Europa League Opta Facts - Round of 16 Second Leg - 15 March

Manchester City v Sporting Lisbon

Sporting Lisbon have lost seven of their previous 11 away European games against English sides (excluding qualifiers), winning two and drawing two.
The Lions have never kept a clean sheet in an away game against an English side.
The Citizens have won both previous home games in Europe against Portuguese sides (excluding qualifiers), shutting their opponents out on each occasion.
Sporting Lisbon have won more fouls than any other team in the Europa League this season (166).
The Portuguese giants have only won one of their 11 away games in all competitions, having won six in a row before this spell.
Manchester City have won 35 of their last 39 home games in all competitions, drawing two and losing two.
Excluding qualifiers, City are unbeaten in 24 home European games and have only lost one of 33 in total (0-1 v Chelsea in April 1971).
15 of Sergio Aguero's 21 goals for Manchester City (all competitions) have come at the Etihad Stadium.

Athletic Bilbao v Manchester United

Wayne Rooney has scored 14 goals in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.
In their one previous European tie against Athletic, Man Utd lost the first leg (3-5) before prevailing 3-0 in the second leg to progress (European Cup - 1957).
Wayne Rooney has netted a brace in four of his last six appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals in total in that run.
Since the start of the Champions League (1992/93), Manchester United have only progressed through one of seven European knockout ties having lost the first leg (v Roma in the Champions League quarter finals in 2007).
On that occasion (versus Roma) however, Manchester United won the second leg 7-1.
United, who have lost their last two European games, have only ever lost three in a row once in their history (excluding qualifiers), between December 2004 and May 2005.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side have kept four successive clean sheets away against Spanish opposition, but have only netted once themselves in that run.
Bilbao have only lost one of their eight previous home meetings against English opposition, winning four and drawing three.
Fernando Llorente has attempted more headed shots (12) than any other player in the Europa League this term.

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14.03. (Wed) 20:45 Chelsea - Napoli

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA CechIvanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole Ramires, Essien, Lampard Mata, Torres, Sturridge

NAPOLI De SanctisCampagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Gargano, Inler, ZunigaHamsik, Lavezzi Cavani

Roberto Di Matteo has yet to settle on a first choice XI after his first two matches in charge and has spoken of the use of squad rotation.

Juan Mata, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge and Michael Essien did not start against Stoke last Saturday and could move into the starting line-up. John Terry and Ashley Cole recently returned from injury, while Jose Bosingwa is out with a hamstring problem. Raul Meireles is suspended.

Napoli have fielded a settled team throughout this season’s Champions League campaign, with a back three of Hugo Campagnaro, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica behind the central midfield duo of Gokhan Inler and Walter Gargano.

Juan Camilo Zuniga may start ahead of Andrea Dossena at left wing-back, while Christian Maggio is likely to feature on the right. Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi will start alongside Edinson Cavani in attack.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Roberto Di Matteo takes charge of just his third match as Chelsea manager against Napoli after Andre Villas-Boas' dismissal.

• The Italian won his first two matches in charge with 2-0 victory against Birmingham in the FA Cup and a 1-0 win over Stoke last weekend.

• Chelsea are in the last 16 for the ninth season in succession but have won just three of their seven Champions League matches this season, despite taking the lead in all seven games.

• The Blues have drawn Italian opposition in two of the last three seasons at this stage, beating Juventus 3-2 on aggregate in 2008-09 but losing 3-1 to Inter in 2009-10, when the Nerazzurri were coached by former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

• The Blues took the lead against Napoli in the first leg of the tie at the San Paolo through Juan Mata, but were beaten 3-1 after two goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi and one from Edinson Cavani sealed a comeback victory.

• The Partenopei are in good recent form, winning their last six matches in all competitions, scoring 17 goals in the process, and winning 6-3against Cagliari on Friday.

• The side have cultivated a fearsome reputation for counter-attacking football, and top scorer Cavani has registered six goals in his last seven games for club and country, with 16 in Serie A and five in the Champions League so far this season.

Prediction

Chelsea seem to have improved morale under Roberto Di Matteo but will face a Napoli side in superb form.
The Blues must attack to overturn the deficit but they will therefore expose themselves to the fearsome counter-attack of the Partenopei and could be out-gunned at Stamford Bridge. I fear a loss for the home side near, on the night and on aggregate.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 1-2 Napoli

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14.03. (Wed) 20:45 Real - CSKA Moskva

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo Khedira, AlonsoOzil, Kaka, Ronaldo Benzema

CSKA MOSCOW Chepchugov A Bere'ski, V Bere'ski, Igna'vich, Schennikov Wernbloom, MamaevDzagoev, Honda, Musa Doumbia

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema could get the nod in attack for Wednesday's crunch Champions League last-16 decider against CSKA Moscow, after overcoming a groin problem and appearing as a late substitute in the win over Real Betis during the weekend.

Portuguese full-back Fabio Coentrao (groin) is unlikely to be fit in time for the clash, while Angel Di Maria (thigh) is still sidelined.

CSKA have been handed a boost with the return to fitness of playmaker Keisuke Honda, who overcame a thigh injury to start Friday's 1-1 draw against Dinamo Moscow.

Pavel Mamaev and Kirill Nababkin are both available again after serving one-match suspensions, while long-term absentees Igor Akinfeev and Mark Gonzalez remain sidelined.

The Russian side need to score to have any chance of progressing, as Cristiano Ronaldo's strike in the first leg in Moscow gives the Spaniards the advantage on the away goals rule.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Real Madrid have won 30 of their last 34 games in all competitions, finding the net in every match during that sequence.

