Lyon spoil Benzema´s return

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.”

Lyon forward Sidney Govou admitted that at times they hadn’t been at their best in the league but that they had shown what they were capable of against Real.

“Collectively we are very happy,” said the France international.

“This evening (Tuesday) the supporters saw that when we are up against the best players in the world we can match them.”

The French side’s breakthrough came immediately after half-time when Cameroonian midfielder, Jean II Makoun, picked up the ball from deep and powered through a retreating Madrid defence to hit a dipping shot over a stranded Iker Casillas.

Real were not without their chances but the multi-million-euro Spanish side could not penetrate a resilient Lyon defence, despite enjoying most of the possession.

Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain missed a glorious chance when he was clean through on 62 minutes.

But the French-born star could only fire his shot directly at the oncoming Hugo Lloris.

Real threw everything at the seven-time French champions as they went in search of an equaliser and defender Sergio Ramos headed over the crossbar on 80 minutes from a Kaka corner.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a penalty appeal turned down five minutes earlier when he fell under a challenge from the Lyon keeper.

Lyon old boy Benzema, on as a substitute, had one opportunity to snatch a vital away goal but he could only screw his shot wide.

The victory means Puel’s men are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions in 2010, while Real face an uphill battle to reach the quarter-finals.

Lyon travel to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium – where the final will be held later in the year – for the second leg on March 10, where Real Madrid will be without midfielder Xavi Alonso and left-back Marcelo through suspension.