Friday, September 24, 2010

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24.09. (Fri) 20:30 Koeln - 1899 Hoffenheim

Koeln Look To Rebound After Mainz Loss

The early season has been a bit of a mixed bag for Koeln. Before centre half Pedro Geromel returned to action, die Geissboecke struggled at the back, and lost their opening two fixtures by an aggregate 7-3 margin. More recently, they beat St Pauli and held Bayern Munich to a draw.

Most recently, in their Tuesday clash with Mainz, Koeln held onto their point for 72 minutes. However, their efforts proved to be in vain as they eventually succumbed to their impressive hosts.

“We had great difficulties in the first half and we had no answer to Mainz’s style of play,” coach Zvonimir Soldo told Sky after the game. At the same time, the coach lamented his team’s poor defensive quality late in the game.

“We began to improve in the second half, but we gave away two soft goals.”

Looking ahead to this weekend’s match with Hoffenheim, Koeln will have to shore up their defence, but may have to do without the services of Pedro Geromel, who has been a tremendous force at the back since returning from an injury lay-off. The Brazilian is suffering from a muscle strain, and may have to join long-term casualty Kevin McKenna on the sidelines.

Looking forward to the upcoming match, Soldo described Hoffenheim as “tough opponents.” Responding to questions of his tactical approach, the Croat stressed that the score is what matters most.

“What matters is not how many strikers we use against Hoffenheim. What is important is the end result.”

Hoffenheim Hope To Extend Perfect Streak In Koeln

Hoffenheim broke out of last year’s sophomore slump with a blistering start to their 2010-11 campaign, but in the last week, have faltered. After drawing and losing in consecutive matches, the Sinsheim side are five points behind red-hot Mainz, but remain in the respectable position of third, with ten points from five matches.

Following their Tuesday loss to Bayern Munich, coach Ralf Rangnick was dejected, but vowed to rebound against Koeln.

“We made a huge effort and we had a great chance to win the game in the 87th minute,” he told Sky. “It is a bitter feeling to lose in stoppage time.”

“We definitely deserved a point today. We must now look ahead and do our best to win in Koeln this Friday.”

A win in Koeln would be just the ticket for the Sinsheim club, who could find themselves back within striking distance os the top spot, depending on how Mainz fare against Bayern. History favours the village side, who have visited Koeln twice since reaching Germany’s top tier, and won on both occasions.

TEAM NEWS

Koeln


Though it remains uncertain how Soldo will deploy his team, it is expected that Koeln will line up with just Lukas Podolski in attack. There remain questions over the use of Taner Yalcin and Pedro Geromel, who could be swapped for Adam Matuszczyk and Kevin Pezzoni, respectively. Definite absentees are Adil Chihi, Christopher Schorch, Kevin McKenna, and Manasseh Ishiaku.

Probable Starting XI: Mondragon - Brecko, Geromel, Mohamad, Ehret - Petit - Freis, Yalcin, Jajalo, Clemens - Podolski

Hoffenheim

After his impressive performance in midweek, Sebastian Rudy is expected to retain his starting role at the expense of Peniel Mlapa, and Ralf Rangnick will likely use a 4-4-2 system. Andreas Ibertsberger should replace the struggling Marvin Compper at left back, but otherwise, Rangnick will use the same starting lineup that featured in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich. Tom Starke, Matthias Jaissle and Chinedu Obasi all remain injured, and will be unable to take part in Friday’s match.

Probable Starting XI: Starke - Beck, Simunic, Vorsah, Ibertsberger - Weis, Rudy, Luis Gustavo, Salihovic - Ibisevic, Ba


Prediction
A lot is riding on the fitness of Geromel, but Koeln should be able to secure a draw if the Brazilian plays. The hosts will be content to draw, and given that Hoffenheim just don’t seem to be firing on all cylinders, should be able to earn one.

