Sunday, November 21, 2010

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21-11-2010 Bet Of The Day

02:30 Colorado Rapids - Dallas
It is the last week of the year for MLS. The two teams left standing were both unlikely candidates to win the Cup when this season started. But here we are in late November with the stoic Dallas against the craft Rapids. Based on results leading up to this point, Dallas is favored and rightfully so. They advance from the more difficult conference and won two road games in the most difficult places in MLS to get here. Colorado lost their lone road game of the post season but advance in that tie on PKs. Dallas are the better side overall and their game plan in the playoffs so far has been flawless. At these odds, it is hard to go against the Hoops from Texas on Sunday.
Fast Facts
* Dallas are unbeaten in three games against Colorado Rapids
* Two of the last three games between these teams have gone over 2.5 goals

Tip: FC Dallas to win @ 2.35

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21-11-2010 21:00 Real Sociedad - Atletico Madrid

Back With A Bang

Sunday’s Primera Division action concludes with a fascinating tie between Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid, two sides who have tasted the top four this season only to have fallen off the pace somewhat in recent weeks.

That the home side have taken a tumble can be classed as unsurprising. Though historically a club that competes towards the sharp end of the Primera Division, la Real are fresh out of the Segunda and are still establishing themselves as a top level force.

Nevertheless, head coach Martin Lasarte would have been rather disappointed to have squandered a three-match winning streak at Hercules last weekend, especially after taking the lead against a side whom they bettered over course of last season. The players would certainly express dismay that they had lost when they spoke to the press after the game.

The 2-1 defeat in Alicante may have brought the Basques down to size somewhat, but their home record going into Sunday night’s encounter against los Colchoneros certainly doesn’t deserve to be ignored. Only Real Madrid, who won 2-1 in September, have been good enough to take anything away from Anoeta, which is regaining its intimidating atmosphere, despite its open bowl-like appearance.

With a passionate home support behind them at the weekend, the Txuri-urdin will hope to make yet more waves.

Good Schedule


If Real Sociedad’s hopes this season extend to little more than simply securing a place in the middle order of clubs, the same cannot be said of weekend opponents Atletico Madrid, who have their eyes firmly fixed on a European place, with a spot in the Champions League the ultimate goal.

Los Rojiblancos went about their quest with promise at the start of the season but have since shown signs of vulnerability. Presently the capital outfit lie seventh in the standings, having recently experienced a three game streak without a victory.

That was brought to an end last weekend when two goals from Diego Forlan sandwiched a strike from Sergio Aguero, carrying los Colchoneros to a 3-0 success against Osasuna. It was a cathartic experience for all involved, but especially the Uruguayan, who had previously endured a highly uncharacteristic streak of 12 appearances without a goal.

Juan Valera is unfazed ahead of the weekend fixture, explaining the next two encounters are crucial.

“We’ve thought about [winning both games], getting the three points in Anoeta, where there will be a complex match, and then against Espanyol,” he explained. “If we take the six points we will be put in a very, very good position. We know we have a schedule where we can get into a very good position.”

Coach Quique Sanchez Flores should have some significant reservations over his side’s away form prior to the trip north. On the road they’ve played five times this season in La Liga, yet they’ve earned a disappointing four points.

TEAM NEWS

Real Sociedad

Joseba Llorente, whose form has been excellent lately, is doubtful due to an injury sustained in training on Wednesday. Club medics are optimistic that he should feature.

Raul Tamudo, Imanol Agirretxe and David Zurutuza are all available for the Basque side, whose health is excellent.

Atletico Madrid


Sergio Aguero has been training with the main squad since Thursday after overcoming a slight thigh problem, but there is bad news over Diego Costa, who may be forced to miss this match due to an ankle issue.

Sergio Asenjo, Diego Godin and Borja Gonzalez will all miss out again.


Prediction
Only Real Madrid have so far walked away from Anoeta unscathed, and it’s unlikely that Atletico Madrid will replicate their city rivals when they go to Real Sociedad’s home. With Diego Forlan back in scoring mood, though, they will fancy themselves to earn a point against a team who have gone very well in La Primera to date this season.

Real Sociedad 2-2 Atletico Madrid

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21-11-2010 21:00 Racing Lens - Olympique Lyonnais

Strong Run

Only a matter of weeks ago there was a shroud of doom and gloom surrounding Racing Club de Lens, but ahead of Sunday’s showcase fixture against Ligue 1 hopefuls Olympique Lyonnais, there is a tangible sense of optimism surrounding the Pas-de-Calais side.

