Basel get back to business

With the UEFA Cup set to resume after its winter break, uefa.com looks at the form of the 32 clubs involved in first-leg ties this week.

FC Basel 1893 v LOSC Lille Métropole
Having qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup thanks to a 1-0 win against Feyenoord, Basel have had plenty of time to prepare for the game with Lille. The Swiss Football League resumes in a week's time and the champions, who currently lead the table by seven points, will relaunch their title defence and UEFA Cup challenge with two new faces. During the winter break the club opted to reinforce their defence, signing Swiss international Patrick Müller from RCD Mallorca and FC Thun's Reto Zanni. The only departure was third-choice goalkeeper Eric Rapo, who has joined Stade Nyonnais, with FC Wil 1900's 22-year-old goalkeeper Riccardo Meili signed in his place.

Part of Basel's preparation included a training camp in Turkey where all the players bar Djamel Mesbah and Murat Yakin were involved. The competitive nature of the work was demonstrated when, in a 4-2 defeat in a friendly game with FC Torpedo Moskva, Swiss international midfield player Benjamin Huggel was ejected following an incident with team-mate Christian Giménez.

Players registered: Patrick Müller, Riccardo Meili, Reto Zanni.
Players out: Mario Cantaluppi, Thimothée Atouba.

Having come out on top of Group H, Lille have not rested on their laurels. Knocked out of the French League Cup before the winter break by eventual finalists RC Strasbourg on penalties, the Ligue 1 contenders returned stronger, though more unpredictable, than ever. On 11 January, they lost their first game at home this season, 2-1 to Olympique de Marseille, but then defeated FC Girondins de Bordeaux 3-1 at the Stade Chaban-Delmas and overcame leaders Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 thanks to two Matt Moussilou goals. Lille were within reach of the champions, but a 1-1 draw at OGC Nice and goalless games at SM Caen and against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard mean they are now seven points adrift of Lyon. At the weekend Lille defeated local rivals RC Lens 3-2 to reach the last 16 of the French Cup.

Against Basel, coach Claude Puel is without Cameroonian defensive midfield player Jean Makoun, who has suffered a slight knee injury, while winger Christophe Landrin is doubtful because of a rib fracture sustained against Lyon. During the transfer window, Lille signed Kévin Barralon from Nîmes Olympique, but the 21-year-old is yet to make his debut.

Players registered: Peter Odemwingie, Kévin Barralon.
Players out: Vladimir Manchev.