28. 09. 2010. Championship Preview

Burnley v Hull
Only one of the last 15 meetings between these two sides have ended in a draw.
Burnley won both of their Premier League meetings against Hull City last season.
Graham Alexander netted four of Burnley's six goals against Hull last term, three of them from the penalty spot.
Burnley are unbeaten at home this season in the Championship, winning three and drawing once.
Hull have collected just three points and scored three goals in their four away games in the league this term.


Cardiff v Crystal Palace
Three of the last four meetings between these two sides in Cardiff have ended in a draw.
Palace have not won any of their last eight games against the Bluebirds.
Cardiff have won their last three league game at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Palace have lost all four of their league games away from home this term, failing to score in all three.


Coventry v Doncaster
The away side have failed to find the net in the last five encounters between these two teams.
Four of the last five games between Coventry and Doncaster have ended in a 1-0 home win, with the other finishing 0-0.
The Sky Blues have picked up just one win from their last five league matches.
Doncaster have not scored for two league games in succession.


Derby v Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough have won six of their last seven matches against Derby County, drawing the other 2-2.
Derby last won a home game against Boro in December 1998, failing to win their last five games against them as hosts.
Derby's 5-0 win at the weekend was their first in their last seven league matches.
Middlesbrough have collected just one point from their four away games in the Championship this term.


Leeds United v Preston
Leeds are unbeaten in their last eight home games against Preston, last losing at Elland Road against them in September 1961.
The last two meetings between Preston and Leeds have seen eight goals scored.
Leeds have won all of their last three league matches at Elland Road.
Preston's 2-1 victory over Coventry at the weekend ended a run of four successive league defeats.


Norwich v Leicester
Leicester have won just once in their last eight encounters with Norwich City.
Norwich City have failed to find the net in their last 192 minutes of football against the Foxes.
Norwich failed to score in a league game for the first time this season at the weekend.
Leicester have picked up just one point from their opening four league games away from home this term; losing their last 1-6 at Portsmouth.


Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United
There have been just two goals scored in the last four matches between these two sides.
Four of the last six games between Forest and the Blades have ended in a draw.
Billy Davies' side are unbeaten in their last seven league games, but have drawn five of these.
Sheffield United have netted only four goals in their eight league games this season.


Portsmouth v Bristol City
The home side have failed to find the net in four of the last five meetings between these two teams.
Bristol City are unbeaten in their last eight league matches against Portsmouth, with Pompey's last league win over City coming back in April 1992.
After scoring just two goals in their opening seven league games this season, Portsmouth hit six against Leicester in their last match alone.
Bristol City have won three more points on their travels (4) this season than at home (1).


Scunthorpe v Barnsley
Scunthorpe won two and drew one of their three encounters with Barnsley last season.
Barnsley last defeated Scunthorpe away from home in September 1978, losing two and drawing one of their last three visits.
The Iron have won just once in their four league games at home so far this term.
Barnsley have one only one of their last four league games.


Watford v Swansea
Only one of the last 10 games between these two sides has ended in a draw.
Watford have lost just one of their last five home games against the Swans - this coming last season; 0-1.
Brendan Rodgers will be facing his former club for the second time in his managerial career, the other occasion ended in a 1-1 draw whilst he was in charge of Reading.
Watford have won their last three league games; scoring 11 goals in the process.
Swansea City have lost all four of their away games in the league this season.


QPR v Millwall
Three of the last four London derbies between these two sides have ended in a draw.
Millwall have not won a London derby against QPR since 1989, a run of eight games without victory.
QPR have kept a clean sheet in all but one of their eight league games this term.
Millwall have not won any of their last four league games, losing their last two.


Reading v Ipswich
Reading are unbeaten in their last four games against Ipswich, winning three and drawing one.
Three of the last five games between these two sides in Reading have ended in a 1-1 draw.
Reading have lost just once in their last seven league matches.
Ipswich have only been defeated in one of their eight league games this term so far.

Read More

Tiket 28.09.2010.

Roma - CFR 1907 Kluž	1	1.40
Čelzi - Olimpik Marsej	3+	1.58
Okser - Real	2	1.58
Ajaks - Milan	3+	1.85
Soccer		7.36

Read More

28.09. (Tue) 20:45 Ajax - Milan

Kickstarting The European Campaign

Dutch powerhouse and former four-time European champions Ajax's first appearance in the Champions League in five years ended in bitter disappointment on Matchday One last month as they were turned over again and again by Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

The 2-0 scoreline is actually a less harsh portrayal of the true picture in the Spanish capital as Martin Jol's side managed just eight shots, out of which one was on target. Admittedly, striker Luis Suarez and centre-back was Jan Vertonghen were.absent for the trip to Spain but the defeat exhibited that de Godenzonen are prone to struggling without their big stars.

But both Suarez and Vertonghen are back for Ajax's home match against Milan on Tuesday evening and this will considerably strengthen their chances of collecting their first points of the season in Europe. Ajax have been in sensational form at home in the Dutch Eredivsie, having won three games out of three at the Amsterdam Arena, and will be eager to maintain that winning run in Europe too.

However, the current league leaders were held to a 2-2 draw at the weekend by Dutch champions FC Twente and coach Jol is wary of the task ahead, saying, "Milan have plenty of class in each area, especially in attack, although the defence is solid as well."

