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Lyon manager Hubert Fournier said "there are no giants" in Group H after his side were drawn with Valencia, Zenit St. Petersburg and Gent. Last year's Ligue 1 runners-up received a favourable draw thanks to UEFA's new seeding policy that sees the champions from the top eight sides placed together in the top pot. That moved perennial powers like Real Madrid and Manchester United into the second pot, and gave Lyon a legitimate chance to advance to the knockout stage. "It's a pretty open group. That gives us hope for what's to come," Fournier said. "We have every reason to hope to make it to the knockout rounds; we'll be able to mix it. "It's a homogenous group -- there are no giants, but they're all good teams. Zenit are champions of Russia and very used to the European scene. "Valencia are also a great team, one of the best in the Spanish league, with huge Champions League experience. They managed to eliminate Monaco in the playoff, and that's nothing to sneeze at. "They're the two teams who are likely to be most dangerous for us. Without a single doubt, we will need to lift our game if we want to fight for one of the top two spots and bring a last-16 clash to the Grand Stade. This prospect should help to galvanise the lads." Midfielder Maxime Gonalons said it was about as good a draw as Lyon could hope to have. "It doesn't look too bad on paper -- it could have been much worse," he said. "It's a good group to be drawn in but really it's what happens on the pitch that matters. "We're in with a chance, that's for sure. We'll need to lift our game because after all they're some strong teams even if they're not favourites in the competition. But we avoided the biggest European sides. "As I've always said, you're happy with the draw if you make it through the group stage, and you're very disappointed with it if you don't. We just need to let the fact sink in: we have the incredible opportunity to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League and to play that match at the Grand Stade." Valencia's win over Monaco in the playoff round gave Spain the first country to have five teams in a group stage. But president Chan Lay Hoon said the task will only get more difficult. "There are no easy games at this level," she said. "I think we have three tough opponents, each one on their own, and we respect them a lot. "It's important that we're able to return after two years and compete at this level, to return to our best times." Zenit manger Andre Villas-Boas said the group looks "pretty even" and vowed to do his best to prepare his club for their European journey. "Today we drew a group with pretty even lineups," he said. "We are going to do everything in our strength to make it to the next round. "The main part of the preparation is to keep in mind that every detail, no matter how small, is incredibly important in this competition." Gent forward Moses Simon told SuperSport that he's eager to get started. "Yes, I saw the draws and I must say I was very happy and excited at the prospects of facing the three teams in the group," Simon said. "It's every footballer's dream to play in the World Cup and the Champions League. I'm no different. I can't wait for the matches to start."
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