Nice to have you back. The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals will be made on Friday and for the first time in seven years, Real Madrid will be there. The nine-times winners of this competition, the club upon whom this competition exercises a special hold, finally found their way through a knock out tie here. The psychological barrier overcome with a certain degree of comfort thanks to goals from Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Angel Di María, now they dare to look beyond.
With 15 minutes to go Di María dashed on to Özil's header to clip beyond Hugo Lloris to complete a 3-0 victory. It was the first time Madrid had beaten the French side in eight attempts, including at the same stage last season, and completed a 3-1 aggregate score which sends them into the quarter-finals at last. Lyon were comp licit in their demise but Madrid will not care. This is what they live for and this is what Mourinho came for.
It was what Cristiano Ronaldo came for too. There had been doubts over his participation after he missed the past 10 days through injury, with Mourinho insisting that he was not playing mind games – he simply was not sure if the Portuguese would be fit. In the end, he was included in the starting lineup. Karim Benzema, Madrid's goalscorer in the first leg, was chosen ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor up front. The other surprise came at full-back where Mourinho was bold – both Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, attacking threats that are often defensive ones too, were included. Alvaro Arbeloa, that steady pair of feet and cool head, was on the bench.
Mourinho had smiled at Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas's accusation that he would seek a goalless draw. "Perhaps he's right," he said. "After all, 0-0 would put us through." That, though, did not appear to be his game plan. The decision would take a while to pay off but the intent appeared to have a rapid effect. Madrid began at pace, direct and aggressive, springing sharply from deep and finding ample space. Mesut Ozil, Ronaldo and Marcelo all had shots in the opening five minutes. Hugo Lloris pushed Marcelo's shot round the post; from the corner, Sami Khedira pushed him back. The keeper was weak. The header came back off the post.
Madrid continued to press but they were wasteful and, as the minutes passed, so Lyon grew into the game, thriving in the spaces between Madrid's midfield and front three. Iker Casillas saved from César Fabián Delgado and Lisandro set up Cris for a shot that would have made him wince in embarrassment, his flailing foot scuffing at the ball. And yet chances came less through creation, more through destruction. Often even destruction was not necessary: both sides simply gave the ball away with concerning ease. These were minutes of imprecision.
It was a loose ball that Madrid took advantage of to take a vital lead before half-time, Xabi Alonso stepping in to win possession and finding Marcelo on the left. The full-back dashed inside, got a swift return ball from Ronaldo and continued into the area. With Cris coming across to block, he cut back smoothly on his right foot, a soft touch shifting the ball and his weight back to the left and sending the centre-back skidding by, helpless. His finish went in off Lloris.
There were seven minutes to go until half-time and the Bernabéu, until then a little edgy, erupted. Two minutes later Marcelo again sped down the left. This time his pull back fell fractionally behind Karim Benzema, whose swept shot was pushed over by Lloris. His handling in he air had been suspect and there might have been questions asked of him on the goal too, but this was his second very impressive stop. Just a minute later, he saw the ball travel past him again, Benzema heading Özil's cross in.
Benzema had strayed a couple of yards offside and the flag was raised, but Madrid appeared in control. At last. The bad news came with the precariousness of the scoreline.Madrid continued to attack after the break. Benzema stole the ball from a dozing Gourcuff and exchanged slick passes with 0zil. The German's shot was blocked, looping over the bar. From the corner, Ronaldo's header bounced over, wrongly winning another corner from which Ramos's header went straight at Lloris. Still, there were nerves. Madrid did not have complete control. Not yet, at least. Madrid were well placed but the game, and the tie, remained on edge. The ballboys, meanwhile, disappeared.
Soon, it was over. Again, Lyon assisted in their own demise, though, Madrid finished in style. An awful pass from Anthony Réveillère looking for Gourcuff allowed Marcelo to spear a diagonal ball forward. Ozil leapt for it, Dejan Lovren missed it and Benzema was rushing through, all alone. Lloris came to meet him but Benzema beat him, low and true.
So often questioned, including by his own coach, Benzema had got the vital goal in France against his former side; now he had the goal that virtually sent Madrid through. It was his sixth in seven Champions League games. There were 25 minutes left but a seven year wait was over.
