Monday, October 31, 2011

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01.11. (Tue) 20:45 Valencia - Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen; Andre Schürrle, Michael Ballack & Stefan Kießling
Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA


Alves
Mathieu, Ruiz, Rami, Jordi Alba
Topal, Banega
Pablo Hernandez, Jonas, Feghouli
Soldado

LEVERKUSEN


Leno
Castro, Friedrich, Toprak, Kadlec
Rolfes, Bender
Sam, Ballack, Schurrle
Kiessling

Diego Alves will command the goal for Valencia as he continues his participation in the tournament with Vicente Guaita playing in La Liga action.

With goals certainly needed as a draw will do little for the Spanish, Jonas will likely start behind Roberto Soldado, with Sofiane Feghouli earning a spot on the left after bagging a brace versus Getafe on Saturday.

Sergio Canales and Hedwiges Maduro are long-term casualties for Los Che, with the former potentially out for the rest of the season after suffering a cruciate ligamanet injury versus Athletic Bilbao last week. Maduro could be out until February with ankle ligament damage.

For the Germans, Michael Ballack's availability is in question after he broke his nose in last Friday's 1-0 win over Freiburg. However, he is expected to play with a protective mask. First-choice shot-stopper Rene Adler remains out of action after undergoing knee surgery in the close season.

Renato Augusto, Tranquillo Barnetta and Michael Ortega are all out with varying knee injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Valencia sit in fourth place in La Liga but only in third in Group E in the Champions League, four points behind Leverkusen and five behind Chelsea.
  • The 3-1 win over Getafe on Saturday in domestic league action was the side's first win of the year by more than one goal.
  • In the Group E encounter, a Valencia loss combined with a Chelsea win would eliminate the Spanish club's chances of making the knockout stage.
  • Leverkusen sit in eighth place in the Bundesliga, but are in solid position in the Champions League with the chance to cement their future on Tuesday.
  • The Germans will qualify for the knockout stage if they win and if Genk do not defeat Chelsea.
  • At the very worst, Leverkusen will play in the Europa League if they win on Tuesday or if they tie and Genk fail to beat Chelsea, as those scenarios would eliminate the possibility of finishing fourth in the group.

Prediction
This represents the biggest game of the season for Valencia up to this point, with the match a must-win of they are to have any chance of progression to the knockout stages. The home side were perhaps unfortunate to leave Germany defeated, and with the Mestalla behind them, can claim the win they need.
Editor's Prediction
Valencia 2-1 Leverkusen

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01.11. (Tue) 20:45 Viktoria Plzen - Barcelona

UEFA Champions League: FC Barcelona v FC Viktoria Plzen: Andres Iniesta; Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi
Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VIKTORIA PLZEN


Cech

Limbersky, Bystron, Cisovsky, Rajtoral
Petrzela, Jiracek, Horvath, Kolar, Pilar
Bakos

BARCELONA

Valdes
Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Abidal
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Messi, Cesc, Villa

Roman Pavlik is still out for Viktoria Plzen after suffering a serious knee injury and has not played a match since July 27.

Barcelona are still without long-term absentees Ibrahim Afellay and Alexis Sanchez, who are still shelved with a cruciate knee injury and a hamstring problem respectively.

Cesc Fabregas is set to make his return in the Champions League after his hamstring strain and may be selected in the 'false 9' role in attack.

Pedro will miss the game with a knee injury after coming off in the Liga win against Granada a week ago.

Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique paired together for 20 minutes in the weekend win against Mallorca but it is unlikely that Pep Guardiola will risk both for this away encounter. Pique may get the nod to partner Javier Mascherano at the back.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • The game between Viktoria Plzen and Barcelona two weeks ago was the first time in history that the sides have faced one another.
  • The Czech outfit are unbeaten in four home Champions League matches this season.
  • Prior to this season, Viktoria Plzen had only played two European home games in their history; a loss against Bayern Munich in 1971 and a draw with Besiktas last season.
  • If BATE Borisov fail to beat AC Milan and Barcelona win this match, Pep Guardiola's side will qualify for the knockout stage.
  • Barcelona have lost just one of their last seven European away fixtures.
  • The Catalan club's away record against Czech teams is two wins, a draw, and two losses.

