Lahm plays down significance of Lyon road trip - 7M sport

Lahm plays down significance of Lyon road trip

Posted Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by PA

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has played down the impact of Lyon's travel woes ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final first leg.

The French side were forced to make the journey by road after the ash cloud caused by Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull brought about the closure of much of Europe's airspace.

The 800-kilometre journey ultimately entailed around 10 hours of travelling, split up by an overnight stay in Stuttgart, before Claude Puel's men arrived in Munich at 12.30pm on Tuesday.

Fatigue is an obvious concern, but Lahm believes adrenaline will ensure Lyon remain competitive.

"I think it's bothersome before a match like this," he said.

"But on the day of the match you are so full of adrenaline, you won't think about it."

The Germany full-back feels defence holds the key as his side seek to establish a first-leg advantage.

"Semi-finals are usually balanced," he said.

"I think they have respect for us, they know we can always score, but they are also very strong. We are in very good form, though.

"We will try not to concede a goal - 1-0 would be good, 2-0 would be better and a win always better than a draw."

Lyon coach Puel has urged his players not to think of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich as the end of the road for them in the competition.

The French outfit head into the clash as underdogs against a Bayern team who are full of confidence having seen off Manchester United in the previous round and demolished Hannover 7-0 at the weekend.

However, Lyon have been in impressive form themselves in the competition and a shock second-leg draw against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu saw them progress to the quarter-finals, where they eased past Bordeaux.

And Puel believes it is by no means out of the question for his team to get another good result at the Allianz Arena.

"Everything is possible for us, as much as for Bayern," he said. "It is important to do well in the first match and not hypothesise over the second.

"This time we're playing the second leg at home so it's a bit different.

"It's very good to get to the semi-finals but this should not be the end of our ambitions. I don't think the players think that.

"Bayern are a huge team and it will be difficult but very equal."

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