Into the Lyon's den

United, beware! Olympique Lyonnais have their own Cristiano Ronaldo. His name? Hatem Ben Arfa. And though still only 20, he’s far from a newcomer – his first game in Ligue 1 was in August 2004, a 1-0 victory at Nice.

Back then, he was seen as a talented amateur, and freely admits playing fast and loose with some of the strictures imposed on a professional athlete. Off the pitch, that is. On it, his incredible ease with the ball was not always a help either.

A talented player with immense potential, he was by turns breathtaking and frustrating. Many doubted his ability to succeed at the highest level, but after a series of false starts – he scored just once in 2006/07 – he is now serving up healthy slices of humble pie to his critics.

Against Toulouse, in mid-January, Ben Arfa was flying. “His first half was out of this world,” says Pierre Michaud, a journalist with French TV station, Euronews. And Michaud knows what he’s talking about, having seen almost every match at Lyon’s Stade Gerland in the last five years.

“He’s so unpredictable,” he says, an adjective that crops up time and again in analysis of Ben Arfa’s game. “He really makes it happen because he’s such a powerful, offensive force.”

Michaud likens Ben Arfa to former Lyon academy starlet, Steed Malbranque, but it’s arguable that he is now closer to the Premier League’s premier wide player: Ronaldo. The lofty parallels don’t stop there. Alongside Marseille midfielder Samir Nasri, Ben Arfa has been dubbed the ‘new Zidane’ in France.

To be fair, Ben Arfa’s promising season has, in part, been made possible thanks to the emerging talent of his attacking colleague, Karim Benzema. Also 20, Benzema seems to be the final piece of the jigsaw neatly assembled by coach Alain Perrin.

Benzema, too, is a phenomenon. The youngster is a hybrid of Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs with the nous of Teddy Sheringham; the resultant package offers power, precision, speed and accuracy. Benzema has 16 goals in the French top flight and a further three in Europe.

Already a French international, he has made such an impact since winning his first cap against Austria last March that his Euro 2008 spot seems almost guaranteed.

Lyon have arguably never had it so good up front. But if this fixture offers a sterner test of United’s resolve than some might expect, the French are far from invincible. While the attack is flourishing, all is not well at the back.

Full-backs Fabio Grosso and Anthony Réveillère have been described as the weak links in an otherwise strong team. “World champion he might be, but he is no [Eric] Abidal,” said a Lyon fan of Grosso, while a scribe for L’Equipe mused: “Grosso is more of an attacker than a defender.”

Lyon have leaked 24 goals in Ligue 1, very nearly a goal a game, and conceded eight goals in their six Champions League Group E games. But they do have Grégory Coupet back in goal after five months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury. He seems stronger than ever. His stand-in Rémy Vercoutre is an able deputy, but not up to coping with the highest levels of European football.

Last but not least, influential centre-half Cris is on the road to recovery, and itching to make the date with United. The Brazilian was injured at the start of last season and returned home for an operation on his right knee. Having recuperated at his alma mater Corinthians, he has only recently returned to training, but the injury now seems behind him.

Cris is all-too-aware of the problems Lyon suffered in his absence. “I was far away, but followed what my team-mates were doing,” he said. “The start of the campaign was difficult because we changed coaches [Gerard Houllier was replaced by Perrin] and some major players left: Abidal, Florent Malouda, Tiago. We also had many injuries with Fred, Coupet and myself. And others did not fit into our style of play, such as Kader Keita [bought from Lille].”

The burning question is, can Lyon overcome United? Cris certainly thinks so. “People thought we couldn’t go through against Rangers and we did. No team is easy at this stage, especially Manchester United. When one thinks of United, one thinks of the whole of the history of the game, the traditions. Their strength? Cristiano Ronaldo. But they also have Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, and Louis Saha. These are the kind of games that offer a great stage for us.”

Cris doesn’t even feel a draw on their own patch would spell disaster. “The Champions League is a complicated tournament. If we get a 0-0 draw, it will be an excellent result. A scoring draw or a win [at Old Trafford] would see us qualify. Once you reach this stage of the competition it’s like a new tournament. The team should know how to handle the various situations occurring, otherwise, you’re out!”

Without tempting fate, this clash has the potential to be a truly memorable affair. “United are favourites, no doubt about it,” concedes Cris. “But Lyon have a great chance to go through."