Lille (A)

Lille OSC vs Everton

Europa League Group Stage

Stade Pierre Mauroy

Thursday October 23rd 6pm

Its here, its finally here! Got my passport, my flights, my tickets, my Euros, and Thursday morning just cant come soon enough. Its been five years since my last Euro away, a horrible long wet night amidst an injury and form crisis, but worth every second of a 1-0 win in Athens! We had around 1,500 fans there that night in December 2009, but Thursday will be slightly different. Over 5,200 in the official away end, and countless thousands of others all over the 50,000 capacity ground in the biggest mass migration of Evertonians since Rotterdam 85! Bring on the crepes!

Team News

With the exception of long termers Kevin Mirallas, John Stones, Bryan Oviedo and Arouna Kone, we have a fully fit squad to choose from. Leon Osman and Steven Naismith have been rested however and are not in the traveling squad.

Howard

Coleman-Alcaraz-Jagielka-Baines

Barry-McCarthy

McGeady-Barkley-Pienaar
Lukaku

Ones to Watch

I dont know a lot about Lille's players. just three of them in fact, Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, Danish international midfielder Simon Kjaer, and the very odd situation of Belgian striker Divock Origi. Odd because he was signed by Liverpool in the summer and loaned straight back to Lille...considering he hasnt even made an appearance for Liverpool yet, I imagine he wont know whats hit him when he gets booed!

The Ex Factor

 Kevin Mirallas (Lille 2004-2008)

Appearances: 76

Goals: 10

(Everton 2012-Present)

Appearances: 64 (13)

Goals: 20

Previous Meetings with French Clubs

Surprisingly maybe, but in our history playing in Europe, this will be the first time we have faced a French side. By comparison, despite only qualifying for Europe for the first time in 2001, Lille have played three ties against English clubs. They famously beat Man United 1-0 at the Stade De France in the group stage in 2005, as well as a 0-0 at Old Trafford, but then lost to them in the knockouts the following season. They have also faced our loveable rivals in the 2010 Europa League, winning 1-0 in France before losing 3-0 at Anfield.

Prediction

A win would leave us needing to win one of our last 3 group games to pretty much guarantee progress. Lille suffered a bad defeat at home at the weekend, so we need to take advantage of that. Lille 1-3 Everton