Intro:

France's Lyon will be hoping to defend their 1-0 first leg lead when they take on APOEL of Cyprus in Nicosia on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions league round of 16 encounter.

The French side trained and met the press on Tuesday ahead of the match.

Script:

Lyon have a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg of their Champions League match against APOEL Nicosia on Wednesday.

The French side however are coming off the back of a bad run of form in their home league.

A 2-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Nancy on Saturday saw the team drop to seventh place in the French standings.

However midfielder Kim Kallstrom believes Lyon will be back on form when they step out in Cyprus.

SOUNDBITE: (French)

SUPERCAPTION: Lyon midfielder Kim Kallstrom:

"This game will definitely be different from the first one in Lyon. We have the advantage of one goal we scored at home and we know that when we play away we are good at counter-attacking, so the game will be different from the first leg."

Garde said his players are ready for the match against APOEL and that midfield dominance, coupled with a strong defence, will be the key to his game plan.

SOUNDBITE: (French)

SUPERCAPTION: Lyon coach Remi Garde:

"The big difference is that at the end of tomorrow's game there can be only one winner whereas at the end of the first leg we were only half way. So it will be a decisive game. Both teams have their chances but there's just 90 minutes to go and that's the big difference."
 
Lyon have been boosted by the return of central defender Dejan Lovren, who has shaken off an Achilles injury.

But they'll be without playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, who is still nursing a groin injury, as well as defender John Mensah who is out with a hamstring injury.