10.04. (Sun) 21:00 Valencia - Villarreal

DID YOU KNOW?

* Valencia could take a giant step towards securing themselves a third-place finish, if they can overcome local rivals Villarreal at the Mestalla. They had replaced Villarreal in third spot last weekend and had built a three-point cushion after defeating Getafe 4-2.

* This gap will virtually be a seven point distance as Valencia had drawn 1-1 at El Madrigal. As La Liga considers head-to-head record of the teams level on points, this advantage may prove to be crucial, should both finish on same points.

* Los Che have not won a single game by more than two goals this season. Even the games that they have lost, the difference has not been greater than two goals except once.

* Valencia boss Unai Emery named a 19-man squad for the encounter, with Joaquin Sanchez, Miguel and Vicente Guaita all returning. David Navarro and David Albelda are still unavailable.

* The crowd at Mestalla has not seen a goal scored by the home side in their last three home games and only once Valencia has managed to defeat Villarreal in their last 10 meetings.

* In contrast, Villarreal have scored in their last three league away games. Despite this, Villarreal are also struggling for form having only won twice in their last nine league games.

* As far as both the teams are concerned they have failed to score only 11 times between them in this season out of 60 games combined. Thus, this match is unlikely to be a scoreless draw. In fact, only once out of in the last 10 games against each other, have both teams failed to score.

* Villarreal have lost to Valencia only once in their last 10 meetings.

* The Yellow Submarine have the fourth best record in La Liga away from home. Despite this they have conceded more goals than they have scored. Even if the ‘Big two’ matches are taken out of equation, they have conceded 14 goals in 12 away games.

* Both the teams tend to concede near the end of the first halves, with the average time of first conceded goal being the 40th minute mark.

* Juan Carlos Garrido lost captain Gonzalo Rodriguez with a broken leg. He underwent an operation and is set to be sidelined for up to four months. Also missing due to injury are Marcos Senna, Cani and Angel Lopez.


LAST MEETING

January 6, 2011: Villarreal 4-2 Valencia

The two sides met in the last-16 of the Copa del Rey. After a goalless first leg draw at the Mestalla, Villarreal swept to a 4-2 victory in the return leg at El Madrigal in a stunning comeback win. Los Che took a first half lead through Ever Banega and Roberto Soldado, but Santi Cazorla and Giuseppe Rossi levelled the game in the first four minutes of the second half before Marco Ruben and Rossi struck to give El Submarino a thrilling win.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Valencia: César; Stankevicius, Ricardo Costa, Mathieu, Bruno Saltor; Tino Costa, Topal, Joaquin, Jonas, Mata; Soldado Valencia

Villarreal: Diego Lopez; Musacchio, Capdevilla, Mario Martínez, Marchena; Bruno Soriano, Cazorla, Valero, Rubén; Rossi, Nilmar

Prediction

This is a very unusual match. If the La Liga form book is to be considered, Valencia are hands down winners. However, Villarreal have a formidable record at Mestalla in the recent years. However, with loss of defensive players including their captain Gonzalo, it seems a bit difficult for the yellow submarine to get anything out of this match.

Valencia 2-1 Villarreal

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10.04. (Sun) 20:45 Fiorentina - Milan

DID YOU KNOW?

* Fiorentina are currently riding a six-game unbeaten streak.

* The Viola have only lost once in their last 11 Serie A encounters at the Artemio Franchi (W7, D3, L1).

* The Tuscan based outfit have 12 draws this season, which is joint tops in the league.

* Adrian Mutu is suspended for Sunday's encounter.

* Milan haven't tasted defeat in their last 10 Serie A matches against Fiorentina (W6, D4).

* The Rossoneri haven't scored more than two goals at the Artemio Franchi since 1992.

* The current league leaders have only one loss in their last 10 away matches (W6, D3, L1).

* Antonio Cassano will miss the match after picking up two yellow cards against Inter last weekend.

