Liverpool (0) v Lille (1):LILLE coach Rudi Garcia insists his side will not be overawed by the "mythical" Anfield atmosphere in their Europa League last-16 second leg tonight.
The French side hold a 1-0 first-leg lead courtesy of Eden Hazard’s late free-kick.
“There is no need to motivate the players for a game like this. The motivation has to be to get as far as we possibly can,” said Garcia.
“We know we are playing against a legendary side in a very atmospheric – almost mythical – stadium of legends but we have experienced this against Fenerbahce away from home.”
Lille are still without defenders Nicolas Plestan and Mathieu Debuchy, and forwards Tulio de Melo and Gervinho, who all have long-term injuries.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez’s team selection is unlikely to be too attacking, although one consideration may be the fitness of Italian international midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who missed training yesterday through sickness.
Fulham (1) v Juventus (3), Craven Cottage, 6.0, On TV: Setanta Ireland
ALESSANDRO Del Piero is hoping to improve his chances of making Italy’s World Cup squad by firing Juventus into the last eight of the Europa League this evening.
The Bianconeri go into the match against Fulham with a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Turin. Del Piero was absent from that match but is expected to face Fulham after scoring twice in Juve’s 3-3 draw with Siena on Sunday.
The Juventus striker has not featured for the Azzurri since Euro 2008 but that has not put Del Piero off, and he is keen to send Marcello Lippi a message by sealing Fulham’s fate tonight.
“I’m still very hopeful of making the squad,” said the 35-year-old. “I’m really hopeful about it and I believe that a match like tomorrow gives me a good chance of trying to achieve that.”
Giorgio Chiellini, Martin Caceres, Claudio Marchisio, Amauri and Michele Paolucci are all injured while Nicola Legrottaglie is suspended. Juventus are also without goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Alex Manninger.
