SPL Opta Facts - 21st January

St Mirren v Celtic

Celtic's biggest SPL defeat since November 2000 came at St Mirren - 0-4 in March 2010.
Aside from the 4-0 defeat in March 2010, Celtic have won 18 of their 19 SPL meetings with St Mirren, drawing the other.
The Bhoys have kept a clean sheet in their last five league clashes with the Saints.
Gary Hooper has scored six goals in four SPL meetings with the Saints, including a hat-trick earlier this season.
Celtic are on a run of 11 straight league wins, their best run within a single season since November 2008.
The Hoops have conceded just five goals in their last 13 league games combined, and never more than once in a game in this run.

St Mirren have won only one of their last eight league games.
Celtic have scored 12 goals in the opening 15 minutes of matches this season, twice as many as any other side.

Dundee United v Motherwell

None of the last eight league meetings between United and Motherwell at Tannadice have ended in a draw (W5 L3).
The Tangerines have kept a clean sheet in six of their last nine SPL matches at home to Motherwell.
Jon Daly has scored more goals against Motherwell (7) than any other side in the SPL.
Daly has scored four goals in Dundee United's last four league games.
United have lost their last two league games, they have not lost three in a row since May 2009.
Only Hibs (1) and Dunfermline (0) have won fewer SPL games at home this season than United (3).
Motherwell are on a run of three straight league defeats: they have not lost four in a row since April 2010.
The Steelmen have won every away match in which they have scored in the league this season (7).
United have come from behind to claim the most points in the SPL this season (12).

Hibernian v St Johnstone

Hibs have won just one of their last eight league meetings with St Johnstone, conceding 16 goals.
Liam Craig has scored seven SPL goals against Hibernian, four more than against any other side (Dundee United, three).
The Saints have only won on one of their last nine league visits to Easter Road.
Since the end of February last year, Hibernian have won only one of their last 16 SPL games at home (W1 D6 L9), their poorest-ever run in the competition.
A win at Dunfermline last time out ended a run of nine league games without a win for Hibs.
The Saints are unbeaten in their last five league games on the road (W3 D2).
St Johnstone's only away defeat in the SPL this season came at Easter Road (2-3 in September).
Hibs and St Johnstone are two of the three sides (with Kilmarnock) who are yet to have a player sent off in the SPL this season.

Inverness CT v Hearts

Caley Thistle are without a win in their last 10 league meetings with Hearts (D3 L7).
Stephen Elliot has scored in Hearts' last two league visits to Inverness.
Hearts have only lost on one of their 10 SPL visits to Inverness (W1 D5 L4).
Last time out at Motherwell, Caley Thistle kept their first clean sheet of the season in the SPL (1-0).
Inverness are yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the league this season.
Inverness are unbeaten in three in the league (W2 D1), their best run of the season.
Hearts have won four and drawn one of their five league matches since 16th December.
Only Kilmarnock (1) have won fewer away games in the SPL this season than the Jambos (2).
Hearts have dropped the joint-fewest points from winning positions in the league this season (2).

Kilmarnock v Dunfermline

Killie have won seven of their last nine SPL meetings with the Pars (W7 D1 L1).
Kilmarnock have scored in their last 18 league meetings with Dunfermline.
Dunfermline have never won at Rugby Park in the SPL (D8 L9).
Killie are unbeaten in their last four at home in the league (W3 D1).
Dunfermline have taken just one point from their last eight league games.
The Pars have conceded at least twice in each of their last eight matches in the SPL (22 goals in total).
No side has conceded more headed goals in the league this season than Kilmarnock (9).
Dunfermline have scored the highest proportion of their goals in the second half in the league this season (16/22, 73%).

Rangers v Aberdeen

Rangers have won their last six league meetings with Aberdeen.
The Gers are unbeaten at home to Aberdeen in the SPL (W21 D3).
Aberdeen have never scored more than once in an SPL match at Ibrox (eight goals in 24 games).
Rangers are unbeaten in their last 15 league games at home (W11 D4).
Aberdeen have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 league games on the road (W3 D3 L10).
The Dons have received six red cards this season, two more than any other SPL side.
Rangers have scored the joint-most headers in the league this season (8).
Rangers have scored only two goals from outside the box in the league this season, fewer than any other side in the SPL.

