lyon

Lyon v Real Madrid is yet another revenge match on the cards following last season’s Champions League. French side Lyon, who have a great record against the mighty Spaniards in the competition, again threw a spanner in the works of the Galacticos, as they knocked Madrid out of the last sixteen. Now fate has brought the two sides back together again, and Lyon will be looking for a repeat of the 1-0 home success which they gained over Madrid at this stage last season at the Stade de Gerland. It was a firecracker of a goal from Jean Makoun, which gave Lyon the upper hand then, and with the French side earning a draw back in Spain, Madrid once more faltered. Lyon have a great pedigree in the Champions League, and they always prove to be a difficult side to play against. What they do so very well is play efficient and economical football, built around a very tight formation in which defensive duties are rarely overlooked. Now Lyon have the tough task of knockout out Real Madrid again, and they know the Spaniards will be coming at them with a bit of revenge in mind. Lyon went to the semi finals last year, and they will look to their great home record against Madrid, having won all three matches against the Spaniards at home in France, to get a head start again. Lyon are on a great run of form at home in the Champions League, with seven wins and just one defeat in eleven matches there (the loss coming against Bayern in last year’s semi final). Lyon’s home record is W4 D2 L2 when facing Spanish opposition in European competition. Lyon will go without striker Lisandro, as last year’s Player of the Year in Ligue 1 misses out through injury.

Real Madrid are a bit of a different prospect this time around though, simply because they have Jose Mourinho at the helm. Mourinho led Inter to Champions League success last year, and immediately Madrid were installed as one of the favourites with the online bookmakers, to go all the way and lift the trophy. They looked more than comfortable in their group stage, winning five out of six matches, and picking up a draw in the other match. What was impressive through, was their goal scoring form, hitting fifteen goals in their six matches and conceding just two. This is what Jose Mourinho brings to the table, defence. It was what Inter’s success was built on last year, as the Mourinho way has always been about keeping things tight, even if it as the expense of pretty football. However, at Madrid, he sort of has the best of both worlds, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo gunning for him. Madrid have more of a solid defensive output about them now, but they have the genuine world class match winners to go on and make the most of the hard work being done at the back and in the midfield. Madrid saw off Ajax and AC Milan in the group stage, not easy tasks, and they look to be full of momentum, even if they have slipped backwards in the race for the Spanish league title behind Barcelona. There is no doubt that Real Madrid are a much stronger side than they were last year, and that is all down to the Special One. He really does make such a huge difference to sides, and you wouldn’t back against them getting through to the quarter finals.

They will be happy enough to not lost away at Lyon again, and they will be better suited for a tight battle under Mourinho. A draw would probably suit them fine, but there is a sharper edge about them this year. Last year under Pellegrino, you felt that they were always trying to live up to their reputation, but now other teams are once again understanding that yawning level of respect which Madrid commands under Mourinho. Can Madrid pull out a win in Lyon? Yes, they are better and stronger and should be able to nick a win. They’ll have to work hard for it though, and overcome some history. The last four occasions in which Madrid have been pitted against French sides in two-legged ties in Europe, they have failed to qualify on all four occasion. However, they did pick up a home and away win against Auxerre in the group stage this season, and Madrid’s match record in France is W4 D1 L6. There is of course history between these two sides, and is always worth looking at for your Champions League football betting. The ties have all followed the same pattern. Lyon have won all the home matches, and then held on for a draw back at the Bernabeau. It will be a second return to former club for Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who moved from Lyon back in 2009.

Madrid are strong favourites to pick up an away win, with a best price of 17/10 at Blue Square representing some decent value on Jose Mourinho’s men. The Draw is backed at 5/2 with Bet365, and the bookies aren’t expecting a repeat of Lyon’s heroics from last season, as they are fairly long at 7/2 with Bet365. Bet365 offer some coverage on your football betting, because they will refund any lost stakes placed pre match on Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time or Scorecast bets, if the match plays out to a 0-0 draw. Will the French hold their own again? There is a fantastic bonus waiting at Bet365 for new customers, who can get up to £100 in free bets when opening a new account with the highly recommended online bookmaker.

Lyon v Bayern Munich Champions League Semi Final Betting Preview: It did not draw as much attention as the highlight of the Champions League semi final between Barcelona and Inter Milan dominated the news, but Lyon and Bayern Munich are locked in a close battle. It was not any kind of dramatic spectacle in Munich for the first leg, but the Germans, looking efficient if unspectacular or creative, got the better of a Lyon side which seemed to be happy enough to play negatively. Lyon though have had a good rest since the midweek encounter last week, as they did not have a domestic game on the weekend. Instead they have been working hard at their training camp away from the city, to help stay focused and geared up to overturn the 1-0 deficit inflicted on them by Bayern in the first leg.

