Wednesday, December 1, 2010

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01-12-2010 19:00 Valenciennes - Saint Etienne

Remedied

On the face of it, an encounter between 14th placed Valenciennes and 12th positioned Saint-Etienne wouldn’t seem to have any great bearing on the race towards the top of Ligue 1, but with these sides playing a game in hand, the tight nature of Le Championnat means that les Verts could end the night as high as fifth, while VA could make a big step into the top half too.

Valenciennes approach Tuesday’s match on something of a high after a fine performance against Arles-Avignon at the weekend. Philippe Montanier’s side proved much too strong for Le Championnat’s bottom club, with Gregory Pujol’s goal midway through the first half signalling the start of the end for the guests, who would ultimately go down 3-0 as Rudy Mater set-up goals for Carlos Sanchez and Gael Danic.

“It's said that the only remedy for a defeat is a victory. We really wanted to get back to winning ways,” Montanier told the press after the weekend fixture. “It was important for our season that we didn't lose too much confidence, and - overall - the players stood up to be counted.”

Valenciennes’ campaign to date has been very stop-start. They’ve yet to record consecutive victories or successive defeats, and their unpredictable form is likely to continue until Montanier can call upon his full squad. With a good number of long-term injuries, the team is stretched and putting together a cohesive run is proving tricky.

Thinking Of The Drop

Saint-Etienne are also fretting over the possibility of being sucked back into the relegation battle after a bright start to the campaign saw them top Le Championnat after beating Olympique Lyonnais in the Derby du Rhone on the final weekend of September. That was, however, the last time les Verts picked up maximum points, and coach Christophe Galtier is beginning to fret.

“We've got 20 points and five matches left before the winter break. We've got to try and put some distance between ourselves and the competition, because they're just behind us,” he explained to the media, according to Ligue 1’s official website.

At the weekend, les Verts squandered the chance to pick up a victory. Loic Perrin gave them the lead early in the second half against Nancy, but Sainte were pegged back and in the end were a little fortunate not to lose, with their hosts twice finding the frame of Jeremie Janot’s goal.

“We can have some regrets because we didn't take the chances we created in the first half during which I think we deserved to open the scoring,” Galtier stated. “When we eventually did do that, we should have continued playing, and I'm sure we would have had more chances in the second half if we'd shown more technical quality. We were under pressure after Nancy equalised.”

With the Christmas run-in varying greatly in difficulty for Sainte – they go to Lille and Monaco but host Arles and Bordeaux – they will be eager to put points on the board quickly, though with a mediocre away record, perhaps the best they can hope for is a draw.

Prediction
Valenciennes FC 1-1 AS Saint-Etienne 

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01-12-2010 20:45 Birmingham City - Aston Villa

Blues looking for Houllier revenge

Alex McLeish will be looking to take Birmingham to the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time since 2001, when Trevor Francis side reached the final, only to lose on penalties to the now Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier's Liverpool.

With no trophy in 47 years, Blues fans will be looking for a victory against their most hated rivals which will put them into the semi-finals and within touching distance of a trip to Wembley.

With Ben Foster and Roger Johnson in terrific form at the back, and former Villa duo Craig Gardner and Liam Ridgewell having been impressive thus far this season, the Blues' defensive and midfield strength will look to overpower Villa's more considered passing approach.

Against an injury-hit Villa side, and having beaten league champions Chelsea in their last match at St Andrew's, confidence will be high amongst McLeish's men, and having gained a credible draw at Villa Park earlier this season, they'll fancy nicking a win in front of a packed house, on a cold night in Birmingham.

Young guns impressing

Aston Villa's young players have been earning themselves plaudits this season, but Gerard Houllier's side have been struggling for consistency, which is indicative of young players who have been thrust into the action.

The likes of Barry Bannan, Ciaran Clark and Marc Albrighton have all been very impressive thus far for the most part, whilst senior colleagues have either been a) dropping like flies through injury or b) struggling to find their best form.

Ashley Young is seemingly spending his time pining for a move away or arguing with referees, whilst the defensive duo of James Collins and Richard Dunne, which seemed so secure last season, have not kept to those high standards, whilst Stephen Ireland's Villa career simply hasn't started.

Houllier has been trying to press home his own philosophy at Villa Park, with the Villains playing a more expansive passing game under the Frenchman, having been committed to counter-attacking under former boss Martin O'Neill.

The former Liverpool and Olympique Lyonnais boss has been hampered by injuries to key players, particularly the pacey Garbriel Agbonlahor, which has blunted Villa at the sharp end of the pitch, and the destructive midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, whom he appears to favour over Stilian Petrov.

