No rivals too big for Lyon

'I'm very confident'
With the likes of FC Barcelona, AS Roma and FC Internazionale Milano finishing second in their groups, the merits of topping a section have been questioned in some quarters. But rather than worry about the identity of their future opponents, the French champions are looking forward with anticipation not trepidation. "The fact is there are a lot of teams who'd like to avoid us," Lyon coach Gérard Houllier said after Wednesday's Group E draw with FC Steaua Bucuresti, adding: "I'm very confident."

Toulalan belief
Houllier's unerring belief appears to have rubbed off on his players, and they will enter the knockout phase without fear. "I don't really have a preference regarding the draw," midfielder Jérémy Toulalan told uefa.com. "All of the teams left in the competition are outstanding and the last 16 is perhaps stronger than usual this year. But we know our strengths and we know we'll be playing the second leg at Stade Gerland where we're very strong. If we have to play Barcelona then so be it."

Better equipped
Lyon have fallen at the quarter-final stage for the last three seasons but look better equipped than ever this term. The squad has been strengthened by the arrivals of Sébastien Squillaci, Toulalan, Kim Källström and Alou Diarra, and the manner in which they dominated a pool that included Real Madrid CF was highly impressive. Moreover, Houllier is intent on signing another forward in January.

Fierce competition
Competition for places is already fierce, and players like Hatem Ben Arfa, who was outstanding against Steaua, know they face a constant battle to get into the side. "Lyon's great strength is the squad," said Ben Arfa, a 19-year-old youth-team product. "Everyone wants to play and everyone wants to win. In order to get into the team you have to work hard every day - the training sessions themselves are very intense. Otherwise it's a matter of being patient and taking your chances when they come."

Midfield rivalry
Lyon's strength is so great in certain areas that some players are competing for one place at both club and international level. François Clerc, for example, has been picked ahead of Anthony Réveillère for France recently but Réveillère is Lyon's first-choice right-back. Likewise Diarra and Toulalan battle it out for the holding role with Lyon and Les Bleus, and their acquisitions have more than compensated for Mahamadou Diarra's departure.

'We're not scared'
Against Steaua, Toulalan was kept in reserve until late on, offering Diarra a rare start. He seized his chance, scoring Lyon's equaliser and turning in a powerful display. "It hasn't been easy since I arrived [from RC Lens] but I just make sure I'm ready when the coach needs me," Diarra told uefa.com. The 25-year-old may only have been there a matter of months but is already getting to grips with the Lyon mentality. "Maybe it would be better to play Barcelona later in the competition," Diarra offered, before quickly adding: "But we're not scared of anyone."