ATHENS (AFP) - A composed Sebastien Loeb took control of the Acropolis Rally on Saturday, staying ahead of Solberg brothers Petter and Henning at the end of a difficult second day's driving in Athens.

Frenchman Loeb will now take a commanding lead into Sunday's final day, while Citroen team-mate Dani Sordo has a mountain to climb after suffering a puncture.

Loeb's Citroen was 28.7sec ahead of the Subaru of Petter Solberg and 1min 5.3sec in front of his brother Henning, driving a Ford Focus.

The rocky roads of Athens also caused problems for Mikko Hirvonen (suspension) and Jari-Matti Latvala (engine).

"I tried to avoid the stones and not crash. It was necessary to find a good compromise to preserve the tyres and the shock-absorbers," said Loeb. "I think it was smart of me to do this."

It was a case of role-reversal for the Citroen team, after Loeb earlier in the day seemed to lose grip of the race during the opening three specials.

The four-time world champion suffered a slow puncture six-kilometres into the ninth special, losing 34 seconds, which meant Sardo temporarily moved into the lead.

But Sordo's faster early pace cost him two tyres, which meant that when he got a puncture in the 12th special he had no option but to drive the final special with a puncture.

No such misfortune for 2003 world champion Petter Solberg in the new Impreza WRC2008, who finished second 28 minutes behind Loeb, with elder brother Henning coming in an impressive third.

"It's incredible to be here, said Petter. "We have been taking it so carefully to get to the finish - because that's still the most important thing.

"Of course I'll do my best tomorrow, but my approach is to take it stage by stage. And Henning on the podium too; that's two brothers - not bad, eh?"

The Acropolis Rally - the seventh round of the 2008 FIA World Rally Championships - is notoriously one of the toughest on the calendar, with twisting mountain stages, searing heat and dust clouds.