During the summer, coach Jean-Guy Wallemme had his hands tied because of the club’s precarious financial situation. Instead of being able to add to his first team pool, he had to trim away some excess baggage, and though the likes of Sidi Keita returned after loan spells, Lens did their best to promptly offload such players again.

The early weeks of the season proved to be tough for Lens, who were clearly lacking in confidence and desperate for incision in attack. But they were also short of luck, with home games against Paris Saint-Germain and Lille deteriorating into apparently comfortable losses due to unfortunate circumstances during the 90 minutes.

Luck no longer seems to be so vehemently against les Sang et Or, and when they drew 0-0 at home with league leaders Stade Rennais, Wallemme’s men seemed to be infused with the confidence they were lacking to beat the Breton side. Wins over Nice and Montpellier have followed, but it was arguably last weekend’s draw with Olympique de Marseille that provides them with their greatest result to date. After losing a soft goal, much-maligned striker Eduardo levelled and it was the northern side who looked the likelier to win late on at the Stade Velodrome.

In front of a notoriously partisan home support, they will expect to put on a very competitive show.

Illogical

 

The glory days of Lyon appear to have gone for the time being, and les Gones are certainly no longer French football’s dominant force. Claude Puel’s men lie towards the middle of the Ligue 1 table, but despite not finding their best form this season remain firmly in contention for the title due to the incredibly tight nature of the league, which sees just eight points separate first from 19th.

Les Gones certainly, haven’t hit top form yet, though as Yoann Gourcuff alluded to last weekend, neither has anyone else. “In Le Championnat, currently, there is a deficit at the technical level. Apart from Lille, there are not many teams who have mastered their subject,” the playmaker explained to Canal+ on Sunday night.

“The league is strange, very tight, very special. I hope there is more logic in the second half of the season.”

While Gourcuff is interested in Lyon’s fortunes, the way Ligue 1 is presently panning out is mouth-watering for fans, and there appears to be little prospect of OL clicking into top gear any time soon.

They were dominant against Nice as they claimed a 1-0 victory at the Stade Gerland last Sunday, but really the margin of success should not have been so fine as an array of fine opportunities, including a Michel Bastos penalty kick, were squandered as les Gones tiptoed their way to three points.

A far more rousing performance is required if they are to overcome Lens.

TEAM NEWS

Lens


There are still numerous injury problems for Jean-Guy Wallemme to deal with, though there are no fresh issues in comparison to the team he had to send out against Marseille last weekend. Yohan Demont has returned to training, but Samba Sow, Gregory Sertic and Issam Jemaa, who would have been challenging for first team spots, are out.

Franck Queudreu, Darnel Situ and David Pollet are out too.

Sebastien Roudet is a doubt.

Lyon

After missing out last weekend, both Aly Cissokho and Lisandro Lopez have been training with the first team this week and will expect to be involved at the weekend.

Ederson, Cesar Delgado and Clement Grenier are still OL’s main injury concerns, but Cris will be absent for a week and Michel Bastos is suspended.


Prediction
Sunday night’s game promises to be a difficult affair for Lyon against opponents who have a significant momentum behind them. Les Gones may have been winning of late, but their form has remained questionable. If they were to overcome les Sang et Or, it would suggest that they are once again on course for a top three finish.

RC Lens 1-1 O. Lyon

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21-11-2010 19:00 Sevilla - Mallorca

Winning Habit

Sunday’s encounter between Sevilla and Mallorca will be headlined by the fact that home coach Gregorio Manzano will be up against his former side, though that should not be allowed to detract from the progress he is making with the Andalucians.

Over the course of nearly a year there was a steady flow of rumours that suggested the los Nervionenses wanted Manzano, whose Mallorca side were excelling, to step into the dugout at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. It wouldn’t be until September that these came to fruition, and already the Jaen-born tactician has started to transform the fortunes of his latest club.

Previously a rather dour, pragmatic outfit under Manolo Jimenez and Antonio Alvarez, already there are clear signs that the southern club are becoming a good deal more expansive and attractive under their new coach, who urged such a style with Mallorca. Aesthetically they may be more pleasing, impressing the fans, but results are required too, and these are also arriving.

Bottom of the table Zaragoza were beaten 2-1 last weekend by los Rojiblancos, with the winning goal arriving in the very last minute when Alvaro Negredo broke clear of the home rearguard to slot home coolly. Prior to that moment, Fernando Navarro had been dismissed, leaving Manzano’s side to play with 10.

