28.08.2010. Tiket top lige

13:45 Blackburn Rovers - Arsenal                                         GG

16:00 Tottenham Hotspur(-1) - Wigan Athletic                    H1

16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Newcastle United     GG

16:00 Chelsea(-2) - Stoke City                                                H1

16:00 Blackpool - Fulham                                                        0-2

18:00 Udinese - Genoa                                                           2-3

18:00 Hercules - Athletic Bilbao                                             0-2

18:30 Manchester United(-2) - West Ham United               H1

20:00 Malaga - Valencia                                                          0-2

20:45 Roma(-1) - Cesena                                                       H1

22:00 Levante - Sevilla                                                             GG

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28.08. 2010. 20:00 Malaga - Valencia

Looking To Impress

Last term Malaga and Valencia were at opposite ends of the Primera Division spectrum, but with a fresh season comes a fresh start, and the two sides square off at the La Rosaleda on an equal footing for one week at least.

It took the Andalucians until the final day of last term to secure their place in La Liga this time around. Going into the season’s dramatic finale, Malaga found themselves occupying 18th spot, yet a heroic 1-1 draw with Real Madrid kept Juan Muniz’s side safe.

Los Boquerones may have booked their place in the top flight for this campaign, but it was not enough to save the 41-year-old’s job, and in mid-June he parted from the club to be replaced by former Porto boss Jesualdo Ferreira.

The appointment of such a big name coach is indicative of the direction Malaga are heading this term. Subject to a takeover from Qatari Sheikh Abdullah Ben Nasser Al-Thani in the summer, the Andalusians have received a significant injection of funds, and though no especially big name players have been captured thus far, they are evidently a side on the up.

Fending off relegation remains their main aim this term, and to that end even a point from this tough opener would certainly not be sniffed at.

Shrugging Of Big Losses

It was seen by many last season that Champions League football this term was essential for the long-term well-being of Valencia. Los Che finished third in La Liga and booked their place amongst Europe’s elite, yet despite that commendable success this would still be the summer when they finally lost David Villa and David Silva. The two stars have long been courted by some of Europe’s top sides, and when Barcelona and Manchester City came calling there was finally no resisting.

A number of additional players have also haemorrhaged by los Che, including Alexis, Nikola Zigic and Carlos Marchena, though the arrivals of Roberto Soldado, Mehmet Topal and Aritz Aduriz will act to balance these losses out.

Also plying their trade at the Mestalla next term will be a trio of men who featured for Ligue 1 teams last season, the pick of whom will be Alberto Costa, a playmaker who led minnows Montpellier to Europe in their first season following promotion.

On balance, it would be something of a surprise if los Che were to prove quite the force they were with Villa, Silva, et al, though David Albelda has high ambitions.

“The loss of Villa and Silva will not disrupt the objectives of our club,” he boldly stated to the press. “We must be cautious, and not think we will win everything. One of the objectives will be to cut the gap to Barcelona and Real Madrid in the standings.”

Los Che may not "win everything", but if they are to keep better pace with the duopoly who have control of the table’s summit, this game should be considered must win.

TEAM NEWS

Malaga

Jesualdo Ferreira’s competitive debut in the home dugout comes in the aftermath of the news that Duda will miss the opening two months of the season due to a pubis operation he has undergone.

Helder Rosario and Javier Malagueno are missing too.

There is some positive news as Patrick Mtiliga is back training with the first team, and Apono is available too, though he has only returned after a problem picked up at the start of pre-season.

Probable Starting XI: Galatto; Gamez, Gonzalez, Weligton, Mtiliga; Eliseu, Sandro Silva, Fernando, Owusu-Abeyie; Fernandez, Rondon

Valencia

Roberto Soldado enjoyed a terrific season for Getafe, but he’ll have to wait to get off the mark with los Che as he’ll miss a couple of weeks of action due to a hamstring injury.

Miguel has a bruised ankle but should be passed fit, while Angel Dealbert has a facial knock but could also be able to feature prominently.

Probable Starting XI: Sanchez; Miguel, Dealbert, Navarro, Mathieu; Albelda, Banega; Hernandez, Costa, Mata; Aduriz

Prediction

It’s the beginning of a new era for both sides, and this opening day encounter could set the tone. Both fixtures last season ended 1-0 in favour of Valencia, and this match is liable to end up close too. The new wave of optimism that has engulfed Malaga may be enough to drive them to a fine opening day point, but an away win is likelier.

Malaga 0-1 Valencia

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28.08. 16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Newcastle United

Looking to continue impressive start

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United approach Saturday's Premier League clash both in good spirits having both won in their midweek League Cup fixtures.

Wolves will hope to carry on their impressive start to the season, which has included a victory at home to Stoke City and last week's 1-1 draw away at Everton. Mick McCarthy's side  also won a midweek League Cup tie 2-1 after extra time against Southend United.

The midlands side's last Premier League fixture was surrounded with controversy as both managers argued that the other side’s goal could and should have been disallowed; Wolves trailed 1-0 following Tim Cahill’s strike but levelled with 15 minutes to go thanks to a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake strike.

Building on huge victory

Newcastle will be in a buoyant mood following last Sunday’s 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa, which included a hat-trick for England under-21 international Andy Carroll.

A much changed Magpies side also won a midweek League Cup fixture 3-2 against Accrington Stanley.

Newcastle will be hoping their form can continue to pick up their first away victory since their return to the Premier League following their opening day loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Don't get too excited though: Wolves and Newcastle last faced each other in the 2003-04 season with both matches ending in a 1-1 draw.

TEAM NEWS

Wolverhampton

Wolves made a number of changes for their midweek tie with Southend United and are expected to return to largely the same team that drew with Everton last weekend.

