Star-studded Senegal can make light work of Luxembourg

International friendly
Thursday 7pm

Senegal will likely be without Sadio Mane for the start of their World Cup preparations following the forward’s involvement in the Champions League final but his side should have no issues blowing away a lacklustre Luxembourg team.

The African nation will have high hopes heading to Russia this summer having been draw in one of the most open groups in the tournament. They will lock horns with Colombia, Japan and Poland.

The clash with Luxembourg will provide Senegal with the chance to rotate players and boost spirits following disappointing back-to-back draws with Uzbekistan and Bosnia in their last round of friendlies.

Despite Mane’s absence the Senegal squad still boasts high-calibre names such as Kalidou Koulibaly and Keita Balde Diao at opposite ends of the pitch, as well as Premier League regulars in Everton’s Idrissa Gueye and West Ham’s Cheikhou Kouyate.

Luxembourg finished second-bottom in their World Cup qualifying group, shipping 26 goals and winning just one of their ten matches. Their defensive vulnerabilities can be exposed by a Senegal side who reached the quarter-finals in the World Cup in their last appearance in 2006.

Senegal set up with more conservative formations in recent friendlies, playing three at the back against Bosnia, but are likely to revert to a 4-3-3 system for the trip to Luxembourg.

Recommendation
Senegal -2 on goal handicap
2pts 11-4 Betfair

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