Diarra puts puff back into Madrid play

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

Diarra has been an instant success in Madrid under Italian coach Fabio Capello, 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 for the Bernabeu.

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 on Monday.

A year ago, these two sides also met in the Champions League group stage, with Lyon and Diarra coasting to a 3-0 win at home before holding Real to 1-1 in the away match as the five-time French champions topped the group.

But with Diarra forming a formidable central midfield pairing with Brazilian Emerson, and with Sunday's hat-trick hero Ruud van Nistelrooy seemingly firing on all cylinders, Real should be a different proposition this time around.

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 26 million euros (33 million dollars), and upon his arrival, Diarra proclaimed the Bernadeu: "another planet, another world."

Diarra's style of play, and that of Madrid under new boss 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 Madrid 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 Madrid, and Diarra, are heading back towards the glory days.