23.-24. 04. 2011. Bets of the week

23.04. (Sat) 18:30 Chelsea - West Ham UnitedWest Ham will have to get their act together quickly if they want to stay in the Premier League. Games are running out and they seem to have lost some belief and heart in their fight to escape the drop. They play Chelsea at the weekend and I am expecting an entertaining London derby.

Chelsea will feel they have a faint hope of fighting for the title and will show West Ham no mercy. The Blues will almost certainly score so the evens on both teams to get on the mark relies on the Hammers finding their shooting boots. With Cole, Ba and Keane as striking options and each they produce something out of the ordinary and should score at least once.

Match Odds: Chelsea 1.25, Draw 6.0, West Ham 11.0
Tip: Both teams to score @ 2.0

24.04. (Sun) 13:30 Rangers - Celtic
The early kick-off in the Scottish Premier League is an Old Firm affair as Celtic travel to Ibrox. Just four points separate the Bhoys from the Gers with both sides looking for an advantage in the chase for the title.

Rangers go into the derby in good form and an attacking mood, having won their last five games on the bounce, scoring four against Dundee United last time out. Celtic are in an identical spell; winning their last five games and also scoring four goals against Kilmarnock.

All of Rangers' last five home games and four out of Celtic's last six away games have all ended with at least three goals as both sides look to take charge in the run-in.

Match Odds: Rangers 2.25, Draw 3.20, Celtic 2.75
Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.91

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23.04. (Sat) 22:00 Athletic Bilbao - Real Sociedad

DID YOU KNOW?

* Athletic Bilbao have scored the highest number of headed goals (17) in La Liga this season thanks to their towering striker Fernando Llorente.

* Los Leones have negotiated all of their "toughest" fixtures and none of their remaining matches is with a club currently in top seven in the table.

* Caparros’ side have lost two straight games at home; their poorest phase of the campaign at home.

* Out of the last nine league goals from Athletic, only one has come in the first half.

* The match is a good bet to come alive in the last 20 minutes as both the sides have scored around 35% of their goals each in this time.

* Real Sociedad finally broke their string of bad results last matchday when they ended a run of four straight defeats.

* The “Txurri Urdin’s” last win at San Mames came in the about a decade ago. During this period they have collected just one point out of possible 18.

* A heartening statistic for their rivals would be that "La Real" have conceded 17 goals in last 15 minutes: a tendency that may complement Athletic's late scoring nature.

* Lasarte's men have won just one game in last two months and they are just 5 points away from the drop zone.

LAST MEETING

December 5, 2010: Real Sociedad 2-0 Athletic Bilbao

The last time both the sides met, one player decided the outcome of the match: Mikel San Jose; though not quite in the way he would have liked. It was his handball that led to a penalty from which Sociedad midfielder Xabi Prieto had scored.

He also very nearly gave away a penalty before scoring an own goal to extinguish any hopes of a comeback from Bilbao. Overall it was a memorable night for Sociedad and a frustrating one for Athletic who failed to score despite having good chances of their own.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz; Iraola, San Jose, Ekiza, Castillo; Lopez, Martinez, Orbaiz, Gabilondo; Llorente, Toquero

Real Sociedad: Bravo;Martínez, Estrada, González, Ansotegi; Xabi Prieto, Rivas, Aranburu, Zurutuza, Griezmann; Tamudo

Prediction

This is a Basque derby match and thus a certain fieriness can be expected. With the stakes extremely high for both the sides, no one will want to settle for a draw. However, even though Sociedad won the last game it had a certain tinge of fortune to it. 

The simmering cauldron of San Mames, Llorente's physicality and previous history of success against "La Real" should ensure a Bilbao victory.

Athletic Bilbao 2-1 Real Sociedad

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23.04. (Sat) 21:00 Juventus - Catania

DID YOU KNOW?

* Juventus have lost only one of their previous 14 league encounters against Catania.

* The Turin outfit have conceded 25 goals at home this season.

* Alessandro Matri has four goals in his last five games.

* Juve are riding a five-game unbeaten streak.

* Catania's last road win was in February 2010.

* Catania have conceded eight goals in their last five games away from home.

* Maxi Lopez leads the team in scoring with seven goals.

* The Sicilians are coming off a 4-1 thrashing at home to Lazio.

