Gent vs Lyonnais preview - Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck: We take on Lyon with 'strength and confidence'

Posted Wednesday, September 16, 2015 by PA

Gent head coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck says the Belgians will not change on their Champions League group stages debut against Lyon on Wednesday.

The Belgian champions won the first top-flight title in their 115-year history in May and find themselves cast as Group H outsiders with Zenit St Petersburg, Valencia and Lyon for company.

Gent's only previous Champions League experience came in a 6-1 aggregate defeat to Dynamo Kiev in qualifying in 2010, but they have lost only once in 16 games in all competitions and Vanhaezebrouck told uefa.com: "We won't change our usual style too much; we will play our way.

"We hardly lost in 2015 and we haven't lost in the league this season, and that gives us strength and confidence."

Lyon have suffered a hammer blow with the loss of France forward Nabil Fekir for six months following knee surgery, but Vanhaezebrouck says their French opponents have plenty of talent in their ranks.

"Lyon were the best team in France last season, apart from PSG, who are at a different level," said Vanhaezebrouck.

"They are a young team with a lot of quality. When you play at home you always have to try to get points whether playing Lyon, Zenit or Valencia.

"Don't underestimate the influence of the fans - the 12th man.

"In France, football is physical too, and they are well organised, and not just skilful. In seven games, we have conceded five goals and Lyon have only conceded two in five, which means that defensively they are very solid."

Lyon have made a stuttering start to their domestic campaign by winning only two of their first five matches and Alexandre Lacazette, who scored 27 goals in Ligue 1 last season and was French football's player of the year, has yet to find the net this term.

But Lyon coach Hubert Fournier said at his pre-match press conference: "We want to show an ambitious face in the Champions League, the club has the culture of this competition.

"We are eager to be here because it is the reward of last season's work."

And Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons added: "These three years without Champions League football were long.

"Few players know the Champions League but we are very happy to play there again.

"The first match is always important but Gent plays well and is not there by chance."

Gent will be without defensive duo Erik Johansson (knee) and Uros Vitas (hamstring) so Rafinha and Lasse Nielsen are expected to start at the heart of their defence. Israel international Rami Gershon is sidelined by a hamstring problem.

For Lyon, Claudio Beauvue will continue in Fekir's absence and Spanish midfielder Sergi Darder could make his first appearance for the club following his 12 million euros move from Malaga this summer.