ITALY: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - Olympique Lyon prepare to take on A.S. Roma at the Olympic stadium on Wednesday in the first knockout round of the Champions League

Roma are determined to keep their unbeaten home record on Tuesday (February 20, 2007) as they prepare to take on team Olympique Lyonnais tomorrow in the first knock-out round of the Champions League. The Italian side, currently second in Serie A, has so far notched up eight victories against European opposition but are still reeling over their 1-0 defeat by Empoli at the weekend. The highly-rated French team, who now hold a 13 point lead in Ligue are set to give Roma a tough fight after a slow start to the year. Lyon manager Gerard Houllier said : "It would obviously be a dillusion not to pass this round but we know that this rule of 16 teams at this point of the competition is very clear and it will be difficult to go ahead. We also know we have infront of us an opponent with a great reputation and at the same time a difficult team to play against." "We still haven't gone through all the videos but we have spoken to the staff and it is true, I think the battle in midfield will be very important' agreed Lyon coach Sydney Govou. A.S. Roma coach Luciano Spalleti is counting on the strength of the team's midfield to take the team through to the next round. "It's going to be a beautiful game ", said Spalleti. ' It's a great achievement, one that these boys deserved because they have given their best. I have a lot of confidence in the fact that they will offer yet another great performance, even if they have already offered many in these two years. Most of all, I hope that they wil give great satisfaction to our public whom I know will be present at the game in great numbers" he said. "We have to play this match as if it was a World Cup final because tomorrow will be a special evening' added Amantino Mancini . "I hope to give my contribution, as I always did in AS Roma. I hope I'll manage to score my first goal in Champions' League" he said.

ITN Source | February 22, 2007

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