30.11. (Wed) 21:05 Tottenham Hot. - PAOK

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM Gomes Walker, Sandro, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Livermore, Modric, Dos Santos Defoe, Pavlyuchenko

PAOK Kresic Etto, Contreras, Malezas, Lino Arias, Garcia, Fotakis Salpingidis, Athanasiadis, Papazoglou

Tottenham have five injury worries ahead of their clash at White Hart Lane on Wednesday evening, with Rafael van der Vaart, Danny Rose, Nico Kranjcar, Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson all unavailable for selection.
The visiting side will have an almost full squad to choose from, but former Porto player Vierinha will not travel to London after sustaining an injury at the weekend in their Greek Super League fixture against Kerkyra.
The hosts will most likely be taking this tie seriously with three out of the four teams all up for a place in the last 32 of the Europa League, with the visitors especially geared up after going unbeaten so far in Group A and currently topping the table by a narrow solitary point.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This is the 23rd Europa League (or equivalent) campaign for PAOK.

• The side hold the second most consecutive participations in Europe’s second tier competition, entering the tournament nine times in a row from 1997/98 to 2005/06 – just one behind Belgian side Club Brugge's record of 10 uninterrupted entries.

• The Greek outfit’s most successful run in the tournament was back in the 1997/98 season, when they qualified for the second round by beating Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate in the first, but lost to Spanish side Atletico Madrid 9-6 over two legs.

• Current attacker Dimitrios Salpingidis (pictured right) is PAOK’s most appeared player in a Uefa competition and also the side’s highest goalscorer in Europe.

• Tottenham were the inaugural winners of the now defunct Uefa Cup in 1972 and last won the tournament in 1984.

• The game against Laszlo Boloni’s side will be a landmark for Spurs, with the north London outfit playing their 150th game in a Uefa competition, whilst PAOK can record their 150^th European goal against Harry Redknapp’s men.

• Spurs made the last 32 in their last Europa League campaign back in 2008/09, which was the last in a trio of consecutive appearances.

Prediction

Wednesday night’s clash will come down to who wants it the most. Tottenham are just one point off the top of Group A and know a win will put them in a prime position to progress into the last 32.
However, pride is at stake for PAOK as they attempt to keep their unbeaten run going as well as staying ahead of their opponents going into the final group game.

Editor's Prediction

Tottenham 2-1 PAOK

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30.11. (Wed) 20:45 Manchester Utd. - Crystal Palace

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED Amos Rafael, Smalling, Fryers, Fabio Valencia, Pogba, Fletcher, Park Diouf, Macheda

CRYSTAL PALACE   Price Clyne, McCarthy, Gardner, Moxey Ambrose, Garvan, Dikgacoi, Scannell Zaha, Easter

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to ring the changes for this quarter-final but it looks to be too soon for Danny Welbeck who is still suffering with a muscle injury and Michael Owen is definitely out with a thigh injury. Chris Smalling and Darron Gibson are back in contention for the Red Devils, with youngsters Paul Pogba and Ezekiel Fryers two fledglings set to start.

Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman welcomes back influential midfielder Darren Ambrose but he will be without Dekel Keinan as he is cup tied after representing Cardiff in earlier rounds. Another loanee, striker Chris Martin, should be available but Jonathan Williams is still absent with a broken leg and Lee Hills and Alex Marrow are also out.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sir Alex won his first major trophy at Manchester United when they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in the 1990 FA Cup final replay.

• Palace beat fellow Championship side Southampton in the last round, goals from Darren Ambrose and Jermaine Easter sealed a 2-0 victory over the league leaders.

• Manchester United cruised through to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over League Two side Aldershot with goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia.

• The last time the Eagles travelled to the North West they were beaten 5-2 in 2004, and weeks before they had lost the last League Cup encounter between the sides 2-0 with Louis Saha and Kieran Richardson getting the goals.

