Lille relaxed despite late lapses

LOSC Lille Métropole have been doing everything possible to erase the memory of conceding two late goals in last week's 3-2 UEFA Cup Round of 32 first-leg victory against FC Shakhtar Donetsk as they prepare to visit a Ukrainian side for whom lack of experience is the main concern.

Late turnaround
The French side found themselves 3-0 up with just two minutes remaining last Wednesday before goals from Brandão and Ciprian Marica changed the complexion of the tie. Lille are not dwelling on what might have been however, midfielder Yohan Cabaye saying: "Maybe we thought we were through at the end of first-leg but now we have put this behind us. We must do what we did in Lille again, but this time keep going until the end."

Confidence boost
If Lille are to progress into the last 16 they will have to improve on away form which had brought just one point from a possible nine in Ligue 1 in 2006 prior to last weekend. However a confidence boosting 2-0 win at AS Saint-Etienne on Saturday has raised morale with coach Claude Puel saying: "If the players continue with the same level of spirit we can go a long way."

Puel problems
The Lille coach has selection concerns with captain Stéphane Dumont (knee), goalkeeper Grégory Malicki (thigh) and playmaker Milenko Ačimovič (ankle) all injured and midfielder Jean Makoun suspended. Their opponents also have worries with midfield pair Anatoliy Tymoschuk and Blumer Elano both doubtful.

Inexperience worry
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu admits that his main problem is the age of his squad. "We are a very young side, and the first match underlined it," he said. "We have Bohdan Shust, Ciprian Marica, Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Fernandinho and Jadson Rodriguez. The rest of the players are not 30- year-olds either so we still don't have enough experience which you need for European competitions. It comes with time, and I am sure the team will get better every year".