Krasnodar v LOSC background
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Article summary
FC Krasnodar and LOSC Lille are in dire need of a matchday five win as the bottom sides in UEFA Europa League Group H look to preserve their round of 32 chances.
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FC Krasnodar and LOSC Lille are in dire need of a matchday five win as the bottom sides in UEFA Europa League Group H look to preserve their round of 32 chances.
Form guide
• Krasnodar's 5-1 loss at VfL Wolfsburg on matchday four was their heaviest European away defeat to date; LOSC's 3-0 loss at Everton FC last time out equalled their previous worst away result in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League – a 3-0 loss to the Blues' neighbours Liverpool FC in the 2009/10 round of 16.
• LOSC remain unbeaten in four games against Russian opponents (W2 D2) following their 1-1 draw against Krasnodar on matchday one; they triumphed in their only previous fixture in Russia without conceding.
• Krasnodar won all three home games in UEFA Europa League qualifying without conceding but have not won in their two group stage home matches (D1 L1); LOSC are without a victory in their last three European away contests (D1 L2).
Trivia and links
• Krasnodar's neighbours FC Kuban Krasnodar also made it to the UEFA Europa League group stage as European debutants last season, though they did not reach the round of 32.
• LOSC's Montenegrin centre-back Marko Baša has experience of Russian football having joined his current club after a spell at FC Lokomotiv Moskva (2008-11) – Krasnodar midfielder Marat Izmailov's first club.
• LOSC's Divock Origi scored his first goal for Belgium in the Red Devils' 2014 FIFA World Cup group stage game against Russia.
The coaches
• Krasnodar coach Oleg Kononov was a journeyman player who established his reputation as a coach by helping FC Sheriff win three Moldovan league titles while serving as an assistant between 2005 and 2008. He steered FC Karpaty Lviv into the UEFA Europa League in 2010/11, and took charge at Krasnodar in 2013.
• As a midfielder, LOSC coach René Girard won three titles and two French Cups with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the 1980s. After a long spell coaching national age-group teams, he won Ligue 1 as Montpellier Hérault SC boss in 2011/12, moving to Lille in July 2013.
