This match is set to decide the other team that qualifies for the next stage alongside Inter, that is unless CSKA win at Meazza, in which case both Lille and Trabzonspor could get eliminated. Les Dogues now need a victory in order to make it to the next stage, whereas the Turkish side would probably go through if they avoid defeat in France.

Lille back to their best

Having changed much of the squad that won the Ligue 1 title last term, Lille were always going to experience some problems at the start to the season. Coach Rudi Garcia needed some time to rebuild the squad following the arrivals of Joe Cole, Dimitri Payet, Benoit Pedretti and Marko Basa, among others, while the busy schedule also prevented les Dogues from hitting the ground running early into the season. Despite playing really well in all their Champions League games, Lille could only take two points from first four matches, and, at the time, it looked as though the French side would not be able to qualify for the next stage. However, the 2:0 win over CSKA in Moscow saw les Dogues return in contention for the second place in the group and they can now make it to the next round by simply beating Trabzonspor at home. The game definitely comes at the right time for Lille as they are now on a three-match winning run and I seriously doubt they will miss such a good chance to qualify for the knockout stages.

Back-up defender David Rozenhal is suspended, but Marko Basa has returned into action and he is likely to start. Idrissa Gueye and Tulio De Melo continue to miss out, but Benoit Pedretti could return.

Tough task for Trabzonspor

Trabzonspor weren’t even supposed to play in the Champions League group stages this season as they were eliminated in the qualifying stages by Benfica, but the team were later awarded a place after Fenerbahce were thrown out of the competition. Apart from the lucky victory over Inter, the Turkish side haven’t shown much to prove they deserve to be playing at this level and I really doubt they can make it to the next round. Following the good start to the season, Senol Gunes’ side have suffered a big dip in form of late, and they are now on a four-match winless run. The team appear to be playing without confidence and that could prove to be a big problems when facing in-form Lille. It is more than evident that Trabzonspor are on the downtrend at the moment and in all fairness, they really don’t deserve a place in the knockout stages.

Robert Vittek, Tayfun Cora and Onur Kivrak continue to miss out, but Baris Atas is back in contention.

Verdict

Lille have really raised their game of late and after the impressive away victory over CSKA, les Dogues are expected to beat Trabzonspor as well. The Turkish side are not playing well at the moment and after being outplayed at home by Lille, they are unlikely to fare any better in France.

Our prediction: Lille with -1 Asian handicap

Odds: 1.88 (8/9)

Bookmaker: Ladbrokes