Rat expecting tricky test

Posted Thursday, November 05, 2009 by PA

Shakhtar Donetsk defender Razvan Rat believes they are in for a tricky test in Toulouse despite hammering their Europa League rivals last month.

Shakhtar emerged as 4-0 winners when the pair met in Ukraine and are now five points clear in Group J and already assured of a place in the knockout stages,

The UEFA Cup holders have scored four goals in all three of their group matches in this season's competition but Rat insists they are not taking anything for granted.

"We're expecting a battle in Toulouse," he said. "They have had the time to get over their defeat and we should expect a serious resistance Thursday night.

"We have to play our game and pick up the points.

"However, we don't consider the match as a formality, even if we do already have nine points in this group.

"Toulouse are the most dangerous team in the group and on their turf it will be different."

Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu has a fully fit squad to choose from and has travelled to France with a group of 24 players.

Toulouse have just four points from three games and will be looking to get something from the tie to boost their chances of reaching the knockout stages.

They are level on points with second-placed Club Brugge but striker Xavier Pentecote believes they are better than their Belgian rivals.

"Shakhtar will clearly finish first in the group," he told French newspaper 20 minutes. "But we have the potential to take the second qualifying position.

"I think we are above Brugge and Partizan Belgrade."

Pentecote feels he has developed by playing in Europe and is now looking to take one step further and score his first European goal tomorrow.

"Regarding the matches I have played in this season, I feel I have grown in strength," added the 23-year-old. "Against Trabzonspor I lacked rhythm and I couldn't live up to expectations.

"Then at Belgrade and at Donetsk, I progressed.

"Now I need to get get goals. I love scoring and I miss it a lot."

Toulouse will be brimming with confidence after picking up a credible point against Marseille on the weekend.

Coach Alain Casanova has no new injury worries.