24-05-2011 AFC Champions League Round of 16 preview

Gamba Osaka - Cerezo Osaka
Jeonbuk Motors - Tianjin Teda
Sepahan - Bunyodkor
Al Ittihad - Al Hilal

Gamba Osaka - Cerezo Osaka

The two Osaka clubs head into this clash in contrasting form, with Gamba having won their past three matches in the J-League, while Cerezo are still winless for this domestic campaign

The 2008 Asian champions hold a 100 per cent winning record at the Osaka Expo '70 Stadium in the ACL and J-League this season but they may not enjoy such an advantage against their city rivals who make the short journey across town

Cerezo have drawn their past five matches in the J-League and appear to be missing Brazilian striker Adriano who plays for Gamba nowadays

The last time these two clubs met was on the opening day of the J-League season, with Gamba victorious 2-1 with Yasuhito Endo scoring the winner


TEAM NEWS:

Gamba Osaka
Gamba are set to be without experienced defender Satoshi Yamaguchi following a thigh injury sustained in the weekend's win over Albirex Niigata. Former Cerezo striker Adriano is in fine form in front of goal after three strikes in Gamba's past two games including the late winner against Niigata.

Cerezo Osaka
Young midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake has scored in Cerezo's past three matches and looms as a danger man, while uncapped Korean goalkeeper Kim Jin-Hyun was called up to his national team on Monday in a timely boost.

Jeonbuk Motors - Tianjin Teda

Korean outfit Jeonbuk defeated lowly Gangwon FC 1-0 on the weekend to regain top spot in the K-League

The Jeonju-based club accumulated the most points of any club during the ACL group stage with five wins from six games

Tianjin defeated struggling Jiangsu Sainty 2-1 on the weekend despite being reduced to 10 men, to move to seventh on the Chinese Super League table

The North China club have only claimed one away win in all competitions in 2011, that coming in the ACL in Korea away to Jeju United

TEAM NEWS:

Jeonbuk Motors
Boss Choi Kang-Hee opted to rest several key players against Gangwon including striker Jeong Seong-Hoon who was left on the bench. Topscorer Lee Dong-Gook returned from injury to play half an hour against Gangwon but Choi may decide not to risk him against Tianjin.

Tianjin Teda
First-choice goalkeeper Wang Qipeng is suspended after being sent off in Tianjin's final group game. Five yellow cards in their final group game against Gamba also means the Chinese club are without suspended key players Chen Tao, Luciano Olguin, Marko Zoric and Bai Yuefeng.

Sepahan - Bunyodkor

Sepahan were recently crowned Iranian champions but finished the season with just one win from their final four league matches

The Iranians are unbeaten at home in both the domestic league and AFC Champions League this season

Bunyodkor are currently top in Uzbekistan's Oily League, having won their past five matches

The 2010 Uzbek champions bowed out at this stage of the ACL last year, but progressed in the Round of 16 in 2009 after winning in Iran, against Persepolis

TEAM NEWS:

Sepahan
Senegalese striker Ibrahima Toure is Sepahan's danger man having scored four goals already in the ACL, including two last time out against Al Jazira. Toure bagged 18 goals during the Iran Pro League campaign.


Bunyodkor
Boss Mirjalol Qosimov has taken a strong squad to Isfahan including in-form strikers Anvarjon Soliev and Milos Trifunovic with the latter scoring five goals in their past three games in all competitions.

Al Ittihad - Al Hilal

Both clubs concluded their campaigns in Saudi Arabia's Professional League on the weekend with wins. Al Hilal were champions while Al Ittihad finished runners-up a further 13 points back

The Tigers may have home ground advantage after progressing as Group C winners, but Group A runners-up Al Hilal actually accumulated more points in the group stage

Al Hilal's form is fantastic as they went unbeaten throughout the domestic season, while they have only been beaten once in all competitions since late-October

Al Ittihad appointed Dimitri Davidovic as their new manager only last week following the sacking of Toni Oliveira. Al Hilal boss Gabriel Calderon is a former Al Ittihad manager too

TEAM NEWS:

Al Ittihad
Mohammad Al Rashid looms as the Tigers key player having netted six goals in the club's past six games in all competitions.

Al Hilal
Vice-captain Osama Hawsawi looks likely to miss the clash due to an adductor injury which has prevented him from training early this week.

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22.05. (Sun) 20:45 Udinese - Milan

DID YOU KNOW?

Udinese are currently riding a two-game winning streak.

The Zebrette have collected nine points from their last five home matches.

Francesco Guidolin's men have conceded 16 goals at the Stadio Friuli.

Antonio Di Natale leads the league in scoring with 28 goals.

AC Milan are unbeaten in their last seven matches.

The Rossoneri have picked up ten points in their last five road games.

Massimiliano Allegri's men have conceded a league low 12 goals away from San Siro.

Milan have keep four clean sheets in their last five encounters.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Udinese (3-5-2)
Handanovic; Benatia, Zapata, Domizzi; Isla, Inler, Pinzi, Asamoah, Armero; Sanchez, Di Natale

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin will have to make do without wing-back Dusan Basta who is out with injury.

AC Milan (4-3-1-2)
Abbiati; Abate, Thiago Silva, Yepes, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Ambrosini, Pirlo; Robinho; Pato, Ibrahimovic

Milan announced earlier in the week that Alessandro Nesta, Mark van Bommel, Thiago Silva, Massimo Ambrosini and Flavio Roma had all signed extensions to remain at the club. Andrea Pirlo will play his last game for the Rossoneri after confirming he will leave the San Siro outfit in the summer.

