Champions League Group B preview: Trio battle for second

Three teams will fight it out for second place in Champions League Group B with CSKA Moscow, Lille and Trabzonspor all capable of advancing.

Inter Milan have already secured their progression by winning the group, but with just one point separating the other three sides the nerves will be jangling on Wednesday when CSKA visit Inter and Trabzonspor head to Lille for the final round of matches.

Turkish side Trabzonspor are in second place on six points, with Lille and CSKA Moscow on five apiece.

Lille are in third place because of their superior head-to-head record against the Russians.

CSKA Moscow can qualify second in the group with a win against Inter, but only if Lille and Trabzonspor play out a draw.

CSKA have not won in five games and have lost their past three, with a 2-0 home loss against Lille in the Champions League bookending two 2-1 losses in the Russian league.

Although Inter have already won the group, history will be against CSKA with no Russian team having ever won on Italian soil in the Champions League.

Ivory Coast striker Seydou Doumbia leads all CSKA scorers with 23 goals this season in the Russian league and four in the Champions League, including both goals in their 2-2 draw against Lille on September 14.

Doumbia missed the 2-0 loss to Lille in their last Champions League outing due to suspension and will be keen for goals on Wednesday.

Inter won 3-2 in their first encounter in Moscow thanks to a late winner from substitute Mauro Zarate.

Claudio Ranieri will be without centre-back Lucio after the Brazilian sustained a thigh strain in Inter’s 1-1 draw at Trabzonspor on November 22 while defender Andrea Ranocchia is also doubtful after suffering a thigh injury in training. Walter Samuel will continue to deputise for Lucio against CSKA.

Inter have been disappointing so far in Serie A and are just two spots above the relegation zone.

After keeping their Champions League hopes alive with a 2-0 win against CSKA last time out, Lille will be looking to leapfrog second-placed Trabzonspor with a win at home.

Lille striker David Rozehnal is suspended and with Tulio de Melo pulling his hamstring in their 2-0 win over Brest, manager Rudi Garcia will have to hope Marko Basa can come back from his shoulder injury. Eden Hazard will continue to lead the line up front for Lille.

Trabzonspor will be looking for a win but a point would be enough to qualify if CSKA do not win at Inter.

Trabzonspor have not won in their past three matches and have fallen to sixth in the Turkish league.