Premier League Opta Facts - April 2-3

West Ham United v Manchester United

Man Utd have won the last five Premier League games against West Ham without conceding a goal in that run.
Wayne Rooney has scored five goals in eight Premier League games for Man Utd against the Hammers.
Man Utd have only won one of their last five Premier League away games in London and going back further only five of the last 19.
Man Utd have only won four of their last 15 Premier League away games.
Javier Hernandez has scored 10 goals from just 14 shots on target and four headed goals from just five headers on target.
Demba Ba has scored four goals in four Premier League starts for West Ham since arriving in January.

Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers

Bolton have won four and lost none of the last five matches against Birmingham in all competitions.
Chung Young-Lee has scored a late winning goal in both of his appearances at St Andrews.
Kevin Davies has scored in his last three games against Birmingham.
Birmingham have won just one of their last eight Premier League games at St Andrews.
Bolton have committed more fouls than any other Premier League team (416).
Alex McLeish's side have taken just one point from the last 12 available.

Everton v Aston Villa

Everton have won none of the last nine Premier League games against Aston Villa.
Tim Cahill has scored six goals in 10 Premier League games for Everton against Villa.
Aston Villa have won just one of their last 12 Premier League away games.
Villa have dropped 21 points from winning positions this season, more than any other team in the league.
Everton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 Premier League games.
Aston Villa have kept just one clean sheet in their last 20 Premier League matches.
Everton have scored five goals between the 30th and 40th minutes in their last four Premier League outings.

Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers

All three of the Premier League meetings between Newcastle and Wolves have ended as 1-1 draws with home side scoring first and the away team equalising.
There were 12 yellow cards in the reverse fixture, more than in any other Premier League match this season.
Wolves have only lost one of their last 12 games against the Magpies in all competitions.
Newcastle have won just one of their last six Premier League games at St James Park.
The Magpies have won just one of their last nine Premier League matches.
Wolves have lost just one of their last six Premier League matches.
Mick McCarthy's side have only won two of their last 18 Premier League games on the road.

Stoke City v Chelsea

Chelsea have won the last seven games against Stoke and the last eight in the league.
Florent Malouda has scored in his last three Premier league games against Stoke.
After going six games without a win on the road, Chelsea have won three and lost none of their last four Premier League away games.
78% of the goals Stoke have scored have come in the second half of games, the highest proportion in the top flight.
Stoke have failed to score in five of their last eight Premier League matches.
Chelsea have won six and lost just one of their last eight Premier League matches.
David Luiz has scored with both of his shots on target in the Premier League.

West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool

Liverpool have won all nine of their Premier League games against West Brom without conceding a single goal.
The Reds have won the last 13 in a row against the Baggies in all competitions.
West Brom have set a Premier League record for consecutive matches without a clean sheet (28 games).
West Brom have won just two of their last 14 Premier League games, but are unbeaten in their last five.
Liverpool have won six and lost just one of their last nine Premier League matches.
The Baggies have drawn their last four Premier League games at the Hawthorns, so if West Brom draw this match, they will equal the Premier League record for consecutive draws at home.
The Baggies have earned a joint-high six red cards in the Premier League this season.

Wigan Athletic v Tottenham Hotspur

Jermain Defoe has scored 10 goals in 10 Premier League games against Wigan.
Defoe has scored 99 Premier league goals.
Tottenham have kept just one clean sheet in their last 16 Premier League away games.
Spurs have recouped more points from losing positions (21) than any other Premier League side.
Tottenham have committed just 309 fouls this season, fewer than any other team.
Spurs have lost just two of their last nine Premier League away matches.
Spurs' last three games have been against teams in the current bottom six and they have won none of them.
Wigan have gone eight games at the DW Stadium without a clean sheet.

Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers

Robin van Persie has scored 10 goals in 10 games in all competitions against Blackburn.
There have been 22 goals scored in the last five Premier League games between Rovers and the Gunners.
David Dunn has scored five goals in seven Premier League games for Blackburn against Arsenal.
Andrey Arshavin has scored in all three of his Premier league starts against Blackburn.
Arsenal have won seven and lost just one of their last nine Premier League games against Rovers.
Arsenal have only conceded one goal in their last six Premier League games at the Emirates.
Blackburn have lost eight of their last nine Premier League away games and their last five in a row.
Robin van Persie has scored 19 goals in his last 19 Premier League starts.

Fulham v Blackpool

Fulham have kept five clean sheets in their last seven Premier League games at Craven Cottage.
The Whites have won four and lost none of their last five Premier League games on home soil.
Blackpool have dropped 10 points from goals conceded after the 85th minute, more than any other team in the top flight.
61% of the goals Fulham have conceded have been netted in the first half, the highest proportion in the Premier League.
Fulham have picked up just 35 yellow cards in 2010-11, fewer than any other team in the Premier League and they are the only side who have not earned a red card.
Blackpool have won just one of their last 10 Premier League matches.

Manchester City v Sunderland

Man City have won 10 and lost just two of their 13 Premier League meetings with Sunderland.
City have won all six home matches against the Black Cats in the Premier League.
Man City have only lost one of their last 10 Premier League games at the City of Manchester Stadium.
City have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 league matches on home soil.
41% of the goals Man City have conceded have come in the final 15 minutes of matches, the highest proportion in the top flight.
Just 11% of the goals Man City have scored have been netted in the final 15 minutes of games, the lowest proportion in the top division.
Sunderland have taken just one point from the last 18 available.

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Championship Opta Facts - 2-4 April

Leeds v Nottingham Forest

Six of the last eight clashes between the sides have ended in draws, with five ending 1-1.
Leeds are unbeaten in nine meetings with Forest, winning three and drawing six.
If the league consisted of just matches involving the league's current top six, Leeds would be bottom with nine points, whilst Forest would be top with 13 points.
Forest have earned 10 points from losing positions on their travels this term, the most of all sides in the second flight.

Hull v Millwall

Millwall are unbeaten in seven league meetings with Hull, and haven't lost to the Tigers in the league since April 1987.
Millwall have scored exactly one goal on each of their last four league trips to Hull, winning one, drawing two and losing one.
The KC Stadium has only seen 27 goals this term, every other ground has seen at least 38.
Millwall have scored eight goals in their last three league games.

Bristol City v Doncaster

Billy Sharp has netted four goals in his last three appearances against the Robins for Doncaster.
Donny have won three of their lost four against Bristol City, and netted five goals on their last trip to Ashton Gate (5-2).
Bristol City have conceded more goals in the opening five minutes of games (five) than any other side this season.
Doncaster Rovers, on the other hand, have conceded more goals in the final five minutes (11) than any other side.

Burnley v Ipswich

Five of the last six meetings between these sides have ended in draws, with Ipswich winning the other.
In the last seven clashes combined, there have been six goals netted in the 85th minute or later.
Burnley have gained 23 points from losing positions this season, the most in the league.
Jimmy Bullard has scored three goals in his last four outings for Paul Jewell's side.

Cardiff v Derby

The last three meetings between the sides in South Wales have seen 16 goals scored in total, with the Bluebirds themselves netting 10 in the last two.
The Rams have only taken two points from the last 12 available to them at Cardiff, not winning there since September 2004.
Cardiff have not won for four league games, drawing two and losing two.
Derby are now the only Championship side to have lost all of the away games they have been behind in (nine).

Coventry v Watford

Watford have won their last three trips to the Ricoh Arena, netting at least three goals on each occasion.
In fact, the last 10 meetings between these sides have seen four goals a game on average, with 18 netted in the last four matches alone.
Coventry have lost their last three league games at the Ricoh Arena.
No side has been ahead in more games this season than Watford (26 - joint with Norwich) but only Preston (30) have thrown away more points from leading positions than the Hornets (27).

