Real Sociedad defender Alberto de la Bella has called on his teammates to remain focused ahead of the second leg of their Champions League playoff against Lyon on Wednesday.

Sociedad hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg last week, but the 27-year-old has insisted that the team must remain focused against the French outfit.

"It will be an historic night. Already we have seen how it has moved the fans, the feeling they have for this play-off round, and the return leg will be very special in Anoeta," he told reporters at a press conference.

"The result is in our favour, but with respect and awareness that we are competing against a great team. We are more in favour of pushing out to create, to defend that way, because it would be a mistake to play defensively in our own penalty area and to give the initiative to the French.

"We have all the respect for them because they are a great team and we have to play, from minute one, for an open game. We cannot think that we are already qualified."

"We are addressing the game as if we need to win, to try to score a goal, because they will eventually have to take the risks and have to open up space and we need to take advantage of that."

Sociedad finished fourth in La Liga last season.