Real travel to France inspired by prospect of a Bernabeu final
When the draw for the last 16 was being made, Karim Benzema said he hoped Real Madrid would draw his former club Lyon.
It was said in jest, but his wish was granted and he will return to his roots tonight for the first time in opposition colours. The French side took him in at the age of nine and moulded him into one of the world's most highly-rated striking talents.
Benzema is hoping to play after a muscle injury, but his knowledge of Lyon will be crucial.
"They always stand up to the challenge of playing an important game," he said. "It may seem they currently have problems and focus mainly on defending, but we should watch out."
Real have failed to beat Lyon in four previous encounters and, as mentioned constantly in the Spanish press, they have not reached the quarter-finals since 2004.
The pressure is immense, particularly with the final at their own Bernabeu stadium in May.
Kaka, Real's Brazilian play- maker, said that has spurred them to emulate the 1957 side led by Alfredo di Stefano, which won the European Cup at their home ground.
"This could be 10th time Real win the trophy and it is at the Bernabeu, and gives everyone great hope," he said.
"It's a great motivation for the fans, the players and directors."
So too is a final showdown with their rivals for both Primera Liga and European honours.
Kaka revealed: "If I had to choose a final opponent, it would have to be Barcelona. I'd rather play against a rival, than a team I played for like AC Milan."
Lyon have their own ambitions and expectations. In the past few years, they have had the weight of a nation on their shoulders; desperate for the elite trophy to wipe away the memories of 1993 when winners Marseille had their victory spoiled by match-fixing allegations.
French football has suffered as the cash-rich teams have taken their most promising players each year.
Benzema was the latest to leave for Madrid last summer. But a bigger stage has proved to be no stage at all for the frontman, who has struggled to settle and has been left in the shadow by the impressive form of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese's double against Xerez on Saturday made it 17 goals in 17 games.
"I played against him when he was at Manchester United," said the Lyon defender Cris. "It's not easy and you need a lot of experience. But we shouldn't think about all the great players Real have. We shouldn't be scared of them."
With Benzema and Juninho, the Brazilian midfielder, gone, Lyon are no longer reliant on one or two match-winning individuals, but have a team that will provide a difficult test for Real.
Claude Puel, their manager, has been criticised for a defensive approach that has left them off the pace in Ligue 1, but it could suit them for the Champions League and counter the attack-minded style of Real.
The midfielder Miralem Pjanic added: "We know we're not the favourites, but we also know we have enough quality to do something against them."
@Email:akhan@thenational.ae
Lyon v Real Madrid, 11.45pm, Aljazeera Sport + 4
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if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
The%20Kitchen
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'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra
Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Company%20profile
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20Boy%20and%20the%20Heron
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JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
'Ashkal'
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
Company%20Profile
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