Prediction
Lionel Messi was the Goal.com Top Of The Match against Plzen in their last encounter, and this was a completely warranted accolade. The Argentine was in scintillating form, and the Czech side were extremely lucky to come away from the match only having lost two goals. With Messi grabbing a hat-trick and Barcelona winning 5-0 at the weekend, you cant see  anything but complete domination from the tournament holders.
Editor's Prediction
FC Viktoria Plzeň 0-3 Barcelona

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01.11. (Tue) 20:45 Borussia D. - Olympiakos

Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln;  Neven Subotic, Sven Bender & Robert Lewandowski
Bongarts


PROBABLE LINEUPS

BORUSSIA DORTMUND


Weidenfeller

Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Leitner, Kehl
Gotze, Kagawa, Perisic

Lewandowski
OLYMPIAKOS

Costanzo
Modesto, Mellberg, Papadopoulos, Marcano
Makoun, Orbaiz
Mirallas, Ibagaza, Holebas
Djebbour

Jurgen Klopp is likely to field much the same team that achieved a 1-1 draw against Stuttgart at the Mercedes Benz Arena at the weekend. A doubt for the game is holding midfielder Sven Bender, who is still complaining of recurring numbness in his right foot, and had to withdraw at half-time on Saturday. Ilkay Gundogan could stand-in for the midfield anchor, but youngster Moritz Leitner appears to have won the faith of coach Klopp.

The left spot in the attacking trident is up for the grabs with both Ivan Perisic and Kevin Grosskreutz in with a chance to appear in the starting XI. Defender Julian Koch is a confirmed absentee for the game on Tuesday as he is still recuperating from an injury.

Ernesto Valverde will not be able to rely on David Fuster, who is out for a month with a rib fracture, and Francisco Yeste, who is still working his way back to full fitness. Ljubomir Fejsa and Giannis Fetfatzidis are set to return to the team after recovering from knocks, but Vasilis Torosidis has been ruled out of the game.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Borussia Dortmund are the first German team to win the Champions League after the reformation of the tournament in 1992.
  • BVB's Sven Bender and Moritz Leitner and Olympiakos' Jose Holebas used to play together at 1860 Munich.
  • In their last participation in Europe's elite tournament, Dortmund lost only once at home.
  • Olympiakos won on their last visit to Germany, disposing of Werder Bremen 3-1 in the group stage of 2007-2008 Champions League.
  • Olympiakos' Marco Pantelic has scored twice in eight matches against Dortmund, while playing for Hertha Berlin.

Prediction
Few would argue that Dortmund are not superior in quality to Olympiakos, but their mental barriers have held them back so far in the Champions League. They are bound to start winning at a point, and the game against the Greek champions is the most likely place for this to happen.
Editor's Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Olympiakos Piraeus

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01.11. (Tue) 20:45 APOEL - Porto

UEFA Europa League: Hulk (Porto)
Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

APOEL


Pardo

Poursaiditidis, Jorge, Jahic, Oliveira
Morais, Pinto
Trickovski, Marcinho, Manduca
Ailton
PORTO

Helton
Sapunaru, Mangala, Rolando, A. Pereira
 Fernando
Belluschi, Moutinho
Hulk, Kleber, James Rodriguez


Porto boss Vitor Pereira has a full squad at his disposal as Jorge Fucile is back in contention after serving a one-match suspension in the visit of APOEL earlier in the month. Joao Moutinho is expected to start after being used as a substitute in the club's last two league encounters.

Eliaquim Mangala, who was signed in the summer, partnered Rolando in the centre of the club's defence against Nacional and Pacos Ferreira and could be given the nod to start in Tuesday's match, this way making his first Champions League appearance for the club.

In APOEL's team, goalkeeper Dionisis Chiotis and right-back William Boaventura have both been ruled out of the encounter because of injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Porto were the last foreign side to win at APOEL, in the 2009-10 edition of the Champions League, with a 1-0 victory courtesy of a solitary Radamel Falcao goal.
  • The Portuguese club are joint leaders in their domestic league with Benfica, with 23 points from nine games.
  • The 1-1 draw at the Estadio do Dragao earlier in the month was the first time that Porto could not defeat APOEL, after three matches between the two sides.
  • APOEL's 2-1 victory against Zenit St Petersburg was their first-ever victory in the Champions League.
  • The club sit third in the Cypriot league following Friday's goalless draw against Anorthosis Famagusta. They are level on points with AEL Limassol and Omonia Nicosia, both of whom have one game in hand.
  • No Cypriot senior side has ever defeated Portuguese opposition, at either club or international level.

Prediction
The Portuguese champions are in desperate need of the three points to remain in the race for the knock-out stages, and with experience on their side, they should have more than it takes to run out victors.
Editor's Prediction
APOEL Nicosia 0-1 Porto

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01.11. (Tue) 20:45 Arsenal - Olympique Marseille

Arsenal Press Conference, coach Arsene Wenger
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ARSENAL


Arsenal
Szczesny
Djourou, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Santos
 Song, Arteta, Ramsey
Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho

MARSEILLE


Marseille
Mandanda
Fanni, Diawara, N'Koulou, Morel
Lucho,
Diarra, Cheyrou
Valbuena, Remy, A. Ayew
Arsene Wenger may have doubts concerning the right-back spot for this fixture, with Johan Djourou and Carl Jenkinson fighting for a place in the starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere are both out with ankle injuries and are not expected to play any part in this clash. Andrey Arshavin could come in place of Gervinho if the latter needs rest following the exertions at Stamford Bridge, where the Gunners defeated Chelsea in a sensational 5-3 victory.

