Real Madrid saw off the challenge of French side Lyon in last night’s Champions League action to book a quarterfinal place for the first time in almost a decade.
Anyone who doubted Jose Mourinho’s resolve as Madrid boss will be tucking into a few rather large portions of humble pie after Real threw two rather annoying monkeys off their collective back.
The first was actually qualifying for the latter stages of the competition for the first time since the early 00s, the second that they’ve now finally beaten Lyon for the first time.
Marcelo’s fine effort opened the scoring for the home side, before second half goals from in-form striker Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria added some gloss to a score line that never looked in doubt.
The fact the game finished 3-0 didn’t flatter Madrid at all and even more pleasing was the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo barely broke a sweat in his return from an injury – and didn’t pick up a caution that would have seen him out of the quarter final first leg.
“The Special One” has already told of his desire to avoid two of his former clubs that are in the pot for Friday’s draw. On last night’s evidence it might be worth questioning his motives.
Chelsea put on the kind of display that will have Europe’s big guns licking their lips at the prospect of a last eight meeting.
It says a great deal that the best chance of the evening fell to Copenhagen when Dame N’Doye put a free kick against the inside of the post and if that had gone in extra time would have been a real possibility.
As it is, Chelsea prevail after the Danish champions decided to not turn up for the first leg, and Fernando Torres still hasn’t opened his account that now stretches to a barren six games in all competitions.
