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Garcia wants LOSC to end on 'positive note'

LOSC Lille enter their final European game of the season with coach Rudi Garcia wanting to sign off on a high against a Valencia CF side whose players are feeling "down".

Rudi Garcia's team won last time out in Europe against BATE
Rudi Garcia's team won last time out in Europe against BATE ©AFP/Getty Images

Rudi Garcia is urging LOSC Lille to finish their UEFA Champions League campaign on a high with victory against Valencia CF. Their chances of registering a second Group F win are aided by the turmoil the visitors find themselves in, having sacked coach Mauricio Pellegrino following Saturday's 5-2 Liga home loss to Real Sociedad de Fútbol. Salvador González, in charge for this game, admits his players are feeling "down".    

Valencia are through but must pick up more points than FC Bayern München do at home to FC BATE Borisov to finish first.

LOSC are out of Europe.

LOSC
Rudi Garcia, coach
We are going to do everything we can to win tomorrow in front of our supporters – we have to finish on a positive note. Our motivation is high because we are playing a Champions League game against one of the strongest sides in Europe. We have several matches before the end of December so we will take this into account when selecting the lineup.

[Salomon] Kalou and [Marvin] Martin are ready to play, even if they have had some fitness issues lately. We know [former LOSC defender] Adil Rami is a great player and good man. He has a great sense of humour. He was very important for LOSC in the dressing room, where he created a good atmosphere.

Every player I put on the field has to give 100% – and they know it. In football anything is possible, but Valencia don't have much chance of finishing ahead of Bayern München.

Weekend result
Saturday: LOSC 0-0 SC Bastia
Landreau; Debuchy, Chedjou, Baša, Digne; Balmont (Gueye 64), Mavuba, Martin; Bruno (Kalou 64), Roux, Payet (Rodelin 80).

• LOSC's first goalless draw since December last year left them ten points adrift of Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyonnais in tenth place.

Team news
Djibril Sidibé is banned following his red card on matchday five, while Benoît Pedretti is suspended after receiving three group stage bookings.

Valencia
Salvador González, acting coach 
The fact I am here today is circumstantial. Our goal is to win and to see what happens in Munich. I have only been with the team three days so I can say that our tactics won't change at all. The players are down because of the situation at the club and they know they have to do better than in previous games in the Liga.

I have some experience as a player and coach at Valencia and Levante and I will take my responsibilities seriously tomorrow. I am in contact with Ernesto Valverde [who was appointed Valencia coach on Monday] and he knows every detail about what is going on with the team. We have to get stronger mentally.

Weekend result
Saturday: Valencia 2-5 Real Sociedad de Fútbol (Soldado 2 73; De La Bella 43, González 56, Ifrán 64, Agirretxe 83, Vela 90+1pen)
Alves; Pereira (Valdez 76), Ricardo Costa, Ruiz, Cissokho (Guardado 65); Gago, Banega, Feghouli, Bernat (Viera 65), Jonas; Soldado.

• Jonas was sent off four minutes before half-time as Valencia suffered a defeat which completed their worst start to a Liga season since 1999/2000 – and cost coach Mauricio Pellegrino his job.

Team news
Full-back João Pereira (calf) has not travelled, but Fernando Gago is in the squad despite suggestions he is carrying a calf injury. Jérémy Mathieu continues to struggle with an Achilles problem.

Match fact
• The clubs drew 1-1 in France in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League group stage. There were two late goals in that game, both from substitutes. Juan Mata (78) put the visitors ahead before Gervinho equalised with four minutes remaining.

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