Lyon need to win by a clear two goals to reach the final and they need to show a marked improvement in the creative department, to what they did in the first leg. Lyon boss Claude Puel is confident his side can reach the final of the Champions League, and they remain confident ahead of the match, as things could be playing into their hands, and worth considering for betting strategies. Bayern’s preparations have not gone as well as the French sides, for there are problems finding fit personnel to fill the defence, with their main centre half pairing of Martin Demichelis and Daniel Van Buyten both struggling to be fit. Both have traveled with the squad to Lyon however, in the hope of at least one of them passing a late fitness test. Veteran international striker Miroslav Klose is also a doubt for the game after missing training on Monday.

Bayern Munich coach Luis Van Gaal is widely respected across Europe, and they will need his wealth of tactical prowess to overcome a Lyon side who have not lost at home in the competition this season. To add to the worries of the Germans, Franck Ribery was sent off in the first leg, so they will need to go into the game without one of their most influential stars. Bayern will also miss Danijel Pranijec who is suspended as well for the second leg. It is not the ideal situation in which to head into a semi final of the Champions League, and it was made worse by the news that Anatoliy Tymoschuck would not be able to travel due to a bout of gastroenteritis. If Bayern comes overcome these adversities, not made any easier by being away from home, they will rely on their slender 1-0 lead to make their first Champions League final appearance since 2001.

Bayern’s drawn domestic match on the weekend, has left them leading the Bundesliga by goal difference only. Will having played an extra game in between the Champions League legs prove crucial? It is likely that Lyon will have to get onto the front foot early, and expose any weaknesses created in the German side through all of their disruptions. It would be to their advantage, and it should give Lyon the edge in terms of Champions League betting, because one stand out factor between the teams, is that the Germans don’t have the best of defences. If their back line is weakened, then Lyon could enjoy a lot of success, as they should be the stronger attacking force at home. Lyon will miss Jeremy Toulalan who was sent off in the first leg, and that made it three sending-offs in three matches for the French club. They will also miss Francois Clerc, but there is a strong chance that Lisandro, Cris and Jean-Alain Boumsong will be fit to play.

Match Odds
Lyon to win: 6/4 at SkyBet
Draw: 12/5 at Bet365
Bayern Munich to win: 2/1 at Victor Chandler

To Qualify
Bayern Munich: 1/3 at Bet365
Lyon: 11/4 at Ladbrokes

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Lyon are looking for their first major European final, and they are in good stead to do it. They have won their last three European games at home, and are a strong side there, a two goal victory should not be too far out of reach for them. Lyon need a win, Bayern can get through with a draw, so backing the Germans with a draw, such as a +0 Handicap could pay off, as they could be stubborn to break down, especially with all of their problems. If you think Lyon can win the match by the two clear goals which they need to do, then you would have to back them in a minus. Best odds for sensibly backing Lyon would be:
Lyon: -0.25 Asian Handicap 11/10 at Bet365

Bayern Munich v Lyon Champions League Semi Final Leg 1 Betting Preview. It is clearly not going to attract as much attention as the other semi final of this year’s Champions League competition, but Wednesday’s match throws up an interesting encounter all the same. Manchester United’s conquerors Bayern Munich entertain French side Lyon for a place in this year’s final, with the  first leg looking like a real 50/50 for both sides. Both of these sides are rich in Champions League history, and have always posed a threat to other teams along the way, and are usually good for a Quarter Final appearance. Bayern Munich have held the European Cup aloft three times, and once under it’s current guise, back in the 2000/01 season. Lyon are yet to get their hands on Europe’s top prize, and this, they will feel, is their big chance, but first they need a stern away display to overcome their German opponents, as Munich’s result on the weekend, will have highlighted just how good a team the Germans can be.

Bayern Munich steamrolled Hannover 96 at home on the weekend, by a scoreline of 7-0. Yes, that really happened, and that has put them on course for another domestic title. The Germans have turned their season around after a slow start, and their dogged performances against Manchester United in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League this year, crowned with a stunning goal from ex-Chelsea player Arjen Robben, showed that they can battle, scrap, as well as play with a certain amount of flair. They have one of the most respected coaches in Europe at their helm, in the form of Dutchman Louis Van Gaal, and he could give his team the edge over the two matches. However, the Bayern Munich players themselves know that Lyon are going to be no pushover, especially after beating Spanish giants Real Madrid in the last sixteen, and then French rivals Bordeaux in the Quarter Finals. Much in the same vein as their German opponents, Lyon know how to dig deep as well as play with some attacking style. This makes the balance of this tie, a somewhat precarious one to chose from in terms of betting.

