Real Madrid progressed to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in seven years after seeing off Lyon last night to record a 4-1 aggregate victory.
Marcelo, Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria struck the goals as Madrid put to bed their miserable record of having fallen at this same stage for six successive editions – including against Lyon last season.
The victory also means Madrid are a step closer to winning a record 10th European title, and keeps coach Jose Mourinho on course to conquer Europe with three different teams following his success with Porto and then Inter last year.
Madrid started in frenetic fashion and Hugo Lloris did well to deny Mesut Ozil and Marcelo before Sami Khedira headed a corner against the post.
The home side were unable to continue that early dominance though, and Lyon gradually started to enjoy more possession and they gave Madrid a scare in the 21st minute when Delgado brought a diving save out of Iker Casillas.
Madrid were back on the attack soon after that and Cristiano Ronaldo drew a brilliant diving save out of Lloris with a thunderous strike.
However, where Madrid’s much-vaunted attackers were unable to find a way through, full-back Marcelo succeeded in the 37th minute to put Mourinho’s men ahead.
The Brazil international charged forward from his left-back berth and superbly cut inside sliding Lyon defender Dejan Lovren and thumped a shot past Lloris.
That was the breakthrough Madrid were seeking, and Benzema almost made it 2-0 moments later with a well-struck effort that produced another great finger-tip save from Lloris.
Lyon coach Claude Puel introduced Bafetimbi Gomis, the French side’s goalscorer in the 1-1 first leg draw, at half-time, but it was Madrid who continued to make most of the running in the second period.
Benzema (twice) and Sergio Ramos both went close before the former continued his fine scoring form by making it 2-0 in the 65th minute.
Marcelo’s long ball over the top was latched onto by the £30million striker and he slotted his shot through the legs of Lloris.
Benzema was then denied by the Lyon custodian as Madrid sought a third, before Casillas was finally called into action again in the 71st minute to parry a well-struck Gomis shot which almost dropped inside the far post.
A goal then would have given Lyon hope, but within four minutes they were 3-0 down and on their way out of the competition.
Ozil’s header put Di Maria through and the Argentina winger coolly dinked his shot over Lloris to seal Madrid’s 25th successive home win in all competitions and, more importantly, a berth in the last eight of the Champions League at last.
Chelsea progress
Chelsea booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals despite wasting a host of chances in yesterday’s 0-0 draw against Copenhagen in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side went through 2-0 on aggregate and their first leg victory in Denmark meant they were never likely to rue some woeful finishing.
But far sterner tests lie in wait on the road to Wembley and there will have to be a significant improvement if they are to reach the final.
After three successive wins, Ancelotti must be concerned that his team returned to the kind of flawed display that has been the hallmark of Chelsea’s inconsistent campaign.
Ancelotti’s side created and then squandered chances from the start, with Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole both shooting wide when they should have at least tested Copenhagen goalkeeper Johan Wiland.
Yuri Zhirkov had an even better chance to open the scoring after Didier Drogba’s clever back-heel and Cole’s pass carved open the Copenhagen defence, but the Russian winger curled his shot wide.
Copenhagen were close to taking a shock lead when Dame N’Doye’s whipped free-kick caught Petr Cech moving the wrong way and cannoned to safety off a post.
John Obi Mikel had Chelsea’s closest effort when he hit the crossbar after Terry and Anelka flicked on Lampard’s corner.
But Chelsea’s profligacy spread to Anelka, who was twice played in by Drogba, only to dwell on the ball and was blocked.
Fernando Torres was finally sent on to replace Anelka with 20 minutes to play. The Spaniard nearly made an immediate impact with a deflected shot that looped just wide.
Round of 16 – second legs
Played yesterday
Chelsea 0
Copenhagen 0
(Chelsea win 2-0 on aggregate)
R. Madrid 3
Marcelo 37; Benzema 66; Di Maria 76;
O. Lyon 0
(Real Madrid win 4-1 on aggregate)
Played on Tuesday
B. Munich 2
Gomez 21; Mueller 31;
Inter 3
Eto’o 3; Sneijder 63; Pandev 88;
(agg: 3-3; Inter win on away goals)
Man. United 2
Hernandez 5, 75;
Marseille 1
Brown 82 og;
(Manchester United win 2-1 on aggregate)
Already played
S. Donetsk 3 - Roma 0 (S. Donetsk win 6-2 on aggregate)
Barcelona 3 - Arsenal 1 (Barcelona win 4-3 on aggregate)
Tottenham 0 - Milan 0 (Tottenham win 1-0 on aggregate)
Schalke 04 3 - Valencia 1 (Schalke win 4-2 on aggregate)
Note: The draw for the quarter- and semi-finals will take place at UEFA’s headquarters tomorrow.