23.10. (Sun) 21:00 Lille - Lyon

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

LILLE LandreauDebuchy, Chedjou, Basa, BeriaBalmont, Mavuba, Pedretti Cole, Payet, Hazard

LYON Lloris Reveillere, Cris, Lovren, Cissokho Kallstrom, Fofana Briand, Gourcuff, Bastos Gomis

Lille have no pressing injury concerns for the visit of seven-time champions Lyon to the Stadium Lille Metropole. Dimitri Payet and Ludovic Obraniak made returns to competitive action in the past week, and the squad emerged unscathed from Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Serie A giants Inter. Mickael Landreau is expected to resume his place in goal after Vincent Enyeama took the gloves in midweek, having been ruled out of the European tie with a quadricep injury. Aurelien Chedjou looks set to replace David Rozehnal.
Meanwhile, Remi Garde is still sweating on the fitness of Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez. The former Porto man has been sidelined for two months and remains doubtful to feature against the French champions.

Maxime Gonalons, who recently signed a new deal that keeps him at Les Gones until 2016, is injured, with Gueida Fofana deputising in midfield. Yoann Gourcuff is back in the line-up after a lengthy injury lay-off.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Lille beat Auxerre 3-1 in their previous Ligue 1 encounter, stretching their domestic unbeaten run to eight games.

• The Ligue 1 holders suffered a 1-0 defeat to Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday. 

• The defeat means Lille have now lost exactly the same number of games at home so far this season as they did during the whole of the 2010-11 campaign.

• Both sides have kept only one clean sheet in the league this season.

• Lyon easily brushed aside Nancy 3-1 in their last Ligue 1 game. 

• Remi Garde's men were unbeaten against the French champions last season, winning 3-1 at home and drawing 1-1 away. 

• Les Gones have lost seven out of 10 away games against Les Dogues.

Prediction

Both sides look set to cancel each other out despite their considerable attacking arsenals. Lyon, who are missing Lisandro's industrial movements up front, will find it difficult to break down a resolute Dogues defence. A point apiece is the most likely outcome.

Editor's Prediction

Lille 1-1 O. Lyon

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23.10. (Sun) 20:00 Valencia - Athletic Bilbao

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA GuaitaMiguel, Ruiz, Rami, Mathieu Hernandez, Parejo, Albelda, PiattiCanales Soldado

ATHLETIC BILBAO IraizozIraola, Ekiza, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe Martinez, Gurpegi Susaeta, Muniain, GabilondoLlorente

Unai Emery may opt for Roberto Soldado up top alongside Jonas, as he did on Wednesday in the Champions League. But don't be surprised if he reverts to his old tactics, similar to that of the Mallorca game last weekend, keeping the Spaniard alone up front with Sergio Canales on creative duty just behind.

In Athletic Iker Muniain will likely play behind Fernando Llorente, with Javi Martinez leading the midfield. The defenders look to remain the same from their Europa League encounter.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Valencia currently sit in fifth place in La Liga with 14 points, three behind leaders Barcelona and Levante.

• The Champions League side are coming off a 2-1 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday in a Group E clash that saw them fall four points behind the Germans for second place.

• Last term, Emery's men downed Bilbao twice, both 2-1 victories.

• Athletic Bilbao are in 11th place in the league with eight points.

• The club have not lost in their last three league fixtures, winning twice and drawing once. Athletic also tied Red Bull Salzburg 2-2 in Europa League play this week.

• Bielsa, who is from Rosario, Argentina, has a stadium named after him in his home town. The 40,000 capacity stadium, now named Estadio Marcelo Bielsa, is home to Argentina top flight club Newell's Old Boys, with the honour coming in 2009.

Prediction

Sure to be a tough contest, Valencia will look to rebound from Wednesday's loss to Bayer Leverkusen, with the defence playing strong in a narrow victory.

Editor's Prediction

Valencia 1-0 Athletic Bilbao

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23.10. (Sun) 17:30 Hannover - Bayern

PROBABLE LINEUPS

HANNOVER Zieler Cherundolo, Haggui, Pogatetz, Schulz Schmiedebach, Pinto Stindl, Rausch Ya Konan, Abdellaoue

BAYERN MUNICH   Neuer Rafinha, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Lahm Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger Muller, Kroos, Ribery Gomez

Hannover are without a lengthy list of injured players, including Henning Hauger, Artur Sobiech, Leon Andreasen, Carlitos, Markus Miller, and Samuel Radlinger.

