Lyon aim to put pressure on Porto
LYON, France -- Lyon are determined to make up for a disappointing first leg performance when they attempt to chase down Porto's two goal lead in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday.
The French champions barely troubled the UEFA Cup winners in a 2-0 defeat in Portugal two weeks ago.
"Of course no game is like any other," said Lyon defender Eric Deflandre.
"But what Porto are not aware of is that they did not see the real Lyon in the first leg. We know we can make it."
Lyon are without injured Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa and playmaker Eric Carriere. French international striker Sidney Govou is also out with a thigh injury, with Peguy Luyindula set to start in attack alongside Giovane Elber.
Porto suffered their first league defeat of the season at the weekend against Gil Vicente, but Lyon captain Patrick Mueller said the defeat would not affect Wednesday's match.
Meaningless accident
"They have such a big lead in the Portuguese league that it was only a meaningless accident," said Mueller.
Porto coach Jose Mourinho, whose side has only been beaten twice in Europe this season -- by AC Milan in the European Super Cup and by Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage -- is confident his side will reach the semifinals.
"The defeat at the weekend was an accident but it won't affect our morale," said Mourinho.
"If we were a good team with good players a week ago we haven't suddenly lost all that because of one defeat.
"We're ready for a Lyon side that will be trying to turn the game around. We're the favorites because we're winning 2-0 but plenty of teams have lost from that position."
Porto captain Jorge Costa and midfielder Pedro Mendes return from injury and Maniche Ribeiro could also be fit. But striker Benni McCarthy is a doubt and could be replaced by Edgaras Jankauskas.
Probable teams:
Lyon: 1-Gregory Coupet; 2-Eric Deflandre, 3-Edmilson, 20-Patrick Mueller, 23-Jeremy Berthod; 7-Mahammadou Diarra, 8-Juninho Pernambucano, 4-Michael Essien; 18-Peguy Lyindula, 11-Florent Malouda, 9-Elber
Porto: 99-Vitor Baia; 22-Paulo Ferreira, 2-Jorge Costa, 4-Ricardo Carvalho, 8-Nuno Valente, 6-Francisco Costinha, 23-Pedro Mendes, 15-Dimitri Alenitchev or 18-Maniche Ribeiro, 10-Deco Souza, 19-Carlos Alberto, 9-Edgaras Jankauskas or 77-Benni McCarthy
