Praet playing for second spot

Posted Wednesday, October 02, 2013 by PA

Anderlecht midfielder Dennis Praet concedes it will be "impossible" to finish above Paris St Germain in Champions League Group C and believes the rest of the sides are already scrapping over the runners-up spot.

The Belgian champions face Olympiacos on Wednesday with both teams looking to get their European campaigns up and running after defeats on matchday one.

Anderlecht are seeking a response to their 2-0 loss at Benfica while Olympiacos are licking their wounds after being demolished 4-1 by PSG.

Based on playing personnel alone, the affluent French side are a class apart in the group and Praet knows it is vital to achieve a good result at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium if their hopes of playing in Europe after Christmas are not to recede further.

"I feel completely ready for it," Praet said ahead of the first meeting between Anderlecht and Olympiacos since 1974.

"We will do anything we can to beat Olympiacos. I think first place in the group will be impossible, but ending second or third is not impossible."

John van den Brom's troops also have work to do if they are to get their domestic campaign up and running, with the team in fourth place after losing three of their opening nine fixtures.

However, they looked better in a 2-0 win over Lierse on Sunday, when Praet was among the goalscorers.

And Van den Brom is hoping for more of the same on Wednesday.

"Because of the results in the first matches in which we both suffered defeats, this match is essential for both sides to see what role we will play for the rest of our European season. So we both need a win," he told a press conference.

"But the role of the technical staff is to make clear to the players that we must not overrun ourselves, we have to remain calm. We do not have to win in the first minute."

The hosts will be without knee-injury victim Ronald Vargas, but otherwise Van den Brom has a full squad at his disposal.

Olympiacos coach Michel is also optimistic that he will have most of his squad available despite a number of injury concerns in recent weeks.

The only guaranteed absentee is Paulo Machado (knee), but David Fuster should shake off a hamstring complaint, while Leandro Salino and Avraam Papadopoulos could feature after recently returning from lay-offs.

Despite the manner of their loss to PSG last time out, confidence should be high in Olympiacos' ranks after opening the domestic Superleague season with five wins and a draw from their first six matches.