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Unirea Urziceni v Sevilla

Published: Monday, 23 November 2009, 6:38PM


Del Nido targeting top spot

Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has urged his already-qualified side to go for three points at Unirea Urziceni in order to make sure of top spot in Champions League Group G.

The Andalusian outfit booked their place in the last 16 with a 1-1 home draw against Stuttgart three weeks ago, but second place in the pool is still up for grabs between Unirea (five points), Stuttgart (three) and Rangers (two).

However, Del Nido's sole focus is on his team finishing first in the group to ensure they will have home advantage for the second leg of their last-16 tie.

"There is no tranquility because, being on top in all competitions, you must maintain the necessary pressure of the big teams and we are not yet classified as group winners," he said.

"We should go to Romania to win, that is all there is to it. If not, we could enter the knockout phase on the wrong foot. You have to play the second leg at home and we have to do that.

"We have been maintaining since the start of the tournament that we have an excellent squad so we'll see if we can effectively withstand the pace.

"We suffered many casualties in recent days, but the team has maintained the same fluidity, which augurs well for Sevilla."

Jimenez was without a host of first-team players for Saturday's 2-1 win at Tenerife - Sevilla's seventh in their last eight away games - which consolidated third spot in La Liga.

Goalkeeper Andres Palop was absent after suffering a recurrence of his calf injury in training while Julien Escude has undergone surgery on the broken nose he sustained playing for France against the Republic of Ireland last Wednesday.

Sergio Sanchez (illness) also missed the trip to Santa Cruz, joining Federico Fazio (ankle), Arouna Kone (rib), Aldo Duscher, Ivica Dragutinovic, Lautaro Acosta (all hamstring) and Tom De Mul (left adductor) among the casualties.

Del Nido added: "We have a great staff. There are 24 major players. Everyone is feeling competition from team-mates and it is good when there are four or five changes and the team remains unaffected.

"Let us now focus on tomorrow's game. If we win, we can confirm that we are a serious contender in the knockout stage."

Manolo Jimenez's side relinquished their 100% record in Group G last time out but their draw against Stuttgart at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan three weeks ago nevertheless booked their place in the knockout phase.

They could be followed into the last 16 by Unirea should the Romanian side pick up three points and Stuttgart fail to beat Rangers at Ibrox.

The Primera Division outfit triumphed 2-0 when the teams met in Spain in September on matchday one, thanks to goals from Luis Fabiano and Renato.

Unirea will be without Raul Rusescu (knee) and defender Bruno Fernandes (thigh) for the Spanish team's visit.

Unirea, playing in only their second season of UEFA competition and their first in the Champions League, will be looking for their first home win in Europe.

Like Sevilla, Dan Petrescu's Liga 1 champions head into the game boosted by a 2-1 away win at the weekend, against Curtea-de-Arges, to extend their unbeaten domestic run to four matches.