Real Madrid crashes out of Champions League
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Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos (R) duels for the ball during during the second leg of the first knockout round Champions League soccer match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday March 10, 2010. [Xinhua/Chen Haitong] |
Real Madrid drew 1-1 at home to Olympic Lyon to crash out of the Champions League Wednesday night.
It is the sixth consecutive season that the club has failed to get past the first knockout round of Europe's most important competition, but this year's failure is the most painful of all.
Returning President Florentino Perez invested over 250 million Euros in players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka with the aim of lifting a historic tenth title.
The fact this year's final is to be held in Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was another factor motivating Madrid and is another reason why this failure hurts more than any.
With Xabi Alonso and Marcelo both suspended, Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini opted to bring Guti back into his starting 11 along with Esteban Granero.
Meanwhile Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Gonzalo Higuain formed a fearsome attacking trident to try and overturn Lyon's 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
With the Madrid press having built up the game for several days, the stands in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium were packed out and there was a tremendous atmosphere in the stadium.
Everything looked to be going exactly to plan when Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Madrid after just six minutes. The Portuguese striker ran onto a Guti pass and fired home from a narrow angle with a low shot.
That goal leveled the tie and Madrid went looking for the second goal. Gonzalo Higuain twice went close after 12 minutes and then hit the post with Lyon keeper Lloris beaten after 25 minutes later.
Real Madrid had enjoyed enough chances in the first 45 minutes to have put the tie beyond doubt, but with just a 1-0 lead and without having scored in Lyon three weeks ago, Pellegrin's side was always going to be vulnerable to conceding an away goal.
Maybe Olympic coach Claude Puel sensed that and made a double change at the break, bringing on Gonalons and Kallstrom, with the result that his side took control of events.
Lyon had possession of the ball and created the only chances in the second period as the home fans grew increasingly nervous.
Maybe the 80,000 in the Bernabeu knew what was going to happen as Lyon leveled on the night after 75 minutes, Pjanic scoring a left foot shot from inside the area.
Madrid now had to score twice, but was unable to react and the failure was complete. The question now is how long will it be before Pellegrini loses his job.
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