FULL STORY: Pages 52-55

come here with a fully loaded team, they are going to want to come here and make sure they can almost guarantee their home quarter-final with a win here.”

The visit of a star-studded French side is sure to bring out a big crowd and the skipper wants it to bring the best out of his team.

“We know if we prepare well and we play well and we start well and we are physical, we can beat anyone on our day,” said Best.

“We cannot rely on the fact that we are going to be at home and hope that is going to be enough to beat a team like Racing, because it won’t be.

“It’s going to take 15 men on the pitch giving absolutely everything they have.” CRUSADERS turned up the heat on Danske Bank Premiership leaders Linfield with a 1-0 victory at Newry City last night.

A stunning strike from David Cushley in the sixth minute fired the champions level on points at the top of the table with the Blues, who boast a healthier goal difference.

Stephen Baxter’s 700th match in charge of the Crues — and his 409th victory — saw the title chasers net their sixth league win on the bounce.

“I felt we looked a bit jaded after the Christmas campaign that we’ve come through, which was immense,” said Baxter, whose side have now played two more games than Linfield and Ballymena. “I don’t know that we got a great performance, but it was certainly the result we wanted.”

Linfield host Warrenpoint Town this afternoon while the Sky Blues, who sit one point behind the top two, are at home to Dungannon Swifts.

FULL REPORT: Page 48