride even in the case of a loss. But I still think we have every means to win and I believe we can do it. It will certainly depend on how can our players look good as a whole. Teamwork's been essential in our last two games (ASSE & Nancy) and if we can replicate that tomorrow, Madrid be wary!
ALLEZ l'OL!!
lyonnais

good article, im very positive we can get a great result at home against real