Jose Mourinho achieved what his predecessors failed to do in the preceding seven season reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday at the expense of Olympique Lyonnais – the team the club had failed to overcome a year ago in the competition under last manger, Manuel Pellegrini. And it was no surprise that Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira – the holding midfielders - covered 22.5kms between them on the night with Mesut Oezil clocking up almost eleven kilometres himself, with early containment pivotal to the eventual win.
Full back Marcelo scored the first goal as Real started ahead on away goals in the second leg, having drawn 1-1 in France a fortnight earlier. As if stating their intent the home team set a fast opening pace with Lyon’s Hugo Lloris the only difference between the two teams as Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo went about their business.
Despite some fast counter attacking from Lyon it was Real Madrid who went ahead after 36 minutes when Marcelo played a one-two with Ronaldo to drill the ball into the net. But the memories of last year suggested that Lyon would be resurgent in the second half and undo the first half dominance of the home team.
However history was not to be repeated and Lyon proved less effective as the second half wore on with Cris making some uncharacteristic errors at the back, Delgado somewhat subdued on the flanks and Lisandro far from his best up front. As momentum swayed increasingly in Madrid’s favour it was no surprise when in the 65th minute Marcelo's searching ball fell for Benzema, who tucked it past goalkeeper, Lloris, with accuracy. Ten minutes later Angel di Maria added a third, bringing 75,000 rapturous fans to their feet, many of whom had seen their dream of winning the Champions League in their home ground last season dashed by Claude Puel’s team - a year ago to the day.
With the quarter final draw to be made on Friday there are a number of intriguing combinations that make the next matches more intense for Mourinho as he faces possible trips to former employers, either at Stamford Bridge or the San Siro. Although it might not be a bad time to meet Chelsea as they are struggling to get Torres firing even on one cylinder at the moment. If such a fixture arose it would also bring Anelka back to Madrid, a place he was part of in the 2000 season, earning a Champions League winners medal in the 3-0 defeat of Valencia in Paris.
At Inter the memories would be too fresh for all parties with the club already on their second manager this season, such is the pressure to achieve, with Brazilian Leandro taking over after the sacking of Champions League mastermind, Rafa Benitez.
For Cristiano Ronaldo a return trip to Old Trafford is in sight with United keenly aware that the last time the club reached a Wembley final, back in 1968, they beat Madrid in the semi finals along the way and took the trophy against Portuguese opponents, thanks to a rampant George Best. In their meeting at the same quarter-final stage in the 2002/3 season the aggregate score was 6-5 with the Spanish side progressing - albeit only to the semi final that season – where they lost out to Juventus.
At Schalke 04 former Real Madrid legend Raúl hopes to avoid a return to the Santiago Bernabeu, especially wearing another club’s jersey, with Mesut Oezil facing the same problem – in reverse – if a trip to Gelsenkrichen were drawn on Friday. Raúl is a three-time winner of the UEFA Champions League and has been the competition's all-time leading goals corer for many years leaving the club last July, reluctantly, having scored 323 goals in 741 appearances for the Spanish Champions.
An all-white clash with Champions League newcomers, Tottenham Hotspur, would produce 180 minutes of top drawer tactics if “The Special One” and Harry Redknapp were to meet and would also bring Rafael van der Vaart up against his former team mates and the manager who sold him. Both of which could be enough motivation for the Dutchman to unravel the Madrid midfield single-handedly and see Spurs continue their maiden Champions experience even further.
Over the years thought there have few meetings between the two clubs with history showing one of the last back when the Londoners were at the height of their powers – and holders of the UEFA Cup – and a meeting in the 1984/85 UEFA Cup quarterfinals. Over two legs Gary Mabbutt, Garth Crooks, Ray Clemence, Steve Archbald and company lost out with Madrid gong on to win the clash and the title months later. But as the Spurs Latin motto says, Audere est Facere – "To Dare Is to Do" - there is no better man than Redknapp to see it fulfilled and this could possibly be the year.
Obviously the prospect of an “El Clasico” looms very large on the horizon with Jose Mourinho quite happy to seek reparations for the damage of the 5-0 drubbing at Camp Nou last November in La Liga hoping for a repeat of the victory in the Champions League campaign of 2001/2 in the semi final. The same year Del Bosque took the team on to win their final played at Hampden Park against Bayer Leverkusen populated with Michael Ballack, Lucio and Dimitar Berbatov.
If the two teams were drawn together it would become one of four meetings over the next month, as the Copa del Rey final is to be played, along with the return league fixture at the Bernabeu, which is also set for April. Sadly, the news about Abidal’s liver tumour and his subsequent operation this week has left the Catalan club with other concerns and very subdued players already. However it will also have a galvanising effect on the squad in time making Barca an even tougher quarter final prospect.
In his post match press conference Mourinho spoke about Abidal
"We're in the quarterfinals because we were better. Lyon are a great opponent, which adds merit to our victory. We played very well in attack and defence in both legs. I'm happy and I'm also quite relaxed because I think it's normal for us to be in the quarterfinals."
"Football is like life. You must live now because you never know if you'll live tomorrow. If we'd been eliminated tonight we wouldn't have reached the quarterfinals, so we had to take risks. Cristiano is mentally strong and he told me he was ready to play. Our fitness trainers said he could play. Our next game is around the corner, so he may not be able to play. Maybe he'll miss the start of it."
"We've achieved small challenges. If you win these stages, work hard and believe, titles eventually come your way. We do collective work that will make titles eventually come our way. We are on the right path and titles will come either this season or the next. My teams usually do better in their second season. Real Madrid will win titles eventually."
"I don't have any preferences regarding our next opponent, but I would like to avoid facing Inter Milan or Chelsea because it is emotionally difficult to face your own people. If it must be, then it must be. We are professionals, but I wouldn't like that."
"Regarding Abidal, these things go beyond rivalry. We all stand together for problems of this sort. I doesn't matter who he plays for, who he is or if you like him or not. We all want him to be well and to play again.
“Real Madrid simply expressed what everybody thinks."
The last eight qualifiers are Inter Milan; Barcelona; Chelsea; Manchester United, Real Madrid; Schalke 04; Shakhtar Donetsk and Tottenham Hotspur with the draw to be made in Nyon on Friday.
All ties are to be played April 5th / 6th and 12th / 13th.
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