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Legia welcome Lokeren on matchday one

Legia Warszawa take on Belgian newcomers KSC Lokeren OV in Group L hoping for an improvement on their last UEFA Europa League group stage campaign.

Legia's Ondrej Duda will be keen for all three points
Legia's Ondrej Duda will be keen for all three points ©Ilya Tarasenko

Legia Warszawa had a tough time in last season's UEFA Europa League group stage but will hope for a brighter start as they take on Belgian newcomers KSC Lokeren OV in Group L.

Form guide
Lokeren have yet to lose in four encounters with Polish sides – though three of those matches ended in draws.

Legia are unbeaten in three European home encounters this season (W2 D1). They lost their first five UEFA Europa League group stage games last season without scoring, a 2-0 matchday six win at Apollon Limassol FC sparing them a point-less campaign.

• Group stage debutants Lokeren have lost their last two European away fixtures.

Trivia and links
Legia's Croatian midfielder Ivica Vrdoljak turns 31 the day after the Lokeren game. He turned 30 the day after a 1-0 loss at SS Lazio in last season's competition. Lokeren winger Besart Abdurahimi was a trainee at NK Zagreb while Vrdoljak was a first-team player there.

Lokeren come into the game having played exactly 50 UEFA club competition matches, with their record reading: W21 D11 L18.

Legia striker Orlando Sá and Lokeren left-back Arthur were briefly team-mates at CD Nacional in early 2011 while both players were out on loan.

The coaches
• Henning Berg took charge of Legia at the start of 2014. The former Blackburn Rovers FC, Manchester United FC and Rangers FC defender was capped 100 times by Norway. As a coach, he has held the reins at FK Lyn, Lillestrøm SK and – for just 57 days – Blackburn.

Lokeren coach since 2010, Peter Maes spent a big chunk of the 1990s as a back-up goalkeeper for RSC Anderlecht, later becoming No1 at KSK Beveren and R. Standard de Liège. He made his name as a coach by leading KV Mechelen back into the top division in 2006/07.

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