Champions League Preview: Lyon vs Real Madrid

One of the most talented teams in the world, one of the most successful team in Europe, the costliest team in the current football market, Real Madrid is going to start their renewed venture to regain their glory. Tonight they will face the hurdle that they have failed to cross in the last six years, the UEFA Champions League second round. And to make the things more interesting, the opponents are the same that they faced and failed to overcome last season, Olympique Lyonnais. The struggle for resurgence and redemption of pride is going to start from the Stade de Garland in Lyon.

Team News:

Lyon forward Lisandro Lopez will most probably miss the tie with a hamstring injury he gained just before the weekend match. Gourcuff, Delgado and Grenier are back from long term injuries. While, Ederson has just got fit to be available for selection for the first time since his thigh injury in August 2010. However, Lovres and Bastos will have to play safe as they could miss the return leg if booked tonight. With only Lisandro Lopez out, Lyon coach Puel will have almost all the players fit to select his first eleven. Lyon is expected to start with a 4-3-3 formation which wil shift to 4-5-1 if necessary. Cris and Diakhate will start at the centre of the defence with Cissokho and Revelliere on the sides. Toulalan and Kallstrom will play as the holding midfielder with Gourcuff supporting them in the centre of the field. However, looking at the form of Gourcuff they can go with Pjanic at his place. Bastos and Delgado or Briand are expected to run riot along the wings with Gomis as the lone striker.

Probable line up: Lloris; Rivelliere, Diakhate, Cris,Cissokho; Toulalan, Kallstrom, Gourcuff; Bastos, Delgado; Gomis.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will have his full squad other than injured Higuain. Gago is left out of the squad due to ‘technical reasons’. Ronaldo and Raul Albiol may miss the next match with a booking. It is expected that Mourinho will start with his natural 4-2-3-1 formation with Xabi Alonso and Khedira as holding midfielder, Ronaldo, Oezil and di Maria in front of them with Benzema as the lone striker. Kaka, who made a comeback from long term injury this month, may start in place of di Maria with Oezil shifting to the right. Diarra may act as the third holding midfielder if Mourinho decides to go defensive. Adebayor and Kaka (if not starting) will most probably be used as super-subs to add more teeth to the attack in the second half.

Probable line up: Cassilas; Ramos, Carvalho, Pepe, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Oezil, Ronaldo; Benzema.

Lyon will look forward to use the speed of Bastos to open up Madrid defence with Gomis playing at the centre. With a strong defence line and holding midfielders like Toulalan and Kallstrom, Lyon are expected to block the attack from the centre of the field. However, Madrid has been using the wings more this year and skill and speed of Ronaldo and Di Maria will be useful in that. Cissokho at the left back will be strong and may be able to restrict the attack from right wing by the Spanish side. Just like many other matches, Real will depend much on Ronaldo and will try to utilise dead ball situations. Psychological pressure of a possible seventh consecutive second round defeat will act heavily on Real Madrid team and Lyon have to make use of that.

Coach Speak :

Claude Puel

I don’t know if Madrid are stronger than last season. They’re different, perhaps a bit better balanced thanks to some hard workers in the midfield. Either way they’re still a team made up of players of great quality like [Sami] Khedira, [Ángel] Di María, [Emmanuel] Adebayor and [Mesut] Özil. Madrid are not just José Mourinho, even though he was a great recruit for the club. We have to be wary of all of them.

We can regret the fact that Lisandro won’t play as he’s able to do great things in this kind of game. But, some players are coming into form, like ‘Chelito’ Delgado. He’s often effective in Europe and his ability to dribble and beat a man can really help us. Our aim is to qualify for the next round. Last year, few people believed in us. We managed to raise our game and maybe it surprised Madrid. I think the best of Lyon is still to come.

Jose Mourinho

A lot of new players came to Madrid this year and have never played in a game between Lyon and Real. Lyon are a good team, who have experience of this kind of game. But we are Madrid. We don’t have to look at the past or statistics. If we think that both games will be easy, it’s going to be difficult for us. We have to do well in both games. We know our ability and won’t underestimate Lyon.

It’s been six years since Madrid reached the quarter-finals. When I was at Inter, the club hadn’t won the Champions League for more than 50 years. Is it possible to do it this year? We have to beat Lyon… Zinédine Zidane gave us a lot of advice in preparing for this game.

As always, in a match where one of the teams is Real Madrid, the other team will not start as favourite but an away match against Lyon is a tough affair. Especially when they are in a great form with 4-1- and 4-0 wins in their last two domestic matches they played. The French side will be a tough nut to crack and I do not expect them losing at home, however different the result after three weeks may be. Real Madrid have to perform much better than they are doing at present to break the second round jinx in the Champions’ League.