Now into a winning habit, notoriously erratic Sevilla must stay in this groove, and that means winning this tricky home encounter.

Going Well In Difficult Times

 

The summer was a hugely turbulent time for Mallorca, and losing inspirational coach Manzano was only one of a sequence of blows that also saw the Balearic outfit forced to sell players due to their inclement financial situation, which had prevented them from attaining a UEFA licence to play in continental competition.

Much of the hard work of last season’s campaign was therefore eradicated when participation in the Europa League was denied to them, although such an additional burden on a small squad would have been dangerous.

And Michael Laudrup has taken up the reins at the Iberostar Estadio impressively thus far, leading a bruised side into the centre of the Primera Division table, improving their away form but at the same time witnessing the demise of els Barralets’ remarkable home record, which was established under Manzano’s charge.

Four wins and three draws in 11 games represent an excellent start to the season given the constraints that the Islanders have been bound by. Last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Deportivo La Coruna could have been transformed into a victory had Fernando Cavenaghi scored a late half-chance, so with that regret in mind, Mallorca take the relatively short hop to Sevilla, where they’ll be looking to scoop their second away win of the campaign, having also held Barcelona at Camp Nou.

TEAM NEWS

Sevilla


Federico Fazio has started training normally with the squad, but he won’t be deployed at the weekend. Winger Jesus Navas remains absent, while there is a big question mark over Diego Capel, who injured a hamstring last weekend. Tiberio Guarente is out for the duration of the campaign.

Andres Palop is expected to return to the starting XI at the expense of Javi Varas.

Fernando Navarro is suspended after his red card last weekend.

Mallorca

Michael Laudrup is hopeful of being able to pick from all his elite players for this encounter. Pierre Webo and Dudu Aouate have both been on international duty this week but have returned unscathed.


Prediction
While Mallorca’s away record in raw numbers isn’t especially impressive, the fact that they’ve gone to Barcelona and draw, and gone to Valencia to win should be enough for Sevilla to treat them with the respect they deserve. In front of the remarkable Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan crowd, the hosts will come through a difficult test narrowly.

Sevilla 2-1 Mallorca

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21-11-2010 15:00 Chievo Verona - Inter

Mid-Table Security
 
Chievo’s start to the 2010-11 campaign has been brilliant, as instead of fighting against the drop they are sailing in mid-table. The Flying Donkeys are currently stationed in 11th position in the table with 16 points from 12 matches and are five points ahead of the bottom three.

Last weekend Stefano Pioli’s side registered yet another important result as they held Sampdoria to a goalless draw in Genoa. Chievo have a somewhat consistent record of four wins, four defeats and four draws in 12 league fixtures.

At the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi in Verona too, Chievo have a consistent record, having won two, lost two and drawn two matches in Serie A. However, winning against Inter on Sunday will not be very easy especially as the Nerazzurri are wounded animals after last weekend’s derby win.

Getting Out Of ‘Crisis’


To term Inter’s current malevolent form as ‘crisis’ would perhaps be overstating their wretched run of results, but the Italian and European champions have been severely struggling for quite some time. Last weekend’s defeat to Milan in the Derby della Madonnina pushed the Beneamata to six points off the pace with 20 points from 12 matches.

Club supremo Massimo Moratti has publicly backed coach Rafael Benitez and insists that he has no plans of sacking the Spaniard. However, pressure is increasing on the former Liverpool manager, whose tactics and ability to manage his players have come under scrutiny.

Injuries to key players especially to defenders Walter Samuel and Maicon have had an adverse impact on their game but that can be no excuse for Benitez. Inter have won just one of their last six competitive matches but they will need to garner a win on Sunday to keep themselves in the title race.


TEAM NEWS

Chievo

Luciano is out for the Flying Donkeys, who are likely to opt for a 4-3-1-2 system that will have Thereau alongside Pellissier in attack and Bogliacino as the creative midfielder just behind them

Inter

Coutinho, Chivu, Mariga, Milito, Muntari, Maicon, Thiago Motta, Obi and Samuel all are out of the trip to Verona. Benitez is likely to deploy a 4-3-1-2 formation that will have Sneijder in the creative midfielder’s role and Eto’o and Pandev as the two forwards. Cordoba will start at right-back again and Santon will occupy the left-back position.

Prediction

Inter are in wretched form under Benitez while Chievo are doing quite well in respect to their aspirations. The Flying Donkeys will make it very tough for the Italian champions in Verona and one suspects that the match could end in a draw.

