|
An inspired first-half performance from Brazilian Juninho Pernambucano saw Lyon thump Real Madrid 3-0 at the Stade Gerland on Tuesday.
Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has made no secret of his desire to see Lyon in the final of the Champions’ League at the Stade de France next May, despite most observers outside of France considering Lyon as little more than a potential quarter-finalist.
Tuesday night’s performance may prompt some rapid reassessments because, despite Michael Essien’s departure to Chelsea, Juninho and his free-kick armoury have most certainly remained.
Ironically, it was Real that opened the match the brighter with their attacking trio of Raul, Robinho and Julio Baptista forcing the Lyon defence into a series of dangerous fouls. David Beckham and Roberto Carlos both saw efforts fly agonisingly wide of Grégory Coupet’s right-hand upright before Raul turned another Roberto Carlos effort against the post before heading the rebound straight at the Lyon custodian.
The Galacticos would soon pay for their wayward finishing in a devastating 10-minute spell.
Juninho,30, found the wall with his first effort, but was merely finding his range. His second laid on Lyon’s opener on 21 minutes with a whipping delivery that may well have beaten Iker Casillas on its own, had it not been deflected home by the head of Norwegian striker John Carew.
Five minutes later “Juni’s” right foot was at it again, slamming home an unstoppable drive from fully 30m out which left Casillas grasping at thin air.
Sylvain Wiltord scored a stunning third goal just ten minutes after his side had opened the scoring with a sweeping right-foot volley from Anthony Revéillère’s intelligent cut-back.
However, the first-half belonged to just man as Juninho didn’t limit his impact to the dead-ball. Two mazy dribbles only underlined the visitor’s brittle defence and while Ivan Helguera denied Juninho the first time, Michel Salgado could only do so illegally as the referee, Mr De Santis, pointed to the spot.
Just as it appeared he could do no wrong, Juninho strode up and saw his thunderous effort expertly turned away by Casillas just seconds before the half-time interval.
The second half was extensively one-way traffic as Madrid pushed forward in wave after wave of rushed, disjointed and ultimately futile attack, too often caught trying to flick, dribble and backheel their way through a congested Lyon penalty box. When Raul and co. did get through on Lyon’s goal - admittedly on more than one occassion - they found Coupet in particularly inspired form.
Lyon climb to the top of the Group F standings, level on points with Rosenborg who defeated Olympiakos 3-1 in the group’s other match.
|
