"Lyon were much quicker than us, particularly in the first half," the former Juventus defender said. "I think the problem is basically a question of fitness. I see this as the important factor more than lapses in concentration."

A measure of embarrassment may underlie Cannavaro's remarks as Lyon's opening goal came after a long pass from Juninho caught the defender out, allowing Fred to dash past him to score in the 11th minute. Sidney Govou set up Tiago through a ragged defence for Lyon's second in the 31st minute.

Uncertain at the back and ponderous in midfield, Real did not get into the game until the second half and even then rarely threatened the home goal. Worryingly for the new Real coach Fabio Capello, it was the players brought in to add steel during the summer - Cannavaro, Emerson and the former Lyon player Mahamadou Diarra - who appeared most out of sorts.

The Spaniards' best player was their goalkeeper Iker Casillas who made a number of fine saves to deny Lyon more goals. "They are a very strong team," said Casillas. "They were very quick up front and on the counter, and grew in confidence with the number of chances they created.

"They were in better shape than us and this was clear to see on the pitch. We have to look to take the positives from the game but in all honesty there were very few."

It is the third time in as many years that the nine-times European champions have suffered demoralising defeats on the opening day of the group stages of the Champions League. Last September they lost 3-0 to Lyon under Vanderlei Luxemburgo and a year earlier a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen was soon followed by the resignation of Jose Antonio Camacho.