Guingamp showing gall in Group K

Fans of Goscinny and Uderzo's books will know about the tiny village in ancient Gaul which refused to buckle in the face of Roman invaders, and with a little luck one of Asterix's local Ligue 1 clubs – EA Guingamp – will carry on that grand tradition when they welcome ACF Fiorentina in UEFA Europa League Group K.

Last season's French Cup winners are having a torrid time in Ligue 1 this term, struggling in the relegation zone, but a third straight home victory in Group K can propel them towards the spring phase of a UEFA competition for the first time. Coach Jocelyn Gourvennec knows his side have "taken up an option on qualifying" following matchday four's 2-0 home triumph against FC Dinamo Minsk, midfielder Claudio Beauvue noting: "We might not have been expected to perform so well in the Europa League, but we believe in ourselves and give 100% every game."

With pacesetters Fiorentina already certain of a round of 32 place, a win at home to the Viola could – depending on results elsewhere – guarantee Guingamp at least the runners-up spot in the section. It would be a substantial achievement for a modest club from a town of only 9,000. "We have to push ourselves towards qualification," stressed goalkeeper Jonas Lössl, who saved a penalty on matchday four. "We have a very big home match ahead. What we need to keep in mind is that [with a positive result] we can keep second place, whatever happens in the other match."

Guingamp, currently three points shy of Thursday's visitors from Florence yet three above third-ranked PAOK FC, are no strangers to European football. They notably made it to the first round of the 1996/97 UEFA Cup as one of the winners of that summer's UEFA Intertoto Cup, and more recently lost 8-2 on aggregate to Hamburger SV in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League play-offs. However, this season they have shown a real hunger for continental fare, although much has hinged on their home form – with Guingamp yet to win away in the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League, and still facing a trip to PAOK on matchday six.

Unprepossessing and unfussy, Gourvennec's team have taken nothing for granted in Group K, their homespun approach serving them well. "It's important to stay humble – we know where we're coming from," said forward Jérémy Pied, epitomising the club's mindset. "But we also know what we want to achieve in this competition. We can earn one of the top two spots in the group."

They may not be able to call on Getafix's magic potion to fend off the latest band of Roman invaders, but Guingamp's simple recipe for European success has served them well so far.