Ab-Titchaz
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 30, 2008
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By Les Roopanarine
Real took the lead eight minutes from the interval when Brazil international Marcelo exchanged passes with Cristiano Ronaldo before slotting home.
Karim Benzema later doubled the home side's advantage, finishing with aplomb from Marcelo's upfield punt.
Angel Di Maria completed the win on 76 minutes after a Mesut Ozil flick-on.
It was a case of seventh time lucky for Jose Mourinho's side, who - having failed to successfully negotiate a Champions League knock-out tie on six consecutive previous occasions - visibly grew in stature and confidence following Marcelo's opener.
Perhaps surprisingly, the weight of history was against the nine-time champions, who had failed to beat Lyon in each of their seven previous meetings.
But there is no better man to lift such a hoodoo than Mourinho, who has not presided over a home defeat for any of the clubs he has managed since 2002, and rarely looked like doing so against a Lyon side whose sloppy defending did little to advance their cause.
Marcelo's crucial opening goal was as Brazilian as they come, the full-back cutting in from the left, exchanging passes with Ronaldo, and then showing excellent balance and composure to slot the ball across Hugo Lloris in the Lyon goal.
Yet the ease with which the left-back weaved past compatriot Cris was a harbinger of things to come.
BBC Sport - Football - Real Madrid 3-0 Lyon (agg 4-1)
