UCL Preview: Osimhen and Abraham shoot-out in Lille

Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen and hopefuls, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori will battle it out on the biggest stage in Europe as Lille welcome Chelsea FC on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).

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For Nigerians all over the globe, tonight’s Group H encounter between Lille and Chelsea will be the focus as Oshimen goes head to head with two of his compatriots – Abraham and Tomori, in a bid to outshine the former in centre forward and put the debate on who is the better player to rest. While also outwitting Tomori in centre back to put his name on the scoresheet in front of his home fans in France.

This fixture promises to be an explosive one involving two youthful sides full of pace, skill and enthusiasm. It would even more important as both teams lost on matchday one of the 2019/2020 UCL season; so both teams would be gunning for their first point(s) in the UCL this season.

An extra form of motivation for Abraham tonight would be to celebrate his birthday with a goal to his name and three points for Chelsea.

Statistics

Chelsea are undefeated in seven European away matches (W5 D2), and have won ten of their last 19 European away fixtures (D5 L4) but have not won in their last four matches against Ligue 1 sides (D2 L2).

The French club have not won a home European match since 2012 (D4 L5).
Lille lost all three home games in their last group appearance in 2012/13; their last home victory in the UEFA Champions League group stage was a 3-1 defeat of AEK Athens on matchday three in 2006/07. Their subsequent record is D3 L5.

Also in Group H, Ajax with 3 points and +3 goals will travel to Spain to face Valencia who defeated Chelsea by a lone goal at Stamford Bridge.

Recently called up to the Super Eagles, Peter Olayinka who scored against Inter Milan on his debut UCL appearance for Slavia Prague will be in action tonight as his team welcome Borussia Dortmund in Group F.

While Slavia drew 1-1 at Internazionale, having been denied three points by an added-time equaliser, Dortmund’s home match against Barcelona ended goalless, although the German side missed the chance to claim victory when Marco Reus had a second-half penalty saved.

Statistics

Victories at Club Brugge and Monaco are the only two Dortmund have managed in their last 12 European away matches (D4 L6).

Dortmund’s last two games away to Czech clubs have ended goalless.
BVB are yet to concede a goal in Prague, recording two wins and a draw and scoring seven times themselves.

The other game in this group which promises fireworks will between Barcelona and Inter Milan at the Nou Camp. Inter new boy who scored a brace at the weekend Alexis Sanchez will return to his former employers as both teams go in search of their first UCL win this season.

Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey of Genk both welcome Napoli who are flying high in Group E following matchday one 2-0 win over European Champions Liverpool in Naples.

Onuachu and Odey will however be looking to help Genk get back on course after a 6-2 drubbing on matchday one.

Statistics

Genk have lost only two of their 11 home UCL matches (W4 D5), qualifying included, and are unbeaten in the last five (W2 D3).

Napoli have lost their last two away European matches, with a 3-1 success at Zürich last season their only victory in six such fixtures (D2 L3).

The Naples club have lost two of their three away games against Belgian sides, although the most recent trip brought a 1-0 win at Club Brugge in the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League group stage.

The Italains picked up only two points in last season’s group stage away from home, and are without a win in seven away matches in the UEFA Champions League, group stage to final (D2 L5).

Full Fixtures

Genk vs Napoli

Liverpool vs Salzburg

Slavia Prague vs Borussia Dortmund

Barcelona vs Inter Milan

RB Leipzig vs Lyon

Zenit St. Petersburg vs Benfica

Lille vs Chelsea

Valencia vs Ajax