13 September 2021, 09:19 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The UEFA Champions League Group G fixture, Lille OSC vs. VfL Wolfsburg, kicks off at 20:00 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, September 14 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Preview Lille Champions League, Sep 14, 2021
Preview After a season-long absence, Lille OSC returns to the UEFA Champions League aiming to kick off their continental football campaign with a flying start. The club shares Group G with Sevilla FC, RB Salzburg, and of course, VfL Wolfsburg. LOSC appears to be one of the favorites to qualify for the knock-out stage, but their Ligue 1 record tells a different tale. The domestic campaign hasn’t really gotten off the ground, but Jocelyn Gourvennec will hope for a different start to their Champions League campaign. Having lost to Lorient, 2-1 over the weekend, the Ligue 1 champions remain in 10th place in the French league. The club has also lost two of its last five games across all competitions: DLDWL. On Tuesday, a conventional 4—4—2 formation with Burak Yilmaz and Jonathan David leading the attack is anticipated. Preferred centre-backs Sven Botman and José Fonte, assuming they continue their defensive partnership against Wolfsburg, will have their hands full with the task of containing Wout Weghorst. A real fox in the box with a killer instinct, the Dutchman's preferred scoring position is right between the centre-backs. Coach, Jocelyn Gourvennec hopes the backline will neutralize any danger the tall forward could pose when they welcome Wolfsburg on UEFA Champions League Matchday 1. Looking ahead, LOSC will visit RB Salzburg at the Red Bull Arena on Matchday 2, Sept. 29.
Preview VfL Wolfsburg Champions League, Sep 14, 2021
Preview Meanwhile, Wolfsburg returns to the Champions League in a much better shape than the opposition. The club has won all but one of their last five games across all competitions: LWWWW and remain unbeaten in the German Bundesliga. Enjoying domestic dominance, the club sits at the very top of the Bundesliga table in first place after a 100%-winning start to the league season. Mark van Bommel is hoping that the recent flawless form will provide Wolfsburg with the much-needed confidence ahead of their trip to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Wout Weghorst leading the attack ahead of the midfield-trio is anticipated on Tuesday. First-choice goalkeeper, Grbic would be advised to keep an eye on Burak Yilmaz. The Turkish international has an insatiable appetite for taking long-range shots from open play and set pieces, - with many of them ending up at the back of the net. Yilmaz was on target for Lille over the weekend in the 2-1 defeat to Lorient and remains a potent threat to Wolfsburg. On availability, left-back Paulo Otávio remains in doubt for this fixture having suffered an ankle injury. VfL Wolfsburg will host Sevilla F.C. on UEFA Champions League Matchday 2, Sept. 29, at the Volkswagen Arena.