LAST MEETING

December 5, 2010: Catania 1-3 Juventus

Simone Pepe and Fabio Quagliarella led Juventus past Catania in an intense affair at the Angelo Massimino. Pepe opening the scoring before the hosts hit back through Takayuki Morimoto but Quagliarella's brace condemned Catania to defeat.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Juventus: Buffon; Motta, Bonucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Krasic, Felipe Melo, Aquilani, Marchisio; Del Piero, Matri

Catania: Andujar; Alvarez, Silvestre, Spolli, Capuano; Carboni, Ledesma; Izco, Ricchiuti, Gomez; Maxi Lopez

Prediction

Catania have yet to pick up a victory on the road in Serie A and their streak will continue this weekend in Turin as Juve will cruise to a comfortable win in Turin.

Juventus 2-0 Catania

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23.04. (Sat) 20:00 Barcelona - Osasuna

DID YOU KNOW?

* Barcelona’s hopes of a second treble in three years were sunk as they lost the final of the Copa Del Rey in extra-time to their bitter rivals Real Madrid in midweek.

* David Villa is having a barren spell in front of goal with his drought stretching to 11 club games following the cup loss.

* However, Pep Guardiola’s men have a mammoth eight point lead in La Liga and they have a superior head-to-head record against Madrid.

* If the Blaugrana win this game, this will be their 14th consecutive win at home; they have not won 14 in a row since 1993.

* Defender Adriano has picked up a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for four weeks. He joins Bojan Krkic and Eric Abidal on the sidelines.

* Osasuna's record of eight points away from home this season is the second-worst record in La Liga.

* Jose Luis Mendilibar's men have lost their last three matches in a row, against Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.

* Los Rojillos received a big boost when Kike Sola recovered from his stomach problems. He has scored in four of Osasuna’s last five league matches.

* Osasuna are very good visitors for the Catalan side as they have picked up just 16 points out of possible 96 in La Liga.

* Aranda, Ruper and Masoud are out with injuries and Soriano, Punal and Sergio are suspended for this clash.

LAST MEETING

December 4, 2010: Osasuna 0-3 Barcelona

The last time these sides met, initially Osasuna had looked much more threatening than their illustrious visitors and had won two early corners. However, the Navarrans were soon on backfoot after a certain Lionel Messi took control of the proceedings. The Argentine set Pedro up for the opener and then later on scored a brace himself, one of which was a penalty.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Barcelona: Valdes; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa

Osasuna: Ricardo; Nelson, Flano, Lolo, Monreal; Vadocz, Nekounam, Camunas, Cejudo; Kike Sola, Pandiani

Prediction

Barcelona's squad strength is stretched to its very limit following more injuries and an epic midweek cup final. However, the Blaugrana have seen off sterner challenges than Osasuna before and this situation is not entirely a new one for them. The Navarrans, on the other hand, are struggling with injuries and suspensions and historically they have not done well at Camp Nou. Expect Barcelona to pull through with a good fight from Osasuna.

Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna

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23.04. (Sat) 19:00 Brescia - Milan

DID YOU KNOW?

* Brescia have picked up only one win in their last nine matches.

* Brescia have only beaten Milan once in their last 17 Serie A encounters.

* Davide Zoboli will miss the match through suspension.

* Andrea Carraciolo leads the team in scoring with 10 goals.

* AC Milan are currently riding a three-game winning streak in Serie A.

* The San Siro outfit have scored a joint-high 59 goals this season.

* Milan have scored 10 goals in their last five league matches.

* Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended and will miss the encounter.

* The current league leaders have lost only once in Serie A in the calendar year

LAST MEETING

December 4, 2010: AC Milan 3-0 Brescia

Kevin-Prince Boateng opened the scoring in the fourth minute and Milan never looked back as Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic added first half goals to give the hosts a comfortable lead they were never in danger of relinquishing.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Brescia: Arcari; Zebina, Bega, Accardi; Zambelli, Filippini, Zanetti, Hetemaj, Berardi; Eder, Caracciolo

AC Milan: Amelia; Abate, Yepes, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Van Bommel, Seedorf; Boateng; Robinho, Cassano

Prediction

Milan should cruise to a comfortable victory even without Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pato in the line-up. The league leaders have enough firepower to brush the minnows aside and continue their title march.

Brescia 0-2 AC Milan

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23.04. (Sat) 18:30 Chelsea - West Ham United

DID YOU KNOW?