FC Köln 2-2 TSG Hoffenheim

25.-25. 09. 2010. Premier League Preview

Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
  • Arsenal have won six and lost just one of the eight Premier League matches against West Brom.
  • Arsenal have kept seven clean sheets and conceded just two goals in their last nine Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium, winning eight and losing none of those matches.
  • West Brom have failed to score in their last four Premier League away matches.
  • The Baggies have won none and lost 14 of their last 18 Premier League away games.
  • Arsenal have won 39 corners to date, the most in the Premier League this season.
  • The Gunners have only failed to score in one of their last 18 Premier League matches.
  • Five of the 10 red cards in the Premier League this season have come in games involving Arsenal.
Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic
  • Birmingham are unbeaten in their last 17 Premier League matches at St Andrews: their last home league defeat came almost exactly a year ago (1-2 vs Bolton on 25th September).
  • Wigan have converted just 4% of their chances into goals, the lowest percentage in the top flight.
  • Birmingham have won just 15 corners so far, fewer than any other team.
  • Birmingham have conceded three penalties, more than any other team.
  • Alex McLeish's side have only won two of their last 15 Premier League matches.
  • Wigan have only won one of their last eight Premier League matches.
Blackpool v Blackburn Rovers
  • Blackpool and Blackburn haven't met in any competition since February 1980.
  • Blackpool have won 15 and only lost one of their 21 home league games against Blackburn.
  • Rovers have only won five of 31 Premier League away games under Sam Allardyce but have lost just one of the last six.
  • Blackburn have scored exactly one goal in each of their last six Premier League matches.
  • Blackpool have won the two Premier League games where they have scored in the first half but failed to win the matches where they have failed to net before the break.
  • Rovers haven't scored a goal later than the 54th minute so far this season.
Fulham v Everton
  • 17 of the 18 Premier league meetings between Fulham and Everton have ended as home wins.
  • Everton have failed to score in six of their nine Premier League trips to play Fulham in the Premier League.
  • Fulham have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight Premier League home matches.
  • Everton have failed to score in their last three Premier League away matches.
  • Mark Hughes has drawn 12 of his last 16 matches as a Premier League coach.
  • This is Everton's poorest start to a league season since 1994/95 when they had accrued just one point after five games.
Liverpool v Sunderland
  • Sunderland have only won two of their last 31 Premier League away games.
  • Liverpool have won 10 and lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games at Anfield.
  • Fernando Torres has scored four goals in four Premier League matches against Sunderland.
  • Sunderland have only scored one goal in their last eight Premier League games against Liverpool and that was deflected by a beach ball.
  • All four of Liverpool's goals have been scored in the second half this season.
  • The Black Cats have kept just two clean sheets in their last 15 Premier League matches.
Manchester City v Chelsea
  • Man City have only won four of their last nine Premier League home matches.
  • City had only won two out of 24 Premier League meetings with Chelsea before they took all three points home and away against the Blues last season.
  • Chelsea have won at Manchester City's ground more often than any other team in the Premier League era (10 times).
  • Carlos Tevez has scored five goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Chelsea.
  • Florent Malouda has scored six goals in four Premier League starts this season.
  • Carlos Tevez has scored 24 goals in his last 28 Premier League matches.
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
  • Spurs have not won away from home in the Premier League in September since beating Sunderland in 2001 - a run of 14 games.
  • Tottenham have not lost any of their last eight Premier League games against West Ham and won the last five in a row.
  • The Hammers have only scored one goal in their last five Premier league matches against Spurs.
  • West Ham have only won two of their last 17 Premier League matches.
  • The Hammers have earned just 19 points in 23 games in 2010, fewer than any of the 17 sides in the top flight for the whole of this period.
  • Tottenham have scored more goals at West Ham's ground (22) than any other opponent's in the Premier League.
Bolton Wanderers v Manchester United
  • Wayne Rooney has scored six goals in his last four appearances against Bolton.
  • Man Utd have won 12 and lost just one of the last 14 Premier League matches against Bolton.
  • Dimitar Berbatov has scored three goals in his last two visits to the Reebok Stadium.
  • Bolton have drawn three of their last four matches at the Reebok Stadium.
  • Dimitar Berbatov has scored six goals in his last five league games.
  • Kevin Davies has been booked eight times against Manchester United in the Premier League, only against Arsenal (10 times) has he been cautioned more often.
Newcastle United v Stoke City
  • Three of the last four matches between Newcastle and Stoke in all competitions have ended as draws.
  • Former Magpie Abdoulaye Faye scored in both Premier League meetings for Stoke against Newcastle.
  • Stoke have lost four of their last five Premier League away matches.
  • The Potters have failed to score in four of their last six Premier League away matches.
  • Newcastle have lost five of their last eight Premier League matches at St James Park.
  • Seven of the eight goals Stoke have conceded have been netted in the first half.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa
  • Wolves are unbeaten in their last six Premier League home games, but have drawn four of those.
  • Aston Villa have lost their last three away games in a row. They haven't lost four on the trot since spring 2007.
  • Aston Villa have conceded 47 corners this season, the most in the top flight.
  • Mick McCarthy's side have also earned 17 yellows and one red meaning they have picked up the most cards.
  • Five of the six goals both sides have scored this season have been netted before half-time.
  • Wolves have dropped eight points from winning positions this season, more than any other side.
  • Half the goals Villa have scored so far this season have been netted in the first 15 minutes, the highest proportion in the top flight.

