Madrid murdered in Lyon
Lyon turned on the style to blitz Real Madrid with a stunning first half show.
Lyon looked like potential winners of the UEFA Champions League in crushing Real Madrid 3-0 at Stade Gerland.
The French champions blitzed Los Galacticos with a stunning display of vibrant, attacking football and would have been four goals in front at the interval but for a penalty save by Iker Casillas.
John Carew, Juninho Pernambucano and Sylvain Wiltord did the damage inside 31 minutes as Real were left shell-shocked and looking very much lost in France.
Carew looked a threat from the first whistle but the first chances fell to Real as David Beckham fired a well-worked free kick inches wide and a Roberto Carlos set-piece also whistled just off target. Gregory Coupet kept out another effort from the Brazilian full back but the tide soon turned.
Juninho made the most of a free kick awarded for handball against Michel Salgado by hammering it goalwards, the final touch skimming off Carew's head and past a startled Casillas.
Roberto Carlos almost levelled when his deflected drive hit a post and Raul should have converted the rebound but headed tamely straight at Coupet. He was to pay for that miss as Lyon were awarded another free kick, albeit over 30 yards from goal.
Juninho has been a regular star performer in the Champions League and he let fly to send the ball fizzing past Casillas, making a mug of one of Europe's top goalkeepers. The home side were 2-0 up with only 26 minutes on the clock.
Lyon went in for the kill, sensing blood, and they were rewarded when a lovely move saw Anthony Reveillere cross from the right and Wiltord bury the opportunity, first time, for a delightful goal as the ex-Arsenal attacker swept it home majestically.
When Juninho tumbled under the challenge of Pablo Garcia and Salgado, a dubious penalty was awarded but the Brazilian's spot-kick was smartly saved by Casillas to keep the score down.
Robinho had a shot palmed by Coupet, inches away from the advancing Beckham, and the keeper was tested by Julio Baptista and Raul after the interval. When the Lyon goalie did err, gifting Guti a chance, the substitute blazed well off target.
As Beckham dropped deeper to play his 'quarterback' role, his team-mates failed to respond to his promptings as Baptista and Raul spurned opportunities to pull one back.
Instead, Lyon substitute Fred screwed a shot just wide otherwise it could have been even more embarrassing for Madrid, who were well and truly sunk by the French champions.
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| Lyon | Team Statistics | Real Madrid |
| 3 | Goals | 0 |
| 3 | 1st Half Goals | 0 |
| 6 | Shots on Target | 5 |
| 5 | Shots off Target | 10 |
| 5 | Blocked Shots | 2 |
| 5 | Corners | 5 |
| 15 | Fouls | 21 |
| 0 | Offsides | 4 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 78.2 | Passing Success | 85.4 |
| 27 | Tackles | 21 |
| 77.8 | Tackles Success | 81 |
| 42.9 | Possession | 57.1 |
| 48.3 | Territorial Advantage | 51.7 |
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