Steaua - Lyon
Group F underdogs Steaua Bucureşti host Lyon on Tuesday in what is a make-or-break Champions League fixture for the Romanian runners-up.
With just one point from their opening two fixtures in the Champions League, defeat would leave even the consolation of the UEFA Cup a distant prospect, however, victory would lift Marius Lăcătuş’ side back into contention to qualify from the group phase.It is largely on the strength of their home record that Steaua have surprised Europe by progressing so far.
Although they won a decisive fixture against Galatasary in qualifying on their own park, it was in the league that the Stadionul Steaua became such a fortress. Form a possible 51 points at home last season, Steaua dropped only six, remaining unbeaten on their own park.Such a formidable record has proven tough to replicate, although Steaua remain unbeaten at home in the league this term.
In Europe it is a different story as Bayern Munich crucially breeched the ranks of home defenders in matchday 1 through Daniel Van Buyten’s neat header.One thing an uninspiring start to the season has ensured, it is that Steaua are a side willing to battle to the death for everything. The Romanians have scored a vast number of crucial late goals in domestic football, giving them a sense of invincibility.
No doubt this will have been affected at the weekend as they slipped to a disappointing 2-0 loss against mid-table Oţelul, rendering Steaua winless in four matches on all fronts.It will take a huge effort for the side currently position in third spot in the Romanian league to bounce back against a Lyon side that has its full focus on this fixture.
Steaua Bucharest
The Romanians, who have three players in their squad that held France to a 2-2 draw in Constanta not two weeks ago, are expected to play with a little more enterprise than they did in their draw with Fiorentina. Marius Lăcătuş is, nevertheless, likely to maintain his 4-2-3-1 system with Portuguese forward Antonio Semedo leading the line.Defender Ifeanyi Emeghara, who would have been unlikely to play, is currently their only injury problem
Predicted line-up: Zapata; Ogararu, Ghionea, Goian, Petre; Lovin, Nadio, Nicolita, Stancu, Moreno; Semedo
Olympique Lyon
It has not been a particularly easy three week spell for Claude Puel’s side as disappointing results against Rennes and Lille have sandwiched the international break.On the park things may be a little uneasy for the Rhône Valley club yet things are getting easier for them off the field, where the physios are becoming increasingly redundant as the squad gains fitness.This was, at least, until late last week when Mathieu Bodmer broke down with a slight complaint that will rule him out of this fixture. In addition, the injury-prone John Mensah picked up an adductor problem late in the match against Lille and will also be ruled out. They join François Clerc and Sidney Govou on the sidelines.The latest players to return to first team contention are Kader Keita, Cesar Delgado and, vitally, left-back Fabio Grosso.
Predicted line-up: Lloris; Réveillère, Grosso, Cris, Boumsong; Makoun, Toulalan; Juninho, Ederson, Keita; Benzema
Under 2.5 it's the best choise here..also maybe you should try a draw.
Under 2.5 it's the best choise here..also maybe you should try a draw.
posted by Midnight Sun @ 19:42,
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