Chievo 1-1 Inter Milan

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21-11-2010 15:00 Parma - Lazio

Injection Of Optimism

Parma were struggling in the relegation zone until very recently but last weekend’s 1-0 win against Bari away from home in Serie A came as a welcome relief and propelled them out of the reach of the bottom-three, at least for now.

The win in Bari was the Crociati’s first league victory on the road and pushed them up to 14th in the standings on 14 points, three points above the relegation zone. However, Parma are one of three clubs on that margin and given the congestion in the table, they cannot take anything for granted.

Against a Lazio side who have returned to winning ways and are fighting for the Scudetto, Parma have to be especially careful and try to limit their aspirations to a draw at home. Pasquale Marino’s side have a formidable defensive record at the Stadio Ennio Tardini as they have conceded just twice in six league fixtures and they will have to continue to perform solidly at the back.

Flying High Again

Back-to-back defeats to Roma and Cesena had inspired doubts to raise their ugly heads as Lazio were knocked off their perch at the top of the table in Serie A. Their performance in those two defeats was insipid too as Edy Reja’s side failed to maintain their fluid, attacking football.

However, last weekend the Aquile were released out of their cage and soared high in the sky, defeating an impressive Napoli side 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. The three points gained kept Lazio in second place in Serie A with 25 points from 12 matches, just one behind leaders Milan.

It now remains to be seen whether Lazio can once again embark on a winning run. The victory against one of Italy’s stronger and ambitious sides will have surely injected a healthy dose of confidence in them and now the players will try to muster a win at Parma with an assurance that they have won four league games on the road so far this campaign.



TEAM NEWS

Parma

Paloschi and Galloppa are unavailable because of injuries. Paletta is suspended.

Lazio

Meghni and Quadri are out because of injuries.

Prediction
Lazio have looked comfortable on the road this campaign and it is very much likely that they will return from Parma with a win. It may not be very pretty though.

Parma 1-2 Lazio

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21-11-2010 12:30 Genoa - Juventus

Resuscitated By Ballardini

Davide Ballardini has already commenced weaving his sorcery at Genoa as he has won his first two league games in charge of the Grifone. The former Lazio tactician registered a 1-0 victory over Bologna on his debut and last weekend led his side to a similar result in Cagliari.

Back-to-back wins have propelled Genoa to ninth place in the league table on 17 points, just two behind Roma, who are sixth and occupy the final Europa League position. Club supremo Enrico Preziosi splashed the cash in the summer for the Rossoblu to fight for a European place and under Ballardini the team seems to be doing just that.

But winning against Juventus at home is not going to be easy especially as the Bianconeri themselves are back in the race for the Scudetto. Genoa have lost at the Marassi in the league already and given Juve’s squad, they may like to keep their feet on the ground.

Scudetto Challenge Back On

Juventus’ 1-1 draw with Roma in the league last weekend stretched their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions and put them in fourth spot with 20 points from 12 matches. Juve may be six points behind leaders Milan but after a dismal start to the campaign they will be forgiven to believe that they are now back in the title chase.

Coach Luigi Del Neri has started to convince as a big-team coach as his tactics and ability to change them have been impressive of late. Furthermore, with a squad that is incomplete, has suffered with injuries to key players and a leaky defence the former Sampdoria tactician has done a very impressive job.

However, for a club like Juventus success is judged by the titles won at the end of the season and Del Neri will have to maintain his side’s consistency to see that towards the end of the 2010-11 campaign the Vecchia Signora are in a position to win the championship.

Juve’s away form is modest as they have won twice in six attempts in the league but they have conceded just three goals on the road. Winning in Genoa is going to be tough for the visitors from Turin but they will be tempted to give it a go in an effort to maintain pace with Milan.



TEAM NEWS

   
Genoa

Jankovic, Sculli and Palladino are out of this fixture because of injuries. Rudolf, Toni and Mesto will be the three strikers up front in a 4-3-3 formation that will have Rossi, Milanetto and Veloso as the three midfielders.

Juventus

Buffon, Legrottaglie, Rinaudo, Grygera, De Ceglie, Martinez, Manninger and Amauri are injured for the visit to Genoa and Pepe is suspended. Star player Krasic is fit but Del Neri may not start him yet, opting for Lanzafame instead.

Prediction
Juventus are looking very good and encouraged at the moment but so are Genoa, who have won their last two league matches. It promises to be a very competitive game of football and it could end in a draw.

Genoa 1-1 Juventus