Real Madrid made it three wins out of three in Group D with a convincing 4-0 rout over Lyon at the Bernabeu.
Madrid tighten grip on Group D
Real Madrid made it three wins out of three in Group D with a convincing 4-0 rout over Lyon at the Bernabeu.
Real dominated the early exchanges and deservedly took the lead on 18 minutes when Karim Benzema converted from close range after Ronaldo had flicked on Mezut Ozil's corner.
Jose Mourinho's side doubled their advantage two minutes into the second half when Benzema capitalised on Bakary Kone's slip in the box to tee up Sami Khedira, who side-footed low into the corner.
Real finished the game off eight minutes later when more hesitant Lyon defending let in Ozil, whose cross-shot span over the line off Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
A fine evening for Madrid was completed by Sergio Ramos, who volleyed home his own knockdown from Kaka's corner with nine minutes left.
The result puts Real five points clear at the top of Group D, while Lyon, who had not conceded a goal in their European campaign before tonight, are now level on points with Ajax who beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0.
Authority
Real stamped their authority on the game early as the visitors squandered the few chances they had.
Benzema headed the opening goal in the 18th minute for Madrid against his old club after some brilliant play from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ozil's corner was flicked on by Ronaldo at the near post, where Benzema beat team-mate Ramos to the ball to poke home from close range.
Lyon went close when Jimmy Briand dragged his shot wide of the far post after shrugging off Marcelo in one of Lyon's best chances of the first half before Bafetimbi Gomis looked to have levelled the score with a well taken volley, but he was flagged offside.
Real had a goal disallowed on the half-hour when Xabi Alonso took a free-kick too soon and earned himself a yellow card in the process.
Alonso re-took the free-kick and Hugo Lloris showed why he is the French number one with a fantastic save to deny Real Madrid a second as Lyon's defence held firm.
However, the home side did not have to wait long to double their lead after the break when Benzema laid off a long ball to Khedira, who rolled it into the bottom right hand corner, capitalising on some poor defending by Lyon's back four.
Ozil then engineered Real's third score in the 55th minute. Benzema linked up well with Marcelo who freed Ozil in the area. The forward tried to squeeze his shot under Lloris but the goalkeeper made a mistake and the ball crept over the line.
Ronaldo had a goal disallowed when Kaka strayed offside but Ramos made it four when he lashed the ball into the back of the net from Kaka's corner 10 minutes later.
