Champions League
2011-10-18 - Real Madrid vs Lyon
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : Champions League Match Day 3
Tuesday 18 October 2011 - Kickoff 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Real Madrid
Real Madrid broke their Lyon hoodoo last season when they finally managed to knock the French side out of the Champions League while also getting past the last 16 for the first time since 2004. Now the team comes in looking to cement their new found belief against Lyon as well as taking total control of their Group.
Jose Mourinho's team have made a strong start to the Group, winning both games they have played and they are yet to concede a goal. A 0-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb was followed by a comfortable 3-0 home win over Ajax and they hold a 2 point lead over 2nd placed Lyon. Real Madrid will know they could lock up top spot in the Group if they can pick up 4 points from the double-header with Lyon.
The team made a little bit of a stuttering start to the season, losing at Levante and drawing at Racing Santander without scoring a goal. However, they come into this game with plenty of confidence behind them as they have won 4 games in a row. Real Madrid have won 6 of their last 7 home games.
Raul Albiol is a doubt for this game, but both Pepe and Fabio Coentrao both returned for the win over Real Betis and should play a part here. Marcelo and Jose Mourinho are back from European suspensions, but Ricardo Carvalho, Lassana Diarra and Nuri Sahin are doubts.
Lyon
Lyon were the annual Champions of France until the last couple of seasons and they are clearly not the force of old when they really presented a tough challenge for any of the big names in European football. They did reach the 2010 Champions League Semi Final, but it would be a real achievement if they got to that stage again.
After a 0-0 draw in Ajax, Lyon returned home on Match Day 2 and secured a 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb that leaves them 2 points from the top of the Group and 3 points clear of Ajax in 3rd spot. Lyon will be expecting Ajax to pick up at least 4 points from their 2 games with Dinamo Zagreb, so I expect they would be over the moon if they can get 3 points from their 2 games with Real Madrid.
Lyon have won 4 of their last 6 games in all competitions coming into this one, but all 4 of those were at home, while the other 2 games were away defeats at Caen and PSG, both without scoring a goal. Lyon have failed to score in their last 3 away games in all competitions.
Cris, Ederson and Yoann Gourcuff all returned to the side in the win on Saturday over Nancy and should play a part tonight. Clement Grenier also returned from injury but came off again and is a major doubt. Jeremy Pied and Anthony Lopes are both out as are Lisandro and Yannis Tafer.
Head to Head
Real Madrid had drawn with Lyon 3 straight times at home before a 3-0 win here last season in the last 16 that moved Real through to the Quarter Finals.
Prediction
I think Real Madrid will prove to be too strong for Lyon again tonight, much as they were when they met in February in the last 16 in the 2010/11 season.
Understandably, Real Madrid have been priced up plenty short for the win, so I looked at other markets for my pick.
On this occasion, I like picking the home side to win to nil at evens, especially considering both teams form in over the last 12 months.
Real Madrid have kept 6 clean sheets in their last 7 home games in the Champions League, including against Lyon, and the only team to score here in that time was Barcelona.
Lyon have also failed to score in their last 3 away games this season and they have failed to score in 3 of their last 4 away games in the Champions League.
With injuries hurting the French side, I expect Real Madrid to win this to nil.
The Pick :
Real Madrid 2-0 Lyon
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Real Madrid to win to nil @ 2.00 (Ladbrokes)
