LOSC Lille travel to the Valencian Community to take on La Liga side http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-CF-c40864 in their second game of the group stages of the UEFA Champions League
High stakes
Stakes will indeed be high as Valencia look set to host struggling French Ligue 1 outfit LOSC Lille in their second game of the group stages of the competition. In their first game of this season’s competition, Los Che lost 2-1 to last season’s finalists,
Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
Lille on the other hand, suffered a shocking 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Belarussian side BATE Borisov. And, another defeat for either side could well spell curtains to their ambitions of progressing through to the next round of the competition.
Valencia who lost the Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001, seem to be in better form than their opponents who have made a woeful start to the domestic campaign. Although Los Che have amassed just eight points from their first six La Liga games, the
recent win over Zaragoza at the Mestalla would give http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mauricio-c24899 Pellegrino’s side a lot of confidence ahead of the game against Rudi Garcia’s side.
Although Valencia lost the opening game of the Champions League to Munich, Pellegrino hailed his players for showing great character against a superior opponent.
“The players showed great character against a great team when they played Bayern in the first game. We had chances in that game when 1-0 down to level and I know we can improve on that performance.”
Troubled waters
Lille, who lifted the Ligue 1 title in 2011, have made a poor start to the new campaign including that sickening defeat against Borisov. And, Rudi Garcia’s side will have their work cut-out when they face a Valencia side that is growing strong with each
passing day.
However, Garcia feels that the players will show that they can get a good result at Valencia regardless of their problems.
“It’s good that we are playing in the Champions League on Tuesday. We are missing out on points in Ligue 1 and we are going to show that despite our current problems, we are capable of getting a good result in Valencia.”
Match background
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Valencia-c40863
In recent years, Valencia have won all of their games against French opposition at the Mestalla. The last time these two sides met was in the 2009/2010 UEFA Europa League group stage. Valencia won the home game 3-1 thanks to first-half brace from Joaquin.
Lille
Les Dogues have never been able to win a European game in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011 and the only point they managed to get from Iberia was back in the 2001/2002 Champions League group stage game when they drew 1-1 at RC Deportivo La Coruna.
Team news
Valencia
There will be no http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aly-Cissokho-c5313 are available.
Lille
Summer signings, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rio-Mavuba-c31174 which means that Rudi Garcia’s side will have to draw on the reserve bundles of energy and experience to come good against a strong Valencia side.
Predictions
Though Lille have been unlucky in the league so far this season, they will have to deal with a side that has traditionally done well in Europe and boasts a good home record against French opposition.
Predicted final score: Valencia 2-0 Lille
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