Crystal Palace v Barnsley

The Eagles have won five and drawn one of their last six home meetings with Barnsley, keeping a clean sheet in each victory.
Of the last nine clashes between the sides, six have been won by the home side and three have ended in draws, with the away sides netting a total of just two goals.
The Eagles have earned 85% of their points at home this season; more than any other side.
Barnsley have won just one of their last nine league games.

Middlesbrough v Leicester

Leicester are unbeaten in five meetings with Boro, winning two, drawing three and keeping four clean sheets.
The home side has only claimed the victory in two of the last nine clashes between Leicester and Middlesbrough.
Alongside Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough have gained more points having conceded the first goal than any other Championship side (20).
The Foxes have only drawn one of their last 11 league games.

Norwich v Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe have failed to score in each of their last three meetings with the Canaries, although Norwich themselves have only netted twice.
Three of the last four meetings at Carrow Road have been draws, with the home side winning the other. The Iron have not won at Norwich since March 1961.
Carrow Road has seen 21 goals scored in the final 15 minutes of games this season so far, no other ground has seen more than 16.
The Iron have lost their last four, scoring just once and conceding 10.

Preston v Swansea

Swansea have won seven of their last eight meetings with PNE, losing the other (their last trip to Deepdale).
The home side have kept a clean sheet in each of the last three games between Preston and Swansea.
Preston have recently won two successive league games for only the second time this term.
The Swans have lost five of their last nine away games in the league, winning just three times.

Reading v Portsmouth

Pompey are unbeaten in eight meetings with the Royals, winning five and drawing three.
Portsmouth have kept seven consecutive clean sheets in away trips to Reading.
Shane Long has scored five in his last five for the Royals.
Pompey have only conceded two goals in their last 866 minutes of league football, and one of them was scored by Greg Halford in his own net.

QPR v Sheffield United

Adel Taarabt has scored in his last two clashes with the Blades.
Sheffield United are unbeaten in four trips to Loftus Road in all competitions, winning once and drawing on three occasions.
Championship player of the year Adel Taarabt has already provided 18 assists this campaign, the most of all players in the Football League.
The Blades have taken just one point from the last 30 available on their travels.

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SPL Opta Facts - 2 - 3 April

Inverness CT v Celtic

None of the last seven league meetings between Inverness and Celtic have been decided by more than a single goal (four Celtic wins, one Inverness win and two draws).
Pat McCourt has scored in both league clashes with Caley Thistle this season.
Inverness have lost only two of their last seven league meetings with the Old Firm (four draws, one win).
Caley Thistle have won only two of their last 16 league matches.
Kris Commons has scored three goals in Celtic´s last three SPL games.
Antony Stokes has scored five goals in Celtic´s last five away matches in the league.

Motherwell v Aberdeen

Motherwell are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Aberdeen (four draws).
However they are without a win in their last four at home to the Dons, with the last three ending 1-1.
Motherwell have conceded exactly three goals in both of their last two SPL matches.
The Steelmen have conceded only two goals in their last six league games at Easter Road, resulting in two 0-1 defeats.
Aberdeen have netted only twice from outside the area in the SPL this season, no side has scored fewer.
Motherwell are the most dangerous side in the opening 15 minutes of matches, netting nine goals in this period in the SPL this season.

Rangers v Dundee United

The Gers have won six of their last seven league meetings with United.
During this run Dundee United have managed to find the net just twice.
Only Celtic have managed more SPL wins (nine) at Ibrox than Dundee United (three).
Rangers have hit 26 goals in their last seven league games at home to the Terrors.
Dundee United have picked up more points in 2011 than any other SPL side (26), though they have played four more games than the next-best side (Celtic, 25 points).
Rangers have conceded only one goal in their last six SPL matches at home.
After Kenny Miller (21 goals), Nikica Jelavic (eight) is Rangers´ top scorer in the SPL this season.
United are on a run of five straight league wins.

St Johnstone v Kilmarnock

Killie have lost only one of their last seven league meetings with the Saints, managing five wins in this period.
Kilmarnock have won on their last three league trips to McDiarmid Park, keeping a clean sheet each time.
Only Celtic (13 points) have picked up more points on the road in the SPL in 2011 than Kilmarnock (10).
St Johnstone have scored just one goal in their last six league matches combined.
However they have also conceded just one goal in their last seven SPL games at home.
Killie have lost three of their last four SPL away clashes.

St Mirren v Hamilton Academical

Hamilton are unbeaten in their last eight league meetings with the Saints.
St Mirren have failed to find the net in seven of their last eight SPL clashes with the Accies.
The Buddies have won only one of their last 12 league games.
Hamilton are without a win in 20 league matches.
Failure to win this match would see the Accies equal Dundee United´s record for most consecutive SPL matches without a win (21 between April and November 2000).
Hamilton have only scored more than once in a league match on two occasions this season, and not since October.
The Accies have scored only five second-half goals in the SPL this season, no other side has scored fewer than 11.

Hibernian v Hearts

Hearts have won the last four Edinburgh derbies.
It is over four years and 15 matches since Hibs managed to find the net more than once against their local rivals in the league.
Hibernian have won five of their last six league games, though they drew last time out at St Johnstone.
Hearts have conceded exactly twice in their last three SPL matches.
The Jambos have failed to score in four of their last five league games on the road.
Hearts are the only side yet to concede from a corner in the SPL this season.

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La Liga Opta Facts - 2-3 April

Almeria v Athletic Bilbao

Almeria have lost their last three meetings with Athletic in the top flight.
However in three matches at home, they have never failed to score against the Basque outfit in the league.
Almeria are, along with Sporting, the side who have drawn the most league matches this season (11).
Caparros´ side have scored in all but three of their league games this season.
Athletic Bilbao have taken just one point from their last four league games on the road.
The Andalusian are the only side yet to score a penalty in Liga BBVA this season.
Almeria have conceded the first goal in more matches than any other side in Liga BBVA this season (19), winning just one of these.
Fernando Llorente has not gone four straight league matches without scoring this season, though he has failed to find the net in his last three.

Deportivo La Coruna v Mallorca

Deportivo are unbeaten in their last five league clashes at home to Mallorca (two wins, three draws).
Depor´s last three league wins over the islanders came by the same scoreline: 1-0.
The last win for the bermellones at the Riazor was also their biggest there in Primera (3-0 in 2005).
Mallorca have scored just once in their last four league trips to Deportivo.
Depor have failed to find the net in four of their last five league matches.
Five of the 12 points Mallorca have picked up on the road this season have come in their last four matches.
Los turcos have scored the fewest first half goals in the league this season (8, 35% of their total).
Deportivo have also scored the fewest goals from open play (eight).
Depor have not lost a league game this season in which they have taken the lead (seven wins, three draws), but have also failed to win after going behind (three draws, 12 defeats).
Deportivo´s defenders have scored 30% of their team´s league goals this season, more than any other side.

Espanyol v Racing Santander

Racing have lost on only one of their last five visits to Espanyol in the top flight (three wins, one draw).
Espanyol have scored just three goals in their last five league games at home to the montaneses, receiving 11 in return.
Espanyol have managed two wins and three defeats in their last five league matches at home.
The Catalonians have drawn only once in the league this season, back in November (0-0 in the reverse fixture with Racing).
In their last game, Racing ended a four-match winless run in Liga BBVA.
Racing have won only one of their last seven league matches on the road (1-0 at Getafe).
Racing hold the record for failing to score with the most penalties in the league this season (five).

