PSV Eindhoven manager Phillip Cocu sees Mario Balotelli as the main danger to his side in their high-profile Champions League group stage play-off with AC Milan.

The two clubs, with 11 major European titles between them, meet in Holland for the first leg tonight - and Cocu is relishing the test.

"I'm curious to compare ourselves with a top club like Milan," he said. "When you play at a high level you have to minimise the errors because if you make a mistake, you get punished.

"I have a clear idea about them, both as individuals and as a team.

"They have great quality and it will not be at all easy to deal with them.

"Balotelli is a very strong player but we can try to keep the other offensive players under control." The contest is the only one in the play-off round between two former champions, with Milan having won the competition seven times and PSV claiming the European Cup title in 1988.

The two sides met in the semi-finals of 2004-05, with Milan victorious on away goals despite Cocu scoring twice in the second leg.

Milan also won both games in the 1992-93 group stage but PSV took four points from their two meetings in 2005-06.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "PSV are a prestigious team. In their history they have had Ronaldo, Romario and Ruud van Nistelrooy."

Lyon, meanwhile, take on surprise Spanish qualifiers Real Sociedad.

The Basque club have not competed in Europe since their run to the last 16 of this competition in the 2003-04 season, which ended with a 2-0 aggregate defeat to this week's opponents.

Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff said: "It will be a very difficult game against a team that had a great season last year."

Elsewhere, Zenit St Petersburg are away to Portuguese side Pacos Ferreira, while Czech side Plzen face Slovenia's Maribor.