14.02. (Tue) 20:45 Bayer Leverkusen - Barcelona

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYER LEVERKUSEN Leno Corluka, Schwaab, Friedrich, Kadlec Castro, Reinartz, Rolfes BenderKiessling, Schurrle

BARCELONA Valdes Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal Xavi, Mascherano, IniestaFabregas, Messi, Sanchez

Michael Ballack suffered a calf injury during training on Sunday and will miss Bayer Leverkusen's round of 16 first leg clash with Barcelona on Tuesday. The news comes as a blow to Bayer coach Robin Dutt, who is already without his two top scorers, Eren Derdiyok (foot) and Sidney Sam (thigh).

Defender Danny da Costa should be fit after suffering a knock to his shin during training.

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, who has been missing from action with a bruised knee since 4 February, is included in the squad travelling to Germany, and may feature at the BayArena.

Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas could all start for the Catalan outfit after the trio were left on the bench for Saturday's defeat at Osasuna.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona have met each other six times in European competition, with the Catalan club notching three wins to Bayer's two.

• Leverkusen, who are sixth in the Bundesliga table, are bidding to reach the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 2002, when they went on to lose to Real Madrid in the final.

• The German club's overall home record against Spanish opposition is W5 D3 L4.

• Barcelona have avoided defeat in their last seven trips to Germany (W4 D3).

• However, Leverkusen were the last German side to beat the reigning European champions on German soil - a 2-1 win in the 2001-02 Champions League first group stage.

• With six goals to his name, Lionel Messi (pictured) was joint-top scorer of the Champions League group stages along with Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez.

Prediction

Leverkusen would probably have wanted Barcelona to win at the weekend, as a defeat means they have to contend with the prospect of a backlash from the visitors. The Catalans have some key personnel returning to action and should have too much for their hosts on what looks set to be another freezing night of football in Germany.

Editor's Prediction

Leverkusen 0-2 Barcelona

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14.02. (Tue) 20:45 Olympique Lyonnais - APOEL

Panoramic

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LYON Lloris Reveilliere, Kone, Umtiti, Cissokho Briand, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Bastos Lisandro Lopez, Gomis

APOEL Chiotis Poursaiditidis, Jorge, Jahic, Oliveira  Morais, Pinto  Charalambidis, Marcinho, Manduca  Ailton

Lyon coach Remi Garde has no pressing injury concerns ahead of their Champions League Round of 16 first leg clash against APOEL Nicosia.
Despite a shock 2-1 defeat to Caen in Ligue 1 on Saturday, Kim Kallstrom is expected to regain his place in midfield after the Sweden international was left out at the weekend due to suspension. Dejan Lovren's achilles problems continue to hinder his anticipated return to the first team, with youngster Samuel Umtiti ready to deputise.
It's been little over two months since les Gones performed the greatest of escapes by thrashing Dinamo Zagreb 7-1 to sneak into the last 16 at the expense of Ajax in Group D.
Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored the competition's fastest-ever hat-trick on matchday six, will lead the attack, alongside Lisandro Lopez.
For APOEL, the incredible journey continues. The Cypriot side, minnows in the group stage, spectacularly topped Group G ahead of three of their last four Europa League winners in Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit St Petersburg and Porto.
Ivan Jovanovic's men are at full-strength in what is arguably the biggest match in their history. Brazilian Ailton, who has three goals in this season's tournament, will lead the line from the front.
Former Chelsea midfielder Nuno Morais will anchor the side in midfield, with Gustavo Manduca set to continue his record of starting every Champions League game for Tuesday's visitors.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Olympique Lyonnais hit back from a goal down to beat Dinamo Zagreb 7-1 to move into the last 16 for the ninth straight season.

• Remi Garde's men will be seeking to qualify for the quarter-final for only the second time in six years, and the first since 2009-10.

• At this stage of the competition, Lyon have only fallen once at the Stade Gerland, beaten 2-0 by AS Roma in 2006-07. 

• Les Gones have bowed out of the tournament at this stage in four out of the last five seasons.

• This will be the first ever meeting between Lyon and APOEL.

• APOEL, the first Cypriot side to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, topping Group G with nine points ahead of Zenit St Petersburg.

• Ivan Jovanovic's men have drawn all three of their away games in the group stage. 