Taking The Bull By The Horns

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi would tell you that the Rossoneri have the European Cup in their DNA and although given their transgression since 2007 when they last won the Champions League you might be tempted to release a giggle, you may just have to suppress that since indeed the Italians are the masters of Europe.

With seven European Cups Milan are the second most successful club in Champions League history and will travel to Amsterdam to take on Ajax with hope and optimism. The Rossoneri's start to the continent's biggest club football competition wasn't exactly impressive but the stuttering 2-0 win means that they do have three points in their bag in a group that also comprises of Real Madrid and Auxerre.

However, Milan's current form is far from austere and their away record in all competitions this campaign is poor. The Diavolo's narrow and somewhat less than impressive 1-0 win against Genoa on Saturday was their first in Serie A since the opening weekend of the league season and they have yet to win away from the San Siro this campaign.

Nevertheless, it will be a special occasion for Milan and also for duo Clarence Seedorf and Zlatan Ibrahimovic who played for Ajax in their respective careers. Looking ahead to his return to the club he conquered Europe with in 1995, Seedorf says, "For me, it is really special at this stage of my career to be able to go back to Ajax again. I hope the feelings are mutual."

But the Dutch veteran warns, "They will have learned from their mistakes against Madrid. I am really curious to see how they will play against us. I hope that it will be a great match."



TEAM NEWS

Ajax

Midfielders Rasmus Lindgren and Eyong Enoh are available for the clash as they have been passed fit. Jol will also have striker Luis Suarez and defender Vertonghen back from suspension.

However, Teemu Tainio looks likely to be out and Evander Sno is recovering after heart surgery. Kenneth Vermee and Nicolas Lodeiro are long-term injury concerns.

Milan

Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is suffering from muscular fatigue and could be given a rest against Ajax, latest reports suggest. Alexandre Pato and Massimo Ambrosini remain out with respective injuries.

Playmaker Ronaldinho could be dropped to the bench too as the Brazilian has struggled with poor form so far this season.

Prediction

Ajax may have convincingly lost to Real Madrid in their opening game in the competition but they are very strong at the Amsterdam Arena where they have won all their league fixtures so far this season. However, taking on Milan will be a different proposition and winning is not very probable. A scoring draw is likely especially as the Rossoneri's fragile backline means that they could easily concede goals.

Ajax 2-2 Milan

Read More

28.09. (Tue) 20:45 Auxerre - Real

Not Worried
When the draw was made for the group stages of the Champions League, it was clear that Auxerre faced an uphill task in a group with Milan, Real Madrid and Ajax, but after equipping themselves well in their opening game, Jean Fernandez’s side will hold out hope of claiming a big scalp, and they don’t get any greater than los Merengues.

After defeating big-spending Zenit St Petersburg in the play-off round at home, AJA received widespread acclaim for their performance, but the Burgundy club have struggled domestically, picking up five draws and two defeats in their opening seven Ligue 1 fixtures. At home against Nancy on Saturday, Dennis Oliech shot AJA into a 2-0 lead, but they were pegged back before the interval and couldn’t kick again in the second half.

Against Jose Mourinho’s Madrid they face an even tougher task, though Fernandez is clearly treating the Champions League as bonus matches. “While I'm not worried about Tuesday's game against Real Madrid, I am concerned about the rest of our league season,” he explained to the press on Saturday evening, flagging up weaknesses in his previously impervious defence as cause for particular anxiety.

Facing Milan at San Siro in their group opener, Auxerre were expected to toil but gave an excellent account of themselves en route to a 2-0 defeat. On several occasions in the first half the French side could and perhaps should have forged a lead, giving their Spanish rivals enough to think about ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.

Goal Shy

Unbeaten under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho to date, Real Madrid have yet to seriously impress since the Portuguese coach took over, with a scoreless draw at the weekend away to newly promoted Levante allowing Barcelona to take the initiative once again in the race for the Primera Division crown.

In five domestic affairs, Madrid, with their expensively assembled offensive arsenal, have managed to find the net on only six occasions, and though they have leaked only once, Mourinho has confessed that a lack of cutting edge is starting to worry him.

“I am concerned that no goals have materialised given the amount of attacking football and the opportunities we have had. It is not normal to need so many opportunities,” ‘Mou’ commented after seeing his side shut out for the second time this term.

Los Blancos’ best performance of the season to date arguably came against Ajax in the Champions League, and even on that evening in the Bernabeu they could only conjure a 2-0 victory thanks to an own goal and a 71st minute strike from Gonzalo Higuain.

Mourinho is set to shuffle his pack in France as he attempts to find a goal scoring solution. Karim Benzema is primed for an offensive role against AJA, with the profligate Higuain dropping to the bench. If this solution fails to work, the Portuguese will be left with further questions to answer.

TEAM NEWS

Auxerre

Ireneusz Jelen, AJA’s predatory Polish forward, missed out at the weekend due to a knee problem and was a serious doubt to feature on Tuesday evening. However, Fernandez has been able to name one of his showpiece players in his squad.

Meanwhile, Anthony Le Tallec is absent because of a broken ankle, while promising young forward Yaya Sanogo is another long-term absentee.

The news that Jeremy Berthod is fit to return to the squad is countered significantly by that of Jean-Pascal Mignot’s adductor problems, which will keep him out.

Real Madrid
Pedro Leon has been overlooked by Jose Mourinho, despite a good cameo performance at the weekend.

Fernando Gago and Raul Albiol have been training lightly but are not involved as they are still fighting to overcome injury, while Sergio Canales, Ezequiel Garay and Kaka all remain on the sidelines.

