Lille boss Genesio rallies injury-hit team ahead of Champions League Juve clash

Lille boss Bruno Genesio urged his injury-ravaged squad to recall their past exploits in this season's Champions League as they host a Juventus side on Tuesday night led by the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta.

Lille sit in 15th place in the 36-team league with six points from their three games.

On 23 October they won 3-1 at Atletico Madrid. And at the beginning of the month they beat holders Real Madrid 1-0.

The feats were unexpected after they lost their opening game to Sporting 2-0.

"What I've told the players to remember is that each Champions League game is different," said the 58-year-old Frenchman.

"But what is common in all of them is that you need to concentrate and maintain your levels of intensity. It's absolutely crucial for these sorts of matches.

In the prelude to the game at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille – who have eight senior players out with injury – drew their Ligue 1 match against Lyon 1-1 to stay fourth. Juventus won 2-0 at Udinese on Saturday to move to within four points of Serie A pacesetters Napoli.

"It will be a tough match against Juventus," Genesio added. "But the games against Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid were difficult too.

"Juventus are very well organised tactically and there are a lot of players who can create something out of nothing.

"But we're at home, in front of our fans who'll give us lots of support. And what's also important is that we remember that we've beaten two top teams to get the six points.

Motta, who bossed the middle of the park for PSG between 2012 and 2018, concurred.

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