LOSC Lille striker Victor Osimhen will hope to make it nine goals in seven appearances at home this season as Valencia comes visiting on match day three of the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
Two losses in the first two games of the 2019/2020 UCL season means that Osimhen and his Lille team mates must dig deep to clinch all three points in France tonight against a Valencia team who picked up a win against Chelsea in London on match day one. Head coach of Lille Christophe Galtier knows this having said ahead of the game that “I want us to approach this match with our foot off the brake because we have a young team full of energy.”
Osimhen in training ahead of the all important clash with Valencia tonight.
Statistics
Valencia have dominated past four encounters between the sides (W3, D1).
LOSC have not won a home European match in their last 10 attempts (D4, L6).
Valencia have lost just twice in 12 previous away matches against French clubs (W5, D5). While Lille were unbeaten in their first five matches (W2, D3) against Spanish oppositions before losing to Valencia in 2012.
Ajax vs Chelsea
Still in Group H, Chelsea travel to Amsterdam to face group leaders Ajax who have maximum points from two games and will look to keep up the impressive form. Chelsea on the other hand bounced back from the opening day defeat at home to Valencia with a win at Lille. Both teams come into this tie on the back of five wins in their last five games across all competitions – it is expected to be a keenly contested game.
Statistics
Ajax have only one win at home to English clubs in six matches (D1, L4) and one win at home to London clubs in five attempts (D1, L3).
Chelsea are unbeaten in eight European away matches (W6, D2). Can the record continue tonight?
GROUP G – RB Leipzig vs Zenit St. Petersburg; Benfica vs Lyon
Zenit sit top of this group with four points while the home team has three points. Leipzig will be hoping to take advantage of their home crowd as a win puts them in qualifying position irrespective of what happens in the other fixture between Benfica and Lyon.
Lyon currently stay second with four points while Benfica yet to pick a point are bottom of the group and only a win will suffice for the Portuguese side tonight.
GROUP F – Inter Milan vs Borussia Dortmund
Antonio Conte and his men are currently without a Champions League win this season with their only point coming from a last gasp equaliser against Slavia Prague in Italy.
On matchday two, they failed to pick up points at the Nou Camp and must now defeat Borussia Dortmund in Italy tonight to kick off their UCL campaign. Meanwhile, with four points and top of the group, Dortmund will be looking to avoid defeat at all cost and grab all three points if the opportunity presents itself.
Statistics.
Inter are without a victory in their last six UEFA Champions League matches (D3, L3), scoring just four goals.
Home and away, Inter are without a win in six games against Bundesliga opponents (D1, L5).
Dortmund have managed only three victories in their last 13 European away matches (D4, L6), although all of those wins have come in their last five matches (L2) – and all in the UEFA Champions League.
Slavia Prague vs Barcelona.
A last gasp equaliser on matchday one denied the newcomers all three points against Inter in Italy after Nigeria’s Peter Olayinka had given the Slavia Prague the lead. They then lost at home to Dortmund to make it one point from two games.
After his debut UCL goal against Inter, Olayinka will once again hope to lead the line against Barcelona as they go in search of all three points in front of their home fans against a Barcelona team looking to consolidate on their four points as the race fro qualification heats up.
GROUP D – Genk vs Liverpool.
Super Eagles Paul Onuachu and Stephen Odey have been included in the squad to face Liverpool as Genk goes in search of a first UCL win this season.
A draw at home to Napoli on match day one looked a good result not until the Belgium team lost 6-2 to Salzburg the following match day. Now they face a Liverpool team desperate for points just as they are.
Jurgen Klopp’s men lost by two late goals on the opening day in Naples and almost threw away a three goal lead against Salzburg at Anfield before Mohammed Salah scored a fourth to hand them all three points – their first points in the UCL this season.
The European Champions will go all out for the three points but can Onuachu and his team mates cause an upset?
Statistics.
Genk have lost only two of their 12 home UEFA Champions League matches (W4 D6), qualifying included, and are unbeaten in the last six (W2, D4).
The defeat at Napoli on matchday one made it four successive away group stage defeats for Liverpool in 10 away games (D3, L6), with their only away win of the group stage at Maribor.
Salzburg vs Napoli.
This is the battle between the second and first teams on the log with one point separating both teams.
Salzburg are a free scoring side while Napoli’s defensive strength has been a huge plus for them so far but the home side will be looking to pile all the pressure with three points in front of their home fans at stake.