Prediction

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid may have been misfiring, but not so much as Auxerre have been struggling. AJA will certainly raise their game to meet los Blancos, but an early goal from the guests could spark the kind of rout that a side with so many world class players always threatens. Even if los Merengues toil in the first half, they should be able to negotiate their way to a success in the style of Milan a fortnight ago.

AJ Auxerre 1-2 Real Madrid

Read More

28.09. (Tue) 20:45 Basel - Bayern Munchen

Special Match
In a group containing Roma and Bayern Munich, Basel would have seen it as imperative that their Champions League campaign got off to a positive start against Cluj a fortnight ago. Thorsten Fink’s side would lose 2-1 in Romania, heaping pressure on them at home against last season’s runners-up on Tuesday.

Fink, himself a former FCB stalwart, has been nevertheless bullish about the prospects for his side ahead of the midweek fixture. “Anything is possible. We have a very experienced team and if Bayern don't give 100 per cent then we can beat them,” he told UEFA’s official website, not underestimating the abilities of the Bundesliga club in the slightest. “Last term they just missed out on the Champions League, but this season they can win it. They have to be among the hot favourites.”

Die Roten are a side closely followed in the Basel area of Switzerland, and Marco Streller believes this simply means this is a match to relish all the more. “I believe that most people maintain a kind of love-hate relationship to Bayern Munich,” the striker told his side’s official website before praising the Bavarian club. “You realise if you're in the football business, how incredibly nicely and professionally this club is run - Uli Hoeness has made it one of the best brands in the world.”

A bright start to the Swiss Super League season has been followed by a longer fallow period, in which Basel have won only twice from their last six matches. Samuel Inkoom, Streller (twice) and young gun Valentin Stocker were all on target at the weekend as the Swiss champions thumped FC Zurich 4-1 to regain some valuable confidence ahead of the headline-making midweek clash.

Still Confident
Basel may not have made an ideal start to their domestic title defence, but neither have Bayern, slipping to ninth in the standings over the weekend as they suffered their second defeat in six Bundesliga matches.

Surprise league leaders Mainz were the side who picked FCB’s pocket of points at the Allianz Arena, claiming a thoroughly deserved 2-1 success against a surprisingly sluggish and ineffective home unit.

“The problem is that too many players underperformed,” Louis van Gaal lamented after the match, according to Kicker.

Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was quick to have his say on matters, indicating, “We have got to ensure that we turn the corner... The beautiful thing about football is that you can put things right again in three days time.”

A mediocre start to the season doesn’t have FC Hollywood wavering, however. On Monday they gave Van Gaal the ultimate vote of confidence by extending the Dutchman’s contract through until 2012.

Last year’s stunning run to the Champions League final is part of the reason behind Bayern’s confidence in their coach, and if such a feat can be replicated, the board will feel thoroughly vindicated, though they will be aiming to go one better this season. After a victory over Roma on the opening matchday, die Roten are on the right track.

TEAM NEWS

Basel
Jacques Zoua looks set to be the only Basel first team player to miss this match. The midfielder suffered a torn thigh muscle on international duty with Cameroon and is set to be sidelined until mid-October at the earliest.

Twenty-two-year-old defender Genseric Kusunga has shaken off a knee injury that has plagued him since the start of August and is fit again.

Bayern Munich
Louis van Gaal has a number of injury issues approaching the short trip to Switzerland, the freshest of which is Diego Contento, who will be absent for around six weeks after undergoing groin surgery following a problem picked up on Friday.

The most decisive problems come out wide, where Franck Ribery (ankle) and Arjen Robben (thigh) are both absent. It’s anticipated the former will be out for around a month, while Robben has yet to play this season and may not kick a ball in anger until 2011.

Teenager midfielder David Alaba will be missing for approximately six weeks with an ankle injury, but Breno is back training after sustaining knee ligament damage in March.

Prediction

Bayern have been seriously toiling going forward domestically, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Basel were to snatch a low scoring draw from this match. On the other hand, the visitors command a wealth of European know-how and should be good enough to break the home side down eventually if they try for the win. Whichever way this match goes, it’s likely to be tight.

Basel 1-1 Bayern Munich

Read More

28.09. (Tue) 20:45 Chelsea - Olympique Marseille

Losing That Winning Feeling

Chelsea entertain Ligue 1 champions Marseille in their second Champions League group phase fixture looking to get back on track following consecutive defeats to Newcastle United and Manchester City respectively.

While the last-gasp loss to the Magpies in the League Cup will have been viewed as a mere blemish following the Blues' pulsating start to the season, defeat to City in the Premier League on Saturday will have hurt Carlo Ancelotti and his side decidedly more.

Carlos Tevez's second half strike condemned the Blues to their first league defeat since April but with both Arsenal and Manchester United failing to pick up victory, the setback at Eastlands proved to be a hindrance rather than a disaster.

If anything the meeting with Marseille could not come any quicker with Ancelotti undoubtedly desperate to move forward and get back on the winning trail after the disappointments of the last seven days.

Having comfortably dispatched of MSK Zilina a fortnight ago, Chelsea sit pretty at the top of Group F and will be confident of maintaining their position of supremacy at Stamford Bridge against a Marseille side that have hardly been firing on all cylinders thus far this term.

Stamford Bridge Return

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps returns to his former stomping ground on Tuesday where defeat could see the French champions slip six points behind the top two qualification spots following the club's surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Spartak Moscow in their group stage opener.