However manager Mick McCarthy will be able to partner summer signing Steven Fletcher with last season’s top scorer Kevin Doyle for the first time.

Possible Starting XI: Hahnemann; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Elokobi; Foley, Henry, Jones, Jarvis; Doyle, Fletcher.

Newcastle United

Newcastle made 11 changes for their midweek tie with Accrington Stanley but will revert to largely the same team that beat Aston Villa last Sunday, including a return for hat trick hero Andy Carroll.

Ryan Taylor is making a strong claim for a place in the starting line up having scored the opener against Accrington Stanley.

Possible starting XI: Harper; Taylor, Williamson,  Coloccini, Jose Enrique; Routledge , Smith, Barton, Gutiérrez; Nolan, Carroll.

Prediction
Wolves 1-1 Newcastle

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28.08. 13:45 Blackburn Rovers - Arsenal

Battle of styles in a classic culture clash
Among the sides that Arsenal fans particularly love their team to beat, any managed by Sam Allardyce figure fairly high on the list.
The ‘Big Sam’ caricature beloved by some media types cuts little ice with Gooners, many of whom regard the Blackburn Rovers boss as the disciple of destruction compared with their own Arsene Wenger, the presumed apostle of the aesthetic.
It’s an unashamedly biased view, and one which adds to Allardyce’s delight when he succeeds in ruffling Arsenal’s feathers – something he has managed to do more than most. Indeed, as recently as May, Blackburn’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Ewood Park finally killed any lingering hope the Gunners entertained of finishing in the top two.

The absence of bonhomie between Allardyce and Wenger was again in evidence after that match when the Frenchman accused Rovers of unfair tactics and was critical of referee Martin Atkinson  for not providing his players – especially goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski - with greater protection. It is a recurring theme: Wenger was frequently disparaging of Bolton Wanderers’ perceived overly-aggressive approach when Allardyce managed the Trotters.

And ahead of this Saturday lunchtime’s latest clash between the two protagonists, Wenger took the opportunity to warn referees that they need to take action against the growth of ‘rugby’ tactics in football, especially where the blocking of goalkeepers is concerned. He added that he accepts and respects that all opponents play to their own strengths, which means that some will emphasise the long ball and a physical game. He can be reasonably confident that on Saturday, that’s what will be awaiting his team. But he is hoping that the officials will ensure that all is kept within the laws of the game.

Allardyce will no doubt regard that as special pleading and instruct his players to hustle Arsenal out of their elegant stride; he knows that if they allow the Gunners the time and space to dictate, they could be sliced wide open.

Scare tactics
The Rovers boss is looking to his team to maintain their good home form. They lost just three times at Ewood Park last season, and began this term by beating Everton 1-0 at home.

But a Birmingham City side inspired by ‘keeper Ben Foster beat Rovers 2-1 last weekend, much to the annoyance of Allardyce - who insists that, having beaten Norwich City 3-1 at home in the League Cup in midweek, Rovers should be entertaining Arsenal as an undefeated side.

He feels the fact that they aren’t puts more pressure on Rovers, though he told his club’s website: "But it is Ewood, we can scare them and hopefully we can scare them enough on Saturday to get a result again."

As for the visitors, they are more likely to be focused than frightened, as they know they cannot afford to drop points given Chelsea's soaring start to the season. The Gunners are unbeaten, having followed up a 1-1 draw at Liverpool by giving new boys Blackpool a sobering introduction to the realities of Premier League life in the form of a 6-0 thrashing. Few at the Emirates are likely to have been fooled by that performance, though. A much sterner test of their mettle lies in store at Ewood.

For while Blackburn are seeking their 1,000th win in top-flight football, Arsenal are without an away win since a last-minute Nicklas Bendtner goal gave them a 2-1 victory at Hull City on March 13.

This will be the 116th meeting between Blackburn and Arsenal in all competitions; the Gunners have won 56 of those matches, compared to Rovers’ 29 – but Rovers ended a seven-game winless streak against the Londoners when they won 2-1 in May. On that day a 13th minute Robin van Persie opener was cancelled out by goals from David Dunn two minutes before the break and Christopher Samba 22 minutes after it.Blackburn Rovers

Vince Grella and Pascal Chimbonda came through Tuesday's League Cup win over Norwich unscathed, while French defender Gael Givet suffered a mouth injury late on in that game but isn’t expected to be sidelined as a result.

However, David Dunn may miss out again with a groin problem, and fellow midfielder Keith Andrews is also nursing a groin injury. Both are considered to be doubtful starters. Striker Mame Biram Diouf could be given the chance to feature by Allardyce following his League Cup hat-trick in midweek.

Possible Starting XI: Robinson; Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet; El-Hadji Diouf, Jones, Olsson, Pedersen; Nzonzi, Kalinic.

Arsenal

Denilson is back in the Arsenal squad after recovering from an abdominal injury; if he features it will be his first appearance this season.

Samir Nasri (knee), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (broken leg) are all ruled out, while central defenders Johan Djourou (probably) and new signing Sebastien Squillaci (definitely) will not be involved. Apart from that, though, Wenger has a full squad to choose from.

Another centre-half, Laurent Koscielny, has completed his one-match suspension, while Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are available after starting their pre-season training late following the World Cup final. Both came on as substitutes against Blackpool and could start against Blackburn. If they do there will be intense competition for starting berths among the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere, Denilson and Marouane Chamakh. That should make for a strong bench…

Possible starting XI: Almunia; Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Clichy; Rosicky, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin; Van Persie, Chamakh.

Prediction

Blackburn 1-2 Arsenal 

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