Real look to Mourinho magic to end Lyon jinx

Jose Mourinho ended Chelsea's half a century wait for an English title, he brought European Cup glory back to Inter Milan after 45 years and now he battles Olympique Lyon's mesmeric hold over mighty Real Madrid.

If there was ever a man to conquer a hoodoo it is the Portuguese coach but he has more than one jinx to deal with in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg in France.

Lyon have beaten Real at home three times in a row in the competition including last year where they condemned the Spaniards to their sixth successive last 16 elimination.

Overcoming Claude Puel's team and the mental block of quarterfinal progress will be no mean feat but Mourinho, as ever, oozes the confidence that prompted the nine-times winners to appoint him last May.

"No one keeps me awake, neither Lyon nor anyone else," the outspoken Mourinho told reporters after Saturday's comfortable 2-0 La Liga win at home to Levante where he rested several players.

"The night I don't sleep well is after the match. Ever since we drew Lyon we have been following them. (Real consultant Zinedine) Zidane knows them and has been giving me information."

On a personal note, Mourinho is bidding to become the first coach to win the Champions League with three different clubs after stunning the European game with Porto's 2004 triumph and then taking just two seasons to mould a winning side at Inter.

May's victory in the final over Bayern Munich is still fresh in his memory but with the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo and pumped-up striker Karim Benzema returning to face his former team, Mourinho's prospects look as good as with Inter last year.

 

Bicycle kick

Lyon will not just have recent form against Real on their side at the Stade de Gerland.

Their domestic performances have shown a marked improvement of late with a 4-1 derby win at St Etienne and Friday's 4-0 home thumping of AS Nancy boding well.

"You can see that pressure makes us give the best of ourselves," Puel told reporters.

France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, bought from Girondins Bordeaux in August as a marquee signing, has finally found his verve after a slow start and Jimmy Briand's bicycle kick goal against Nancy was on a par with Wayne Rooney's recent effort.

The only worries for Lyon are goalkeeper Hugo Lloris's bad cold, although he is expected to return against Real, and striker Lisandro Lopez's hamstring problem which is likely to keep the Argentine out of the game.

"Lisandro is slightly injured, his participation against Real is in doubt." added Puel, who has had a series of run-ins with the forward.

Probable teams:

Olympique Lyon: 1-Hugo Lloris; 13-Anthony Reveillere, 3-Cris, 5-Dejan Lovren, 20-Aly Cissokho; 6-Kim Kallstrom, 28-Jeremy Toulalan, 29-Yoann Gourcuff; 11-Michel Bastos, 18-Bafetimbi Gomis, 7-Jimmy Briand

Real Madrid: 1-Iker Casillas; 17-Alvaro Arbeloa, 2-Ricardo Carvalho, 3-Pepe, 4-Sergio Ramos; 14-Xabi Alonso, 24-Sami Khedira; 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 23-Mesut Ozil, 22-Angel Di Maria; 9-Karim Benzema

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

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Real fight back in stormy Spanish Cup derby

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) vies with Atletico Madrid's Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi during the Copa del Rey (King's Cup) football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid

Photo: AFP

Real Madrid fought back from a goal down to defeat city rivals Atletico 3-1 in the first leg of the Spanish Cup quarter-finals Thursday.

Atletico were ahead after just seven minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu when Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan was on target following a bright burst from Sergio Aguero which was ended by goalkeeper Iker Casillas's clumsy challenge.

But Sergio Ramos powered in a header from an Angel Di Maria corner in the 14th minute to bring the home side level before Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil added second half strikes to give Real breathing space ahead of the second leg next week.

Atletico's young goalkeeper David De Gea pulled off a string of fine first-half saves to keep his side in the contest, particularly alert to a header from Portuguese international centre-half Ricardo Carvalho.

But he was powerless to keep out Real after the break.

Ronaldo gave his side the lead in the 61st minute when he stretched to steer in a cross from German star Ozil past De Gea.

Ozil then grabbed the third in stoppage time after a defensive error allowed him to chip the ball home from close range.

There was a bad-tempered end to the match, however, when Aguero and Ramos clashed and as their row continued, missiles were thrown onto the pitch.

In the night's other game, Almeria edged Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 thanks to a first-half own goal from on-loan Norwegian defender Knut Olav Rindaroy.

On Wednesday, Lionel Messi celebrated his second successive World Player of the Year award by hitting a hat-trick in Barcelona's 5-0 rout of Real Betis. Pedro and Seydou Keita were Barcelona's other scorers.

