Ronaldo confident of Real Madrid comeback

Pa
Wednesday 17 February 2010 12:04 GMT
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Cristiano Ronaldo is confident Real Madrid can turn around their Champions League tie with Lyon and avoid tumbling out of the competition at the last-16 stage for the sixth successive year.

Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg in France after Lyon midfielder Jean Makoun struck a brilliant 25-yard drive past Iker Casillas just after half-time.

That was Madrid's third successive loss at the Stade Gerland and it could have been worse, with Lyon hitting the post in the first half through Cesar Delgado and creating a number of other chances.

Madrid only really exerted any sustained pressure on the home goal in the closing stages, but despite his side's disappointing showing, Ronaldo is adamant this is not the end of the line for the big-spending Spanish giants.

"In football anything is possible. We've lost here but we have a game at home in which we can repeat what they did here," said the Portugal international, who won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008.

"I'm calm. In this competition you have to suffer. I'm sure that we will give a good answer in the return game and that we will win.

"The Bernabeu will help us. We will have to give to give it everything from the first minute until the last. The tie is not lost."

Kaka, who like Ronaldo is already a Champions League winner having been victorious with AC Milan in 2007, is also optimistic about his side's chances of making it through to the quarter-finals.

"We know that we are going to suffer, but we are used to playing important games. Real Madrid are ready and focused to achieve it. It's our objective. We can turn it around in the return leg," he said on his club's website.

Regardless of what happens in the return leg at the Bernabeu though, it was still a poor night for Manuel Pellegrini's team in France.

Madrid director general Jorge Valdano said: "It's been a bad night in general, especially the result. We had ups and downs during the match, but at no moment were we ourselves.

"The result means we have to really concentrate at the Bernabeu.

"Lyon barely stepped out of their half in the final minutes, but they made things very difficult for us for a long time, especially in midfield."

Madrid will also have to do without the suspended Marcelo and Xabi Alonso at the Bernabeu, although Valdano believes coach Pellegrini has enough strength in depth to cope with their absences.

"They are important losses because they help our game flow better, but we have a big enough squad and at home we are capable of winning the match," he said.

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