Lyon gear up for Milan test

In a class of their own domestically for years, Olympique Lyon feel it is time to make an impact in Europe and have a perfect opportunity to do so against Milan in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The four-times French champions, who entertain Milan in the first leg today, have never made the semi-finals of European club soccer's showcase event.

Inter are under a familiar pressure ahead of tonight's quarter-final, first leg, match against Spain's Villarreal.

Saturday's defeat to Parma left Inter in third place, trailing Serie A leaders Juventus by 13 points and Roberto Mancini's side are now five points adrift of second-placed Milan.

Mancini knows that failure in Europe would leave him with little to show for his efforts at the San Siro this season and intensify speculation about his future.

"Lyon will be under the spotlight," said club president Jean-Michel Aulas.

"For us this is a real test. We want to do what we did against Real Madrid," added Aulas, referring to Lyon's 3-0 defeat of the Spanish giants in their opening match of the campaign.

Lyon left the Champions League in the quarter-finals the last two seasons, losing to eventual champions Porto in 2004 and to PSV Eindhoven last year.

Brazilian Juninho, the team's inspiration in midfield, is suspended for the game.

Milan captain Paolo Maldini returned to action after three months on the sidelines as a substitute during the 3-1 win over fourth-placed Fiorentina in Serie A on Saturday. He is expected to be on the bench again.

Jaap Stam has not recovered from injury and Alessandro Costacurta should feature in the starting line-up. In attack, Filippo Inzaghi could be rested allowing Alberto Gilardino to renew his partnership with Andriy Shevchenko.

"We are up against a strong team who like to play football. They have good players who are strong technically," said Gilardino.

Hopeful Mancini

Despite the Parma upset Mancini said he was pleased with Inter's performance. He is determined not to let Saturday's setback turn into the kind of crisis the club have frequently had to deal with in the 16 years since their last Serie A title.

"We can't have a drama every time that the team loses, especially after a game like the one at Parma where we played well.

"I am looking closely at the team... I would be worried if we had played badly," Mancini said.

The poor form of Brazilian Adriano has been a major factor in Inter's lack of sharpness in front of goal and Mancini may be tempted to look at an alternative in the form of Julio Ricardo Cruz while Obafemi Martins will compete with Alvaro Recoba for a place in the starting line-up.

Whoever Mancini opts to play in attack will almost certainly be without the creative support of Portuguese winger Luis Figo whose muscle strain looks likely to rule him out.

Villarreal's Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme said his side would have to show a marked improvement from the weekend, if they were to have any chance against Inter.

Struggling Betis went 2-0 up inside the opening 24 minutes in the Madrigal on Saturday, before Juan Pablo Sorin pulled a goal back for Villarreal near the end.

"It is obvious Inter are the clear favourites to progress to the semis, and they will be even more so if we play like we did in the first half against Betis," Riquelme said.

The only good news for coach Manuel Pellegrini was the return to action of Sorin after nearly a month out with injury.

Today, defender Rodolfo Arruabarrenna, and midfielders Josico and Alessio Tacchinardi are suspended. Defender Josemi is cup-tied having played for Liverpool earlier in the competition.