CSKA Moscow will be hoping to boost their UEFA Champions League qualification ambitions with victory over Lille.
Both sides chasing three points at the Luzhniki Stadium
CSKA Moscow will be hoping to boost their UEFA Champions League qualification ambitions with victory over Lille, who need three points to stay in the hunt for a place in the last 16.
Russian outfit CSKA drew 2-2 in Lille back in September and coach Leonid Slutsky is confident his team can overcome the absence of Seydou Doumbia in the return meeting.
Ivory Coast international Doumbia has scored four times in as many appearances to help his side to second place in Group B, including both goals against Lille.
He will sit out Lille's visit to Moscow on Tuesday after his dismissal against Trabzonspor last time out but Slutsky has backed Vagner Love, available in Europe amid a three-match domestic ban, to fill the void.
Big asset
"The absence of Doumbia could affect our approach," said Slutsky in
L'Equipe. "He is a big asset to be without but we have the weapons to adapt.
"And his absence does not worry me unduly because I think Vagner will be up to speed. He has worked hard, he is in form.
"We know he has to be right in his head and I think that is the case."
CKSA are level with Trabzonspor on five points, four behind Inter and three ahead of Lille, and Slutsky continued: "We also have to win to qualify. We are in almost the same situation and we are playing at home.
"I think both teams will come out firing, we must be ready to respond to the challenge."
CSKA's injury problems are easing, with Keisuke Honda and Sekou Oliseh returning to first-team action in Friday's league defeat by Rubin Kazan and Alexei Berezutsky having trained fully yesterday.
However, a recurrence of a knee injury has seen Zoran Tosic join fellow winger Mark Gonzalez, keeper Igor Akinfeev and forward Tomas Necid on the long-term injured list.
Lille's departure for the game was delayed by fog, forcing them to cancel both their training session and their scheduled press conference on Monday night.
Of greater concern, though, will be the lack of any opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Luzhniki Stadium's artificial pitch until the day of the game.
The French champions have yet to win in Group B and must beat CSKA to stand a chance of taking the runners-up spot.
Coach Rudi Garcia is likely to be without Benoit Pedretti due to a hip injury, but Marko Basa could return from a shoulder problem.
Florent Balmont is available after a knee injury while on-loan midfielder Joe Cole, who started when Chelsea lost to Manchester United in the 2008 final in the Luzhniki Stadium, will hope to be involved.
