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Out-of-form Sevilla seeking Dortmund double

As one of only two teams to have beaten Borussia Dortmund this term, Sevilla FC are confident of ending a five-game losing run and gaining the point they need to progress from Group J.

Luca Cigarini scored the only goal when the teams met on Matchday 2
Luca Cigarini scored the only goal when the teams met on Matchday 2 ©Getty Images

Sevilla FC welcome Bundesliga frontrunners Borussia Dortmund to Andalusia confident of belying the form book and gaining the point they require to qualify for the UEFA Europa League round of 32.

Sitting second in Group J, the Spanish club have lost their last five matches in all competitions yet are one of only two teams to have defeated the Ruhr Valley outfit over 90 minutes this term. That rare setback in what is shaping up to be an extraordinary campaign for Dortmund came on Matchday 2, when Luca Cigarini scored the only goal, and has given Gregorio Manzano the belief Sevilla can deny their opponents the victory they need to progress.

"We know that a win is quite important for us," said Manzano, who has doubts over Jesús Navas and Diego Perotti. "What we did in Dortmund was very useful for the future of this team. A draw is no use to them so we should be intelligent and try not to become nervous. We have to give our best, try to win and if that isn't possible we should at least get a draw."

Boasting the most potent attack − not to mention the tightest defence − in the German top flight, Dortmund have won 14 of their last 16 league games and top the Bundesliga by 11 points. Manzano, like many around Europe, is impressed. "They have a strong defensive line, good forwards and midfielders who often score goals," explained Manzano, whose tenure began with the reverse fixture on 30 September. "They are playing nice football and that has to be an incentive for us."

Manzano is expecting a full house at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán for a game which he and opposite number Jürgen Klopp acknowledge will be "like a final" for their teams. "We have fought so much to have the chance of reaching the next stage," said Klopp, who will make late checks on the fitness of Mario Götze, Nuri Şahin and Sven Bender. "We knew this would be a very difficult group but we can win the match. Sevilla are a great team even though they are not in good form at the moment."

Klopp added: "Wanting to win, even having to win, does not change anything about our approach to this game. As always, a focused defence will be the basis of our game. We don't want to run into their counterattacks and we want to play really good football."

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