Sevilla vs Lyonnais - Jorge Sampaoli looking for Sevilla to take direct approach against Lyon
Posted Monday, September 26, 2016 by PA
Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli wants direct but precise attacking play as his side bid for their first win in this season's Champions League.
The Andalusian side take on Group H leaders Lyon knowing victory could take them to the summit, having opened up with a creditable goalless draw away to Juventus.
They have scored just one goal in each of their three LaLiga games since and Sampaoli told sevillafc.es: "We are missing a little more in the last third.
"Beyond having possession in the opponents' territory, we have to be a little more direct and we will look for system changes to modify this.
"Tomorrow we will have a lot of precision and patience in the attacks, because we are going up against a very direct team that is well protected at the back and has good transitions."
On-loan Manchester City playmaker Samir Nasri will be central to Sampaoli's plan.
"I'm happy with the arrival of Samir here, I think that in the world there are very few players with Samir's ability," he said. "By nature he is a conductor.
"Samir's quality has focused attention on him. I think he will contribute much to the team's development."
Nasri's fellow Frenchman Adil Rami will miss the match as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Lyon made the trip without full-back Rafael, who joins Alexandre Lacazette, Christophe Jallet and Clement Grenier in the treatment room after he had to be substituted in Saturday's defeat at Lorient.
That result, a third loss in their last five Ligue 1 matches, was hardly the preparation Lyon wanted with a European showdown and then a derby against in-form St Etienne on the agenda this week.
Forward Rachid Ghezzal insists OL "must keep things in perspective and not panic", echoing the comments of his coach Bruno Genesio.
"We must stay calm, we do not want to give in to panic," the latter told football365.fr.
"It's a shame because it was a chance to put ourselves back among the leaders and I think we deserved better.
"Now we have a match in the European Cup, and then a very special match on Sunday at Parc OL."
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