Despite a late equalizer through Bafetimbi Gomis, Madrid will return to the Bernabeu with an away goal and an unfamiliar sense of confidence after earning a result in the South of France. In three week’s time, Los Blancos will look to dispatch their pesky French rivals, which would, in turn, earn the Spanish side a trip through to the quarter finals in the Champions League for the first time in seven years. A streak of last 16 exits that Mourinho and company will obviously be happy see come to an end. Personally, Jose Mourinho is also working on his own little streak. Something to the tune of an impressive (that might be the understatement of the decade) nine years unbeaten at home in league play was extended at the weekend as Los Merengues brushed aside an inferior Levante, maintaining pace with Barca. Not to mention that over those nine years (Porto 38 matches, Chelsea 60, Inter Milan 38, Madrid 12), ‘The Special One’ has also hosted two European trophies on top of the domestic silverware. A step towards a third was taken Tuesday night where one must argue Madrid hold all of the cards in the return.

A handful of fixtures separate Madrid and completing their quest from reaching Europe’s final eight for the first time since 2004; however, it will be vital that the Madrileños stay focused in the league as they prepare for Europe. Recently, Tottenham dropped vital points in their quest for the top four at minnows (well, it would be fair to call them giant killers as well) Blackpool after their dramatic win at the San Siro a week before. Five points separate Spain’s top teams, but Mourinho will fancy having that within a three point deficit when the Catalans come to the Bernabeu. Will Mourinho’s streak end at the hands of Madrid’s most bitter of rivals? Certainly if it does, then so will Madrid’s quest to retake the Spanish title from the Azulgranas.

Returning our focus to Europe, this article has similar pace to last night’s fixture. Lyon were by far the better team before the break. Madrid looked flat, came out on their heels and were fortunate that the hosts were not able to capitalize. After the break, however, it was a completely different story after the team’s switched ends. Madrid took the reigns and it took former hometown hero Karim Benzema, after some nifty footwork, to put the visitor’s ahead. Moments after a very justified call for penalty from the Madrid bench, the Frenchman, who earned is very high price tag to Madrid playing in the Stade de Gerland, would score after entering the match only moments earlier. Momentum was now in Mourinho’s pocket and it seemed the visitors would be returning to the Spanish capital with a phenomenal advantage. A deflection, lazy play by Sergio Ramos (the defender failed to hold his line, playing Gomis onside) and a smooth finish has Lyon back into the tie. Yes, the advantage still lies, in the form of an away goal, with Madrid, but as Lyon proved a year ago, they are very capable of getting a result at the Bernabeu.

The best side in the group phase, Madrid came out (albeit on the road) without a sense of urgency. Two legged ties provide a lot of football to find one's rhythm but early deficits are nonetheless difficult to overcome, regardless of one’s quality (see the Alcorconazo). At this point and this level of football, there is no excuse. Especially with Mourinho and his European resume at the helm; that being said, when Madrid are hitting on all cylinders, they are one of the top three teams in the world, no question. Forget the 5-0 embarrassment at the hands of Barcelona earlier this year; many of Madrid’s players were finally getting to know the team and system (though it does point out an inherent problem with the way Madrid do business. Barcelona are the better team because they have created a team over time not just bought the top two names on the market over the summer). April’s fixture will go a lot further to demonstrate the parity that exists in Spain. If Barcelona are that much better then they should have no trouble on the road; however, Madrid are a lot closer in quality to Barcelona then people think. Maybe, the Madrileños can take a page out of Arsenal’s book and beat the Spanish Champions at their own game.

Until then, Madrid need to continue playing one game at a time. It is easy to get carried away at the prospect of Europe, the Copa del Rey final that will pit Spain’s two best against each other in April; nevertheless, Madrid’s depth could allow them to sneak back into the domestic title race as well. They just cannot fall any further behind Pep Guardiola’s side and that all begins at the weekend against an underachieving Deportivo La Coruña in the beautiful province of Galicia.

Tweet



Follow ESPNsoccernet's Football Correspondents on Twitter and Facebook