Seville, Spain: Sevilla coach Unai Emery believes his side have to beat Premier League leaders Manchester City on Tuesday to have any chance of advancing to the last 16 of the Champions League.
The Europa League holders sit third in Group D, three points behind City, with Italian champions Juventus a point further clear at the top of the table.
"If we win tomorrow then City are catchable," Emery said on Monday.
"If we draw we have a significant disadvantage, plus there is Juve there already with seven points.
"Therefore, tomorrow is decisive. If we want to have optimistic hopes of reaching the last 16 then winning is the only option we have."
Emery questioned his side's fight after they suffered a fourth defeat in 10 La Liga games this season at Villarreal on Saturday to slip to 11th in the table.
However, they have won their last 10 European games at home en route to winning back-to-back Europa League titles and three consecutive matches in La Liga at the Sanchez Pizjuan, including a 2-1 win over Barcelona last month.
"Tomorrow we are playing at the Sanchez Pizjuan and we have to continue with this consistency," added Emery.
"It is a huge challenge, similar to that when we played Barcelona for the calibre of the opponent, the leaders of the Premier League, and it will take our best to overcome them."
Sevilla were denied a deserved point away to City two weeks ago as Kevin de Bruyne's injury time winner handed the English side a 2-1 win.
However, Spanish international Vitolo said that match has given Sevilla confidence they can inflict another painful European night upon City.
AFP
