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UEFA Champions League Preview: Lyon v Real Madrid (Group F) [Tue Sep 13th, 2005]
If Lyon are to prove that they can be a force in Europe, as well as reigning supreme in France, then they will have the chance to prove how far they have come when they entertain Real Madrid.
Last season the team made it one step further than their Spanish visitors as they qualified for the quarter-finals before being eliminated by PSV on penalties.
But the pundits are claiming that new coach Gerard Houllier has the strongest squad in the French league and they could well launch a concerted bid to make it all the way through to the final in Paris next year.
Michael Essien’s transfer away from Lyon to Chelsea won many headlines, but the Gallic outfit captured five outstanding players in Tiago, Benoit Pedretti, Sylvain Monsoreau, John Carew and Fred to bolster their ranks.
Their attacking style under the former Liverpool boss has seen them move staight to the top of Ligue 1 where they are undefeated after six matches and are already looking a good bet to clinch their fifth consecutive league title.
Madrid’s disasterous defeat against Celta Vigo in the Bernabéu last weekend, albeit to a controversial winning goal, have had the pundits arguing over whether the team will come out fighting or see their heads go down at the first sign of trouble.
Vanderlei Luxemburgo is adamant that he has no plans to change his system despite the embarrassing reverse and has vowed not to listen to the knockers who say that he must be more flexible.
"I am used to the critics," he said. "I am not changing things because the adaptation of players is always difficult.
"We are playing well and I am not to change everything for 90 minutes. I have heard the criticisms before but I am not going to modify my system with my history and honours."
Against Celta, Luxemburgo left new signing Sergio Ramos on the bench, but the €27 million acquisition from Sevilla is set to be given his first start for the club as he makes his UEFA Champions League debut.
It is the reliance on famous attacking players that has drawn the critics, who demand that the team be more balanced with some emphasis placed on defending resolutely as well as entertaining at the other end.
Despite his denial that he is ready to tweak his tactics, Luxemburgo maybe forced into making the changes with Zinedine Zidane out injured, Ronaldo suspended and doubts over several of his other key players.
Madrid did not have a successful Champions League campaign last season, by their standards as they finished second in the group stages behind Bayer Leverkusen, before losing in the second round to Juventus.
Having splashed out heavily on new talent in the summer, including Ramos, Robinho and Julio Baptsita, the pressure will be on the Brazilian trainer to produce the goods this term.
TEAM NEWS
Lyon: Eric Abidal is recovering from a long-term injury and Cris is doubtful in the centre of defence after he picked up a knee injury in last weekend’s victory over Monaco and he could be replaced in the team by Monsoraeu. Berthod will stay as left-back, while John Carew and Fred will be hoping to take their excellent form into Europe as they spearhead the French outfit’s attack.
Real Madrid: Zidane is injured and Ronaldo is suspended and if that was not enough, Luxemburgo has doubts over David Beckham, Raúl and Francisco Pavón. If Raúl is given the green light he will partner Robinho in attack, while Ramos will step in for Pavón, Guti will play instead of Zidane and Beckham could see his place taken by another new face in Pablo GarcÃÂa, who joined the club from Osasuna in the summer.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Lyon: Coupet; Réveillére, Cris, Cacapa, Berthod; Pedretti, Diarra, Juninho, Govou; Carew, Fred
Real Madrid: Casillas; Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Gravesen, Baptista, Beckham or Pablo GarcÃÂa, Guti; Raúl, Robinho.
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