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Lyon booked their place in the Champions’ League knockout phase after storming to a 4-1 victory away to Olympiakos on Tuesday.
Gérard Houllier’s team showed its character once again by coming from a goal down in an intimidating atmosphere in Athens to seal an impressive win. The result means they still have a one hundred percent record and, with Real Madrid beating Rosenborg, are now sure of their place in the last 16.
Like last season, Lyon have qualified with two matches two spare, and can now travel to the Bernabeu in three weeks time in relaxed mood as they try to consolidate their position as top dogs in Group F.
Houllier opted to restore John Carew to the starting lineup and the Norwegian striker was instrumental in all four of Lyon’s goals. The French champions seemed in real danger before they broke Olympiakos’ spirit with two goals in the space of three minutes at the end of the first half.
The first goal arrived when Carew was tripped 25 yards out and Juninho Pernambucano - who else? - curled another classy free kick round the wall and into the bottom-right corner on 41 minutes. It was the Brazilian’s 22nd free-kick goal for Lyon, his third in the Champions’ League this season and his second against Olympiakos.
As if that wasn’t a big enough blow for the Greek side, who had played with great strength, speed and determination for the first half an hour, Lyon went in a goal ahead at the break after a defensive lapse from the home side. Grégory Coupet’s long clearance was not properly cleared and Carew took full advantage, jinking between two defenders, then unleashing a low cross-shot inside the far post.
It was harsh on Trond Sollied’s team, who had gone ahead through Babangida in the third minute; Claudio Caçapa, who did not enjoy his best evening in a Lyon shirt, failed to cut out Pantelis Kafes’ through pass and Babangida showed good composure to lift the ball over Coupet.
Cris and Caçapa looked unsteady as Olympiakos and their highly-motivated Brazilian Rivaldo threatened to score a second. It was Lyon who created the next clear chance, however, when Florent Malouda raced onto Mahamadou Diarra’s through ball, only to see his lofted finish saved by Kleopas Giannou.
Lyon simply do not panic when they fall behind these days. It has happened six times already this season and on all six occasions the champions have got back on level terms. And once Juninho and Carew had worked their magic, there seemed no way back for Olympiakos.
The second half was exhibition stuff from Lyon, who had chances to double their lead through Carew and Sidney Govou shortly after the restart.
It seemed a matter of time before Lyon would score a third – and so it proved. Diarra, whose masterful midfield display confirmed his status as one of Europe’s finest players, made and finished the goal in the 56th minute. The Mali international surged forward before slipping Carew clean through. Although Carew’s shot was saved by Giannou, Diarra had followed up and pushed the ball into an empty net.
Lyon were enjoying themselves, and two minutes later the Olympiakos fans started streaking out of the stadium as their side conceded a fourth. Juninho was the architect, curling a dangerous free kick into the penalty area from the left wing, and Carew glanced a header home for his second of the night.
Houllier was able to hand Sylvain Wiltord, Jérémy Clément and Benoît Pedretti some playing time as he rung the changes. It did not disrupt the fluency of the Lyon game, however, and were it not for some wayward finishing – from Govou in particular – the visitors would have won by an even greater margin.
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