Getafe v Valencia

In six matches, Getafe have only lost one game at home to Los Che in the top flight.
Getafe are on a run of seven matches without a win in Liga BBVA, managing just four points in total.
Overall, Michel´s side have won only one of their last 13 league matches.
Manu has scored in the Madrid side´s last two games at home (three goals in total, on top of an own goal).
Getafe have scored the fewest headed goals this season in Liga BBVA (two).
The azulones have never gone eight games without a win in the same season in the Spanish top flight.
Getafe have conceded a goal in the last 10 minutes of each of their last three league games at home, dropping five points as a result.
Valencia have lost three of their last four league matches.
Los che have picked up the most points after conceding first in Liga BBVA this season (18).

Levante v Malaga

In three attempts, Levante have never beaten Malaga in the top flight, losing on all three occasions.
All three previous top-flight clashes between these two sides have finished 1-0 to Malaga.
The Valencian side are on a run of five games without a defeat, their best-ever such run in the Spanish top flight.
With wins over Real Sociedad and Espanyol, Malaga have won back-to-back league games for the first time this season.
The boquerones have shipped the most goals in the league this season (59), 11 more than any other side.
However, Pellegrini´s men are the only side to have a kept a clean sheet in the last two matchdays in Liga BBVA.
Since Willy Caballero´s arrival in goal, Malaga have won 50% of their games, as opposed to 22% beforehand.
Only Real Sociedad (22) have dropped more points after opening the scoring in Liga BBVA this season than Málaga (19).

Osasuna v Atletico Madrid

Atlético have won just one of their last eight league matches at the Reyno de Navarra (six defeats).
In the last seven league meetings between the sides, Osasuna have either scored at least three goals or not at all (four times).
Osasuna have won their last three league matches, something they had not managed all season previously.
The rojillos have taken 13 points from the last 18 available under new manager Mendilibar.
Only Barcelona and Real Madrid (16 each) have taken more in this period.
Atlético are unbeaten in their last three league matches on the road (one win, two draws).
Sergio Agüero has scored in Atlético´s last three matches in Liga BBVA.
Osasuna´s eight league goals from the last three match-days have been scored by seven different players, Sola being the only one who has scored twice.

Real Madrid v Sporting Gijon

Sporting Gijón have only won two of their 39 matches at the Bernabeu in Primera, both by a score of 1-0.
Real Madrid have won all 14 league matches at home this season.
The merengues have won every match in which they have opened the scoring in the league this season, while Sporting are still without a victory after conceding first.
Real Madrid have conceded the fewest headed goals in Liga BBVA this season (two).
Sporting have won just one away match in the league this season (4-0 at Mallorca).
Karim Benzema has scored in each of Real´s last four league matches.
Only two players have managed to score in five straight matches in Liga BBVA this season: Messi and Pedro.
On their last nine away matches, Sporting have either failed to score (five times), or Diego Castro has found the net (four times).
Just seven of Sporting´s league goals this season have come from strikers, fewer than any other side in the top flight.

Real Sociedad v Hercules

Hércules have never won at Anoeta in the history of the Spanish top flight, and have not picked up a point there since 1981.
Real Sociedad´s biggest ever win over Hércules was a 6-0 in the 1986/87 season.
Hercules have failed to score in nine of their last 11 league matches.
Should they fail to find the net in this match, Hércules will equal Deportivo´s 1966 record of 12 consecutive league matches without scoring on the road.
Real Sociedad are one of four sides in the Spanish top flight who are yet to play out a goalless draw in the current campaign (along with Bilbao, Barcelona and Villarreal).
The Basque side have conceded the most goals from direct free kicks in the competition (four).
Hércules have only won one away match in the league this season (at Barcelona).

Sevilla v Real Zaragoza

Sevilla have beaten Zaragoza in their last three league meetings at the Sanchez Pizjuan, averaging four goals per game.
The last 13 league goals by the Andalucians at home against Zaragoza have been scored by foreign players, since Antonito´s strike in December 2003.
Zaragoza are on a run of three league matches without a goal on the road, forming part of a run of four consecutive away matches without a win.
Real Zaragoza have only won one league away match this season (1-2 at Malaga).
Sevilla are unbeaten in their last five at home in Liga BBVA (three wins, two draws).
Zaragoza have drawn the most league matches after going ahead away from home in Liga BBVA this season (three).
Zaragoza´s midfielders have scored the most goals in Liga BBVA this season (18).
Just 36% of Liga BBVA games refereed by Iglesias Villanueva this season have ended in home wins, fewer than any other referee.

Villarreal v Barcelona

Villarreal are without a win in their last five league meetings with Barca.
However the yellow submarine has scored in its last eight league clashes with Barcelona.
After winning 10 of their opening 11 home games in the league this season, Villarreal have won only one of the four since.
Villarreal have scored exactly once in their last four league games.
It is 10 match-days since a foreign player scored against Barcelona in the league (Duda for Malaga).
Barcelona have dropped points in two of their last four league away fixtures.
Giuseppe Rossi has scored four of Villarreal´s last five goals at home in the league.
Villarreal are unbeaten after taking the lead at El Madrigal this season (11 wins, two draws).
None of Messi, Villa or Pedro has scored in Barcelona´s last three league matches.
Prior to this run, at least one of these three players had found the net in 19 consecutive league games.

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Serie A Opta Facts - 2 - 3 April

Brescia v Bologna

Brescia have won only one of their last seven meetings with Bologna in Serie A.
Seven of the last nine games between these two sides at Brescia's ground have ended as draws; five of these were goalless.
Brescia are winless in their last six games, however they have drawn four of these.
Bologna are unbeaten in their last four league games (two wins, two draws).
Bologna have won their last two away games against Juventus and Lecce, keeping clean sheets on both occasions.
No Serie A side has scored fewer goals or conceded more goals than Bologna in the opening 15 minutes of play this season: Malesani's side have netted one and shipped eight in this period.
Brescia have netted only seven goals in the second half, less than any other Serie A side so far this term.
Brescia have lost the most games after leading at half time in this campaign (three).
Bologna's last six goals have been scored by either Marco Di Vaio (four) or Gaston Ramirez (two).

Catania v Palermo

This will be the 14th Sicilian derby between Palermo and Catania in the top-flight: the record is perfectly even, with four wins each and five draws so far.
Palermo have come out on top only once in the last five derbies against Catania, although this came in the reverse fixture at the Barbera last November (3-1).
On that occasion, Javier Pastore scored his only hat-trick in Serie A so far.
However, Catania have had the better in the last three derbies with Palermo at the Massimino, not conceding any goals in the last two.
Over the last seven match-days, Catania have alternated between a home win and an away defeat. Should this run continue, they would take the three points against Palermo.
Beating AC Milan before the Internationals break, Palermo ended a run of five consecutive defeats in the league.
Though, away from home the Rosanero are on a run of three consecutive defeats and have not scored a single goal in this period.
Palermo have shared the points only four times - fewer than any other Serie A side this season.
Only a third of Palermo's goals (15 out of 45) have been scored by strikers - currently the lowest ratio in this competition.

Cesena v Fiorentina

Cesena have beaten Fiorentina only twice in 21 previous meetings between these two sides in Serie A, with the Viola having the better 11 times.
Both wins came at the Dino Manuzzi by a one-goal margin.
Fiorentina are unbeaten in their last eight games against Cesena, and have won the last three without conceding a goal.
The Viola are unbeaten in the last five match-days of this campaign - their longest unbeaten streak since May 2009.
Away from home, Fiorentina have notched up two wins and two draws in their last four games.
Cesena have managed only two wins in their last 13 league games, losing six of these.
In their last game at home against Juventus, Cesena managed to score more than a single goal for the first time at the Manuzzi since beating AC Milan 2-0 on their debut this season.
Only Lecce (17) have conceded more goals than Cesena (14) in the last 15 minutes of play.
This season Fiorentina have won 43% of the games in which Adrian Mutu has played, and only 25% of those without the Romanian striker in the pitch.

