16-12-2010 19:00 Juventus - Manchester City

Playing For Pride & Prestige

Juventus have had yet another disappointing campaign in Europe in 2010-11 and just like last season have been forced to head towards the exit door. Having drawn all of their five matches in the group stage, the former Italian and European champions are currently stationed third in the group and have no chance whatsoever to progress to the Round of 32.

However, Juventus are marching on in Serie A and are second in the table at the moment with 30 points from 16 matches, six behind league leaders Milan. Luigi Del Neri's side are unbeaten in their last 16 competitive fixtures and have lost just once in Turin this season.

There have been suggestions that Del Neri could field a young line-up tonight but the Juve tactician says that he will respect the match, claiming, "It's not true we'll play only young players.

"Obviously, at this moment, the match in Chievo is more important to us, but we'll try to play our part anyway, because we have the strength and the quality to achieve a good result and we'd like to win a match in this round."

Pulling Out Of Controversy

Saturday's 3-1 defeat of West Ham United at Upton Park propelled Manchester City to third place in the Premier League and with the Citizens just two points behind league leaders Manchester United, Roberto Mancini's side are very much in contention for the title.

This has been a good season for the ambitious Premier League club as they are going strong both domestically and in Europe. Having already qualified for the Round of 32 in the Europa League, City will now strive to win Group A and maintain their momentum in Europe. The Blues are perched on pole position in the group with ten points from five matches and a win in Turin tonight will ascertain them the top spot.

The trip to Turin comes as a welcome distraction for City, who are engulfed in off-pitch controversy. Key player and talisman Carlos Tevez handed in his transfer request after their win against West Ham that City promptly rejected.

Tevez has been City's best and most crucial player so far this season and perhaps tonight's match will allow Mancini to test whether his team can cope without the Argentina international striker, who could leave Eastlands in January.

TEAM NEWS

Juventus

Zdenek Grygera is back from injury and so is Nicola Legrottaglie. Juve legend Giampiero Boniperti's grandson Filippo has been included in the squad too.

Manchester City

Tevez was back training on Tuesday but he has not travelled to Turin. Mario Balotelli has been left behind in Manchester in fears of him suffering racial abuse from the Bianconeri supporters. Mancini could field a 4-4-1-1 formation with Yaya Toure playing as the main creator.

Prediction

Juventus have yet to win in the Europa League this season and the Italian giants will be tempted to wrap up their disappointing European campaign with a victory. However, with the Bianconeri going strong in Serie A, Luigi Del Neri may not like his side to exert themselves too much tonight, meaning that this could be yet another draw.

Juventus 1-1 Man City

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16-12-2010 19:00 Bayer Leverkusen - Atletico Madrid

Playing To Win

Bayer Leverkusen have already tied up top spot in Europa League Group B, but they will be the side to execute defending champions Atletico Madrid if they pick up a win at the BayArena on Thursday evening. For Atleti, it promises to be an extremely uncomfortable evening as even victory will not guarantee progress to the last 32.

Die Werkself have had surprisingly few problems negotiating their way to the knockout stages. The Bundesliga club are unbeaten, having earned three victories two date, two over Rosenborg and a home success against Aris. Impressively, the Germans have conceded only one goal, leaking in the away tie against los Colchoneros.

Despite their status in the next round, Lars Bender has promised Bayer’s fans that they should expect a thoroughly commitment performance from their side. “We play every game to win,” he told his club’s official website. “We won’t change that against Madrid. None of us wants to hear after the game that he didn’t do his best. There is a lot at stake in this match – not only for Madrid but also for Aris. So we will obviously do our best.”

Second in their domestic league but already a mammoth 11 points behind runaway leaders Borussia Dortmund, Bayer have lost only two fixtures in all competitions this season and won’t be willing to give up such an impressive statistic against unpredictable Atleti.

Don’t Look For Luck

In May, Atletico Madrid tasted the high point of 2010 as they defeated Fulham to claim the inaugural Europa League. By December, however, the unpredictable Colchoneros are at something of a low. Struggling for consistency in La Primera Division, they are also on the brink of continental elimination and don’t even hold the key to their own destiny.

A shock defeat at home against Greek minnows Aris – the second suffered against the Thessaloniki club in this competition - a fortnight ago ensure that a trip to Germany that was supposed to determine the group winners has instead become a fraught journey that may well end in disappointment.

“Right now we have the same points as Aris. They also have to win, but we will depend on ourselves and not look for luck,” Tiago told the press. “We must improve and perform regularly. Against Leverkusen we have nothing to lose; we as a team have to be more relaxed on the pitch.”

