French giants Lyon are aiming to continue their good record against Real Madrid when the two old enemies meet again in the Stade de Gerland on Tuesday, in an intriguing Champions League round of 16 first leg clash.
Remarkably, Lyon have not lost once to Real in their six clashes with the Spaniards since 2005. Indeed, they have beaten Real on all three occasions when the madridistas have visited Lyon, and have managed to come from behind to draw three times in Real's Estadio Bernabeu.
Exactly a year ago Lyon eliminated Real on a 2-1 aggregate, making it a seventh consecutive round of 16 elimination for Europe's fallen aristocrats.
Lyon will not just have recent form against Real in their favour on Tuesday.
In addition, their domestic displays have improved markedly in recent weeks. Ten days ago they thrashed local rivals Saint Etienne 4-1, on Friday's they trounced AS Nancy 4-0 at home.
"We are playing quite well at the moment," said Lyon coach Claude Puel after Friday's win. "You can see that pressure makes us give the best of ourselves," he added.
France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, an expensive buy from Bordeaux in August, has finally run into form after a slow start at the club, as he showed on Friday by volleying in the first goal.
Friday's other star performer in Lyon was young striker Jimmy Briand, who completed the rout with a spectacular bicycle kick goal.
Puel will be sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and striker Lisandro Lopez.
Lloris missed the Nancy game with a heavy cold but is expected to be fit by Tuesday. Lopez, in contrast, will probably not make it because of a hamstring problem.
Real meanwhile have no injury worries. Coach Jose Mourinho rested Xabi Alonso and Emmanuel Adebayor for Saturday's 2-0 home defeat of Levante. This suggests that Adebayor will get the nod over former Lyon idol Karim Benzema, who scored the first goal against Levante.
After the game Benzema said: "Lyon are a good team, at the same level as the big European sides. They are capable of playing well in front of their fans, soo it will be a difficult game."
Mourinho will also have to decide between Kaka and Lassana Diarra in midfield, alongside Alonso and Sami Khedira. In addition, he will have to decide whether to go with Sergio Ramos or Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.
Remarkably, Lyon have not lost once to Real in their six clashes with the Spaniards since 2005. Indeed, they have beaten Real on all three occasions when the madridistas have visited Lyon, and have managed to come from behind to draw three times in Real's Estadio Bernabeu.
Exactly a year ago Lyon eliminated Real on a 2-1 aggregate, making it a seventh consecutive round of 16 elimination for Europe's fallen aristocrats.
Lyon will not just have recent form against Real in their favour on Tuesday.
In addition, their domestic displays have improved markedly in recent weeks. Ten days ago they thrashed local rivals Saint Etienne 4-1, on Friday's they trounced AS Nancy 4-0 at home.
"We are playing quite well at the moment," said Lyon coach Claude Puel after Friday's win. "You can see that pressure makes us give the best of ourselves," he added.
France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, an expensive buy from Bordeaux in August, has finally run into form after a slow start at the club, as he showed on Friday by volleying in the first goal.
Friday's other star performer in Lyon was young striker Jimmy Briand, who completed the rout with a spectacular bicycle kick goal.
Puel will be sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and striker Lisandro Lopez.
Lloris missed the Nancy game with a heavy cold but is expected to be fit by Tuesday. Lopez, in contrast, will probably not make it because of a hamstring problem.
Real meanwhile have no injury worries. Coach Jose Mourinho rested Xabi Alonso and Emmanuel Adebayor for Saturday's 2-0 home defeat of Levante. This suggests that Adebayor will get the nod over former Lyon idol Karim Benzema, who scored the first goal against Levante.
After the game Benzema said: "Lyon are a good team, at the same level as the big European sides. They are capable of playing well in front of their fans, soo it will be a difficult game."
Mourinho will also have to decide between Kaka and Lassana Diarra in midfield, alongside Alonso and Sami Khedira. In addition, he will have to decide whether to go with Sergio Ramos or Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.
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