Wednesday, February 23, 2011

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23-02-2011 20:45 Inter - Bayern Munchen


New Inter Hope To Draw On Pedigree

When the round of 16 draw took place in December, the stars aligned and handed Inter an improbable rematch of last year’s final. But in truth, it is only a rematch in name; over the past nine months, both teams have undergone many changes.

Absent from the Inter line-up on Wednesday will be Diego Milito, who scored both goals in last year’s 2-0 final victory. The Argentine striker is sidelined by a hamstring injury, but even if fit, he might not have made Leonardo’s starting line-up. Under the Brazilian coach, Samuel Eto’o, who played in a wide role in Jose Mourinho’s treble-winning team, has assumed the role of main goal getter and led all scorers with six goals in the group stage.

In part due to necessity caused by injuries in defence, Inter have shed the defence-first qualities of Mourinho’s team and become quite a proficient attacking force. While they have only kept two clean sheets since Leonardo took over in December, Inter have scored 27 goals in 11 matches, and won nine matches. Their offensive stance has yielded rewards; Leonardo’s record as coach has to date exceeded that of Mourinho, and Inter have rapidly moved up the Serie A table to third place. Of course, Leonardo’s Inter have yet to be tested in Europe and Wednesday’s match will serve as a form check.

The coach nonetheless believes that his team will draw on its pedigree and play the part of defending champions.

“This team are the reigning champions, and we can fight against any team,” he told reporters in a pre-match press conference. “We will play like a champion team.”

Bayern Not Out For Vengeance

Bayern, too, have changed since last year’s final. With 30 scorer points in his last 22 matches, Mario Gomez has more than filled in for injured striker Ivica Olic, and skipper Mark van Bommel has been ousted as Louis van Gaal prepares for the future with Toni Kroos in a holding midfield role. Thomas Kraft has replaced Hans-Joerg Butt in goal, Holger Badstuber has slid into central defence, and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Luiz Gustavo have gained starting roles on the back line.

In function, however, Bayern are not very different now than they were a year ago. In terms of tactics, the Bavarians, whose ball possession in the 2009-10 Champions League was only exceeded by Barcelona, have opted to sacrifice time on the ball in favour of faster passing. Otherwise, Bayern play with the same aggressive, possession-based system typical of Van Gaal.

While Bayern struggled during the first half of the season, the return to form and fitness of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery has left the four-time European champions in fine form heading into Wednesday’s match; as they seek an away goal, Bayern will take comfort in their record of 11 consecutive matches with at least one tally on the scoresheet.

Die Roten are geared up for their match with Inter, but ahead of the match, Van Gaal stressed that his side will not be out for vengeance.

“This match is not about revenge for us. We just want to win this game, regardless of last year.”

TEAM NEWS

Inter

On Tuesday, reports from Italy revealed that Goran Pandev will be dropped to the bench and Inter will adopt a 4-3-2-1 formation. Lucio is set to make his return in central defence at the expense of Andrea Ranocchia, while Wesley Sneijder will also make Leonardo’s starting XI after being rested last weekend.

Probable Starting XI: Cesar – Maicon, Lucio, Cordoba, Chivu – Zanetti, Cambiasso, Thiago Motta – Sneijder, Stankovic – Eto’o

Bayern Munich

Van Gaal has never been one to make any drastic changes, but last weekend he had left back Luiz Gustavo swap positions with holding midfielder Danijel Pranjic, and used four different central defenders. Reports from Germany indicate that the Brazilian will start alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger in central midfield, while the Croat will play on the left of defence. Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Holger Badstuber are most likely to start as centre halves.

Probable Starting XI: Kraft – Lahm, Tymoshchuk, Badstuber, Pranjic – Schweinsteiger, Luiz Gustavo – Robben, Mueller, Ribery – Gomez

Prediction
Given the poor performance of both defences in recent months, there will be goals. If Bayern score early, there will be many; if Inter are on the board first, expect the hosts to close up shop soon. A variety of outcomes are possible, but ultimately, the result will come down to execution at critical moments.

Inter Milan 2-2 Bayern Munich

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23-02-2011 18:30 Bologna - Roma

Climbing Up The Table

Bologna commenced the 2010-11 campaign as one of the relegation candidates but the Felsinei seem to have created quite a gulf between themselves and the bottom-three.

At the weekend Alberto Malesani's side defeated Palermo 1-0 at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara to bounce back from their 3-1 loss to Sampdoria in Genoa. This means that Bologna are currently placed 12th in the Serie A standings with 32 points from 25 matches, a healthy nine points above the relegation zone.

Bologna have a formidable record at home as they have lost just once in the league all season in front of their own supporters. Having got the better of Palermo at home at the weekend, this time the Rossoblu will be confident of dishing out a similar fate to Roma, whom they had held to a 2-2 draw in Rome in the reverse fixture in September.