After featuring in the Europa League on Thursday, Christian Pander and Jan Schlaudraff are expected to be given a rest, with Konstantin Rausch and Didier Ya Konan their stand-ins.

Bayern continue to be without Arjen Robben and Breno, and Jupp Heynckes is expected to rotate his line-up. Luiz Gustavo will likely start in defensive midfield, replacing Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.

Also, Rafinha may be given the nod to start in place of Jerome Boateng. Finally, there have been rumours that one of Franck Ribery, Toni Kroos, or Thomas Muller may be given a rest, meaning that David Alaba could stand in as a winger.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Hannover have beaten Bayern eight times in their history. Seven of these came at home.

• Mirko Slomka's side have scored 11 goals this season, nine of which were converted on home soil.

• The Lower Saxons have lost just one of their last 12 home games in the Bundesliga.

• Bayern Munich have conceded just two goals in 15 games in all competitions this season.

• Mario Gomez has scored six goals in as many matches against Hannover.

• With only nine matchdays completed, the Bavarians have scored seven more goals than any other side in the Bundesliga.

Prediction

Hannover are no pushovers at home, but Bayern are a class ahead on their day and there is little reason to believe their run of form in the Bundesliga will not carry into the coming round.

Editor's Prediction

Hannover 96 0-2 Bayern Munich

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23.10. (Sun) 17:00 QPR - Chelsea

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

QPR Kenny Young, Hall, Ferdinand, Traore Faurlin, Derry, Barton Wright-Phillips, Helguson, Taarabt

CHELSEA   Cech Bosingwa, Luiz, Terry, Cole Mikel, Lampard, Meireles Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

QPR will go into the London derby without the services of Danny Gabbidon who is suffering from a knee injury, while both DJ Campbell and Kieron Dyer are expected to be out of action until December with foot injuries.

Maverick midfielder Adel Taarabt is expected to shake off a virus in order to start in the Loftus Road clash.

Andre Villas-Boas will go into the match without Ramires, who is still recovering from a knee injury, while Fernando Torres will also have to sit out the clash, serving the last match of his three-game suspension.

The Stamford Bridge boss should, however, welcome back John Terry, Didier Drogba and Juan Mata after the trio were rested for the Champions League demolition of Genk in midweek.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This will be the first league meeting between the sides at Loftus Road since January 1996, when a Matt Brazier own goal and a Paul Furlong strike helped claim all three points for the Stamford Bridge side, with Bradley Allen scoring for QPR.

• No Loftus Road player has been able to find the net more than once this season, with five players currently sitting on a solitary goal.

• Chelsea are currently only a point behind Manchester United in second place and only three points behind pacesetters Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

• Blues keeper Petr Cech has only claimed two clean sheets in the league so far this season, during the scoreless draws against both Fulham and Stoke.

• The only loss that the Stamford Bridge side have suffered so far this season was when they visited Old Trafford to play league champions Manchester United in September.

• Chelsea have scored eight goals in their last two league games against both Everton and Bolton which is two more than QPR have scored in the entire season.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
QPR 0-2 Chelsea   

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23.10. (Sun) 16:00 Blackburn - Tottenham

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BLACKBURN ROVERS Robinson Salgado, Samba, Dann, Olsson Hoilett, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Lowe Yakubu, Roberts

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Friedel Walker, Kaboul, Basson, Assou-EkottoLennon, Parker, Modric, Bale Van der Vaart Adebayor

There are no serious injury or suspension worries for Steve Kean. Youngster Jason Lowe has impressed in his recent appearances and looks set to make his sixth consecutive start. Expect to see Yakubu recalled to the starting line-up as Rovers go for a much needed victory.

Winger Aaron Lennon is available again for Spurs after coming through the midweek victory over Rubin Kazan. However, there are six players ruled out for Harry Redknapp's side: Ledley King; Niko Kranjcar; Vedran Corluka; William Gallas; Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson are all occupying the treatment room and are unavailable for this match.

