LOSC Lille Vs CSKA Moscow – UEFA Champions League Preview
Stade Lille Metropole Villeneuve d’Ascq will see reigning French Ligue 1 champions LOSC Lille host Russian giants CSKA Moscow in a Group B encounter of the UEFA Champions League.
Lille are participating in the Champions League for the fourth time and would be looking to set the competition alight with their performances that have earned them approval from all around Europe.
The Hazard Factor
Belgian star http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Eden-Hazard-c11863 has said that he is thrilled at the prospect of being able to participate in one of the biggest club competition in world football. Les Dogues are making a return to the Champions League after almost four years and this time, it
seems that the side from Northern http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 will be more powerfully equipped than they were before.
In Eden Hazard, Les Dogues have one of the most exciting prospects in European football. The 20-year-old was voted UNFP Player of the Season for the 2010/2011 Ligue 1 campaign and would be looking to add further points to his ever growing profile by giving
a strong showing with Lille.
Hazard also knows that his side will have to do well after working so hard last season to play in the Champions League.
“We worked really hard last season to get here. It’s a competition many of us have never played in. We’ll give everything. It’s the ultimate competition for a football player. We’ll try to do well,” the mercurial midfielder said while talking to
http://www.uefa.com/.
Well prepared
Lille coach Rudi Garcia seemed prepared and relaxed in the pre-match press conference. The French tactician said that his players don’t need any motivation as they all know what’s at stake. The architect behind Lille’s historic double last season said that
after playing the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 in the Europa League last season, his side has plenty of experience when it comes to playing against big teams in Europe.
“To beat CSKA, we’ll need to take care of their attackers. They have quick players but we will play to our strengths. We are the home team and it is the opening match so it is important to win, take the points and see what’s next,” said Garcia.
CSKA Moscow
Heading into the tough encounter against Lille, CSKA are not in great form. The Koni have won just once in their last six games in the Russian Premier League. However, CSKA coach Leonid Slutski has said that despite losing to Dinamo Moscow 4-0 at the weekend,
his team is not under any pressure and is prepared to face a strong Lille side.
While talking to the media Slutski said, “We have a lot of injured players but we will find 11 players from somewhere and I don’t think there is a direct link between our results and the fact that we have so many out.”
Team News
Lille
Following a knee surgery, Czech international http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Rozehnal-c10594 made his first league appearance this season for Lille and the 31-year-old could start tonight. Cole might not start again despite impressing in Lille’s 3-1 win over Saint-Etienne at the weekend.
Marko Basa and Franck Beria should recover from respective injuries.
CSKA Moscow
Goalkeeper and captain http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tomáš-Necid-c35290 are also going to miss the game against Lille due to knee injuries.
Prediction
With CSKA Moscow missing so many players along with Keisuke Honda through injury, it seems that Lille might stretch a makeshift Moscow side to the limits. A goal rout cannot be ruled out given Lille’s attacking depth.
Predicted final score: Lille 3-0 CSKA Moscow
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