Stuttgart and Lyon face each other in a must-win clash as they battle to stay alive in UEFA Champions League Group E.
Group E rivals face battle to stay in hunt for knockout stages
Vfb Stuttgart and Olympique Lyonnais face each other in a must-win clash as they battle to stay alive in UEFA Champions League Group E, live on
Sky Sports Xtra.
Neither team picked up a point in their first two outings against Rangers and Barcelona and defeat for either will leave an uphill struggle to qualify for the knockout stages.
The Germans' cause is not helped by a long injury list. Striker Ciprian Marica, defender Arthur Boka and midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger are all likely to miss the game although Fernando Meira returns from a domestic suspension.
Their Bundesliga form does not point towards a home success either. Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Hamburg was their sixth in ten matches for the German champions, leaving them in the lower reaches of the table.
Intensity
Lyon, on the other hand, are enjoying another good season in Ligue 1. A 3-1 win over Monaco was their seventh victory in eight domestic outings as they moved top of the table.
Coach Alain Perrin believes the time is right to take those performances on to the European stage. He said: "Our last two league games were very good. We showed real intensity, a fight that was lacking in our first two UEFA Champions League matches. This is our chance to make amends."
The French side are without suspended striker Fred, and midfielder Jérémy Toulalan who twisted his knee on Sunday having been rested for the league game.
"The games against Stuttgart will decide our destiny. I am realistic: our chances aren't great but the team won't give up, they'll fight until the end," added Perrin.
