Cristiano Ronaldo reached the 100-goal mark for Real Madrid to help them progress to the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Ronaldo brace against Lyon sees Los Blancos through
Cristiano Ronaldo reached the 100-goal mark for Real Madrid to help them progress to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday following a 2-0 away victory over Lyon in Group D.
The 26-year-old broke the deadlock at Stade de Gerland with a brilliant free-kick in the 24th minute and scored his second of the evening and 100th for Los Blancos on 69 minutes when he slotted home a penalty past Hugo Lloris.
Although Lyon asked questions of the Spanish giants' defence thereafter with substitute Alexandre Lacazette crashing a header against the crossbar, Jose Mourinho's side held on to maintain their 100 per cent record in the group and proceed to the knock-out stage.
Madrid dominate
Lyon played with pride and had their chances, but Ronaldo was the only man able to find the clinical touch in front of goal.
Jimmy Briand was first to test visiting goalkeeper Iker Casillas, while Lloris held Ronaldo's long-range strike.
The French custodian then had to tip over Karim Benzema's effort before Dejan Lovren's block denied Ronaldo.
But Real took the lead when Yoann Gourcuff's push on Benzema allowed Ronaldo to find the net with a fierce low free-kick from inside the D.
Xabi Alonso had a trademark effort from his own half, which was sailing wide even before Lloris shooed the goalline official aside to gather the ball.
Briand's deflected strike was saved by Casillas before Lovren again rescued Lyon by blocking Angel Di Maria's shot.
But the Croatian defender then injured himself volleying clear after Ronaldo had set up a shooting chance with a delicious piece of trickery but seen a weak wayward effort stabbed away by Mouhamadou Dabo.
Mesut Ozil shot feebly at Lloris and Lyon then threatened in first-half stoppage time, with Casillas tipping Gourcuff's effort over after Bafetimbi Gomis sent his team-mate clear.
Two-goal cushion
Bakary Kone, Lovren's replacement, headed straight at Casillas early in the second half after he was not flagged offside from Gourcuff's free-kick.
Lloris was then played into trouble by his own defence and had to slide to clear from the onrushing Benzema.
The keeper then dived to push an awkward bouncing shot from Ronaldo around his near post and Kone was lucky to escape after handling Ramos' header from the resulting corner.
But another marginal penalty call two minutes later went in Madrid's favour after Ronaldo tangled with Dabo and picked himself up to fire home his landmark goal.
Di Maria's nerve deserted him as he ran clear on Lloris before Lyon went close to pulling a goal back, Lacazette heading Gourcuff's corner against the bar and Kone nodding another flag-kick from the same player wide.
Lacazette headed Gourcuff's deep cross over and Kim Kallstrom swung a free-kick onto the roof of the net. Briand then poked wide as Casillas advanced, meaning Real preserved their clean sheet.
Ajax's hammering of Dinamo Zagreb means top spot is not yet assured, though the Dutch side - five points behind - face a Lyon side who on tonight's evidence will provide a stern test before taking on Real on matchday six.
| Lyon |
Team Statistics |
Real Madrid |
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
11 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
8 |
| 6 |
Corners |
8 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
18 |
| 5 |
Offsides |
4 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
4 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 74.1 |
Passing Success |
82.7 |
| 22 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 86.4 |
Tackles Success |
81.8 |
| 43.2 |
Possession |
56.8 |
| 49.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
50.5 |
| 363 |
Total Passes |
492 |
| 18 |
Total Crosses |
17 |
| 163 |
Lost Balls |
160 |
| 69 |
Recoveries |
68 |
|