24.-26. 09. 2010. Championship Preview

Portsmouth v Leicester
  • The Foxes have won three of their last four league meetings with Portsmouth.
  • Portsmouth have failed to score in four of their last five home encounters with Leicester City in all competitions, losing each time.
  • Portsmouth are the only side yet to find the net in the second half of a game in the Championship.
  • The Foxes have conceded more goals in the first half (8) than any other side.



Cardiff v Millwall
  • Four of the last five games between Cardiff and Millwall have ended in a draw.
  • The Lions are unbeaten in their last five away games against Cardiff City in all competitions.
  • After scoring 11 goals in their first five league games of the season, Cardiff have failed to score in their last two matches.
  • Millwall conceded six goals in their last Championship game, one more than in their previous six combined.



Burnley v Bristol City
  • Burnley have been defeated in just one of their last seven matches against the Robins.
  • There have been three penalties scored in the last two meetings between these sides.
  • All three of Burnley's wins in the league this season have come at home.
  • Four of Bristol City's five points this season have come on the road.



Coventry v Preston
  • Coventry have won just once in their last six home games against Preston.
  • Preston are unbeaten in their last five matches against the Sky Blues.
  • Preston have conceded 14 goals so far in the league, more than any other side in the Championship.
  • Coventry have won seven of a possible nine points at home in the Championship so far this term.



Derby v Crystal Palace
  • Only three of the last 12 games between these two sides have witnessed over two goals.
  • Palace have won four and drawn one of their last five meetings with the Rams.
  • The Eagles have conceded four goals from the penalty spot; more than any other side in the league.
  • Since winning their opening day game against Leeds, Derby haven't won in six league matches.



Leeds United v Sheffield United
  • Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last seven games against Leeds.
  • Leeds have not defeated the Blades since their 2-1 Premier League win at home in September 1993.
  • Leeds United have conceded a league-high four goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season.
  • Sheffield United have scored just four goals in their seven league games so far this season: only Portsmouth have scored fewer.



Norwich v Hull
  • The last six games between these two sides have ended either 1-1 (3 times) or 2-1 (3 times).
  • Hull have not defeated Norwich away from home since their third round FA Cup tie victory in 1971/72.
  • Norwich have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of games than any other side in the league (5).
  • Hull are the only side yet to benefit from a goal from a striker in the Championship this season.



Nottingham Forest v Swansea
  • Four of the last seven games between these two have ended in a draw.
  • Swansea have won just one of their last eight meetings with Nottingham Forest.
  • All six of the goals that Forest have conceded so far in the league this term have come in the first half.
  • Forest have drawn five of their seven league games so far this season (the most), while Swansea are one of just three sides yet to draw.



QPR v Doncaster
  • The side at home have won eight of the last nine encounters between these two teams, drawing the other.
  • Doncaster last won at QPR in February 1952; a run of four trips without success.
  • QPR have scored more goals than any other side in the league (19), with almost half of those coming through Jamie Mackie (8).
  • Doncaster have conceded three league goals from opposition substitutes; a league-high.



Reading v Barnsley
  • Barnsley have scored just once in their last four league meetings with the Royals.
  • Reading have won just one of their last seven home meetings with Barnsley.
  • The Royals have scored in all but one of their league games this season.
  • Adam Hammill has scored four goals in the Tykes' last five matches.


Scunthorpe v Ipswich
  • Scunthorpe have only won one of their competitive games against Ipswich, losing eight and drawing three.
  • There have been four red cards given in the last three meetings between these two sides.
  • All 10 of Ipswich's goals in the Championship this season have come in the second half.
  • Scunthorpe have failed to score in four of their last six league games, but have kept a clean sheet in the two that they have found the net in.



