FA Cup Opta Facts - Round 4 (17-18 January)

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City

Wolves have eliminated Birmingham on three of the four occasions that they have met in the FA Cup, including in the third round in 2009.
Birmingham have made it to the quarter-finals in each of the last two seasons.
The Blues have won only four of their last 26 FA Cup meetings with top-flight sides.
Wolves have made it past the third round in each of the last nine seasons, only Chelsea and Arsenal can equal this.
Birmingham have only lost one of their last six meetings with Wolves in all competitions (W3 D2 L1).
The Blues have only lost two of their last 10 FA Cup matches away from home.
Wolves have only won two of their last eight home FA Cup matches and kept just one clean sheet in that run.

Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge

This is the Daggers' fifth appearance in the FA Cup third round, having been eliminated at this stage three times previously.
Dagenham and Redbridge have won only one of their last nine FA Cup games.
The Daggers are the only side to have won a penalty shoot-out in the FA Cup this season, beating Walsall 3-2 on spot-kicks after a 0-0 draw in the second round.
Both of Dagenham's FA Cup ties this season have gone to extra time in a replay.
Millwall's loss to Birmingham last season was their first defeat in normal time on home soil in the FA Cup since 2003.
The Lions are unbeaten in 15 FA Cup games (including replays) against lower league opposition, a run that stretches back to a 0-1 defeat at Hartlepool in October 1999.

Wrexham v Brighton & Hove Albion

This is the third time that Brighton and Wrexham have been drawn together in the FA Cup. In 1932, they drew 0-0 at Brighton before the Seagulls won 3-2 after extra time in a replay. In 1953 they played a replay and extra time before Wrexham won 3-1 at a neutral venue in a third game.
The Seagulls are now unbeaten in eight meetings with Wrexham in all competitions, winning four and drawing four.
Wrexham haven't made it past Round 3 of the FA Cup since 2000.
The Red Dragons have won three of their last four home games in the FA Cup proper.
Brighton have only lost one of their last 11 FA Cup games against teams from lower divisions, winning five and drawing five.
The Seagulls have only won one of their last 10 away games in all competitions, losing seven and failing to score in seven.

QPR v MK Dons

QPR haven't made it past the third round of the Cup since 2001 when they eventually lost 6-0 to Arsenal in the fourth round.
Rangers haven't played a team from a lower division since December 2002 (prior to meeting MK Dons this season), when they were eliminated after losing a 1st round replay on penalties to non-league side Vauxhall Motors.
The Hoops have equaled Leeds United's run of 16 games without a win in the FA Cup proper up to 1962, the poorest streak ever in the competition by a side from the Football League.
The MK Dons have never made it past the third round of the FA Cup.
The Dons have also never defeated a team from a higher division in the FA Cup, losing all four games before their 1-1 draw against QPR this season.

Bolton Wanderers v Macclesfield

Bolton have won both previous home meetings with Macclesfield in all competitions, winning 2-1 in the Carling Cup earlier this season and 1-0 in the same competition in August 2000.
The Trotters have kept six clean sheets in their last eight FA Cup game against lower ranked sides.
Macclesfield have never made it past the third round of the competition, losing all eight previous third round games before their draw against Bolton this season.
If Macclesfield fail to win this game, it will be the ninth successive time that they have failed to make it through the third round. Only one team (Barrow, 11) have made it to the third round on more occasions but never progressed.
Indeed, the Silkmen's previous five away third round ties have seen them lose all five, concede 20 and net just four.
Bolton have lost seven of their last nine home games in all competitions, winning one and drawing one.
Macclesfield have won just one of their last 22 FA Cup games against sides from higher divisions, drawing five and losing 16.

Leicester City v Nottingham Forest

Forest have won just one of their last seven FA Cup matches (including replays).
Leicester have also won only one of their last seven FA Cup games (including replays).
The Foxes have only progressed past the Third Round once in the previous five seasons.
In the last six seasons, Forest have alternated between making it as far as the Fourth Round and failing to get that far. If the sequence is to continue, they will have to lose against Leicester.
Forest won the only previous FA Cup meeting (prior to this season) between these sides 5-1 in February 1901.
The Foxes have won four of their last five home clashes with their East Midlands rivals, losing the other.

