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A 7-2 trouncing of German champions Werder Bremen to romp into the last eight with a barely credible 10-2 aggregate win means Paul Le Guen's men have matched last season's European campaign.
The triple Ligue 1 winners fell to eventual European champions Porto in last season's quarter-finals, but after seeing Monaco reach the final in the same campaign, now have real hopes of reaching Istanbul in May.
"It seems a little audacious to say we're favourites when teams like Chelsea and Milan are still in the competition," says Le Guen modestly. "I prefer to say we've got our card to play. It's maybe ambitious to say that, but we all want to win the Champions League."
Sitting atop Ligue 1 with a comfortable eight-point cushion, there has been the feeling that Lyon have barely moved out of first gear as they cruise towards a fourth consecutive domestic title, saving their best displays for Europe.
ATTACKING TRIDENT
But while cautious French teams approach Gerland with fear, Lyon's attacking trident of Sidney Govou, a rejuvenated Sylvain Wiltord and Florent Malouda have flourished in the extra space afforded them by ambitious Champions League rivals.
"In the Champions League, teams play to win. In Ligue 1, we always come up against sides who get men behind the ball," explains Malouda, whose side have been restricted to a frugal 41 goals in 29 domestic games. "It's not easy for us, we have to make all the running."
The Govou-Wiltord-Malouda spearhead has looked as good as any in the competition, helping Lyon top Group D ahead of Manchester United and Fenerbahçe, but behind the front three lies a team improved on that of last season.
The midfield pair of Michael Essien and Mahamadou Diarra provide lung-bursting industry as well as a goal-scoring threat - giving the side a sound base and allowing the team's creative genius Juninho Pernambucano the time to add his talent to the attack.
Arguably the best free-kick taker in Europe, the Brazilian is a goal-scoring threat from anywhere within thirty-five metres of goal with the ball at his feet - as Oliver Kahn found out to spectacular effect in last season's competition.
But while all is well going forward, injury problems have meant a rocky run at the back, gifting opponents an unhealthy ten goals in Europe so far.
VULNERABLE
Rock-solid skipper Claudio Caçapa missed the Bremen tie with a knee injury which has dogged him for some time, leaving the usually-reliable Cris looking vulnerable alongside the limited Lamine Diatta.
Caçapa should be ready for the quarter-finals, allowing him to slip into Le Guen's first-choice back four of Eric Abidal, Anthony Reveillere - also injured for the Bremen games - and Cris.
"We have to be careful," warns keeper Gregory Coupet. "In the Champions League, we concede quite a lot. Against a good team, we would have to put that right."
Answer to the question...
I saw the matches against Bremen. It wasn't the margin that frightened me, it was the manner in which they were acheived. I'd rather Juve avoided Lyon.
A 7-2 trouncing of German champions Werder Bremen to romp into the last eight with a barely credible 10-2 aggregate win means Paul Le Guen's men have matched last season's European campaign.
The triple Ligue 1 winners fell to eventual European champions Porto in last season's quarter-finals, but after seeing Monaco reach the final in the same campaign, now have real hopes of reaching Istanbul in May.
"It seems a little audacious to say we're favourites when teams like Chelsea and Milan are still in the competition," says Le Guen modestly. "I prefer to say we've got our card to play. It's maybe ambitious to say that, but we all want to win the Champions League."
Sitting atop Ligue 1 with a comfortable eight-point cushion, there has been the feeling that Lyon have barely moved out of first gear as they cruise towards a fourth consecutive domestic title, saving their best displays for Europe.
ATTACKING TRIDENT
But while cautious French teams approach Gerland with fear, Lyon's attacking trident of Sidney Govou, a rejuvenated Sylvain Wiltord and Florent Malouda have flourished in the extra space afforded them by ambitious Champions League rivals.
"In the Champions League, teams play to win. In Ligue 1, we always come up against sides who get men behind the ball," explains Malouda, whose side have been restricted to a frugal 41 goals in 29 domestic games. "It's not easy for us, we have to make all the running."
The Govou-Wiltord-Malouda spearhead has looked as good as any in the competition, helping Lyon top Group D ahead of Manchester United and Fenerbahçe, but behind the front three lies a team improved on that of last season.
The midfield pair of Michael Essien and Mahamadou Diarra provide lung-bursting industry as well as a goal-scoring threat - giving the side a sound base and allowing the team's creative genius Juninho Pernambucano the time to add his talent to the attack.
Arguably the best free-kick taker in Europe, the Brazilian is a goal-scoring threat from anywhere within thirty-five metres of goal with the ball at his feet - as Oliver Kahn found out to spectacular effect in last season's competition.
But while all is well going forward, injury problems have meant a rocky run at the back, gifting opponents an unhealthy ten goals in Europe so far.
VULNERABLE
Rock-solid skipper Claudio Caçapa missed the Bremen tie with a knee injury which has dogged him for some time, leaving the usually-reliable Cris looking vulnerable alongside the limited Lamine Diatta.
Caçapa should be ready for the quarter-finals, allowing him to slip into Le Guen's first-choice back four of Eric Abidal, Anthony Reveillere - also injured for the Bremen games - and Cris.
"We have to be careful," warns keeper Gregory Coupet. "In the Champions League, we concede quite a lot. Against a good team, we would have to put that right."
Answer to the question...
I saw the matches against Bremen. It wasn't the margin that frightened me, it was the manner in which they were acheived. I'd rather Juve avoided Lyon.
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and Inter will beat Milan. then Lyon will beat Inter and we will beat Bayern and we will play Lyon in the final and claim the trophy with a Nedved longshot!