• Dougie Freedman has been in charge at Selhurst Park since the start of the year. The 37-year-old is another Glaswegian manager and he’ll face the leader of that group in Sir Alex.

• The two sides have met 41 times in their history and not surprisingly United have dominated the head-to-head matches with 26 wins, there have been nine draws and the Eagles have just six victories. In the League Cup this will be their sixth meeting and Palace have not won any of the previous five encounters.

• Palace are a strong side away from home this season – they have won four out of their nine away games but only average one goal per game on their travels.

• Although they have performed well in the Championship this season, the Eagles have not won since their victory over Southampton and have not scored a goal in their past five matches.

• The average age of United’s sides so far in this competition has been 26 versus Leeds and just 24 against Aldershot. They won both games 3-0.

• United will be without their top scorer in the competition, Michael Owen, but Palace will have theirs, Wilfried Zaha, available and keen to add to his three goals already.

Prediction

It’s hard to predict a game like this when the exact nature of Sir Alex ’s line-up is unknown. It will be a good test for the United youngsters against an improving Palace side under Freedman, but expect the home side to come out victorious.

Editor's Prediction

Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

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30.11. (Wed) 19:00 Celtic - Atletico Madrid

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CELTIC Forster Cha Du-Ri, Majstorovic, Loovens, Matthews Kayal, Wanyama, McCourt Samaras, Stokes, Hooper

ATLETICO MADRID Asenjo Perea, Miranda, Dominguez, Filipe Mario Suarez, Gabi Arda, Diego, Reyes Adrian

Celtic manager Neil Lennon will be wary of tinkering with a winning side too much for this crunch tie against the 2009-10 Europa League winners. His biggest decision will be which forwards to play and how to deploy them. Gary Hooper has been in fine goalscoring form, but he also has James Forrest, Georgios Samaras and Anthony Stokes at his disposal. Northern Ireland midfielder Paddy McCourt could come in for Joe Ledley on Wednesday night after making an appearance from the bench in their 5-0 thrashing of St Mirren over the weekend. Atletico Madrid will likely be lacking their star striker Radamel Falcao, who has a strained abductor muscle from Colombian international duty. Tiago Mendes, Eduardo Silvio and captain Antonio Lopez are also ruled out of the match at Celtic Park. Manager, Gregorio Manzano, will be aware of the larger threat the SPL side pose at their home ground despite beating them in Spain. Teenage goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, could be dropped by the former Sevilla boss having been red carded in their clash with Real Madrid on Sunday, which would see 22-year-old Sergio Asenjo given a chance between the sticks.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Atletico Madrid won the reverse tie in September 2-0. It was the first game of the group stage for both sides, with the Hoops not having lost in the tournament since.

• Celtic sit third in Group I with five points, below Wednesday’s Spanish opposition and Italian club Udinese, who both have seven points from four games.

• The La Liga club lost on Sunday 4-1 to their local rivals Real Madrid. Atletico took a surprise lead through Adrian but were eventually swept aside by Jose Mourinho’s team.

• SPL striker Gary Hooper (pictured right) has scored six times in the last five games for the Glaswegian club.

• The Spanish side, currently lying 11th in La Liga, beat Premier League club Fulham to take the 2009-10 Europa League crown.

• Celtic are on a run of five straight victories in all competitions. However, they have only collected one win in Europe this campaign, which came in their last match at home to France club Rennes.

• Atletico Madrid have the 19th worst away record in the Spanish top flight this season – they have won none, drawn one and lost five on their travels.

• The last time the Hoops lost was three days after their defeat against Manzano’s side, on September 18 against bitter rivals Rangers.

• In the Europa League, both clubs have an identical away record having both lost 2-0 and drawn 1-1 respectively.