After a stuttering start to the new domestic season that saw the Stade Velodrome outfit fail to win their opening two games following the penalty triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the French equivalent of the Community Shield, their most recent successive wins over Arles and Sochaux will have helped restore belief.

Deschamps spent six months under Ancelotti as a player while the Italian was in charge at Juventus but he will be all too aware that he faces a tough challenge to get the better of the former AC Milan boss when he takes his talented Marseille squad to west London on Tuesday evening.

TEAM NEWS

Chelsea

Didier Drogba misses out on the chance to face his former employers as he continues to serve a three-match ban following his sending off in the quarter-final defeat to Inter last season.

Salomon Kalou (hamstring) and Yossi Benayoun (calf) are also unavailable for selection and Ancelotti confirmed on Monday that he will once again not be able to call on the services of England midfielder Frank Lampard with the 32-year-old still struggling with a hernia problem.

Possible starting XI: Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Cole; Essien, Mikel, Ramires; Anelka, Sturridge, Malouda.

Marseille

Souleymane Diawara and Loic Remy returned for Marseille in their 2-1 victory over Sochaux on Saturday and Deschamps is likely to stick with a similar line-up at Stamford Bridge.

Remy replaced Andre Ayew in the second half on the weekend and, after he created the winning goal for Lucho Gonzalez, could come into the starting XI instead of the Ghana star.

Possible starting XI: Mandanda; Azpilicueta, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo; Remy, Cheyrou, Gonzalez, Cisse, Ayew; Gignac. 

Prediction

Chelsea 3-1 Marseille

Read More

28.09. (Tue) 20:45 Roma - CFR 1907 Cluj

A Fresh Start Beckons

Roma commenced the 2010-11 season amidst much expectations and optimism but so far their campaign has been anything but encouraging. The Giallorossi have been struggling in Serie A and with five points from five matches are third from bottom in the league standings.

Claudio Ranieri's side started the Champions League on the backfoot too as they went down 2-0 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. A defeat to last season's beaten finalists in the competition is not a matter of shame but Roma's performance on Matchday One was embarrassing for a club that has played attacking and attractive football for the past three or four seasons.

The catenaccio approach adopted by Ranieri didn't go down well with club legend Francesco Totti who complained, "We did not play football, we just thought about defending. We always had 10 men behind the ball, and I think that we cannot win games this way."

However, amidst such tension in the club there is reason to remain hopeful yet as Roma defeated Italian and European champions Inter at the weekend in Rome. Mirko Vucinic's injury time headed goal will have certainly injected a healthy dose of confidence in the Maggica and they will go to the game against Cluj as favourites.

Invoking The Past Spirits
Romanian champions Cluj paid a visit to the Stadio Olimpico two seasons ago in the Champions League and shocked Roma 2-1. The hero of that night was a certain Juan Emmanuel Culio who remains in the squad and will start on Tuesday evening.

Cluj will attempt to re-invoke the spirit of that famous night when they take on Roma and indeed will be confident. The Feroviarii defeated Basel 2-1 at home in their opening game of the Champions League on Matchday One and will know that maximum points or even a draw will be immensely helpful in pushing them towards qualification for the knockout rounds of Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Culio is relishing the clash with the Romans and looking ahead says, "What happened two years ago was a dream and I'm so happy that what I and the team did in that match is still remembered by many.

"I'm sure we are a stronger and much more experienced team than in 2008 and that we will be able to perform at least as well."

TEAM NEWS
Roma

The Italians are without first-choice goalkeeper Julio Sergio but left-back John Arne Riise has recovered his fitness and will start on Tuesday. Mirko Vucinic, who too is now 100% fit, could start against the Romanians, meaning that Ranieri may have to decide whether to field Totti from the start.

Cluj
Gabriel Muresan is in some doubt after he suffered a leg injury on Friday in a domestic fixture. He was substituted at half-time. Sasa Bjelanovic damaged his ankle in mid-August while playing against Astra Ploiesti.

Prediction

Roma are on a high after defeating Italian and European champions Inter on Saturday evening. The Lupi do have the quality to defeat Cluj and their rediscovered confidence will give them an extra edge. However, Ranieri will have to see that they do not become complacent and concede an early goal.

Roma 1-0 CFR Cluj

Read More

28.09. (Tue) 20:45 Sporting Braga - Shakhtar

Nothing To Braga About

When Braga defeated Sevilla to progress through to the Champions League group stages, the footballing public was impressed, so when the Portuguese runners-up were thumped at Arsenal on the opening matchday of pool competition there were immediately doubts cast over their ability to compete at the very top.

Domingos Paciencia’s side meet Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, and they certainly have a point to prove as they attempt to rebound from their joint heaviest ever defeat in UEFA competition.

Arsenal breached the defence of the Portuguese side six times without reply, and though Paciencia would ultimately label the Gunners as potential European champions, he was still taken aback by the loss.

“We could not have played any worse,” he told the media after the game. “I wish we could have finished the game at half-time and even then it still would have been a bad experience.

"This was not the image we wanted to give of Braga. We've only lost three points but it was a night to forget.”

Instead of reflecting upon that disastrous evening, os Arsenalistas will be focusing on the future against Shakhtar, which is a match they will feel they can win. “We can't play any worse than that,” the coach exclaimed, considering the forthcoming fixture.