Lyon will travel by a convoy of mini vans to reach Munich, and they will use the strength of their defence to have something to take back to France for the second leg. Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is one of the best goalkeepers in the competition this season, and is a large factor in the success of their Champions League campaign, and the main threat up front for them comes from Lisandro Lopez. Lyon have proven time and time again, just how stubborn and hard to break down they can be, as well as having the prowess in front of goal. Looking at the two sides, Bayern may just have the tactical edge going forward with Van Gaal in charge, but Lyon have a lot of strength in their defence, and certainly appears to be stronger than Bayern’s. Manchester United exposed Bayern’s defence quite easily, and that is something which Lyon will be focusing on as they look for some silverware this season. Lyon have fallen behind in the race for the French domestic title, while the Champions League for Bayern, is representing a chance at a treble for them.

Bayern need a good home performance in this first leg, for if they do not take at least a draw to Lyon for the second leg, then trying to overcome the French side in their own back yard will be a tough ask. The two sides look well balanced and evenly matched, but Bayern, with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben at their disposal, will try and take the game to the French visitors. This is their ideal opportunity to meet either Inter Milan or Barcelona in the final of this year’s competition, and they will have an enormous amount of confidence about them after their 7-0 win on the weekend. Lyon, on the other hand, had to twice scrap back from falling behind, earning themselves a 2-2 draw against Bordeaux, who they beat in the Quarter Finals of the Champions League. The two sides met in the 2008 Champions League, with Bayern winning 3-2 in Lyon, and the two sides drawing one each in Germany.

What will be the deciding factors in this game? The long ride Lyon will have in getting to Germany? The contrasting confidence of the weekend’s results? A draw seems favourable between these two sides, but it really will be about Bayern, who will likely control most of the possession, being creative enough to break down a strong, visiting defence.

Bayern Munich v Lyon Betting Stats (All competitions)

Last 5 Match Goals
Bayern Munich: 14 For, 6 Against
Lyon: 8 For, 6 Against

Last 10 Match Form
Bayern Munich: W 4, D2, L4
Lyon: W3, D5, L2

Win Percentage:
Bayern Munich have a 66.7 win percentage at home
Lyon have a 39.1 win percentage away from home

Last Match Results
Bayern 7, Hannover ‘96 0
Bordeaux 2, Lyon 2

Match Prices
Bayern Munich to win: 8/11 at Bet365
Draw: 11/4 at Bwin
Lyon to win: 9/2 at William Hill

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Really nothing much to chose between the two sides, as they look evenly matched against each other. It is really tough to see even an edge one may have over the other, and in this case, the first leg could be all important, especially in Bayern’s point of view. If they get ahead, then they can probably hand on to win over the two legs, but looking at this individual fixture, the odds and the bookmakers are leaning towards the Germans sneaking it. Therefore, better odds lie in Lyon grabbing at least a draw, something which they are capable of:
Lyon +0.75 Asian Handicap: Evens at Bet365

Champions League Betting Preview: Barcelona, as they have been since the start of the competition, firm favourites to lift this year’s Champions League trophy. The spectacular Spaniards blitzed Arsenal in the second leg of the Quarter Final, with Argentinean superstar Lionel Messi firing four goals past the Gunners. It was one of the special Champions League displays from one of the World’s genuine football superstars. Barcelona put out a weaker side due to injuries and suspensions, but they were still able to overwhelm one of England’s strongest side. With Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd all falling before the semi finals, there looks to be a shift in power in Europe, as perhaps the German and French leagues are catching up in standards, or the quality of the Premier League is slipping.

However, Barcelona look strong enough to retain the title which they won last year and now could possible face what is the equivalent of their final as they take on Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. The two sides met earlier in the competition in the group stages, with Barcelona having the upper hand over the two games. The Spaniards were held to a 0-0 draw at the San Siro, but the return fixture at the Nou Camp saw Barcelona run out comfortable 2-0 winners, with Rodriguez and Pique scoring. Now the two sides go up against each other again, after Inter came through a tricky fixture against CSKA Moscow, ensuring passage with two 1-0 victories against the Russians. The winner of this year’s Champions League looks set to come from this semi final.

After making Manchester United buckle under their pressure, Bayern Munich will take on Lyon. These are two strong European sides which have always been a threat in the competitions, and now there is the chance for one of these relative underdogs in the grand scheme of things, to progress to the final. Lyon overcame French rivals Bordeaux to reach the semi finals, and this should be a great contest between two evenly matched teams. Lyon perhaps will have the edge, as Bayern are probably a bit more vulnerable at the back, but both can turn on the controlled attacking power when needed. With both teams qualifying in second place from their respective groups, and both teams challenging for their domestic titles, it should all equal out to an even contest. There is the big prize of a Champions League final awaiting the winners and both teams will see it equally as being the ideal opportunity to get there.

