Lyon 1-1 Real Madrid: Match Report

22 February 2011 22:14
Gomis strike denies Real victory Bafetimbi Gomis struck a late goal to ensure Lyon held Real Madrid to a 1-1 draw but the Spanish giants will be favourites to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in seven years. Karim Benzema, who joined Madrid from Lyon in 2009, scored just seconds after coming on as a 64th-minute substitute to put Madrid ahead in Tuesday night's last-16, first leg tie. Madrid could not hold onto that advantage with Gomis volleying home in the 83rd minute, but Jose Mourinho's men will fancy their chances in the second leg at the Bernabeu, where they have won their last 22 competitive games. Madrid have been knocked out at this stage of the competition in each of the last six seasons, including at the hands of Lyon last year. That exit was particularly painful for Madrid as last season's final was held at the Bernabeu, but they are on course to take revenge over the French outfit under Mourinho. Mourinho, who last May led Inter Milan to the Champions League title to become only the third coach to conquer Europe with two separate clubs, opted for an attacking line-up with Emmanuel Adebayor up front in place of Benzema. However, it was the home side which started the better, captain Cris sending an overhead kick wide early on before Kim Kallstrom fired a 25-yard drive wide. Madrid's first serious effort came from Angel Di Maria's long-range drive on the half-hour mark, but that was saved relatively comfortably by Hugo Lloris despite bouncing awkwardly just in front of the Lyon goalkeeper. Lloris was given a tougher test moments later when Cristiano Ronaldo tried his luck with a free-kick, the goalkeeper diving to his right to parry. The best chance of the opening period arrived in the 35th minute when Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas pushed out a cross and Gomis latched onto the loose ball inside the area, but his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner. Madrid might not have been in top gear in the first half, but they started the second period in devastating fashion and hit the woodwork twice within five minutes of the restart. Ronaldo's free-kick from the side of the area beat Lloris before coming back off the far post and Sergio Ramos' looping header from Mesut Ozil's corner then struck the bar with Lloris again beaten. Madrid felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 64th minute for handball after another Ronaldo free-kick had been blocked, but that was waved away by the referee. Soon after that Mourinho sent on Benzema for Adebayor, a move which paid immediate dividends as the France international scored just moments later. Ozil and Ronaldo combined on the edge of the area to put in Benzema, who powered his away across the centre of the box before squeezing his shot through Lloris' legs. That looked set to be the winner, but Lyon fought back and equalised with seven minutes to go. A free-kick was deflected up into air and Cris climbed highest to head the ball into the path of the unmarked Gomis, who volleyed past Casillas to earn his side a draw.

Lyon 1-1 Real Madrid: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.

Source: DSG