Real Madrid vs Olympique Lyonnais : End or beginning ?

By: Megame | March 16th, 2011

real-madrid-lyon

25 or 7 ?
25% vs 7 times. That pretty much sums up the whole uncertainty around this game. Statistically, Lyon only have a 25% chance to qualify after the draw (1-1) conceded at home, three weeks ago. But this small percentage is opposed to the record of confrontations between the two teams, largely in favor of OL : 7 games against Real, 0 loss.

Granted, there is a beginning in everything; for instance, that’s the first time Real did not lose in Gerland. And since the arrival of Jose Mourinho last summer, Real won all home games in all competitions they’ve been playing. So, to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time after 2004, 2005 and 2006, the OL will need to perform a feat no other team has managed to accomplish this season: to win at the Bernabeu, or at least get a draw by scoring a minimum of two goals.

A lost cause?
The Lyon staff know the magnitude of the task proposed to them. The club already faced a similar situation in 2008 and 2009 against Manchester United (1-1, 0-1) and FC Barcelona (1-1, 2-5). At the time, the room for maneuver was as close as it is today, and Lyon didn’t make it.

But there are positive signs. First, Lyon have always scored against Madrid. Two, OL can count on the recovery of their strike force (16 goals in their last 5 league games), and the return of Lisandro, injured in the first leg. “We’re the kind of team that Real Madrid do not like: we run a lot, we’re pressing the ball carrier,” said Cesar Delgado. I trust the group to get a good result “. And there’s a feeling of reasonable, quiet confidence around this Lyon team. Puel, usually keeping a low profile, promises a game “balanced, open and with twists”, describing his team as “with a form of serenity”. That’s probably why, -even less so than in the first leg, despite Real being in a better position now- we don’t hear the Real players nor the spanish press boasting about by how many goals Real will crush Lyon.

The game changers
For a large part, the result will depend on the individual brillance of some players. And, in the first place, we should mention the Ronaldo paradox : Not content to have scored 40 goals in 44 appearances for club and country this season, Cristiano Ronaldo had more shots on target (16) and wide (17) than any other player ahead of the second legs. Needless to say, Mourinho is relieved to have him in the group, despite the fact that he has not featured since injuring his left thigh after his hat-trick against Málaga on 3 March. Yet, in his absence, Real played well, with fluidity and more collectively, with Benzema looking more comfortable, and Özil gaining dimension as number 10. So I’m inclined to consider that Real could possibly be stronger without CR7. But I can’t imagine Mourinho dropping him if he’s declared fit by the doctors, even if he is not 100% fit; so, as Anthony Réveillère, has always so far done a good job containing him, paradoxically I am quite happy for him to be back in the Real squad.

As for Gerland’s favorite Karim Benzema, he seems to have found the exit of the tunnel, having scored two goals in each of Madrid’s last three games. He scored the all important goal for Real in the first leg, I really, really, REALLY hope he won’t do so again this time.

On the Rhône side, there are two main choices to be made, as Bastos, suspended, removes one (him or Briand). Real Madrid’s sweet Chelito has a sure spot, and so has Gourcuff, so basically Puel is left with two choices : Although Bafe Gomis has been in good form recently, and that the last game showed he can combine well with Lisandro, I believe Claude Puel will keep him on the bench at the start, to keep his options depending on how the game goes. Another choice is whether CB and captain Cris, just back from injury, should start ahead of Pape Diakhate, whose association with young Lovren remains unbeaten since several months; I believe the experience, character as captain and flawless record in CL will allow Cris to start.

The teams:
Real Madrid :
Ronaldo came through a full training session on Tuesday afternoon and looks set to return from his thigh injury. Pedro León (knee strain), Fernando Gago (adductor), Gonzalo Higuaín (back) and Kaká (knee) are all definitely out, though. Sami Khedira (thigh) and Ezequiel Garay (adductors) were back on the bench at the weekend. Sergio Ramos, Ronaldo, Raúl Albiol and Ángel Di María are within a booking of a suspension.

OL :
Aly Cissokho (thigh), Yoann Gourcuff (toe) and Cris (tendinitis) sat out the weekend league game, although Cissokho did train at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday and is now declared fit again. Ederson (thigh) is back on his feet but is not in the squad having been out since August. Michel Bastos is suspended and is also set to undergo knee surgery; Dejan Lovren and Jérémy Pied are within a booking of a match ban.
Lloris – Réveillère, Cris, Lovren, Cissokho – Toulalan, Källström – Briand, Gourcuff, Delgado – Lisandro

Allez l’OL! Never this year have we been so passionately behind you.