• Los Blancos have lost just one of the nine home fixtures against Russian opponents, going down 3-1 to Spartak Moscow in the 1990-91 European Cup quarter-final.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) has netted nine times in his last six appearances for Madrid.

• CSKA Moscow have lost just one of their last 12 away matches in all competitions, winning three and drawing eight.

• The Russian side are unbeaten against Spanish opposition in six outings (W3, D3).

• Should CSKA win against Madrid, it would represent their 50th victory in Uefa club competitions.

Prediction

Pontus Wernbloom's late leveller in Moscow gives CSKA hope, but Real Madrid were by far the better side in the first leg, and their scintillating form this season suggests they should have little trouble dispatching the Russian side at the Bernabeu.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 3-0 CSKA Moscow

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13.03. (Tue) 21:00 Liverpool - Everton

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

Liverpool ReinaJohnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique Kuyt, Henderson, Spearing, Downing GerrardSuarez

Everton HowardNeville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines Osman, Coleman, Fellaini, Drenthe Cahill Jelavic

Kenny Dalglish should be able to start Steven Gerrard, after the England midfielder returned to the bench against Sunderland, with Glen Johnson also likely to shake off a hamstring problem.

Everton fan Jamie Carragher could replace Sebastian Coates after the 21-year-old failed to impress in the loss against Martin O'Neill's men on Saturday. The Reds boss may drop Charlie Adam to keep Jay Spearing in the centre of the park after the latter was arguably the hosts' best player against the Black Cats.

Nikica Jelavic is likely to keep his place up front for Everton after the former Rangers man netted in his debut against Tottenham on Saturday. Jack Rodwell returned to the bench for the game with Harry Redknapp's men and may play some part on Tuesday night.

Steven Pienaar is available again after the on-loan midfielder was ineligible for the win over his parent club, Spurs. The South African is likely to come back into the starting line-up as the visitors' only change.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Liverpool lost their third consecutive Premier League game against Sunderland on Saturday.

• They last lost four back-to-back Premier League games in the 2002-03 season with the Black Cats again being one of the teams they were defeated by.

• After 27 games this season, Dalglish's men have recorded the exact same number of points they had at this stage last campaign.

• The Reds won the first meeting between the two sides 2-0 at Goodison Park. The last time they did the derby double was in the 2009-10 season.

• Everton (28) are one of only four clubs to score less than Liverpool (30) this season. The others being Wigan (23), Stoke (27) and QPR (29).

• Rodwell was controversially sent off in the last meeting with the Reds [pictured], becoming the 21st player to be dismissed in the tie since the start of the Premier League, although the midfielder's red was later rescinded by the FA.

• Moyes' side will go above their Merseyside rivals if they win at Anfield in the 217th derby on Tuesday.

• The last time the Toffees were awarded a penalty in a competitive game at Anfield was in 1988, which was converted by Wayne Clarke in a 1-1 draw.

• Out of the 216 derbies so far, Liverpool have won 86, Everton have triumphed on 66 occasions and there have been 64 draws.

Prediction

With Moyes and his players in good spirits after bringing top-four chasing Tottenham to their knees in their last outing, the visitors should give Liverpool a run for their money on Sunday. Everton will probably keep compact but in Jelavic they have gained something a bit different up front, as we saw against Spurs.

However, Dalgish's side will be desperate to avoid losing their fourth league game in a row as well as stopping their bitter rivals from jumping above them in the table and therefore, with a couple of players returning from the sidelines, the scores could end level after a hard-fought match.

Editor's Prediction

Liverpool 1-1 Everton

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13.03. (Tue) 20:45 Bayern Munchen - Basel

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba Kroos, SchweinsteigerRobben, Muller, Ribery Gomez

BASEL Sommer Steinhofer, Abraham, Dragovic, Degen Shaqiri, Huggel, G.Xhaka, F.Frei Streller, A.Frei

Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben were withdrawn in the 7-1 trashing of Hoffenheim at the Allianz Arena on Saturday after suffering minor knocks, but have been cleared to play on Tuesday.

It is yet unclear who Jupp Heynckes will field in the centre of the pitch with Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Luiz Gustavo, Toni Kroos and, of course, returning vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger all in with a chance to start in midfield.

Rafinha is likely to return to the squad after missing the weekend's game with flu, but following his poor performance in the first leg he is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench. Daniel Van Buyten and Breno are still recovering from injuries and will not feature against the Swiss champions.

The big absentee for Basel is left-back Jo-Hoo Park, who missed the 2-0 win against Grasshopper on Saturday. Former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund wide defender Philip Degen is expected to deputise for the South Korean on Tuesday.

Kay Voser is back in training after a ankle injury, while Scott Chipperfield is yet to feature in 2012 after suffering a thigh knock in January.

DID YOU KNOW

• Bayern Munich have won four out of five ties in European competitions after losing 1-0 away in the first-leg.

• The Bavarians have picked up 11 victories from their last 12 Champions League home outings.

• Bayern Munich are appearing at this stage of the competition for the fourth consecutive campaign.

• Basel did not lose a single game on their travels in the group stage, holding Manchester United and Benfica and beating Otelul Galati.

• Markus Steinhofer began his career in Bayern Munich's youth ranks and played for their reserves from 2003 to 2006.

• On three out of four occasions Basel have progressed to the next stage of a Uefa competition when they have prevailed 1-0 at home in the first leg.

Prediction

Bayern Munich's experience in the competition could be the Bavarians' ace in the pack on Tuesday. The return of vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger combined with the 7-1 win over Hoffenheim might just have been the tonic Jupp Heynckes' men needed to get back into form.

Editor's Prediction

Bayern 2-0 Basel

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