Sunday, March 25, 2012

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26.03. (Mon) 21:00 Manchester United - Fulham


PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED

De Gea
Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra
Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Young
Welbeck, Rooney
FULHAM
 
SchwarzerKelly, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise
Murphy, Diarra
 Duff, Dempsey, DembelePogrebnyak

There are no fresh injury worries for Sir Alex Ferguson, so it should be a case of picking his strongest team available, but Paul Scholes could be due for a rest up against opponents they traditionally have a good record against at Old Trafford.

Fulham confirmed earlier in the week that the only unavailable players for the trip to Old Trafford would be Orlando Sa, Zdenek Grygera and Steve Sidwell. In recent weeks they have been playing a more attacking formation, with Dembele dropping deep and both Pavel Pogrebnyak and Andrew Johnson up front.

But up against the champions at Old Trafford, expect a more imposing central midfield of Danny Murphy and Mahamadou Diarra, with Dembele in an attacking role.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • The last goal Fulham scored at Old Trafford came in 2006, an own goal scored by Rio Ferdinand.
  • Manchester United have won nine penalties this season, the most in the Premier League.
  • Wayne Rooney has scored 16 goals in his last 16 games for United in all competitions.
  • Rooney also has five goals in his last four games against Fulham at Old Trafford.
  • Martin Jol has never beaten Manchester United in the Premier League as a manager. After drawing his first two matches against them, he has lost the last seven.
  • Pavel Pogrebnyak has scored five goals for Fulham from five shots on target.
  • Only David Silva has more assists than Antonio Valencia this season, creating 12 goals to the United winger's 11.
  • Both sides are in a select group of four teams to have scored more than five goals in a game this season - with United beating Arsenal 8-2 and Fulham beating QPR 6-0. The others to make up the group are Arsenal and Manchester City.
  • Since United's 3-3 draw against Chelsea, they have won five straight league games. However, in that same period of time they have lost three games in the all competitions, including twice at home in the Europa League.
Prediction
Fulham haven't scored at Old Trafford in the past five seasons, and while they should break that duck, they have little hope of defeating the the champions at home as momentum builds towards another title for Sir Alex Ferguson's side after Manchester City's draw against Stoke.
Editor's Prediction
Man Utd. 3-1 Fulham
Saturday, March 24, 2012

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25.03. (Sun) 20:45 Juventus - Inter

Chiellini & Pazzini - Juventus-Inter
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS


JUVENTUS


Buffon
Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie
Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio
Pepe, Matri, Vucinic
INTER



Cesar
Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo
Zanetti, Poli, Stankovic, Obi
Milito, Forlan

Coming off two extremely positive results, a 5-0 victory over Fiorentina and an extra-time 2-2 draw with AC Milan that sent them through to the final of the Coppa Italia, Juventus coach Conte will be hoping to make it a treble of successes by heaping more misery on struggling Derby d'Italia rivals Inter.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be back between the posts after sitting out the Coppa Italia midweek clash while in defence, Martin Caceres will step in at right-back for the suspended Stephan Lichtsteiner. Despite the fact that centre-back Andrea Barzagli has recovered from a calf injury, the former Palermo man is likely to start on the bench.

Italy international Andrea Pirlo will take on his former side and the in-form Mirko Vucinic will play wide on the left with Simone Pepe on the opposite flank in support of top-scorer Alessandro Matri, who last found the back of the net in the 1-1 draw on with AC Milan on February 25.

Meanwhile, a result against Inter's bitter rivals and his ex-employers may boost the morale of boss Claudio Ranieri and the Nerazzurri camp, but the former Chelsea trainer is likely to be without star midfielder Wesley Sneijder due to a groin problem, while Argentine Ricky Alvarez remains sidelined as well.

Youngster Andrea Poli, who has impressed in recent outings, looks likely to pip Esteban Cambiasso to a spot in the centre of the pitch alongside veteran Dejan Stankovic. Midfielder Fredy Guarin is set for his first call-up to the match squad since his winter move on loan from Porto and may feature as a substitute.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Juventus have not lost to Inter in their past three competitive matches, last suffering a 2-0 defeat in April 2010.
  • The hosts remain the lone unbeaten team in Serie A and have only conceded nine goals at home this season.
  • Juventus had drawn four Serie A matches in a row before defeating Fiorentina 5-0 last weekend.
  • Inter have not won in Turin against the Old Lady since January 2008, beating them 3-2 in the Coppa Italia with two goals from Mario Balotelli.
  • Milito has not scored against the Bianconeri in a competitive fixture since joining Inter in 2009.
  • Ranieri coached Juventus for nearly two years from June 2007 to May 2009, before he was sacked.
Prediction
Although form often does not dictate what happens in heated rivalries like these, logic suggests second-placed Juventus will go in as clear favourites over seventh-placed Inter. Juve have just come out of a scoring slump with seven goals in their past two games, but Inter continue to be plagued by inconsistency during a very disappointing season. Three points for the hosts seems to be on the cards, even if the Nerazzurri will give it everything they have to try and salvage their campaign around with a positive result against their rivals.
Editor's Prediction
Juventus 2-1 Inter

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25.03. (Sun) 20:00 Paris Saint Germain - Girondins Bordeaux

Ligue 1 : Kevin Gameiro & Guillaume Hoarau (Olympique Lyonnais vs Paris SG)
Panoramic


PROBABLE LINEUPS

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

Sirigu
Ceara, Alex, Sakho, Maxwell
Motta, Sissoko
Menez, Pastore, Nene
Hoarau



GIRONDINS DE BORDEAUX

Carrasso
Henrique, Planus, Ciani
Mariano,
N'Guemo, Tremoulinas
Plasil, Diabate, Obraniak

