03.02. (Sun) 20:45 Milan - Udinese

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AC MILAN
Abbiati
Abate, Bonera, Zapata, Constant
Flamini, Montolivo, Boateng
Niang, Pazzini, El Shaarawy

UDINESE
Padelli
Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi, Pasquale
Basta, Pinzi, Allan, Lazzari
Muriel
Di Natale

Regardless of the result on Sunday, in years to come the last seven days will always be remembered for the signing of Mario Balotelli.

The arrival of the former Inter man was a timely and symbolic reminder that AC Milan still have the ambition and allure to attract players of the highest quality to San Siro, at a time when many supporters feared quite the opposite.

Balotelli is likely to start on the bench for the Rossoneri, which means Giampaolo Pazzini will be handed the opportunity to continue his run of three goals in his last three Serie A appearances.

Udinese welcome back Mehdi Benatia from AFCON duty, with the defender set to go straight into the starting XI, while Luis Muriel should partner Antonio Di Natale upfront.

DID YOU KNOW?

AC Milan have won six of their last seven league games at San Siro.

The Rossoneri splashed out a reported €22 million on Mario Balotelli on Tuesday as they bid to continue their rise up the Serie A table.

Massimiliano Allegri's side go into the game sat in fifth spot in the league table and only three points adrift of arch-rivals Inter.

Udinese finished third last season but have been inconsistent this term and sit in ninth place ahead of Sunday's trip to San Siro.

Antonio Di Natale now has 14 goals for the campaign at the grand age of 35-years-old.
The Zebrette were 2-1 winners in the first meeting between the two sides back in September.

Prediction
Buoyed by the signing of Mario Balotelli and riding high on the back of six wins in their last seven home games, AC Milan should have enough to run out winners at San Siro on Sunday.
Editor's Prediction
Milan 2-0 Udinese

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03.02. (Sun) 19:30 Burkina Faso - Togo

PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOGO
Agassa
Bossou, Nibombe, Akakpo, Mamah
Djene, Amewou, Wome, Ayite
Adebayo, Gakpe

BURKINA FASO
Soulama
Kone, Koulibally, Pananteguirui, K Sanou
Kabore, D. Kone, Pitroipa,
Bance, Dagano

The Hawks of Togo will battle it out with the Stallions of Burkina Faso at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit as both countries eye a semi-final berth in the ongoing 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

These two west African countries have laboured in the history of the tournament with Burkina Faso's best being their fourth-place finish on home soil in 1998 and they held the country with the longest run in the tournament (17 games) without a win until they broke that jinx against Ethiopia with an emphatic 4-0 win.

Togo on the other hand are in the quarter-final of the tournament for the first time in seven appearances and this crunch encounter promises nothing than fireworks.

This is the first time they are locking horns in the history of the tournament despite the fact that they were billed to face each other in Group B of the 2010 edition in Angola, but the Togolese withdrew after gunmen attacked their team bus in Cabinda on the outskirts of Angola which saw some of their players losing their lives.

As far as this tournament is concerned, both countries have served fans and spectators with delightful attacking football laced with quick counter-attack, however, the side which will prove resolute at the back will have the urge. Burkina who have conceded just one goal look very solid in defence with the likes of Olympique Lyonnais centre-back Bakary Kone, Saidou Panantedegurui, Paul Koulibally and Mohammed Koffi.

They are yet to face a team with a well drilled attacking force like Togo. The men between the sticks will be very crucial in the game with Togo's shot-stopper Kossi Agassa who is arguably the best in the tournament and his opposite number Soulama Abdoulaye who was superb in the first game against Nigeria until he slipped in the game against Ethiopia. Serge Gakpe, Dove Wome, Jonathan Ayite and skipper Adebayor will be the key men to lead the Hawks to fly high whilst the presence of Jonathan Pitroipa, Charles Kabore, Kone and Djakaridja Kone will be very crucial if the Stallions are to make it to the semis for the second time in their history.

DID YOU KNOW?
Togo have not lost to Burkina Faso in their last four games dating back to 1999.

The all-time games record between them are as follows: played 19, Togo won nine, drew six, lost four, Burkina won four, draw six, lost nine.

Burkina Faso coach Paul Put was banned three years in Belgium by the FA for his involvement in the Ye-Zheyun match fixing scandal.

The nickname Les Etalons, which means “The Stallions” of the Burkinabe team is in reference to the legendary horse of Princess Yennega.

Three of the first 11 players of the Togolese national team are either from different countries or of mixed race (Alexys Romao - Brazilian Togolese. Emmanuel Adebayor -Nigerian, Jonathan Ayite - Ghanaian Togolese).
The last time both countries met was in a friendly in 2012 where Togo won 3-0 at the Stade Municipal.

Prediction
This crunch game will witness a lot of physical attack. Both goalkeepers will have a lot to do which includes organising their backlines. A one all draw is the likely results after 120 minutes of football of which the game will be decided by the lottery of penalties.
Editor's Prediction
Burkina Faso 1-1 Togo

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03.02. (Sun) 19:00 Valencia - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA
Alves
Pereira, Rami, Ruiz, Cissokho
Albelda, T Costa
Piatti, Banega, Guardado
Soldado

BARCELONA
Valdes
Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba
Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas
Pedro, Messi, Villa

Valencia forward Roberto Soldado has returned to training following a thigh injury and could start Sunday’s encounter against Barcelona at Mestalla.
However, Dani Parejo (hand) and Jonas (thigh) are unlikely to feature, while Nelson Valdez (calf) is a minor doubt.

