Makoun extends Real's Lyon misery

LYON, France: Lyon ruined former striker Karim Benzema's return to his boyhood club by beating Real Madrid 1-0 in their last 16 Champions League first leg clash here on Tuesday.

The defeat will add to the woes of Real's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini, who is under pressure to return European football's most coveted trophy to the Santiago Bernabeu following the triumph of fierce rivals Barcelona in the competition last year.

Defeat continued Real's desperate record at Lyon's ground, having failed ever to win there or even score.

Lyon coach Claude Puel has been under pressure of late as the fans have taken the view that he is too negative in his strategy, but the former Monaco and Lille handler was sporting a beaming smile after this victory.

"It was a very good performance, but I wouldn't class it as a great achievement," said Puel. "It's a shame we didn't score a second one as I thought we outplayed them in the second-half."

Pellegrini said that Real could easily overturn the deficit back in their territory.

"This evening Lyon outmuscled us," said 56-year-old Pellegrini, who gained the Real hotseat on the back of an impressive five year spell at Spanish rivals Villarreal.

"We just didn't know how to cope. It isn't obviously a great result for us.

"We conceded a goal and failed to score one ourselves. We have to be more disciplined in the second leg and do to them as they did to us this evening.

"I am certain that we can achieve that and win the tie. I don't believe the same demons that have plagued the side in recent seasons in this competition and seen us go out in the last 16 on five successive occasions have returned."

AFP

(China Daily 02/18/2010 page11)