Diarra, a member of the Lyon side that dealt Real a humiliating 3-0 defeat in their opening group game, is confident things will be different when they meet again at the Stade Gerland on Wednesday.

"It was 3-0 last year and this year it is going to be difficult again," Diarra told the Real Madrid Web site on Tuesday. "But I'm sure of one thing and that is that I don't want to go back there to lose.

"I'm familiar with French football and I know what we have to do to avoid losing. We are capable of springing a surprise."

The 25-year-old joined Real for 26 million euros ($33.06 million) during the close season after forcing Lyon to release him by threatening not to play for them again.

Diarra, who had been signed at the express request of Real's new coach Fabio Capello, said he was unsure how he would be received on his return to Lyon.

"I don't know how the fans will react," he said. "Maybe some people will cheer me for the four seasons that I was there, but I'm not sure. Anyway, I have to be focused on the game and can't afford to get nervous about that."