Di María's goal, beautifully finished in the 76th minute, rounded off the night. But the tie had ended before. So, too, had the curse.
Welcome back.
With 15 minutes to go Di María dashed on to Özil's header to clip beyond Hugo Lloris to complete a 3-0 victory. It was the first time Madrid had beaten the French side in eight attempts, including at the same stage last season, and completed a 3-1 aggregate score which sends them into the quarter-finals at last. Lyon were comp licit in their demise but Madrid will not care. This is what they live for and this is what Mourinho came for.
It was what Cristiano Ronaldo came for too. There had been doubts over his participation after he missed the past 10 days through injury, with Mourinho insisting that he was not playing mind games – he simply was not sure if the Portuguese would be fit. In the end, he was included in the starting lineup. Karim Benzema, Madrid's goalscorer in the first leg, was chosen ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor up front. The other surprise came at full-back where Mourinho was bold – both Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, attacking threats that are often defensive ones too, were included. Alvaro Arbeloa, that steady pair of feet and cool head, was on the bench.
Mourinho had smiled at Lyon president Jean Michel Aulas's accusation that he would seek a goalless draw. "Perhaps he's right," he said. "After all, 0-0 would put us through." That, though, did not appear to be his game plan. The decision would take a while to pay off but the intent appeared to have a rapid effect. Madrid began at pace, direct and aggressive, springing sharply from deep and finding ample space. Mesut Ozil, Ronaldo and Marcelo all had shots in the opening five minutes. Hugo Lloris pushed Marcelo's shot round the post; from the corner, Sami Khedira pushed him back. The keeper was weak. The header came back off the post.
Madrid continued to press but they were wasteful and, as the minutes passed, so Lyon grew into the game, thriving in the spaces between Madrid's midfield and front three. Iker Casillas saved from César Fabián Delgado and Lisandro set up Cris for a shot that would have made him wince in embarrassment, his flailing foot scuffing at the ball. And yet chances came less through creation, more through destruction. Often even destruction was not necessary: both sides simply gave the ball away with concerning ease. These were minutes of imprecision.
It was a loose ball that Madrid took advantage of to take a vital lead before half-time, Xabi Alonso stepping in to win possession and finding Marcelo on the left. The full-back dashed inside, got a swift return ball from Ronaldo and continued into the area. With Cris coming across to block, he cut back smoothly on his right foot, a soft touch shifting the ball and his weight back to the left and sending the centre-back skidding by, helpless. His finish went in off Lloris.
There were seven minutes to go until half-time and the Bernabéu, until then a little edgy, erupted. Two minutes later Marcelo again sped down the left. This time his pull back fell fractionally behind Karim Benzema, whose swept shot was pushed over by Lloris. His handling in he air had been suspect and there might have been questions asked of him on the goal too, but this was his second very impressive stop. Just a minute later, he saw the ball travel past him again, Benzema heading Özil's cross in.
Benzema had strayed a couple of yards offside and the flag was raised, but Madrid appeared in control. At last. The bad news came with the precariousness of the scoreline.Madrid continued to attack after the break. Benzema stole the ball from a dozing Gourcuff and exchanged slick passes with 0zil. The German's shot was blocked, looping over the bar. From the corner, Ronaldo's header bounced over, wrongly winning another corner from which Ramos's header went straight at Lloris. Still, there were nerves. Madrid did not have complete control. Not yet, at least. Madrid were well placed but the game, and the tie, remained on edge. The ballboys, meanwhile, disappeared.
Soon, it was over. Again, Lyon assisted in their own demise, though, Madrid finished in style. An awful pass from Anthony Réveillère looking for Gourcuff allowed Marcelo to spear a diagonal ball forward. Ozil leapt for it, Dejan Lovren missed it and Benzema was rushing through, all alone. Lloris came to meet him but Benzema beat him, low and true.
So often questioned, including by his own coach, Benzema had got the vital goal in France against his former side; now he had the goal that virtually sent Madrid through. It was his sixth in seven Champions League games. There were 25 minutes left but a seven year wait was over.
Di María's goal, beautifully finished in the 76th minute, rounded off the night. But the tie had ended before. So, too, had the curse.
Welcome back.
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