Lyon's 2-1 loss at home to lowly Caen served as a stern reminder that the club's policy of blooding young players needed some polishing three days before they meet the first Cypriot team to make the knockout stages.
With a new coach this season and virtually no money to recruit, Lyon have reached the League Cup final, are still in a position to win the French Cup and look capable of qualifying for next season's Champions League through Ligue 1.
However, Saturday's performance shocked many at the club.
"It is a disappointment. We're coming down to earth with a bump," president Jean-Michel Aulas told the Lyon website.
"We have to look into what went wrong and use this for the Champions League on Tuesday. We have to question ourselves on all levels."
French striker Bafetimbi Gomis promised they would do better on Tuesday, saying: "It will be another story."
APOEL's defensive strength could prompt another backs-to-the-wall performance at the Stade Gerland after Ivan Jovanovic's side managed three away draws in the group stage.
APOEL's band of Cypriots, Greeks, Brazilians, Portuguese, Macedonians, Bosnians, Argentines, Tunisians and Spanish have shown that a strong team bond can trump individual brilliance.
"I am the happiest man in the world right now," Jovanovic said in November. "We want to celebrate more great nights along with, not just our own fans, but all Cypriot fans back home."
