Champions League Group D preview: Lyon face Madrid challenge

Real Madrid can seal their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win over Lyon on Wednesday.

The in-form La Liga giants have been irresistible of late, leading Barcelona in the league thanks to their recent run, as well as topping Group D.

Jose Mourinho’s men have won eight games in a row in all competitions, impressive in both attack and defence.

In the run, they have netted 29 goals and conceded just three.

It includes a 4-0 thrashing of Lyon on October 18, a clash the Ligue 1 outfit struggled in and were always likely to lose.

Mourinho has his array of talent combining well, with the midfield – led by Spaniard Xabi Alonso – pulling the strings for a star-studded attack.

Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to score, while strikers Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain have battled for a spot up front.

Both Benzema and Higuain are scoring when called upon, and Mourinho is happy to have two in-form strikers at his disposal.

A win for Real at Stade de Gerland would see them wrap up a top-two spot, while Lyon would remain in the hunt even if they are beaten.

Remi Garde’s team, who sit fourth in Ligue 1, will finish with fixtures against Ajax and struggling Dinamo Zagreb.

Striker Bafetimbi Gomis (seven goals in 12 appearances) will again hold the key for Lyon, but he has failed to net in his last three matches.

In the other Group D game, Ajax will be keen to make it two wins from as many matches against Dinamo Zagreb.

The Eredivisie champions sit second but a win, along with a Lyon loss, would move them three points clear of the French outfit.

Miralem Sulejmani (six goals) and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (five) had done most of the damage up front for Frank de Boer’s team.

Dinamo Zagreb are still searching for their first point, but it will be a tough task at the Amsterdam Arena.