Didier Deschamps may put forth an attacking line-up to take revenge on Arsenal for the defeat they suffered at home, while hoping to boost their prospects of qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League.

Mathieu Valbuena is likely to fall back a bit when Marseille are starved of possession, otherwise he should play a more attacking role with Loic Remy and Jordan Ayew proving to be the primary threat in the attacking third of the pitch. The latter returns after serving a tournament suspension, while Rod Fanni also comes back into the fold after being banned.

Stephane Mbia is their only absentee after suffering a broken metatarsal in August.

DID YOU KNOW?


  • Arsenal are so far undefeated in the group stage of the Champions League, winning two and drawing one of their three games. Every other team in Group F has lost at least one match.
  • This will be the first time that the Gunners are taking on a French club at the Emirates Stadium in the European competition. The last time they played a team from Ligue 1 was in 2002-03, when they lost 2-1 to Auxerre at Highbury.
  • Arsene Wenger's men have had trouble keeping clean sheets in recent weeks, as they have managed only one in their last seven games in all competitions. But that came against Didier Deschamps' men at the Stade Velodrome - where they registered a 1-0 victory.
  • In the last five games for the Gunners, skipper Robin van Persie has scored seven goals.
  • Marseille have scored 12 goals in their last four away games in the Champions League, with their biggest victory coming in the form of a 7-0 thrashing of Zilina in 2010.
  • The visitors are also on an undefeated run of six games in Ligue 1, but find themselves in a mid-table position due to a poor start to their domestic campaign.

Prediction
Arsenal have been in solid form of late, winning their last five games in all competitions. In the Champions League, the Gunners have lost only one of their last 40 matches at home.
With the kind of confidence they will have gathered from their recent outings - including the victory over Deschamps' men in France - a victory should be on the cards.
Editor's Prediction
Arsenal 3-1 Marseille

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01.11. (Tue) 20:45 Racing Genk - Chelsea

UEFA Champions League, Fernando Torres, Chelsea v Racing Genk
Getty images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GENK

Koteles
Ngongca, Vanden Borre, Nadson, Pudil
Buffel, De Bruyne, Hyland
Tozser
Ogunjimi, Barda
CHELSEA

Cech
Bosingwa, Terry, David Luiz, Cole
Lampard, Mikel, Meireles
Sturridge, Torres, Mata

Genk manager Mario Been has no fresh injury worries following his side’s pulsating nine-goal thriller with Brugge at the weekend, which they won 5-4. However, the Belgian side are still without Jeroen Simaeys. Raul Meireles looks set to deputise for Ramires, after the Portuguese midfielder was rested for much of the weekend’s game against Arsenal. Michael Essien remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Didier Drogba will be available for selection again after serving one game of his three match ban against the Gunners, following his sending off for a poorly timed lunge at Adel Taarabt. However, Fernando Torres is likely to keep his place in the side.
DID YOU KNOW?


  • This is just the second ever meeting between the two teams, the first of course being just two weeks ago at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea ran out emphatic 5-0 winners thanks to a Fernando Torres brace.
  • Neither side has been in scintillating form domestically. Chelsea are nine points off early season pace-setters Manchester City, whilst Genk sit 6th in the Belgian league.
  • Genk go into the game having completed an amazing turnaround against Brugge at the weekend, coming from 4-2 down to win the game 5-4.
  • Fernando Torres will be hoping to get the nod ahead of Didier Drogba, the Spaniard has scored more goals against Genk than any other team in his time at Chelsea.
  • Despite their weekend heroics, Genk have managed just two wins in their last seven games in all competitions.
  • Chelsea boast the second best defensive record in the Champions League this season, conceding just one goal. Only Real Madrid can better that.
  • Genk are yet to score in this year’s Champions League, where as their counterparts have already bagged eight goals in three games.
  • Not only do Chelsea boast the second best defensive record in the competition, they also have the second best attacking record, only bettered by last year’s champions Barcelona.
  • Villas-Boas has experience of Genk outside of his Chelsea career, having masterminded a 7-2 aggregate victory over them in his time as Porto manager.
  • Genk have never been further than the Champions League group stages.

Prediction
The weekend’s results don’t really offer a true reflection of the two team’s respective form books. Villas-Boas' men will be looking to bounce back and prove Saturday's derby defeat was just a blip and should maintain their good form in Europe.
Editor's Prediction
KRC Genk 0-2 Chelsea

Championship Opta Facts – November 1-2


Barnsley v Hull City

Hull have beaten Barnsley in three of their last four meetings in the Championship, scoring nine goals in the process.

Hull have only lost away at Oakwell once in their last four visits, winning twice and drawing once.

Barnsley have only won one of their last four games in the Championship, conceding nine goals in the process.

Hull haven't lost in nine Championship games, drawing three and winning six in this run.

