Liege v Olympiakos preview

Belgian side need win to stay in contention

Last updated: 4th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Liege v Olympiakos preview

Zico: Looking to qualify

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Standard Liege will be looking to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive against Olympiakos.

The Belgian side have picked up just one point from their opening three games and are currently bottom of Group H.

They are five points adrift of second-placed Olympiakos and anything less than victory over the Greeks would leave them facing early elimination.

Manager Laszlo Boloni is confident his men can bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Olympiakos in the last meeting between the sides, although he admits the advantage lies with their opponents.

"We are going to create a spectacle and I hope I can be satisfied when it's over," said Boloni.

"Because Olympiacos won the home match, they can approach this one like they are sitting in a comfortable chair.

"They can wait patiently to see how the game unfolds and then adjust their tactics accordingly."

Boloni has a lengthy injury list with Steven Defour (foot), Cedric Collet (broken toe), Wilfried Dalmat (shin), Gohi Bi Cyriac (thigh) and Moussa Traore (thigh) all sidelined.

Victor Ramos (hamstring), Sinan Bolat (finger), Benjamin Nicaise (illness) and Landry Mulemo (illness) are also doubtful but Igor De Camago is fit after a broken toe.

Olympiakos news

Olympiakos could seal their qualification to the knockout stage with two games to spare, depending on the result of Wednesday's other Group H clash between Arsenal and AZ Alkmaar.

New manager Zico is bracing himself for a Liege onslaught and admits he would probably settle for a point.

"For Standard the result is probably even more important because they almost certainly need a win to stay in contention," said the Brazilian tactician.

"Obviously I would prefer to win, but a draw would also do for me as we would then have seven points."

Zico also has several injury problems to contend with as a number of key players miss the trip to Belgium.

Former Blackburn forward Matt Derbyshire is still out with a groin problem, while Leonardo has a knee complaint and Diogo has injured his knee.

Jaouad Zairi (groin), Vassilis Torosidis (knee), Leonidas Panagopoulos (back) and Andreas Vasilogiannis (cruciate ligaments) are also absent.

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