Pellegrini gets vote of confidence

Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano gave under-pressure coach Manuel Pellegrini a vote of confidence in the wake of last night’s Champions League exit at the hands of Lyon.

Madrid started the second leg well but could not build on Cristiano Ronaldo’s early strike and Miralem Pjanic’s 75th-minute equaliser for Lyon earned the French side a 2-1 aggregate win and a place in the quarter-finals.