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Champions League, Team News and Rumors

« Sochaux vs Lyon : confirmation expected | Home | Lyon vs Rennes : make no mistake, that’s a big stake »

Michael

Delgado is injured again :(
mrCham

Would love to see the source here
Tibor

On OLweb they say it's muscle fatigue
Luke

Gourcuff and cris loss the match for Lyon lovrens mistake was ok due to the fact that he is young and unexperinced but trust me lovern will be the man to stop lyons defensive problems Cris defintly has to go the past three years he's been making the same mistakes i dont know if u guys have noticed it he seems to make a meal out of simple things and for Gourcuff we all know what he is capable of but i really couldnt understand what the hell he was doing on the feild he was so emabressed that he tryed to hide in the bench when he was subbed off the line up should have been pjanic and gomis and lacazate off the bench would have cuased alot of problems to the real madrid back line and does anyone know anything about delgado's contract cuase it looks like jose mourinho was trying to talk him into joining his team the dude is like our messi Allez l’OL i hope we win the league
Megame

No regrets. Too many individual mistakes to be able to collectively raise our level. Real was simply too strong last night, I hope the players accept it and move on to focus on Rennes; but I guess some players, especially those who didn't perform well in Madrid, will be unsettled, which might impact the team's performance in the coming weeks...
john

I know Gourcuff's the starter, but I don't get starting him after a lay-off when Pjanic is hot.
Nikhil Apte

Pjanic said before the match, that he doesn't understand what more he needs to do to get into the first team. That he isn't interested in leaving the club, but just wants to start.
Puel got it horribly wrong even before the match started. Shouldn't have started with Briand in place of Gomis at all, Delgado/Briand on right. Why change a proven working set-up at the worst possible time! Lisandro didn't get the ball much till after half-time when he could finally go to the left.
Puel lost Lyon the match, as I see it. Was he trying to surprise Mourinho by not putting Gomis in first? Really?
Blah. I don't think Aulas will be pleased with this.
muffin

Puel probably wanted to hit RM after halftime with Pjanić and Gomis instead of Kallstrom and Briand but that plan failed when we conceded the goal in 35th minute. Our confidence dropped and then it all went down the drain. The first half was good from our side but the second was a nightmare to watch. If we had been a bit better at passing and defending the game would be far more interesting. We definitely need a new CB or two, quality, not Diakhate.
As for Pjanić, I think it's time Puel starts using both Pjanić and Gourcuff from the start.
Nikhil Apte

"Quality, not Diakhate", Hahaha!
john

Lisandro-Gomis-Delgado should've been the starting lineup. And yes, Pjanic must start. I don 't understand this love affair with Kallstrom, unless a more defensive set-up is needed. I couldn't help but thinking how I'd rather have had Makoun out there last night.
Nikhil Apte

I like Kallstrom being in the team for his ability to strike long range shots and for physical presence on the pitch. Pjanic for Kallstrom would be too creative a midfield, with Toulalan also supplying a few cute passes. Pjanic would be in the box, Gourcuff would be in the box, Toulalan would be near the box, and there would suddenly be no midfield on the counter attack.
So Kallstrom on LAM position is a good thing, it looks like. Either Gourcuff or Pjanic has become an extra, I can't figure out which one. :-/
Aleksander

Pjanic got twice the technical ability Gourcuff has, and he is younger and belongs to Lyon... If Pjanic is only going to be on the bench for us, I say sell him. I don't want to let one of the biggest talents in Europe rot away on the bench because of some stupid manager
john

I hope this really impresses upon Lyon the importance of winning the group next year. Though if Puel's still around, I doubt that will happen. And God help us if we keep the same backline and Lloris leaves this summer. I hope we get an experienced defender to play alongside Lovren next season.
Samir1991

As a Lyon fan, I can say that they were simly better, I known that our defense will make some mistake. But be realistic, we shouldnt be disapointed, and should move on. We will beat them next year :D. PROUD TO BE LYONNAIS
Michael

:( Real finally won :(
Aleksander

Outplayed in the second half... Madrid were simply better... Sad to exit the Champions League, glad to see Benzema doing so well now though... It's time to focus on the league
sdzsdz

wish it wasn't such an embarrassing exit...
Aleksander

Yeah, we all do, but let's not have our heads down! I'm proud of my team, we fought well :)
Nikhil Apte

:(
Aaron

wow fuckin horrible passing, giving away too much possesion, we deserve to lose this
Aleksander

We didn't deserve that goal against us. We're dangerous, great defensively, need Lisandro a little more involved as he can create chances. I would bring on Pjanic...
muffin

I expect a high tension game with a lot of tactical circumvention between the two coaches. If last year's clash with RM was a test for Puel, this one will decide if he gets his diploma. God speed, Claude. It may not be a pretty game, it will probably be a hell of a battle. Both teams are high on confidence and for both of them this is THE match of the season. If everyone gives their best inches and luck will decide this game. Let's hope they are on our side once again!
ALLEZ LYONNAIS! Let's fear no one!