08-01-2011 20:00 Real Sociedad - Sevilla

Mid-Table Security
Real Sociedad returned to the Spanish Primera Division after a gap of three years during which they featured in the sundry regions of the Segunda Division. Even for a big club such as la Real, it was not expected to be an easy ride in the top flight this season but the Basque giants have proved themselves to be perfectly at home rubbing shoulders with the big guns.

Currently stationed in 11th place in the league standings, Sociedad have mustered a laudable 22 points from 17 matches and are five points off a Europa League slot. Martin Lasarte's side have also won five home league matches this campaign but started the new year with a 2-1 defeat to Zaragoza away from home.

However, with no commitment in the Copa del Rey in midweek, the Txuri-urdin would have got more preparation time for Saturday's encounter against Sevilla. But la Real have struggled against the big sides at the Anoeta, having lost to Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Valencia at home.

The Manzano Effect

Gregorio Manzano was expected to be Sevilla's saviour when he replaced Antonio Alvarez in September. The much heralded coach, who had worked wonders at Mallorca last season, though, struggled to keep afloat one of the biggest clubs in Spain as results didn't improve.

But Manzano is one of the better Spanish tacticians and his effect is now being felt in the Andalucian city. Sevilla have commenced the new year in perfect fashion, defeating Osasuna 1-0 at the Pizjuan on Sunday and then hammered Malaga 3-0 in the local derby in the Copa del Rey, Round of 16, second-leg tie.

With 23 points from 17 matches, Sevilla are four points off a Europa League slot and a further four behind Valencia, who occupy the final Champions League berth. The Rojiblancos' away form, though, is rather disappointing as of the eight matches on the road, they have won just three and lhave ost five.

However, striker Luis Fabiano believes that Sevilla are returning to their best and enthuses, "We had a bad run but now we are winning, there's still a lot of work to do and we have to improve many things, but Sevilla are returning little by little."



TEAM NEWS

Real Sociedad

Antoine Griezmann is suspended for the match.

Sevilla

Didier Zokora is suspended and will miss the trip to the Basque country. 

Prediction

Real Sociedad will be keen to win in the new year and will make it tough for Sevilla at home. However, the Rojiblancos appear to have tuned themselves into a winning side and should eventually eke out a narrow victory.

Real Sociedad 1-2 Sevilla

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08-01-2011 18:00 Malaga - Athletic Bilbao

Let The Revolution Begin

Malaga may be in severe danger of suffering relegation from the Spanish Primera Division this campaign but the Andalucians have been the main talking point so far this January transfer market session.

Los Boquerones have made some sensational signings, with the likes of Martin Demichelis, Sergio Asenjo, Enzo Maresca, Ignacio Camacho and Julio Baptista all been recruited in an effort to improve the team both in the short term and in the long run.

The Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani-owned club are just three points above the relegation zone, having mustered just 16 points from 17 matches. The immediate plan is to see that Malaga's results and league position improve and with former Villarreal and Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini in charge, there is every likelihood that this will be so. As a matter of fact, Malaga have already won in the new year, as they got the better of Sporting in Gijon last weekend.

On Wednesday, though, Malaga went down 3-0 to Sevilla to confirm their exit from the Copa del Rey and on Saturday against Basque giants Athletic Bilbao they will be keen to bounce back. Malaga have a wretched home form as they have won two and lost six league encounters at La Rosaleda and also have the division's worst defensive record, having shipped in 36 goals.

Pushing For Europe

Traditionalists Athletic Bilbao's start to the new year has been disappointing as they have failed to win either of their matches in the first week of 2011. At the weekend the Basque side went down 2-1 to Deportivo La Coruna at San Mames in the Spanish Primera Division and then went out of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Barcelona in the second-leg of their Round of 16 tie.

However, the Lions are just two points off a European spot with 25 points from 17 matches. Currently perched on eighth spot, Athletic are very much in the running for a Europa League and that will be their main objective for the rest of the season.

