Tuesday, March 15, 2011

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16.03. (Wed) 20:45 Real - Olympique Lyonnais

DID YOU KNOW?

* Real Madrid have faced Olympique Lyonnais seven times in the Champions League but have yet to win.

* Los Blancos are the only side in the Champions League this season yet to concede a goal at home. Along with Manchester United they are also the only team yet to lose in the competition.

* Jose Mourinho has lost only four of his 39 Champions League home matches as a coach (twice with Porto and one each with Chelsea and Inter).

* Los Merengues striker Karim Benzema has scored on average a goal every 55 minutes in the Champions League this campaign. His goal against Lyon in the first leg was the fastest by a substitute in the competition in 2010-11.

* Real Madrid have been knocked out of the Champion League from the round of 16 stage for the last six years. Last season they went out to Lyon.

* Olympique Lyonnais have not won their last four Champions League matches, currently the longest run among the teams in the last 16 stage.

* Les Gones have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight away matches in the Champions League.

* Claude Puel’s side have drawn all of their three matches at the Santiago Bernabeu.

* No French club side has ever won against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in the Champions League/European Cup.

* Michel Bastos is suspended for the second leg in Madrid on Wednesday night.

LAST MEETING

February 22, 2011: Olympique Lyonnais 1-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid took the lead against Lyon in the second half through Karim Benzema. The France international forward found the target against his former club just 43 seconds after coming on as a substitute but with seven minutes remaining the French giants struck back, as Cris headed towards Bafetimbi Gomis, whose volley seared into the net.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Real Madrid: Casillas; Ramos, Carvalho, Pepe, Arbeloa; Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Oezil, Ronaldo; Benzema

Lyon: Lloris; Reveillere, Cris, Lovren, Kallstrom; Toulalan, Gourcuff, Gonalons; Lisandro, Gomis, Cesar Delgado

Prediction
Last season Real Madrid were knocked out of the round of 16 by Lyon and have failed to muster a spot in the quarter-finals for the last six years. However, this time with Mourinho in charge and a host of world class players the Spanish giants will be favourites to progress especially as they have an away goal. A narrow win for los Blancos should do the trick.
Real Madrid to win 2-1 @ 8.50/Over 2.5 goals @ 1.67
Real Madrid 2-1 O. Lyon

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16.03. (Wed) 20:45 Chelsea - FC Kobenhavn

DID YOU KNOW?

* Chelsea are aiming to reach the last eight for the fourth time in five years, having seen their record tarnished after crashing out to eventual champions Inter last term.

* The Blues have lost just one of their last 25 Champions League matches at Stamford Bridge.

* Nicholas Anelka has scored 10 in his last 11 Champions League starts.

* With 66 shots wide, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have hit more efforts either side of the post that any other team in the competition.

* Branislav Ivanovic is Chelsea’s only ever-present Champions League performer this term, having started every game in this year's tournament.

* With only seven to their name, Copenhagen have the joint lowest goal tally (alongside Manchester United) for teams that are still remaining in the tournament.

* The visitors also have the lowest average possession percentage of the competition’s remaining teams, averaging at 46 per cent.

* No Scandinavian side has ever won a Champions League knockout-stage match.

* Senegalese striker Dame N'Doye has committed 22 fouls, more than any other player still in the competition ahead of the second legs.

* Stale Solbakken’s side have secured 54 points in 21 league games so far this season, the highest ever total in the Danish Superliga at this stage of the campaign.

LAST MEETING

February 22, 2011: FC Copenhagen 0-2 Chelsea

A Nicolas Anelka brace put the visitors in the driving seat with a comfortable 2-0 win over the Danish champions.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Chelsea: Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Malouda; Torres, Anelka.

Copenhagen: Wiland; Kvist, Zanka Jorgensen, Antonnson, Wendt; Bolanos, Claudemir, Kristensen, Vingaard; Santin, N’Doye.

Prediction
Much was made of Copenhagen’s potential ability to shock the Premier League champions when the draw was made but they offered very little in this tie’s first leg to justify their plaudits. Having lost two out of three in the league following their return from an extensive winter break, the Danish champions have yet to warm up and must do their best to simply avoid being blown away by a resurgent Chelsea.
Fernando Torres to score first Chelsea goal @ 3.75 
Chelsea 2-0 Copenhagen