Chievo v Sampdoria

Chievo have won only one of their 13 Serie A meetings with Sampdoria so far, at the Marassi in September 2005.
That was also the only meeting in which Chievo managed to score more than one goal against Samp.
Four of the six meetings played at the Bentegodi between these two sides have ended 1-1.
Beating Bari the last time out, Chievo ended a run of six consecutive games without a win in the league.
At home Chievo are winless in their last three games, and have failed to score in the last two.
Sampdoria are on a run of four consecutive defeats in Serie A - this is their longest streak of defeats since March 2006.
The Blucerchiati have failed to score in five of their last six Serie A fixtures.
Away from home, Samp have picked up only one point from their last seven games, without scoring a single goal in the process.
Taking into account only the games played in 2011, Sampdoria would be second from bottom of the Serie A table with only eight points.
Only one of Sampdoria's 25 goals this season has been scored by a non-Italian player (Ziegler).

Genoa v Cagliari

Genoa have won four of their last five meetings with Cagliari in Serie A.
Genoa have suffered only one defeat so far at home against Cagliari in the top-flight, and won the last three at the Marassi against the Sardinians.
Genoa have always scored at home against Cagliari in Serie A.
Genoa have picked up 10 points from their last four league games on home soil.
Cagliari have failed to win in their last three league games - currently their worst run since the arrival of Roberto Donadoni.
Cagliari have won only one of their last five games on the road, and picked up only one point from the last three.
Cagliari have already scored nine goals from corners, currently the joint-most in this competition alongside Udinese.
Cagliari have won only one of the six league games played this season without their captain, Daniele Conti, who will be suspended for this game.

Lecce v Udinese

Udinese have had the better in three of their last four meetings with Lecce in Serie A, drawing the other 2-2 in October 2008.
That game in 2008 was the only draw in 23 meetings between these two sides in the top-flight: 14 wins for Udinese and eight for Lecce complete the record.
Udinese have scored two or more goals in six of their last seven Serie A fixtures against Lecce.
Lecce have always scored in the 11 occasions they have played against Udinese at home in Serie A.
Lecce have lost their last three league games, each by a one-goal margin.
Excluding the first five match-days of this campaign, Udinese would be top of Serie A with one point more than AC Milan.
Udinese are the only Serie A side still unbeaten in 2011 and only one of the three without a defeat this year across the top-five European leagues, alongside Arsenal and Barcelona.
Udinese have not conceded any goals over the last seven match-days of this competition - the record of consecutive clean sheets in Serie A is currently nine (Inter and Juventus).
Udinese share with Inter the best attack of this competition (56 goals so far).
Antonio Di Natale is currently the Serie A top-scorer on 25 goals, 10 of which were scored in the last seven matches.

Milan v Inter

This will be the 154th Milan derby in Serie A: Inter lead by 56 wins to 48, with 49 draws.
No Serie A side has beaten AC Milan more times than Inter so far.
The winner scored from the penalty spot in the reverse leg by Zlatan Ibrahimovic was AC Milan's 200th goal against Inter in Serie A; the Nerazzurri have netted 215 so far in the derby.
AC Milan and Inter have not shared the points in the last 12 derbies: the Nerazzurri have won seven times to Milan's five.
Four of the Rossoneri's last five wins against Inter were by 1-0.
The last five derbies have seen a total of six red cards.
Prior to their defeat at Palermo, AC Milan had been unbeaten in 12 consecutive match-days in Serie A.
This match sees the league´s best attack (Inter - 56 goals), meet its best defence (AC Milan - 22 goals conceded).
Nesta & co. have shipped only five over the last 11 games.
Inter have won 12 of the 15 league games played under Leonardo.
The Nerazzurri have picked up 37 points in 15 Serie A games under their Brazilian manager, while had taken only 23 in the 15 played under Rafa Benitez.
Inter have won the most games from trailing situations (five), while AC Milan have won none of the seven in which have fallen behind (three draws and four defeats).
Inter have won four and lost one of their games without Lucio and AC Milan have won two and lost one without Ibrahimovic, both will be suspended for this game.
Leonardo won both his two previous meetings against Allegri in Serie A last season, but lost both derbies against Inter while he was in charge of AC Milan, conceding six goals without scoring any.

Napoli v Lazio

Lazio are unbeaten in their last four meetings against Napoli in the league (two wins, two draws).
Over these last four meetings Napoli have scored only one goal.
At the San Paolo, Napoli have failed to win their last five games against Lazio (three draws, two defeats).
Napoli have suffered only one defeat in the last seven match-days of this campaign (at the San Siro against AC Milan).
At home Napoli are unbeaten in 11 fixtures, and have taken all three points in nine of these.
No player had scored a goal against Morgan De Sanctis at the San Paolo for 798 minutes prior to Robert Acquafresca: still this is the longest period without conceding at home for a Napoli 'keeper in Serie A.
Napoli have already equalled their record of points in a single Serie A campaign (59, the same as the total of those taken last season).
Lazio have won only one of their last nine Serie A games played away from home.
Lazio have the second-best defence of this competition (25 goals conceded), Napoli the third-best (27).
One more goal would allow Edison Cavani to become Napoli's most prolific goal-scorer in a single Serie A campaign - the Uruguayan has already netted 22 in the first 30 match-days of this season.

Parma v Bari

Parma are unbeaten against Bari in Serie A with 14 wins and five draws.
At the Tardini, the hosts have always won against Bari in the top-flight (nine wins out of nine games).
The win against Sampdoria in their last outing was Parma's first win in Serie A following a run of eight consecutive winless games.
At home Parma have failed to win any of their last four league games.
Bari are winless in their last 12 league games, and have picked up only three draws in the process.
The last time Bari managed to score more than one goal in a league game was November (a 2-3 defeat against AC Milan).
Prior to drawing 1-1 at the San Siro against AC Milan, Bari had lost five consecutive games away from home.
Bari have collected only 17 points so far, 25 fewer than those picked up last season after the same number of games in the league.
Bari have scored 17 goals this campaign, at least seven fewer than any other side in Serie A.

Roma v Juventus

Roma have lost more games against Juventus than any other side in Serie A history (71 defeats in 153 previous meetings).
Roma have won only one of their last 11 league meetings against Juventus (2-1 in Turin last season).
The Giallorossi have picked up only one point from their last five games at home with Juve.
Roma did have the better, however, on the last occasion they faced the Old Lady, last January in the Coppa Italia (2-0 in Turin).
Roma are still unbeaten in the league since the appointment of Vincenzo Montella (three wins and two draws).
The Giallorossi have lost only one game at home this campaign (0-2 against Napoli).
After a streak of four consecutive games without a win, Juventus went back to winning ways in their last time out against Brescia.
The Bianconeri have won only one of their last seven games on the road in Serie A.
Two braces in the last two matches have allowed Francesco Totti to reach 201 goals in Serie A.
Totti is nine goals away from equalling the all-time record of goals scored by a single player with the same team in Serie A: Gunnar Nordahl (210 for AC Milan).
Roma have been awarded a penalty in each of their last five games in Serie A and the Champions League.

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Bundesliga Opta Facts - 1-3 April

St. Pauli v Schalke

Schalke are undefeated against St. Pauli in six competitive matches (four wins, two draws).
St. Pauli have won only one of their nine Bundesliga fixtures against Schalke 04 (five losses, three draws) when they beat S04 2-0 at home in April 1996.
Pauli have failed to score in each of their last four Bundesliga matches against S04.
Schalke 04 haven't won a single point in their last three away games, their longest drought away from home in six years.
Only Frankfurt (27) have scored fewer goals than Pauli (29) in the Bundesliga this season.
Pauli are the only side in the league to have lost all of their last five matches.