DID YOU KNOW?

• These two sides have met 107 times in all competitions in their history, and Spurs have the edge with 48 wins to Blackburn’s 36 with 23 draws.

• Blackburn have only won three of last 10 meetings at Ewood Park, and have to look back to 2009 for the last time they took any points of their north London visitors.

• The omens don’t look good for the home side as Tottenham have been triumphant in the last four encounters with Rovers, scoring 10 goals in the process.

• Rovers have endured a tough start to the season and currently find themselves bottom of the table, they have only recorded one victory all season but did earn themselves a point away at QPR in their last outing.

• With their involvement in the Europa League this will be Spurs’ 14th game of the season, but Harry Redknapp has rested the majority of his first-team stars for the midweek matches which has helped them remain unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions.

• Loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor has made an immediate impact at White Hart Lane, scoring three goals in his five games since arriving from Manchester City. The Togolese striker is the club’s joint top scorer in the league with fellows forwards Jermain Defoe and Rafael van der Vaart.

• Rovers have found goals hard to come by this season, in fact Steve Kean’s side have scored just nine goals in their eight league games but have shipped 18 at the other end.

• Yakubu became Blackburn’s top scorer in the league after just one game by scoring two goals on his debut against Arsenal. The striker has made three further appearances for the club but has not found the back of the net since.

• Only north west rivals Bolton have a worse home record than Blackburn so far this season, Rovers have picked up three points at Ewood Park this season scoring five goals but conceding double that on home territory.

• Spurs have the fifth best away record in the division; they average 1.5 goals per game on their travels with Defoe grabbing two of the six goals they have scored away from White Hart Lane.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Blackburn 2-2 Tottenham  

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23.10. (Sun) 15:00 Inter - Chievo

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

INTER Julio CesarMaicon, Lucio, Cordoba, Chivu Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso SneijderPazzini, Milito

CHIEVO Sorrentino Frey, Mandelli, Cesar, Jokic Bradley, Rigoni, Hetemaj Sammarco Pellissier, Thereau

Inter coach Claudio Ranieri will be missing a handful of regulars as Andrea Ranocchia, Andrea Poli, Philippe Coutinho, Diego Forlan and Walter Samuel are all out with various injuries. Ivan Cordoba should get the nod to partner Lucio in the centre of defence, while Wesley Sneijder is set to make his first Serie A appearance since September 20.

Chievo boss Domenico Di Carlo will have to make do without the services of defenders Gennaro Sardo and Santiago Morero at San Siro on Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Inter have conceded 13 goals in six matches this season, the most in Serie A.

• Claudio Ranieri's men have failed to pick up a win in domestic action at San Siro this term.

• The Nerazzurri have defeated Chievo eight times in their last 10 meetings.

• Chievo have collected just one point from their travels on the road this season.

• The Flying Donkeys are currently riding a four-game unbeaten streak.

• Domenico Di Carlo's side have kept a clean sheet in three of their past four encounters.

Prediction

Inter have lost two league matches in a row and hover precariously over the relegation zone. A win is of the utmost importance and the Nerazzurri should be able to take care of business against the Flying Donkeys.

Editor's Prediction

Inter Milan 2-1 Chievo

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23.10. (Sun) 14:30 Arsenal - Stoke

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL Szczesny Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Santos Song, Arteta, Ramsey Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho

STOKE CITY   Begovic Huth, Woodgate, Shawcross, Higgingbotham Pennant, Delap, Whelan, Etherington Crouch, Jones

Injuries picked up by full-backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs are almost certain to push Arsene Wenger into playing Andre Santos and Carl Jenkinson, who have been rotated with the two missing defenders often this season. Long-term absentees are the Frenchman's only real concern at the moment, with no new niggling injuries picked up against Marseille during the week.

A thigh strain to Andy Wilkinson will probably keep him out of the clash at the Emirates, but Tony Pulis has enough strength at the back to cope with the absence. Wilson Palacios is also due a return from injury, but it is doubtful he will be risked this weekend unless he comes off of the bench late on. Danny Higgingbotham could make his first start since April.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Arsenal’s total of 12 goals this season is twice the amount of opponents Stoke.

