Joey Barton is set to make his home debut for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 are also in action in the second game of the Europa League group stages against Shmona
Thursday, October 4, 2012
UEFA Europa League 2012/2013, Matchday 2
Group I
Hapoel Kiryat Shmona V Olympique Lyonnais
Remi Garde’s side travel to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Israel-c2925 to face Hapoel Kiryat Shmona in their second group game of the Europa League tonight. After seeing their unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 halted by a 2-0 defeat at home to Bordeaux last week, Les Gones would be keen to return
to winning ways against the reigning Israeli champions.
Although Garde’s charges will face in-form Lorient in their next Ligue 1 encounter, the coach says that his side is concentrating on the European tie.
“Every match is important. This competition is an important objective for us,” said Garde.
The French tactician also said that Lyon will not be putting a blow to their chances of progression to the next round of the competition despite being fully aware of the importance of doing well in the league.
Team news
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michel-Bastos-c25461 has not been included in the trip to Haifa. However, family problems are the reason why the Brazilian has not travelled with the rest of the squad.
In their opening game of the Europa League, Lyon beat Sparta Prague while Kiryat Shmona showed that they won’t be the whipping boys of the competition after holding Spanish entertainers Athletic Bilbao to a 1-1 draw in the Basque region.
However, the Israeli side’s manager, Gili Landau decided to resign from his post and is now replaced by 33-year-old Barak Bakhar.
Predictions
Although the defeat against Bordeaux sounds like a one-sided affair, it was a totally different affair in all honesty as Lyon were unable to find the breakthrough due to a five-man defence deployed by http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Francis-c13946 Gillot’s side.
And, against the Israeli side, Lyon must be thinking of getting all three points in Haifa in order to continue building their momentum in Europe.
Predicted finals score: Shmona 0-2 Lyon
Group C
Olympique de Marseille V http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AEL-Limassol-c38226 FC
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cyprus-c2881 giants AEL Limassol in the second Group C game of the Europa League. The current Ligue 1 leaders were thumped 4-1 by Valenciennes last week
and would be keen to turn things around when they take on the Cypriots.
In their first game of the Europa League, Marseille held Turkish giants, Fenerbahce to a 2-2 draw in Istanbul and would be looking to register their first win of the competition.
And, ahead of Sunday’s Clasico against Paris Saint-Germain, goalkeeper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steve-Mandanda-c34177 has emphasised the importance of concentrating on the task at hand.
“It would be dangerous to think too much about the Paris game. I know it is the match of the year, but we have to take one thing at a time. Our objective for the moment is the game against the Cypriots. This is an important game and it is imperative that
we get a good result.”
Predictions
The game against Valenciennes was a one-off as Elie Baup’s side are unlikely to leak in so many goals in a single game on a regular basis. Furthermore, with PSG’s trip to the Velodrome on the horizon, Marseille will be looking to use the game against Limassol
as a platform of doing well in the Clasico on October 7.
Predicted finals score: Marseille 2-0 Limassol
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