Panoramic
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
LYON  Lloris Reveilliere, Kone, Umtiti, Cissokho Briand, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Bastos Lisandro Lopez, Gomis | APOEL  Chiotis Poursaiditidis, Jorge, Jahic, Oliveira Morais, Pinto Charalambidis, Marcinho, Manduca Ailton |
Lyon coach Remi Garde has no pressing injury concerns ahead of their Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash against APOEL Nicosia.
Despite a shock 2-1 defeat to Caen in Ligue 1 on Saturday, Kim Kallstrom is expected to regain his place in midfield after the Sweden international was left out at the weekend due to suspension. Dejan Lovren's achilles problems continue to hinder his anticipated return to the first team, with youngster Samuel Umtiti ready to deputise.
It's been little over two months since les Gones performed the greatest of escapes by thrashing Dinamo Zagreb 7-1 to sneak into the last 16 at the expense of Ajax in Group D.
Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored the competition's fastest-ever hat-trick on matchday six, will lead the attack, alongside Lisandro Lopez.
For APOEL, the incredible journey continues. The Cypriot side, minnows in the group stage, spectacularly topped Group G ahead of three of their last four Europa League winners in Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg and Porto.
Ivan Jovanovic's men are at full-strength in what is arguably the biggest match in their history. Brazilian Ailton, who has three goals in this season's tournament, will lead the line from the front.
Former Chelsea midfielder Nuno Morais will anchor the side in midfield, with Gustavo Manduca set to continue his record of starting every Champions League game for Tuesday's visitors.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Olympique Lyonnais hit back from a goal down to beat Dinamo Zagreb 7-1 to move into the last 16 for the ninth straight season.
- Remi Garde's men will be seeking to qualify for the quarter-final for only the second
time in six years, and the first since 2009-10.
- At this stage of the competition, Lyon have only fallen once at the Stade Gerland, beaten 2-0 by AS Roma in 2006-07.
- Les Gones have bowed out of the tournament at this stage in four out of the last five seasons.
- This will be the first ever meeting between Lyon and APOEL.
- APOEL, the first Cypriot side to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, topping Group G with nine points ahead of Zenit St Petersburg.
- Ivan Jovanovic's men have drawn all three of their away games in the group stage.
- The Nicosia-based club have also only conceded just three goals in six away games in the Champions League this season (including qualifiers), keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Experience counts at this level, and Lyon, who have qualified for this stage for the ninth straight season, will be tipped as the overwhelming favourites. The Cypriots, for all of their attacking football are yet to win away in the competition proper this season.
With a tantalising second leg in prospect in Cyprus on March 7, the onus will be on APOEL to restrict Lyon in the first leg, before doing damage at GSP in three weeks. However, with Gomis in form for the hosts, expect a comfortable victory.
With a tantalising second leg in prospect in Cyprus on March 7, the onus will be on APOEL to restrict Lyon in the first leg, before doing damage at GSP in three weeks. However, with Gomis in form for the hosts, expect a comfortable victory.
Editor's Prediction
Lyon 2-0 APOEL 