LAST MEETING

November 20, 2010: Milan 1-0 Fiorentina

Fiorentina looked good in the opening stages but couldn't convert their chances and paid the price when Zlatan Ibrahimovic acrobatically volleyed home from inside the penalty area just before the half-time break.

Per Kroldrup summed up the Viola's frustrations when he received his second yellow card for dissent late in the game.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Fiorentina: Boruc; Comotto, Gamberini, Natali, Pasqual; Donadel, Montolivo, Vargas; Santana; Ljajic, Gilardino

Milan: Abbiati; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Flamini, Van Bommel, Boateng; Seedorf; Pato, Ibrahimovic

Prediction

Fiorentina are enjoying a good run at the moment but have a dreadful record in their past ten Serie A games with Milan. The league leaders are riding high following their derby day dismantling of Inter and will do just enough to squeak out a tough win in Tuscany.

Fiorentina 1-2 AC Milan

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10.04. (Sun) 17:00 Aston Villa - Newcastle United

DID YOU KNOW?

* Aston Villa are only two points away from the relegation zone and only three points away from bottom place.

* Gerard Houllier’s side have only lost four out of their 15 Premier League games at Villa Park this season.

* Ashley Young is currently top goalscorer for Aston Villa, having claimed eight goals this season, six of which have come in the Premier League.

* The Villans will be looking to claim their first victory in five games, with their last win coming at home to Blackburn in February.

* Victory for Aston Villa could see them jump from 16th place in the Premier League to 13th

* Newcastle United will be hoping for a repeat of their previous meeting this season, at St James' Park, when they routed Aston Villa 6-0.

* The Toon Army return to the scene of one of their most disappointing days, when a Damien Duff own goal confirmed relegation for Alan Shearer’s side in 2009.

* The St James' Park side scored four goals in their victory over Wolverhampton last week, having lost four goals to Stoke the week before.

* Newcastle will be without the services of top scorer Kevin Nolan, who is serving the first game of a two-match suspension.

* Alan Pardew’s side still have a number of injuries, with Leon Best, Hatem Ben Arfa, Alan Smith and Dan Gosling all still missing.

LAST MEETING

August 22, 2010: Newcastle United 6-0 Aston Villa

Andy Carroll became the hero of St James' Park as the striker hit a hat-trick in their first home game in the top flight after having secured promotion from the Championship. Kevin Nolan secured a double, with Joey Barton starting off the scoring, while John Carew missed a first half opportunity to put Villa ahead from the penalty spot.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Aston Villa: Friedel; Walker, Dunne, Collins, L Young; Downing, Reo-Coker, Makoun, A Young; Agbonlahor, Bent.

Newcastle: Harper; Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; R Taylor, Barton, Guthrie, Gutierrez; Ameobi, Lovenkrands.

Prediction

Both sides have scored a lot of goals recently, while also conceding. Newcastle come into the game on a positive note after their four-goal destruction of Wolves last week and will be hoping to repeat the feat against Aston Villa.

Aston Villa 2-3 Newcastle

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10.04. (Sun) 15:00 Sampdoria - Lecce

DID YOU KNOW?

* Sampdoria are stationed in 16th place in Serie A with 32 points from 31 matches, just a couple of points above the relegation zone.

* The Blucerchiati garnered their first point under new coach Alberto Cavasin last weekend as they drew with Chievo.

* Samp have failed to score in 18 matches this season, more than any side in the Italian top flight.

* Lecce are placed 17th in the league standings with 31 points from as many matches, just a point above the bottom-three.

* The Lupi put an end to their four-game winless streak by defeating Udinese last weekend.

* Luigi De Canio’s side have the worst defensive record in the championship, having shipped 52 goals.

