Proud Trabzonspor primed to host Lille

Trabzonspor AŞ are proud to be hosting their first UEFA Champions League group stage game, and eager to build on a shock 1-0 win at FC Internazionale Milano as French champions LOSC Lille Métropole come to Turkey in Group B.

Trabzonspor
Coach Şenol Güneş
This is the first time in history that Trabzon will host a UEFA Champions League group stage match. It is a great honour. Trabzon is a football city, so we want to show our hospitality to our opponents and also to the whole of Europe. Before the start of the group stage, everybody thought we would finish bottom, but after our [victory at] Inter, we went top of the group. We don't know who will finish top and bottom, but it is obvious that if we win against Lille, we will be in a great position.

Lille might be having some problems in Ligue 1, but they have a great and experienced squad. That's why we are expecting a very difficult match. They conceded important late goals [against PFC CSKA Moskva on matchday one and FC Lorient in the league at the weekend]; we have had the same problem. I do not know if it is a coincidence. I hope we can win this match, and if it takes a last-minute goal, that is OK by me.

Weekend result
Saturday: Trabzonspor 3-1 Kardemir Karabükspor (Burak 26 51 74; Cernat 35)
Zengin; Čelůstka, Kaçar, Głowacki (Serkan 31), Ferhat Öztorun; Zokora; Sapara (Mierzejewski 46), Volkan Şen, Alanzinho; Brożek (Mustafa Yumlu 71), Burak

• Trabzonspor claimed their first Super League win of the campaign at the fourth time of asking, a week after their 16-match unbeaten league run had ended when they lost 1-0 at home to İstanbul BB SK. Burak Yılmaz has scored all five of Güneş's team's league goals in 2011/12.

Team news
Burak serves the second of a three-game suspension while coach Güneş completes his own two-game touchline ban. Arkadiusz Głowacki went off with a groin injury against Kardemir Karabükspor, a match that Gustavo Colman (hamstring) and Paulo Henrique (knee) missed with knocks. Róbert Vittek is facing a long lay-off after tearing knee ligaments on 17 September.

Lille
Coach Rudi Garcia
We should forget the draw against CSKA; now we want to win. We need three points. We have studied Trabzonspor. They have fast, skilful players. Turkish people have a great passion for football. They are very warm, they really fall in love with their teams. This might be to our disadvantage, but we have a plan and we want to put it into practice on the pitch. In my opinion, both teams have a 50-50 chance. We are going to concentrate and hope to perform well. I do not know who will win the group. I do not have a crystal ball.

Weekend result
Saturday: Lille 1-1 FC Lorient (Cole 34; Monnet-Paquet 90+3)
Landreau; Beria, Baša, Rozehnal, Bonnart; Balmont, Obraniak (Mavuba 61), Gueye; Cole (Rodelin 88), Jeleń (Sow 69), Hazard

• Joe Cole struck his first goal for Lille but a last-gasp equaliser restricted the hosts to a fourth successive draw in all competitions. Moussa Sow, Benoît Pedretti and Rio Mavuba started on the bench, with Florent Balmont wearing the armband. Ireneusz Jeleń made his first start for the club.

Team news
Dimitri Payet underwent knee surgery on 15 September and Aurélien Chedjou has not played since 10 September because of a thigh problem. Túlio De Melo is a long-term absentee. Garcia added that Ludovic Obraniak is rated doubtful.

Match fact
Lille have previously faced Turkish opponents just once, coming out on top against Fenerbahçe SK in the 2009/10 UEFA Cup round of 32 thanks to a 2-1 win at home and 1-1 away draw.