02.10. (Sun) 22:00 Espanyol - Real

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

ESPANYOL AlvarezMoreno, Forlin, Galan, Didac Vila Javi Lopez, Romaric, Javi Marquez, Verdu Rui Fonte, Sergio Garcia

REAL MADRID Casillas Ramos, Carvalho, Varane, Marcelo Xabi Alonso, Khedira  Ronaldo, Ozil, Kaka Higuain

The home side will be without the suspended Jordi Amrat and Walter Pandiani, so Ernesto Galan and Javi Marquez are expected to be recalled to the starting line-up for Espanyol.
Jose Mourinho is still without the injured Pepe, Fabio Coentrao and Nuri Sahin, while Angel Di Maria is suspended for the visit to Estadi Cornella-El Prat. Kaka is expected to start after his impressive performance in the Champions League midweek.
The Madrid giants may also be without Karim Benzema who will face a late fitness test following a groin injury. Gonzalo Higuain will lead the line if the Frenchman is deemed unavailable.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Espanyol have come up against Real Madrid on 34 occasions, winning seven, drawing four and losing 23 of the games.

• The Catalan club have a 100 per cent home record in La Liga this season, beating both Athletic Bilbao and Getafe.

• In the 2006-07 season, Espanyol lost on penalties to Sevilla in the Uefa Cup final, becoming the only side in the competition's history to not pick up the trophy despite remaining unbeaten during 90 minutes.

• Real Madrid have only won once on the road in La Liga this campaign, defeating Zaragoza 6-0 in the opening game of the season.

• The last time these two teams met, Madrid ran out 1-0 winners in February of this year, courtesy of Marcelo's 24th-minute strike.

• This season, the average time of Madrid's first goal in games has been 25 minutes.

Prediction

Jose Mourinho's men appear to have regained their confidence following wins over Rayo Vallecano and Ajax. Expect Madrid to have too much for Espanyol with the Catalan club's 100 per cent home record this season coming to an end.

Editor's Prediction

Espanyol 0-2 Real Madrid

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02.10. (Sun) 21:00 Paris Saint Germain - Olympique Lyonnais

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN Sirigu Ceara, Lugano, Camara, Tiene Bodmer, Matuidi Menez, Pastore, Nene Gameiro

OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS   Lloris Reveillere, Kone, Lovren, Cissokho Fofana, Gonalons, Kallstrom Briand, Gomis, Michel Bastos

PSG played with a mixed team in their midweek 2-0 Europa League defeat against Athletic Bilbao, but they’ll be back to their strongest panel on Sunday, minus injury problems, of course. Antoine Kombouare doesn’t have too many of these to contend with, though he is without centre-backs Mamadou Sakho and Milan Bisevac. Striker Guillaume Hoarau is also sidelined, so Mevlut Erding will be first choice from the bench.

There had been hope that Lyon would be able to recall both Lisandro Lopez and Yoann Gourcuff to their squad, though this was dashed on Friday. Experienced central defender Cris continues to miss out, too, although he is also back in training.

Guieda Fofana may be started in the midfield to add some muscle to the unit, though if Remi Garde opts to play a more offensive system, he shall employ Jeremy Pied as a playmaker. Clemont Grenier has typically been used in the stead of Gourcuff and Ederson, who is also absent, but the highly-rated youngster picked up a hamstring problem in the 2-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Eight Ligue 1 games have been played by both Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon, and the clubs both boast 17 points comprised of five wins, two draws and one loss.

• It’s been 14 years since the capital club started a season in such bright form.

• Last season PSG won this fixture 1-0 thanks to a goal from centre-back Zoumana Camara.

• Antoine Kombouare’s side have also won their last five home games in all competitions.

• Record signing Javier Pastore boasts four assists and two goals in only five league matches this season.

• The last time Lyon won a league match at the Parc des Prince was in October 2007, when they triumphed 3-2.

• Lyon have yet to concede more than one goal in a single Ligue 1 match – the only club left in Le Championnat to boast such a record.

• With six goals this season, Bafetimbi Gomis is Ligue 1’s joint top marksman along with Auxerre’s Alain Traore. His predatory instincts are underlined by the fact he’s scored 28 of his last 30 league goals from inside the box, although his midweek chip against Dinamo Zagreb came from outside the area.

• Gomis has scored in three of the four matches he’s played for Lyon against PSG.

• Overall, this is a fixture that is historically tight. In 64 league matches, the capital club have won 22 times to Lyon’s 21 victories.