Kaiserslautern v Leverkusen

Lautern have only won one of their last 20 BL games against Leverkusen (six draws, 13 defeats). Their last win over Bayer came eight years ago when they beat Leverkusen 1-0 at home.
Leverkusen are unbeaten in six BL games (five wins, one draw) - the currently longest run of its kind in the league.
For the first time since they won promotion back to the Bundesliga, the Red Devils have gone four consecutive games without defeat (two wins, two draws).
Bayer have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three BL matches.
FCK have only won one of their last six games at the Betzenberg (four draws, one defeat).
Michael Ballack has scored more goals against Kaiserslautern than against any other BL team (seven).

Mainz v Freiburg

Freiburg have lost on both their visits to the Bruchweg in the Bundesliga without scoring a single goal (5-0, 3-0).
SCF have won three of their last four competitive matches against Mainz, however (one defeat).
Mainz have lost four of their last five BL home games (one draw).
Freiburg have only won one of their last seven games on the road in the Bundesliga ( two draws, four defeats).
Mainz and Freiburg have come back from behind to win more often than any other team in the league (four times each).
Cissé has netted three of Freiburg's last four goals and is with 18 goals to his name currently in second place in the race for the BL top scorer award behind only Bayern's Gomez (19 goals).

Dortmund v Hannover

Dortmund have won just one of their last seven home games against Hannover (three draws and three defeats) - the last one, in February 2010 (4-1).
Dortmund's goal difference is 35 goals better than Hannover's, despite just one team separating the two in the table.
Didier Ya Konan has been directly involved in four goals in his last three appearances (two goals and two assists).
Only Werder Bremen (1987/88) have ever conceded fewer goals after 27 games than Dortmund this season (16). Bremen won the title that year.
Hannover have kept four clean sheets in their last seven BL matches.
BVB have not conceded more than one goal in any of their last 26 BL games, keeping 12 clean sheets in the process (most in the league).

Bremen v Stuttgart

Bremen suffered their heaviest defeat in the Bundesliga in 24 years in this season's first meeting with Stutttgart when the Swabians beat Werder 6-0.
Only Leverkusen (six games) have gone unbeaten for longer than Bremen and Stuttgart (four games each).
Werder have failed to shut their opponents out in each of their last 12 BL matches - no team in the league has gone that long without a clean sheet.
Stuttgart have at least scored twice in each of their last four BL away games.
Bremen have already been awarded eight penalties this season - more than any other team in the league.
The last nine competitive matches between the two sides have seen an average of five goals per game.

Bayern v Gladbach

Bayern have only lost one of their 42 BL home games against Gladbach (32 wins, nine draws).
The Foals are winless against Munich in 10 BL meetings (five draws, five defeats).
The match between Bayern and Gladbach will see the best attack in the league (Bayern: 59 goals) take on the worst defence (Gladbach: 61 goals conceded).
Louis van Gaal's men have won eight of their last nine games at the Allianz Arena (one defeat).
Borussia have scored exactly one goal in each of their last five BL away games.
No player in the Bundesliga has netted more goals in 2011 than Arjen Robben (eight, like Köln's Podolski).

Hoffenheim v Hamburg

HSV have lost their two BL away games against Hoffenheim, conceding eight goals in the process.
Hamburger SV have only won one of their last four away matches in the Bundesliga (one draw, two defeats).
1899 have only scored three goals in the last six matches - fewer than any other club netted during that period.
Mladen Petric has netted seven of Hamburg's last 15 Bundesliga goals. Petric has found the back of the net in five of the last six games in which Hamburg have scored in.
1899 have only won one of their last six Bundesliga outings (one draw, four defeats) when they beat leaders Dortmund 1-0 on the 26th day.
Only two of Hoffenheim's last 14 goals (not counting opposition own goals) have been scored by a striker (Ibisevic).

Köln v Nürnberg

Nürnberg have won eight of their last nine BL matches against 1. FC Köln.
Köln have won six consecutive home matches for the first time since 1987/88. No other team in either BL1 or BL2 currently has a similar winning streak on home soil.
Nürnberg are the only BL team not to lose any of their last five road games (two wins, three draws).
In 10 games after the winter break, Köln have already tallied two points more (17) than in the season's entire first leg (15). They have also scored more goals (19) than in the first 17 fixtures (18).
Milivoje Novakovic has notched all of his 11 goals this season at home.

Wolfsburg v Frankfurt

The Wolves are unbeaten at home against Eintracht in the Bundesliga (six wins, three draws).
Frankfurt haven't won any of their last seven away games in the league (like Köln) - no team has currently waited longer for a win on the road.
VfL have only won one of their last eight BL home games (four draws, three defeats).
No player apart from Gekas has netted more than two goals for Frankfurt in the league this season.
The match between the Wolves (eight points in 2011) and Frankfurt (five points in 2011) will see the two worst teams of 2011 face each other.
With only 27 goals Frankfurt have the worst attack in the Bundesliga. Wolfsburg have only netted 31 goals and are the third-worst team in that respect.

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Ligue 1 Opta Facts - 2 - 3 April

Arles-Avignon - Monaco

Monaco are unbeaten in competitive games against Arles-Avignon (know in the past as Arles) with four wins and three draws.
Arles-Avignon have failed to win any of their last 16 league games, the longest drought in Ligue 1 since Ajaccio in 2005/06.
Arles-Avignon have drawn their last three home games (0-0, 1-1 & 3-3).
Monaco have failed to win any of their five league games against promoted sides this season, with three draws and two defeats.
Arles-Avignon have conceded 10 goals in their last three league games.
Four of Monaco's last five goals away from home have been scored by defenders, including three by Adriano and one by Sébastien Puygrenier.

Lille - Caen

Lille are unbeaten in their last five competitive encounters with Caen (four wins, one draw).
Lille have scored nine goals in their two competitive encounters with Caen this season: 4-1 in the League Cup and 5-2 in Ligue 1.
Lille have suffered three defeats in Ligue 1 this season, only Barcelona (1) and Real Madrid (2) have been on the losing side less often in the top five European leagues this season.
Lille have won their last three league games, all by a 2-1 scoreline.
Caen have never kept a clean sheet at Lille in the top-flight.
Caen striker Youssef El Arabi has scored in 14 different league games, only Moussa Sow has done as well.
Moussa Sow (19 goals) & Gervinho (12) have scored 63% of Lille's goals this season, which makes them the most prolific duo in the top-flight.

Nancy - Bordeaux

Bordeaux have won their two encounters with Nancy this season, each time by a 2-1 scoreline (in the League Cup and in Ligue 1).
Bordeaux have scored 24 goals from set-pieces in Ligue 1 this season, a record this season in the top five Euro leagues.
Nancy have suffered seven defeats at home this season, only seul Arles-Avignon have fared as badly.
There have been five red cards in the last seven competitive fixtures between the two clubs.
Nancy have kept a clean sheet in their last 273 minutes of league action, currently the best run.
Nancy's Andre Luiz is the joint-most prolific defender in Ligue 1 this season, having scored four goals.

Paris SG - Lorient

Lorient have beaten PSG six times in Ligue 1, which makes them their favourite club in the top-flight.
PSG have failed to win any of their last five competitive games, their worst run this season.
Lorient are unbeaten in their last three league games against PSG (one win, two draws).
There have been 25 goals in the six top-flight encounters between PSG and Lorient at the Parc des Princes, an average of 4.2 per game.
Lorient's last eight goals against PSG in the league have come in the first-half.
Lorient have drawn their last four league games, currently the longest run.
PSG have scored at least two goals in eight of their last nine league games at the Parc des Princes.
Nenê and Kevin Gameiro have had the most shots in Ligue 1 this season, 97 and 96 respectively.

