Tuesday, December 21, 2010

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21-12-2010 20:30 1899 Hoffenheim - Borussia MG

Pokal Could Be Easiest Path To Europe For Hoffe

Despite going 2-0 up early, Hoffenheim were unable to hold onto their lead against Wolfsburg on Saturday, and had to settle for a fourth consecutive draw to end the Bundesliga fall campaign.

“We controlled the game for roughly 70 minutes and highly deserved to have taken the 2-0 lead,” coach Ralf Rangnick told reporters following the game. “After Wolfsburg got the first goal back, they began to put our defence under a lot of pressure and we failed to hang on to our lead.”

After having a strong start to their campaign, the village club failed to maintain their form, and have since slipped to eighth place in the standings. They will enter the spring term with plenty of competition as they aim for a top five finish. Hamburg and Schalke are hot on their heels, and Wolfsburg and Bremen remain dangerous.

Indeed, Hoffenheim may find the Pokal to be the path of least resistance en route to a first-ever Europa League appearance. Thus far, the Sinsheim outfit have beaten Hansa Rostock and Ingolstadt on their way to the round of 16. On Tuesday, they face Bundesliga opposition for the first time in the Pokal, and can expect stiff resistance. They had just that in October, but rallied from a goal behind to beat Gladbach 3-2. A repeat performance would suffice.


Gladbach Out For Pokal Redemption

The fall campaign has been a dismal one for former giants Borussia Moenchengladbach, who in mid-season are last in the Bundesliga table, having taken just ten points from 17 matches.

Following Friday’s 2-1 home loss to Hamburg, a match that the hosts dominated in the first half, coach Michael Frontzeck was gutted.

“At the moment it’s unfortunately the case that our opponents need only a few chances to beat us,” he said according to the official Gladbach website. “We too often fail to take our chances.”

“If you look at how each of the matches has gone, the fact that we’ve not taken a single point from any of our last three home games is actually a joke,” Frontzeck added.

It may be a joke to the coach, but Gladbach fans aren’t laughing.

Frontzeck’s men have a chance for redemption on Tuesday, however, as die Fohlen visit Hoffenheim in the DFB Pokal round of 16. Gladbach have performed well in the German league cup thus far, and beat title hopefuls Leverkusen in penalties in the previous round. It won’t be easy, but should they advance, it will give the Gladbach faithful something to celebrate this holiday season.

TEAM NEWS

Hoffenheim

Vedad Ibisevic is suspended following his sending off against Ingolstadt, and Ralf Rangnick may also be without Luis Gustavo, who is struggling with a groin injury.

Probable Starting XI: Haas – Beck, Gustavo, Compper, Ibertsberger – Vukcevic, Rudy, Salihovic, Sigurdsson – Mlapa, Ba


Borussia Moenchengladbach

Raul Bobadilla, who has been suspended from Bundesliga play has been sent to the reserves. As well, Mohammadou Idrissou has been suspended for disciplinary reasons.

Probable Starting XI: Heimeroth – Schachten, Callsen-Bracker, Daems, Wissing – Marx, Neustaedter, Bradley – Reus, Arango – De Camargo

Prediction
Gladbach, one can expect, will come out like men possessed. They will have the advantage of an extra day’s rest, and plenty of motivation. Hoffenheim are excellent when in form, and are well known for their quality at home. The hosts should win this one, but if the match goes to extra time, anything can happen.

Hoffenheim 2-1 Mönchengladbach

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21-12-2010 20:00 Barcelona - Athletic Bilbao

Nothing Is Impossible

Barcelona’s 2010 comes to a conclusion on Tuesday evening, when they meet Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey. While la Blaugrana could reflect on another record-breaking season, Pep Guardiola will have his troops fully focussed on the task at hand, ready to take another step towards yet more silverware to fill the Camp Nou’s overflowing cabinet.

Quite simply, Barca are unstoppable at the moment. The superb Clasico victory over Real Madrid will be the result that lives longest in the memory of fans, but the Catalans have reeled off a superb sequence of successes. Saturday’s breathtaking 5-1 triumph over an Espanyol side previously perfect at home this season is certainly a result that should not be overshadowed.

Having set a club record from consecutive away wins – 10 – with the weekend Primera Division success, the players are already looking to the future. Dani Alves won’t even rule out a repeat of Barca’s stunning six-trophy haul in 2009. “There’s no harm in dreaming and with this team anything is possible,” he told the media. “We are on the right track to being able to compete and nothing is going to distract us. With Barca, nothing is impossible.

“We have to keep up our habits of hard work and humility.”

The reaction that Barcelona have made following their historic win over los Blancos suggests that little will distract them in their hunt for titles, and if anything they’re looking stronger than ever at present.

Important Win

Athletic Bilbao have stationed themselves in their traditional mid-table status in La Primera Division, moving towards the heart of the European race with a fine 2-1 victory against Levante at the weekend. Head coach Joaquin Caparros would love for his side to compete in the Europa League next term, and the Copa del Rey offers a fallback should their league campaign go awry.

Goals from Igor Gabilondo and Javi Martinez were enough for the Basque side to pick up a relatively rare away victory, though their level will have to be raised further still if they are to threaten Barcelona.

“After our poor streak away from home, victory was very important in a game where we have suffered setbacks, like the injury to Fernando Llorente,” coach Caparros told the media. “In other matches, we have been the better team and got nothing, but today was the opposite.”

Los Leones will be well aware of the magnitude of task presented to them on Tuesday evening. They’ve already hosts la Blaugrana this season, going down 3-1 at San Mames when the visitors were allegedly not at their best. With Barca now bursting with confidence, this encounter promises to be a treacherous affair.

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Gabriel Milito and Jeffren Suarez are back training tentatively with the first team squad, but neither will be fit in time for the midweek clash.

Athletic

Fernando Llorente picked up a weekend injury and won’t be able to play. Los Leones’ star man picked up a hip injury and is unavailable.

Additionally, centre-back Fernando Amorebieta hasn’t been included in the squad due to a sprained ankle. Aurtenetxe and Ibai Gomez are missing too.

Prediction
Barcelona have scored at least five goals in five of their last six domestic matches, which is a record that is quite simply astounding. Matching such a tally against a combative Athletic Bilbao will be tough, especially if some younger players are blooded, by Barca will want to finish this tie in the first leg if at all possible.

Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao