Lille suffer Nabil Bentaleb blow ahead of UEFA Champions League clash against Bodo/Glimt

Lille OSC will be without several important players, including Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, for their UEFA Champions League encounter against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night.

The French club have been dealt a setback ahead of the European assignment, with Bentaleb ruled out after falling ill just days after playing a key role in Lille’s victory over RC Lens on Friday.

The Algerian international was particularly influential in the derby success and his absence represents a significant loss for Davide Ancelotti’s side as they prepare for a difficult trip to Norway.

Bentaleb’s absence is not the only concern for the Lille coach, who will also have to manage without Ethan Mbappé and Ayase Ueda for the encounter.

Mbappé is unavailable through suspension, while Ueda is also missing from the travelling squad, further limiting Lille’s attacking options ahead of the Champions League fixture.

Meanwhile, Basar Onal has also been left out of the squad travelling to Norway. However, his omission is understood to be a technical decision rather than an injury concern, with the winger struggling to find his best form and adapt since arriving in France during the summer transfer window.

With Ueda unavailable, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson could be handed the responsibility of leading Lille’s attack as the central striker against Bodo/Glimt.

Young forward Soriba Diaoune is also expected to retain his place on the left flank after making a positive impression since breaking into the first team.

Lille will now have to find solutions to their selection problems as they seek a positive result in Norway, with Ancelotti expected to rely on the depth of his squad to compensate for the absence of several key players.