Joaquin Caparros' side have a poor form away from home, though, as they have collected just seven points from a possible 24. Interestingly, along with fellow Basque side Real Sociedad, Athletic have the worst defensive record on the road in the championship as they have shipped in no fewer than 20 goals.



TEAM NEWS

Malaga

Eliseu is suspended for the visit of Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic Bilabo

Ibai Gomez and Jon Aurtenetxe are long-term injury concerns while Markel Susaeta is doubtful. Aldekoaotalora Ustaritz is suspended.

Prediction

Malaga will look to spur their revolution with a win and they will go for all three points against Athletic Bilbao. It will not be easy for the struggling Andalucians, though, but they should scrap a draw in the end.

Malaga 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

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08-01-2011 FA Cup Preview Round-Up

Bolton vs. York City

York City will want their form in the Blue Square Premier to translate into an upset against their more illustrious opponents Bolton.

Playing at the Reebok should not have too much of an effect on the third division side, who have nothing to lose from this encounter.

As for Owen Coyle’s charges, they had been doing superbly in the top-flight to push for a European spot. But a little sloppiness in the form of one victory in their last five league games has made the task a little more difficult than it would have been if their positive run had continued.

Now they lock horns in a welcome break from the rigours of league football to take on an in-form team looking to cause an upset.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Bolton: Bogdan; Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Marcos Alonso; Rodrigo, M Davies, Cohen, Taylor; Klasnic, Blake.

York: Ingham; Meredith, Smith, McGurk, Parslow, Carruthers; Weir, Barrett, Smith; Rankine; Chambers.

Hull City vs. Wigan Athletic

Barring a recent blip against Leicester City, the Tigers have been doing relatively well for themselves in the Championship. Sitting in 15th position in the second-tier reflects their fall from grace after an all too short-lived surge in the Premier League.

But now they can relive old memories through a game against the Latics, who will travel to play Nigel Pearson’s charges at the KC Stadium.

The visitors, for their part, will look towards this game with confidence, as they have managed to haul themselves into a better position – in the league - that they were in weeks past. Recent draws means that survival could still be on the cards, though their one-pointers would need to turn into a few three-point outings.

But in the meantime, this fixture should take some of the attention away from the relegation battle and focus on bettering a cup run. Wigan have not progressed beyond round four of the FA Cup since 1987, and will want that statistic to change. But that can only be done through a victory in the game that is now before them.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Hull: Guzan; Zayatte, Dawson, Gerrard, Cooper; Solano, Bullard, Ashbee, Stewart; Fryatt, Simpson.

Wigan: Al-Habsi; Gohouri, G Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa; Thomas, Watson; Stam, McArthur, De Ridder; Boselli.

Scunthorpe United vs. Everton

The hosts are currently battling for dear life in the Championship, having just about avoided relegation last season. They have never met the Toffees in the FA Cup, though their two League Cup encounters saw Everton put six past them.

Form has been an issue for both sides, as Scunthorpe have lost seven of their last eight games. But the cup can throw up many surprises, and the Merseysiders’ defender Seamus Coleman insists that his side will not take their opponents lightly.

He said: "It will probably be one of their biggest games of the season, so we'll not underestimate them."

Everton have been consistently inconsistent themselves, and have had some trouble on away days in cup competitions. But they certainly have the quality necessary to decimate the home side.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Scunthorpe: Murphy; Jones, Byne, Nolan, Togwell; Woolford, O’Connor, Thompson, Wight; Forte, Dagnall.

Everton: Mucha; Neville, Mustafi, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Osman, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov; Beckford, Gueye.

Sheffield United vs. Aston Villa

Both teams are sailing under adverse conditions in their respective leagues, and will likely look towards this game as a welcome break from the difficulties posed by the marathon that is the Championship and the Premier League.

Villa boss Gerard Houllier appears to have the backing of the upper echelon of the club despite his team falling into the relegation zone in the top-flight, but a defeat at Bramall Lane could give his bosses some serious food for contemplation.