• The Nicosia-based club have also only conceded just three goals in six away games in the Champions League this season (including qualifiers), keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Prediction

Experience counts at this level, and Lyon, who have qualified for this stage for the ninth straight season, will be tipped as the overwhelming favourites. The Cypriots, for all of their attacking football are yet to win away in the competition proper this season.
With a tantalising second leg in prospect in Cyprus on March 7, the onus will be on APOEL to restrict Lyon in the first leg, before doing damage at GSP in three weeks. However, with Gomis in form for the hosts, expect a comfortable victory.

Editor's Prediction

Lyon 2-0 APOEL

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Italian Serie A Opta Facts - 15th February

Atalanta v Genoa

Atalanta have won 15 of their 55 Serie A meetings against Genoa, 11 of which were in Bergamo.
The Grifoni have already won seven games at Atalanta's ground, a record for them in Serie A with the exception of the Genoa derby.
Genoa are unbeaten in their last five league meetings against Atalanta (two wins and three draws).
Atalanta have won just one of their last six league games, losing four times.
Atalanta have failed to score in their last three home games: two 0-2 defeats and one goalless draw.
Genoa have not shared the points in their last 15 Serie A games (seven wins and eight losses).
The Grifoni have conceded two or more goals in each of their last seven league games.
Genoa have lost each of their last four trips, conceding on average 4.5 goals per game.
In the reverse fixture, Maxi Moralez scored a brace on his Serie A debut.

Parma v Juventus

This will be the 40th meeting between these two sides in Serie A: Parma are on target for their 10th win, the Old Lady have won 17 so far.
Parma have drawn 13 games against Juve, more than against any other Serie A opponent so far.
Parma have won three of their last four meetings with Juve, but just one of the last seven at the Tardini.
Parma are unbeaten in their last four league games (two wins and two draws) and have lost just one of the last nine.
At home the Ducali are unbeaten in their last six games (three wins and as many draws).
Juventus have not lost any of their last 25 games in all competition: their last defeat came right at Parma last May.
Sebastian Giovinco has already scored four goals in his last three meetings against his former team, Juventus: against no other opponent has he bagged more goals in Serie A.
Parma are the team against which Andrea Pirlo has scored the most goals (six), including one of his two braces so far.
In the reverse fixture the Old Lady won 4-1, and Pirlo assisted two goals.

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UEFA Champions League Opta Facts - 14-15 February

Lyon - APOEL

This is the first appearance of a Cypriot club in the knockout stage of the Champions League.
APOEL picked up more cards (19 yellows) than any other team who have qualified for the Last 16 this season.
The Cypriot champions allowed their opponents more shots on target against them (43) than any of the other teams who made the Last 16.
They also had fewer shots than any other side in the group stages of the Champions League this season (38).
Lyon have failed to win any of their last five Champions League knockout stage matches.
APOEL have only once before drawn a French team in European competition (excluding qualifiers) losing home and away to Paris St Germain in the 1993-94 Cup Winners Cup.
APOEL have only lost one of their last eight Champions League games, but have drawn five of the other seven.
APOEL won their first ever away match in Europe (in 1963), but have lost 25 and drawn nine of the 34 road trips since in all European competitions (excluding qualifiers).
Lyon have failed to score in five of their last seven Champions League matches.
The French side have lost just three of their last 20 Champions League home games, two against Bayern and one versus Real Madrid.
Five of APOEL's six Champions League goals this season have been scored by Brazilians Aílton Almeida (three) and Gustavo Manduca (two).
Bafetimbi Gomis has scored 56% of Lyon's Champions League goals this term (five out of nine), only three players have posted a higher percentage this season.

Bayer Leverkusen - Barcelona

Barcelona scored 20 goals in this season's Champions League Group Stage, equaling the all-time record set by Manchester United in 1998/99.
These sides have met on six occasions in European competition, Barcelona winning the last three encounters.
The Blaugrana allowed their opponents just seven shots on target in the Group Stage, fewer than any other team.
Barcelona have dominated possession in all of their 44 Champions League matches under Pep Guardiola's management.
Leverkusen have only kept six clean sheets in their last 42 Champions League matches.
Barcelona could become the first away team to win more than once at the BayArena in the Champions League.
Starting with his goal in the 2009 final, Lionel Messi has scored 27 goals in his last 28 Champions League starts, including six in five this season.
Bayer Leverkusen picked-up seven points from losing positions this season in the Champions League Group Stage, more than any other team.
Liverpool are the last side to dump Barcelona out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League, back in the 2006/07 season.