With Villa having lost five of their seven away games this season - their only away win coming in the West Midlands derby against Wolves - Houllier and last season's finalists are desperate for a win here.

TEAM NEWS

Birmingham City

Alex McLeish is looking to balance the League Cup run with a successful survival battle, as relegation would be a 'disaster' for the Blues boss.

McLeish may make changes to his Birmingham line-up from the weekend draw at Fulham as he has rotated in the competition, although in all likeliness he may play as strong a side as possible.

Alexander Hleb is unavailable with a hamstring injury, whilst James McFadden remains on the long-term casualty list. 

Possible starting XI: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bowyer, Fahey; Jerome.

Aston Villa

Gerard Houllier has a long injury list which will mean that he is unable to rotate his starting line-up and will have to stick with the likes of young stars Ciaran Clark and Barry Bannan.

James Collins should be fit to start, despite aggravating a calf problem in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Arsenal, whilst Houllier will be hopeful derby-day specialist Gabriel Agbonlahor will be fit to play some part.

Club skipper Stilian Petrov is out until the new year, whilst the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker, Steve Sidwell, Marc Albrighton, Fabian Delph and Emile Heskey will all be missing also.

Possible starting XI: Friedel; L Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; Downing, Clark, Bannan, Ireland, A Young; Agbonlahor.

Prediction

Birmingham 2-2 Aston Villa

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01-12-2010 21:05 Manchester City - Red Bull Salzburg

Welcome Distraction

Manchester City will welcome the distraction of a move away from domestic action as the Europa League rolls back into town.

The blue half of Manchester will be wanting their side get back to winning ways after Saturday's disappointing 1-1 draw with Stoke in the Premier League and move a step closer to progressing in the competition.

But it does depend on which Manchester City turn up.

In the past month we have seen the Blues destroy Fulham and West Brom with some sublime attacking football but we have witnessed some overly defensive tactics in the draws with Manchester United, Birmingham and Stoke.

But as we reach the business end of the group stage in the Europa League, City find themselves in a good position to qualify from Group A and reach the knockout stages and a win against Salzburg will see them have one foot in next round.

The Premier League millionaires could even qualify for the last 32 if they beat Salzburg at Eastlands and Juventus fail to win against Lech Poznan.

City currently sit second in the group on seven points behind Lech Poznan, also on seven points, whereas their opponents prop up the group with two points.

Qualification A Must

While Salzburg have nothing to really to play for in this season's competition, City will find them no pushovers, despite a 2-0 victory in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season.

The Austrian champions won all six of their group games in last season's competition, doing the double over Lazio and Villarreal in the process.

They have also held Italian giants Juventus to 1-1 and 0-0 draws in this season's competition and are back to winning ways in the Austrian League with a 2-1 triumph at LASK Linz, so they shouldn't be taken lightly despite their poor position in the group.

But Roberto Mancini's side, containing the likes of Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Mario Balotelli, should have more than enough fire power to see off Salzburg and move a step closer to their first trophy in 25 years.

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City

Roberto Mancini has plenty of option available to him, so may opt to began with David Silva, Mario Balotelli and James Milner in attack, meaning Carlos Tevez may be rested.

Possible starting XI: Hart; Richards, K Toure, Kompany, Kolarov; De Jong, Vieira, Barry; Silva, Balotelli, Milner.

Salzburg

The Austrian side have a strong side available to them, and are likely to start with Zarate as the lone striker.

Possible starting XI: Tremmel; Afolabi, Schiemer, Sekagya, Hinteregger; David Mendes, Wallner, Svento, Cziommer, Leitgeb; Zarate.

Prediction

  Man City 3-1 Red Bull Salzburg 

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01-12-2010 21:05 Lech Poznan - Juventus

Win And Go Through

At the start of the Europa League campaign, Polish champions Lech Poznan were outside bets to finish in the top two in Group A with Juventus and Manchester City pencilled as the main contenders. However, a strong home form has enabled the Railwaymen to station themselves in pole position heading into Matchday 5.

Jose Mari Bakero's side currently lead the table with seven points from four matches - same as many as Man City. A triumph over former Italian champions Juventus tonight will ascertain Lech's place in the knockout phase and with an unbeaten record at the Stadion Miejski in the Europa League they will be confident of a memorable win. Furthermore, Lech will also be buoyed by their performance in Turin on Matchday 1 when they held the Bianconeri to a 3-3 draw.

However, Lech are not doing well in the Polish league this season and failed to win against Korona Kielce at the weekend. The goalless draw dragged them to 11th in the division, meaning that a successful Europa League run is going to be their salvation.

