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Portal [link="http://www.eurofootball.com"]"EuroFootball.com"[/link] - the column "Fan Thoughts"! Before the most important, interesting, and highly publicized matches, we are addressing the fans who are not indifferent to the clubs entering the competition.
A forum member who supports the Madrid team, Gonzalez, reviewed the upcoming UEFA Champions League round of 16 return leg match, in which the 'Meringues' will try to break into the prestigious quarterfinals of the most prestigious tournament on the Old Continent after a six-year break. The opponents of the 'Royal' club are the footballers of Lyon.
Madrid "Real" - "Lyon"
This is a match eagerly awaited not only by the fans of Madrid's "Real" or "Lyon" teams but also by all football enthusiasts. There is no need to introduce these clubs - they are regular participants in the Champions League. And it is interesting not that these famous clubs play in the Champions League, but that for several years they have been facing each other regularly. This season is no exception. It has even become a tradition that the prestigious Madrid "Real" team is eliminated from further stages of the competition by the footballers of "Lyon."
Looking at the head-to-head statistics of these teams in the Champions League:
2011.02.22 "Lyon" 1 - 1 "Real" 2010.03.10 "Real" 1 - 1 "Lyon" 2010.02.16 "Lyon" 1 - 0 "Real" 2006.11.21 "Real" 2 - 2 "Lyon" 2006.09.13 "Lyon" 2 - 0 "Real" 2005.11.23 "Real" 1 - 1 "Lyon" 2005.09.13 "Lyon" 3 - 0 "Real"
However, now is not the time to dwell on the past and look at the consistent results. It's time to end this series of unsuccessful matches and, after several years, return to the prestigious European tournament quarterfinals. Most football fans, as every year, say again: "The 'Meringues' will fall in the round of 16." Indeed, for Real, the round of 16 has become like a cursed boundary that they cannot overcome. Although the team is considered favorites to win the tournament every year, although ambitions are huge every year, and millions are spent on acquiring new players every year, in the Champions League, they remain at a cracked wall and with colorful memories of trophies won long ago.
Briefly about Real's journey in the Champions League this season - the club entered a fairly strong group, but victories followed one after another. At home, Milan was confidently beaten 2-0. True, then there was a resultative draw 2-2 away. It was followed by crushing victories of 4-0 against the footballers of Amsterdam's Ajax and Auxerre, and the team secured the top spot in the group without much difficulty. Meanwhile, Lyon, although starting the season in the Champions League with victories, later stumbled and took the second place in the group, although they were considered one of the favorites in the group.
The draw for the round of 16 revealed that Real will once again have to face the Lyon team. The 'Meringues' fans were very upset - "those... Frenchmen again," and other football fans - "Real will fall in the round of 16 again." However, the 'Royal' club did not start to panic but, guided by the charismatic coach Jose Mourinho, took this match seriously and prepared responsibly. The first leg was played at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon. The Real players were fully focused and ready for the match. The Portuguese coach fielded his strongest lineup. However, the match started not with Benzema but with Adebayor from Manchester City borrowed during the winter transfer window. Due to injury, the home team could not field their most dangerous striker Lisandro. The competition was very intense, and until the middle of the second half, the scoreboard showed zeros. Then Mourinho's trump card was thrown onto the pitch - Lyon's Karim Benzema. The Frenchman, who had just warmed up, immediately took part in a successful attack by Real and sent the ball into the opponents' goal. It seemed that the 'Meringues' would finally be able to defeat Lyon, whom they had never beaten before, but it was not meant to be. As if a curse prevented them from doing so. Approaching the end of the match, the hosts managed to equalize the score, and Real could not do anything more in the remaining time.
After very emotional matches, I, like many Real fans, evaluated the result positively. First of all, we did not lose, and scoring an away goal slightly reassured us. Secondly, the return leg will take place at the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium, the fortress of Real. This is very comforting because the team plays very powerfully at home, scores many goals, and looks confident. Although the 'Meringues' are satisfied with draws, I do not think the team will close themselves in their penalty area and try to defend. Real will attack and do everything to win the match. Many will say that coach Mourinho, known for being a good defensive specialist, will try to preserve the current result, but I doubt that sitting in defence would be wise - after conceding a goal, everything turns upside down. And you can concede a goal even as the match approaches its end. Real players usually get confused after conceding a goal and recover only after a few minutes, so such a defensive game would be very dangerous, especially knowing that the Lyon team knows how to score goals and uses such situations excellently.
Mourinho will choose a cautious lineup - as usual, with two defensive midfielders. I would not be surprised if the more attacking left-back Marcelo is replaced by the more defensive Alvaro Arbeloa. On the field from the first minutes, we should see Khedira and Ronaldo, who have recovered from minor injuries and missed a few matches in the Spanish championship. Leading the attack from January, we will most likely see Benzema, demonstrating excellent form since the beginning of the season. Due to injuries, Gonzalo Higuain and Kaka still cannot help the team.
In the visitors' team, due to suspension, the main concern for the Real defenders, Michel Bastos, will not be able to play in the first leg. There is still a question mark next to the name of Cissokho, as the defender is not yet 100% recovered, but it is believed that he will be able to help the team. So, Lyon will go to Madrid with arguably its strongest lineup.
Whatever happens, whatever history says, I fully believe that this time Real will finally defeat the Lyon footballers and not only advance to the quarterfinals but go much further. And perhaps even win the long-awaited tenth Champions League trophy.
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