United have done no better than their counterparts, as their poor form has sent them down close to the dreaded drop zone. But their record against top-flight opponents is impressive, as they have progressed on three of five occasions when clashing with a Premier League side in the third round of the competition.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Kozluk, Bartley, Ertl, Parrino; Ward, Montgomery, Williamson, Yeates; Evans, Cresswell.

Villa: Friedel; Walker, Beye, Dunne, Warnock; Clark, Hogg; Downing, Bannan, A Young; Agbonlahor.

Southampton vs. Blackpool

Seasiders boss Ian Holloway appears to have prioritised survival above the FA Cup, as he is expected to ring in the changes to his side as an out of sorts Liverpool prepare to visit Bloomfield Road a little later.

The hosts have taken down Shrewsbury Town and Cheltenham Town en route to setting up a clash against the visiting side, and are in good form as they look to gain promotion from League One to the Championship.

Blackpool’s second string side will provide them with an ample test to determine how they might fare in the second-tier, should they achieve promotion at the end of their current league campaign.

Possible/Last line-ups:

Southampton: Davis; Butterfield, Jaidi, Fonte, Dickson; Lallana, Chaplow, Guilherme, Hammond, Chamberlain; Lambert.

Blackpool: Rachubka; Phillips, Edwards, Keinan, Eastham; Southern, Sylvestre, Euell; Ormerod, Harewood, Barkhuizen.

Sunderland vs. Notts County

Sunderland have done well to rise up to sixth place in the Premier League, but the cup is a very different ballgame as opposed to playing 38 games to determine one’s position.

Notts County are no mugs with the ball, as they have striker Craig Westcarr and midfielder Ben Davies in very good form this campaign. And relatively smaller sides always love to play bigger opposition and get the better of them over a period of 90 minutes.

The Black Cats also have the Tyne and Wear derby against Newcastle United coming up, which could see manager Steve Bruce rest a few players to keep them fresh for that game.

Possible/Last line-ups:
Sunderland: Mignolet; Angeleri, Onuoha, Da Silva, Elmohamady; Cattermole, Riveros, Zenden, Malbranque; Bent, Cook.

Notts County: Burch; Darby, Harley, Pearce, Edwards; Bishop, Davies, Judge, Miller; Westcarr, Ince.

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05-01-2011 21:00 Everton - Tottenham Hotspur

Inconsistency, Thy Name Is Everton

The Toffees are usually challenging for a European spot round this time of year, but inconsistency has severely dented the Merseysiders’ hopes of achieving such an objective.

David Moyes’ side currently sit in 13th place, which on the surface appears to be an anonymous mid-table position. But the fact that there is only a three-point difference between 18th-placed Fulham and themselves is a worrying situation.

The morose results have largely been due to the inability of the strike force to put away their chances, which has seen many a game - which should have been a victory - being turned into a draw, or worse. And barring Wigan Athletic, every other team outside the relegation zone has scored more goals than the blue men from Merseyside.

If things could not get any worse, midfielder Tim Cahill – arguably the team’s best performer this season – has left to represent Australia in the Asian Cup and will therefore be unavailable. The hosts could miss him dearly, as he has scored nine goals and created three more this season. This accounts for the 31-year-old having been involved in over half the goals that the Goodison outfit have scored through the course of their league campaign.

But in the absence of their best performer, the Toffees still have a relatively good side and could threaten Spurs on their day.

Consolidating Fourth Place

Unlike their opponents, Tottenham have had a superb season to date. They have managed to navigate their way past a very difficult group in the Champions League to qualify for the last 16 of the tournament, and they will soon lock horns with continental powerhouses AC Milan in a bid to make it to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Harry Redknapp’s positive style of football has seen his side being exposed at the back on several occasions, but to his credit they have managed to outscore their opponents during a majority of such occasions. Still, conceding as many goals as they have would only give their goal-shy opponents all the more confidence when it comes to finding the back of the net.

