Frankfurt (AH 0) - Hamburg : 1 @ 2.10 Bet365.com
Catania (AH -0,75) - Varese : 1 @ 1.87 10bet.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tiket 27-10-2010.
Frankfurt (AH 0) - Hamburg : 1 @ 2.10 Bet365.com
Catania (AH -0,75) - Varese : 1 @ 1.87 10bet.com
27-10-2010 20:45 Olympique Lyonnais - Paris Saint Germain
Olympique Lyonnais seemed to be over the worst of their form prior to the weekend. Claude Puel’s side, who were at one stage lingering in the Ligue 1 drop zone, successfully picked up five wins on the trot in all competitions and moved to Arles-Avignon with the expectation of making it six. Against Le Championnat’s bottom side, who had previously picked up just one point this season, OL stumbled to a 1-1 draw.
Once again the pressure has mounted on general manager Claude Puel, who has been under intense scrutiny in the Rhone Valley since the beginning of the season. President Jean-Michel Aulas is set to disclose the former Lille boss’ future after Wednesday evening’s match, so the coach is very much drinking in the last chance saloon.
It may well be that Aulas already has his mind made up. Not a president who likes to sack generals – he has done so only once in his near two-and-a-half-decade long stint in charge of les Gones – it’s likely that OL’s recent resurgence will be enough to keep Puel in a job. Aulas has already proclaimed that he sees the Coupe de la Ligue as an irritant that congests the fixture calendar more than anything else, so even a defeat may not see the end of the defensively-minded manager.
With commitments in the Champions League ahead, as well as a struggle to get back into Ligue 1’s top three, Lyon will not see this match as essential, though against old adversaries PSG, they won’t want to give anything up cheaply.
Unbeaten Run Broken
Paris Saint-Germain are considered one of France’s great sleeping giants. Possessing a catchment like no other in the European game given that PSG are essentially the only major club in one of the continent’s biggest cities, the fact they have not win the league title since 1994 is quite remarkable. They are, however, generally good in the Coupe de la Ligue, claiming the competition three times since it began in the year of their last Ligue 1 title victory.
Poor organisation at boardroom level has been a major impediment for the growth of PSG as a club, though under Robin Leproux steps are being taken to improve this, even if it means angering the club’s core support, many of whom are boycotting fixtures due to the hard-line measures taken by the president to give les Rouge et Bleu a more family friendly image.
On the field, Antoine Kombouare is doing a good job with the side. A disappointing 13th placed finish last term could have been grounds for the sack, but the coach led the club to a Coupe de France success that may have saved his bacon.
Few mistakes are being made this term. The addition of Nene has been a massive plus for the capital side, and the Brazilian played a starring role in PSG’s eight-match unbeaten run in all competitions that only came to an end against Auxerre on Sunday.
Kombouare refused to be too downbeat about the outcome, blaming a poor 20 minute spell for the loss. Indeed, he confidently predicted that les Parisiens can bounce back at the Stade Gerland on Wednesday evening.
TEAM NEWS
Lyon
Claude Puel goes into this match with a depleted squad. Ederson, Joan Hartock and Cesar Delgado are long-term problems, while they have been recently joined on the sidelines by Jeremy Toulalan and Aly Cissokho.
Midfielder Kim Kallstrom may well be deployed at left-back in a heavily reshuffled side as Cissokho’s understudy, Timothee Kolodziejczak is suspended following a red card with the reserves. Hugo Lloris will definitely be rested, allowing Remy Vercoutre a rare chance to shine in goal.
PSG
Antoine Kombouare is set to rotate his side significantly; probably more so than he would for a Europa League fixture. He doesn’t have too many injury issues, with Ceara and Jean-Eudes Maurice still the only players sidelined.
Prediction
Much depends on the strength of the squads deployed by the respective coaches, but PSG are a side with a massive amount of confidence and are in the mood to create a shock result. If Lyon are not on their mettle, it would be little surprise to see les Parisiens steal the win, but in front of a baying home crowd, there will be an incentive for the OL XI to be at their best.
O. Lyon 1-2 PSG 
27-10-2010 20:45 West Ham United - Stoke City
West Ham will be hoping to progress to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup in order to ease the pressure on Avram Grant.
The Israeli manager has suffered a disastrous start to the season and it looks as if his side could well be embroiled in a relegation battle this season.
The Hammers were poor in their last Premier League game, slipping to a 2-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United. Striker Andy Carroll's aerial presence caused the shakey Hammers defence problems during the game and there is no doubt that Tony Pulis will have taken note of this.
West Ham will reach the quarter-finals for only the second time since 1999 if they beat Stoke at Upton Park this Wednesday.
