Saturday, March 17, 2012

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18.03. (Sun) 21:30 Real - Malaga

Real Madrid players celebrate after a goal against Cska (Getty Images)
Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID

Casillas
Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo
Khedira, Alonso
Ozil, Kaka, Ronaldo
Benzema
MALAGA

Caballero
Gamez, Demichelis, Weligton, Monreal
Camacho, Recio
Cazorla, Isco, Fernandez
Rondon

Angel Di Maria is the only absentee for Real Madrid as they gear up for their Primera Division encounter against high-flying Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Argentine has not featured since February 18 due to a thigh problem.

Meanwhile, Portuguese full-back Fabio Coentrao has returned to training after a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and could make the bench.

Salomon Rondon has recovered from flu and is set to start in attack for Manuel Pellegrini's side.

Jeremy Toulalan is nursing a foot injury and is unavailable, but Jesus Gamez (ankle) has a chance of making the starting XI.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Real Madrid have won their last 11 league matches, their longest winning streak in La Liga since a 10-game run between September and December 2011.
  • Los Blancos have kept only five clean sheets in their 21 matches at the Bernabeu in all competitions this campaign.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo has struck 13 Liga hat-tricks for Madrid - six this season.
  • Malaga recorded their third straight league victory with a 1-0 success over Levante on Saturday.
  • The Andalusian outfit have won just two of their last 11 away fixtures in the league.
  • Ruud van Nistelrooy (pictured right) scored 46 Liga goals in 68 appearances for Madrid between 2006 and 2010.
Prediction
Madrid are in the groove now and Mourinho will be making sure that his players do not take their eye off the ball as the Liga title race approaches the home stretch. Pellegrini will be desperate to dent the title charge of his former club, but his team have been desperately poor away from home all season.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Malaga

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18.03. (Sun) 20:45 Udinese - Napoli

Cavani, Hamsik, Lavezzi - Napoli (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS


UDINESE


Handanovic
Ferronetti, Benatia, Domizzi

Ekstrand, Pinzi, Pazienza
, Asamoah, Armero
 Floro Flores
Di Natale

NAPOLI

De Sanctis
Campagnaro, Fernandez, Aronica
Zuniga, Inler, Gargano, Dossena
Hamsik, Lavezzi
Cavani
Francesco Guidolin's troops will host the Azzurri, without the injured Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, with the Ghana international's knee strain likely to keep the midfielder out of action for another couple of weeks, while Mauricio Isla looks set to miss the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
However Danilo will return to the side, after the former Palmeiras defender sat out of Thursday's Europa League tie with AZ through suspension.
The visitors will go into Sunday's clash without the services of Marco Donadel, with the former Fiorentina midfielder still nursing a muscle strain, while Christian Maggio is a major doubt, after the Italy international limped out of Wednesday's Champions League defeat to Chelsea.
Gianluca Grava and Miguel Britos are also unlikely to feature against the Bianconeri, with the defensive duo still suffering from a foot and muscle injury respectively.
However Blerim Dzemaili will return to the squad, after the former Torino star, sat out of the weekend victory over Cagliari through suspension.
DID YOU KNOW?
  • Udinese have won three of their last four clashes with the visitors.
  • The hosts have won 10 of their 14 home games this season. However they have failed to win any of their last three ties at the Stadio Fruili.
  • Antonio Di Natale has scored 18 Serie A goals so far this season, second to only Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has netted one more.
  • Napoli have won each of their last five league games.
  • The Azzurri have lost only one of their last 12 league meetings.
  • The visitors have only managed to win five of their 13 away games in Serie A this term.
Prediction
With the visitors on the back of five straight league victories, along with the Bianconeri's recent dip in form, an away victory seems a probable outcome.
Editor's Prediction
Udinese 0-2 Napoli

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18.03. (Sun) 17:00 Liverpool - Stoke City


PROBABLE LINEUPS
LIVERPOOL

Reina
Kelly, Carragher, Skrtel, Jose Enrique
Henderson, Gerrard, Adam
Downing, Suarez, Bellamy

STOKE CITY

SorensenWilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson
Shotton, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington
Crouch, Walters

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will be able to welcome back forward Craig Bellamy into his side after the Welshman missed the Reds' Merseyside derby demolition of local rivals Everton in midweek.

The Anfield gaffer will have to do without the services of full back Glen Johnson, who is still making his way back from injury, while defender Daniel Agger is set to miss out on the quarter-final tie with a cracked rib.

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis will be minus Jamaican striker Ricardo Fuller after the 32-year-old received a straight red card for stamping on Branislav Ivanovic during their away defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League.