Bayern Munich v Lyon (1st Leg)
Bayern Munich to win: 4/5 at Totesport
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Lyon to win: 4/1 at Bet365

Bayern Munich v Lyon (To qualify)
Bayern Munich: 4/6 at BetFred
Lyon: 11/8 at Bet365

Inter Milan v Barcelona (1st Leg)
Inter Milan to win: 11/5 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at Bwin
Barcelona: 11/8 at SkyBet

Inter Milan v Barcelona To Qualify
Inter Milan: 9/4 at William Hill
Barcelona: 2/5 at Paddy Power

Champions League Outright Betting
Barcelona: 4/5 at Bet365
Inter Milan: 9/2 at Extrabet
Bayern Munich: 9/2 Victor Chandler
Lyon: 7/1 at Bwin

Bordeaux v Lyon Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg Betting Preview: There will be a French side in the semi finals of the Champions League this year, but Bordeaux have an uphill struggle if they want it to be them. They will need to overcome a heavy 3-1 deficit against established Champions League side Lyon if they are to progress. Bordeaux have played some attractive, powerful and efficient football during this year’s campaign, beating Juventus and Bayern Munich to top spot in their group. They will be boosted by the return of their captain Alou Diarra, who missed the first leg defeat through suspension, and will now need their very best Champions League performance to beat out Lyon. Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux ended Lyon’s dominance in the French league last season, and again pushing hard to try and retain the title they earned.

Blanc has received a lot of plaudits for the side he has built, and his underdog, dark horse team have shown that they can live with some of the best in Europe. It is a little ironic that they had to come up against Lyon, and it could, arguably be them who ends the great Bordeaux run, but they still have at least 90 minutes to try and salvage their Champions League dreams. Bordeaux’s saving grace could be the fact that they did manage to grab an away goal in the 3-1 defeat, and they will have the home support behind them for the second leg. Lyon will be missing first-leg two goal hero Lisandro who is suspended, and that could be the spur that Bordeaux need to take the game to their opponents. After being so strong, Bordeaux have lost their way a little bit in 2010, and have conceded top spot in the French league to Wednesday night’s opponents. There is a fantastic six team race for the top spot in the French Ligue 1 at the moment.

Can Bordeaux stage a fight back, and enact some kind of backlash for their disappointing first leg result? This should be a high tempo fixture, with Bordeaux no doubt, starting as fast as they can to try and eat away at the deficit. They will have to be careful not to get caught on the break, as they need to finish two goals clear at least of Lyon. Lyon are missing some players, but on current form and big match experience, Lyon should have enough in the tank to see this one out. The winner of the Manchester United vs. Bayern Munich match awaits one of the French sides.

Bordeaux v Lyon Match Prices
Bordeaux to win: 11/10 at SkyBet
Draw: 12/5 at Bet365
Lyon to win: 14/5 at William Hill

Tip: Bordeaux -0.50 Asian Handicap: Evens at Paddy Power

Lyon, who beat Real Madrid relatively comfortably in the first knockout stage of the Champions League, have landed an all French quarter final tie, ensuring that France will be represented in the semi finals. This fixture may fly under the radar a bit, with the glamour ties of Bayern Munich v Man Utd and Arsenal v Barcelona, but is not one to overlooking in terms of betting. This should be a fascinating contest between two very good teams at the moment, and the fact that it is a French derby, should make it all the more interesting. Remember the great European nights when Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have all come up against each other in some combination? The atmosphere has been extra highly charged, and the two teams in this French soup should cook up a very good contest.

Bordeaux are one of the surprise packages of the Champions League so far, performing brilliantly to win their group ahead of Juventus and Bayern Munich. Coached by Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux are top of the Ligue 1 with two games in hand, while Lyon are just two points back. The French top division is a fascinating place, with six teams still right in the hunt for the league title. There is much belief around Europe that the French domestic scene is catching up in terms of quality to the likes of England, Spain, Italy and Germany. Bordeaux’s victory over Olympiakos in the first knockout stage, did come at a price, as midfielder Alou Diarra was sent off and will miss the match. Lyon will have revenge on their mind, as it was Bordeaux who broke their dominance of domestic league titles last year. Bordeaux ended Lyon’s reign of seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles.

Bordeaux have built their Champions League success around their stingy defence, and Lyon will need to break that down successfully in the first leg, taking advantage of the home match. Bordeaux lost the French Cup final on the weekend to some surprise, but they can call on their domestic performance against Lyon earlier in the season, which saw them beat the European stalwarts 1-0. This will be a true test to see if the shift in power in France has really taken place.

