Real Madrid Coach Pellegrini: Olympique Lyonnais Just As Difficult As Inter Or Bayern Munich

Nine-time European champions Real Madrid will square off against French side Lyon in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

Los Blancos could have been pitted against much trickier opponents, but coach Manuel Pellegrini was quick to dispel the notion that they got off easily.

"What is more important than the name of the rivals is the form they will be in when the match is being played," he was quoted as saying by AS during a press conference in Madrid.

"Hopefully it will be a game of the highest level and we can advance further in the competition," he added.

Madrid have had a dismal record against Lyon in past meetings in recent seasons, but Pellegrini showed no signs of worry.

"Statistics do not matter to me. It's important to take them into consideration, but it's not a deciding factor," he stressed.

"Lyon will be just as difficult as a Bayern Munich or Inter."

Finally, the Chilean said that he has not yet spoken to Karim Benzema or Mahamadou Diarra, two former Lyon players who will face their old team.

"We still have two months to talk about it, and we will do later. For now, all that is anecdotal. We must focus on our next game [against Real Zaragoza], and not on the Champions League or the winter break," he concluded.

Los Merengues have not advanced beyond the last 16 of the Champions League in any of the last five seasons.

KS Leong, Goal.com