LYON, France (AFP) – Lyon's Stade Gerland has become a familiar venue for Real Madrid in recent years but, ahead of Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first leg, it has not been a happy hunting ground.
In six encounters between the sides since 2005, Real have failed to win and the nine-time European champions' record at Lyon reads: played three, lost three, scored none, conceded six.
Lyon won 1-0 on home turf when the sides met at the same stage of last season's competition, before Miralem Pjanic's 75th-minute equaliser in the away leg secured a 1-1 draw that sent Real crashing out.
The French side went on to reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history and president Jean-Michel Aulas is relishing the prospect of Jose Mourinho bringing his expensive squad to town.
"Even though the draw wasn't kind, I hope to beat Real Madrid over two games for the fourth time in a row," Aulas told French sport daily L'Equipe.
"Mourinho's head and his credibility are on the line, and it's the same for the president, (Florentino) Perez, but we'll do everything to beat them."
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