Match Prices
Lyon to win: 6/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 9/4 at BetFred
Bordeaux to win: 11/4 at Bet365

Wednesday night’s “other Champions League match” is one that is holding a lot of significance, as one of Spain’s giants have an uphill task. Real Madrid lost the first leg of their tie against strong French side Lyon. Lyon finished second in the group stage, behind Fiorentina, which sealed Liverpool’s exit from the competition. Now the plucky French, who, more often than not are a tricky handful to manage in the Champions League, hold a one-nil lead to take to the return leg in Madrid. Ahead of the first fixture, it was clear that the new Galacticos were not going to be in for an easy rise, and this was demonstrated perfectly in the first leg.

The final of the 2010 Champions League is at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, where Real Madrid play their home matches. They would love nothing more than enjoy the experience of the final on home turf, but first they have to overcome this tricky hurdle, against a Lyon side which have produced some incredible defensive displays recently. It has been 620 minutes in all competitions since Lyon have conceded a goal. That is roughly seven matches, and keeper Hugo Lloris has naturally played a massive part in that. Lyon are part of a trio of French sides, which are somewhat elevating the status of Ligue 1 around Europe. Naturally all focus is on the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga, but the likes of Italy, Germany and France really are not that far behind in terms of quality.

It has been over half a decade since Real Madrid have made the semi finals of the competition though, and for Lyon, the reading is worse. They haven’t managed to get past the last sixteen of the Champions League in their last three attempts. Lyon haven’t lost to Madrid in the Champions League, in fact they have been a bit of thorn in the side of the Spanish team’s ambitions, beating them out of top spot in the group stages twice before. Lyon have not lost a game in the Spanish capital, but Real Madrid have had success against French opposition already this year, when they beat Marseille in the group stages. They will be hoping to improve upon a record against French teams. The last three encounters against French sides in the knockout stages, have all ended in elimination for the Spaniards.

Lyon only need to stand firm at the back to squeeze their way through, and there is also the promise of an away goal. Lyon are a good away team, make no mistake about that, and while the stars of Real Madrid like Ronaldo will be trying to put on a show, the humble hard work of the French side, could well be their undoing. Lyon, who are putting pressure on Bordeaux at the top of the French league, have played their way into form, and if they put in one of their solid European performances, and not one of their lazy lacklustre ones, then there is every chance that they can get through this. A draw is simply good enough for them, and Lyon are good enough to achieve that in the Spanish capital on Wednesday night.

BETTING STATS

Head to Head
Lyon 1, Real Madrid 0
Real Madrid 2, Lyon 2
Lyon 2, Real Madrid 0
Read Madrid 1, Lyon 1
Lyon 3, Real Madrid 0

Last 5 Match Goals
Real Madrid: 17 For, 6 Against
Lyon: 8 For, 0 Against

Current Form
Real Madrid: W8, D0, L2
Lyon: W7, D2, L1

Win Percentage
Real Madrid have a 93.8 win percentage at home
Lyon have a 44.4 win percentage away from home

MATCH PRICES
Real Madrid to win: 1/3 at BetFred
Draw: 47/10 at Bwin
Lyon to win: 10/1 at Coral

Asian Handicap Advice: Lyon +1.50 Asian Handicap: 9/10 at Victor Chandler

Bayern Munich v Fiorentina

Two of the midweek Champions League clashes, involve the two teams which saw to the demise of Liverpool’s campaign this season. Italians Fiorentina won Group E ahead of Lyon and Liverpool, and to some extents, were one of the surprises of the tournament. They showed great composure along with an attacking flair, and while they may not quite have all of the tools in place to make it to the final against some more illustrious opposition, if they can find their game, they could cause problems. Fiorentina scored heavily during qualifying, averaging over two goals per game. It wasn’t a one man show in the scoring stakes either, as while Gilardino netted four times in six games, talented youngster Stevan Jovetic (one to watch for the tournament) and Adrian Mutu netted three each. They had a slow start to the Champions League, losing their opening fixture, but then rattled off five straight wins to take the group by a two point margin.

However, they seem to have forgotten how to score goals at the moment. They have fallen back into mid table in Serie A after riding high in the early parts, but just one point in their last five matches isn’t the kind of form to be taking into the Champions League. Bayern Munich on the other hand, had some serious problems trying to qualify from their group, and they had until the final match day to secure their place in the next round at the expense of Juventus. Bayern’s form is a lot stronger than Fiorentina’s at the moment, and the German giants are tied for first spot in the notoriously difficult Bundelsiga. They seem to have found top gear, and are in some extremely impressive form, as well as being potent in finding the back of the net. The German side will start as strong favourites, and should take full advantage of the home fixture. They could be out of sight ahead of the return fixture, as they have scored 28 goals in their last 10 fixtures. They met in the Champions League in 2008, where Bayern ran out 4-1 aggregate winners.

