15.01. (Sun) 20:45 Milan - Inter

Xinhua

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AC MILAN Abbiati Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta Seedorf, Van Bommel, Nocerino BoatengIbrahimovic, Robinho

INTER Julio Cesar Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo Zanetti, T. Motta, Cambiasso, AlvarezPazzini, Milito

AC Milan will welcome Alessandro Nesta back to partner Thiago Silva in the centre of defence after the veteran recently recovered from a hip problem and was on the bench for the 2-0 win over Atalanta last week.

Right-back Ignazio Abate and midfielder Clarence Seedorf should also return to the starting XI after both missed the clash in Bergamo due to injury. Gennaro Gattuso, having been diagnosed with ocular myasthenia, and Alberto Aquilani, who is out for a month with an ankle problem, will definitely miss the match.

After his failed move to Paris Saint-Germain and recent poor form, Alexandre Pato may be dropped to a substitute role as Robinho partners Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front.

Meanwhile, despite the return of some star players, Inter boss Claudio Ranieri is likely to stick with the same XI that defeated Parma 5-0.

Striker Diego Forlan has recovered from the ankle knock that saw him miss that convincing win and playmaker Wesley Sneijder is available again after missing the last two months with a muscular injury, but both World Cup 2010 heroes will seemingly have to settle for a place on the bench and will not be risked from the start as Giampaolo Pazzini and Diego Milito continue together in attack with the creative duties falling on summer signing Ricardo Alvarez.

Brazilian defender Maicon is expected to play despite suffering an adductor muscle strain during last weekend's victory at San Siro.

DID YOU KNOW?

• AC Milan have been more successful since the first city derby in the early part of the previous century, leading the all-time record over 276 meetings (W109 D72 L95).

• The champions have the most potent attack in Serie A, having scored 37 times in 17 matches, nine more than second-best goalscorers Juventus.
• Ibrahimovic is the joint-top scorer in Serie A alongside Udinese's Antonio Di Natale and Atalanta's German Denis with 12 goals; conversely, his team-mate Pato only has one goal in nine appearances this season.
• Allegri's side have won the last three derbies in official competitions: The two Serie A encounters from last season (1-0 and 3-0) as well as the Supercoppa Italiana (2-1) this past August.

• Inter have won five Serie A matches in a row going into Sunday's clash and seven of their last eight league encounters.
• Throughout that run of eight games, Inter have conceded only three times but during the same period Milan have let in just two goals despite picking up one less point.

• Milito has found the net five times against the Rossoneri since signing for the Nerazzurri, scoring against them during pre-season matches in 2009 and 2011, as well as the two Serie A derbies during Inter's treble winning campaign of 2009-10.

Prediction

There has not been a draw in this fixture since 2004 and with plenty on the line for both sides it is unlikely anyone will settle for a stalemate. Form typically goes out the window in a derby, but expect a hard-fought battle and close match until the final whistle. Anything can happen, but Milan may well show that Inter still have some minor issues to iron out.

Editor's Prediction

Milan 2-1 Inter

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15.01. (Sun) 17:00 Swansea - Arsenal

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SWANSEA CITY Vorm Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Rangel Dyer, Allen, Orlandi, Routledge Graham, Sinclair

ARSENAL Szczesny Djourou, Koscielny, Squillaci, Miquel Arteta, Ramsey, Song Walcott, Van Persie, Henry

Brendan Rodgers will be happy that he has an almost full squad to choose from. Michel Vorm, Joe Allen, Steven Caulker and Scott Sinclair will all probably be back after being rested against Barnsley in the FA Cup, while Gylfi Sigurdsson could get a full debut.

It is likely Rodgers will opt for the pace of Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer and Sinclair to take advantage of the makeshift Arsenal defence.

Also eligible to face the Gunners are two youngsters whose transfers recently received international clearance - former France youth international captain Darnel Situ, a defender, who joined from Lens and has been training with the Swans since August; and Rory Donnelly, a Northern Ireland Under-21 international striker who has arrived from Cliftonville. One or both could possibly make the bench.

For Arsenal, Thierry Henry is likely to come in for Gervinho, who is on international duty, as is Marouane Chamakh. Arsene Wenger continues to be without a host of defenders, including Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson and Andre Santos, who are all injured. Another defender, Per Mertesacker, was suffering from sickness along with Tomas Rosicky, and both are doubts to face Swansea. Jack Wilshere remains sidelined.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Thierry Henry (pictured right) has scored against each of the last 34 teams which he has faced in the Premier League.

• Arsenal have won their last three league games against Swansea by a one goal margin the first two coming in the 1982-83 season.

• Andrey Arshavin’s freak winner against Swansea earlier in the season is the Russian’s only goal in the Premier League this season in 16 appearances.

• Michel Vorm has the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season with nine, only Manchester United have more clean sheets but are shared between David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard.

• Even though Swansea have an impressive clean sheet record they are also the side who have failed to score in a game the most times, being shut out nine times.

• Swansea have only failed to win twice in the seven games in which they have taken the lead, drawing one and losing the other.

• Swansea have the joint worst away form in the league, only taking six points on the road, but have lost only once at home - to Manchester United - so will happy to welcome Arsenal to the Liberty Stadium.

Prediction

I feel a tight game is on the cards as Swansea were only seen off by a single goal at the Emirates earlier in the season, and have proved a stubborn side when playing at the Liberty Stadium. With the Attacking power Arsenal possess coupled with their makeshift defence I think a score draw is likely in this encounter.

