MADRID - Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho demonstrated his squad's strength in depth in a routine 4-0 Champions League victory over old foe Lyon on Tuesday, with goals from Karim Benzema, Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Sergio Ramos.

The result leaves the record nine-time European Champion in complete control of Group D with a perfect record after three games.

Lyon shares second place with Ajax, both on four points, after the Dutch team won 2-0 away to Dynamo Zagreb.

Mourinho chose to start Benzema against his home town and former club instead of the in-form Gonzalo Higuain who grabbed a hat-trick against Real Betis on Saturday.

Mourinho explained his reasoning.

"We knew the type of game it would be, and we needed players with ability in tight spaces and it worked, we knew early on we would win and we won well," he said. "With three games left, Ajax or Lyon can still win the group, but there is less pressure on us. Each point is a million more and in times of recession a million is a million," he continued.

Also recalled to the starting squad were Khedira, who scored his first goal for Madrid, and Angel di Maria in place of Kaka. For Lyon, the Brazilian Michel Bastos started his 100th game for the side but did little to further his growing reputation.

Lyon coach Remi Garde was honest in his summary of the game.

"I was worried this could happen with Madrid controlling the ball - it was tough for us to play the ball out and we were second to the ball on many occasions," he said.

He went on to praise his opponents, whom he predicts willl win the competition.

"I was surprised how well they won the ball back. When you see who they bring off the bench you think have they not got enough on the pitch already," he said.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 10/20/2011 page22)