Prandelli relishing Fiorentina test

The adrenalin may be rising for Cesare Prandelli ahead of Tuesday's visit of Olympique Lyonnais, yet the ACF Fiorentina coach called for calm as the Viola attempt to qualify for the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds for the first time in a decade. Opponents Lyon are already through, yet promised no let-up as they look to avoid the same pitfall as last season when a second-placed finish left them with a last-16 tie against FC Barcelona, the eventual winners.

Cesare Prandelli, Fiorentina coach
We are really happy and thrilled today because I know this could be the most important game of our season. The entire squad has to face this situation with enthusiasm, bearing in mind that this is going to be a fundamental match for our future. The adrenalin rises ahead of important matches like this. It's imperative to be aware we need to do a great job both mentally and physically. The team must play the game in a calm manner. We know the mistakes we've made in Serie A, but now we're fully concentrated on this Champions League match. Lyon are a team with both experience and physical strength. They're having a slightly difficult time but all teams go through spells like this.

Claude Puel, Lyon coach
Our goal is to be first in the group – we don't intend to make the same mistake as last year, when we qualified in second place and then faced the strongest team in the competition in the last 16. Finishing first is something the squad really wants and that shows our mentality; the entire squad has the same goal. We need to focus on our collective strength. We plan to come here and impose ourselves on the game, but know that will be difficult. We played in Florence last season and produced one of our best displays in the Champions League. Fiorentina have more or less the same team as last year. They remain strong, hard to play and always dangerous.

Weekend results
20/11/09 ACF Fiorentina 2-3 Parma FC
(Gilardino 25 62; Amoruso 30, Bojinov 52, Lanzafame 67)

• Two Alberto Gilardino headers against his former club could not prevent a third defeat in five Serie A matches as another ex-Parma player, Donadel, was dismissed late on.

• Parma moved ahead of Fiorentina, who are now sixth.

21/11/09 Grenoble Foot 381-1 Olympique Lyonnais
(Ljuboja 73; Delgado 66)

• Lyon fell to third in Ligue 1 after a draw at the bottom club, who had only picked up one point before Saturday. Lyon are level with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in second, a point behind new leaders AJ Auxerre.

• On 8 November Lyon and Olympique de Marseille played out only the fifth 5-5 draw in Ligue 1 history; the first since OGC Nice and LOSC Lille Métropole shared ten goals in 1957.

Team news
Fiorentina
Out: Alessandro Gamberini (thigh), Adrian Mutu (knee)
Doubtful: Stevan Jovetić (toe)
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Marco Donadel, Dario Dainelli

Prandelli said on the eve of the game: "Jovetić is available but I don't think I'll use him as it's around 20 days since he last played."

Lyon
Out: Anderson (knee, calf, shoulder), Mathieu Bodmer (groin), Anthony Réveillère (calf), Maxime Gonalons (groin), Jérémy Toulalan (groin), François Clerc (knee)
Doubtful: none
Suspended: none
Misses next match if booked: Lisandro

Background
• The Viola, who hold a five-point lead over third-placed Liverpool FC in Group E, last made it through to the last 16 in 1999/2000.

• This fixture falls a day short of the anniversary of the clubs' meeting in Florence in last season's group stage, which Lyon won 2-1 to make sure of a top-two finish and confirm Fiorentina's elimination.

Did you know?
Fiorentina have won only one of their five previous home games against French visitors, while Lyon have recorded four victories and one draw in seven previous visits to Italy.

For more information on the match in the official press kit, click here.