Aug 20, 2013 01:44 PM EDT
Lyon vs Real Sociedad Live Stream: Watch Free Online Champions League Playoff First Leg

Real Sociedad will look to upset Champions League regulars Lyon when the two sides meet in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs at the Stade de Gerland.

Sociedad's French playmaker Antoine Griezmann is looking forward to facing his boyhood club and cannot wait to make an impression at Lyon's home ground.

"For me, Lyon has been my club since I was a kid," he said. "I used to come to see all the Champions League matches here with my father. Seen from Spain, Lyon are a club that counts, a historic club.

"The moment I stepped on the Stade de Gerland pitch, I felt a lot of emotions," he added after training. I even pointed out the spots in the stands where I used to sit.

"I can't wait until I put my boots on tomorrow (Tuesday). But there's no feeling of revenge: I just want to play. This will be my first competitive match in France with Real Sociedad -- and to top it off, it'll be a Champions League match."

Sociedad won their opening La Liga game against Getafe while Lyon have made a 100 percent start to their Ligue 1 campaign, picking up six points from two matches.

"The successive victories gave us a boost but let's be realistic, we have yet to play a 'complete' match -- we sometimes did well during one half, or a part of a match, but never during the entire game," Lyon manager Remi Garde said.

"We need to improve in the way we control the matches. We play to win, as everyone else does, and it's even more important given the squad is so young."

Garde finds comfort in the fact that Lyon will definitely be in Europe this season even if they lose to Sociedad over two legs, with a place in the Europa League guaranteed to the losing side.

"We're lifted by the fact we've already qualified for a European competition this season: there's no black hole after this fixture, no matter what happens. Of course, the Europa League is not like the Champions League, but it's still a great competition to participate in. We're freed from that pressure."

To watch Lyon vs Real Sociedad Live Stream for U.S. viewers, click here.

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