Real Madrid Take Upper Hand, 1-1 Result Out Of Lyon

If you were expecting a boring, defensive, tactical 0-0 draw at the Stade Gerland, you expected wrong. Real Madrid and Olympique Lyon played a great game on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League, complete with some great late drama that set up a return leg that could be equally entertaining. Karim Benzema’s goal just seconds after he entered the game looked like the winner, but Bafetimbi Gomis answered just five minutes before the end of regular time, making the match a 1-1 draw and setting up an intriguing fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The first half belonged to Lyon, with their gameplan working to perfection. They had the better of the chances and stifled Madrid’s attack, limiting the touches in dangerous areas of Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Mesut Özil, and Emmanuel Adebayor. Lyon’s wide players had a serious impact on the game, while Jeremy Toulalan was probably the best player on the pitch. The first half ended 0-0, but Lyon had all of the momentum.

Olympique Lyon appeared to be dead in the water in their UEFA Champions League tie against Real Madrid, but Cris and Bafetimbi Gomis have brought Lyon back into the tie and leveled the first leg at Stade Gerland at 1-1. Lyon have not been nearly as good in the second half as they were in the first half and their opportunities have been extremely limited, but they made the most of one set piece opportunity that Real Madrid gave to them.

In the 83rd minute, Cris won a battle with two Real Madrid defenders to get his head on a set piece taken from the right side of the pitch by Yoann Gourcuff. His header fell to the feet of Bafetimbi Gomis, who lost his marker when the ball was sent to the opposite side of the box from where he was standing. From 12 yards out, after the ball fell to his feet, Gomis finished well past Iker Casillas at his far post, tying the match.

Mere seconds after entering the game for Emmanuel Adebayor, former Olympique Lyon player Karim Benzema has secured a vital away goal for Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League tie against Benzema’s former club. In case anyone thought that Benzema would play the villain if he entered the match against Lyon, he was instead given a standing ovation at the Stade Gerland.

Cutting in from the left side and exchanging a pass with Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema did well to dribble through the Lyon defense before hitting a low finish between the legs of Hugo Lloris into the back of the net. Cris made an attempt to keep the slow dribbler out of the back of the net, but could only find the inside of the side netting with his attempted clearance.

The start to the second half has gone much better than the first half for Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League tie against Olympique Lyon. Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos have been the attacking catalysts, and Los Merengues are extremely unlucky to not have at least one goal.

In less than two minutes, Madrid struck the woodwork twice, both off set piece opportunities. The first one came from Ronaldo in the 49th minute, as he took a free kick 30 yards away from goal, taking the set piece from a very acute angle, wide to the left. Madrid were set up for an in-swinging cross to someone’s head, but instead Ronaldo went for goal, striking the far post and missing a chance to score. On the ball’s way in towards the post, Ramos attempted to connect with a header and missed by mere millimeters.

After a great start, Olympique Lyon remained successful in their endeavor to stifle play and dirty up their UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid, and they’ve carried a 0-0 draw into halftime. 45 minutes into their fourth ever match at the Stade Gerland, Los Merengues still have not been able to score in the building. Not only have Lyon shut them down, they’ve also had the better of the play, creating many more chances. Their passing hasn’t been very crisp, but they’ve looked great in all other aspects of the game.

Real Madrid’s Mesut Özil has been their biggest work horse, working hard to try to find the ball in all areas of the pitch. Jeremy Toulalan has made him work hard and forced him outside, keeping Özil from getting on the ball in the dangerous central positions that he likes.

Olympique Lyon are off to a good start in their UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid, executing their gameplan to perfection to start the match. Mesut Özil is struggling to find space, Cristiano Ronaldo has been harassed, Jeremy Toulalan is controlling the midfield, Lyon look dangerous attacking down the wings, and Sergio Ramos has already picked up a yellow card for a nasty tackle on Cesar Delgado.

That last point is important, as Ramos doesn’t have the greatest disciplinary record. He’s been sent off a total of 22 times in his career, and Delgado appears to be giving him problems out wide. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him targeted throughout the match.

Claude Puel and Jose Mourinho have provided us with no surprises in their lineups for the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique Lyon and Real Madrid, playing their regular formations and the starting XIs that everyone expected to see. The teams should come very close to matching each other in formation, though their styles of play and how the players on the pitch change the formations in practice will likely be a much different story.

Olympique Lyon lineup (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Reveillere, Cris, Lovren, Cissokho; Toulalan, Kallstrom; Delgado, Gourcuff, Bastos; Gomis