The Tigers' Aaron McLean has scored two in two games but has also been yellow carded four times in his last Hull appearances in the league.

Burnley v Leicester City

There has only been one draw in the last eight meetings between the Clarets and the Foxes.

There has been 10 goals scored in the last three meetings between Leicester City and Burnley, with only one of those scored by the away side.

There were three penalties scored in the two league fixtures between these sides last term.

Burnley have won four of their last six matches in the Championship, but have lost the other two.

Charlie Austin has averaged a league goal every 120 minutes on average in the Championship this term (eight goals in total).

The Foxes have lost three of their last four games in the Championship, conceding eight goals in the process.

Crystal Palace v Portsmouth

Crystal Palace have only beaten Portsmouth once in the last four meetings at Selhurst Park, losing two and drawing one.

Portsmouth have only lost to Palace once in their last nine meetings.

Palace are unbeaten in their last six outings, drawing two and winning four.
The Eagles have kept four successive clean sheets in the Championship.

Portsmouth have lost their last four Championship games away from home; scoring only one goal in these matches.

Doncaster Rovers v Middlesbrough

Boro have beaten Doncaster in seven of their last eight meetings.

There has been a last minute goal scored in each of the last three games between these two sides.

Doncaster have only been able to win once in their last four meetings with Boro at home, conceding 11 goals in the process.

Doncaster haven't won in four games; losing three, drawing one and failing to score more than one goal in a game during this run.

Boro haven't won away in their last three attempts, conceding five goals without scoring themselves.

Millwall v Coventry City

The away team has only managed to win once in the last 10 meetings between the Lions and the Sky Blues.

There has been a red card in the second half in four of the last five meetings in the Championship between the two sides.

The Lions have not lost in four league games, drawing two and winning their last two.

Millwall's Darius Henderson has scored four in two games, including a hat-trick against Leicester City.

Coventry have only won one of their last eight Championship matches, drawing four and losing three.

Coventry have only managed to score four goals on their travels in this seasons Championship campaign; fewer than any other side.

Nottingham Forest v Reading

All of the last six victories in matches between Forest and the Royals have been by one goal difference.

Just one of the last eight meetings between these two sides at the City Ground have seen Forest defeated.

Forest have conceded just three goals in four league games since sacking Steve McClaren.

Reading haven't lost any of their last eight Championship games, winning three and drawing five.

Reading's Joseph Mills has been yellow carded three times in his last four appearances.

Southampton v Peterborough United

Southampton have scored exactly four goals in three of their last four meetings with the Posh.

Richard Chaplow scored for Southampton in both meetings with Peterborough United last season.

In their last meeting at London Road there were four penalties scored, two for each side.

Southampton have scored in all 14 of their Championship games so far in 2011/12.

The Saints are unbeaten at home all season conceding only four goals at St. Marys.

Peterborough's 14 league games this season have seen an average of 3.8 goals a game.

Watford v Brighton

Watford have not beaten the Seagulls at Vicarage Road in their last three attempts, losing once and drawing twice.

Eight of the last 14 meetings between Brighton and Watford have ended in a 1-0 scoreline.

Watford have conceded 13 goals at home this season; more than any other side in the Championship.

The Seagulls haven't won in eight games and have collected only four points in this run.

The Seagulls have also only managed one goals in their last four Championship games.

West Ham United v Bristol City

West Ham haven't lost against Bristol City since 1977/78, winning five and drawing three.
In fact, City have won only four of their previous 28 matches against the Hammers in all competitions.

Only Peterborough (28) and Southampton (31) have scored more goals than West Ham in the Championship this term.

Hammers' striker Sam Baldock has scored four goals in his last three league starts for the club.

Bristol City have won only two games all season, however, both victories have been on the road.

Derby County v Cardiff City

The Bluebirds beat Derby on both occasions in the Championship last season, putting six goals past them in the process.

The Rams have conceded 12 goals against Cardiff in their last four meetings.

The Rams have only won one of their last six games in the Championship, but this victory came in their last match.

Cardiff have only won one of their seven away games in the Championship this season.

Cardiff's last six league games have seen an average of 4.5 goals scored.

Leeds United v Blackpool

Blackpool haven't beaten Leeds in four attempts, losing twice and drawing twice, but this will be their first meeting since 1970/71.

Only Southampton (21) have won more points at home than Leeds United this season.
Leeds have been defeated only once in their last nine games in the Championship.

Blackpool have only managed to win once away this season in the Championship and only four sides have won fewer points on the road than them.

Blackpool have scored a goal in the 90th minute or later on five occasions in their last six league games.

