Olympique Lyon vs Real Madrid Match Preview
Olympique Lyonnais will be looking to take a step towards qualification when they play host to Group D leaders Real Madrid.
Real currently hold a five point lead at the top of the Group D table, while Lyon are tied with AFC Ajax for second place in the group.
Lyon coach Remi Garde is insisting his team is confident despite being beaten 4-0 by Real at the Bernabeu during matchday three.
“We are well aware of how important this game is,” Garde told the official UEFA website. "A defeat would put us in a very difficult position but we never go into a game thinking we could lose.”
Michel Bastos and Clement Grenier are ruled out with injury for Lyon, while Jeremy Pied and Lisandro are also sidelined. Aly Cissokho and John Mensah are injury doubts for the French club and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Real can guarantee their progress to the last 16 with three points, and Jose Mourinho assured fans this week that his team would “strive for victory.”
Raul Albiol has returned to full fitness for Madrid, while Marcelo and Kaka are sidelined with injury. Alvaro Arbeloa and Ricardo Carvalho are also ruled out and did not make the trip to France.