• Stoke have only conceded eight goals so far this season, less than half of the amount let in by Arsenal. Only Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle have let in less.

• Stoke have only managed one goal in their last three visits to the Emirates, and that was a Ricardo Fuller penalty.

• Van Persie has scored 23 times in the 25 games he has played in during 2011.

• Stoke have never drawn a Premier League game on their travels to London, winning three times and losing 12 games.

• Stoke have the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the league with 67 per cent, yet Arsenal have a lowly 8 per cent.

• Arsenal have never failed to score against Stoke in the Premier League since the Potters were promoted in 2008.

• Arsenal have won five out of their last six games in all competitions.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction

Arsenal 3-0  Stoke

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23.10. (Sun) 14:30 Manchester Utd - Manchester City

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED De Gea Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra Nani, Fletcher, Anderson, Young Chicharito, Rooney

MANCHESTER CITY Hart Richards, Kompany, Lescott, ClichyYaya Toure, BarryAguero, Silva, Nasri Dzeko

Manchester United have had a couple of difficult games in the past week, and it doesn't get any easier as they face rivals City, looking to leapfrog their 'noisy neighbours'.

Darren Fletcher is favoured by Sir Alex Ferguson in the so-called 'big games', so should start on Sunday, and could be paired in midfield by Anderson after he was rested for the midweek trip to Romania. However, if Ferguson opts for a midfield three, Ji-Sung Park or Michael Carrick are both in with a chance of selection.

Meanwhile, City have no fresh injury worries, and look to be at full strength after Sergio Aguero recovered from a minor knock to appear as a substitute and score the last-minute winner in their Champions League clash with Villarreal.

The only fit player that definitely will not be featuring is Carlos Tevez, who looks set to be on the sidelines for some time while his dispute with the club still ongoing.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester United have won the last three derbies between the pair at Old Trafford, and 24 out of the last 25 home Premier League games.

• Wayne Rooney has scored five league goals in the Manchester derby, joint with Paul Scholes, while Eric Cantona has the most with seven.

• Manchester City have scored an average of 3.5 goals a game away from home in the Premier League this season, with 14 goal in four games.

• The last time Manchester City won at Old Trafford was in 2008, the only time in the past 36 years this has happened.

• United have now scored in each of their past 17 games.

• City did not beat any of the 'big four' of United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool away last season.

• Andrei Kanchelskis was the last player to score a hat-trick in this fixture in a 5-0 victory for United in 1994.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Man Utd. 2-1 Man City   

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23.10. (Sun) 12:30 Lecce - AC Milan

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

LECCE BenassiOddo, Tomovic, Esposito, Mesbah Obodo, Strasser, Giacomazzi Grossmuller Corvia, Paquato

AC MILAN Abbiati Abate, Nesta, Mexes, Antonini Nocerino, Van Bommel, Aquilani,  Robinho Ibrahimovic, Cassano

Lecce boss Eusebio Di Francesco will be without influential forward David Di Michele, goalkeeper Julio Sergio and defenders Souleymane Diamoutene and Stefano Ferrario for Sunday's clash.
For the visitors, Gennaro Gattuso is still out with a serious eye injury while Alexandre Pato is nursing a thigh problem for the Serie A champions. Thiago Silva trained apart from the rest of the squad and will likely miss the match due to a thigh injury, while Clarence Seedorf is also doubtful.
Captain Massimo Ambrosini, however, has recovered from his shoulder injury and could play a part in Sunday's encounter.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Lecce have dropped their first three games at home this season, being outscored 6-1 during that span.

• Eusebio Di Francesco's men have scored only one goal in their last four encounters.

• Lecce lead the league with 109 fouls this term.

• AC Milan are winless on the road this season, conceding five goals in the process.
  

• Massimiliano Allegri's men have kept a clean sheet in two out of their last three encounters.

• The Scudetto holders have only picked up one win in their last nine Serie A matches at the Stadio Via del Mare.

Prediction

Lecce have failed to score in their last three matches and that streak of futility looks set to continue as the defending champions come rolling into town. Ibrahimovic and Cassano will lead the charge in what should be a comfortable victory for the visitors.

Editor's Prediction

Lecce 0-2 AC Milan

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