Uefa Champions League: Olympique Lyon opened their Champions League campaign in style with a 3-0 victory over a weakened Real Madrid in a lively Group F match last night.
Three first-half goals in quick succession enabled the four-times French champions to shock the nine-times European champions and strongly suggest they could make an impact in Europe at last after losing in the quarter-finals for the last two seasons.
Lyon's task was made easier by the fact that Real, making yet another sluggish start to the season, were missing France playmaker Zinedine Zidane and Brazil striker Ronaldo through injury and suspension respectively.
Norway striker John Carew opened the scoring against the run of play on 21 minutes when he surprised Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas by deflecting a Juninho free kick with a header.
Brazilian midfielder Juninho needed no help to double the advantage from another free kick from nearly 30 metres out five minutes later.
France forward Sylvain Wiltord made it 3-0 with a magnificent volley from a pass by defender Anthony Reveillere after 31 minutes.
Real escaped further punishment when Casillas brilliantly saved a Juninho penalty after 42 minutes.
OLYMPIQUE LYON: Coupet, Reveillere, Cris, Cacapa, Berthold, Diarra, Tiago (Pedretti 86), Juninho, Wiltord (Govou 80), Malouda, Carew (Fred 72). Subs not used: Vercoutre, Diatta, Ben Arfa, Monsoreau. Booked: Berthold, Diarra. Goals: Carew 21, Juninho 26, Wiltord 31.
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Salgado, Sergio, Helguera, Carlos, Beckham, Pablo Garcia, Gravesen (Guti 61), Julio Baptista, Robinho, Raul. Subs not used: Diego, Bravo, Diogo, Pavon, Mejia, Soldado. Booked: Salgado, Pablo Garcia, Beckham.
Referee: Massimo De Santis (Italy).
Rangers earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory over a Porto side who outplayed them for large spells at Ibrox last night. However, goals from Peter Lovenkrands, Dado Prso and Sotirios Kyrgiakos secured the points.