In league action since their humiliating defeat at the Emirates Stadium, Braga have bounced back with a 2-2 draw against Pacos de Ferreira and a 3-1 victory over Naval. They will hope their positive trend continues on Tuesday.

Needing A Better Finishing Touch

While the hosts play with the knowledge that victory is virtually essential for them to keep their dreams of the knock-out stage alive, Shakhtar would probably welcome a point, having opened up with a 1-0 success over Partizan.

Darijo Srna scored the only goal of the encounter and was not pleased with the Ukrainian champions’ performance, which was characterised by sloppy finishing. On several occasions they might have added to their solitary strike, which arrived midway through the second half, but poor finishing meant the Croatian full-back’s intervention was crucial.

“We lacked precision when finishing,” wily coach Mircea Lucescu explained to the media after the game. "We have to be more aggressive and confident in the opposing penalty box."

On the domestic scene there have been few such problems for Shakhtar, who top the Ukrainian Premier League after 11 matches, having already contrived to score 21 goals for the loss of just five. Victories over Tavriya (4-1) and Metalist (2-1) suggest that the Moles are improving their knowledge of the route to goal, and they will certainly need to be more efficient when they meet wounded opponents in Portugal’s north this week.

TEAM NEWS

Braga

Elderson and Leandro Salino were both suspended for the opening match of Champions League action but they are eligible to return for this fixture.

In terms of injuries, Paciencia doesn’t have too many issues, though goalkeeper Quim is out until 2011 with an Achilles problem. Additionally, Alberto Rodriguez was absent at the weekend because of a thigh issue but is back and ready for action.

Mossoro made a successful return to the team against Pacos de Ferreira, scoring a goal as he made his comeback from a broken leg.

Shakhtar

Fernandinho is still absent with a broken leg picked up against Obolon in Shakhtar’s only league defeat this season. It is not anticipated that the Brazilian defender will return to action before the conclusion of the group stages.

Dmytro Chygrynskiy, meanwhile, isn’t included in a 23-man panel after pulling his hamstring at the end of August.

Prediction

Braga may have been thumped on the road by Arsenal, but their strength has always been their home form. Perfect at the Estadio Municipal in continental play this season, Domingos Paciencia’s men have also won 17 of their 18 home league games over the course of the last year. Shakhtar will have to be on top form to prevent the Portuguese gaining another victory, but if there are any nerves in the home ranks, the experienced Ukrainians can certainly take advantage.

Braga 2-1 Shakhtar

Read More

28.09. (Tue) 18:30 Spartak Moskva - MSK Zilina

Qualification's Now A Possibility
Spartak Moscow have been pitted in a group that comprises of Premier League champions and one of the favourites to win the Champions League Chelsea, Slovakian champions Zilina and French title holders Marseille. It will be tough for the Russians to progress from the group but they did make a winning start to their European campaign.

Spartak defeated Marseille 1-0 in France on Matchday One and the three points bagged away from home will certainly give them a huge boost. However, they didn't exactly look on top of their game that night as the Red-Whites did not manage a single shot on target - yet an own goal from Cesar Azpilicueta saw them through.

Spartak will be the favourites to win against Zilina in Moscow on Tuesday evening but they will need to be cautious as they have lost six and drawn five of their last 11 Champions League games at home. However, they have won their last two games in the competition after losing 22 Champions League games in a row.

Repairing The Damage

MSK Zilina's maiden Champions League campaign commenced as a nightmare when they were drubbed 4-1 by group favourites Chelsea in their opening match on Matchday One. The Slovakian champions were mauled from all angles at home and it was certainly a lesson taught to them.

Zilina are seen by many as the whipping boys in this group and after their dire performance against the Premier League giants there would have been more adding their name to that list. The Sosoni know that they will desperately need to raise their game to get anything in Moscow against Spartak.

Zilina are doing pretty well in the Slovakian top flight at the moment and have yet to lose in the league this season and coach Pavel Hapal believes that they can carry the momentum to this, saying, "We try to win every game and tomorrow's match against Spartak will be no exception, but we shall see how it goes."



TEAM NEWS

Spartak Moscow

Coach Valeri Karpin will be without Nikita Bazhenov, who is out with a thigh injury. Kirill Kombarov is unavailable too with an ankle problem. Nikola Drincic has recovered from a broken leg but he will have to wait before making his competitive debut for Spartak.

However, there is good news for the Russians as Nicolas Pareja returned to action at the weekend having recovered from a calf problem and could feature on Tuesday.

Cluj
The Slovaks have no injury or suspension worries. Hapal could stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation that he deployed against Chelsea.

Prediction

A win for Spartak looks likely given their away win on Matchday One and the fact that they are playing at home will add to their odds of defeating Zilina.

Spartak 2-0 MSK Zilina

Read More

28.-29. 09.2010. UEFA - Champions League preview matches

FC Basel v Bayern Munich
Basel have lost their last three Champions League matches on home soil.
Bayern's last nine Champions League away games have seen a total of 38 goals scored at an average of 4.2 per match.
Basel have only ever played German teams in European competition four times, losing twice and drawing twice.
Bayern's only completed European tie against a Swiss side came in 1987 when they best Neuchatel Xamax 3-2 over two legs.
Bayern drew a Basel side in the 1962/63 Fairs Cup and after losing the first leg 0-3 at home, the Swiss side withdrew from the competition allowing Bayern to progress.
Thomas Müller created more chances from open play in the opening group games than any other player in the competition (7).
Both these sides dominated possession in their opening matches, Basel with 71% of the ball against Cluj and Bayern with 74% possession versus Roma.


