Cautious Alves lauds Lyon strength
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
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Speaking to uefa.com, Daniel Alves warned his FC Barcelona team-mates that Olympique Lyonnais cannot be underestimated and said Pep Guardiola's side will have to be on their game to stop Karim Benzema.
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Right-back Daniel Alves believes the disappointment of FC Barcelona's first defeat for over a quarter of a century in the Camp Nou derby against RCD Espanyol can have a salutary effect ahead of tonight's visit to Olympique Lyonnais.
Timely warning
Saturday's shock 2-1 loss put a dent in Barça's bid to end Real Madrid CF's two-year Spanish Liga dominance, and Brazilian international Alves has been feeling uneasy for some time that the draw for the first knockout round paired his club, winners of the competition in 2006, with a rival that some in Spain have found too easy to underestimate. The jolt of losing in the league for only the second time this season has been enough to convince Alves that it is time to grit teeth, re-focus and prepare for a stern test.
Difficult tie
"I have been worried that some people, at least around the club if not within the team, have simply taken it that Lyon are a team that Barça will beat and but they don't take into account how difficult a rival they could be," Alves told uefa.com. "My view is that we are playing well but it's evident that we are going to have to fire on all cylinders to knock Lyon out.
Lyon incentive
"There is another element, I believe, which is that in drawing Barcelona they've been given an extra incentive," he added. "Even after a few months with this club you get the sense that every team which plays us tries to raise their game a bit which adds to the difficulties we face."
Star striker
Although Alves has provided 12 goal assists in all competitions and scored three times, defending is his primary task, and he is concerned about the swift development of Lyon striker Karim Benzema. "Not long ago I was chatting with someone about Benzema and the question was whether or not he reminded me of Roanaldo, who Benzema has admitted is his footballing hero," Alves said. "It's an interesting comparison given that he runs very directly at goal and finishes well but most importantly we have to take into account that he's a very good young footballer who is in the middle of a brilliant run of form."