Prediction

This game will be decisive for Celtic’s continental hopes. If Lennon’s men succumb to defeat their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage are all but gone, and a draw would be equally damning. The Scottish side are in fine form but, on the other hand, with only one scalp in Europe this season it would be foolish to immediately condemn the Spanish side to a loss. However, Atletico Madrid’s appalling away form has to be taken into consideration and – if Stokes, Samaras and Hooper perform as they have in recent games – then Celtic Park could be looking at a memorable victory.

Editor's Prediction

Celtic 4-2 Atl. Madrid

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29.11. (Tue) 21:00 Arsenal - Manchester City

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL Fabianski Djourou, Squillaci, Miquel, Yennaris Coquelin, Benayoun, Rosicky Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park, Arshavin

MANCHESTER CITY Pantilimon Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Savic, Kolarov De Jong, Razak, Yaya Toure Johnson, Dzeko, Nasri

Both managers will have tough choices to make after disappointing results at the weekend. Though City can claim to have picked up a difficult point away at Anfield, it is still a case of two dropped points, whereas Arsenal know that is the case with their home draw against Fulham.

Arsene Wenger is likely to revert to his normal policy where the League Cup is concerned and select the cream of the academy crop, with players such as Francis Coquelin and Ignasi Miquel likely to feature.

For Roberto Mancini, it will probably be a more straightforward task of rotation to ensure all of his players are ready for if and when they are needed in the title run, though there may be a few more familiar faces than in the hosts' squad.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester City have taken an average of 2.66 points per game against opponents in the top half of the Premier League table compared to Arsenal's 1.16.

• Both sides have won the competition twice, with Manchester City's two wins coming in 1970 and 1976 and Arsenal's triumphs in 1987 and 1993.

• The closest either side has come to winning since then was in last year's final where Arsenal were beaten by a late Obafemi Martins strike for Birmingham to take a 2-1 victory.

• Arsenal have been runners up in the competition on five occasions, whereas City have been beaten in the final once.

Prediction

This game will be Manchester City's for the taking. That's not to say that Arsenal will be humiliated, but City will edge it.
With the quality City have in depth, they can field a second string team that would quite easily stay in the Premier League. Arsenal, however will mostly be fielding young players.
While those players do not tend to show any fear, they are likely to get found out against players of the calibre of Johnson or midfielders such as Nigel de Jong.

Editor's Prediction

Arsenal 1-2 Man City

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29.11. (Tue) 21:00 Barcelona - Rayo Vallecano

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

BARCELONA Valdes Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas Pedro, Messi, Villa

RAYO VALLECANO   Cobeno Tito, Labaka, Jordi, Casado Movilla, Fuego Lass, Michu, Piti Tamudo

Carles Puyol is expected to partner Gerard Pique in the centre of defence after being rested during the 1-0 defeat to Getafe on Saturday, so Eric Abidal is likely to start at left back.

Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta have both returned to training and are in contention for starts against Rayo. Expect the former to be given the nod ahead of Thiago in midfield with Iniesta due to start the game on the substitutes bench.

After Alexis Sanchez struggled to impress over the weekend, Pep Guardiola could rotate his attack with Pedro given a start alongside Lionel Messi and David Villa, after returning from a knee problem.

For the visitors, Raul Tamudo could be given the lone frontman role in place of Andrija Delibasic who struggled in the 2-1 defeat to Valencia over the weekend. Elsewhere, Michel Labaka is expected to return to the centre of defence in place of Javi Arribas.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Barcelona are currently six points behind fierce rivals Real Madrid and will be desperate for victory against Rayo.

• The fixture has been brought forward as Pep Guardiola's men will be heading to Japan in December to take part in the Club World Cup.

• Lionel Messi has grabbed 15 Liga goals this season, the same amount as the entire Rayo team combined.

• Rayo Vallecano have had a successful return to La Liga so far, with Jose Ramon Sandoval's men currently ninth in the table.

• The last time the two teams met in May 2003, Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners at Camp Nou.

• The average age of Rayo's squad is 26.6 years old, compared to Barcelona's which is 24.5.