Watford v Middlesbrough
  • Middlesbrough have won just one of their last five matches against Watford.
  • Watford have been defeated in just one of their last five home games against Boro.
  • The Hornets have scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches than any other Championship side (four).
  • Marvin Sordell has netted four goals in his last three appearances for Watford.
  • After scoring just two goals in their opening five league games this season, Middlesbrough have netted five in their last two.

25.-26. 09. 2010. Scottish Premier League Preview

Celtic v Hibernian
  • Hibs are the only team to have won at Celtic Park in the SPL in over two years, thanks to a 2-1 win in January.
  • Aside from Rangers, Hibs are the only team to have beaten Celtic more than once in the SPL since the start of 2007 (four times).
  • Hibernian have beaten Celtic once in each of the last four SPL seasons.
  • The Bhoys have won all 13 of their league matches under Neil Lennon.
  • No player has scored more than once in a match for Celtic this season.
  • Derek Riordan has either scored (two) or assisted (two) four of Hibs' five league goals this season.



Dundee United v St Johnstone
  • St Johnstone are without a win in their last nine league meetings with the Terrors.
  • Three of the last four league meetings between the sides at Tannadice have ended in a draw.
  • Jon Daly scored in both of his league appearances against the Saints last season.
  • A win against Aberdeen in their last match there ended a run of four straight SPL defeats for United at Tannadice.
  • St Johnstone have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 league games.
  • All four of St Johnstone's goals this season have come in the first half.


Hamilton v Kilmarnock
  • The Accies have won five of their last seven SPL clashes with Kilmarnock.
  • Killie have hit just one goal in their last five trips to New Douglas Park in all competitions.
  • Hamilton have scored just one goal in their last three home league matches.
  • Kilmarnock have won two of their last three away matches in the SPL: it is three years since they won three in four.
  • Dougie Imrie has committed 14 fouls this season, more than any other player in the SPL.


Hearts v Motherwell
  • Motherwell won three of their four league games against Hearts last season.
  • None of the last 14 league meetings between the sides has ended in a draw.
  • The Jambos are without a win in their last five league matches at Tynecastle. They have not gone six without a win on home turf since April 1999.
  • Motherwell have won three of their last five SPL away matches, including the last two on the trot.
  • With four, only Kenny Miller (eight) has scored more SPL goals this season than Calum Eliot.



St Mirren v Inverness CT
  • In the 2008/09 season, both sides won this game twice, with the Saints going on to avoid relegation on goal difference at Caley Thistle's expense on the last day of the season.
  • In 12 attempts in the SPL, neither side has ever managed to score twice in this fixture, nor has a meeting produced more than three goals.
  • Only once in the last 16 attempts have St Mirren managed to score more than once in a match at home in the SPL: the 4-0 win over Celtic.
  • Caley Thistle have lost just one of their last six SPL games on the road.



Aberdeen v Rangers
  • Aberdeen were one of only three sides to beat Rangers in the SPL last season, ending a 21 game unbeaten run for the Gers.
  • Rangers have not won at Pittodire in the league since December 2006, a run of six games.
  • During this period, the Gers have scored just twice.
  • On Sunday it will be exactly one year to the day since Aberdeen's last 0-0 draw - against Rangers.
  • The Dons have lost three of their last four SPL games at home.
  • Rangers have won four of their last five league games on the road.
  • Kenny Miller has scored twice as many goals as any other SPL player this season (eight in six matches).

NEBOJŠA MILIČIĆ, TRENER U REALU

Dvojka na Real je fiks kola. Levante je na dnu tabele, daće sve od sebe da pruži dostojan otpor, ali naš prvi tim na čelu sa Murinjom zna kako se dobijaju ovakve utakmice.
LEVANTE – REAL M. 2

Atletiko iz Madrida izgleda snažno kao tim, a Saragosa nikako da pronađe igru. Jedinica na ovoj utakmici izgleda mi sasvim realna.
ATLETIKO M. - SARAGOSA 1

Majorka je i dalje jako nezgodna na svom terenu, pa Sosijedad očekuje težak posao ukoliko želi da izbegne poraz.
Majorka – Sosijedad 1

Bilbao je možda i najnezgodniji domaćin u Primeri. Barseloni neće biti lako, ali zbog snage gostiju igram dvoznak bez jedinice.
Bilbao – Barselona X2

Sevilja ne bi smela da izgubi na terenu Herkulesa, kao i jaka Valensija na gostovanju Hihonu.
Herkules – Sevilja X2
Hihon – Valensija X2