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2010: Lecce 2-3 Sampdoria

Giampaolo Pazzini gave Sampdoria the lead after just eight minutes and doubled the advantage before the half-time interval after Javier Chevanton was sent off for Lecce. However, the Giallorossi staged a sensational comeback in the second half, as David Di Michel and Souleymane Diamoutene found the target to make it 2-2 with just seven minutes of normal time remaining. But Pazzini accomplished his hat-trick in the dying moments to earn Samp a memorable 3-2 win.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Sampdoria: Curci; Volta, Gastaldello, Lucchini; Mannini, Tissone, Palombo, Poli, Ziegler; Pozzi, Maccarone

Lecce: Rosati; Donati, Fabiano, Tomovic; Munari, Vives, Olivera, Mesbah; Bertolacci; Jeda, Di Michele

Prediction

Just one point separates the two teams, both of whom are just above the relegation zone, and it promises to be an ugly game of football. Sampdoria have the home advantage and given Lecce’s poor away record in the league this season, the Genoa-based side should just about eke out all three points.

Sampdoria 1-0 Lecce

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10.04. (Sun) 15:00 Palermo - Cesena

DID YOU KNOW?

* Palermo are stationed 8th in Serie A with 43 points from 31 matches, seven points behind sixth-placed Roma.

* The Rosanero sacked coach Serse Cosmi following their 4-0 defeat to Catania in the Sicilian derby last weekend. He replaced Delio Rossi just over a month ago, and Rossi has made a return to the bench.

* The Aquile have lost six of their last seven league encounters, scoring just once in their last six matches.

* The Sicilians have the second worst defensive record in the championship, having shipped 50 goals.

* Cesena are currently third from bottom in the league with 30 points from 31 matches, just a point from safety.

* The Seahorses have lost just once in their last six league encounters.

* Massimo Ficcadenti’s side have won just one of their last seven matches on the road.

* Cesena striker Erjon Bogdani has scored four goals against Palermo. In January 2006 he netted his only hat-trick in Serie A so far.

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2010: Cesena 1-2 Palermo

Josip Ilicic scored for Palermo as early as the 11th minute but Erjon Bogdani equalised. However, Fabrizio Miccoli put the visitors ahead six minutes into the second half and it finished 2-1 to Palermo.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Palermo: Sirigu; Cassani, Goian, Bovo, Balzaretti; Acquah, Bacinovic, Nocerino; Kurtic; Miccoli, Pinilla

Cesena: Antonioli; Santon, Von Bergen, Felipe, Lauro; Caserta, Colucci, Parolo; Giaccherini, Jimenez; Malonga

Prediction

Delio Rossi is back in the Palermo hotseat and the Rosanero are likely to return to winning ways, especially as their opposition this weekend is a certain Cesena, who are third from bottom.

Palermo 2-0 Cesena

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10.04. (Sun) 15:00 Lazio - Parma

DID YOU KNOW?

* Lazio are unbeaten in their last five games at the Stadio Olimpico.

* They have conceded seven goals in their past five matches overall.

* Hernanes leads the team in scoring with seven Serie A goals.

* Matuzalem, Stefano Mauri and Giuseppe Biava will miss the match through suspension.

* Parma have only picked up one win in their last 10 games (W1, D4, L5).

* The Gialloblu have defeated Lazio only once in their past 10 Serie A fixtures.

* Parma have conceded 10 goals in their last five away matches.

* Stefano Morrone is banned and will miss Sunday's encounter.

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2010: Parma 1-1 Lazio

The Gialloblu jumped out to a 23rd minute lead courtesy of veteran striker Hernan Crespo before Sergio Floccari levelled matters on the cusp of half-time.

There were chances for both teams in the second half but the goalkeepers stood their ground and the spoils were shared.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Lazio: Muslera; Lichtsteiner, Stendardo, Dias, Garrido; Brocchi, Ledesma; Gonzalez, Floccari, Sculli, Zarate

Parma: Mirante; Zaccardo, Lucarelli, Paletta; Valiani, Galloppa, Dzemaili, Modesto; Candreva; Giovinco, Amauri

Prediction

Parma can only boast one win from their past ten games and last weekend's 2-1 setback against Bari cost Pasquale Marino his job. Franco Colomba will be tasked with trying to steer the ship away from the relegation zone but Lazio won't be in a sympathetic move. They need all three points in the race for a Champions League spot and will put the Gialloblu to the sword.

