The history between Real Madrid and Olympique Lyon is starting to change. Recent meetings between both sides ended in favor of Los Blancos.
Iker Casillas, who has participated in 8 previous UEFA Champions League encounters against Les Gones, is hoping to build on Real Madrid’s strength to cast the Lyon demons for good.
“They are uncomfortable rivals for us and they know they have our respect,” the Madrid captain told during the pre-match press conference.
“In the 2009/10 campaign they took an important step into the last eight at our expense but last year we ended our nightmare of not having advanced past the last 16 [in the six previous campaigns] and we did so against Lyon.”
Casillas continued:
“Every year [Lyon] change players but they always seem to advance in this competition. That's why taking six points from our games against them at home and away will be important for us.
“Our objective this term is to improve on what we did last year and go one step further in the Liga and the [UEFA] Champions League. [José] Mourinho is even more ambitious than he was last year.
“This is a very positive thing and the effect is contagious.”
The Spanish giants hold the unique ambition of winning their group as quickly as possible. In an interview on Monday, coach Jose Mourinho declared:
“What is important is winning against Olympique Lyonnais. We earned 10 points out of our first four matches last year and they helped us to qualify.
“It's not easy to win in the Champions League but we now already have 6 points. Winning the group might give us an advantage in the last-16 draw, but we want to qualify as possible as we can and get further than we got last year in the competition.”
Real Madrid are on fire at the Santiago Bernabeu. They’ve scored a total of 17 goals in 4 home games in all competitions. In Europe, they are yet to concede a goal at the Bernabeu whereas Olympique Lyon are yet to score away from the Stade de Gerland.
“They are uncomfortable rivals for us and they know they have our respect,” the Madrid captain told during the pre-match press conference.
“In the 2009/10 campaign they took an important step into the last eight at our expense but last year we ended our nightmare of not having advanced past the last 16 [in the six previous campaigns] and we did so against Lyon.”
Casillas continued:
“Every year [Lyon] change players but they always seem to advance in this competition. That's why taking six points from our games against them at home and away will be important for us.
“Our objective this term is to improve on what we did last year and go one step further in the Liga and the [UEFA] Champions League. [José] Mourinho is even more ambitious than he was last year.
“This is a very positive thing and the effect is contagious.”
The Spanish giants hold the unique ambition of winning their group as quickly as possible. In an interview on Monday, coach Jose Mourinho declared:
“What is important is winning against Olympique Lyonnais. We earned 10 points out of our first four matches last year and they helped us to qualify.
“It's not easy to win in the Champions League but we now already have 6 points. Winning the group might give us an advantage in the last-16 draw, but we want to qualify as possible as we can and get further than we got last year in the competition.”
Real Madrid are on fire at the Santiago Bernabeu. They’ve scored a total of 17 goals in 4 home games in all competitions. In Europe, they are yet to concede a goal at the Bernabeu whereas Olympique Lyon are yet to score away from the Stade de Gerland.
