real madrid cf have lost on their three previous visits to olympique lyonnais, including in the last 16 a year ago, but ricardo carvalho is determined that they put that right.
six long years have passed since the most successful side in european club competition history last made it past the uefa champions league round of 16, but defender ricardo carvalho says real madrid cf are determined to put that right against olympique lyonnais.
it was of course the french side who knocked madrid out at this stage last season, beating them 1-0 at the stade de gerland then drawing 1-1 in the spanish capital. since then carvalho, eliminated in the last 16 with chelsea fc 12 months ago by fc internazionale milano, has followed the opposing coach that day – his ex-blues and fc porto mentor josé mourinho – to the santiago bernabéu.
now carvalho is determined to put madrid's knockout woes behind them. "we know the importance of this event for the club and the players," the 32-year-old portuguese international said. "we'll try to score a goal and get a good result before the return game."
carvalho, at least, knows how to knock lyon out of the uefa champions league having done it with porto under mourinho in the 2003/04 quarter-finals, winning 2-0 at home and drawing 2-2 in france on their way to lifting the trophy. "i remember it, of course," carvalho said. "it's still a good moment in my career."
however, in madrid's own three uefa champions league trips to lyon, going back to 2005, they have lost on every occasion – without scoring – and were held in each of the home returns, the first two in the group stage. carvalho is sure they can now end that run. "we are confident because we are in a positive period, in particular at home," he said. "if we want to qualify, we can't be satisfied with only one good game at this stage of the competition. we have to do well [in lyon] and be efficient during the return game."