* In the 85 league matches between the two sides, Chelsea and West Ham have 34 wins a piece. The other 17 matches have ended in draws.

* Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 12 matches against the Hammers. The Blues have won 10 of the games and the other two ended in draws.

* Chelsea are on a nine-game unbeaten run in the league and have won their last three games.

* The Blues have won 13 matches this season by two goals.

* Carlo Ancelotti's side are looking for their seventh win in eight Premier League games.

* Much of the excitement in Chelsea's games seems to come in the last five minutes of matches as they have score 10 times and conceded eight goals in the closing stages.

* West Ham have not won at Stamford Bridge since a 3-2 win back in the 2002/2003 season.

* West Ham have lost 25 per cent of their league away games 3-0 this season.

* Avram Grant's side have conceded 58 goals in the league this season with 31 coming on the road.

* If Chelsea score the first goal the stats show it will be an uphill battle for the Hammers. Opposing teams have taken the lead 18 times against Grant's side this season and only once have they managed to turn it around and get a win. They have drawn five times and lost 12 games when the opposing team scores first.

LAST MEETING

September 11, 2010: West Ham 1-3 Chelsea

Chelsea continued their fine start to the season by cruising past West Ham thanks to a Michael Essien brace and Salomon Kalou's strike to stay top of the league and condemn the Hammers to the bottom of the table.


PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Terry, David Luiz, Cole; Essien, Ramires, Lampard; Anelka, Drogba, Malouda.

West Ham: Green; Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson, Bridge; O'Neil, Noble, Parker, Hitzlsperger; Cole, Keane.

Prediction

The form book suggests only one outcome at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have quietly put together a run of form which has seen them re-emerge as outsiders in the title race. They should be far too strong for Avram Grant's side, who are without a win in five games in all competitions.

Chelsea 3-1 West Ham

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23.04. (Sat) 18:00 Valencia - Real

DID YOU KNOW?

* Valencia have turned hot in front of goal in recent weeks, bagging at least three goals in their last three league matches

* It’s been nearly two decades since the six-time Spanish champions enjoyed such a run of four games – 1992 was the last time they posted such a feat

* The Mestalla outfit may be doing well generally in front of goal, but they’ve been shut out in three of their last four games

* Unai Emery’s side are chasing a record points tally for themselves; never before have they earned more than 77 in a season, but they’re only 14 points short of that figure this term with six games still remaining

* Real Madrid have an excellent recent record when travelling to the Mestalla, having lost only one of their last six outings at the venue

* Moreover, they’ve won all of their last three encounters against Valencia

* Even more encouragingly for Jose Mourinho’s men, they’ve played four of their last six league matches immediately after playing Barcelona, so they certainly don’t show many signs of a hangover

* Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain should be a player to watch in the visiting side as he has scored four times in his last four encounters against the east coast outfit

* Though the Bernabeu side have a remarkable record this term, they’ve yet to win four away games in succession in the league, though this match represents a chance to do just that

LAST MEETING

December 4, 2010: Real Madrid 2-0 Valencia

Coming off the back of a Clasico whacking by Barcelona, there were seriously questions asked of Jose Mourinho’s side prior to their meeting with Valencia at the Bernabeu. With typical efficiency, the home side saw off their guests thanks to a brace of goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, though they only pulled away in the final 20 minutes, once David Albelda had been dismissed.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Valencia: Guaita; Miguel, Stankevicius, Topal, R. Costa, Mathieu; Pablo, Banega, T. Costa, Mata; Soldado

Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Carvalho, Marcelo; X. Alonso, Pepe; Ozil, Kaka, Ronaldo; Benzema 

Prediction

With the league gone, Jose Mourinho may take this chance to rest some players, which could open the door for the hosts a little. Real Madrid have built up some impressive momentum over the course of the last week, and with a plethora of talented players they should be capable of picking up all three points, particularly when their health historical record at the Mestalla is taken into account.

Valencia 0-1 Real Madrid

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23.04. (Sat) 16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Fulham

DID YOU KNOW?

* Of the five Premier League meetings between the two sides, Fulham have won only once. Wolves have beaten the Londoners 2-1 on two occasions and there have been two goalless draws.

* Of the 77 meetings between the two sides throughout history in all competitions, Wolves have won 35 compared to Fulham's 23, with 19 draws.

* Fulham haven't beaten Wolves at Molineux since April 27 1985, when they ran out convincing 4-0 winners.