Maurice-Belay
Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti will welcome back Mohamed Sissoko and Nene for Ligue 1 duty, although the latter featured in Wednesday's 3-1 Coupe de France quarter-final against Olympique Lyonnais - Ancelotti's first defeat as manager.
With only the league to play for this season for les Parisiens, the onus is on the side to produce a strong run until the end of the season, starting with Sunday's game against les Girondins.
There are no major injury concerns, with Maxwell expected to replace Siaka Tiene on the left flank. Kevin Gameiro started ahead of Guillaume Hoarau in attack in the cup in midweek, though after another ineffective performance, was hauled off in favour of the No. 9, who is in line to continue his run in the first-team.
Bordeaux manager Francis Gillot has been dealt a blow with the news that Yoan Gouffran is out with a sprained ankle, and will miss two weeks of competitive action. Lamine Sane is also sidelined for les Girondins who are pushing to secure a spot in the Europa League as Ligue 1 enters its final stage.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten in their last 13 Ligue 1 games, currently the best run of all the 20 teams in the division.
  • Despite these statistics, les Parisiens have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six games.
  • Carlo Ancelotti's men sit just two points ahead of Montpellier in the race for the title.
  • Bordeaux have only lost two of their last seven games away to PSG in all competitions.
  • Les Girondins have scored at least once in their last seven matches against PSG.
  • Francis Gillot's men earned a 1-1 draw against the league leaders in the corresponding fixture earlier this season in November.
Prediction
Whilst Bordeaux are expected to offer some resistance, a wounded PSG are expected to lay down the law and comfortably dispatch Francis Gillot's men. 2-0 to the hosts.
Editor's Prediction
PSG 2-0 Bordeaux

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25.03. (Sun) 17:30 FC Köln vs Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund vs. 1. FC Köln, Robert Lewandowski
Bongarts


PROBABLE LINEUPS

KOLN


Rensing
Brecko, Sereno, Geromel, Eichner
Clemens, Pezzoni, Riether, Peszko
Podolski, Novakovic

BORUSSIA DORTMUND



Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Bender, Kehl
Kuba, Kagawa, Grosskreutz
Lewandowski


Stale Solbbaken will not be able to rely on Christopher Buchtmann, Adil Chihi and Mark Uth, who are all sidelined with injuries. Mato Jajalo is also set to miss the game against the reigning German champions as he is serving a suspension, while Lukas Podolski, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer, is set to spearhead the attack.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp will have a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal for the match against Koln, with only Julian Koch and Mario Gotze sidelined with knocks. The 19-year-old Germany international recently returned to training after a serious injury in January, but the BVB supporters will have to wait a bit more for his return to action.

DID YOU KNOW
  • Koln have won just once against Dortmund in 15 attempts since the turn of the millennium.
  • The Billy Goats have the least number of shots on target from all 18 Bundesliga sides this season.
  • Moreover, Koln have accumulated more bookings than any other team in the German top flight - 54 yellow cards and five red cards.
  • Dortmund are on a 10-away-game unbeaten streak, and could break the club record set under Ottmar Hitzfeld in season 1995/1996 with a positive result on Sunday.
  • Since Jurgen Klopp took over the team, BVB have won all of their games against Koln.
  • Marcel Schmelzer scored his first ever Bundesliga goal against the Billy Goats in a 5-0 demolition of Solbbaken's team in the first part of the season.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund are on fire now, and are likely to a bridge too far for the struggling Billy Goats. Barring a Podolski miracle, Jurgen Klopp's side will easily stroll past Stale Solbbaken's team.
Editor's Prediction
FC Koln 0-2 Dortmund

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25.03. (Sun) 15:30 Ajax - PSV Eindhoven

Tim Matavz and Jan Vertonghen, PSV - Ajax
PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AJAX

Vermeer
Van Rhijn, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Koppers
Enoh, Eriksen, Anita
Ozbiliz, De Jong, Aissati
PSV

Tyton
Hutchison, Marcelo, Bouma, Pieters
Wijnaldum, Toivonen, Strootman
Lens, Matavz, Mertens

Ajax head coach Frank de Boer will be without several first team regulars due to injury as Nicolai Boilesen, Gregory van der Wiel, Miralem Sulejmani, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Derk Boerrigter are all unavailable.Additionally, midfielder Theo Janssen won't feature on Sunday either due to a one-match ban.

PSV trainer Phillip Cocu doesn't have too many injury worries ahead of Sunday's encounter as defender Abel Tamata is the only player with physical problems.Back-up shot stopper Andreas Isaksson is expected to return to the match squad after a brief injury lay-off, while Stanislav Manolev is back from suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Ajax are on a six-game unbeaten run in the Eredivisie.
  • The Amsterdam side have lost only one home match in the league in 2011-12.
  • Jan Vertonghen has already netted seven Eredivisie goals this term, more than any other defender in the Dutch top tier.
  • PSV have not won a single Eredivisie game away from home in 2012.
  • The Eindhoven giants have not kept a clean sheet once in their last 18 official games.
  • Dries Mertens (pictured right) is the Eredivisie's most valuable player at the moment with 18 goals and 11 assists.
Prediction
The home side have won their last five Eredivisie games, whereas PSV managed to win only two out of their last five league encounters. Therefore, Ajax start the match at the Amsterdam ArenA as clear favourites. The Eindhoven giants won't be pushovers though as they can not afford to lose in order to keep their title ambitions alive. Nevertheless, their poor defence could cost them on Sunday as they are unlikely to shut out the Ajax attack.
Editor's Prediction
Ajax 2-1 PSV