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Olympique Lyon host nine-times winners Real Madrid at the Stade Gerland hoping to continue their impressive run of form against the Spanish giants.
Played six, won three, drew three and lost exactly zero. Yes that is zero. With statistics as such, it is easy to see why Olympique Lyon have become Real Madrid’s much proclaimed ‘bogey-club’.
Les Gones simply do not lose to, nor do they fear tussling with their more illustrious Spanish counterparts.
In an eerie resemblance to last season’s clash where the pair faced each other at the same stage, Claude Puel’s men are feeling bullish as they seek to keep up their impressive record against Los Blancos.
“We have played Real six times for three wins and three draws,” Lyon captain and defender Cris told AFP.
“Madrid were knocked out by Lyon last year and now there is a certain rivalry. In my opinion, they lacked a bit of respect for us [last season] but we did our job. We showed what we could do on the pitch. We respect Real but we are going to try to qualify,” he warned.
Real would have done well to take note of Lyon’s form coming into the tie. A 4-0 thrashing of Nancy proves that the Rhone Valley club certainly have the fire power to threaten a normally opaque Real backline.
Nevertheless, the sense in the Spanish capital is one of ‘now or never’. Having drafted in serial winner Jose Mourinho, the Madrid hierarchy seek that all elusive 10th European crown, and if domestic form is a guide, should be too strong for their hosts at the seventh time of asking.
Having said that, last season’s clash was preluded with much of the same talk as Real sought to progress beyond the last 16 for the first time in six seasons, only to see themselves fall flat yet again.
At home Mourinho’s men have been nigh on perfect, but on the road things have been a little shaky, axiomatically demonstrated by their 1-0 defeat to Osasuna earlier in the month. It is something which Lyon will be hoping to exploit come Tuesday evening.
Team News:
Olympique Lyon will be without main striker Lisandro Lopez who has a hamstring strain so Bafetimbi Gomis is set to lead the line up-top. Jimmy Briand, scorer of a wonderful overhead kick against Nancy, will fancy his chances against Marcelo and co.
Real welcome back goalkeeper Iker Casillas who served a domestic ban at the weekend. New loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor could be handed a debut start alongside former Lyon striker Karim Benzema.
Likely Line-Ups:
Olympique Lyon: Lloris, Cissokho, Lovren, Cris, Reveilliere, Toulalan, Pjanic, Bastos, Briand, Gourcuff, Gomis.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Marcelo, Pepe, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ozil, Adebayor.
Prediction: Lyon 2-2 Real Madrid. On a ground where they have not even scored yet, Real will be happy to settle for a draw, in particular a scoring draw. It seems the most likely outcome.
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