Pjanic: Lyon not through yet

Pjanic: Lyon not through yet

Published Mar. 31, 2010 12:32 p.m. ET

Lyon midfielder Miralem Pjanic has told his team not to think they are already through ahead of their Champions League second leg in Bordeaux.

Les Gones were good value for a 3-1 win over their Ligue 1 rivals at the Stade Gerland on Tuesday night and will head into next Wednesday's return leg favourites to progress to the last four.

But Pjanic knows his side must not get carried away just yet.

The 19-year-old told L'Equipe: "If you look on the face of the game, the result is deserved.

"For us, it is a good result but we will not expect an easy second leg. We can expect a complicated game at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in eight days' time.

"To me, we have a good opportunity to go through.

"(But) nothing is certain. The game will not be easy for us in Bordeaux. Lyon have the advantage, so it is Lyon who have the pressure."

Lisandro Lopez gave the home side an early lead before Marouane Chamakh nodded home a leveller. But Michel Bastos' fierce shot and Lisandro's late penalty saw OL secure a two-goal advantage for Claude Puel's men.

"There were indeed many chances for both sides," Pjanic noted.

"During the second half of the second half we took over and that's where we made the difference.

"After the break, Hugo (Lloris) made big saves. But we also created opportunities that could have put us further ahead."

The one sour point for Lyon was second-half bookings for Lisandro and substitute Sidney Govou which rule the front pair out of the second leg.

"It's a shame to have lost these two players," Pjanic acknowledged. "It's sad.

"Lisandro is a great player and he showed that once again on Tuesday evening.

"He was everywhere and provided the goals we needed.

"But we have other players to replace them. And it will not be a concern. We'll even do everything to qualify together."

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc was left to rue the absence of injured defender Marc Planus and suspended midfielder Alou Diarra as his inexperienced troops fell short.

He said: "I enjoyed it because it was a very good game. I am very pleased with the performance of my players, who demonstrated very good technical skills.

"The score disappoints me.

"The first two goals we conceded were avoidable.

"(Michael) Ciani and (Ludovic) Sane lacked experience. In the quarter-finals of the Champions League, that is unforgiving.

"Bordeaux are still a young team, relative to Lyon. We need to gain experience.

"The absence of Diarra and Planus undermined our defensive system. We were too often confused.

"They are important players in our system. They have experience."

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