Champions League Opta Facts - November 1-2


Group A

Bayern Munich v Napoli

Bayern have failed to scored in only one of their last 20 Champions League games, the 2009/10 final against Inter.
In their last 11 CL games, Bayern have found the net 24 times (an average of 2.2 goals per game).
Of their last 11 CL games, Bayern have won eight (two losses, one draw). But those three winless games have all come against Italian opposition (2-3 v Roma in November 2010, 2-3 v Inter in last season's round of 16, and this season's 1-1 draw at Napoli).
At home, Bayern have won eight of their last nine CL games (one loss).
Mario Gomez has scored 10 goals in his last nine CL games.
Gomez' last three CL goals have come in Munich's Allianz Arena, but 10 of his 14 goals overall in the Champions League have come away from home.
Following their 1-1 draw at Napoli, the Italians are now unbeaten against Bayern in all of their three meetings (two draws, one win).
Four of Bayern's last five CL losses have come against teams from Italy, including their last three.
Napoli have never won on German soil. Overall, they are winless in eight games against German opposition (three losses, five draws), and have lost the latest two.

Villarreal v Manchester City

In the first leg against Villarreal, Manchester City celebrated their first ever win in the Champions League.
After this season's three CL matchdays, 2006 semifinalists Villarreal are still without a single point in the table.
Villarreal hitman Giuseppe Rossi has now gone over nine hours without finding the net (563 minutes of play) - his last goal has come in the 2008/09 season, in the round of 16 against Panathinaikos (penalty).
The Spaniards have failed to score in 3 of their last 4 CL games.
Almost a quarter of Villarreal's CL games (6 of 25) have been scoreless draws.
The Yellow Submarine have won only one of their last ten CL games (four draws, five losses).
The Citizens haven't won any of their last five away games in European competition (two draws, three losses) - their last victory on foreign soil came in September 2010 at Red Bull Salzburg.
Man City have failed to score in their last three away games in European competition - they haven't found the net away from home in 283 minutes of European football.
In their rather brief CL history, Villarreal have faced English teams nine times already and have failed to win one (six draws, three losses).

Group B

Trabzonspor v CSKA Moscow

The Russians have lost only one of their last six away games in European competition, qualifiers excluded (three wins, two draws).
Moscow have kept a clean sheet in only one of their last 21 CL games - their 3-0 against Trabzonspor in the first leg.
At home, Trabzonspor have lost only one of their last seven games in European competition (excl. qualifiers) (three wins, three draws).
CSKA have lost only one of their seven European Cup/CL meetings with Turkish teams (four wins, two draws).
Only Napoli (4) have fired fewer shots on target than Trabzonspor (5).
Moscow's Seydou Doumbia has scored 11 goals in his last ten games in European competition for CSKA (four goals in the Europa League, three goals in EL qualification, four in the CL). With his four CL goals this season, he is the leading goalscorer.
The Russians have a dream duo in their attack: Vagner Love (one goal, two assists) and Seydou Doumbia (four goals) have had a hand in five of Moscow's last six CL goals.

Inter Milan v Lille

In the first leg, Lille and Inter met for the first time in a competitive game - the Italians had the upper hand at Lille (1-0).
Lille have won only one of their last eight games in European competition (four draws, three losses).
Inter have lost all of their last three CL home games (0-1 vs Bayern, 2-5 vs Schalke and 0-1 vs Trabzonspor) - this is a record for the Italian outfit.
Against French opposition, Inter have won only one of their last seven games in European competition (three draws, three losses) - that was the first leg at Lille.
Lille have five wins in nine meetings with teams from Italy, qualifiers included (one draw, three losses).
Lille have kept a clean sheet in five of their seven games against Italian teams in UEFA club competitions.
A bad omen for the French outfit: 82% of all teams that gained only two points from the first three CL group games were eliminated from that competition at the end of the group stage.
In 2010/11, Inter Milan survived the CL group stage for the seventh season in a row.

Group C

Manchester United v Otelul Galati

The first leg, which was the first meeting between the two teams, was won by Man Utd (2-0).
In European competition (incl. qualifiers), the English outfit has won all three meetings with teams from Romania.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last nine CL home games (six wins, three draws).
Galati are still waiting for their first point in CL play. They have lost four of their last five European games, qualifiers included.
Wayne Rooney is the leading English goal scorer in the Champions League (26 goals).
Ryan Giggs was 37 years and 289 days old when he scored in Lisbon, increasing his own record for the oldest goal scorer in CL history by 141 days.
Giggs has found the net in 16 of his 17 CL seasons - the only season in which the Welshman didn't score was 2007/08 (in spite of his nine appearances that season). No other player has scored at least once in so many different CL seasons.
In the first leg in Galati, the Red Devils managed to keep a clean sheet after conceding eight goals in their last four CL games.