Prediction

This game is absolutely vital for the hosts as they could clinch fourth spot in Serie A while Milan have already been crowned Serie A champions and have nothing to play for. Expect Udinese to come out all guns blazing and earn three points on Sunday.

Udinese 2-1 AC Milan

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22.05. (Sun) 20:45 Lecce - Lazio

DID YOU KNOW?

Lecce are riding a two-game winning streak.

Luigi De Canio's men have picked up six points in their last five home games.

David Di Michele leads the team in scoring with eight goals in Serie A.

Lecce have scored 25 goals at home this season.

Lazio have only one win in their last four encounters.

The Blucerchiati have picked up just three points in their last six road matches.

Lazio have conceded 22 goals away from the Stadio Olimpico.

Hernanes leads the team in scoring with 11 goals.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Lecce (4-4-2)
Rosati; Donati, Sini, Fabiano, Giuliatto; Munari, Vives, Giacomazzi, Mesbah; Chevanton, Di Michele

Lecce coach Luigi De Canio will leave the club after the match on Sunday. The 53-year-old tactician will be without the services of the injured Gustavo and the suspended Nenad Tomovic.

Lazio (4-2-3-1)
Muslera; Lichtsteiner, Biava, Dias, Garrido; Ledesma, Brocchi; Mauri, Hernanes, Zarate; Rocchi

Lazio coach Edy Reja will have to make do without injured trio Matuzalem, Mark Bresciano and Mobido Diakate for Sunday's encounter.

Prediction

Lecce have already secured their Serie A status for next season while Lazio need a win to keep their Champions League hopes alive so expect the visitors to take all three points on Sunday.

Lecce 1-2 Lazio

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22.05. (Sun) 20:45 Juventus - Napoli

DID YOU KNOW?

Juventus are winless in their last two games.

The Old Lady are unbeaten in their last four matches in Turin.

Juve have scored seven goals in their past four encounters at home.

The Bianconeri have conceded 29 goals this season at home.

Napoli have just one win in their past five encounters.

Edinson Cavani leads the team in scoring with 26 goals.

Walter Mazzarri's men have conceded eight goals in their last five road games.

Napoli have picked up just one point in the month of May

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Juventus (4-4-2)
Buffon; Sorensen, Barzagli, Chiellini, Traore; Krasic, Marchisio, Felipe Melo, Pepe; Matri, Del Piero

Luigi Del Nerl might be making his last appearance on Juve sideline as speculation continues to mount over the coach's future in Turin. Claudio Marchisio signed a new deal with the club earlier in the week while Marco Motta is suspended and will miss the match on Sunday.

Napoli (3-4-2-1)
De Sanctis; Santacroce, Cribari, Ruiz; Zuniga, Gargano, Yebda, Dossena; Sosa; Mascara, Lavezzi

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri will be missing key striker Edinson Cavani who will serve the last game of his ban on Sunday. Jose Sosa will likely be given a rare start in place of Marek Hamsik.

Prediction

Juve coach Luigi Del Neri admitted after last weekend's loss to Parma that Juve needed a miracle to qualify for Europe and they will conclude their disappointing season with a stale draw in Turin

Juventus 0-0 Napoli

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22.05. (Sun) 17:00 Bolton Wanderers - Manchester City

DID YOU KNOW?

The overall record between these sides is remarkably close. City edge it with 43 wins to Bolton’s 41 and there have been 25 draws over the years.

Bolton’s recent home league record against City is very good. Their last loss in this fixture came in December 2004, when Joey Barton scored the only goal for the visitors.

But the Trotters' recent run has been awful. They have lost their last four on the spin and would hate to finish the season on a five match cold streak.

City’s form is much better, however, as six wins in the last seven and only three goals conceded shows they are now a very tough team to beat.

With Joe Hart receiving the Golden Gloves award this week, he could finish the season with 18 clean sheets.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Bolton Wanderers (4-4-2)
Jaaskelainen; Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; Lee, Cohen, Taylor, Gardner; Elmander, Sturridge.

Johan Elmander could be announced as Galatasaray bound by the time kick-off arrives and this would be his farewell.

Fabrice Muamba picked up a hamstring injury in the last outing against Blackpool and may miss out. Kevin Davies and Stuart Holden are still in the treatment room and will not see action until next season.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaletta; De Jong, Barry, Johnson, Toure Y, Silva, Tevez

Roberto Mancini is likely to field a strong XI on Sunday as City’s quest for a third place finish reaches it’s climax. Gareth Barry could come in for James Milner, whilst Carlos Tevez could make his final appearance for City if his move away from Eastlands comes to fruition.

City have kept three clean sheets in as many games and Mancini will likely stick with what is working - meaning the defence should remain untouched.

Prediction

The game is essentially a dead rubber for Bolton. They are sitting nicely in the top ten before kick-off, which is a successful season and a solid foundation to build on next year.

They would love to prick Manchester City’s hopes of clinching third place, but this does not seem likely.

The Eastlands outfit are riding the crest of a wave at the moment and this confidence will ensure that they take three points on Sunday and qualify automatically for the group stages of the Champions League.

Bolton 1-3 Man City

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