Prediction

PSG may have slipped on Thursday, but they are the form team in Ligue 1 at present and have in general been getting stronger by the week. Antoine Kombouare will be keen for his side to prove the Europa League defeat was a mere blip, and in front of their home support will expect three points. Lyon, however, have been defying their doubters all season to date, but this encounter may prove a bridge too far.

Editor's Prediction

Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 O. Lyon

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02.10. (Sun) 20:45 Juventus - Milan

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

JUVENTUS BuffonLichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, De Ceglie Marchisio, Pirlo Krasic, Vucinic, Matri, Pepe

AC MILAN Abbiati Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini Nocerino, van Bommel, Seedorf,  Aquilani Ibrahimovic, Cassano

Antonio Conte has the luxury of choosing from an essentially-fully-fit squad for the crunch clash on Sunday, as Vincenzo Iaquinta is the only player he will not be able to call upon. Andrea Barzagli took part in Wednesday's training session and should get the nod alongside Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of defence. Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned for the Champions League clash midweek against Viktoria Plzen and will start up front beside Antonio Cassano. Massimiliano Allegri will still be missing a plethora of players though as Philippe Mexes, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Robinho, Gennaro Gattuso, Massimo Ambrosini and Alexandre Pato are all nursing injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Juventus are undefeated in their new state-of-the-art arena, scoring five goals while only conceding twice in two games.

• The visitors emerged victorious in the two meetings between the teams last season. Juventus beat Milan 2-1 at San Siro while the champions upended the Old Lady 1-0 in Turin.

• The Old Lady had the longest unbeaten streak in Serie A last season, going 13 games without a loss.

• Massimiliano Allegri's men conceded the fewest goals during the 2010-11 campaign (24).

• Coach Antonio Conte won five Scudetti and one Champions League title as a player for the Turin outfit.

• Milan kept the most clean sheets last season (20) but have only one in four games so far this term.

Prediction

Beating the big sides hasn't been Juve's problem in recent years; it's the teams below them in the standings which have caused them all sorts of trouble. The Juventus Arena will be rocking on Sunday night and will inspire the players to pick up a big win over the defending champions.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2-1 AC Milan

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02.10. (Sun) 20:00 Real Sporting - Barcelona

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

SPORTING GIJON Juan Pablo Lora, Botia, Hernandez, Canella Castro, Rivera, de las CuevasTrejo, Barral, Sangoy

BARCELONA Victor Valdes Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Abidal Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas Pedro, Messi, Villa

Manuel Preciado has no injury concerns and has a full squad to choose from for the visit of Barcelona. After an impressive substitute performance in the 0-0 draw against Racing last week, Oscar Trejo is expected to replace Nacho Novo up front while Andre Castro could replace Alberto Lora in the middle of the park.
Carles Puyol is expected to be rested following his recent return from injury, with Javier Mascherano ready to step into the centre of defence. Xavi could also be rested in midfield, with Thiago the likeliest to deputise for the experienced playmaker, while Cesc Fabregas will return in place of Seydou Keita.
Pep Guardiola is still without the injured trio of Andres Iniesta, Alexis Sanchez and Ibrahim Afellay for the visit to Gijon.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sporting have come up against the Catalan giants on 16 occasions, winning two, drawing two and losing 12 of these fixtures.

• Barcelona striker David Villa started his professional career at Sporting, scoring 38 goals for the side between 2001 and 2003 before moving to Zaragoza.

• The Gijon-based club currently sit bottom of La Liga and are one of three teams who are yet to win a game this season.

• Barcelona had to settle for a 1-1 draw the last time they travelled to El Molinon, with Villa cancelling out David Barral's first-half strike.

• A goal for Lionel Messi would see the attacker become the club's second top scorer in their history after the Argentine equalled Ladislao Kubala's tally of 194 with a brace against BATE Borisov in Europe midweek.

• The Catalan club will be looking to pick up their first La Liga away win of the season on Sunday, after 2-2 draws with Real Sociedad and Valencia previously.

Prediction

Barcelona have struggled a little in this fixture recently, but expect Pep Guardiola's men to stroll to victory against the bottom club in La Liga. The precise passing and constant movement of the Catalans will be too much for Sporting.