Roma v CFR Cluj
Roma met Cluj in the 2008-09 Champions League group stages and both sides won their away matches.
Roma have not drawn any of their last 13 Champions League matches.
The Italian side have won their last three Champions league home matches since losing to Cluj in September 2008.
Both Cluj and Roma were dominated in their opening games in terms of possession with Cluj enjoying just 29% against Basel and Roma logging only 26% versus Bayern.
If Cluj beat Roma they will have equalled the highest number of wins by a Romanian side in a Champions League group.
Roma have lost their opening Champions League group game in six of the nine Groups (including 2nd Stage) that they have participated in.
Roma fired in all of their shots on target in the game against Bayern (excluding blocked attempts).
Cluj posted the worst passing accuracy of any team in the opening matches, completing just 67% of passes.


Chelsea v Ol. Marseille
Chelsea have never lost a home Champions League match against a French side, winning two and drawing two.
Chelsea played Marseille in the 1999-2000 Champions League with both games ending 1-0 to the home side.
Inter's win at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League last 16 back in March ended a run of 21 games without defeat at home for the Blues.
Marseille have played four Champions League matches in England and all of them have been decided by a one-goal margin - the last three ending 1-0. Their only win in England was back in October 2007 when Mathieu Valbuena scored the only goal of the game at Anfield.
Chelsea have lost none of their last 20 Champions League group Stage matches at home since defeat to Besiktas in October 2003.
Chelsea have kept 14 clean sheets in their last 17 Champions League Group Stage matches at Stamford Bridge.
Marseille have lost 13 and won just two of their last 17 Champions League Group Stage matches away from home.
The French side posted the best crossing accuracy in the opening set of matches finding a team-mate with 39% of their crosses.


Spartak Moscow v MSK Zilina
The Russians have lost six and drawn five of their last 11 Champions League games on home soil, the joint-worst run without a win in the competition with AEK Athens (1993-2006).
Spartak & Zilina have never met in European competition.
Spartak Moscow didn't manage a single shot on target in their Champions League opener, the only team not to do so. Nevertheless, they still managed to beat Marseille thanks to an own goal by Cesar Azpilicueta (1-0).
After losing 22 Champions League games in a row, Spartak have won their last two in the competition.
Spartak are one of only four teams to win all six matches in a single Champions League Group Stage (1995-96).
Zilina only hit the target with 28% of their shots and only Ajax (13%) and Spartak (0%) posted worse figures on the opening matchday.


Ajax v AC Milan
Ajax have only won one of the last 13 European matches against Italian opposition (1-0 vs Fiorentina in February 2009).
Ajax and Milan have played eight times in European competition with the Dutch side winning three, drawing one and losing four.
Ajax have lost their last three games against AC Milan and the last two by a 0-1 scoreline.
Two of the eight meetings between Ajax and Milan have been in the European Cup final - Milan won in 1969 while Ajax won the trophy in 1995.
The Italian side have not won any of their last three Champions League games against Dutch sides.
Three of the last four defeats Ajax have suffered at home in the Champions League have come against Italian sides.
Ajax's last home game in the Champions League came in 2005-06 at home against Milan's big rivals Inter and ended as a 2-2 draw.
Martin Stekelenburg made 13 saves in Ajax's opening match, more than any other goalkeeper.


Auxerre v Real Madrid
Auxerre have played six matches against Spanish sides in European competition winning two, drawing two and losing two.
Real Madrid have only won two of their last nine Champions league games against French sides.
Auxerre and Real Madrid have never met in European competition.
There have only been eight goals scored in Auxerre's seven Champions League home matches.
Real Madrid have kept just two clean sheets in their last 16 Champions League away game.
The Spanish side mustered 35 shots in their opening game against Ajax, more than any other team in the opening games.
Cristiano Ronaldo fired in 11 shots during Real Madrid's game against Ajax, the joint-most of any player on the opening Matchday.
Ireneusz Jelen of Auxerre was caught offside six times against Milan, more times than any other player on Match Day 1.


Partizan Belgrade v Arsenal
Arsenal's only previous encounter with a Serbian team was when they lost over two legs to Red Star Belgrade in the 1978-79 UEFA Cup.
Arsenal have won only one of their last nine Champions League away games (3-2 vs Standard Liège).
The Gunners have gone 12 Champions League games on the road without a clean sheet.
Partizan have drawn all three of their Champions League home matches.
Arsenal haven't won away from home in Europe against teams from any of the three countries they have to visit in this season's Champions League.
The Gunners scored six goals from just eight shots on target in their opening Champions League match.
Arsene Wenger's side's 6-0 win was the biggest ever victory on the opening match of a Champions League Group Stage.
Partizan committed 23 fouls in their opening match, more than any other team in the competition.


Sporting Braga v Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar have only won two of their eight European matches against Portuguese opposition and lost the last three in a row.
Shakhtar have only drawn one of their 15 Champions League away matches.
The Ukrainian side have won their last three Champions League games which is their best ever run in the competition.
Shakhtar have only ever kept one clean sheet away from home in 15 Champions League matches on the road, but that came in Portugal against Benfica.
Sporting Braga won 14 and drew one of their 15 league games at home in the Portuguese top flight last season, conceding only six goals along the way.
Braga won their two Champions League home qualifying matches without conceding a goal.
Braga have only won one of their last seven matches in European competition (excluding qualifiers).