Match Prices:
Bayern Munich to win: 8/15 at SkyBet
Draw: 13/4 at Bwin
Fiorentina to win: 13/2 at Coral

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: Bayern -0.75 are 33/20 at Paddy Power

Lyon v Real Madrid
Lyon took second place in Group E ahead of Liverpool, and their reward was to be thrown up against Real Madrid. Lyon are one of those teams who are always hanging around the Champions League, and which opposition find hard to play against. They have a good history, without making a major impact, yet they often get tipped to make the big upsets. They are fourth in the French Ligue 1, eight points back of leaders Bordeaux. They are not particularly high scorers, but they efficient in their performances and run a pretty tight ship. On their day, at the top of their game, they can cause problems for most teams in Europe, but you never quite know if that strong team is going to present itself when the time comes. Up front, Lisandro will be the key figure for then, and they have  a quality midfielder in Miralem Pjanic.

Lyon have triumphed over Real Madrid twice before in the Champions League, knocking the Spaniards out of the 2005 and 2006 competitions. This will give them confidence they can repeat the feat, but Real Madrid are flying at the moment, and have scored three goals on each of their last three outings in La Liga. Surprising for such giants, Madrid haven’t reach the Quarter Final stage of the Champions League for 5 years now, and this will probably be put right against Lyon. They are still hot on the heels of Champions League holders Barcelona in the race for the Spanish title, and have just gotten Cristiano Ronaldo back from suspension, who celebrated by scoring two goals on his return to action.

It is hard to pinpoint the stand out star in the glitterati of talent that Madrid send out onto the pitch every week. Ronaldo and Kaka stand out obviously, but there is talent all over the pitch, and on the bench. Ronaldo is the Champions League top scorer this season, and has banged in 11 goals in 13 games this season in La Liga. Whether Lyon can live with the power of Madrid this time around is in question, as the Spaniards are in fine form ahead of the clash. They appear to be growing in stature, and simply reaching the Quarter Finals won’t be enough for them. International striker Karim Benzema, who was a doubt for the game, has travelled with the squad to face his old side, after making a speedier than expected recovery from injury.

Match Prices:
Lyon to win: 5/2 at Paddy Power
Draw: 12/5 at Victor Chandler
Real Madrid to win: 23/20 at Boylesports

Asian Handicap Betting Tip: Real Madrid -1 is 39/20 at Bet365

It is tough times for Liverpool supporters at the moment. Injury worries over your top two players, and just one win in seven games, doesn’t not make for happy reading. Steven Gerrard will again be missing from the starting eleven, as Liverpool travel to Lyon in the hope of rescuing their European campaign. Boss Rafa Benitez will be feeling some pressure as he tries to pull his Reds from the doldrums. Despite the run of bad form, they proved by beating Manchester United in the league, that they know how to win. That victory was in stark contrast to the 3-1 horror-show defeat which they suffered against Fulham on the weekend. With two players sent off, and Fernando Torres coming off early to try and protect him against injury, Liverpool were unable to build on the success of their previous league game. The recent loss has left them 9 points behind leaders Chelsea.

It was against Lyon on Match day three that Gerrard picked up his groin injury, and the club has stated that he has no chance of appearing on Wednesday night. The problems which Benitez has to overcome, is compounded by the fact that world class striker Fernando Torres is also struggling with a groin injury, and why his time was limited in the weekend Premier League fixture. There are a couple more players missing from the squad because of injury, but the Reds will be cheered that Alberto Aquilani could be back in the line-up.

With one of the richest European histories in football, the current Liverpool form is simply not good enough for the dedicated Kopites. With two straight defeats in the Champions League, they are still not out of the race though. If they can win against Lyon, it will draw them to within three points of the group leaders, and probably Fiorentina too, who should be expected to be on 9 points after Match day four. However if Liverpool lose and Fiorentina win, that would leave Lyon on 12, Fiorentina on 9 and the Reds on three. It will be a long, long way back from there, and so the recovery needs to start on Wednesday without fail.

They do not have the comfort of the Anfield crowd, but perhaps that will ease some of the pressure, by not having as much of a tense atmosphere. This is the kind of game where Steven Gerrard would stand up to be counted, but someone else needs to fill his boots. They definitely need some time on the pitch from Fernando Torres though, as there doesn’t appear to be anyone who can carry the burden of shooting the Reds to victory. Torres is a world class striker without question, but is lacking some support. Rafa Benitez needs to dig deep now to galvanise his troops, and a scrappy 1-0 win would do the job just perfectly. It is something which they are capable of doing, but Lyon are no pushovers at all. They are a dominant force in Europe, the equivalent of a Chelsea in the French League.

