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Undermanned Madrid target KO stage

Comment: 0 November 2nd, 2011 by: admin

REAL Madrid may be undermanned when they face Lyon in the Champions League on Wednesday but they still have enough firepower to get the job done.

When the Los Blancos seek a place in the knockout stage, they will be without injured midfielders Kaka (calf) and Nuri Sahin (knee), centre back Ricardo carvalho (back) and fullbacks Marcelo (thigh) and Alvaro Arbeloa (thigh).

But Madrid remain an awesome force despite that predicament as main man Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain are tipped to lead the attack against the French side. Both have pumped in 10 goals each in the La Liga.

Champions in 2002, Real Madrid are on top of Group D with nine points, five ahead of Ajax Amsterdam and Lyon. At last place without a point are Dinamo Zagreb.

Judging by their 4-0 shellacking of Lyon in the first leg last month, Madrid hope to be as sharp when they collide for the 10th time. The Los Blancos have won their last eight games in all competitions, six of them clean sheets, and remain the only outfit yet to concede a goal in the group stage of Europe’s top football tournament.

Despite their pre-match tags as odds-on picks, Madrid boss Jose Mourinho said they are not underestimating Lyon.

“Lyon is many things but not an easy side,’’ he said. “I don’t think we have an easy group.’’

In four home meetings with Madrid, Lyon are still unbeaten with three victories and a tie.

Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil said Lyon are stronger and play with more confidence at home but claimed they have the advantage individually.

Lyon, meanwhile, are aiming to bounce back from that 4-0 rout.

Striker Bafetimbi Giomis told the UEFA website that it is now up to them to show their pride and belief.

The French squad go into the match buoyed by their 2-0 triumph over Saint-Etienne despite playing 10-man on Saturday that enabled them to move up to fourth place in the table.

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