Internazionale v Werder Bremen
Inter are unbeaten in their last seven Champions League games at the San Siro.
Inter's win over Bayern in the 2010 Champions League final ended a run of five games without a win against a German side.
Bremen and Inter have played four games in the Champions League with the two sides winning one game each and drawing the other two.
Werder have won just one of their last 14 Champions League away matches.
Inter have lost only two of their last 14 Champions League matches and both those defeats came away at Barcelona.
Rafael Benitez has only won one of the last six Champions League matches he's taken charge of, losing three times and drawing twice.
Bremen have only lost one of their last 11 matches in European competitions (excluding qualifiers, drawing the last three in a row.
Bremen have drawn eight and only lost one of their last 12 European matches (excluding qualifiers) away from home.
Bremen were the last German team to play away against Inter at the San Siro and they drew 1-1 in the 2008-09 Champions League.


Tottenham Hotspur v FC Twente
There have been just four goals scored in the last five meetings between Spurs and Dutch sides in European competition.
FC Twente have never beaten an English side in European competition (excluding qualifiers), drawing three and losing four.
Twente's last trip to London came in the Champions League qualifiers in 2008-09 when they lost 0-4 to Spurs‘ rivals Arsenal after losing 0-2 at home.
Spurs have only lost three out of 63 European ties (excluding qualifiers) at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham conceded just 12 goals at home in the 2009-10 Premier League, the joint-lowest tally in the division.
Twente have kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 European matches (excluding qualifiers).
Peter Crouch has scored nine goals in his last 11 Champions League starts.
Twente scored 43 fewer goals and conceded three more than 2nd placed Ajax in the Dutch league last season, yet still won the league by one point.


Hapoel Tel Aviv v Lyon
Hapoel Tel Aviv have won two and lost three of their five meetings with French teams in European football.
Lyon have conceded exactly one goal in each of their last five Champions League away games.
Lyon have won none of their last four Champions League away matches.
Hapoel have failed to score in four of their last five European matches (excluding qualifiers).
Lyon were the joint-top scorers in Ligue 1 last season away from home with 32 goals.
Three of the last four Champions League matches involving Lyon have ended with a 1-0 scoreline.
Three of the last four Champions League away games Lyon have played have ended as 0-1 defeats and the other a 1-1 draw.


Schalke 04 v Benfica
Benfica have only won two of the 18 away matches they have played in the Champions League
Benfica have won three and lost only one of their last five matches away from home in European competition.
Benfica have won eight of their last 11 matches in European competition.
Schalke have only won two of their last 10 European matches.
Schalke have won all three home European matches against Portuguese sides.
Benfica have never beaten a German team away from home in European competition in 18 attempts.
The Portuguese side are unbeaten in their last five clashes against German opposition though with two wins and three draws since they last tasted defeat.
Schalke posted the worst passing accuracy in the final third of the pitch on Matchday 1 connecting with just 45% of their attempted passes.


Valencia v Manchester United
Valencia have won none of their last five Champions League home matches.
Man Utd and Valencia have played four games against each other in the Champions League with one victory for the English champions and three draws. Both of their encounters at the Mestalla ended goalless.
The Spanish side did however beat Man Utd 2-1 on aggregate in the 1982-83 UEFA Cup.
Defeat to Bayern in their last away match ended a run of 16 matches without defeat on the road for Man Utd in the Champions League.
Man Utd have drawn five of their last seven Champions League matches against Spanish opposition, winning one and losing one.
Valencia scored four goals from just five shots on target in their opening Champions League match against Bursaspor.
Man Utd's defeat at Bayern in last season's Champions League quarter final ended a run of 16 games without defeat away from home and six away wins in a row.
United's last three away games in Spain all ended 0-0.
Man Utd have only ever won one of 18 European matches away from home against Spanish sides (against Deportivo La Coruna in April 2002).
Sir Alex Ferguson's side have failed to score in 10 of their last 14 away games in Spain.


Rangers v Bursaspor
Rangers have only been drawn against Turkish opposition twice, beating Ankaraguçu in both legs of the 1973-74 Cup Winners Cup and earning a draw and a defeat to Galatasaray in the 2000-01 Champions League.
Bursaspor's only match against Scottish opposition came in 1974-75 Cup Winners cup where they progressed 1-0 on aggregate.
Rangers have only won one of their last nine Champions League games at Ibrox and lost the last four in a row, conceding 13 goals in the process.
Bursaspor posted the worst crossing accuracy of any team on the opening Matchday, connecting with just 5.6% of their centres.
Bursaspor have never scored an away goal in a European match (excluding qualifiers).
Rangers have won none of their last 10 matches in European competition (excluding qualifiers).
Rangers have also won just one of their last nine matches in European competition at Ibrox (excluding qualifiers).
Rangers have failed to score in their last three matches in European competition.


Rubin Kazan v Barcelona
Rubin Kazan shocked the Catalan side last season by winning in the Camp Nou and earning a draw at home against Barcelona.
Barcelona are unbeaten away from home in European competition against Russian sides, drawing four and winning one of their five trips.
Barcelona completed 792 passes against Panathinaikos, more than any other team in the competition.
Lionel Messi fired in seven shots on target, more than any other player on the opening match day.
Barcelona completed 92% of their passes, the best rate on the opening Champions League matchday.
Barcelona have only won one and drawn seven of their last nine Champions League away matches - that run includes a 0-0 draw with Rubin Kazan.
Lionel Messi has scored nine goals in his last eight Champions League matches.
Barcelona allowed their opponents just one shot on the first matchday, a joint-competition low.


