Group H analysis: Juventus, Sevilla, Lyon, Dinamo
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Article summary
"We will need to be very careful and focused," said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, wary of his side being billed as section favourites by their Group H rivals.
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Who's in Group H?
Juventus (ITA)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 9
• How they qualified: first in Serie A
• Previous group stage campaigns: 16 (last appearance: 2015/16)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: winners (1984/85, 1995/96)
Sevilla (ESP)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 14
• How they qualified: UEFA Europa League winners
• Previous group stage campaigns: 3 (last appearance: 2015/16)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League group stage, UEFA Europa League winners
• Best European Cup performance: quarter-finals (1957/58)
Lyon (FRA)
• UEFA coefficient ranking (end of 2015/16): 28
• How they qualified: second in Ligue 1
• Previous group stage campaigns: 13 (last appearance: 2015/16)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League group stage
• Best European Cup performance: semi-finals (2009/10)
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 82
• How they qualified: first in Croatian First League, play-off winners
• Previous group stage campaigns: 5 (last appearance: 2015/16)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League group stage
• Best European Cup performance: group stage
Matchday one fixtures (Wednesday 14 September)
Lyon v Dinamo
Juventus v Sevilla
Key facts
• Juventus and Sevilla are meeting in the group stage for the second season in succession; Juventus beat the Spanish side 2-0 at home but lost the reverse fixture 1-0. That latter victory earned Sevilla a UEFA Europa League place, and they went on to win the competition.
• Juventus ran out 3-1 aggregate victors against Lyon in the quarter-finals of the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League. Juventus lost to Benfica in the semis, with the Portuguese side going on to lose to Sevilla on penalties after a goalless final.
• Bafétimbi Gomis scored the fastest ever UEFA Champions League hat-trick as Lyon thumped Dinamo Zagreb 7-1 in the Croatian capital in the 2011/12 group stage. They also beat the Croatian side 2-0 at home.
Reaction to the draw
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach
Last year we missed a big chance at Sevilla [their 1-0 defeat in Spain on matchday six meant Juventus finished second in the group]. The atmosphere will be very intense in Lyon and Zagreb. We will need to be very careful and focused. We know well our objective.
José Castro, Sevilla president
It's tough, but we have a chance. Juve are the favourites. We have to try and get second place, which I'm sure will be a fight. We beat Juve last year at the Sánchez-Pizjuan, though. The Champions League is exciting for us.
Monchi, Sevilla director of football
Juve are really tough opponents, really difficult. But you have to take on the challenge with enthusiasm. The target is to qualify, but we know Juve are the favourites. What I least like about the group is that it's really even.
Bruno Génésio, Lyon coach
I told my players to believe in their chances even though we know that it will be another hard group. We'll be trying to avoid any home defeats and to please our fans.
Maxime Gonalons, Lyon captain
An interesting draw from a footballing point of view. Sevilla and Juve are big fixtures in this competition.
