Lyon 1-0 Real Madrid: Makoun Wonder-Strike Gives Les Gones Deserved Lead
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 @ 2:20 PM
Real Madrid emerged from Stade Gerland with their Champions League ambitions still in tact but it could have been a different story had an excellent Lyon side been more effective in front of goal.
In the end the French side take a one-goal lead to the Bernabeu, thanks to a wonderful strike from Jean Makoun.
Madrid looked out of sorts for most of the first leg as it was the rampant French outfit that played with style, panache and confidence. The Merengues had to rely on an untested alloy of resolute defence and good fortune as Sidney Govou gave Marcelo a lesson down the right wing for the entire first half.
Cristiano Ronaldo provided one of Madrid's few brighter moments of the first half craftily backheeling Xabi Alonso's incisive pass into the path of Gonzalo Higuain but Jean-Alain Boumsong was alert to clear the danger, typifying Lyon's early dominance.
The home side's intensity and commitment had the Spanish outfit on the back foot and a succession of fouls in Madrid territory suggested the hosts were increasingly the more likely to score. The majority of Miralem Pjanic's set pieces were comfortably dealt with though, even Ronaldo dropping back to add his head to the defence of the aerial assault.
Despite some clear opportunities to test Iker Casillas from dead ball situations, Lyon's greatest chance came from a flash of individual brilliance. Cesar Delgado pounced on a half cleared corner but only managed to smash his stunning right footed volley off Casillas' right hand upright with the Madrid 'keeper stunned and rooted to his spot.
Another set piece followed and Panjic's delivery was improving but the quality of finishing left Casillas untested. The French side were in the ascendancy and seemed to be growing in confidence and surely would not have wanted the half-time whistle to sound.
The hosts continued where they left off after the interval and took a deserved lead almost immediately as Makoun fired a stunning effort from 25 yards which dipped and swerved away from the outstretched Casillas before bulging the top right hand corner of the net.
Madrid's midfield continued to be overrun by Lyon's energy and Kaka and Xabi Alonso in particular seemed completely off the pace but Madrid as a whole were tepid at best.
Casillas almost gifted Lyon a two goal cushion ten minutes into the half after his goal kick went no more than 20 yards, straight to an alert Lisandro Lopez. Luckily for Real's custodian, Raul Albiol and Ezequiel Garay were on hand to make it difficult for the Argentine forward, who dragged his effort wide from 16 yards.
Hugo Lloris had to make a fine save as a 20 yard Ronaldo snapshot took a monster deflection and seemed headed for the top corner before France's first choice shot stopper got across to tip it around for a corner.
A fantastic flowing Lyon counterattack moments later came to nothing as Aly Cissokho opted to go it alone only for Casillas to save. Cissokho may have rued not squaring it to one of his better placed team-mates had Lloris not saved excellently from Higuain seconds later.
Lyon's intensity was fading as the half wore on and Ronaldo won a free kick midway through the half. So often the remedy for a lacklustre display from los Blancos, his 22 yard effort fizzled off the wall and safely into the hands of Lloris.
Sergio Ramos could have given Madrid a precious away goal but the versatile defender failed to direct his free header on target from six yards. Ambitious attacking play had turned to valiant rearguard action from the French outfit for the final quarter of an hour and they weathered some late Madrid pressure to take the slenderest of leads to the Bernabeu in a fortnight.
Source: goal.com