Benfica v Basel

Basel haven't won a point or scored a goal in five games against Portuguese teams in UEFA club competitions (excl. qualifiers).
Basel have won only one of their last ten CL away games (three draws, six losses).
Benfica have lost only one of their last six CL home games (three wins, two draws).
For the first time since 1991/92, Benfica have won two away games in a row in Europe's biggest club competition (then European Cup, now Champions League).
On matchday 3, the Portuguese record champions kept a clean sheet for the second time in a row. In the 6 CL games before, Benfica had conceded 13 goals, and at least two in five of those games.
Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan had three assists in this season's three CL games, the most of all players.
Alexander Frei (three goals) and his namesake Fabian (two) have scored all of Basel's Champions League goals this term.
The Portuguese outfit have found the net in each of their CL games 2011/12, and scored twice in their 2-0 win at Basel - they have managed to net more than once in just one of their last 11 CL away games (2-1 at Donetsk in December 2007).

Group D

Ajax Amsterdam v Dinamo Zagreb

Dinamo have won only one of their seven CL away games - and that win was at Amsterdam! On 25/11/1998, the Croats won 1-0 in their group meeting.
Amsterdam have won the last three European meetings between the two teams.
Zagreb is one of three teams in this season's Champions League that haven't gained a point yet. In the competition's history, this has happened to a team 46 times before, and only one of those teams made it to the next round (Newcastle United in 2002/03).
Ajax have lost only one of their last seven CL home games (three wins, three draws). But that defeat was a clear one - the Dutch outfit lost 0-4 to Real Madrid in November 2010.
Ajax haven't found the net in their last two CL home games - they have never gone three at home without scoring.
The Croats haven't won any of their last six CL games, losing five of them (one draw).
Zagreb is the only team apart from Genk that has yet to score in this season's competition. If they go one more without scoring, it would be a club record.
Only Porto have received more yellow cards (11) than the Croats have (10, like Napoli), while Ajax have received the fewest (1).

Lyon v Real Madrid

Lyon have won only one of their last ten CL games against Spanish opposition (five draws, four losses) - In February 2010 they won 1-0 against Real.
Lyon have won three of their four CL home games against the Merengues (one draw).
Real are the only team in this season's Champions League that has won all three of their group games, and they are also the only team that has yet to concede a goal (8-0 goals total).
The French outfit has won only one of their last eight CL games (four losses, three draws) - on matchday 2 they won 2-0 against Dinamo Zagreb.
At home, the Lyonnais have fared much better: They have lost only one of their last 12 CL home games (seven wins, four draws) - that was in the second leg of the semifinals 2009/10, when they lost 0-3 against Bayern.
Real Madrid have lost only one of their last 16 CL games (11 wins, four draws) - that was in April 2011 against Barcelona (0-2).
Madrid have conceded only six goals in their last 15 CL games.
Karim Benzema has scored the most of his goals against French opposition (6).

Group E

Genk v Chelsea

Chelsea have won the last four European meetings with Belgian teams, conceding no goals at all in those games. In Belgium, however, the Blues' record is negative (one win, two losses).
Genk have won none of their last 13 games in European competitions (excl. qualifiers) - they have only managed six draws and have lost seven.
Just like 2002/03, when they had qualified for the CL for the first time, the Belgian outfit has failed to score in their first three group games.
Genk have won none of their nine CL games so far, although they did manage five draws.
Four of the last six CL games involving Genk have been draws.
Chelsea's 5-0 win in the first leg was the Blues' biggest margin of victory in their CL history (they also beat Galatasaray 5-0 in October 1999).
Only Barcelona (nine times) have scored more goals than Chelsea (eight), and only Real Madrid (0) have conceded fewer goals than the Londoners (1).

Valencia v Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen are winless in their last nine CL away games (seven losses, two draws). Their last victory on foreign soil was in Haifa (2-0) on 01/10/2002.
Valencia have won only one of their last 15 meetings with German teams. Eight of those games resulted in draws, six were Valencia losses.
The Spaniards have won none of their last six CL games (four draws, two losses).
Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno has made 21 saves in the first three games, more than any other keeper.
Valencia have conceded more than one goal in only two of their last 13 CL games, but both of those games were against German teams (this season's 1-2 at Leverkusen and last season's 1-3 at Schalke in the round of 16).
This is Valencia's worst start ever to a CL campaign.
In 1997/98 and in 2004/05, Leverkusen also had gained six points from the first three group games. In both cases they ended up first or second in the table.

Group F

Borussia Dortmund v Olympiakos

Borussia have won only one of their last eight games in European competitions (3-0 against Karpaty Lviv in last season's Europa League), drawing four and losing three.
However, the German champions have lost only one of their last 11 CL home games (five wins, five draws).
Olympiakos are winless in their last six CL away games, losing five of those games (one draw).
In those six away games, Olympiakos failed to score on four occasions and managed only two goals overall. In five of the six games, however, they conceded at least two goals.
Dortmund have never had to a worse start in to a CL season. Another loss would all but end their chances of qualifying for the round of 16.
The Greeks have lost four of their last five CL games. The only win, though, came in the first leg against Dortmund (3-1).
Dortmund's chances of qualifying for the next round have fallen dramatically: Only 9% of all teams to have gained only one point from their first three group games ended up first or second in the table.
Olympiakos have won the last four meetings with German teams in UEFA club competitions, scoring 13 goals and conceding only two in those games.