* Over their last two games, Wolves have conceded seven goals, in 3-0 and 4-1 defeats to Everton and Newcastle United respectively.

* Wigan's victory over Blackpool last weekend meant Wolves were left at the bottom of the Premier League table, but they have a game in hand on the six teams above them.

* Despite being eight places above Wolves, Fulham are a mere six points ahead of their opponents on Saturday, having played as many games.

* Moussa Dembele's two goals in the meeting between these sides back in September were his first strikes in the Premier League.

* However, Dembele has failed to score in league action since - his other goals came in a League Cup victory over Port Vale and the 4-0 thrashing of Tottenham in the FA Cup.

* Dembele's likely striker partner Bobby Zamora, who recently recovered from a broken leg sustained against Wolves, has scored three goals in the last four games.

* Despite being bottom of the table, Wolves have scored as many goals as Fulham, but they have conceded 56 goals, compared to their opponents' 35.

LAST MEETING

September 11, 2010: Fulham 2-1 Wolves

Two Moussa Dembele goals handed Fulham a win despite Jelle van Damme's opener after 10 minutes, but the game was overshadowed by Bobby Zamora suffering a broken leg under a challenge from Karl Henry. Cristophe Berra was sent off in stoppage time, and Dembele's free-kick sealed the win.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Wolves: Hennessey; Foley, Berra, Stearman, Elokobi; Jarvis, Henry, Milija, O'Hara; Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher.

Fulham: Schwarzer; Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Salcido; Dempsey, Murphy, Etuhu, Kakuta; Zamora, Dembele.

Prediction

Wolves will see this as a game they can take three points from in their quest for survival, but equally, having seen how many goals the home side have conceded recently, Fulham may fancy they have the chance to put their Premier League safety beyond doubt for another season at Molineux. The two sides may just cancel each other out, however.

Wolves 1-1 Fulham

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23.04. (Sat) 16:00 Tottenham Hotspur - West Bromwich Albion

DID YOU KNOW?

* In the form stakes there is nothing to tell between the two. Eight played, three won, four drawn and one lost each suggests the game will be pretty even, though West Brom have got a marginally better goal difference of one goal during that period.

* This equality holds true in the two club’s recent Premier League history, with two wins apiece and two draws in the last six games.

* The two sides are the Premier League’s comeback kings, topping the table for points gained when in losing positions (22). Tottenham have come back to win six games and draw four while losing, whereas the Baggies have won five and levelled in seven.

* West Brom's shot accuracy is one per cent higher than Spurs' this season at 42%, enabling them to fire in 163 shots on target this term, compared to their hosts' 161.

* The Baggies' starting XI's average age is almost bang on a year younger than Spurs' - with 26.66 compared to 27.61.

* Expect something to happen between the 37th and 42nd minutes. In this spell is when both Spurs and West Brom are most likely to concede and score the first goals in their games this season.

* Spurs' biggest defeat this season in the league was a rather respectable 2-0 loss to Manchester United, West Brom's is a whopping 6-0 beating at the hands of Chelsea.

* If Tottenham can keep a clean sheet, they should be able to see the game off given that West Brom have lost each of the nine games they have failed to score in this season.

* West Brom are on an incredible run of having not achieved a clean sheet in 35 games.

* In the Premier League, West Brom’s opponents have scored before them in 69.6% of their games - the league's worst record.

LAST MEETING

September 11, 2010: West Brom 1-1 Tottenham

Spurs debutant Rafael Van der Vaart plays starring role but Chris Brunt’s 50th career goal cancels out Luka Modric’s opener to leave things are square.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Tottenham: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Van der Vaart; Pavlyuchenko, Crouch.

West Brom: Carson; Reid, Meite, Olsson, Shorey; Thomas, Scharner, Mulumbu, Morrison, Brunt; Odemwingie.

Prediction

It is sure to be an open game at White Hart Lane. West Brom’s woeful defensive record suggests that they will be unable to contain a Spurs side full of vibrancy after the buoyant comeback against Arsenal. Expect to see the home side strolling to a comfortable win.

Tottenham 3-1 West Bromwich

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23.04. (Sat) 16:00 Sunderland - Wigan Athletic

DID YOU KNOW?

* Sunderland have not won in nine games since January 22 when they beat Blackpool 2-1 at Bloomfield Road.

