Magnificent Madrid put Lyon to the sword

Real Madrid CF continued to make smooth progress towards the knockout stages after a comfortable victory against Olympique Lyonnais maintained their 100% start to Group D.

The Merengues ended their run of last-16 disappointments by ending the Gones' ambitions seven months ago. This time around the hosts went one better than last season's 3-0 margin of victory. Former Lyon striker Karim Benzema again found the net against his old team and second-half strikes from Sami Khedira, Sergio Ramos and a Hugo Lloris own goal sent the home fans away happy. Lyon were left licking the wounds of a record UEFA Champions League defeat.

Most of the pre-match talk focused on who would start up front for the hosts, Benzema edging out the in-form Gonzalo Higuaín despite the latter's weekend hat-trick. The French international took until the 19th minute to justify his selection, stealing in at the far post ahead of Ramos to touch in Cristiano Ronaldo's flick-on from a Mesut Özil corner for his third goal in as many games against his old side.

Until that point Lyon had obdurately defended their area as the home side patiently sought out an opener and almost snatched the lead on the counterattack when Jimmy Briand headed Michel Bastos's centre wide. That proved a temporary break in the nine-time European champions' domination with Özil's searching free-kick spectacularly punched out by Lloris before Ronaldo sent in a low drive that zipped just wide.

The half-time interval brought some respite for Rémi Garde's men but they fell further behind two minutes after the restart. Bakary Koné inadvertently directed Marcelo's deep pass into the path of Benzema and the striker unselfishly rolled a pass into the path of the advancing Khedira, who stroked his shot past Lloris.

Although Lyon had a let-off when Benzema headed over from close range almost immediately, their hopes were ended by a third goal on 55 minutes. Lloris inadvertently turned Özil's attempted centre from the left into his own net.

Lyon had kept clean sheets in their first two games, but their defence was undone again nine minutes from time. Ramos controlled Kaká's corner at the second time of asking and fired into the far corner of the net with his left foot. The result gives Madrid a five-point cushion in the section ahead of the teams' second meeting in France on 2 November, when an away win would book a round of 16 berth.