Now the visitors have the difficult task of hanging on to fourth place, as Chelsea - who are one point behind in fifth – visit Molineux to take on bottom placed Wolves.

All said and done, it will be a very confident Spurs side that will take to the pitch at Goodison Park, as Redknapp’s charges have now gone 11 games in all competitions without tasting a defeat.

TEAM NEWS

Everton

Everton are without Tim Cahill, as the Australian has departed to take part in the Asian Cup. The midfielder will be dearly missed by manager David Moyes, who only recently described the former Millwall man as his best ever signing.

John Heitinga (knee) remains a doubt for this encounter. Louis Saha played 80 minutes of the recent loss to Stoke City, and may not be able to recover quickly enough to make another start.

Possible starting XI: Howard; Neville, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Pienaar; Arteta; Yakubu.

Tottenham

Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Ledley King (groin) and Jamie O’Hara (back) are all sidelined through respective injuries, while Alan Hutton is a doubt. Robbie Keane (hamstring) is also a doubt - but given his situation at the north London club he may not have featured even if he was fit.

Jermain Defoe and Younes Kaboul are both suspended, having seen red against Aston Villa and Newcastle United respectively.

Possible starting XI: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart; Crouch.

Prediction

Tottenham have conceded in every away game this season, which should see Everton breaking through their back line at some point. But on the other hand, Spurs would likely outscore their opponents and claim three points.

Everton 1-3 Tottenham

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05-01-2011 21:00 Blackburn Rovers - Liverpool

Rovers Out To Stop The Rot

Since the shock sacking of Sam Allardyce, Rovers have averaged one point per game. The previous regime had a healthy 1.5 points per game average; a tally that would safely stave off relegation.

This has seen owners Venky's discard an expected 57 points finish for the new - far less comfortable - target of just 43 points.

For Kean to stand a chance of stay in good grace, this 33.3 per cent drop must be corrected. Unluckily for him, Rovers have only tasted victory once in this fixture in the last decade.

Hodgson Hanging On

The executioner's sword may still be hanging over his head, but Joe Cole's last gasp winner has kept the wolves at bay for a few days at least.

Six points off the relegation zone, 11 points from the haloed Champions League places and a huge 16 points from Premier League leaders wasn't on the Anfield hierarchy's agenda when they gave Rafael Benitez the boot, though.

Much of the blame for this disappointing start can be placed on an away record that reads one win, two draws and six defeats. If the final category ticks to seven after Wednesday night, time could finally be up for Hodgson.

TEAM NEWS

Blackburn

The absence of defender Christopher Samba has cut the heart out of interim manager Steve Kean's team. Thankfully for the Scot, the centre-back could return from an ankle knock.

Ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson is still sidelined with a calf strain, while the match has come too soon for Jason Roberts' hamstring pull to heal. Keith Andrews remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, with Phil Jones likely to be out for the rest of the season with a similar ligament problem.

Striker Nikola Kalinic will begin his three-match suspension after he was dismissed in the 3-0 defeat to Sunderland, while Brett Emerton is away at the Asian Cup.

Possible starting XI: Bunn; Salgado, Nelsen, Givet, Olsson; E Diouf, Hanley, Dunn, Goulon, Pedersen; M Diouf.

Liverpool

Steven Gerrard's enforced 70-minute appearance in the 2-1 victory against Bolton means the captain should be ready to start. The man he replaced, Raul Meireles, is likely to be out with an ankle knock.

The Portuguese joins Jamie Carragher on the sidelines due to the veteran's dislocated shoulder. Manager Roy Hodgson will hope injury-prone pair Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger came through their weekend run-out unscathed.

Possible starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio; Maxi, Gerrard, Lucas, Cole, Kuyt; Torres.

Prediction

Liverpool travel to Ewood Park with the conviction they can end their away-day hoodoo. With Gerrard available from the start, they should just have too much for Kean's sinking squad.

Blackburn 0-1 Liverpool

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