Despite the pedigree of Real Madrid, Lyon will not be swayed from aiming for a repeat of last season's feat when they dominated the nine-time kings of Europe to cruise into the knockout phase as group winners.

Lyon coach Gerard Houllier, who can again count on a wealth of talent throughout the squad, saw his side battle to a 2-0 win over French league side Troyes on Saturday.

And although the level of play is expected to rise significantly when David Beckham and co. take the field on Wednesday, Houllier is feeling buoyant.

"We deserved to win (against Troyes), even though I have to admit that we had to push for it a bit," said the Frenchman.

"Last year just before we played Real we had some difficulties in the second half against Monaco. So I'm not worried ahead of playing Real Madrid on Wednesday."

Going on last season's statistics alone, Lyon should have little to worry about.

France's top club hammered the Spanish giants 3-0 at home then held them to a draw at the Santiago Bernabeu to secure entry to the knockout phase after topping group F.

Lyon sailed through that phase after dominating PSV Eindhoven 5-0 over two legs, but they were then stopped at the quarter-finals, yet again, by AC Milan.

Since failing to get out of the competition's group stages in the 2002-2003 season, Lyon's Champions League campaign has ended at the quarter-finals for three years in a row.

Making it to and past the last four will be the club's target again and with Dynamo Kiev and Steaua Bucharest in group E that should be realistic.

Against Real, Lyon's forwards will find themselves face to face with Mahamadou Diarra, the midfield general who was crucial to their team before he secured a move to Real last month.

Diarra is in for an emotional return but Jeremy Toulalan, who was bought from Nantes to replace him, is ready to step in and fill the hole left by the Mali international.

"I'm nobody's successor, but I want to make sure I give it 110 percent," Toulalan told the Dauphine Libere newspaper.

"I have to make sure I am at the service of the team, which is a little bit different to being at Nantes when I was allowed to roam the midfield.

"Here, I'm given orders and I obey them. But that's fine with me. The important thing for me is to play.

"If they asked me, I would play as a right-back against a team like Real."

Real travel to the French gastronomic capital itching to sate their hunger to avenge those setbacks last season.

Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas said Monday: "Last season's first game was perfect for Lyon. They scored three goals in the space of 25 minutes.

"Maybe this will give us a chance for revenge."

With the exception of injured defender Michel Salgado and Casillas, who have been replaced by youth team players Javi Garcia and Adan, Fabio Capello has kept faith with the side which beat Levante 4-1.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo is still recovering from injury, and Capello is keeping fans guessing after pulling club captain Raul off at half time on Saturday.

The only striker he is virtually certain to stick with is former Manchester United marskman Ruud van Nistelrooy - who scored a hattrick against Levante.