07.03. (Wed) 20:45 APOEL - Olympique Lyonnais

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

APOEL Chiotis Poursaiditidis, Paulo Jorge, Kaka, Oliveira  Morais, H Sousa  Charalambidis, Tricovski, Manduca  Ailton

LYON Lloris Reveilliere, Kone, Cris, Cissokho Briand, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Bastos Lisandro Lopez, Gomis

APOEL coach Ivan Jovanovic has few injury concerns ahead of their make-or-break Champions League tie against Lyon. Marcelo Oliveira and Aldo Adorno both sat out the first leg, but are in line for a return after appearing in the 4-1 win over league strugglers Ermis at the weekend.
Ivan Trickovsi looks set to be reinstated after being rested at the weekend, with the Macedonian attacker having shaken off a leg injury. However, APOEL will be without Helio Pinto, who is suspended for the clash at GSP.
Olympique Lyonnais have Yoann Gourcuff ruled out after he picked up an adductor injury. The France international's latest setback prolongs his spell on the sidelines, having last turned out in the 3-1 cup win over Bordeaux last month. However, les Gones are boosted by the return of Dejan Lovren after recovering from an Achilles injury.
Bafetimbi Gomis, Cris and Kim Kallstrom will incur a suspension if booked on Wednesday evening. Likewise, Nektarios Alexandrou, Marcelo Oliveira, Trickovsi, Marcinho and Paulo Jorge are all also one booking away from a suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Of the last 13 Champions League games, APOEL have only won two and both of these have come at home this season, against FC Porto and Zenit St Petersburg.

• Nuno Morais, formerly of Chelsea, has played every single minute of the Cypriots' Champions League campaign. 

• Ivan Jovanovic's men are bidding to be Cyprus' first Champions League quarter-finalists, in which the island nation could also become the 16th European counry to achieve the feat.

• APOEL's last encounter against French opposition on Cypriot soil ended in a 1-0 defeat to PSG in September 1993.

• Olympique Lyonnais are in the round of 16 for the ninth successive season, only Real Madrid have achieved more (consecutive streak of 15).

• Les Gones have a 100 per cent record of qualifying when winning the first leg 1-0 at home, most recently against Real Madrid at this stage in 2009-10.

• Remi Garde's men are aiming to qualify for the last eight for only the second time since 2005-06, and the first since they achieved their best result as semi-finalists two years ago.

• Since the first leg on February 14, Lyon are yet to win in their domestic league, having claimed victory in only one of their last eight Ligue 1 games.

• Les Gones have fallen behind in seven of their last eight games, something noteworthy to Ivan Jovanovic's men if they are secure an unlikely qualification.

Prediction

The tie is still firmly in the balance, but judging on the one-sided nature of the first leg, in which APOEL only registered just one shot on target, the consensus is that this fairytale will come to a premature end on Wednesday evening,
However, given Lyon's recent form, culminating in a 2-0 defeat to Nancy at the weekend, all is not over for Ivan Jovanovic's men. A highly-entertaining clash is a given, though Lyon's experience should see them sneak through.

Editor's Prediction

APOEL 1-1 Lyon

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07.03. (Wed) 20:45 Barcelona - Bayer Leverkusen

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA Valdes Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Adriano Xavi, Busquets, IniestaFabregas, Messi, Cuenca

BAYER LEVERKUSEN Leno Schwaab, Friedrich, Toprak, Kadlec Reinartz, BenderCastro, Augusto, Schurrle Kiessling

Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez will sit out Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Bayer Leverkusen after the Chilean suffered a muscle tear in the weekend win over Sporting Gijon.

Midfielder Thiago is a doubt, having sustained a knock to his shin during training whilst on international duty with Spain, with Eric Abidal (groin) another absentee.

Captain Carles Puyol could be restored to the starting line-up after he was rested on the bench during the weekend. Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets are available for selection again after missing the win over Sporting due to suspension.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt will be without the injured trio of Sidney Sam, Michael Ballack and Tranquillo Barnetta, while defender Vedran Corluka is doubtful to feature.

Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok, who has spent a month on the sidelines with a lacerated foot, could make his first start for the club since January, having played the second half of Saturday's win over Bayern Munich as a substitute.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Barcelona have won their last nine home matches against German opponents since losing 2-1 to Bayern Munich in the 1998-99 Champions League group stage.

• The Catalans have won more corners (48) and had more shots wide (62) than any other team left in the competition.

• Barca are on a 49-match unbeaten streak at Camp Nou in all competitions - a run that stretches back to September 2010.

• Bayer Leverkusen have not won away from home in the Champions League in their last 12 attempts.

• The German side have conceded 11 goals; more than any other club in the round of 16.

• B04 are currently on a three-game winning streak in the Bundesliga.

Prediction

This second leg tie has a bit of a dead rubber feel to it, and Guardiola could well opt to give his reserves some game time on Wednesday. Although the visitors come into this on a good run of results, it is hard to see them get a result at Camp Nou.