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16.01. (Mon) 21:00 Wigan Athletic - Manchester City

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

WIGAN ATHLETIC Al HabsiStam, Caldwell, Alcaraz, Figueroa Thomas, McCarthy, Jones, Crusat Rodallega, Di Santo

MANCHESTER CITY   HartRichards, Savic, Lescott, Zabaleta Nasri, De Jong, Milner, Silva Aguero, Dzeko

Wigan Athletic will be without Mohamed Diame as he is on international duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Midfielder Hendry Thomas has been asked to step into his place by boss Roberto Martinez and is expected to start.

Winger Albert Crusat is back after a back injury but it may be a game or two too early for Shaun Maloney, who is working his way back to match fitness.

Manchester City will be without key men Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure as the former is suspended following his red card against Manchester United in the FA Cup defeat and the latter is away on international duty with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Montenegrin Stefan Savic will continue to deputise for City's captain as Toure's brother Kolo is also playing at the tournament whilst Nigel De Jong should take Toure's place.

Spanish maestro David Silva is expected to make a recovery from an ankle injury that kept him out of the League Cup game against Liverpool in mid-week and Italian striker Mario Balotelli is a doubt after limping out of the same game.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Wigan are leading the penalty charts this season, having been awarded six so far.

• They also have a tendency to fall asleep in the last 15 minutes of a match, conceding 11 times already this campaign.

• Their strikers aren't so hot either, having scored only 18 times in 20 matches.

• Roberto Martinez's men are winless in five matches, winning just one of 10 at home this season.

• Manchester City have won their last four matches against hosts Wigan without conceding a goal.

• City are winless in their last four away games in the Premier League.

• Having scored 56 goals already this term, City only need four more goals to equal their goal tally from the whole of last season - and it's only January.

• It will also be Happy Birthday to Pablo Zabaleta (pictured right) who will be playing on his 27th birthday.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction 
Wigan Athletic 1-3 Manchester City

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16.01. (Mon) 20:45 Napoli - Bologna

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

NAPOLI De Sanctis Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena Hamsik, Pandev Cavani

BOLOGNA Gillet Raggi, Antonsson, Cherubin Pulzetti, Perez, Mudingayi, Morleo Ramirez Acquafresca, Di Vaio

The only pressing injury concern for Napoli will be that of Argentine forward Ezequiel Lavezzi, whose muscle strain could potentially keep him out for five more games, having already missed the Partenopei's last three.

Elsewhere, coach Walter Mazzarri is set to ring the changes from the 2-1 win over Cesena in the Coppa Italia midweek, as Morgan De Sanctis, Hugo Campagnaro, Salvatore Aronica, Christian Maggio, Walter Gargano and Goran Pandev are set to replace the sextet of Antonio Rosati, Federico Fernandez, Miguel Britos, Juan Zuniga, Blerim Dzemaili and Eduardo Vargas.

For the visitors, Bologna, Stefano Pioli is expected to make two alterations from the XI that successfully beat Catania 2-0 last weekend to halt a run of three games without a win, as Gianluca Cherubin and Gaston Ramirez should replace injured duo Simone Loria and Alessandro Diamanti.

However, Panagiotis Kone remains sidelined, while Daniele Portanova must see out one more match of his suspension, accrued during his side's 2-0 loss to Roma on December 21.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bologna's win over Catania ended a run of three winless games.

• Despite not winning any of their last three away matches, the Rossoblu have have scored at least once in each of their last five fixtures on the road.

• Bologna have won just one of their last 14 games at the San Paolo in Serie A - a 5-1 win in October 2000.

• Napoli have lost only one of their last six meetings with Bologna, triumphing in four of them.

• The Partenopei have netted in each of their last seven league games.

• They have lost just once in their last eight Serie A fixtures - a 3-1 reverse to Roma on home soil.

• Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik scored three goals over the two clashes with Bologna last season.

• Edinson Cavani has found the net in his last two Serie A appearances; the first time he has scored in back-to-back league games since last April.

Prediction

A comfortable win should be on the cards for the in-form home side, who will look to make it four on the bounce with a convincing performance on Sunday. The absences of key defensive duo Loria and Portanova are sure to make life even more difficult for Bologna.

Editor's Prediction

Napoli 3-0 Bologna

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15.01. (Sun) 21:30 Barcelona - Betis

Xavi Hernandez - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA Valdes Alves, Pique, Puyol, AbidalXavi, Busquets, Iniesta Messi, Cesc, Alexis

REAL BETIS Casto Isidoro, Dorado, Mario, Nacho Juanma, Benat, Iriney, Montero Castro, Santa Cruz

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has a few absentees heading into the match against Real Betis. Seydou Keita has departed for African Cup of Nations duty with Mali and will miss the next few weeks.