Lazio 2-0 Parma

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10.04. (Sun) 15:00 Cagliari - Brescia

DID YOU KNOW?

* Cagliari are currently placed 10th in the Serie A standings with 42 points from 31 matches.

* The Sardinians have won seven of their last eight matches with Brescia at home.

* Roberto Donadoni’s side ended a run of three defeats last weekend after winning against Genoa at the Marassi.

* Brescia are stationed second from bottom in the table with 29 points from 31 matches, two points from safety.

* The Biancoazzurri are winless in their last 13 away matches, picking up just four points during this period.

* Giuseppe Iachini’s side have lost 16 of the 19 matches in which they have fallen behind in.

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2010: Brescia 1-2 Cagliari

Andrea Caracciolo gave Brescia the lead from the spot after 20 minutes but Cagliari equalised after the hour-mark through Alessandro Matri. Minutes later Daniele Conti netted his side’s second and that proved to be the winning goal for the Sardinians.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Cagliari: Agazzi; Pisano, Canini, Astori, Agostini; Biondini, Conti, Nainggolan; Cossu, Lazzari; Acquafresca

Brescia: Arcari; Zebina, Bega, Zoboli; Zambelli, Vass, Zanetti, Heternaj, Accardi; Eder, Caracciolo

Prediction

A win for Cagliari at home appears to be the most likely outcome.

Cagliari 2-0 Brescia

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10.04. (Sun) 15:00 Bologna - Napoli

DID YOU KNOW?

* Bologna have won five out of their past six Serie A meetings against Napoli at the Renato Dall'Ara

* The Rossoblu have only lost one of their last five home matches (W2, D2, L1)

* Marco Di Vaio leads the team in scoring with 19 goals.

* Di Vaio has scored five out of Bologna's last seven goals.

* Napoli have scored 19 goals in the last 15 minutes of games this season.

* Joint top Serie A scorer Edinson Cavani will miss the match through suspension.

* The Partenopei are currently riding a three-game winning streak and have scored nine goals during that span.

* The Azzurri's 62 points in Serie A is a club record.

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2010: Napoli 4-1 Bologna

The hosts ran rampant and wild against a shell-shocked Bologna side at the San Paolo. Christian Maggio opened the scoring two minutes into the encounter and Napoli never looked back. Marek Hamsik netted a brace and Edinson Cavani rounded things off with a goal in the 74th minute. Riccardo Meggiorini's second half strike is all that Bologna could muster.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Bologna: Viviano; Casarini, Portanova, Britos, Rubin; Perez, Mudingayi, Della Rocca; Ekdal; Ramirez, Di Vaio

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Pazienza, Yebda, Dossena; Hamsik, Mascara; Lavezzi

Prediction

Bologna fell to a heavy defeat in the first fixture between the sides but they have a pretty good track record at home against Napoli and will not have to face the daunting figure of Edinson Cavani.

The hosts will hang around for the most part until the Partenopei win it late to pick up three masssive points.

Bologna 1-2 Napoli

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10.04. (Sun) 15:00 Bari - Catania

DID YOU KNOW?

* Bari's victory last weekend against Parma snapped a 12-match winless streak.

* The Galletti have picked up only two points from their last five home games.

* Bari have scored only 19 goals in 31 games this season; the worst in Serie A.

* Catania have never lost to Bari in Serie A (W5, D2).

* Matias Silvestre is suspended and will miss the match.

* The Elefanti have accumulated only four points on their road travels this term.

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2010: Catania 1-0 Bari

The game at the Angelo Massimino seemed destined for a draw until Christian Terlizzi popped up to score the winner in the 82nd minute for the 10-man hosts.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Bari: Gillet; A. Masiello, Belmonte, Rossi, Parisi; Bentivoglio, Almiron, Gazzi; Huseklepp; Ghezzal, Rudolf

Catania: Andujar; Alvarez, Terlizzi, Spolli, Marchese; Carboni, Lodi; Schelotto, Ricchiuti, Bergessio; Maxi Lopez

Prediction

Bari have major problems finding the back of the net while Catania are hardly road warriors so a scoreless draw seems the most likely outcome.