It was Atletico’s ability away from home in last season’s run to the final that caught the eye as they avoided defeat on their travels. Quique Sanchez Flores’ men were draw specialists, but it’s really three points they need on Thursday if they are to stand any chance of going through.

TEAM NEWS

Bayer

Rene Adler is set to be sidelined until next year due to a knee injury. Fabian Giefer will keep goal instead.

Michael Ballack continues to be ruled out, though the home side hold out hope that Stefan Kiessling can play.

Atletico

Quique Sanchez Flores has named a 19-man panel for this trip and has not raised any injury doubts. Tomas Ujfalusi has been omitted from the squad.

Prediction

Bayer have already proved themselves as ferociously difficult opponents to beat, and in front of their passionate home supporters they won’t go down readily. Atletico Madrid may have built last season’s Europa League triumph on their away success, but there is little to indicate they are ready to win this game at a clutch moment. It will finish all square and events elsewhere will dictate that the reign of los Colchoneros is over.

Leverkusen 1-1 Atletico Madrid

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15-12-2010 21:05 Liverpool - Utrecht

Dead Rubber

The fate of both teams in the Europa League is sealed, as Liverpool will finish as group winners and go through to the next stage of the competition. But manager Roy Hodgson has worries about his side’s form, and for the first time the pressure from inside the club is beginning to show.

The Reds’ principal owner John W Henry recently branded this season’s results as “unacceptable” for a club that almost won the Premier League two years ago. And this will likely put pressure on the former Fulham boss, as he has to turn things around quickly.

And with a section of the club’s fans calling for Hodgson’s head by chanting for the resurrection of former player and manager Kenny Dalglish, the manager will likely want to prove a point by going through to the knockout phase of Europe’s second-tier competition with an unbeaten record.

Despite their mid-table position in the league, the Merseyside club have been strong at home this season. And this should stand them in good stead for this game, since Hodgson will likely continue with his mantra of giving some youngsters and a few fringe players a run out.

In Search Of Form...

...and in search of a victory, the supporters would think.

Utrecht are at the bottom of Group K and only have the opportunity to finish third. But their position is not necessarily a true reflection of their strength, since they have four draws to their name.

It is the inability to take three points that has come to haunt the Dutch club, and coach Ton du Chatinier would undoubtedly wish for a win so that his players’ confidence receives a boost.

This would be necessary in the grand scheme of their campaign, since the visitors have fallen well off the pace in the Eredivisie. One win in their last five outings in all competitions barely makes for a positive reading for a team that is competing on the European stage, and a turn in the tide would give the team the opportunity to regain the momentum necessary to directly qualify for next season’s edition of this tournament.

The last time the Dutch side met Liverpool was their first game against English opposition, and it ended in a goalless stalemate in Netherlands.

TEAM NEWS

Liverpool

Steven Gerrard (hamstring) is still recovering from the injury sustained whilst on international duty, while Jamie Carragher (shoulder) is not expected to return for another two-and-a-half months.

Jay Spearing (ankle) and Daniel Agger (calf) are also sidelined, while David Ngog (head) is a doubt as he required stitches above his eye at the weekend against Newcastle and his fitness is yet to be assessed.

Possible starting XI: Reina; Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Aurelio; Kuyt, Shelvey, Poulsen, Jovanovic; Cole; Babel.

Utrecht

The Dutch side are struggling for form, and manager Ton du Chatinier could choose to field a strong squad to gain a victory and boost the confidence of his side, particularly as the hosts are through and are likely to field a few fringe players.

Possible starting XI: Vorm; Cornelisse, Schut, Wuytens, Nesu; Duplan, Lensky, Silberbauer, Mertens; Van Wolfswinkel; Demouge.

Prediction

Liverpool are strong at home this term, and have won their last five games against Eredivisie opponents. Anything less than a victory would be a less than a satisfactory result for the Reds.

Liverpool 3-1 Utrecht

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15-12-2010 21:05 Napoli - Steaua

Last Italian Team Standing

Italian teams do not tend to take the Europa League with much seriousness as has been portrayed in the rather abysmal exits of Juventus, Sampdoria and Palermo from the competition. Napoli too haven't performed admirably in Europe's second-tier club competition but heading into the final round of fixtures in the group stage, the Partenopei are the only Italian side still in with a chance of progressing into the Round of 32.

Currently stationed third in Group K with four points from five matches, Walter Mazzarri's side need a win against Steaua Bucharest tonight to qualify for the next stage. The Neapolitans are a couple of points behind the Romanians and anything less than a win will knock them out.

Winning will be anything but easy even for a Napoli side that are in great form and won at the weekend to stay six points off the pace in Serie A. The former Italian champions have yet to register a single victory in the Europa League and have drawn both of their group games at the San Paolo.