Pedro could be out for up to 10 days after pulling a hamstring in the Copa del Rey against Osasuna in midweek, a match where Andreu Fontas sustained a serious knee injury and could miss the rest of the campaign.

David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay are long term injury concerns and will be out of action for the foreseeable future. However, Dani Alves and Andres Iniesta should be fit enough to return to action after their minor knocks were rested at Osasuna.

Real Betis will be without defender Antonio Amaya and midfielder Momo, who both miss out with injury. On a positive note for the Andalusians, Nelson and Alvaro Vadillo are making good progress in their return to action, and have begun training in the gym.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The last time Barcelona played Real Betis, Pepe Mel's side emerged with a surprise 3-1 victory over the Catalan side in the Copa del Rey, with Jorge Molina grabbing a brace to help his side to victory.

• Barcelona have not played Real Betis in the Spanish Primera Division since February 2009. The match ended 2-2.

• Lionel Messi has scored just two goals less than the entire Real Betis squad in La Liga this season, with 17 goals to 19.

• Betis are currently comfortably placed in 10th spot in La Liga, with 22 points taken from 17 games.

• The Verdiblancos' top goalscorer this season is striker Ruben Castro, who has notched five in 12 appearances.

• Betis have lost twice as many times as they have won on the road this season in the league. They have triumphed on three occasions but have been defeated six times away from Benito Villamarin.

Prediction

Betis won the last time the two sides met and although this victory turned out to be in vain it should still give them some confidence going into the match at Camp Nou. Pep Guardiola's men are hurting at the moment after the draw with Espanyol but a wounded Barcelona may prove to be very dangerous, and victory is essential to maintain Real Madrid's pace domestically.

Editor's Prediction

Barcelona 3-0 Betis

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15.01. (Sun) 21:00 Olympique Marseille - Lille Metropole

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE Mandanda Azpilicueta, N'Koulou, M'bia, Traore Amalfitano, Cheyrou, Lucho, Morel Valbuena Remy

LILLE LandreauBonnart, Chedjou, Basa, BeriaBalmont, Mavuba, Gueye Cole, Jelen, Hazard

Olympique de Marseille boss Didier Deschamps will be without as many as three key stars for the visit of the Ligue 1 champions on Sunday evening. Ghanaians Andre & Jordan Ayew both departed for the Africa Cup of Nations along with Senegal's Souleymane Diawara, leaving L'OM with a test of nerve ahead of key games in January.

Loic Remy, who has been linked with a move to Premier League side Tottenham this week, will again lead the line, alongside Mathieu Valbuena. Brandao, back at the club after a year-long spell in Brazil, will only make the bench.

Meanwhile, les Dogues are without Mathieu Debuchy following the defender's red card in the 2-1 defeat to Lyon in the Coupe de la Ligue in midweek. Mickael Landreau will also replace Vincent Enyaema in goal after the Nigerian failed to impress.

With Moussa Sow away in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon for the next few weeks or so, Ireneusz Jelen will continue his extended run in the first-team.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Olympique de Marseille have won four out of their last five Ligue 1 games, and are the form team in the division.

• Didier Deschamps' men have lost all but one of their games against the top five (won 3-0 v PSG in November).

• L'OM have only been defeated once at home this season in Ligue 1 (to Rennes) and only three times in two years.

• Marseille lost this fixture 2-1 last season with Eden Hazard (pictured right) scoring a long-range strike. They again were defeated in the reverse fixture 3-2 in August, despite Mathieu Valbuena's brace.

• Lille were knocked out of the Coupe de la Ligue on Wednesday, losing 2-1 to Lyon.

• Rudi Garcia's men are the only side unbeaten away from home this season.

• Should Lille win this match, it will be the first time they have beaten OM three times in a row in their history.

Prediction

An exciting match is in store at the Stade Velodrome, and one that is very difficult to call. Given L'OM's impressive home run, and their need to continue playing catch-up in the league, Didier Deschamps' men might just have the edge in this one. Lille's attacking trio will be unrelenting, but the hosts' solid defensive foundations should see them through.

Editor's Prediction

Marseille 1-0 Lille

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