Monday, April 19, 2010

20.04. (Tue) 20:45 Inter - Barcelona

  • Both sides met in the group stages this season: the outcome was a goalless draw at the San Siro and a 2-0 win for Barcelona at Camp Nou.
  • This is the fourth time Barcelona have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in the last five seasons, winning twice (2006 and 2009).
  • The last time Inter Milan reached the semi-finals of the Champions League was back in the 2002/03 season - they were eventually knocked out by AC Milan.
  • Inter Milan have won their last five Champions League games, the best run currently in the competition. They have also kept three consecutive clean sheets.
  • Barcelona have drawn seven of their last eight away games in the Champions League.
  • The Blaugrana have kept a clean sheet in their last five Champions League games against Italian sides.
  • Inter Milan have scored six goals from outside the box, the most in the Champions League this season.
  • Barcelona have completed 6084 passes, a Champions League-high this season. That's 2931 more than Inter Milan (3153).
  • 50% - Wesley Sneijder has been directly involved in six of Inter Milan's 12 goals in the Champions League this season: two goals, four assists.
  • Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the Champions League this season with eight goals. He has netted seven in his last five Champions League games.

21.04. (Wed) 20:45 Bayern Munchen - Olympique Lyonnais

  • Bayern Munich and Lyon have met six times in the Champions League with the record evenly balanced: two wins each and two draws.
  • The Bavarians have failed to win any of their last four Champions League games at home against French sides, including defeats against Lyon and Bordeaux.
  • Lyon have won four of their last five Champions League games away to German sides.
  • The last time Bayern Munich reached the semi-finals of the Champions League was back in the 2000/01 season - they eventually won the trophy on a penalty shoot-out against Valencia.
  • This is the first time Lyon have reached the last four of the Champions League and the first time since 2004 a French side has been in the semi-finals of the competition (Monaco).
  • Lyon have the best defensive record in the Champions League this season, conceding only six goals in 10 games.
  • Bayern Munich are the most prolific side in the last 30 minutes in this season's Champions League with 11 goals.
  • The Bavarians have scored four goals from corners, the most in the Champions League this season.
  • Lyon have seen their woodwork rattled six times, the most in the Champions League this season.
  • 41% - Miralem Pjanic has been involved in seven of Lyon's 17 goals in the Champions League this season: four goals, three assists.
  • Ivica Olic has scored four goals in his last four Champions League starts for Bayern Munich.
  • Arjen Robben has found the net in each of his last three Champions League games for Bayern Munich.

22.04. (Thu) 21:05 Atletico Madrid - Liverpool

  • Liverpool have won on three of their last four trips to play in Spain.
  • However, the only team to avoid defeat at home to the Merseysiders in this period was Atletico in their last match (1-1 in the Champions League in October 2008).
  • Both previous meetings between these sides have ended 1-1.
  • Atletico have won none of their last seven meetings with English sides in Europe since a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in 1997/98.
  • However, the Madrid side are yet to lose a home game against an English opponent.
  • Five of Atletico's six Europa League matches this season have ended in a draw, winning the other.
  • The Reds have won only one of their last 11 away matches in all competitions.
  • Fernando Torres scored four of Liverpool's last seven goals in the Europa League.
  • Sergio Aguero has been involved in half of Atletico's 10 goals in European competition this season (four goals, one assist).

22.04. (Thu) 21:05 Hamburger SV - Fulham

  • Arsenal are the only team from England to have won at the Hamburg Arena, prevailing 2-1 in a 2006/07 UEFA Champions League group-stage fixture.
  • Fulham have lost one (2-1 at Hertha Berlin in 2002/03) and won one (1-0 at Wolfsburg in the Quarter-Finals) of their competitive matches in Germany.
  • Hamburg have won their last two matches at home to English opposition in the Europa League (and UEFA Cup), defeating Manchester City 3-1 last season in the quarter-finals and Aston Villa 3-1 the season before.
  • Just one of Hamburg's last 21 matches in the Europa League (and UEFA Cup) have ended in a draw.
  • The German side has won six of its last seven matches at home in the competition, drawing the other.
  • Mladen Petric has scored five goals in Hamburg's last five matches in the Europa League.
  • The Cottagers have kept three consecutive clean sheets in matches in all competitions.
  • Fulham have won six of their last eight matches in the Europa League.
  • The Whites have never failed to score in nine matches away from home in the UEFA Cup/Europa League proper (not including qualifiers).
  • Bobby Zamora has scored six goals in his last seven appearances in the competition, assisting two more in the same period.
  • 11 of Fulham's 13 goals in the Europa League since November have been either scored or assisted by Gera (five goals, three assists) or Zamora (six goals, two assists).

20.04. (Tue) 20:45 Scunthorpe United - Reading


  • The last three meetings between the two sides have ended in a draw.
  • Scunthorpe have won just one of their last five matches at home to the Royals.
  • Gary Hooper, who scored in the meeting at the Madejski earlier this season, has bagged seven goals in his last eight games for the Iron.
  • Scunthorpe have lost only one of their last seven league matches at Glanford Park.
  • Reading have won 11 of their last 17 league games.

20.04. (Tue) 21:00 Queens Park Rangers - Watford

  • The last three meetings between the two sides have ended in a draw.
  • Scunthorpe have won just one of their last five matches at home to the Royals.
  • Gary Hooper, who scored in the meeting at the Madejski earlier this season, has bagged seven goals in his last eight games for the Iron.
  • Scunthorpe have lost only one of their last seven league matches at Glanford Park.
  • Reading have won 11 of their last 17 league games.