Arsenal v Marseille

Marseille have lost six of their last eight CL games against English teams (one win, one draw).
Arsenal have lost only two of their 17 games against French opposition in European competitions (nine wins, six draws).
Marseille have won their last three CL away games in the group stages, keeping a clean sheet in all of those games (goal difference 11-0).
The Gunners have lost only one of their last 35 CL home games (1-3 in the semifinals 2008/09 against Manchester United). They won 25 of the remaining 34 (nine draws).
The French outfit has kept a clean sheet in seven of their last nine European games (excl. qualifiers).
A win would secure Arsenal a place in the round of 16.
In their last ten home games (of which they won nine and drawn one), Arsenal have scored an average of 3.3 goals per game.
Arsenal midfielder Alexandre Song has already won 18 tackles, by far the most of all players in the competition.

Group G

APOEL Nicosia v Porto

Porto and Nicosia are facing each other for the fourth time in two years now. In this season's first leg, the Cypriots gained their first point at Porto (having lost two before).
APOEL are winless in five European games against Portuguese opposition, losing four (one draw).
Nicosia are winless in their last 33 away games in European competitions (excl. qualifiers), but have drawn five of their last six.
The Cypriots have lost only one of their last 10 European games, qualifiers included.
In the first leg, referee Antony Gautier handed out 11 yellow cards. This has happened only once in the CL - in the first leg of the 2006/07 round of 16 game between Lyon and Roma.
Porto have fired 65 shots, ranking first ahead of favourites Real (64) and Barcelona (63) in this category.
APOEL has already gained five points, two more than in their entire 2009/10 campaign. This record is also the best ever start for a Cyprian team in the CL.
Hulk has had a hand in at least one goal in each of his team's CL games this season - something that only Lionel Messi, David Villa, Alan Dzagoev and Nicolas Gaitan have managed apart from the Brazilian.

Zenit St Petersburg v Shakhtar Donetsk

The last time Donetsk had a worse record after three group games than now (two points) was in 2006/07. That season they ended up third in the table and entered the UEFA Cup - just like Zenit did in 2008/09.
Zenit have gained three more points from their first three games than in 2008/09 when they first played in the CL - that season they didn't manage a win until matchday 4.
Shakhtar are winless in their last five CL games - a club record -, having lost three of those games (two draws).
Zenit's win against Porto on matchday 2 was only the second CL victory for the Russian outfit (they have drawn three and lost four apart from that).
Before the first leg between the two teams, Shakhtar had faced a team from Russia only once in European competitions (excl. qualifiers). That was in March 2009, when they eliminated CSKA Moscow (0-1 A, 2-0 H) in the UEFA Cup round of 16.
All four Shakhtar goals this season were scored by Brazilians (two by Luiz Adriano, one each by Jadson and Willian). The only two assists on those goals were also provided by Brazilian players (Jadson and Teixeira).
In the first leg, Zenit fired 23 shots - a number bettered only by Real (in their 1-0 win at Zagreb on matchday 1) in an away game of this season's competition.

Group H

Viktoria Plzeň v Barcelona

In their 0-2 defeat at Camp Nou in the first leg, Viktoria was the first team in this season's CL that did not fire a single shot during the entire game.
With a win at Plzen, Pep Guardiola's team would guarantee qualification for the round of 16 if Milan manage at least a draw in the group's other game on matchday 4.
Barcelona have found the net at least once in each of their last 24 CL games - the last CL team to keep a clean sheet against the Catalans was Rubin Kazan in November 2009.
Victor Valdes has made just one save in three Champions League games this season.
Barcelona's overall record in the CL against Czech opposition is now six wins, one draw and two losses.
Lionel Messi, who assisted on Andres Iniesta's 1-0 in the first leg, has had a hand in 51 goals in his 60 CL appearances (39 goals, 12 assists).

BATE Borisov v AC Milan

Borisov have won none of their nine CL games (four draws, five losses).
Of the five European meetings with teams from Italy, BATE have lost three and drawn two, scoring two goals and conceding 10 in the process (qualifiers excluded).
When BATE first played in the CL in 2008/09, they ended up last in the table despite having gained two points from their first three group games (they have gained only one point now).
Borisov's Marko Simic has collected two yellow cards - he will be suspended automatically if he gets another one.
Milan's European record against Borisov (their only opponent from Belarus) is flawless: They won three of three, scoring eight goals and conceding none.
In the first leg, Milan fired considerably more shots (28) than they had in their first two games combined (20).
Twice before in their CL history, the Italian outfit have gained seven points from their first three group games - they ended up first in the table on both occasions.
Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic fired ten shots in the first leg against BATE - only Barca's Lionel Messi has had more in one game (11, on matchday two at Borisov).