He is set to give a recall to goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, deciding to give a rest to current Stoke stopper Asmir Begovic, while former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch is set to return to the starting line-up having missed out the Stamford Bridge clash.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Liverpool have only managed to claim victory in four out of their last 12 fixtures, drawing four and losing the same amount.
  • The Reds are looking to claim a domestic double for the first time since 2001, when they beat Birmingham City on penalties to lift the League Cup, then defeated Arsenal in the dramatic closing minutes of the FA Cup final thanks to two goals from Michael Owen.
  • This will be the first time the two sides have met in the FA Cup since 1988, when a Peter Beardsley strike helped Liverpool win a replay.
  • Reds boss Kenny Dalglish (pictured right) is looking to claim his third FA Cup in charge of the Anfield side after winning the trophy in 1986 and 1989 during his first stint in charge of Liverpool.
  • The Anfield encounter will be Stoke City’s 46th game of this season, having started the campaign in July against Hajduk Split in the Europa League.
  • While Liverpool have played all of their FA Cup games at home, Stoke have had to play each of Gillingham, Derby and Crawley away from the Britannia Stadium.
  • The Potters have only conceded more than one goal once in their last 15 FA Cup ties, spanning three seasons.
  • This is the fourth time the two teams have met this season; Tony Pulis’ side claimed a goalless draw on their last visit to Merseyside, having won their home Premier League fixture 1-0 thanks to a Jonathan Walters penalty, while in between, the Reds knocked the Potters out of the League Cup. 
Prediction
With this being Stoke City’s 46th game of the season there may be some tiredness about Tony Pulis’ side that Liverpool can exploit, especially as the Reds have the extra incentive of being the only side left in the tournament who can complete a domestic double after their victory in the League Cup over Cardiff City.
Editor's Prediction
Liverpool 2-1 Stoke City

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18.03. (Sun) 15:05 Chelsea - Leicester City

FA Cup - Chelsea v Birmingham City, Daniel Sturridge and Gary Cahill
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA


Cech
Bosingwa, Cahill, Terry, Cole
Meireles, Mikel, Romeu, Kalou
Torres, Sturridge

LEICESTER CITY


Schmeichel
St Ledger, Bamba, Morgan, Konchesky
Dyer, Wellens, Danns, Gallagher
Nugent, Beckford


Interim Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo could be set to make a few changes to the side that emerged victorious during their dramatic extra-time victory over Napoli in the Champions League during mid-week.
John Terry and David Luiz are both facing a race against time to be fit for the fixture. The former England captain having not long since returned to the side after undergoing knee surgery and Luiz took a knock to his ankle during the game against the Italians.
Raul Meireles is also available for selection once again after returning from suspension.
Leicester left-back and former Liverpool man Paul Konchesky returns from a three-match suspension after earning a red card in the game against Coventry earlier in the month. He faces a battle, however, with Tom Kennedy who has deputised in his absence and has gone onto make a decent impression.
Matt Mills, Lee Peltier, Steve Howard and Jeff Schlupp are all pushing for returns to the starting eleven while Danny Drinkwater, Conrad Logan and Liam Moore are all cup-tied for Nigel Pearson’s side.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Roberto Di Matteo has now overseen three straight wins since taking over the Chelsea reins from sacked former manager Andre Villas-Boas, who won just one of his last seven matches at the club.
  • Chelsea have won all of the last five meetings the Foxes, with the latest a 4-3 success in the League Cup back in October 2007.
  • The Blues are unbeaten in 22 home FA Cup games, excluding penalty shootout defeats.
  • Chelsea have scored a 90th minute goal in three of their last four clashes with tomorrow’s opposition, with two of those goals turning draws into wins
  • Both teams go into the game with different managers to the ones that they started the season with. Sven Goran Eriksson and Andre Villas-Boas were both sacked for a perceived under-performance in the league..
  • Leicester have been woefully inconsistent this campaign and have won four and lost three of their last seven league games.
  • The Foxes have kept five clean sheets in six previous away FA Cup sixth round games, excluding replays, conceding just one in the other.
  • Jermaine Beckford (pictured right) is the competition's top goalscorer after netting five goals in the FA Cup so far this season.
  • The FA Cup has proven a fruitful competition for Beckford in the past too, and the former Everton striker has scored 14 goals in his last 15 FA Cup appearances.
  • If Leicester emerge from the tie as victors, it will mark the first time that they have been FA Cup semi-finalists in 30 years.
Prediction
Chelsea’s mid-week exertions could have a part to play as the game wears on and Di Matteo will have to be mindful that neither fatigue nor complacency set in, but they should have enough in the tank to see off an inconsistent Leicester outfit.
Editor's Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Leicester City

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18.03. (Sun) 15:00 Inter - Atalanta

Wesley Sneijder - Atalanta-Inter - Serie A (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

INTER


Cesar
Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu
Zanetti, Stankovic, Palombo, Obi
Milito, Pazzini
ATALANTA



Consigli
Bellini, Ferri, Manfredini, Peluso
Schelotto, Carmona, Cigarini, Moralez
Marilungo, Denis

