Gent stick to their guns as Lyon call

• Hein Vanhaezebrouck adamant Gent will not be cowed by Lyon
• Belgian champions Gent one of three group stage debutants this term
  
• Gent won the first top-flight title in their 115-year history in May
• Both sides proving defensively resilient this season
• Hubert Fournier says "draw wouldn't be bad" for his Lyon team
  

Possible lineups
Gent: Sels; Nielsen, Mitrović, Asare; Foket, Kums, Dejaegere, Neto, Simon; Milicevic, Depoitre.
Out: Johansson (knee), Vitas (hamstring)

Lyon: Lopes; Bedimo, Umtiti, Yanga-Mbiwa, Jallet; Gonalons, Ferri, Tolisso, Valbuena; Lacazette, Beauvue.
Out: Fékir (knee), Grenier (thigh), Ghezzal (adductor), Koné (heel), Rose (unspecified)

Hein Vanhaezebrouck, Gent coach
Lyon were the best team in France last season other than PSG, who are at a different level. They are a young team with a lot of quality. When you play at home you always have to try to get points whether it's Lyon, Zenit or Valencia.

Don't underestimate the influence of the fans – our 12th man. 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.

During pre-season we played Bordeaux and won, but we want to avoid the slow start that we had in that game. In France, football is physical too – and they are well-organised, not just skilful. In seven games we have conceded five goals while Lyon have only conceded two in five, which means that defensively they are very solid.

Hubert Fournier, Lyon coach
We have been talking about the Champions League for a long time – now it finally starts. Our goal is to be ambitious and to put in a good performance. And we can. In our last five games in France we have kept four clean sheets but we know that in attack we must improve.

Gent are a brave team who impose their style not only at home but also away – they gave Anderlecht a good game [drawing 1-1 in Brussels last month] and could have won. It would be fantastic to start with three points but even a draw wouldn't be bad because this is a group stage featuring teams on a similar level; every team can compete with each other.

Weekend results
Zulte Waregem 1-1 Gent (Leye 74; Raman 45pen)
Though Benito Raman gave Gent the lead, the visitors were forced to settle for a point. They also had Hannes Van der Bruggen dismissed late on.

Nabil Fekir is out for Lyon©AFP/Getty Images

Lyon 0-0 LOSC
Lyon failed to win for the third time in their first five Ligue 1 fixtures this season.

Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)*
Gent: DDDWDW
Lyon: DWLWDL

*This season only

Reporter's view: David Crossan (@UEFAcomDavidC)
Nabil Fekir's long-term injury is a blow to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas's dream of the club's new stadium, due to open at the start of 2016, hosting UEFA Champions League football this season. Coach Fournier has warned not to expect miracles from attacking trident Alexandre Lacazette, Mathieu Valbuena and Claudio Beauvue, though a match against debutants Gent could be the perfect opportunity for them to develop an understanding.

Did you know?
Newcomers Gent are undefeated in eight games in 2015/16, but Lyon are having a tougher time; read more in our extensive match background.