Left-back Jeremy Mathieu has recovered from his ankle injury but will not be involved, while winger Sofiane Feghouli has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations and may start on the bench.

Barcelona welcome back Gerard Pique after he missed last weekend’s 5-1 win over Osasuna through suspension.

Striker Isaac Cuenca will play no part after he was loaned out to Ajax on transfer deadline day.

DID YOU KNOW?

Valencia have won four of their last five Liga matches.

Los Che have lost their last three encounters against Barcelona by an aggregate score of 8-1.

Valencia’s last home win over Barca was a 3-2 success in the Copa del Rey in March 2008.

Barcelona have won just two of their last five games in all competitions.

With 71 goals scored in their 21 Liga matches, the Catalans possess the most potent attack in La Liga.

Lionel Messi has scored in a record 11 consecutive Liga games.

Prediction
Barcelona played well against Real Madrid on Wednesday and will be in confident mood heading into the weekend. Valencia did well to beat Deportivo La Coruna after an erratic defensive display in the 5-0 hammering at the hands of Real, but they are weakened by the absence of some key personnel.
Editor's Prediction
Valencia 1-2 Barcelona

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03.02. (Sun) 17:30 Bayer Leverkusen - Borussia D.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LEVERKUSEN
Leno
Carvajal, Wollscheid, Toprak, Boenisch
Bender, Reinartz, Rolfes
Castro, Kiessling, Schurrle

DORTMUND
Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer
Gundogan, Kehl
Blaszczykowski, Gotze, Reus
Lewandowski

Both teams come into this fixture with a minimum of injuries. For Leverkusen, the only notable absence is young attacker Karim Bellarabi.

Sebastian Boenisch is expected to continue on the left-hand side of defence ahead of Michal Kadlec.

Meanwhile, Felipe Santana will deputise for Neven Subotic at the heart of the Dortmund defence once again, as the Serbian continues his road back to full fitness from a hamstring injury.

Patrick Owomoyela remains sidelined. Nuri Sahin will have to continue his wait for a first Bundesliga start since returning to the club, while Sven Bender will also start on the bench.

DID YOU KNOW?

Leverkusen are currently unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga this season, and have won their last five BayArena clashes.

What's more, they have only lost two of their last 16 games. Ominously, these both came on a Sunday afternoon.

Werkself midfielder Lars Bender could face his twin brother Sven in the centre of the park on Sunday. The Leverkusen man has never beaten his sibling.

Dortmund have only lost one of their last 11 games against Leverkusen - a 2-0 home reverse on the opening day of the 2010-11 season.

Robert Lewandowski has scored 12 Bundesliga goals this season. Only Stefan Kiessling, his opposite number on Sunday, has scored more.

Jakub 'Kuba' Blaszczykowski has provided eight assists this season, his personal best-ever tally.

Prediction
These two teams are certainly capable of providing one thing-goals. Both have been in exceptional form of late, and led by Kiessling and Lewandowski, have provided some extraordinarily exciting matches. Dortmund probably possess more quality, but Leverkusen's strong home record could deny them another victory.
Editor's Prediction
Leverkusen 2-2 Dortmund

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03.02. (Sun) 17:00 Manchester City - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER CITY
Hart
Zabaleta, Nastasic, Lescott, Clichy
Barry, Garcia
Milner, Silva, Aguero
Dzeko

LIVERPOOL
Reina
Wisdom, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson
Henderson, Lucas
Suarez, Gerrard, Sterling
Sturridge

The game is likely to have come too soon for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (calf), while the same can be said about Micah Richards (knee) who is edging closer to a return.

Brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure remain on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast, meaning Roberto Mancini is unlikely to make too many changes.

Phillip Coutinho could feature from the bench on Sunday after completing his switch from Inter whilst Jose Reina (hip) is set to continue in goal after returning against Arsenal in midweek.

Andre Wisdom will probably continue at right-back despite the probable return of Jose Enrique, with Glen Johnson filling in at left-back despite his battles with a hamstring strain.

Martin Kelly (knee) is a long-term absentee, and is only expected back at the end of March.

DID YOU KNOW?

Manchester City have won two and lost just one of their last eight Premier League meetings with Liverpool, with five of those ending in a draw.
City have kept six clean sheets in succession in all competitions for the first time since August 1999.

Mancini's side are five points and 18 goals worse off than they were at this point last season.

Edin Dzeko is 5/1 to score the first goal in the game with bet365.
Luis Suarez is integral to Liverpool's goal output - he has 22 in all competitions, and his nearest team-mate is Steven Gerrard with just six.
Liverpool are the most accurate long passers in the Premier League this season (69%).

Steven Gerrard is the only midfielder or striker to play every minute of every Premier League game this season.

Liverpool have scored in their last 11 Premier League games, only Man Utd (12) are on a longer current run.

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