Rennes - Auxerre

Auxerre have won their last three league games against Rennes.
Auxerre have picked up the most points against clubs from the top five this season (12).
Rennes have won seven of their last eight home league games, their only defeeat coming against Marseille.
Auxerre have lost their last four away league games.
Despite their 14 draws, Auxerre are the only side yet to play out a goalless draw in Ligue 1 this season.
Ireneusz Jelen has scored four of Auxerre's last five league goals.

Sochaux - Brest

Brest have never won at Sochaux in the top-flight (seven defeats, two draws).
Sochaux are unbeaten in their last 19 home league games against clubs from Brittany, winning their last five.
The last three league encounters between Sochaux and Brest have ended in a draw.
Brest have lost their last three league games, currently the worst run in Ligue 1.
Brest have failed to win any of their last eight league games on the road, suffering six defeats.
Sochaux have scored 25 goals at home this season, their most prolific campaign in their Bonal stadium since 2004/05.
Jonathan Ayité has been directly involved in four of Brest's seven goals since signing for the Brittany club at the end of January.

Toulouse - Montpellier

Toulouse have only won three of their 23 top-flight encounters with Montpellier.
Montpellier are unbeaten in their last six away league games, with five of these ending in draws.
Toulouse are winless in their last three home league games, with two defeats and a draw.
Montpellier have conceded the opening goal in six of their nine league games in 2011, opening the score only once during that time.
Federico Santander has scored Toulouse's last two league goals, each time with a header.
Olivier Giroud has scored five of Montpellier's eight away league goals this season.

Nice - Lyon

Lyon have lost their last two away games at Nice's Stade du Ray: 1-4 in Ligue 1 last season and 0-1 (after extra-time) in the Coupe de France this season.
Nice have never scored more than two goals in the league at home in their last 28 games.
Lyon are unbeaten in their last seven league games, the longest current run in Ligue 1.
Lyon have scored in each of their last 10 away league games.
Lisandro has been directly involved in six of Lyon's last eight league goals, scoring four times and delivering two assists.
Nice's Stade du Ray has witnessed the fewest goals in Ligue 1 this season (24).

St Etienne - Valenciennes

Geoffroy-Guichard is the stadium where Valenciennes have suffered the most defeats in the top-flight (21).
Valenciennes have lost 17 of their last 19 trips to St Etienne in the top-flight.
Valenciennes are winless in their last five league games, which equals their worst run this season.
St Etienne have won only one of their last six league games (2-0 v Brest).
24 of the 33 goals conceded by St Etienne have come in the second-half, the highest ratio in Ligue 1.
Seven of the 10 league goals conceded by Valenciennes in 2011 have come in the last 30 minutes, including five from the 80th minute onwards.
Valenciennes have won only one of their last 20 away league games.

Lens - Marseille

Marseille have failed to win any of their last seven trips to Lens, in all competitions.
Marseille have conceded an average of 2.2 goals per game at Lens' Bollaert stadium, their worst ratio on a top-flight ground.
Marseille have won their last three league games on the road, the best current run.
Lens have lost their last two home league games and if they lose against Marseille it will be their worst run on home soil since the 1996/97 campaign.
Marseille have won six of their last seven league games.
Didier Deschamps has never won at Lens' Bollaert stadium in Ligue 1, with two draws and three defeats.
Lens striker Eduardo has scored two goals in 117 minutes of play against OM in Ligue 1.

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02.-03. 04.2011. Mehelen ambiciozan NEBOJŠA PAVLOVIĆ (KORTRIJK, BELGIJA 1)

Počinje plej-of, u grupi za titulu sve domaće ekipe su favoriti, ali izdvajam samo keca na Genk, koji ne odustaje od borbe za titulu, iako Anderleht i dalje smatram najozbiljnijim kandidatom za prvo mesto.

GENK – LOKEREN     1
Anderleht – Standard     1

Druga grupa plej-ofa, u kojoj je osam klubova, bori se za jedno mesto u Ligi Evrope, mnogi timovi su bez ambicija, a zbog reprezentativnog vikenda neki od njih su igračima dali slobodne dane. Takav slučaj je sa Lirsom, zbog čega mislim da će Serkl Briž da pobedi, mada budite oprezni jer domaćina čeka polufinale Kupa Belgije.

SERKL BRIŽ – LIRS     1

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01.-04. 04. 2011. Stabek na mukama BOJAN ZAJIĆ (VALARENGA, NORVEŠKA)

Rozenborg je proteklog vikenda poražen u prvenstvu nakon 33 utakmice, što je šokiralo sve u Norveškoj, pogotovo zbog činjenice da je Bran slabiji nego lane. Pokazalo se da dvojica „klinaca“ nisu prava zamena za igrače koji su napustili klub, ali Rozenborg je i pored toga veliki favorit protiv kluba koji je u prvom kolu doživeo debakl na svom terenu.
ROZENBORG – STABEK 1


Mi posle pobede u gostima imamo debi pred svojim navijačima i, naravno, idemo na pobedu. 
VALERENGA – ALESUND 1, 0-2


Očekujem i trijumf Lilestrema, koji je bio izuzetno efikasan na premijeri protiv Stabeka.
Lilestrem – Bran 1

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02.-04. 04. 2011.“Krasni” CSKA ALEKSANDAR VESELINOVIĆ, TRENER U RUSIJI

Krasnodar našeg Slavoljuba Muslina je odlično započeo prvenstvo, ali u ovom kolu gostuje timu CSKA. U Rusiji se zna ko je ko, pa uz svu naklonost ka Krasnodaru, moram da igram jedinicu na velikana iz Moskve. 
CSKA – KRASNODAR     1


Lokomotiva je favorit na utakmici protiv Rostova, 
Lokomotiva – Rostov     1


a očekujem i trijumf Zenita, ma koliko teško bilo gostovati Spartaku iz Nalčika. 
Spartak N. - Zenit     2

Miodrag Božović sa svojim Dinamom gostuje u Nižnjem Novgorodu, kod novog prvoligaša Volge. Domaćin je kupio 16 fudbalera u prelaznom roku, potrebno je vreme da se uigraju, pa verujem da Grof neće pretrpeti poraz.
Volga – Dinamo     X2

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30.03. (Wed) 04:00 Costa Rica - Argentina

DID YOU KNOW?

* Costa Rica coach Ricardo La Volpe is a former Argentina international who won the 1978 World Cup as a reserve goalkeeper.

* The Tricolor drew 2-2 with China in their last friendly international encounter last week.

* Costa Rica’s previous game too had ended in a 2-2 draw. It was against South American opposition Venezuela.

* Argentina have suffered defeat just once since Sergio Batista took over - to Asian powerhouse Japan.

* Apart from that defeat and last week’s 1-1 draw with the USA, the South American giants have won all their games under their new manager, including those against Spain, Brazil and Portugal.

* 11 of the 24 players included in the current squad by Batista are 24 years of age or under.

LAST MEETING

January 27, 2010: Argentina 3-2 Costa Rica

Jose Sosa gave Argentina the lead after just 12 minutes but eight minutes later Michael Barrantes restored parity for Costa Rica. Giullermo Burdisso put the former world champions into the lead before the break, and although Diego Madrigal equalised on 76 minutes, moments later Franco Zara found the target to win the match 3-2 for his side.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Costa Rica: Navas; Mora, Umana, G. Martinez, Marshall; Oviedo, Borges, Bolanos, Barrantes; Ruiz, Saborio

Argentina: Andujar; Angeleri, Garay, Fazio, Rojo; Banega, Mascherano, Biglia; Gaitan, Messi, Pastore

Prediction

Just like the USA last week, Costa Rica will be up for a good and competitive game and will push Argentina hard. However, it is likely that the South Americans will emerge victorious in this encounter.

Costa Rica 0-2 Argentina

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29.03. (Tue) 19:45 Romania - Luxembourg

DID YOU KNOW?

