Lyon show Real potential with demolition of Madrid
Real started with both David Beckham and Raul - both of whom were pre-match injury worries - but even their influence proved minimal as Lyon went on a first-half scoring spree.
Goals from Norwegian international John Carew, Brazilian midfielder Juninho and former Arsenal attacker Sylvain Wiltord put Lyon in the driving seat by the 31st minute.
The hosts threatened to totally embarrass the Spanish giants when a penalty awarded in the 40th minute, struck by Juninho, was saved by Iker Casillas.
After Carew’s opener Real almost equalised immediately. Roberto Carlos’ shot from 20 yards was deflected onto Coupet’s left-hand post and Raul pounced with a header which hit the woodwork before the French ‘keeper collected.
However, the game was soon turned on its head when Lyon won another freekick.
From 35 yards out Juninho’s long run-up was ambitious but his shot found its way through all the players on its way to beating Casillas in the Real goal.
In the other Group F game, Rosenborg won 3-1 in Olympiakos, in a match that saw two own goals.
Two goals in the last three minutes gave AC Milan a 3-1 victory over Turkey’s Fenerbahce in Group E last night, with inspired Brazilian midfielder Kaka scoring a pair of fine solo strikes.
The Italians, last season’s beaten finalists, took the lead in the 18th minute with a beautifully taken goal from Kaka and had chances to double their advantage.
But Christoph Daum’s Fenerbahce drew level in the 63rd minute through a penalty from Brazilian Alex, awarded after Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso had barged over Nicolas Anelka.
The irrepressible Kaka restored Milan’s lead in the 87th minute with a wonderful solo goal, skipping past two challenges on a winding run before firing home.
The Brazilian then fed his compatriot Serginho on the left whose shot was parried for European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko to tap home the loose ball to make it 3-1.
In the night’s other Group E game, PSV Eindhoven battled to a 1-0 win over Schalke 04.
Striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink scored the only goal after 33 minutes with a powerful header.
In Glasgow Rangers’ Group H, Juan Sebastian Veron’s red card nearly cost Inter Milan dearly, but a Julio Cruz goal proved enough to earn a win away to Artmedia Bratislava, who conquered Celtic in the last qualifying stage.
The only goal came in the 17th minute. Adriano ran down the left flank on a Dejan Stankovic pass and rolled across for Cruz, who came sliding in for the finish.
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