Diarra back to 'finish the job'

Captain Alou Diarra has called on FC Girondins de Bordeaux "to finish the job" as they prepare to defend a 1-0 lead from the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against Olympiacos FC and clinch a place in the quarter-finals.

Diarra sat out the first leg in Piraeus three weeks ago because of a hamstring injury, but is fit again and knows just how much a threat the Greek champions will pose at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. "Olympiacos are a very good team," Diarra said. "They are well organised and can be dangerous at set-pieces. They have a lot of international players. It is up to us to finish the job."

Michaël Ciani's added-time goal at the end of the first half on 23 February means Olympiacos will have to do what no other away side has done this season in the UEFA Champions League if they are to advance: win at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Bordeaux did not drop a point at home in the group stage and have won all six of their UEFA Champions League games since drawing their opening match against Juventus on 15 September. Laurent Blanc's side also boast the best defensive record in the competition, having conceded just two goals so far and none for 444 minutes.

If there is a ray of hope for Božidar Bandović's visiting side it is that Bordeaux's form has slipped since the turn of the year and they have not won in their three Ligue 1 matches since beating Olympiacos. They remain top of the table, but on goal difference alone and the title race is wide open with five teams within three points of the leaders.

With competition intensifying, Blanc called on Bordeaux to "recover the spirit of 2009" in his press conference on Tuesday and Diarra hopes to lead by example as he works his way back to full fitness after a month out.

The 28-year-old played 45 minutes in Wednesday's 2-1 home loss to AJ Auxerre then the whole of the goalless draw at AS Monaco FC on Saturday and said he is feeling "better and better" as Bordeaux look to join compatriots Olympique Lyonnais in the last eight. "Whether I am close to my best level I don't know, but my feelings are good and this game against Olympiacos is a great motivation," he added. "We want to go through."