Rudi Garcia’s side face a herculean task at the Grand Stade Metropole as they host German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in their third game of the group stages
Poor start
Rudi Garcia’s men have made a very poor start to their respective domestic and European campaigns. Currently languishing in 11th place in the Ligue 1 standings, Les Dogues are equally out of luck in Europe after losing their opening two games
of the UEFA Champions League group stages.
The opening day defeat at the hands of Belarusian minnow BATE Borisov was followed by a defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863 at the Mestalla. And, with the game against Bayern Munich on the horizon, Rudi Garcia’s men are aware that another defeat could extinguish
the team’s chances of featuring in the knockout stages of the competition.
The French tactician says that his side has to play above its potential and Bayern will have to play below theirs. However, Garcia says that his side needs to believe in itself.
"We know that we will have to play above our potential and that Bayern will have to play below theirs but, frankly, in a game of football, anything is possible," Garcia said in his eve-of-game press conference. "This is like a Cup tie, when a little team
comes up against a giant. We need to believe in our own chances. That is the only way we can hope to get a positive result.
Although nothing has been decided yet, Garcia would want to make sure that his team does not repeat the events of last season’s European adventure when Les Dogues bowed out of the competition in the group stages.
Swift recovery
As things stand, Bayern Munich are in third place in the group standings. After winning their opening game against Valencia, Bayern Munich were on the wrong end of 3-1 defeat at the hands of BATE Borisov who currently lead the group with six points from
two games.
However, the defeat at the hands of the Belarusian side might be just a hiccup in Jupp Heynckes side’s quest of ending their Champions League hurt. In the past four years, the Bavarians have played two Champions League finals and have ended as runner ups
on both occasions.
Last season, Bayern Munich lost the final on penalties against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 FC and this time around, Germany’s most successful side would be looking to return to winning ways in Europe starting with tonight’s game against a side that is still searching for its
true identity.
However, despite being heavily favoured to come out with all three points, Jupp Heynckes has showed a lot of respect to his opponents by saying that Les Dogues are still one of the best teams in France and will make life tough for his players.
"LOSC are one of the best teams in France, regardless of the league table. They are well organised and have a good structure. Every one of us knows what's at stake."
The game also presents an opportunity to Bayern Munich to return to a club that dumped him in 1999 due to his disciplinary issues that included breaking a girl’s elbow at school.
However, the Frenchman holds no grudges against most of the people related to the club of his youth days and is happy to see the club become a force in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899.
Probable starting XI
Lille
Landreau; Béria, Baša, Chedjou, Digne; Balmont, Pedretti, Martin; Kalou, Roux, Payet
Bayern Munich
Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dante-c10236, Badstuber; Schweinsteiger, Martínez; Müller, Kroos, Ribéry; Mandzukic
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