Lyon to win: 7/5 at Totesport
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Liverpool to win: 21/10 at Coral

Betting Advice: Of course Liverpool will be missing Gerrard and Torres (if he doesn’t make it), but that is no excuse for a club of Liverpool’s stature. Lyon are three wins from three games in the Champions League, and have only conceded the one goal. Liverpool’s goal tally stands at two, and that is the clear indicator of why they have been struggling. They now have to figure out how to stop Lyon waves of attack, and how to find the back of the net at the other end. Hopefully Torres will be fit, but even if he is, it could still not be enough. Form is one of those fickle things, and the Reds must be low on confidence in contrast to the high flying French.
Lyon to win 2-0: 10/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP E
Fiorentina v Debreceni
Lyon v Liverpool

Fascinating group this one. Liverpool started this campaign as favourites to win the group, but are now scrapping for their Champions League lives. Fiorontina are fifth in Serie A, and big haired striker Stevan Jovetic has been making quite a name for himself. It was the unmistakable hirsute wonder bagged himself a brace in the victory over Liverpool, and the striker is drawing a lot of acclaim across Europe. The Viola also have Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino to choose from up front, and they have a comfortable next game on Wednesday, when Hungarians Debreceni come to Italy. Debreceni have not made much of a show on their Champions League debut and can say goodbye to any romantic dreams of progressing. They were drawn in a hard league though, but Wednesday’s opponents Fiorentina may have been underestimated by many, especially with the more famous Italian teams from Milan taking part. Liverpool’s problems have been well document and won’t be dwelt on too much here. They have one win in seven matches in all competitions, are without Steven Gerrard, and possibly without Fernando Torres. Rafa Benitez must be getting close to the dreaded vote of confidence, and Lyon, with home advantage are the kind of team which can punish you harshly. They are back to their powerful best, and are hunting down the French title and the Champions League. They are going well in both competitions and are clearly the class outfit in Group E. Both Lyon and Fiorentina are playing good football at the moment, and have a clear route to goal. Unfortunately, if all three English clubs are going to get through, Liverpool need to discover that touch, that inspiration, that unity which saw them beat Manchester United comfortably. Struggling against bad form and having to go to Lyon though, is not ideal. Could be a huge night for the Reds. Lyon and Fiorentina won on the weekend. Liverpool and Debreceni did not.

Group E
Lyon – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Fiorentina – P3    W2    D0    L1    Pts6
Liverpool – P3    W1    D0    L2    Pts3
Debrecen – P3    W0    D0    L3    Pts0

Match Prices
Fiorentina to win: 1/6 at Bet365
Draw: 13/2 at SkyBet
Debreceni to win: 18/1 at SkyBet

Lyon to win: 7/5 at Totesport
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Liverpool to win: 21/10 at Coral

Betting Tips:
1st Half/2nd Half Result – Draw/Fiorentina: 3/1 at William Hill
Lyon to win 2-0: 10/1 at Paddy Power

To Win Group E
Lyon – 3/10 at William Hill
Fiorentina – 4/1 at Paddy Power
Liverpool – 25/1 at Blue Square

GROUP F
Rubin Kazan v Barcelona
Dynamo Kiev v Inter Milan

Rubin, the Russian champions, and the team which look set to retain that title, caused one of the big upsets of the competition by beating Barcelona, the favourites to win the Champions League, in their own back yard. That happened on Match day three, to leave the Group in a very precarious position. All in all this has been the most hotly contested group, with Rubin, Barcelona and Kiev on four points, and Inter Milan winless at the bottom with just three. Surely nobody saw that coming at the halfway stage. Rubin have been a bit of bright spark, and have played their way into contention for qualifying from the group. They held Inter to a draw in Russia, and then pulled off the momentous win at the Nou Camp, with goals in both halves of the match. They have given themselves a great deal of hope now, and Barcelona will be the ones who will have to approach the game back in Russia with some caution. Barca are undefeated at the top of the Spanish League by one point over Real Madrid, and that is what made the loss against the Russian so spectacular. Combined with the 0-0 draw they could muster in the heavyweight battle against Inter Milan, the group is the tighest in the competition, with all sides in with a realistic chance of qualifying. Let’s no forget the impact that Dynamo Kiev are having on Group F as well. The Ukranians, top of their domestic league, and have the same record as Barcelona and Rubin in the Champions league. The game in Milan on Match day three produced an interesting 2-2 draw, and probably will not be giving Inter an easy ride when they face them again on Wednesday. Inter, who are flying away with Serie A at the moment, really need a win to get back on track, regardless of what happens in the other Group F match on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho will need all of his guile and wisdom to negotiate a tricky game, and to get his side back on track. This could still be a really close group come the end of Match day three. Barcelona should still win out in time, but their competition are keeping them on their toes.