Panathinaikos v FC København
Panathinaikos have won only one of their last six Champions League home matches.
København have lost all five of the Champions league away matches.
The Greek side scored with their only shot in their opening Champions league game against Barcelona.
København have lost four of their last five away matches in Europe (excluding qualifiers).
Panathinaikos met København in the 2007-08 Europa League Group Stage and won 1-0 at home.
The Greeks only other tie against Danish opposition came in 1995-96 when they won 2-0 at home and lost 1-2 away to Aalborg in the Group Stage.
Panathinaikos managed just 100 successful passes on the opening matchday, fewer than any other team.
The Greek side's opening day defeat was the fourth time they have conceded five goals in a Champions League match and the second time the opposition was Barcelona.

Read More

28.09. (Uto) 20:45 Partizan - Arsenal

Domaćin sa "dvanestim " igračem

Partizan dočekuje Arsenal u svom prvom susreru kod kuće nakon 7 godina odsustva iz Lige Šampiona .
  
Posle eliminacije Anderlecht-a u play-off-u , Srpski klub su mnogi videli kao "žrtvenog Jarca" u ovoj grupi , ali oni pružili odličnu partiju u prvom meču sa Shakhtar-om i pokazali da znaju biti itekako opasni . Ipak poraz od 0-1 je odraz realnog stanja na terenu .

Domaćini još uvek nemaju pobedu u grupnoj fazi ovog takmičenja računajući i nastup od pre 7 godina ali treba pomenuti sa su i neporaženi na svom terenu , u svom jedinom učešću do sada su zabeležili 3 remija kao domaćini . U ovogodišnjem izdanju Lige Šampiona domaćini očekuju da odu korak dalje i upišu koji bod više nego na predhodnom nastupu . Idealno bi za njih bilo da u ovom meču dočekuju Braga-u naročito nakon onog što je vidjeno u prvom kolu ipak očekuje ih gostovanje verovatno najjačeg protivnika iz ove grupe .

Iskustvo bivšeg Werder-ovog i Schalke-ovog defanzivca  Mladena Krstajića moglo bi biti od značajne važnosti za domaću odbranu koja će biti na dosada najvećem iskušenju .

Ali najvažnije od svega za Srpski tim biće fanatična podrška njihovih navijača (Grobari) koja bi mogla donekle anulirati početnu prednost Arsenal-a koja stoji na papiru . U užarenoj atmosferi domaćini se nadaju da nekako mogu doći da sva tri boda .

Hoćemo li videti "prave" "topdžije" ?

Arsenal je dosledno nedosledan u poslednje vrieme, počevši s mamutskom pobedom  6-0 nad Braga-om na Emiratesu koja je mogla nagovestiti velike stvari u nadolazećem periodu ali su oni već u narednom meču jedva izvukli bod protiv Sunderlanda u Premier ligi da bi sredinom prošle nedelje nakon blede igre tokom regulanih 90 minuta sa Tottenham-om i 1-1 ,u produžecima su ih naprosto "oduvali" i stigli do velikih 4-1.

Potom je usledio novi pad tokom ovog vikenda protiv West Bromwich Albion-a kada su tokom jednog dela meča gubili sa čak 0-3 ali su potom uspeli da se izdinu i koliko-toliko izbegnu totalnu blamažu .
 
Topdžije su sigurno daleko superiorniji u poredjenju sa Srpskim timom pa bi za njih sve osim pobede moglo da se smatra neuspehom
 
TIMSKE VESTI
Partizan


Stefan Savić je već imao prilike da se sastane sa igračima Arsenala tokom svog boravka u Londonu što bi mu moglo biti od velike koristi u ovom meču .   
Mladen Krstajic će verovatno predvoditi poslednju liniju tima i biće ključni igrač za defanzivu svog tima a vezni red bi u mnogome mogao da zavisi od reprezentativca Radosava Petrovića .

Mogućih početnih XI: Stojković, Milikovic, Savić, Krstajic, Lazevski, Tomić, Petrović, Medo, Ilić, Cleo, Iliev.

Arsenal
Važna vest je povreda standardnog golmana Manuel-a Almunia-je (lakat) na meču sa West Brom-om pa će na njegovo mesto  Lukasz Fabianski .

Thomas Vermaelen uz Cesc Fabregas-a su i dalje van terena , dok je  Kieran Gibbs još uvek neizvestan za ovaj meč .

Nicklas Bendtner (prepone) kao i Robin van Persie (gležanj) su i dalje van terena .

Mogućih početnih XI: Fabianski, Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Wilshere, Rosicky, Chamakh, Vela.

Prognoza

Arsenal ima previše kvaliteta u timu tako da dolazi kao veliki favorit u ovom meču pa je sve sem njihove pobede za njih veliki neuspeh , ipak mogli bi imati problema ukoliko u odbrani dopuste padove koncetracije što je rezultiralo lošim rezultatima u prvenstvu .

Topdžije će pokušati bar donekle da ponove igru sa Braga-om i što pre zaborave loša izdanja iz prvenstva što bi trebalo rezultirati njihovom pobedom .

Ovaj tjedan na Goal.com - Vaša Jedan- Stop Vodič za sedam dana Nogomet akcije

Partizan 1-2 Arsenal

Read More