Two teams who actually have the potential to play in the Champions League are set out to compete in the Europa League, trying to be triumphant over one another
The Europa League draws for the Round-of-32 have been set, as several teams aim for the glorious prize, there are few teams who have a difficult road compared to others. Olympique Lyonnais is set to take on English Premier League side, Tottenham Hotspur,
and that has been termed as the equivalent of the Real Madrid versus Manchester United Champions League encounter of the competition.
Here are a few reasons as to why the game is a must see for football fans throughout the world:
Lloris and Malbranque to play against former clubs
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Hugo-Lloris-c16408 was sold to Tottenham Hotspur last summer due to the increased debts of Les Gones. The goal-keeper was deemed as an essential member of the squad, but the financial woes led to the player’s exit from Stade Gerland. A fate shared with his several
other team-mates including Kim Kallstrom and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aly-Cissokho-c5313.
The Frenchman has been unsettled following his arrival at the White Hart Lane. However, the goal-keeper recently managed to settle down his differences with the club management and is performing well for the club. The former Lyon player will return to Stade
Gerland for the first time since his departure from the club, and he would expect it to be a welcome homecoming.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steed-Malbranque-c33957 is another player who is set to make a return to his former club, thanks to the Europa League fixture between the two sides. The Belgian would experience the same as Lloris, when the Lyon-based club travels to North London, playing at the
White Hart Lane.
The ultimate test for Andre Villas-Boas
The Portuguese tactician won the Europa League with FC Porto a few years ago, and developed a reputation as a world-class manager. AVB was then hired by English Premier League giants, Chelsea, who sought to retain their league title as well as aiming for
the European title.
The manager was sacked following a series of poor showings by the club. However, the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 man was then hired by Tottenham Hotspur. The English outfit is performing inconsistently under their new manager, but still finds itself hanging on to the
fourth spot. Moreover, the side also qualified for the knock-out phase of the Europa League.
The 35-year-old faces a tough test ahead as his side sets out to face http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 in the Europa League fixture. The Portuguese need to silence his critics by winning against the French giants, who have been on a pretty good form of late.
Villas-Boas himself has stated that the fixture between the two sides is a dress rehearsal for the two clubs, as both have the potential to appear in the Champions League next season.
French Supremacy vs English Revolution
Whenever there is an encounter between English and French sides, it’s a thrilling game to watch. Both countries share years of history with each other, and that’s certainly exhibited when it comes to football. Lyon are one of the only two French sides, who
remain in the competition, and would definitely look to make their fans proud.
Les Gones performed well under Claude Puel, when they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, knocking on Spanish giants, Real Madrid on their way to the last four.
On the other hand is an English side that have emerged as serious contenders in the English league, with much of the credit going to former manager, Harry Redknapp. The English outfit performed quite well in the 2010/11 Champions League, which just goes
on to describe their intentions for competing at continental level.
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