Group F
Barcelona – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Dynamo – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Rubin – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Internazionale – P3    W0    D3    L0    Pts3

Match Prices
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/1 at SkyBet
Draw: 7/2 at Boylesports
Barcelona to win: 9/20 at Victor Chandler

Dynamo Kiev to win: 13/5 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Inter Milan to win: 6/5 at Totesport

Betting tips:
Barcelona to win 2-1: 8/1 at Boylesports
Dynamo Kiev Draw No Bet: 6/4 at Stan James

To Win Group F
Barcelona – 1/2 at Totesport
Inter Milan – 4/1 at Extrabet
Dynamo Kiev – 14/1 at SkyBet
Rubin Kazan – 14/1 at Bet365

GROUP G
Unirea Urziceni v Rangers
Sevilla v Stuttgart

Spanish side Sevilla are sitting in third place in La Liga, and that will be a clear indicator of just how good they are. They look a powerful side, far more powerful than any of their Group G rivals at least. Three wins from three and averaging three goals a game definitely shows that. With another win over stuttering Stuttgart, Sevilla will be cruising out of the group stages. If the strong Sevilla side do that, having already won 3-1 comfortably in Germany, it would actually give Rangers a little helping hand. Rangers are struggling to cope with the quality of the group, which, aside from Sevilla there is not a lot of to be truthful. Stuttgart are going to be facing a relegation battle if they continue at the woeful pace they have been in their domestic league, and Unirea Urziceni, while all credit is due to them, for now they look second favourites to get out of the group, they are not the kind of team that is going to bother Barcelona, Chelsea or Real Madrid in any way shape or form. Rangers are without a win, and they desperately need one. Having already been beaten by the Romanians 3-1 at home though on Match day three, won’t give Walter Smith much heart. Another good win for the Romanians would see them unexpectedly on the brink of getting out of the group stages along with Sevilla. A disappointing group, but could have a small fairy tale in it for those who recall Chelsea favourite Dan Petrescu, who manages Unirea Urziceni. Sevilla and Urinea both won on the weekend, Rangers and Stuttgart both drew.

Group G
Sevilla – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Unirea Urziceni – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Stuttgart – P3    W0    D2    L1    Pts2
Rangers – P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices:
Unirea Urziceni to win: Evens at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Rangers to win: 3/1 at Coral

Sevilla to win: 1/2 at Stan James
Draw: 7/2 at Ladbrokes
Stuttgart to win: 7/1 at SkyBet

Betting tips:
Unirea Urziceni to win 1-0: 6/1 at 888Sport
Sevilla to win by 2 or more goals: 6/4 at Bet365

To Win Group G
Sevilla – 1/25 at Ladbrokes
Unirea Urziceni – 20/1 at Paddy Power
Stuttgart – 80/1 at Paddy Power
Rangers – 500/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP H
Arsenal v AZ Alkmaar
Standard Liege v Olympiacos

Belgian side Standard Liege only got in the competition because Barcelona won both La Liga and the Champions League last season, which opened up another spot. Sitting third in their domestic league, they were never going to pose a major threat, and whilst they have their moments of entertainment, it has completely panned out that way. Olympiacos will be happy about that, as they will look to capitalise on their 2-1 home victory over the Belgians, when they meet again on Wednesday in Greece. That win would secure the Greeks at least second place, and a comfortable one at that. In contrast to the groups with both Milan sides in them, this has been a lopsided group, with Arsenal head and shoulders above the other teams. Their draw against AZ Alkmaar in the previous match will be nothing more than a glitch, as they are bound to enact some attacking force revenge when the Dutch side visit the Emirates on Wednesday. This will be the first group to be settled, which will be a good thing for Arsenal, as it will take some pressure off and allow them to have time to get back injured players and push on in the Premier League. AZ Alkmaar was a name which promised much on the back of their successful domestic season, but their form has been a bit dismal lately, and are having a hard time keeping up any kind of pace. They are also missing their top scorer through injury, which won’t help their cause.

Group H
Arsenal – P3   W2    D1    L0    Pts7
Olympiacos – P3    W2    D0   L1    Pts6
AZ Alkmaar – P3    W0    D2    L1    Pts2
Standard Liege -P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices
Arsenal to win: 1/5 at Stan James
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
AZ Alkmaar to win: 16/1 at Paddy Power

Standard Liege to win: 5/4 at Blue Square
Draw: 5/2 at Skybet
Olympiacos to win: 12/5 at BetFred

Betting Tips:
Arsenal to win 2-0: 11/2 at BetFred
Draw No Bet Olympiacos – 11/8 at Boylesports

To Win Group H
Arsenal – 1/7 at Coral
Olympiacos – 8/1 at Extrabet
AZ Alkmaar – 50/1 at William Hill
Standard Liege – 150/1 at Paddy Power