Bleak midwinter ahead for Grevenmacher

CS Grevenmacher won the Luxembourg Cup last term to deny F91 Dudelange a third successive domestic double; this time around coach Claude Osweiler concedes his team could be their own worst enemy, with "a lack of concentration causing big problems".

Dudelange defeated
With 16 games gone, Dudelange are already seven points clear of second-placed FC Differdange 03, and seemingly headed towards a fifth successive Division Nationale title. They are 15 points clear of Grevenmacher, though the side from the east of the country remain the only side to have beaten Dudelange this season, 3-1 away in the sixth round of fixtures, but inconsistency has cost them elsewhere.

Classic example
The final game of the autumn campaign said it all. A goal up against AS Jeunesse Esch, Grevenmacher had Khalid Benichou sent off and fell apart, losing 3-1. "It was disappointing," said Osweiler, whose side have developed a bad habit of losing leads. "A lack of concentration has been causing us big problems this season. We had enough chances to put the match beyond doubt after going ahead."

Too many draws
Osweiler can only hope his team will have regained their composure by the time the league campaign resumes on 1 March 2009, as he vies for another crack at European competition. "We have dropped some important points along the road," admitted the coach, who is in his second season with the club. "You don't move up the table by drawing all the time."

European target
Last season's cup success raised expectations for Grevenmacher, who faced Iceland's FH Hafnarfjördur in their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie, losing 3-2 away but collapsing and going down 5-1 at home. Osweiler set out his stall to "qualify for European competition once more" at the end of this season, but it looks like another Luxembourg Cup may be their only chance of doing so.