Prediction

Despite the defeat to Getafe at the weekend, it is hard to imagine anything other than a comfortable win for the reigning Liga champions when they meet Rayo at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Editor's Prediction

Barcelona 3-0 Rayo Vallecano

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29.11. (Tue) 20:45 Chelsea - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA Turnbull Bosingwa, Alex, Ivanovic, Bertrand Romeu, McEachran, Lampard Kalou, Torres, Malouda

LIVERPOOL Reina Kelly, Coates, Carragher, Agger Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Henderson, Maxi Carroll

Andre Villas-Boas has a full squad to choose from, with the exception of suspended captain John Terry and long-term injury absentee Michael Essien. The Blues boss is likely to ring the changes though, with the only survivors from Saturday’s encounter with Wolves likely to be Branislav Ivanovic and Oriol Romeu. Fernando Torres could start against his former club, having been only used as a late substitute in the recent defeat to the Reds in the Premier League. Liverpool are unlikely to recall Craig Bellamy, who missed Sunday’s clash with Manchester City following Gary Speed's death. Kenny Dalglish is likely to hand a start to youngsters Martin Kelly and Jay Spearing, while Andy Carroll could get the nod after spending the last two matches on the bench.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chelsea have had their worst start to a season since Roman Abramovich took control of the club in 2003.

• Dalglish (right) is unbeaten against the Blues in 11 games as Liverpool manager.

• In the last seven seasons, this will be the 30th encounter between the two sides. Chelsea have won 12 and Liverpool 10.

• The Reds are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

• Villas-Boas’ men have scored in only two of their last five meetings with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

• Dalglish’s men have won the competition a record seven times, with their last success coming in 2003.

• The hosts have won the competition four times, once in 2005 with a victory over Liverpool in the final.

Prediction

The recent run of form shown by the two sides suggests that there might only be one winner on the night. However, considering the fact that both will make a number of changes and Liverpool had to face the tough test of Manchester City just 48 hours ago, expect a narrow home win.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

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29.11. (Tue) 20:45 Cardiff City - Blackburn Rovers

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CARDIFF CITY Marshall McNaughton, Gerrard, Turner, Taylor Cowie, McPhail, Gunnarson, Whittingham Earnshaw, Mason

MANCHESTER UNITED Robinson Lowe, Hanley, Dann, Givet Hoilett, N’Zonzi, Dunn, Rochina Roberts, Goodwillie

Filip Kiss missed Cardiff's win over Nottingham Forest with a slight knock, allowing Steven McPhail to come in and captain Mark Hudson, who couldn’t recover in time from a hamstring strain, was replaced by Anthony Gerrard once again.

Joe Mason may be rewarded for his winner at the weekend with a starting place as both sides think about resting players due to their current positions in their respective league tables.

Blackburn players Chris Samba, Martin Olsson and Michel Salgado all have hamstring problems, although the Spaniard could be available. Ryan Nelson is fit again and is being lined up for a place on the bench should he come through training unscathed. David Dunn returns after serving his one-match suspension for his red card against Wigan.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Blackburn have not kept a clean sheet in the league.

• They have conceded at least three goals in half their Premier League matches.

• They haven’t registered an away victory all season and haven’t won in eight matches.

• Their only league win this year came against Arsenal.

• Rovers got into the fifth round of the League Cup with a dramatic 4-3 win over Newcastle where they conceded twice in injury time only to win in extra time.

• They won this competition in 2002 with a 2-1 win over Tottenham.

• Cardiff are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions.

• They average two goals at home in the Championship.

• City are third in the league (although they have played a game more than most other teams) and have the third best home record, losing only once.

• These two sides have met five times in cup competitions, with Cardiff winning two matches, including the 1925 FA Cup semi-final although they lost the final 1-0 to Sheffield United. Blackburn have one win.