Read More

19.01. (Thu) 21:30 Valencia - Levante

Ever Banega - Valencia

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA Alves Bruno, Rami, Ruiz, Mathieu Banega, Topal Feghouli, Jonas, Alba Soldado

LEVANTE MunuaVenta, Ballesteros, Nano, Del Horno Torres, FarinosEl Zhar, Barkero, Juanfran Kone

Victor Ruiz, Jonas and Jordi Alba are all set to return to the Valencia line-up after being rested for Saturday's defeat to Real Sociedad. Roberto Soldado also makes a return after serving a one-match suspension.

Miguel misses out with a hamstring injury, with Bruno likely to be retained at right-back ahead of Antonio Barragan. Also ruled out is young striker Paco Alcacer, who suffered a muscle tear while playing for the B-team.

Meanwhile, skipper David Albelda is suffering from flu symptoms and is a doubt for the match.

Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez will be without Cape Verde midfielder Valdo, who has been sidelined for upto four weeks with a hamstring injury.

Defender Nano, who agreed a move to Chinese side Guizhou Renhe earlier in the week, is expected to partner Sergio Ballesteros in the heart of the Levante defence. Long-term injury absentee Juanlu remains on the sidelines.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Valencia are on a three game winless streak in all competitions.

• Prior to Saturday's defeat to Real Sociedad, Los Che had won five matches on the bounce at the Mestalla, scoring 16 goals and conceding just one in the process.
  
• Unai Emery's side are on a five-game unbeaten streak against Levante (W3 D2) - a run that stretches back to January 2008.

• Levante have lost their last seven matches away from home.

• Ivorian striker Arouna Kone (pictured) is the east coast club's leading scorer this season with seven goals.

• Should Levante get through to the semi-finals, they will face the winner of the Real Madrid-Barcelona tie.

Prediction

After a difficult week, Valencia will be desperate to return to winning ways and quell murmurs of discontent among the home faithful. Soldado's return gives the home side a clear edge, and they should win this with something to spare.

Editor's Prediction

Valencia 2-0 Levante

Read More

19.01. (Thu) 21:00 Inter - Genoa

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

INTER Castellazzi Zanetti, Lucio, Ranocchia, Chivu Faraoni, Poli, Thiago Motta, ObiMilito, Zarate

GENOA Lupatelli Mesto, Granqvist, Marchiori Rossi, Biondini, Kucka, ConstantPratto, Gilardino, Jankovic

Following the 1-0 win over city rivals AC Milan, Inter boss Claudio Ranieri is likely to employ plenty of alterations as the Nerazzurri start their Coppa Italia campaign at the last 16 phase.

Goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who trained apart from the squad on Monday, will be replaced by Luca Castellazzi. Meanwhile, Italy international Andrea Ranocchia should stand in for one of Lucio or Walter Samuel at centre-back and youngsters Davide Faraoni, Andrea Poli, and Joel Obi may all be given space in midfield.

Wesley Sneijder could once again be on the bench but Diego Forlan's presence remains in doubt after he felt discomfort to the quadricep of his right leg during training.

Mauro Zarate, whose loan spell with the Nerazzurri could already be coming to an end, is likely to start alongside Diego Milito after Giampaolo Pazzini was keft out of the matchday squad. Dejan Stankovic remains sidelined for two months with an achilles problem.

Meanwhile, new Genoa boss Pasquale Marino has a bit of a defensive crisis with Cesare Bovo, Kakhaber Kaladze, Dario Dainelli and Luca Antonelli all sidelined, so teenager Alberto Marchioni will get a chance to impress at centre-back. Hard-working captain Marco Rossi will feature in midfield since he is suspended for the weekend trip to Palermo, but star striker Rodrigo Palacio will be rested after returning from injury to score the winner against Udinese last Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Inter have been in the Coppa Italia final six of the last seven years, winning the trophy on four of those occasions, including when they defeated Palermo 3-1 to lift the trophy last season.

• Diego Milito (twice) and Thiago Motta both had successful spells with Genoa before joining Inter in the summer of 2009.

• The hosts are on a hot streak, having won six consecutive matches, only conceding one goal during that time.

• Genoa were defeated by the Nerazzurri at the same stage (Round of 16) and same venue (The Giuseppe Meazza) last season by a score of 3-2.

• Overall, the Rossoblu have lost four consecutive matches against Inter, last earning a 0-0 draw in March 2010.

• The Grifoni have already played two times in the Coppa Italia this season, earning a 4-3 victory over Nocerina and also beating Bari 3-2 in extra time.

Prediction

Despite changing a number of players from the starting XI that was successful against AC Milan, Inter, playing on home soil, should still be too much of a challenge for the Grifoni. Expect Ranieri's side to book a quarter-final date with Napoli as they look to defend their title.