Sevilla came back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at Villarreal in Wednesday's other last-eight, first-leg tie.

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Real Madrid find money can't buy you love or goals

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during their Spanish first division soccer match against Levante at the Ciudad de Valencia Stadium in Valencia, September 25, 2010.

Photo: Reuters

MADRID - Jose Mourinho lamented Real Madrid's failure to put the ball in the net as his side were held to a humbling 0-0 draw at Levante in La Liga on Saturday.

The nine-times European champions dominated the match but, as has happened in recent games, they lacked fluidity in their play and appeared anxious when chances fell to the likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria or Cristiano Ronaldo.

"We've had eight clear opportunities but we haven't scored," their newly-installed coach Mourinho, who has been on the back foot after Real's dour recent performances, told reporters.

"The only game where we created fewer was in San Sebastian (against Real Sociedad) and we scored twice.

An opening day draw was followed by three consecutive victories with only one goal conceded, but the Bernabeu faithful expect more and they grumbled and whistled at their side during the laboured 3-0 win over Espanyol in midweek.

"We've only conceded once in six matches. We've controlled all the games, haven't had tactical problems and have been defensively solid. We always want to win but if you don't score you don't win," added Mourinho defending their mixed start.

The match pitched the world's richest club by income against a side who only came out of financial administration on Thursday, two years after seeking protection from creditors.

Real spent about 80 million euros ($106.8 million) on players like Argentina's Di Maria and Germany's Mesut Ozil in the close season, on top of 250 million spent the previous year.

Levante strengthened their squad after winning promotion by landing fringe players from other La Liga sides on loan or with free transfers.

"Each side plays to their strengths. It's clear economic power and football power are different things but we were the only ones who tried to play," said Mourinho.

For Levante the result crowned a special week.

After three straight defeats, in which they conceded 10 goals, they collected their first points back in the top flight with a 1-0 win at Almeria in midweek.

They then secured their financial independence again.

"It proves money doesn't speak in football," Levante president Francisco Catalan told Spanish television.

"The board's principle aim was to take the club out of administration, and we have achieved that. Our next job is to secure our place in the top flight."

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Ronaldo responds to boo boys with Real winner

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrates his goal against Real Sociedad with his team-mate Marcelo during their Spanish First Division soccer match at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian September 18, 2010.

Photo: Reuters

MADRID - Cristiano Ronaldo scored with a deflected freekick to earn Real Madrid a battling 2-1 victory at promoted Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday.

The world's most expensive player has endured a frustrating start to the season, being booed and whistled by home and away fans, with his anxiety to score a goal clear for all to see.

His wayward shots, exaggerated complaints to the referee and occasional wild challenge had fans at the Anoeta howling until he struck a fierce freekick which ballooned off the wall and past a stranded Claudio Bravo after 75 minutes.

"Cristiano is Cristiano, we are not going to change him," Real director general Jorge Valdano told Spanish television.

"He has a personality that enables him to be one of the best players in the world, we accept it and understand it as one of his strengths."

Argentina winger Angel Di Maria had put the visitors in front at the start of the second half only for Raul Tamudo to level soon after.

Real moved on to seven points from three games, four ahead of champions Barcelona, who travel to play early La Liga pace-setters Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Despite dominating possession it was the hosts who created the clearer chances until Di Maria scored a great solo effort in the 51st minute, curling a shot into the top corner.

The lead only lasted 11 minutes, Tamudo arriving unmarked at the far post to bundle in a freekick and Real needed Ronaldo's strike, which deflected off Pepe's back in the wall, to restore the lead.

Furious reaction

Real Sociedad refused to lie down and near the end an error from Sergio Ramos led to Iker Casillas having to save on his line, prompting a furious reaction from his coach Jose Mourinho who jumped from his seat and hurled a plastic bottle into the dugout in disgust.

"They were stronger in the first half, we were in the second. I think a draw would have been the fairest result," Mourinho told reporters.

Earlier, financially-troubled Real Mallorca recorded their first win of the campaign beating Osasuna 2-0 at home.

Gonzalo Castro set them on their way from the penalty spot after 25 minutes and Jonathan de Guzman ran the length of the pitch to secure the result in time added on.

The islanders finished fifth last season to qualify for the Europa League but were barred from entering the competition by UEFA after going into voluntary administration.

Athletic Bilbao fought back from two down to draw 2-2 at Sporting Gijon with goals from Carlos Gurpegi and Spain striker Fernando Llorente, while Espanyol overcame Almeria 1-0.

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