Editor's Prediction

Sporting de Gijon 0-4 Barcelona

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02.10. (Sun) 17:00 Tottenham Hotspur - Arsenal

PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM Friedel Walker, King, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto Krancjar, Parker, Modric, Bale Defoe, Adebayor

ARSENAL   Szczesny Sagna, Mertesacker, Song, Santos Arteta, Frimpong, Ramsey Walcott, Van Persie, Arshavin

Tottenham will recall their first-teamers after the Europa League win over Shamrock Rovers, though Jermain Defoe should keep his place after scoring in that match as well as in the 4-0 win over Liverpool, with Harry Redknapp surely keen to test the Gunners’ leaky defence. Steven Pienaar may be fit to make his first appearance of the season, most likely off the bench. And, of course, Emmanuel Adebayor will once again face the side he left in 2009.

Theo Walcott should be fit to return to the side after a knee problem, and will likely displace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain despite the fellow Southampton graduate’s impressive showing in the Champions League in midweek. Captain Robin van Persie will start in place of Marouane Chamakh, while Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky will vie for a place in midfield after Jack Wilshere was ruled out for several more months.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Arsenal have not beaten Tottenham in a league match in their last three attempts, and only once in their last six.

• Spurs have not lost the north London derby at White Hart Lane since being vanquished 3-1 by the Gunners in September 2007.

• Robin van Persie’s Premier League record in the year 2011 is 21 goals in 23 appearances.

• Mike Dean is a bad luck charm for Arsenal – they have not won a game which he has refereed since November 2008, when they beat Chelsea 2-1 away.

• Dutch striker Van Persie is currently tied with Joe Baker as Arsenal’s sixteenth highest goalscorer of all time, with exactly 100 goals in all competitions.

• White Hart Lane is used to seeing stalemates, with eight of the last 11 league matches played there ending in a draw.

• The Gunners have not won an away match in the Premier League in the last seven attempts. This is the longest they have gone without winning away in the league since the 1991-92 season when they failed to win eight in a row.

Prediction

The north London derbies have produced some thrilling contests in recent years, and this should be no exception. Both sides have a lot to prove - Arsenal are desperate to record a victory over one of the top sides in the league after a horrendous start, and Tottenham smell blood and a chance to claim clear superiority over their rivals for the first time in a while. The Gunners have improved recently but Spurs were excellent in their 4-0 demolition of Liverpool, and Arsene Wenger still has a lot of work to do with his defence. If they keep up the attacking pressure for 90 minutes, the home side should come out on top.

Editor's Prediction

Tottenham 3-1 Arsenal

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02.10. (Sun) 14:30 Bolton Wanderers - Chelsea

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BOLTON WANDERERS Jaaskelainen Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson Eagles, Muamba, Reo-Coker, M Davies, Petrov K Davies

CHELSEA   Cech Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole Mikel, Lampard, Ramires Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

Bolton boss Owen Coyle will be without midfielder Stuart Holden, who was given the devastating news that he will be on the side-lines for another six months after an operation on the knee injury he sustained against Manchester United last season revealed that he had cartilage damage.

Coyle will also be without the suspended duo of Ivan Klasnic and David Wheater, the latter of who was sent off during last Saturday’s defeat to Arsenal, while Gael Kakuta is ineligible having arrived at the Reebok Stadium on loan from Chelsea.

Andre Villas-Boas will be without the services of striker Fernando Torres who starts the first of a three-game ban after being sent off during the league victory over Swansea on Saturday.

Both Daniel Sturridge and Didier Drogba should be available to start for the Stamford Bridge side, while midfielder Frank Lampard will hope his midweek Champions League strike against Valencia will lead to a Premier League recall after being dropped for the Swansea fixture.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bolton have failed to claim a point since their opening day demolition of QPR at Loftus Road, when strikes from Gary Cahill, a Danny Gabbidon own goal, Ivan Klasnic and Fabrice Muamba secured the victory.

• Owen Coyle’s side have the worst defensive record in the Premier League this season, having conceded 16 goals in their first six games.

• Striker Kevin Davies (pictured right) has failed to find the back of the net in his last six games in all competitions for the Trotters.

• Chelsea have failed to produce a clean sheet since their away fixture against Stoke on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

• The Stamford Bridge side are unbeaten against Bolton in the last 15 games between the sides.

• The Blues have also managed to shut the Trotters out in recent fixtures between the sides, with Bolton last scoring during Chelsea’s 4-3 victory at Stamford Bridge in April 2009.

Prediction

Bolton’s record against the Blues has been horrid, losing four goals during four of their last six meetings, and given the Trotters' recent form, that looks set to continue as Chelsea should be able to travel back to London with an easy three points.

Editor's Prediction

Bolton 1-4 Chelsea

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