* Romania captain Cristian Chivu will miss the match with a calf injury.

* The Tricolori have only two points from their first four qualifying matches.

* Romania haven't lost to Luxembourg in their last four games.

* Luxembourg have conceded 16 goals in their last four meeting with Romania.

* Luxembourg have failed to score a single goal in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

* Luxembourg sit dead last in Group D with one point to their name.

LAST MEETING

October 17, 2007: Luxembourg 0-2 Romania

Romania ran out comfortable 2-0 winners over Luxembourg in a Euro 2008 qualification match. Florentin Petre netted the opener just before the half-time interval before Ciprian Marica put the match to bed on the hour mark.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Romania: Pantilimon; Rapa; Tamas, Goian, Rat; Torje, Alexa, Florescu, Deac; Marica, Mutu

Luxembourg: Joubert; Hoffmann, Blaise, Laterza, Schnell; Payal, Mutsch, Leweck, Bettmer, Gerson; Joachim

Prediction

Romania have too much firepower upfront for Luxembourg to handle and should pick up their first win of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign against the perennial European doormats.

Romania 2-0 Luxembourg

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29.03. (Tue) 19:05 Israel - Georgia

DID YOU KNOW?

* Israel have two wins in five competitive matches against Georgia (W2 D2 L1).

* Yossi Benayoun leads the team in scoring in Euro 2012 qualifying but will miss Tuesday's match due to injury.

* Israel can leapfrog Georgia in Group F with a win in Tel Aviv.

* Georgia have nine points from five games in the group.

* Georgia are undefeated in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

* David Siradze leads the team in scoring with two goals.

LAST MEETING

September 07, 2010: Georgia 0-0 Israel

The goalkeepers were the stars of the show as they stood tall and proud in the scoreless draw in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Tbilisi.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Israel: Aouate; Ben Haim, Gershon, Cohen, Ziv; Refaelov, Natcho, Twatha, Kayal' Barda, Damari

Georgia: Revishvili; Salukvadzc, Khubutia, Kaladze, Amisulashvili; Khizanishvili, Kankava, Kobiashvili, Daushvili; Dvalishvili, Iashvili,

Prediction

Both teams are coming off big wins on Saturday and will be eager to add more points to their tally. A score draw seems the likely outcome in Tel Aviv.

Israel 1-1 Georgia

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29.03. (Tue) 19:00 Sweden - Moldova

DID YOU KNOW?

* Sweden have scored nine goals in their last two matches against Moldova.

* Sweden are missing three first team regulars in defence.

* Zlatan Ibrahimovic has two goals in three Euro 2012 qualifying matches.

* Moldova are level on points with Sweden (7).

* Anatolie Doros and Alexandru Suvorov have two goals each in the current qualifying campaign.

* Captain Alexandru Epureanu will miss the match with a thigh injury.

LAST MEETING

June 6, 2001: Sweden 6-0 Moldova

Sweden brushed Moldova aside thanks to four goals from Henrik Larsson in the 2002 World Cup qualifier in Gothenburg. Niclas Alexandersson and Marcus Allback added single efforts in an easy win.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Sweden: Wiland; Lustig, Granqvist, J. Olsson, Wendt; Wernbloom, Kallstrom; Larsson, Elmander, Wilhelmsson; Ibrahimovic

Moldova: Namasco; Golovatenco, Boret, Armas, Bolohan; Andronic, Cojocari, Suvorov, Gatcan; Bugaev, Frunza

Prediction

Sweden should hardly break a sweat against Moldova and will pick up all three points in convincing fashion on Tuesday.

Sweden 3-0 Moldova

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29.03. (Tue) 20:45 Lithuania - Spain

DID YOU KNOW?

* Lithuania are currently stranded in fourth place in Group I with four points from three matches, two points behind second-placed Czech Republic, who have played a game more.

* They have failed to win in five attempts against the Spaniards, losing four times.

* Their first competitive match against Spain was in Seville on February 24, 1993 in a 1994 World Cup finals qualifier. They lost 5-0.

* In the reverse fixture in the group last year, Lithuania went down 3-1 to Spain in Salamanca.

* Spain’s 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in Granada on Friday evening saw them retain their 100 per cent record in the qualifying campaign and top Group I with 12 points from four matches.

* David Villa’s double on Friday made him the all-time highest goalscorer for la Furia Roja. He has 46 goals, two more than Raul.

* Only three members of Vicente del Bosque's squad play their football outside the Spanish Primera Division. Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Fernando Torres (Chelsea) and David Silva (Manchester City) all ply their trade in the English Premier League.

* Spain were placed together with Lithuania in the qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup finals. The current European and world champions were held to a goalless draw in Vilnius and escaped with a narrow 1-0 victory in Valencia, thanks to an Albert Luque goal.

LAST MEETING

October 8, 2010: Spain 3-1 Lithuania

Spain recorded a 3-1 victory over Lithuania in the reverse fixture at home. Fernando Llorente gave la Furia Roja the lead just two minutes into the second half and although Darvydas Sernas equalised soon, the Athletic Bilbao striker put his side back into the lead just moments later. David Silva wrapped up the points with his goal on 79 minutes.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Lithuania: Karcemarskas; Kijanskas, Skerla, Stankevicius, Radavicius; Semberas, E. Cesnauskis, Mikoliunas, Panka; Danilevicius, Sernas

Spain: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pique, Ramos, Capdevilla; Xavi, Busquets, Alonso; Navas, Villa, Iniesta

Prediction

Spain didn’t look particularly all-conquering against the Czech Republic last week but against a inferior opposition like Lithuania, Del Bosque’s team should collect the points with ease.

Lithuania 0-3 Spain

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29.03. (Tue) 20:45 Northern Ireland - Slovenia

DID YOU KNOW?

* Slovenia are currently ranked 17th in the world ahead of France, while Northern Ireland are ranked 40th, sandwiched between Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

* Slovenia have qualified for the European Championships just once, that coming in 2000 when they finished bottom of their group with one point behind Spain, Yugoslavia and Norway.

* Northern Ireland have never qualified for the European Championships but were just beaten to Euro 2008 by Sweden, a campaign that saw them beat Spain 3-2 at Windsor Park with David Healy scoring hat-trick.

* Slovenia are second in the group, ahead of Serbia on goal difference with both sides having seven points from five matches.

* Northern Ireland are fifth in the group with five points, two behind Slovenia, but have a game-in-hand on their visitors.

* The two sides have met three times in the last three years with Northern Ireland winning their last two matches 1-0 with Slovenia recording a 2-0 beforehand.

* In Group C, only Italy have conceded less than Northern Ireland. The Azzurri have conceded just the once – against Estonia – whilst Norn Iron have conceded three.

* Slovenia have won just two of their last eight European Championship qualifiers away from home.

* Northern Ireland have won five of their last seven European Championship qualifiers at home.

* Robert Koren will become the tenth most-capped Slovenian international ever if he wins his 57th cap on Tuesday.

LAST MEETING

September 3 2010: Slovenia 0-1 Northern Ireland

The two sides met at the Ljudski vrt Stadium in the first round of qualifiers, a match that ended 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal from Manchester United youngster Corry Evans after good work from his ex-United team-mate Craig Cathcart.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Northern Ireland: Camp; Baird, J Evans, Cathcart, Hughes; Brunt, C Evans, Clingan, Gorman; Lafferty, W Feeney.

Slovenia: S Handanovic; Illic, Mavric, Brecko, Jokic; Birsa, Koren, Radosavljevic, Kirm; Novakovic, Dedic.