Zenit St Petersburg - Benfica

Zenit St Petersburg are the first Russian club from a city other than Moscow to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Zenit posted the worst conversion rate of those that qualified for the last 16, scoring with just 9% of their shots.
Benfica committed more fouls than any other the other team who have qualified for the Last 16 (101).
Zenit have lost just two of their last 30 home games in European competition, excluding qualifiers.
Their draw against APOEL on Matchday 5 ended a run of nine straight home wins for the Russian side in European competition.
Zenit have won two and drawn one of their three games against Portuguese opposition in Europe, including four points against Porto in this season's group stage.
Benfica were one of only three unbeaten teams in this season's Champions League Group Stage, alongside Spain's giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
None of the six knockout matches involving Benfica in the Champions League era have produced more than two goals.
Benfica have lost just one of eight European matches against Russian opposition.
Zenit's Portuguese winger Danny has created more chances for team mates than any other player in the Champions League this season (21).
Benfica's Nicolás Gaitán has the most assists in the 2011/12 Champions League (five).

AC Milan - Arsenal

In eight two-legged ties and one final (excluding the Super Cup), no Italian side have ever eliminated Arsenal in a knockout competition.
Arsenal have played Milan once in the Champions League before, drawing 0-0 at home and winning 2-0 away in the San Siro.
Arsenal have won both of their two Champions League games at the San Siro, beating Inter 5-1 and Milan 2-0.
Milan defeated Arsenal in the 1994 Super Cup, drawing 0-0 at Highbury and winning 2-0 at the San Siro.
Milan have been knocked out by English clubs in the Last 16 Stage of their last three Champions League participations and have failed to score in five of the six matches played in those ties.
Milan have won only four of their last 19 Champions League matches (W4 D9 L6), these wins have come against Auxerre (twice), Viktoria Plzen and BATE Borisov.
Arsenal had the most accurate shooting in the 2011/12 Group Stage, with 66% of their attempts on target.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has found the net in all of his four Champions League appearances this season. He scored a brace in his only club visit to the Emirates, with Barcelona in March 2010.
Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has made more tackles than any other player this season in the Champions League (33).

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13.02. (Mon) 20:45 Siena - Roma

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

SIENA PegoloVitiello, Rossettini, Terzi, Del Grosso Giorgi, Vergassola, Gazzi, Brienza Destro, Calaio

ROMA Stekelenburg Rosi, Juan, Heinze, Taddei Simplicio, Viviani, Pjanic Totti Borini, Lamela

The status quo is in the offing for Siena, who are expected to name an unchanged lineup from the XI that battled to a valiant 0-0 draw with Serie A leaders Juventus last Sunday. However, Zejlko Brkic and Francesco Bolzoni still require around a further fortnight to regain full fitness.
Meanwhile, for the visitors, Roma, coach Luis Enrique is set to make just two changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Catania midweek, as Simon Kjaer and Daniele De Rossi, who is suspended, are to be replaced by Gabriel Heinze and Federico Viviani.
However, Nicolas Burdisso and Pablo Osvaldo remain on the sidelines with injury, but should be back in contention by next week at the earliest.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Siena earned their first point in four meetings against Roma in the reverse fixture this season.

• The Tuscan side are winless in their last four games, scraping to just one win in 12.

• However, they are unbeaten in their last three home games, including the emphatic 4-0 drubbing of Lazio.

• Roma have scored in nine consecutive fixtures and boast Serie A's most prolific attack, with 36 goals scored.

• The Giallorossi have suffered just one defeat in their last nine matches.

• Roma shared points away from home for the first time on Wednesday in their 1-1 draw with Catania.

• These two sides drawn only twice in 15 meetings to date, but the Giallorossi lead the way with nine wins head-to-head.

Prediction

Despite bagging a deserved point against Juventus last week, Roma will pose an extremely different type of threat to that of the Old Lady, and it is their array of technically-gifted midfielders and forwards that may prove too much for the new boys to contain for 90 minutes.

Editor's Prediction

Siena 0-2 Roma

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