Europa League: Lille OSC vs. PSV Eindhoven – Preview
Ligue 1 table topper, Lille OSC, will face the Dutch Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League Round of 32 double header’s first leg at Stade Lille-Metropole. The encounter is possibly the glamorous tie of the last 32 and will surely be a keenly
fought meeting, as both sides are having supreme domestic season.
Les Dogues finished fourth in the Ligue 1 table last season and qualified for the Europa League. The French outfit primary aim was to qualify in the knock out stages and so far the team has done well. Ligue 1 side will now look to take themselves one-step
farther in the competition. However, it will not be an easy task to qualify for the next stage.
The Mastiffs’ form in their group stage round was rather erratic, but eventually the French side squeeze through to the next round by finishing second in their group. They acquired eight points and have an overall record of 6 played, 2 won, 2 drawn, and
2 lost.
Les Dogues manager, Rudi Garcia, will be hoping that his side can continue their good domestic run, as they have a 13-match unbeaten run in Ligue 1 this season. Garcia’s men have only been beaten once in their 12 league matches in front of their home crowd.
Les Dogues also have an excellent home record in their European games, as they won seven of their last eight matches. Garcia will feel extremely confident coming into this game, as his side has performed brilliantly at Stade Lille-Metropole in recent years.
On the other hand, PSV finished third in the league last term and qualified for the Europe’s secondary football competition. The Dutch side qualified convincingly for the knock out phase, as the Boeren were not threatened by any of their fellow group sides
and topped the table. They acquired 14 points and have an overall record of 6 played, 4 won, and 2 drawn.
The Dutch outfit will play its 100th match in this competition and they will be hoping to emerge victorious in this match to celebrate their 50th victory in the Europa League. Team Manager, Fred Rutten, will be hoping to achieve this
landmark in this match. However, he will know that it will take something special to defeat Lille in front of their home crowd, who are having an exceptional season while playing at Stade Lille-Metropole.
Team News
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lille-OSC-c39800
The influential defender, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Toulouse-FC-c40751.
PSV Eindhoven
Fred Rutten will have the full squad available for the upcoming Europa League encounter as his side has not any sufficient injuries.
Players to watch
Lille’s striker, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Moussa-Sow-c26939, is in supreme form, scoring 16 goals in the Ligue 1 this season and became the leading goal scorer in the league.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/PSV-c40281’s attack pack, and he will be hoping that he can provide his side with precious away goals.
Prediction
It will be a classic encounter between Lille and PSV, as both sides are leading their respective league tables. The match will end 1 – 0 in favour of the home side.
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