Prediction

This match represents a must-win for both sides, but it’s more essential for the Northern Irish as if they lose this match they will be all but out of the running for qualification, while Slovenia have to win to keep just a slight amount of pressure on group-leaders Italy and to stay ahead of Serbia. The emphasis is very much on the hosts to attack their visitors and with Slovenia missing Bostjan Cesar, they are likely to be weaker than usual, however, Northern Ireland do not score many. It should be a low-scoring match but the home side can definitely pick up a much needed three points.

N. Ireland 1-0 Slovenia

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29.03. (Tue) 20:45 Belgium - Azerbaijan

DID YOU KNOW?

* Belgium are currently third in Group A with seven points from their five games but are unbeaten in the last three encounters.

* De Rode Duivels have won their last three away games, all by a scoreline of 2-0 but before that, they had lost seven in a row away from home and not won since their previous meeting with Azerbaijan, drawing even with Luxembourg in a friendly.

* Striker Moussa Dembele has had a mixed time of it against tomorrow's opponents - he scored in the 3-0 win in Brussels in 2006 with a rare header only to be handed a straight red card five minutes later.

* Azerbaijan are currently fifth in Group A with three points although they have only played three games, two less than Belgium.

* In their previous game, they stunned Turkey 1-0 to record one of the finest wins in the country's short footballing history. Captain Rashid Sadygov scored the winning goal six minutes before half-time.

* Azerbaijan have lost both times they have met Belgium, including a 3-0 defeat back in 2006.

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2007: Azerbaijan 0-1 Belgium

Belgium completed the double over Azerbaijan in their qualifying group for Euro 2008 thanks to a narrow one-goal victory in Baku. The winning goal came courtesy of journeyman striker Luigi Pieroni, who blasted the ball home from close range after managing to evade his marker.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Belgium: Mignolet ; Ciman, Kompany, Van Buyten, Vertonghen ; Simons, Defour, Witsel ; Dembele, Mirallas, Hazard

Azerbaijan: Agayev ; Melikov, Allahverdiyev, Abushev, Yunisoglu ; Shukurov, Amirguliyev, Chertoganov, Sadygov ; Nadyrov, Dzhavadov

Prediction

Belgium 2-0 Azerbaijan  

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29.03. (Tue) 20:30 Netherlands - Hungary

DID YOU KNOW?

* Hungary currently occupy second place in Group E of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with nine points from five games.

* Hungary have not qualified for a European Championships since 1972, when they finished fourth at the finals.

* Goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly is the most capped player in the current squad with 80 international appearances.

* The Hungarians hadn't lost since September 3, 2010 until last Friday's home defeat against Oranje.

* Star player Balazs Dzsudzsak is the only player in the current squad who plies his trade in the Dutch Eredivisie.

* Netherlands sit first in Group E of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with the maximum 15 points from five games.

* Oranje were eliminated in the quarter-finals in the last European Championship finals. Russia proved to be too strong in 2008 as they beat Holland 3-1 after extra time.

* Rafael van der Vaart is the most experienced player in the squad selected for Friday's game. The Tottenham ace has been capped 89 times.

* Holland were beaten only once in all of 2010. Spain beat the Dutch 1-0 in the final of the 2010 World Cup to shatter their dreams of winning the tournament for the first time in their history.

* Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has scored eight goals in four appearances during the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, but won't play on Tuesday due to a knee injury.

* Shot-stopper Jelle Ten Rouwelaar will make his Netherlands debut if he gets playing time.

LAST MEETING

March 25, 2011: Hungary 0-4 Netherlands

The two sides last met in Budapest last Friday and Holland cruised to a comfortable 4-0 away win. Hungary started the match with attacking intentions, but they were simply unable to contain Oranje. Goals from Rafael van der Vaart, Ibrahim Afellay, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie helped the World Cup finalists to the full three points.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Netherlands: Vorm; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Pieters; De Jong, Van der Vaart; Kuyt, Sneijder, Afellay; Van Persie

Hungary: Kiraly; Lazar, Vanczak, Juhasz, Laczko; Varga, Vadocz; Gera, Koman, Dzsudzsak; Rudolf

Prediction

Holland put in an impressive performance against the Hungaryans last Friday and recorded a comfortable 4-0 away win. Things probably won't be that easy again for Oranje as Hungary are expected to 'park the bus' on Tuesday evening. Nevertheless, Netherlands have the class to pick up the full three points again and will make it a perfect 18 points from six games.

Netherlands 2-0 Hungary

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29.03. (Tue) 20:30 Estonia - Serbia

DID YOU KNOW?

* Estonia are currently fourth in Group H with six points from their four games, with two wins and two draws.

* Uruguay were the most recent opponents for Tarmo Ruutli's side in a friendly last week in Tallinn, which saw the home side triumph 2-0 in some rather unfamiliar conditions for the World Cup semi-finalists.

* National team captain Raio Piiroja, who plays at centre-half, notched up his century of caps against Uruguay. He made his debut in 1998 and has scored eight goals for his country.

* Serbia are currently in third place in Group B with seven points from their five matches after Friday night's 2-1 win over Northern Ireland.

* Serbian teams have won all four two-legged affairs in European club competitions against Estonian sides.

* The side's shock defeat to Estonia in their last, and only, meeting to date heralded the sacking of Radomir Antic as head coach. The former Barcelona tactician was replaced by Vladimir Petrovic.


LAST MEETING

October 8, 2010: Serbia 1-3 Estonia

Estonia pulled off perhaps the greatest result in their history with a stunning 3-1 win in Belgrade, which came despite the Baltic side falling behind to a Nikola Zigic opener. Tarmo Kink and Konstantin Vassiljev scored twice in the space of ten second-half minutes to mount a fine comeback before Aleksandr Lukovic's injury time own goal put the icing on the cake.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Estonia: Pareiko ; Sidorenkov, Rahn, Piiroja, Jaager ; Dmitrijev, Puri, Vassijlev, Kruglov ; Kink, Saag

Serbia: Brkic ; Ivanovic, Subotic, Bisevac, Kolarov ; Krasic, Milijas, Ninkovic, Tosic ; Ljajic ; Jovanovic

Prediction

Estonia 1-2 Serbia  

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29.03. (Tue) 19:30 Turkey - Austria

DID YOU KNOW?

* Turkey are currently fourth in Group A with six points from their four matches thus far, with two wins and as many defeats.

* Guus Hiddink's men have gone four games without a win, suffering away defeats to Germany and Azerbaijan in the group and to Hiddink's countrymen the Netherlands in a friendly last November.

* Since Arda Turan's winning goal in the 3-2 win over Belgium, Turkey have gone 372 minutes without finding the back of the net.

* Austria lie in second spot in Group A behind runaway leaders Germany with seven points from four matches as they bid to qualify for their second successive European Championship.

* Like their opponents tomorrow, Austria have also lost to the Netherlands in recent times, losing 3-1 in a friendly last month.

* Austria have only ever won once away to Turkey - in October 1977 during the qualifying campaign for the 1978 World Cup. They have lost on each of their further three trips to Turkey, in 1983, 1989 and 2001.

LAST MEETING

November 19, 2008: Austria 2-4 Turkey

Wolfsburg striker Tuncay was the star of the show in the previous meeting between these two sides, which was in a friendly. After Andreas Hoezl's opener had been cancelled out by Mehmet Aurelio, the then Middlesbrough man struck a hat-trick in twenty minutes, interrupted only by Hoezl's second goal on 53 minutes, which gave the home side some hope.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Turkey: Demirel ; Gonul, Gungor, Servet, Balta ; Mehmet Topal, Ekici ; Hamit Altintop, Selcuk Inan, Arda Turan ; Cenk Tosun

Austria: Macho ; Dag, Dragovic, Pogatetz, Fuchs ; Baumgartlinger, Alaba ; Harnik, Junuzovic, Arnautovic ; Janko

Prediction

Turkey 2-0 Austria 

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