Editor's Prediction

Inter 2-1 Genoa

Read More

18.01. (Wed) 22:00 Real - Barcelona

Clasico : Real Madrid - Barcelona : Coentrao, Iniesta, Di Maria

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Coentrao, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo Xabi Alonso, Diarra Callejon, Ozil, Ronaldo Benzema

BARCELONA   Pinto Alves, Puyol, Pique, Abidal Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta Messi, Cesc, Sanchez

Jose Mourinho will be without the suspended Alvaro Arbeloa who failed in his attempt to get his one-match ban overturned. Fabio Coentrao is expected to deputise at right-back. Pepe is a doubt with a thigh strain although the Portuguese defender is expected to pass a late fitness test.

Sami Khedira is definitely ruled out of the game after spraining his ankle last week against Malaga so Lassana Diarra is in line to keep his place in the Madrid starting line-up.

Jose Callejon should retain his place in the first XI due to Angel di Maria picking up a fresh injury in training.

Barcelona will be without Seydou Keita, who is away at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations while Andreu Fontas looks unlikely to appear again this season after picking up a serious knee injury in the Copa del Rey win over Osasuna last week.

Pedro also picked up a knock in the game and appears to have been ruled out while Pep Guardiola will be without David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay who have long-term injuries.

Dani Alves looks set to return to the starting line-up while Cesc Fabregas is expected to continue his role upfront alongside Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez. Jose Pinto will start the game in goal, with the experienced goalkeeper continuing his run in the domestic cup.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Real Madrid have won only one of their previous 12 meetings with their Catalan rivals (losing eight and drawing the other three).

• In last month's defeat to Pep Guardiola's men, Karim Benzema scored the quickest goal in Clasico history, finding the back of the net after only 23 seconds.

• Madrid are the reigning Copa del Rey champions after beating Barcelona 1-0 at Mestalla in last season's final courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo's extra-time winner.

• Barcelona came from a goal down to defeat Madrid 3-1 in La Liga last month with Alexis Sanchez, Xavi and Cesc Fabregas on the scoresheet.

• The victory was the first time in six games where Lionel Messi had not netted at the Santiago Bernabeu.

• The game between the two great rivals will represent the ninth Clasico in just over a year.

Prediction

I'm going to stick my neck out and predict a 2-1 victory for Real Madrid. Barcelona certainly have had the upper hand in this fixture recently yet expect Jose Mourinho's men to be desperate to avenge last month's defeat at home to the Catalans. However, it will be a close call and I'm sure all will be left to play for going into next week's second-leg.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona

Read More

18.01. (Wed) 21:00 Milan - Novara

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AC MILAN AbbiatiAbate, Thiago Silva, Nesta, ZambrottaNocerino, Van Bommel, Seedorf BoatengPato, Ibrahimovic

NOVARA Ujkani Morganella, Paci, Lodi, Gemiti Marianini, Porcari, Rigoni MazzariniCaracciolo, Meggiorini

The hosts will face Novara without the services of Alberto Aquilani, with the Italy international facing a month on the sidelines with an ankle strain. The Rossoneri remain unsure how long they will be without Gennaro Gattuso, after the former Rangers midfielder contracted occular myasthenia on the club's recent trip to Dubai, but it is hopeful that he will return sooner rather than later. Likewise, Antonio Cassano's recent health problems prohibit him from returning to action.

Clarence Seedorf looks set to start the tie, after impressing as a substitute in the defeat to Inter, with the former Real Madrid midfielder expected to replace compatriot Urby Emanuelson in the starting XI.

Novara travel to Milan without Andrea Lisuzzo, as the former Palermo defender is still suffering from a heel problem. However, the visitors should welcome back Carlalberto Lodi, after the defender recovered from an ankle strain that saw him miss his side's last two encounters.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sunday's defeat to Inter was the first time that AC Milan have lost since the 3-2 defeat to Barcelona back in November.

• The last occasion these sides met in this competition, the Rossoneri triumphed with a 2-1 victory.

• The Serie A holders' next league game is also against the Biancoazzurri.

• Novara have failed to win any of the six games they have played since knocking Catania out in the last round.

• The Piedmont club have only managed to win one of their away games in all competitions this season.

Prediction

With the Serie A holders needing to return to winning ways, and with having the home advantage on Wednesday night, a comfortable victory for the Rossoneri seems a likely outcome.

Editor's Prediction

Milan 3-0 Novara

Read More