Match Previews

Zerka (r)(mid), Adailton (r)(def) and Bracigliano (r)(gk) all out for Nancy... Dia (sp)(att) also absent...No suspension problems... AS Nancy face a daunting trip to the cold Ukraine in their last thirty-two UEFA Cup match to face Shakhtar Donetsk, who will certainly be no pushovers. Since qualifying from the group stage of the competition the club’s form on the domestic front has been poor – they have plummeted from fifth position to their current spot of eleventh, a trend which has been downward since Nancy hit second place in November. Confidence is not particularly high at the Stade Marcel Picot and it crucial that the French side get a good start to the game if they wish to remain in the tie for the second leg. On Saturday they drew 1-1 with Rennes in a boring fixture but would happily settle for a similar outcome on Wednesday evening. Three players have returned to the squad following that draw, central defenders Diakhate (r) and Puygrenier (r) both make comebacks into the squad and would expect to start as the central defensive pair. Chretien (r) and Sauget (r) are expected to flank the central defenders and aid their protection of Gregorini’s (r) goal. Adailton (r) is still missing from the defence through injury, heading a lengthy injury list that also includes goalkeeper Bracigliano (r), forward Issiar Dia (sp) and midfield player Monsef Zerka (r), who is ruled out for the entire season after picking up an injury in the very first tackle of the very first match of 2007. Normally Nancy would play a 4-3-3 formation, however for an away match in Europe they may revert to a more defensively minded 4-5-1. Kim (k) will certainly be involved in a wide position, the Brazilian having great success in Europe this season due to his fantastic pace. Marc Fortune (r) is a new signing for the club but has been a great success in the two games he has played and would be expected to start, possibly as a wide player with Curbelo (r), rested at the weekend possibly with a view to this fixture, at the head of the attack. The midfield will have a defensive mindset, Andre Luiz (r) playing a holding role alongside Berenguer (r) while Brison (sp) may be chosen to start alongside the duo.