Mazzarri knows the immensity of the task at hand but remaining confident states, "On Wednesday we need to use our hearts and heads and not make life complicated for ourselves by making mistakes because of too much desire to overdo it.

"We need a perfect game defensively in order not to run risks. When we do things well we have the ability to put anyone in difficulty. We have to try to get a goal more than our opponents. We should never overdo it and we need attention to our nerves, tactics and psychology.''

Seeking A Point

Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest are placed in second spot in the group with six points from five matches and need just a draw to progress to the Round of 32. They will head into tonight's encounter with confidence given that Napoli have yet to bag maximum points from a match in the Europa League this season.

Steaua, though, do not have a very promiscuous away record as they have drawn one and lost the other so far in the competition. In September their encounter with Napoli in Bucharest ended in a 3-3 draw with the hosts relinquishing a three-goal lead.

Coach Marius Lacatus is aware of Napoli's form in Naples and says, "We'll come to Naples to play our game. We know the strength of the blue team and the great pressure that the crowd generate at the San Paolo, but we are prepared for anything.

"We are not playing for a draw - that would not be smart. We know this game will not end 0-0. Who I am afraid of from Napoli? I won't mention names, but the team has four or five players who can change the game at any moment.''

TEAM NEWS

Napoli

Ezequiel Lavezzi and Jose Sosa are struggling with ankle injuries and it is not clear at the moment whether they will be able to start. Mazzarri is said to start in a 3-4-2-1 line-up with Cavani as the targetman.

Steaua

Banel Nicolita and Pantelis Kapetanos are suspended, while Cristian Tanase. The visitors will deploy a 4-5-1 system that will have Stancu as the lone striker upfront.

Prediction

Napoli haven't looked very reliable in the Europa League and one suspects that they could give themselves a hard time against the Romanians tonight. However, it is unlikely that the Azzurri will lose all three points and will just about eke out a narrow victory in the end.

Napoli 2-0 Steaua

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15-12-2010 18:00 Seongnam - Inter

Conjuring Up An Upset

Last night African champions TP Mazembe constructed one of the shock results in the history of the Club World Cup as they defeated Brazilian giants Internacional 2-0 in the semi-finals to become the first team from Africa to reach the final, and tonight Seongnam Ilhwa can conjure up yet another upset if they win against Italian and European champions Inter in the other semi.

The Asian champions could then create history as they would become the first team from Asia to reach the final of this prestigious competition. Shin Tae Yong's side have looked very impressive so far in the competition as they hammered Al-Wahda 4-1 in the quarter-finals.

Against Inter, who are in a crisis of their own as they are struggling in Serie A and have just stuttered their way through to the knockout stage of the Champions League, the Pegasus will be confident of a victory.

Tae Yong knows the significance and symbolic importance of a win and explains, “Internazionale are the best team in the world. They are the better team and we’re not in for an easy match.

"But our players are here to try and perform at their best and if they do I’m sure we’ll give them a good game. It'd be an extremely proud moment for us and the whole of Asia if we were to qualify for the final." 

Under Severe Pressure

Just as Internacional headed into their encounter against TP Mazembe as favourites last night, Inter will take to the pitch against Seongnam expecting to reach the final. On paper the European champions have a superior squad and with European teams having won on all three previous occasions against Asian opposition in the Club World Cup, history is a friend to the Italians.

Coach Rafael Benitez, though, is under immense pressure to succeed. Even though club supremo Massimo Moratti has persistently insisted that he has no plans to axe the Spaniard, the former Valencia and Liverpool manager must try to appease the Nerazzurri fans and win the competition.

Inter have fallen behind in the race for the Scudetto in Italy and haven't looked very convincing in their march to the second round of the Champions League, so a triumph in the Club World Cup could be the boost they need to lift themselves up for the remainder of the 2010-11 campaign.

Striker Diego Milito, who has struggled with injuries so far this season and has also been misfiring on occasions, is confident of winning and underlines, "This is a unique competition for all of us. We don't know if we'll ever play in it again in our careers. We will try to enjoy it and reach a valuable objective, which is very important to us.''

TEAM NEWS

Seongnam Ilhwa

The Asian champions are likely to line up in their 4-3-3 formation that will have Cho Dong Keon, Dzenan Radoncic and Sung Kuk Choi as the front-three.

Inter

Benitez still has a number of players injured and hasn't been able to take his full strength squad to Abu Dhabi. However, striker Milito is likely to start and so will Samuel Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Prediction

Inter will be the favourites for the match but they will need to score early. Defensively the Nerazzurri have looked weak and this could play into the hands of their Asian rivals. However, the Beneamata should still emerge triumphant in the end.

Seongnam Ilhwa 0-2 Inter Milan

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