Lyon v Real 11/2 Champions League

Lyon

Hugo Lloris - 8 - The French Number 1 made a flurry of saves to keep his team in the contest in the first half, and was outstanding throughout.

Dejan Lovren - Inc. - The Croat had started well by saving his teams skin on two occasions early on. He was unlucky to go off with an injury in the first half.

Bakari Kone -6.5 - Did an admirable job filling in for Lovren and looks young and useful.

Cris - 6.5- Used every bit of his experience to minimize the havoc that Real's three headed monster was wreaking in Lyon's half. Things got easier as the game progressed.

Mouhamadou Dabo - 6 - He did an admirable job playing left back, (assuming that he is indeed right footed). Extremely unlucky to see a penalty given against him when it appeared Ronaldo had already lost control of the ball.

Anthony Reveillere - 5 - Tidied up his play in the second half, but was caught out on a number of occasions throughout the evening. Benzema had plenty of space to roam down the left hand side, and he was embarrassingly nutmegged on two occasions.

Kim Kallstrom - 5 - For a man that is famous for his left foot, he hardly was able to showcase it because he rarely found the ball at his feet. His delivery on set pieces was spotty as well.

Maxime Gonalons - 5.5- Showed a willingness to tackle, but was gotten the better of by Ozil among others on several occasions. He will be eager to get back to standard Ligue 1 opposition.

Bafetimbi Gomis - 6 - Cast in his familiar, lone European figure, Gomis was predictably starved for service and struggled to make the most of what precious little he was given.

Yoann Gourcuff - 5.5 - Woeful in the first half, looked well off the pace of the game and a shadow of the player he was at AC Milan. He started to come into his own as the game got into its later stages, but couldn't convert Lyon's best chance of the game.


Honorato Campos Ederson - 5 - Never looked like he would get the better of Lasanna Diarra, and confirmed as much when he reverted to some shameless Latin tactics to try and win a penalty. He will also be looking forward to getting back to Ligue 1.

Jimmy Briand - 7.5 - Easily Lyon's most lively player in an attacking sense. He seems comfortable on both sides of the pitch and must have made Real and Pepe nervous at times. Couldn't direct his header away from Casillas or it would have made for an interesting final 10 minutes.

Real Madrid

Iker Casillas 6 - Not the most convincing display from Iker, but he extended his record long shut-out streak and still looks to be one of the best in the world.

Sergio Ramos - 7 - If anyone lets him play right back again, they ought to be committed to an insane asylum. The proverbial shackles and responsibility that playing central defender impose on Ramos make him twice the player and half the liability he was at right back.

Pepe - 5.5 - Didn't have much to do on this evening, but isn't always the most convincing with his unorthodox style of defending. His positioning is suspect and he is asking for trouble at times.

Fábio Coentrão - 6.5 - Couldn't tell if he injured himself, and too bad if he did, because he looks like a hell of a left back. Apparently he can play elsewhere, but that has to be his best position. Showed a great sense of spacing and seemed to have a good understanding with Ronaldo down the left.

Lassana Diarra - 9 - I seem to recall him playing a bit of right back in his Chelsea days, (presumably under Mourinho). If this was his audition he stole the scene, providing just about everything you could want from a right back and then some. Oh, and switched over to left back after Coentrao went off like it wasn't no thing.

Xabi Alonso - 7 - Not his most memorable night, but you can see why he's so important to them. He is shockingly accurate with his long balls and is probably the key to Real's success.

Sami Khedira - 4 - It isn't entirely clear what his role in the team is supposed to be, and that was reflected in his play. He is supposedly supposed to be a defensive midfielder although he doesn't really strike me as a robust tackler. He picked up his play in the second half, but looked to be the chink in Real's armor in the first.

Ángel Di María - 5 - I like what Di Maria brings, but he was atrociously wasteful and responsible for the implosion of about six promising counter attacks. He is entirely too predictable in trying to get the ball onto his left foot and everyone knows it.

Mesut Özil - 8 - His first half was incredible, passing like he has eyes in the back of his head. There may not be a better CAM in the world right now apart from David Silva. The only part of his game that needs work is his finishing as he showed with a laughably tame effort on Lloris.

Karim Benzema - 8.5 - I thought he was outstanding and he rewarded the managers faith in him with a solid performance. Might have scored with his left foot if not for Lloris, but you like to see him playing with this kind of confidence.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 8.5 - He really can amaze you like no body else. I can't remember a free kick making a louder sound hitting the back of the net than his first half screamer. He could have been awarded a ten if he had maintained his energy and eagerness throughout the ninety, but he went missing for long stretches in the second.

Lyon verdict - Tony Parker and Zidane won't be that impressed with the French display on this evening. It wasn't that long ago that Real would dread the visit to Lyon, but the gulf in the team's abilities was more than evident on this occasion. I'm sure they are a different team domestically, but they looked outclassed on this evening.

Real verdict - I'm not sure if Mourinho knows what his best 11 is, but this has to be close. The reliability of Coentrao and Diarra at fullbacks gives Real an edge that their going to need in La Liga. As much as I hate to say it, I don't see a team more poised for champions league glory this year than Real.