Claudio Ranieri is likely to make a number of alterations from the side who were knocked out of the Champions League midweek, starting in defence as Cristian Chivu is set to take the place of Yuto Nagatomo at left-back.
The Nerazzurri are also likely to freshen up their midfield with Angelo Palombo and Joel Obi coming in for Andrea Poli and Wesley Sneijder respectively, with the Dutchman ruled out with a groin strain.
Giampaolo Pazzini is to be rewarded for his late goal against L'OM by replacing Diego Forlan from the offset. However, midfielders Fredy Guarin and Ricardo Alvarez are both ruled out of the game through injury.
In stark contrast, Atalanta are expected to make only the one change from the 1-1 draw with Parma last weekend with Italy Under-21 striker Manolo Gabbiadini, likely to make way for Guido Marilungo.
Additionally, Stefano Lucchini, Guglielmo Stendardo and Simone Tiribocchi all face late fitness tests ahead of the fixture, but Cristian Raimondi is fit again and will almost certainly take his place on the bench.
Sadly for Matteo Brighi, his loan spell from Roma continues to go from bad to worse after it emerged he will miss the next six weeks through a recurring leg injury.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Inter have scored in each of their last 27 matches against Atalanta in Serie A.
  • The Nerazzurri have beaten the Orobici on the last six occasions at home.
  • Claudio Ranieri's men saw their winless streak of seven games come to an end against Chievo last week, while they also kept a first clean sheet in eight.
  • However, Inter are still without a win in four at the Giuseppe Meazza.
  • Atalanta are unbeaten in their last six games, conceding just twice, but have drawn four of these.
  • Away from home, Stefano Colantuono's side have won just one of their last nine games.
  • The Bergamaschi have lost more games against Inter than against any other Serie A rival.
  • Atalanta have won just one of their last 13 top flight tussles with the Nerazzurri.
Prediction
Inter's defence may find it difficult to cope with the fluidity of Atalanta's attacking options at times, but nevertheless the side are showing encouraging signs of improvement. With Milito back among the goals and Ranieri more than happily returning to his tried-and-tested 4-4-2 system without trying to accommodate the supreme, yet troublesome, talents of Sneijder, a scrappy win should be in order for the hosts.
Editor's Prediction
Inter 2-1 Atalanta

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18.03. (Sun) 14:30 Wolves - Manchester United


PROBABLE LINEUPS

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS


Hennessey
Zubar, Bassong, Stearman, Ward Kightly, O'Hara, Edwards, Jarvis Doyle, Fletcher
MANCHESTER UNITED


De Gea
Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra
Valencia, Scholes, Carrick, Young
Rooney, Hernandez

Terry Connor is still likely to be without influential midfield man Karl Henry who has been struggling with a hamstring injury. At the  back, on-loan Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong is expected to overcome an ankle knock to be fit in time to face the current champions.
Despite showing glimpses of talent in the 2-0 defeat to Blackburn, David Davis could well drop out in favour of Michael Kightly as Connor looks for more of a creative spark. Steven Hunt is hopeful of making the squad after returning to training following a hernia problem.

Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to make changes from the side that lost 2-1 to Athletic Bilbao in the week. However, Phil Jones is unlikely to recover from the bout of flu which ruled him out of the trip to Spain so Rafael looks set to keep his spot at right-back. Paul Scholes could replace fellow veteran Ryan Giggs in the middle of the park to add a pair of fresh legs.

Key man Antonio Valencia may well return to the starting line-up after travelling with the squad to Spain, while Wayne Rooney could to be partnered upfront by Javier Hernandez, who was an unused substitute against Bilbao, as United look to make the most of his movement and pace.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Wolves have won two of their last three home matches against the current Premier League champions; a 1-0 win back in the 2003-04 campaign, and a crucial 2-1 victory last season.
  • The home side have only won one out of their last 14 league games, a 2-1 victory against fellow relegation candidates QPR.
  • And have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 25 league matches, with their last shut out coming against Aston Villa last August.
  • Steven Fletcher (pictured right) is the club’s top goalscorer with an impressive 10 goals in 22 appearances, including a goal earlier in the season at Old Trafford in Wolves’ 4-1 defeat.
  • Manchester United have won seven of their last eight matches. The only game in that run which they failed to win was their dramatic 3-3 against Chelsea at Stamford Bride.
  • Sixteen different players have managed to score in the league for the Red Devils this season.
  • United face five of the sides currently in the bottom six in their next six matches - Wolves, Blackburn, QPR, Wigan and Aston Villa.
  • Sir Alex's men have only failed to score in one of their 28 league fixtures this season, which was in their 3-0 loss against Newcastle United.
Prediction
Wolves know they need to start getting points, and fast, if they are to maintain their top-flight status. However matches don’t come much tougher than against Manchester United.
The Red Devils come into the game on the back of being knocked out of the Europa League by an Athletic Bilbao and will be keen to bounce back in style. An away win would widen the gap at the top of the table over local rivals Manchester City before the Blues host Chelsea next week. Therefore it could well turn out to be a comfortable away day for Sir Alex’s side and another vital three points as they look to retain the Premier League title.
Editor's Prediction
Wolves 0-3 Man Utd.