New Coach, New Spirit

Roma’s 4-3 defeat to Genoa at the weekend was the final straw that broke Claudio Ranieri’s back. 3-0 up just six minutes into the second-half, the Giallorossi conceded four times subsequently and lost their fourth competitive match in a row, third successive in Serie A.

The defeat left Roma dangling in eighth place in the league standings with 39 points from 25 matches and convinced – some would say forced – Ranieri to leave the Stadio Olimpico.

Vincenzo Montella has been appointed as the caretaker coach of Roma and the former Lupi player will have a tough task on his hand. Roma have lost seven times away from home in the league this season and are also low on confidence.

Montella, though, remains confident of a victory in his first game in charge of the former Italian champions and believes that he needs to un-block the team.

"I think the team's main problem is above all a mental block," said Montella on Tuesday. "The players are sensitive and they are carrying inside them this big weight.

"They need to free themselves from this burden, and this is the first step we need to take so that they can play to their true potential."


TEAM NEWS

Bologna

Ekdal and Garics are out injured for the home side.

Roma

Adriano and Perrotta are injured and will miss the trip to Bologna.

Bologna AS Roma
12Ranking8

Last 8 matches
19 FebBologna - Palermo 1 - 0
4 - 3Genoa - AS Roma20 Feb
13 FebSampdoria - Bologna 3 - 1
0 - 2AS Roma - Napoli12 Feb
6 FebBologna - Catania 1 - 0
5 - 3Inter Milan - AS Roma6 Feb
2 FebUdinese - Bologna 1 - 1
1 - 1AS Roma - Brescia2 Feb
23 JanBologna - Lazio Roma 3 - 1
3 - 0AS Roma - Cagliari22 Jan
15 JanInter Milan - Bologna 4 - 1
0 - 1Cesena - AS Roma16 Jan
9 JanBari - Bologna 0 - 2
2 - 1Sampdoria - AS Roma9 Jan
6 JanBologna - Fiorentina 1 - 1
4 - 2AS Roma - Catania6 Jan

Last 4 matches (Home)Last 4 matches (Away)
19 FebBologna - Palermo 1 - 0
4 - 3Genoa - AS Roma20 Feb
6 FebBologna - Catania 1 - 0
5 - 3Inter Milan - AS Roma6 Feb
23 JanBologna - Lazio Roma 3 - 1
0 - 1Cesena - AS Roma16 Jan
6 JanBologna - Fiorentina 1 - 1
2 - 1Sampdoria - AS Roma9 Jan


Prediction
Bologna are in good form and with Roma struggling and also having changed coaches, they will be confident of garnering yet another victory. However, the Roma players will give their all to muster a point.

Bologna 1-1 Roma

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23-02-2011 18:00 Porto - Sevilla

Building On The Advantage

Porto would be pardoned for believing that they already have one foot in the Round of 16 of the Europa League. The Portuguese giants’ 2-1 defeat of Sevilla in Spain in the first leg last week has put them firmly in control of this tie.

The Dragons are unbeaten in nine games in Europe under coach Andre Villas-Boas and also have yet to lose a match in the Portuguese Liga. Porto have an eight-point lead at the top of the table in the Portuguese first division and are on course to win the title.

However, Villas-Boas has warned his side against complacency and said on Tuesday: “It’s important to convey the message that the win in Seville was an important one, nonetheless it hasn’t decided this round of 32.

“There’s a feeling amongst supporters that the job has been done but I totally reject that idea. Sevilla embrace many strong points. FC Porto have to be completely competent in order to beat this team.

“The victory in Spain was great, but anything can still happen. Thus, it’s imperative that supporters unite and back the team and that FC Porto are adequately competent to go through to the next phase.”


In Desperate Times

Sevilla are in desperate times these days as, besides performing poorly in the domestic arena, the Andalucian giants are on their way out of the Europa League. The Rojiblancos failed to thread their way into the Champions League group stage, losing to Braga in the play-offs, and are now on the verge of being knocked out of Europe altogether by another Portuguese team.

Sevilla warmed up for today’s encounter at the Estadio do Dragao with a 1-0 victory over Hercules at home in the Spanish Primera Division and are now three points behind Espanyol, who currently occupy the final Europa League slot.

Winning in Porto, though, is going to be far from easy and with a 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Seville, Gregorio Manzano’s side face an uphill struggle. However, club president Jose Maria del Nido remains confident and said on Tuesday: “No one has forgotten that the elimination stage is more difficult than when it began.

“Porto carry the advantage from the first game, but no one is going to stop us from fighting until the end to advance to the next round. Sevilla will give their last drop of sweat in order to achieve their goal.”

TEAM NEWS

Porto

Maicon has returned to the team but Sereno, Walter and Souza are unavailable.

Sevilla

Manzano has a 21-man squad at his disposal for the match but Andres Palop, Martin Caceres and Ndri Romaric are not part of the team because of injury.

Prediction
Sevilla do have the passion but winning in Porto will be tough. The Portuguese giants have it all covered from the first-leg and should wrap up the tie with a comprehensive victory.

Porto 2-0 Sevilla