Champions League preview: APOEL v Lyon

APOEL will be looking to overturn a one-goal deficit and continue their unprecedented Champions League run against Lyon on Wednesday.

The French side head to the Neo GSP Stadium in Cyprus with the goal advantage after their home win in the first leg but their league form has been far from impressive in recent weeks.

Remi Garde’s men have not won in their past four Ligue 1 matches and slumped to an embarrassing 2-0 defeat by lowly Nancy on Saturday.

“We lacked a bit of strength, speed and enthusiasm (against Nancy). When we don’t create enough scoring opportunities and make mistakes at the other end, then we lose matches we should be winning,” Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas said.

“It’s hugely disappointing, but we have to stand right behind the team … we need to bounce back mentally,” he said.

The draw though, did fall kindly for them with APOEL, relative minnows at Champions League level, arguably the weakest side in the last 16.

To advance, APOEL must score twice if they are to become the first Cypriot side to reach the last eight of any European competition.

APOEL stormed to a 4-1 league win over Ermis Aradippou at the weekend and will take great confidence into the Lyon clash knowing they have already defeated Zenit St Petersburg and Porto at home in the Champions League this season.

With by far the smallest budget of the remaining Champions League sides, the importance of the match for APOEL was not lost on striker Esteban Solari, who scored a double against Ermis.

“We are fully focused on the game with Lyon that certainly will be one of the most important games in the history of APOEL,” Solari said.

“We know that if we stick together, this might be a dream that can come true.”

Lyon have been knocked out at the round-of-16 stage in four of the last five campaigns.