Real on Euro mission, but Lyon lie in wait

REAL MADRID will attempt to put themselves in a position to end five years of Champions League hurt tonight when they take on Lyon in the first leg of their last 16 tie at Stade Gerland.

The Spanish giants have failed to reach the quarter-finals of this competition since the 2003/04 campaign. Since then they have been dumped out at the last-16 stage in successive years by Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Roma and, most recently, Liverpool.

It is a hugely disappointing record for the nine-time European champions, and one they will be desperate to avoid repeating this season, especially with the final being staged at their Bernabeu Stadium.