Bari 0-0 Catania

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10.04. (Sun) 12:30 Blackpool - Arsenal

DID YOU KNOW?

* Since the turn of the year, Blackpool have lost 10 out of 14 games and now find themselves fighting for their safety in 17th position.

* The Tangerines also have only one win in their last eleven games – a 3-1 victory against Tottenham.

* Blackpool have shipped goals at the back at Bloomfield Road recently, conceding 11 goals in five matches.

* The Seasiders are bottom of the form table for the last five home games having only picked up four points out of a possible 15.

* Charlie Adam is Blackpool’s top scorer with 10 goals this season.

* The last time Blackpool beat Arsenal in the league was in 1965 when they edged an eight -goal thriller 5-3.

* The Gunners will want to put last week's 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers behind him as they hope to avoid going six games without a victory. If they fail to beat Blackpool it will represent their worst run since December 1998.

* Arsenal are also on a 13-game unbeaten run, but have drawn four of their last eight.

* Wojciech Szszcesny and Lukasz Fabianski are out for the rest of the season and 41-year-old Jens Lehmann has had to be drafted in, but despite the Gunners' goalkeeping problems they have only conceded against three of the last 11 teams they have played against.

* Arsenal are the best team away from home in the league having picked up 26 points, which is three more than Chelsea, their nearest rivals, over whom they have two games in hand.


LAST MEETING

August 21, 2010: Arsenal 6-0 Blackpool

Theo Walcott runs riot, grabbing a hat-trick as newly promoted Blackpool are given the run-around at the Emirates.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Blackpool: Kingson; Baptiste, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey; Grandin, Adam, Vaughan; Taylor-Fletcher, Varney, Beattie.

Arsenal: Almunia; Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy; Fabregas, Wilshere Nasri; Walcott, van Persie, Arshavin.

Prediction

Blackpool need to pick up wins and soon, but it will not be on Sunday. Arsenal will be reeling from drawing 0-0 with Blackburn Rovers last week and will be ensuring that they do not lose any more ground on Manchester United at the summit. They were better by six goals the last time the two sides met, and it looks likely to be another goal glut here with perhaps the Seasiders netting at least a goal or two, but the Gunners scoring more.

Blackpool 2-4 Arsenal

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10.04. (Sun) 12:30 Juventus - Genoa

DID YOU KNOW?

* Juventus are currently seventh in Serie A with 48 points from 31 matches, just two points off the final Europa League slot.

* The Old Lady have won their last two matches in the league with winger Milos Krasic scoring on both occasions.

* The Bianconeri are unbeaten in their last seven home matches against Genoa and have won six of them.

* Luigi Del Neri’s side have scored in each of their last 15 meetings with Genoa.

* Genoa are stationed in 12th place in the league with 39 points from 31 matches.

* The Grifoni have won just once in their last five Serie A matches.

* The Rossoblu have won just once in their last eight league matches on the road.

* Davide Ballardini’s side have conceded one fewer goal than defending Italian and European champions Inter in Serie A (34 compared to the Nerazzurri’s 35)

LAST MEETING

November 21, 2010: Genoa 0-2 Juventus

Juventus went ahead in the game after just 18 minutes when Eduardo scored an own goal. Five minutes later Milos Krasic secured the points for the Bianconeri.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Juventus: Storari; Sorensen, Bonucci, Barzagli, Traore; Aquilani, Melo, Marchisio; Krasic, Matri, Pepe

Genoa: Eduardo; Mesto, Kaladze, Dainelli, Moretti; Rossi, Konko, Milanetto, Antonelli; Palacio, Floro Flores

Prediction

Juventus have won their last two league matches and appear to have revived their chances of playing in Europe next season. Genoa have nothing to play for between now and the end of the season. A victory for the Bianconeri looks a likely outcome.

Juventus 2-0 Genoa

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