Sports Magazine

Real Fight Back to Draw at Lyon

By Ankur Upadhyay
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti saw his side come back from two goals down on his return to France on Wednesday as they held Lyon to a 2-2 draw at Stade Gerland.Ancelotti, who quit Paris Saint-Germain after winning the French title in his first season, fielded a strong line-up including Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany's Mesut Ozil and former Lyon star Karim Benzema.The two teams know each other well after crossing swords in the Champions League 10 times since 2005 with spoils shared at three wins apiece and produced an entertaining evening of pre-season football in front of a packed house.Midfield youngster Clement Grenier gave the partisan crowd a fair return for their money after just 20 minutes with a spectacular goal from distance that flew under the bar and past Diego Lopez.Argentine Lisandro Lopez, who has been at the center of transfer rumours in recent weeks, then gave the seven-time champions a cushion with a close range finish before Real began their comeback with 11 minutes remaining.Spanish under-21 international Alvaro Borja converted a penalty before Real levelled through new signing Casemiro of Brazil with just six minutes left.

Real fight back to draw at Lyon

Morata scored the opener for Madrid through a penalty



The French side took the lead in the 20th minute when Grenier's outstanding volley found the back of the net. Lisandro López then made it 2-0 before Ancelotti brought on Morata who pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 78th minute. Casemiro headed home Real's second of the game in the 84th minute following a mistake from Lopes in the Lyon goal.Real Madrid's youngsters led the come-back when the Spaniards were 2-0 down and they avoided defeat on the night. Ancelotti brought on his youngest players in the second half when the game was all but lost, and they lifted their team. Morata scored from the spot and Casemiro equalised late on.The only negative note on the night was an injury to midfielder Illarramendi on his debut in the starting XI. He went off with some discomfort in the 35th minute and was replaced with Casemiro.Without Özil or Benzema, Real Madrid reacted after the break with the introduction of Modric and Khedira. Some outstanding play from the Croat which ended with a shot hitting the post marked Madrid's change in fortune. Gonalans fouled Cherysev inside the box and Morata fired home from the spot, before Di María floated in a ball from the corner and Casemiro headed home to equalise.

Real fight back to draw at Lyon

Casemiro with the late equalizer


Real Madrid scored twice in the closing 12 minutes to claim a 2-2 draw from an entertaining friendly against Olympique Lyonnais at the Stade de Gerland on Wednesday night.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti looked set to suffer his first defeat in just his second game at the helm of los Blancos, with Clement Grenier and Lisandro having put the hosts in complete command of the contest.
However, Alvaro Morata slotted home a penalty before Casemiro headed home an equaliser with just six minutes left to rescue the game for Madrid.

Given that they are much further along in their pre-season preparations, it was hardly surprising that Lyon made the brighter start at the Gerland, with Grenier forcing Diego Lopez into action after just over 60 seconds of play with a smart volley from the edge of the area.
Madrid, by contrast, started sluggishly and though Cristiano Ronaldo briefly flickered into life 15 minutes in, the visitors found themselves behind just before the midway point of the first half.
There appeared to be little danger to the Blancos goal when Alexandre Lacazette whipped in a low cross from the right wing, but it reached Grenier, who, while moving away from goal, managed to beat Lopez with the most wonderfully nonchalant volley.
Madrid almost posted an instant reply, but the alert Anthony Lopes cleared the danger, after Angel Di Maria looked poised to pounce on an under-hit backpass.  
The Argentina winger threatened again with a dipping, long-range effort just before the half-hour mark but, as it was, Carlo Ancelotti’s men went in a goal down at the end of a reasonably competitive opening half.
The second half opened in a similarly entertaining fashion, with both Lacazette and Di Maria continuing to look threatening. It was the former, though, who again made a decisive contribution, the Lyon No.10 heading a Gael Danic cross down into the path of Lisandro, who swept the ball past Lopez.
The virtually anonymous Ronaldo was hauled off soon after, so it was left to Morata to drag Madrid back into the game when Fares Bahlouli felled Denis Cheryshev in the area.
Los Blancos drove forward in the closing 10 minutes and were rewarded for their resilience when Casemiro rose highest to head home a corner from Di Maria and spare former Paris Saint-Germain boss Ancelotti a painful return to France.

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