Gomis goal could prove golden for Lyon
Reuters - Wednesday 23 February 2011, 08:44
LYON - All the talk was about
Karim Benzema coming back to haunt his ex-side after Olympique
Lyon's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid on Tuesday but Bafetimbi
Gomis's equaliser for the hosts hijacked the show.
Substitute Benzema scored with almost his first touch on 65
minutes to put Real 1-0 up in the Champions League last 16 first
leg but Gomis netted seven minutes from time to stretch Lyon's
unbeaten run against the Spaniards to seven games.
Real are confident they can complete the job at the Bernabeu
on March 16 and make the quarter-finals for the first time in
seven seasons, having at least broken part of their Lyon jinx by
leaving the Stade Gerland with a first ever draw.
But Lyon have managed a draw on their three previous visits
to the Spanish capital and matched the nine-times winners for
most of Tuesday's match.
"Having conceded the goal, we showed character and had the
chance to come back, which gives us an opportunity for the
return leg," Gomis told reporters.
The tall, dreadlocked striker blew a first-half effort with
the goal gaping in front of Lyon's noisy Virage Nord, who never
stopped singing all match and even cheered former hero Benzema.
"I knew I would get another chance and I just had to keep my
cool," Gomis added.
"It's good for Karim but of course I'd rather he hadn't
scored."
Brazil winger Michel Bastos was one of Lyon's top performers
in the cold and rain but misses the second leg after picking up
a booking.
"It will be hard for Lyon," Real coach Jose Mourinho said
after prowling his technical area nervously for most of the
game. "But in my opinion it's 50-50."