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01.11. (Tue) 18:00 Zenit - Shakhtar

Bruno Alves - Zenit (Getty Images)
Getty Images


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG

Zenit
Malafeev
Anyukov, Alves, Lukovic, Criscito
Semak, Denisov, Zyryanov
Faizulin, Bukharov, Danny
SHAKHTAR DONETSK
 
Shakhtar Donetsk
Rybka
Srna, Rakytskiy, Kucher, Rat
Hubschmann, Mkhitaryan
Douglas Costa, Teixeira, Willian
Luiz Adriano

Zenit star man Danny sat out Thursday's league win over Volga, but having served his domestic suspension will return for Tuesday's clash. Nicolas Lombaerts was a late casualty in that match, and could be replaced by Aleksandr Lukovic. Aleksandr Kerzhakov remains sidelined, meaning Aleksandr Bukharov's run in the first team is set to continue.

Dmytro Chyrgynskiy will miss the trip to Russia through injury, but Yaroslav Rakitskiy, who missed the previous two group stage games is set to return, having completed his suspension. Luiz Adriano missed Saturday's 3-2 win over Oleksandria, but will be fine to face the Russian champions.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • In 1999, Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti's Sampdoria side beat Mircea Lucescu's Inter outfit 4-0, in what proved to be the current Shakhtar boss' last game in charge of the Italian giants.
  • The Russian champions have won their last eight European home ties.
  • This is the first time Zenit have ever hosted a Ukrainian team since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
  • Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Zenit St Petersburg three times in the 1980s in Soviet Cup semi-final ties, requiring a penalty shoot-out each time.
  • The Ukrainian champions have faced Russian opposition just once in Uefa competition prior to this season, suffering a 3-2 defeat to Lokomotiv Moscow in the 2003-04 qualifying rounds.
  • These two sides won the Soviet Supreme League three times between them, with the Ukrainian outfit victorious on two occasions in the 1970s.

Prediction
Despite notching two wins on the trot, Shakhtar Donetsk's form both domestically and in European games has been indifferent at best of late. Zenit, on the other hand, have been on top of their game since the disappointing defeat to APOEL, and given their impressive home record in European ties, Expect the Russians to collect victory.
Editor's Prediction
Zenit 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

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01.11. (Tue) 18:00 BATE - Milan

Marko Simic (B), Alberto Aquilani (M), Artyom Radkov (B) - Milan-Bate Borisov - Champions League (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS



BATE BORISOV


Gutor
Baga, Simic, Yurevich, Bordachev
Volodko, Bressan, Kontosevoi, Olekhnovich
Rudik,
Kezman

AC MILAN


Abbiati
Abate, Nesta, Silva, Zambrotta
Nocerino, Van Bommel, Aquilani
Boateng
Ibrahimovic, Robinho


Massimiliano Allegri has a building injury list to contend with, starting with Antonio Cassano as his latest casualty. The Italy forward has been hospitalised since Saturday evening after feeling unwell on the flight back to Milan following their win over Roma, and as a result is a doubt for the match. In addition, Philippe Mexes may miss out with a broken hand, while Luca Antonini is likely to be unavailable as he continues to recover from a twisted ankle.

However, there is no such news on Mathieu Flamini, who will remain on the treatment table for the foreseeable future. Gennaro Gattuso will serve the last match of his suspension, incurred during last season's tie with Tottenham Hotspur in the second round of the competition, but is also suffering from a recently contracted eye injury in any case.

Clarence Seedorf and Alexandre Pato have both been declared fit and may feature at some point during the encounter on Tuesday, although it is expected that Allegri will name the same side that claimed victory at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Meanwhile for BATE, they named an experimental line-up against Vitebsk on Thursday, after securing a sixth consecutive Belarusian league title on October 23. On the injury front for Viktor Goncharenko's men, Yegor Filipenko, Vitali Rodionov, Evgeni Kuntsevich and Alexsandr Pavlov are all out of contention, nursing lengthy injury setbacks.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • AC Milan will confirm their place in the last 16 if they better Viktoria Plzen's result against Barcelona.
  • The Serie A champions have won five games on the bounce, scoring 16 in the process.
  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic's strike against BATE a fortnight ago was Milan's 200th Champions League goal.
  • Massimiliano Allegri's side have lost just two of their past 13 European away fixtures, drawing seven of them.
  • BATE will be eliminated from the competition if they fail to beat Milan and Barcelona win at Plzen.
  • The Belarusians have conceded eight goals in Group H, the highest in the tournament.
  • However, they won a sixth consecutive Belarusian championship by beating Torpedo Zhodino 4-2 a week ago.
  • BATE have kept 18 clean sheets in 30 league matches this season.

Prediction
The Italian champions should face little trouble in earning a comfortable victory on their travels, as Allegri now has a settled squad at his disposal that is continuing to grow in stature. Despite BATE lifting another league title of late, they are unlikely to be strong enough to match the Serie A giants.
Editor's Prediction
BATE 0-2 AC Milan