* Steve Bruce has not beaten his former club Wigan in three attempts since taking the helm at the Stadium of Light.

* Asamoah Gyan is without a Premier League goal since February, with his last coming against Tottenham six games ago.

* Sunderland have scored 20 goals at home all season, which is the second worst in the league. Only Wigan and Birmingham (18) have scored less.

* The Black Cats have had seven different scorers in the Premier League, which is the fewest in the top flight.

* Wigan have only lost once at the Stadium of Light in six visits to Wearside, winning two of them.

* Hugo Rodallega is Wigan’s top scorer this season with eight Premier League goals.

* Only Wolves (12) and Fulham (13) have scored fewer away goals in the Premier than the Latics (14).

* Roberto Martinez’s side have only kept six clean sheets this season which is the second worst record in the division only Wolves have kept less.

* The Latics have failed to score in 13 Premier League matches this season.


LAST MEETING

September 11, 2010: Wigan 1-1 Sunderland

Antolin Alcaraz scored in the dying minutes to snatch a point for the hosts cancelling out Asamoah Gyan’s debut strike for the Black Cats.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Sunderland: Mignolet; Elmohamady, Onuoha, Turner, Bardsley; Henderson, Cattermole, Malbranque, Colback, Sessesgnon; Gyan.

Wigan: Al-Habsi; Alcaraz, G Caldwell, Boyce, Gohouri; Cleverley, Watson, Diame, McCarthy, N’Zogbia; Rodallega.

Prediction

This match is really tough to call. Wigan have been very inconsistent this season so for them to win two on the bounce would be a real achievement, add that to their good record at the Stadium of Light and I can see them nicking this one. Sunderland will be very nervy and won’t be helped by an anxious crowd who may call for Steve Bruce’s head by the end of this one.

Sunderland 1-2 Wigan Athletic

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23.04. (Sat) 16:00 Liverpool - Birmingham City

DID YOU KNOW?

* In 115 meetings in all competitions with Birmingham, Liverpool have won 56, lost 30 and drawn 29.

* Kenny Dalglish's 24-point tally in 13 league games as Liverpool's interim manager is just one point less than the total accrued under predecessor Roy Hodgson from 20 games.

* Liverpool sit sixth in the league table and would be in the same position if games finished at half-time.

* The average age of the full-backs (John Flanagan and Jack Robinson) that finished Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Arsenal last weekend was just 17.5.

* Dirk Kuyt has scored six goals in Liverpool's last five league games.

* Birmingham have not scored more than two goals in any Premier League game since December 2009 v Wigan Athletic.

* Birmingham are the second lowest scoring team in the league this season with just 34 goals from 32 games.

* Birmingham have the joint-eighth highest number of clean sheets in the league this season with nine recorded.

* Birmingham's current 38-point tally would have saved them from relegation in the past four seasons.

* Birmingham have not tasted defeat at Anfield since the 3-1 loss on November 30, 2003.

LAST MEETING

September 12, 2010: Birmingham City 0-0 Liverpool

A dour stalemate at St Andrew's saw Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina save dangerous headers from Cameron Jerome and Craig Gardner.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Liverpool: Reina; Flanagan, Skrtel, Carragher, Robinson; Lucas, Spearing; Maxi, Meireles; Suarez; Kuyt.

Birmingham City: Foster; Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Parnaby; Larsson, Gardner, Ferguson, Hleb, Fahey; Jerome.

Prediction

Liverpool have beaten the best and sunk against the lower lights in Dalgish's reign. Expect the trend to be bucked as the limp Birmingham attack should not expose Liverpool's depleted defence.

Liverpool 1-0 Birmingham

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23.04. (Sat) 16:00 Blackpool - Newcastle United

DID YOU KNOW?

* Blackpool have the worst home record in the division, picking up only 15 points in 16 games at Bloomfield Road.

* The Seasiders' current form is the worst in the league, with only one point from their last six games.

* The hosts have leaked more goals than any other team in the league, having conceded on 69 occasions.

* Ian Holloway's side have lost 3-2 at home four times, more than any other team.

* In the 60 league meetings between the Seasiders and the Magpies, both have won 26 games each.

* The three most-booked players in the Premier League play for Blackpool and Newcastle, with Charlie Adam and Cheik Tiote having each received 11 yellow cards and Kevin Nolan being cautioned on 10 occasions.

* Only three teams have managed a clean sheet away to Newcastle this season, one of which was Blackpool in September.

