Diarra puts puff back into Real

Diarra has been an instant success at Real Madrid

Just over a month after completing his dream move from Lyon to Real Madrid, Mahamadou Diarra will take on his former club in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday.

The Mali international has been an instant success in Madrid, adapting easily to his defensive midfield role.

However, Diarra can expect a hot reception when he returns to the Stade Gerland after a protracted close season transfer saga during which he did everything possible to quit Lyon.

And the potential for an explosive return has not escaped the attention of the Spanish press.

Diarra will "return to the hell of Lyon," was AS's assessment.

He is the lungs of the middle of the park who never loses the ball Spanish newspaper Marca

A year ago, these two teams also met in the Champions League group stage, with Lyon and Diarra coasting to a 3-0 win at home.

The French side then held the Spanish giants to 1-1 in the away match to top the group.

But with Diarra forming a formidable central midfield pairing with Brazilian Emerson, Real should be a different proposition this time around.

Diarra completes Real move

Particularly with the power of Diarra in the middle.

"He is the lungs of the middle of the park who never loses the ball," said Marca, another Spanish newspaper.

While the 25-year-old may have done much to endear himself to his new team, his old one are still smarting over the forcible loss of an important player who had said he would rather quit the game if the transfer did not go through.

It did, for US$33m, and upon his arrival, Diarra proclaimed Real's Bernadeu stadium: "another planet, another world."

Diarra's style of play, and that of Real under new boss Fabio Capello, may be too defensively oriented for most Real supporters but that will matter little if the team ends its three-year trophy drought this season.

Diarra could play a crucial role, making Real less vulnerable defensively due to the protection he affords the back four.

Wednesday's trip to France will go some way to demonstrating how muuch progress Real have made.

A result of any sort at a team that has reached the quarter-finals of the last three Champions League tournaments will be considered as evidence that Real - and Diarra - are heading back towards the glory days.