FC Krasnodar make their debut in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League with an away match against LOSC Lille, a constant guest to the UEFA Cups. The Great Danes have played very effectively in their past encounters with Russian opponents, but they are not expecting an easy ride in a match with the Krasnodar team.
Form Guide
• LOSC have scored twice in each of their three previous games against Russian sides.
• LOSC have not won in their last five European home games (one draw, four losses) since beating FC København 2-0 in the home match of the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League play-offs. They have not played in this competition since reaching the round of 32 in 2010/11.
• FC Krasnodar scored nine goals in their first two European away games, though a 1-0 away defeat of Oleg Kononov’s team at Real Sociedad de Fútbol in San Sebastian in the play-offs ended their 100% run in UEFA competitions.
Trivia and Links
• FC Krasnodar's neighbours FC Kuban Krasnodar also made it to the UEFA Europa League group stage as European debutants last season. Admittedly, they kicked off with an away defeat and did not make it to the round of 32.
• LOSC's Montenegrin centre-back Marko Baša has experience of Russian football having joined his current club after a spell at FC Lokomotiv Moscow (2008-11), which was midfielder Marat Izmailov's (now a player of FC Krasnodar) first club.
• LOSC's forward Divock Origi scored his only goal for Belgium in their 2014 FIFA World Cup group stage game against Russia.
COACHES
• As a midfielder, LOSC coach René Girard won three titles and two French Cups with FC Girondins de Bordeaux. After a long spell coaching national age-group teams, he won Ligue 1 as Montpellier Hйrault SC boss in 2011/12. He moved to Lille in July 2013.
• FC Krasnodar’s coach Oleg Kononov was a journeyman player and he was also a member of the coaching staff of FC Sheriff who won three Moldovan league titles between 2005 and 2008. He steered FC Karpaty Lviv into the UEFA Europa League in 2010/11, and took charge at FC Krasnodar in 2013.