* Alan Pardew's side have only managed one win in their last six.

* The Magpies have not gone through a game without picking up a booking or a sending off since January.

LAST MEETING

September 11, 2010: Newcastle 0-2 Blackpool

Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell hit the net as the Seasiders registered a comfortable away day victory.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Blackpool: Kingson; Eardley, Cathcart, Crainey, Silvestre; Taylor-Fletcher, Vaughan, Adam, Puncheon; Beattie, Campbell.

Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Gutierrez, Barton, Tiote, Guthrie; Nolan; Lovenkrands.

Prediction

Blackpool have been on the slippiest of slopes since the turn of the year and following their defeat to Wigan last weekend, are now seen by some as near-certainties for relegation. Newcastle on the other hand look to have secured their safety after picking up a well-earned point at home to Manchester United on Monday. With confidence blooming in the North East, expect the visitors to very much enjoy their trip to the seaside and leave with three points. If so, the Seasiders will be in deep, deep trouble.

Blackpool 1-2 Newcastle

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23.04. (Sat) 16:00 Aston Villa - Stoke City

DID YOU KNOW?

* Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last three Premier League games.

* Darren Bent has scored the same amount of goals as Stoke have managed away all season.

* Villa’s England international front four have scored half of their goals this season.

* The hosts have lost just twice at home in 2011.

* Villa have kept a clean sheet just once in their last 10 games.

* Stoke City have lost more games than anyone else away from home in the league this season.

* The Potters have the third worst scoring record away from home in the league.

* Stoke have not won away from home in the league in 2011.

* Stoke’s top scorer in the league is Robert Huth with six goals.

* The Potters have kept just one clean sheet in their previous 11 games.

LAST MEETING

September 13, 2010: Stoke City 2-1 Aston Villa

Tony Pulis’s men came from behind to seal a dramatic victory with goals from Kenwyne Jones and central defender Robert Huth in the last 10 minutes.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

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

Stoke City: Begovic; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins; Pennant, Delap, Wilson, Etherington; Jones, Walters.

Prediction

Both teams will be brimming with confidence after big wins in their previous games and it is hard to separate the two. If Villa can find the fluency which makes them so dangerous then they could come away with a victory. However, Stoke’s huge semi-final win over Bolton Wanderers will give them good momentum.

Aston Villa 1-1 Stoke

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23.04. (Sat) 18:30 Borussia MG - Borussia D.

DID YOU KNOW?

* Borussia Monchengladbach have earned more points away from home (14) than at the Borussia-Park (12).

* The Fohlen have won just one of their last five matches.

* Gladbach have lost four of their last five fixtures against Dortmund.

* Only seven Bundesliga players have produced more combined goals and assists than Marco Reus, the most prolific player among Lucien Favre's side.

* Borussia Dortmund could wrap up the Bundesliga title with a win, depending on whether Bayer Leverkusen drop points earlier on Saturday.

* BVB can surpass Bayern Munich's Bundesliga season points record should they win their four remaining matches.

* Dortmund have conceded 18 goals this year, three fewer than the Bundesliga's record low. They have not conceded more than one goal in a match since the first round of the season.

* Jurgen Klopp's men will be without star midfielder Nuri Sahin, who has been ruled out of the final four matches of the season with a knee injury..

LAST MEETING

November 27, 2010: Dortmund 4-1 Monchengladbach

When these teams last met, Marco Reus stunned the hosts with a wonderful opener on 33 minutes, a thunderous strike from distance after a long solo run. Dortmund fought back and equalised on the stroke of half-time thanks to a fine header from defender Neven Subotic. After the interval, BVB blitzed Gladbach into submission: Shinji Kagawa (52'), Kevin Grosskreutz (76'), and Lucas Barrios (88') all struck before the death to seal three points for the league leaders.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Borussia Monchengladbach: ter Stegen; Daems, Dante, Stranzl, Jantschke; Arango, Nordtveit; Arango, Reus, Herrmann; Idrissou

Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Bender, da Silva; Blaszczykowski, Gotze, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski

Prediction

Gladbach will fight hard, but cannot be expected to take any points against a Dortmund side that wil be keen to wrap up the Bundesliga if possible on Saturday. The hosts' home record is very poor, and BVB are in peak form; a comfortable win for the visiting side appears most likely.

Mönchengladbach 0-3 Borussia

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