Editor's Prediction

Barcelona 2-1 Leverkusen

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07.03. (Wed) 18:30 Bologna - Juventus

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

BOLOGNA Gillet Raggi, Portanova, Cherubin Pulzetti, Perez, Mudingayi, Morleo Ramirez, Diamanti Di Vaio

JUVENTUS Buffon Lichtsteiner, Caceres, Bonucci, De Ceglie Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio Pepe, Matri, Vucinic

Juventus have been rocked by the news that first choice centre-back partnership Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli will be out of action for 20 days and 10 days respectively, but coach Antonio Conte looks to have ready-made replacements in the form of January arrival Martin Caceres and Leonardo Bonucci.

However, the latter felt the wrath of frustrated Old Lady fans during the 1-1 draw with Chievo on Saturday after another unconvincing performance, but he can win back the hearts of his supporters with a return to form against Bologna.

Other changes in the XI should see Arturo Vidal resume his midfield duties after sitting out the clash against the Flying Donkeys as punishment for his red card against AC Milan a week earlier, while Simone Pepe should start ahead of Emanuele Giaccherini on the right wing.

Meanwhile for Bologna, Simone Loria, Mikael Antonsson and Robert Acquafresca all face late fitness tests ahead of the clash, as coach Stefano Pioli prepares to make one change from the side that beat Novara 1-0 in a crucial relegation six-pointer on Sunday - Archimede Morleo should replace Matteo Rubin in midfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bologna have won just one of their last 20 Serie A meetings with Juventus. However, they have won three of their last four league encounters, and have lost only once in nine matches.

• The Rossoblu have failed to beat Juventus in their last nine attempts.

• Stefano Pioli's men have kept clean sheets in four of their last Serie A fixtures at home.

• Juventus have recorded the most wins at the Dall'Ara in the top-flight, with 26 victories.

• Despite their status as the only side still unbeaten amongst the 'top-five' European leagues, the Old Lady have drawn four of their last five in Serie A.

• Furthermore, the Bianconeri have drawn five of their last seven away days in the league.

• Juventus have conceded just 16 top-flight goals this season, fewer than any other side.

Prediction

Juventus are still unbeaten this season and that, coupled with the superior quality at Antonio Conte's disposal, suggests that a victory for the visitors seems the likeliest option.

Editor's Prediction

Bologna 0-2 Juventus

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Italian Serie A Opta Facts 7th March

Cesena v Catania

Catania are unbeaten in their three previous meetings against Cesena in the top-flight (two wins and a draw).
Their only previous meeting at the Manuzzi was a draw, in which the Sicilians took the lead through Maxi Lopez before the hosts equalised thanks to Jimenez.
Adrian Mutu scored his last brace for Fiorentina last March against Catania. Mutu has already bagged five goals in Serie A against the Sicilians.
Cesena have lost each of their last four league games and have picked up just one point in the last seven.
Cesena have the worst attack in this Serie A campaign (16 goals scored) and have failed to score in four of their last six league fixtures.
At home, the Bianconeri have not drawn any of their last six games (two wins and four defeats).
Catania have lost just one of their last seven league games; 1-3 at Torino against Juventus (three wins and three draws).
However, away from home they have won just one of their last seven games; 1-0 to Siena.
53% of Catania's goals have come from set piece situations; the highest percentage in this Serie A season.
Cesena have conceded the most goals from set pieces (18).

Bologna v Juventus

Bologna have won just one of their last 20 Serie A games against Juventus; 2-0 in Turin last season.
On that occasion, Marco Di Vaio scored his last Serie A brace.
Juventus are unbeaten at the Dall'Ara in their last nine meetings, and have dropped just three points in this run.
Juventus are the visiting side with the most wins at the Dall'Ara in the top-flight (26).
Bologna have won three of their last four league fixtures and have lost just one of the last nine.
The Rossoblu have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five home league games.
Although Juventus are the only side still unbeaten amongst the top-5 European leagues, they have drawn four of their last five Serie A fixtures.
Moreover, the Bianconeri have shared the points in five of their last seven away league games.
Juventus have conceded just 16 goals this season in Serie A, fewer than any other side.
Marco Di Vaio has failed to convert four of his six penalties taken over the last two Serie A seasons, including the one saved by Novara's goalkeeper Ujkani last Sunday.

Parma v Fiorentina

Fiorentina are unbeaten in their last four meetings against Parma: two draws at the Tardini, two wins for the Viola in Florence.
Parma have won only one of their last six games at home against Fiorentina, despite always scoring in the last five.
In the reverse fixture, Stevan Jovetic scored the first of his four Serie A braces: he also scored two goals last Sunday against Udinese.
The Montenegrin striker, who got injured last Sunday against Cesena, has been directly involved in 14 of Fiorentina's 25 league goals this season (12 goals and two assists).
Fiorentina have failed to score in each of their four league games without Stevan Jovetic this season.
Amauri is waiting for his first goal for Fiorentina, but last season, during his spell at Parma, he scored his first goal against the Viola.
Parma are without a win in their last four league games (two draws and two losses).
Fiorentina have not shared the points in their last six league fixtures (three wins and as many defeats).
The Viola have scored just four goals away from home, fewer than any other side in this Serie A campaign.

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