Editor's Prediction

Swansea City 2-2 Arsenal

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15.01. (Sun) 15:00 Juventus - Cagliari

PROBABLE LINEUPS

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

CAGLIARI Agazzi Pisano, Canini, Astori, Agostini Dessena, Ekdal, Nainggolan Cossu Larrivey, Ibarbo

Antonio Conte is expected to make just two changes from the side that struggled to a 1-0 victory over Lecce last week as Fabio Quagliarella and Giorgio Chiellini are set to be replaced by Alessandro Matri and Paolo De Ceglie.
Quagliarella picked up a facial injury during the win at the Via del Mare and will come as unwelcome news to the forward, who failed to take advantage of a rare opportunity to lead the line for the Bianconeri. Meanwhile, Chiellini's yellow card means he is suspended for the encounter.
For the visitors Cagliari, an unchanged line-up is in the offing from the resounding 3-0 win against Genoa last weekend. However, Rui Sampaio, Gabriele Perico, Nene and Sebastian Eriksson remain on the sidelines.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Juventus have won their last three meetings with Cagliari in Serie A.

• Also, the Old Lady have lost just two of their last 14 games against the Sardinians.

• Striker Alessandro Matri has scored six goals over the last five meetings between these two teams.

• Juve are the only side from Europe's top five leagues to still be unbeaten at this stage of the season.

• Their victory over Genoa last Sunday ended a three-match winless streak.

• The Sardinians have won just one of their last five games away from home.

Prediction

Juventus remain unbeaten so far this season and in order to maintain pressure on Milan and the other sides around them, a fixture such as this will be one they will be expecting to win.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2-0 Cagliari

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15.01. (Sun) 12:30 Lazio - Atalanta

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LAZIO Marchetti Scaloni, Stankevicius, Biava, Radu  Gonzalez, Ledesma, Lulic Hernanes Cisse, Klose

ATALANTA Consigli Masiello, Lucchini, Manfredini, Peluso Schelotto, Cigarini, Carmona, Padoin Moralez Denis

The hosts will face the Atalanta without the services of Lorik Cana, with the club confirming the former Marseille midfeilder faces two months on the sidelines with a back injury. The Biancazzurri will also be without Stefano Mauri and Libor Kozak, with the pair both ruled out with thigh problems.

However, Federico Marchetti is in line to make his long awaited comeback, with the Italy international expected to replace the suspended Albano Bizzarri in the Lazio goal. Hernanes will also return to the starting line-up, after the Brazil international grabbed an injury-time winner in the midweek Coppa Italia clash with Verona.

The Nerazzurri will travel to the capital without Matteo Brighi, with the former Roma midfielder failing to recover from a muscle tear. Daniele Capelli will also miss out for the visitors, with the defender ruled out until April, after tearing cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Lazio have lost three of their last four games against Atalanta.

• The hosts have failed to win any of their last three league outings.

• Both Lazio and Atalanta have lost three league games this season.

• The Nerazzurri have drew more matches than any other side in Serie A this term.

• The visitors have won only one of their last seven league fixtures.

• However, they have only lost two of their away games this season.

Prediction

With the hosts in desperate need of a victory after last week's humiliating defeat to Siena, and with the Biancazzurri having home advantage on Sunday, a Lazio victory seems a likely outcome, but the majority of victory should be a narrow one.

Editor's Prediction

Lazio 2-1 Atalanta

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15.01. (Sun) 12:00 Atletico Madrid - Villarreal

Thibault Courtois - Atletico Madrid

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATLETICO MADRID Courtois Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Filipe Diego, Tiago, Gabi, TuranAdrian, Falcao

VILLARREAL D Lopez A Lopez, Zapata, Musacchio, Oriol Senna, SorianoCani, Valero, Perez Nilmar

Adrian and Arda Turan are set to return to the Atletico Madrid line-up after the duo were surprisingly left out for the goalless draw at Malaga.

Reports from Spain suggest Simeone will go for a more offensive 4-4-2 formation for the visit of the Yellow Submarine, with Adrian partnering Radamel Falcao in attack.

Brazilian defender Miranda looks certain to partner Diego Godin in the heart of the Atletico defence, as Alvaro Dominguez and Luis Perea are ruled out through suspension. Juanfran is expected to be given the nod at right-back, while Portuguese defender Silvio has recovered from a knee injury and could be named on the bench.

Villarreal coach Jose Molina is likely to have central defenders Carlos Marchena and Mateo Musacchio available for selection, with the duo reported to be close to regaining full fitness following knee injuries.

Bruno Soriano has been cleared to play after his fifth yellow card of the season - received in last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Valencia - was rescinded on appeal by the Spanish competition committee. Javier Camunas and Marco Ruben will miss out with injury and suspension respectively.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Atletico Madrid have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions.

• But Atletico have the edge in recent head-to-head meetings with Villarreal, having won seven of the past 10 encounters between the sides.

• The south Madrid club have failed to score in eight of their 17 league fixtures so far this season.

• Atletico are yet to win away from home in the league in 2011-12.

• Villarreal are on a nine-game winless streak in all competitions.

• Marco Ruben (pictured) is the Yellow Submarine's leading scorer this season with five goals.

• Villarreal coach Jose Molina and his Atletico counterpart Diego Simeone played together in Atletico's 1995-96 double-winning team.

Prediction

With both teams under new leadership and in desperate need of a positive result, the game promises to be an intriguing affair. But home advantage gives Atletico the edge here, and they should have enough to win this to put the Simeone era in full swing.

Editor's Prediction

Atl. Madrid 2-1 Villarreal

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