London holds no fear for Potters
Stoke will travel to Upton Park this Wednesday evening, knowing that they have a good record in the capital city. Three of their four away victories last season came in London - with wins at Tottenham, Fulham and at West Ham themselves.
This is the third successive season that the Potters have reached the fourth stage of the League Cup - before that they went out in the first or second round for seven years in a row.
The Potters won the League Cup for the only time back in 1972 but their victory in this years' third round against Fulham was the first time they have beaten a top-flight side in the League Cup in 10 years.
TEAM NEWS
West Ham United
Manager Avram Grant will wait to assess the fitness of centre-half Matthew Upson after he was forced off in their defeat to Newcastle with a hamstring problem.Striker Frederic Piquionne could also miss the game after picking up a knock in the same game.
Defender Lars Jacobsen will definitely miss Wednesday's clash with Stoke as he is cup-tied after featuring for Blackburn Rovers in their second-round victory over Norwich City.
Grant is still without long-term absentees Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Jack Collison, Zavon Hines, and Peter Kurucz (all knee).
Possible Starting XI: Stech; Faubert, Tomkins, Da Costa, Ben Haim; Barrera, Noble, Parker, Boa Morte; Obinna, McCarthy.
Stoke City
Potters' boss Tony Pulis has midfielder Dean Whitehead available after serving a one match suspension.Striker Tuncay is expected to be recalled to the starting eleven after his sensational strike to equalise against Manchester United after coming on as a substitute last Sunday.
New signing Marc Wilson is unavailable after playing for Portsmouth in an earlier round of the competition and Pulis will also check on Matthew Etherington and Danny Collins - who both picked up slight knocks in the 2-1 loss to United.
Pulis has admitted he will make a few changes with both Eidur Gudjohnsen and Danny Higginbothom expected to start the game.
Possible Starting XI: Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham; Whitehead, Whelan, Diao, Tuncay; Gudjohnsen, Walters.
Prediction
West Ham 0-1 Stoke 
27-10-2010 20:45 Aston Villa - Burnley
New Villa boss Gerard Houllier lifted the League Cup twice as manager of Liverpool so clearly knows how to succeed in the knockout format.
However, after winning his first two games in charge at Villa, Houllier's side have slipped and are without a victory in their last three games.
Despite inheriting a team that boasts attacking flair in the shape of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing, Villa are without a goal in their last 254 minutes of football - so will be looking to turn the corner in Wedneday's match.
Unlike their opponents, Villa have won the competiton five times and were runners-up last season — when they lost out in the final to Premier League runners-up Manchester United.
First of three crucial away games for the Clarets
Wednesday's fixture at Villa Park is the first of three away games for promotion chasing Burnley. Their next league match is against high-flying QPR on Saturday and they then travel to Norwich for another tricky away tie.
The Clarets' faithful have cause for concern after seeing their side claim just two victories in their last eight Championship matches.
A 4-0 loss to Reading last weekend has left fans nervous about their promotion aspirations and springing a surprise at Villa Park would certainly send them into their next two fixtures with confidence.
Burnley have never won the League Cup but have reached the semi-finals four times in their history — most recently in 2008-09 when they lost to Tottenham.
TEAM NEWS
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are without their captain Stiliyan Petrov for the Carling Cup clash after manager Gerard Houllier revealed the midfielder needs surgery on the knee injury that he picked up against Sunderland. Petrov is expected to be out of action for at least two months.Villa are also without the injured Luke Young and Gabby Agbonlahor - who are both yet to return to full training.
Second choice 'keeper Brad Guzan will almost certainly replace fellow American Brad Friedel in goal, with both Emile Heskey and John Carew expected to feature in a side that will mix youth with experience.
Possible Starting XI: Guzan; Lichaj, Cuellar, Clark, Warnock; Albrighton, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, Bannan; A Young; Carew
Burnley
Burnley manager Brian Laws is without centre-half Leon Cort, who is unavailable after his sending off in last weekend's defeat to Reading.Laws could choose to replace Cort with veteran defender Clarke Carlisle who himself returns from suspension.
Other players such as Steven Thompson, Ross Wallace and Brian Easton may also come into the side, as manager Laws has hinted that he will use his squad players for the game at Villa Park.
"We have got a good squad of players and those who have not been in the side will be looking at this as a window of opportunity to go and play," Laws told the club's official website.
Possible Starting XI: Grant; Mears, Fox, Carlisle, Bikey; Alexander, Cork, Elliot; Rodriguez, Iwelumo, Eagles.
Prediction
Aston Villa 3-2 Burnley 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