Prediction

Cardiff are flying high in the league and are in a great run of form, but Blackburn need the win much more so I’m expecting them to edge a thriller due to the attacking talent they undoubtedly have in their squad.

Editor's Prediction

Cardiff City 2-3 Blackburn

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29.11. (Tue) 20:45 Napoli - Juventus

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NAPOLI De Sanctis Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Zuniga Hamsik, Lavezzi Cavani

JUVENTUS Buffon Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini Vidal, Pirlo, Pazienza Pepe, Matri, Vucinic

Walter Mazzarri will be expecting a significant improvement in his side's performance levels after only collecting a disappointing 1-1 draw with Atalanta over the weekend. The result also came in stark contrast to their triumphant display midweek against Manchester City in the Champions League.

However, the Napoli coach received particular criticism for dropping Ezequiel Lavezzi on Saturday, and the Argentine forward is set to be reinstated in place of Goran Pandev, who failed to impress in his colleague's place as one of the two players supporting Edinson Cavani.

Meanwhile for Juventus, just one alteration is in the pipeline for Antonio Conte, as Claudio Marchisio is suspended for the trip to the San Paolo, and it is likely Michele Pazienza will be given the nod to face his former employers alongside Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo in midfield.

DID YOU KNOW

• Napoli have won just one of their past six Serie A fixtures, with no league victory in their last four.

• They have not achieved consecutive domestic victories all season.

• However, they are unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Juventus, winning three.

• Juventus remain the only side without a defeat in Serie A after 11 matches, including seven wins.

• In addition, they have won their past four on the bounce, but have kept just one clean sheet in the sequence.

• The away team has won just once in their past 11 meetings; a 3-2 triumph for Napoli during the 2009-10 campaign.

Prediction

The San Paolo cauldron will be simmering on Tuesday but Juventus will do just enough to escape with a point and keep their unbeaten record intact.

Editor's Prediction

Napoli 2-2 Juventus

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Carling Cup Opta Facts - 29 and 30 November

Arsenal v Manchester City

Arsenal have reached the quarter finals for the ninth successive season, a record for the competition.
City have only failed to score in one of their last 20 Carling Cup matches.
Arsenal and City have been drawn against each other six times, with the Gunners progressing on the first five occasions, but City winning the last meeting in December 2009.
City have failed to score in their last three matches against Arsenal, but the last two meetings at the Emirates have ended 0-0.
Man City have won none of their last 28 visits to Arsenal in League and Cup, losing 20 times.
Since winning 3-2 at Highbury in October 1975, City have only managed 10 goals in their 28 visits and more than one in a game just once (2-2 April 1991).
Arsenal have won 13 and lost none of their last 14 Carling Cup home games since losing 0-1 to Middlesbrough in 2004.
Of the nine all-Premier League ties in the League Cup this season, only three of the sides drawn at home have won the game in normal or extra time (excl. penalties).
Arsenal have lost just one of 58 midweek matches at the Emirates Stadium in all competitions.

Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers

Cardiff and Blackburn haven't met since the 2004-05 FA Cup when Rovers won a replay 3-2 at home after drawing 1-1 at Ninian Park.
Rovers have won three and lost none of the last five matches against Cardiff in all competitions.
Blackburn have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight away Carling Cup matches and conceded nine in their last two games on the road.
Rovers have gone nine League Cup games without a clean sheet, conceding 22 goals in that run.
Cardiff have won eight and lost none of their last nine home Carling Cup matches.
Blackburn Rovers have progressed to the next round on the last 14 occasions that they have faced a second-tier side in the League Cup.
Cardiff have lost nine and drawn one of their last 10 Carling Cup matches against top-flight opposition.

