Real Madrid look set to rest the Champions League Last 16 ghost that has haunted them since six years now as they look to overturn a 0-1 deficit against an energetic Olympique Lyonnais side. iSporter Karan Shah gives a match preview on what is this season’s most important match for Los Blancos.
Investing around 250 million dollars last summer, Florentino Perez’s Real Madrid know that this is the stage where they have to prove that the money spent was worth it. The 1st knockout leg in France led to a 0 -1 loss for Madrid who now host Lyon at the Bernabeu without Xabi Alonso and Marcelo who have been suspended and Drenthe and Ex- Lyonnais hitman Benzema – both have been out due to injury. Lyon come into this match with pretty much the same team. Cissokho looked to have an injury problem however he has been named in the 20 man squad to travel to Spain’s capital.
Madrid come into this match after thrashing a brilliant Sevilla side 3-2 and brought back memories of the Capello era with the comeback win. The win has given a much needed psychological boost to Los Merengues who put in this way, simply cannot fail tonight. Or else the media, the fans and the critics will label the Galacticos Era 2.0 as a failure. Lyon on the other hand had rested quite a few of their players and barely scraped through with a draw in the French Ligue.
This match has been labeled as a ‘final’ for Real by footballing pundits all over the world and the pressure on Madrid is immense as nothing less than a win would suffice. An away goal by Lyon would mean that Madrid need at least a two goal margin victory which would complicate matters.
Statistics say that whichever team has beaten Lyon has gone on to win the Champions League since the past three years and considering this year’s final is being played at the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid have all the more a reason to please their fans in their own backyard.
Manuel Pellegrini it looks might start with the following 4-3-1-2 formation. Iker in goal, Ramos, Arbeloa, Albiol and Garay in defense, Lass playing CDM with Guti and Van der Vaart on either side and Kaka filling the hole behind strike partners Ronaldo and Higuain. This year it seems that Madrid will finally qualify and as Sergio Ramos puts it “comfortably with a 3-0 victory”. Hopefully away goals won’t complicate the tie and Madrid will easily humble Lyon. The round of eight awaits…
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