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Both teams struggling with injuries

Sevilla and Lyon recorded defeats in their respective championships over the weekend. Their head-to-head meeting is one of the crucial ones in their bid to reach the next stage

RCD Espanyol

Following a very productive first round game against Espanyol, things calmed down at Sevilla and coach Sampaoli even got criticized for his team's performances. The Argentine said he was given a whole new team and that their results are at a satisfying level at season start. That was before the trip to Bilbao, which they lost 2-1. 

Sevilla opened the Champions League with a good result - a draw in Turin. This is what Sampaoli said before the Lyon game: 

- This is one of the key games for the next stage. We need precision, focus and patience. I have a great deal of respect for the visitors. They wait for you to make a mistake, steal the ball from you and then strike fast. They are very fast in transition and that makes them very dangerous for the opponents. 

The key to winning this is in his opinion: 

- We cannot be too direct because that gives Lyon a chance for deadly counter attacks. They can damage anyone going down the flank. 

Center back Adil Rami and midfield Carrico suffered injuries last week and won't be there today. David Soria and Krohn-Dehli are on the injury list for a while now. 

Lyon have been hit by numerous injuries which is very visible on their results in the championship. The best example for was last week when they first trashed Montpellier 5-1 and then recorded a narrow 1-0 defeat to bottom-table Lorient. The Lions had no problems in Champions League first round as they recorded an easy 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in spite of all the injury struggles. 

Genesio is very optimistic ahead of the trip to Spain:

- We did lose in Lorient but things would have been totally different if we had scored at least one goal. But there is no time to be unhappy. We won't be discouraged by one defeat. We need no special motivation for Champions League anyway. We know how good they are and the key to this game will be our ability to get the ball before their goal. If we manage to do that, I have no doubt we'll be more efficient than in Lorient. 

Max Gonalons was questionable for today after suffering a blow to the head last week. He showed up at the press conference yesterday and said he will be ready. Lyon struggle with injuries but another name had to be out on that list since center back Da Silva got injured last round. He joined Grenier, Fofana, Lacazette and Jallet, who have been injured for a while now. Everyone but Fofana got injured early this month and their absence was definitely visible on the results.