Chelsea v Liverpool

The Reds have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 Carling Cup matches.
Chelsea and Liverpool have played each other four times in the League Cup, with two wins apiece.
Last season when Chelsea met Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, Raul Meireles was playing for the Reds and scored the winning goal.
Liverpool have not won three successive meetings in all competitions against Chelsea. The last time that they won four in a row versus the Pensioners was August 1974.
Chelsea have been eliminated at the League Cup quarter final stage on four of the last eight occasions that they have reached this round, including in 2009/10 when they lost on penalties to Blackburn Rovers.
Liverpool have been knocked out of the League Cup at the quarter final stage on the last two occasions that they have got this far, including versus Chelsea (0-2 at Stamford Bridge) in December 2007.

Manchester United v Crystal Palace

Michael Owen has scored 12 goals in his last 12 League Cup appearances.
Manchester United suffered an embarrassing 0-4 away defeat at West Ham in the quarter-final of the Carling Cup last season.
Before that game against West Ham, Manchester United had won five successive League Cup quarter-final ties.
Crystal Palace have won their last three League Cup quarter final ties against top-flight opposition - Sunderland in 2000, Man City in 1994 and Chelsea in 1992.
The Eagles have scored exactly two goals in each of their last four successive League Cup matches.
Palace have failed to score in five of their last six games in all competitions against Manchester United.
The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 13 matches against Crystal Palace in all competitions.
Palace's last victory over Manchester United came back in May 1991 at Selhurst Park; 3-0 thanks to goals from Ian Wright and John Salako (2).

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Championship Opta Facts - November 29th

Burnley v Ipswich

Ipswich are unbeaten in seven meetings with Burnley, though five of the seven have ended in draws.
The Tractor Boys have won their last two trips to Turf Moor, netting five goals in total and conceding just one.
Burnley's five Championship games in November have seen 19 goals scored - more than any other side in the division.
Jay Rodriguez has scored 15 goals in the Championship in 2011, only Hull's Matty Fryatt has scored more (16).
Ipswich have lost their last five league games, with the last three league games all ending in a 2-3 scoreline.

Derby v Brighton

Derby have won four and drawn two of their last six meetings with Brighton (in all competitions), not losing to the Seagulls since November 2002.
Brighton have never won at Pride Park; their last victory away at Derby came at the old Baseball Ground back in March 1984 (3-0).
Derby have lost all four of their league games in November so far.
Brighton defender Lewis Dunk has been given seven yellow cards in the Championship already this term; no player has been given more.

Leicester v Blackpool

The last six meetings between the Foxes and the Seasiders in all competitions have been won by the odd goal, with Leicester winning the last two meetings 2-1.
Leicester have only lost one of their last six home meetings with Blackpool; a 0-1 defeat in August 2007.
Blackpool have scored more goals than any other side in the Championship so far in November (10).
Eight of Leicester's last nine league goals have arrived in the second half.

Middlesbrough v West Ham

The Hammers are unbeaten in five league meetings with ‘Boro, winning four and drawing one.
These sides last met in the league outside the top flight in 1990/91 (the Old Second Division) and both meetings ended goalless.
West Ham have collected a league-high 20 points in away games this season in the Championship.
Middlesbrough have drawn eight games in the Championship this season; more than any other side.
However, Tony Mowbray's side have also lost the fewest games this season (2).

Millwall v Doncaster

Doncaster have only won one of their last five trips to the home of Millwall, losing three times.
Only two of the last 12 clashes between the Lions and Rovers have ended in draws.
Of players to have scored three or more goals, Darius Henderson has the best shot conversion rate in the Championship this season (38.1%).
Doncaster have only scored more than one goal in a Championship game on two occasions this season.
Millwall have only managed to score a first-half goal in two of their last 15 league games.

Nottingham Forest v Leeds

Leeds are unbeaten in the last 10 meetings with Forest, winning four and drawing six (five of which finished 1-1).
The Whites are also without defeat on their last five trips to the City Ground, though four of the five have ended in draws.
Both of these Championship heavyweights have found the net in eight of the last nine clashes.
Robert Snodgrass has assisted nine goals in the Championship so far this season; a league-high.
Forest have won three of their last four home games in the Championship.