Registering A Win

Juventus appear to be seeking to draw their way into the knockout phase of the Europa League as they have drawn all of their four games in the competition this season. Italy's most famous and successful club commenced the campaign with a thrilling 3-3 draw with Lech Poznan at home, then held Manchester City at Eastlands, failed to beat Salzburg away and on Matchday 4 played out a disappointing goalless draw with the Austrians in Turin.

Currently placed third in Group A with four points from as many games, Luigi Del Neri's side are three points behind both Man City and Lech Poznan and need a victory tonight to maintain their chances of progression from the group especially as their final game is against Manchester City in Italy.

Juve, though, have looked rejuvenated after an early season blip and are going from strength to strength especially in Serie A. The Old Lady are unbeaten in 10 league encounters and after drawing 1-1 with Fiorentina at the weekend are just six points behind leaders Milan in third.

TEAM NEWS

Lech Poznan

Joel Tshibamba suffered a broken nose in a car accident last week and is not available. Sergey Krivets and Artjoms Rudnevs are carrying minor knocks.

Juventus

Marco Motta, Zdenek Grygera, Nicola Legrottaglie, Paolo De Ceglie and Amauri are out. Vincenzo Iaquinta has recovered from flu and will start in attack alongside Alessandro Del Piero.

Prediction
Juventus will be under pressure to win tonight and put an end to the sequence of draws. However, Lech Poznan are unbeaten at home in the competition and it is likely that they will maintain that record. A draw under freezing conditions seems to be in the offing.

Lech Poznan 1-1 Juventus

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01-12-2010 19:00 Olympique Marseille - Rennais

Taking Control

Olympique de Marseille could strike the first crucial blow in the race for the Ligue 1 title on Wednesday evening when they host Stade Rennais. No side has yet managed to get a real stranglehold on France’s top flight this season since Toulouse opening up a four point advantage at the summit after four games, but Didier Deschamps’ men could go three points clear of the chasing pack with a win on Wednesday.

The momentum in the Marseille ranks is strong. After defeating Spartak Moscow in the Champions League only a week ago, they booked their place in the knock-out stages of the competition for the first time in nearly two decades. Though Chelsea have still to visit the Stade Velodrome, that fixture can largely be discounted as a glamorous friendly; for the moment, Ligue 1 takes top priority.

If there were doubts over the defending champions’ present form, they were firmly answered on Saturday evening. Hosting Montpellier, a side with a formidable defensive record, OM produced some of their most efficient football of the campaign as they ran out 4-0 winners, with a serious injury to Cesar Azpilicueta the only black spot on an otherwise flawless evening.

“It's never easy to get back to the league especially against a side that's obtained such good results away from home,” Deschamps indicated. “We put in a very good performance, very technical and fluid. And it's good for us to have scored four goals.”

Opposing coach Rene Girard explained that “Marseille are re-taking control of French football”, and having watch their winning style in recent weeks, it’s difficult to disagree.

Clean Up The Mess

Rennes were one of the pretenders to Marseille’s throne earlier in the season, moving into top spot in Ligue 1 thanks to a victory over Toulouse on the first weekend of October. Though the Bretons managed to remain in pole position over the course of the month, they would not win again until November as the pack bunched up behind them.

Ultimately their inability to build upon a strong start to the season would cost them, and they have since slipped back to fifth, having lost a local derby 2-0 against Lorient on Saturday. Frederic Antonetti’s side may boast a strong midfield and a relatively formidable defence, but after selling Asamoah Gyan and Ismael Bangoura, and releasing Ligue 1’s top scorer at present Moussa Sow, they are badly bereft of natural goal scorers.

Victor Hugo Montano carried the can well in the early stages of the season, but after an injury he has struggled to rediscover his best form. As a result, Rennes have scored a paltry four goals in six matches and no longer look like a side capable of qualifying for the Champions League.

“When the players came in at half-time you never would have thought that we would play so badly in the second half,” explosive coach Antonetti explained to the media following the weekend’s game. “To sum it up, we made a complete mess of everything.”

Les Rouge et Noir may have posted some good results of late, but they’ve not won on their travels since September and will be hard pushed to get any change from OM.

TEAM NEWS

Marseille

Cesar Azpilicueta has ruptured the ligaments in his knee and will be missing until the end of the season. Hilton is the only other worry as Andre-Pierre Gignac has been passed fit to play.

Rennes

There will be no space in the team for the injured Kader Mangane and Onyekachi Apam, while Fabien Lemoine is back training with the first team squad but is not available yet. Winger Sylvain Marveaux is out until the early stages of next year. 

Prediction
At present, Marseille have the mental and technical edge over Rennes, which should be enough to earn them maximum points. Fatigue may be an issue, but if OM’s adrenaline is high, they should be able to overcome awkward opponents.

Marseille 2-0 Stade Rennais FC