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Lyon 3-0 Real Madrid: Weakened Real outclassed
LYON, France, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Olympique Lyon opened their Champions League campaign in style with a 3-0 home victory over a weakened Real Madrid in a lively Group F match on Tuesday. Three first-half goals in quick succession helped Lyon sink the nine-times European champions and strongly suggest they could make an impact in Europe after leaving the showcase club competition in the quarter-finals the last two seasons.
Lyon's task was made easier by the fact that Real, making yet another sluggish start to the season, were missing France playmaker Zinedine Zidane and Brazil striker Ronaldo through injury and suspension respectively.
Norway striker John Carew opened the scoring for the four-times French champions against the run of play on 21 minutes when he surprised Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas by deflecting a Juninho free kick with a header.
Brazilian midfielder Juninho needed no help to double the advantage from another free kick from nearly 30 metres out five minutes later.
France forward Sylvain Wiltord effectively killed the tie on 31 minutes when he made it 3-0 with a magnificent volley from a fine backward pass by defender Anthony Reveillere.
Real, who looked the most active side until Lyon opened the scoring, paid a
heavy price for nervous defending but escaped further punishment when Casillas
brilliantly saved a Juninho penalty on 42 minutes.
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