Milan: Inter Milan are under familiar pressure ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter final, first-leg match against Spain’s Villarreal.

Elsewhere, Olympique Lyon ? in a class of their own domestically for years ? feel it is time to make an impact in Europe and have an opportunity to do so against AC Milan.

Saturday’s defeat to Parma left Inter in third place, trailing Serie A leaders Juventus by 13 points, and Roberto Mancini’s side is now five points adrift of second-placed Milan.

Mancini knows that failure in Europe would leave him with little to show for his efforts at the San Siro this season and intensify speculation about his future.

The poor form of Brazilian Adriano has been a major factor in Inter’s lack of sharpness in front of goal and Mancini may be tempted to look at an alternative in the form of Argentine Julio Ricardo Cruz while Nigerian Obafemi Martins will compete with Uruguayan forward Alvaro Recoba for a place in the starting line-up.

Whoever Mancini opts to play in attack will almost certainly be without the creative support of Portuguese winger Luis Figo whose muscle strain looks likely to rule him out. Without Figo, captain Javier Zanetti will probably push forward into midfield.

Villarreal’s Argentine playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme said his side would have to show a marked improvement from the weekend, if they were to have any chance against Inter.

Lyon will be entertaining Milan in the knowledge that they have never made the semis of European club soccer’s showcase event.

(Reuters)