Southampton v Hull

The last three clashes between the Saints and the Tigers have seen a combined total of 15 goals.
Hull haven't won away at Southampton since February 1951, losing six and drawing five of 11 trips since that win.
Southampton have won all nine of their league games at home this season, collecting seven more points in home matches than any other Championship side.
Hull striker Matty Fryatt has scored 16 Championship goals in 2011; more than any other player.

Watford v Bristol City

Only one of the last eight meetings between Watford and Bristol City have been won by the home team.
Despite this, none of the last five clashes between the Hornets and the Robins at Vicarage Road have ended in draws, with Watford winning two and losing three.
Watford have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four Championship matches, conceding only one goal in the other game in this run.
Watford will be looking to win four successive home games for the first time since January.
On the last occasion that Watford kept three successive clean sheets in the league at home, the third game in that run was against Bristol City (Feb 2010).

Reading v Peterborough

There have been 18 goals netted in the last four clashes between Reading and Peterborough combined.
The Royals are unbeaten in 10 home meetings with the Posh in all competitions, winning four and drawing six.
The Posh are the only side in the Championship yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
Peterborough midfielder Grant McCann has scored five goals from outside the box in the Championship this season; more than any other player.

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27.11. (Sun) 21:00 Olympique Marseille - Paris Saint Germain

Panoramic

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MARSEILLE Mandanda Azpilicueta, Diawara, N'Koulou, Morel Lucho Gonzalez, Diarra, Cheyrou Ayew, Remy, Valbuena

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN Sirigu Ceara, Lugano, Sakho, Tiene Bodmer, Matuidi Menez, Pastore, NeneGameiro

Olympique de Marseille boss Didier Deschamps is likely to recall left-back Jeremy Morel after the defender missed out in the midweek Champions League defeat to Olympiakos. The same goes for Cesar Azpilicueta, who had been dropped in favour of Charles Kabore on the right flank.
Lucho Gonzalez could also be in the frame for a start after being reduced to a cameo on Wednesday, and he could replace Jordan Ayew for the hotly-contested Clasico. Stephane Mbia returned to competitive action on Wednesday, but a high-profile game could come too early for the Cameroonian, who is still short of being match-fit.
Andre-Pierre Gignac will not feature against the Ligue 1 leaders after an alleged bust-up with the manager left him relegated to the reserve squad.
Under-fire Antoine Koumbouare has been told by sporting director Leonardo that his job is safe whatever the result at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday.
The PSG coach enjoys no injury concerns and will surely continue with the 4-2-3-1 formation which has seen them top Ligue 1 after 14 games.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Olympique de Marseille sit 10th in Ligue 1 after collecting 18 points from 14 games.

• L'OM were defeated by Montpellier 1-0 last weekend, before going down to Olympiakos in the Champions League, delaying their progress to the last 16.

• The next goal OM score in this fixture will be their 100th in the Derby de France.

• Marseille have recorded 30 wins in this fixture in the league over the years, dwarfing PSG's 18.

• Paris Saint-Germain were defeated 1-0 at home by Nancy on Sunday.

• Antoine Koumbouare's men sit joint-top of Ligue 1 with 30 points so far.

• Les Parisiens will be keen to take revenge for their previous defeat away to Marseille, losing 2-1 in March.

• PSG have failed to keep a clean sheet in their previous 10 games against their arch-rivals.

• Les Parisiens will be without their fans at the Stade Velodrome, after the LFP banned away support in this fixture due to a history of trouble. OM fans will be banned at the Parc des Princes when they next meet.

Prediction

These games are never short of controversy, drama and excitement and, despite both sides needing a win after last week's setbacks, it looks as if Marseille need the victory more after a week of bust-ups and frustrating defeats.
With PSG unable to count on travelling support, it could well be OM who celebrate a narrow win at the final whistle.

Editor's Prediction

Marseille 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain

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