The Champions League quarter-final clash between Lyon and Bordeaux was described as a “war” by Lyon’s President Jean-Michel Aulas and the tie lived up to its billing. A brace by Lisandro Lopez and a goal by Michel Bastos were enough to give a 3-1 advantage to Lyon while Marouane Chamakh scored for Bordeaux. iSporter Ankit Sharma reviews the action.
The match started in an exhilarating fashion. After 10 minutes, Lisandro Lopez turned in a cross from inside the six-yard box following a misjudgement by Bordeaux defender Michael Ciani. The visitors had made a confident start with Gourcuff and Jaroslav Plasil comfortably controlling the midfield.
The Lyon opener came completely against the run of play. Lisandro's free-kick was blocked by the wall, but Claude Puel's side showed patience to keep control of the ball and when Mathieu Bodmer found space down the right his ball into the box was turned in from close range by Lisandro.
The lead did not last too long. Chamakh showed just why Arsene Wenger likes him so much and has tried so hard to bring him to the Emirates. Chamakh leaped into the air, unmarked, and his towering header earned Bordeaux a crucial away goal. But Laurent Blanc's team inflicted self-damage their usually astute defence crumbled, this time Benoit Tremoulinas the culprit as his failure to head clear a Miralem Pjanic cross allowed Michel Bastos the chance to blast into the top corner.
In the 61st minute, a beautiful ball into the box picked out Chamakh. He controlled well and was about to score the second equaliser of the game but Lloris punched the ball away with his left hand as he moved to his right. Jean Makoun should have increased Lyon's lead but his weak effort was countered by Carrasso, while Ferreira Jussie saw his volley hit the bar at the opposite end.
Lyon were awarded a 77th minute spot kick after Mathieu Chalme handled the ball in the penalty area. The decision looked a little too harsh but Lisandro converted the penalty calmly but soon picked up a yellow card to rule him out of the reverse fixture in 8 days time. Sidney Govou then missed a great chance to effectively seal the tie but he volleyed wide with the Bordeaux defence in complete shambles.
Lyon enjoyed a paltry 38% possession in spite of being the home team and yet managed to score three goals. Bordeaux could take pride in the fact that they gave Lyon a tough fight in their own back yard and would argue that the tie is by no means over.
Lyon, though may differ and rightly so as the third goal looks to have sealed the tie for them and has left Bordeaux with a lot to do. One can also not ignore the fact that Lyon carried a slender 1-0 advantage and yet managed to knock the mighty Real Madrid out. All this makes for an exciting return fixture between the two French teams next week.
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