Boloni warns of tough battle

Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 by PA

Standard Liege coach Laszlo Boloni has warned his players to expect a tough game as they bid to keep their Champions League hopes alive with victory against Olympiacos on Wednesday night.

The Belgian champions find themselves bottom of Group H with just one point from three matches, having blown a two-goal lead against Arsenal in their opening match, drawn against AZ Alkmaar and suffered a 2-1 loss against Olympiacos last time out.

Another loss against the Greek side would spell the end of Standard's campaign should Arsenal also avoid defeat in the night's other group match against AZ.

Such an outcome would heap more misery on Boloni, whose side are also struggling domestically and are coming off the back of a poor goalless draw against lowly Mouscron in the Jupiler League at the weekend.

"I expect a very tough game, more difficult than 14 days ago," said Boloni, who has a host of injury worries weighing on his mind ahead of kick-off.

Benjamin Nicaise (flu) and Landry Mulemo (cold) are doubts while Wilfried Dalmat has a bruised ankle that is set to rule him out of the match.

Captain Steven Defour is again expected to miss out with a broken foot while Cedric Collet and Igor De Camargo are set to remain on the sidelines, also with foot injuries.

The injury and illness problems could be decisive in determining Standard's fate, but striker Milan Jovanovic insists his side still have designs on reaching the last 16 despite sitting bottom of the pile, five points behind second-placed Olympiacos.

"This game is without doubt decisive - we have to win," Jovanovic said. "It is still possible to get second place."

Olympiacos coach Zico will be delighted that his side find themselves just one point behind group leaders Arsenal with three games left to play, and will be determined to remain on the pace of the Barclays Premier League side with another win.

Zico has a few injury problems of his own, however, with defenders Michal Zewlakow and Olof Mellberg both struggling with knee injuries.

Matt Derbyshire is set to miss out with a groin problem while Enzo Maresca, Diogo and Jaouad Zairi are all carrying knocks. Andreas Vasilogiannis is a long-term absentee.

Olympiacos midfielder Luciano Galletti is in confident mood ahead of the encounter at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, and has heaped the pressure on the hosts, saying: "We have to play a smart game and take advantage of the fact that they will be playing for nothing but a win - any other result will end their hopes.

"This will be a tough match for us but we will go for three points."