03.12. (Sat) 22:00 Valencia - Espanyol

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA Alves Barragan, Rami, Ruiz, Alba Albelda, T Costa Piatti, Parejo, Mathieu Aduriz

ESPANYOL Alvarez Galan, Rodriguez, Moreno, Didac Baena, RomaricWeiss, Verdu, Datolo Alvaro

Pablo Piatti, Dani Parejo and Aritz Aduriz could all feature for Unai Emery's side as Roberto Soldado, Jonas and Sofiane Feghouli may be rested for the decisive midweek encounter with the Chelsea. Valencia need a win or a score draw at Stamford Bridge to secure their place in the Champions League knockout stage. Antonio Barragan could make his Mestalla debut at right-back on Saturday with Miguel finding himself in more disciplinary hot water after reportedly arriving late for training earlier in the week. Ever Banega remains on the sidelines with a knee injury.
With strikers Sergio Garcia and Walter Pandiani still out injured, Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino is likely to retain on-loan Manchester City winger Vladimir Weiss in his starting line-up.
The Barcelona club will also be without the services of injured duo Javier Marquez and Javi Lopez for the trip to the Mestalla.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Valencia have won six of their last seven matches in all competitions.

• Roberto Soldado is the club's top scorer this season with 13 goals.

• Argentina and Valencia legend Mario Kempes will be honoured by the club in a ceremony before kick-off on Saturday.

• Espanyol are on a four-game winless streak in which they have picked up just two points out of a possible 12.

• The Barcelona-based club have won just once in their last five encounters with Valencia.

• The Catalans have scored more than once in just one league game this season - a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao back in September.

Prediction

Valencia are a team high in confidence, while the visitors have struggled for goals all season. Even if the home side rest their big guns, they should have enough to see off Espanyol at the Mestalla.

Editor's Prediction

Valencia 2-1 Espanyol

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03.12. (Sat) 20:45 Inter - Udinese

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

INTER Julio CesarZanetti, Samuel, Ranocchia, Nagatomo  Cambiasso, Thiago Motta, StankovicAlvarez, Pazzini, Zarate

UDINESE Handanovic Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi Basta, Isla, Pinzi, Asamoah, Armero Floro Flores Di Natale

Inter are likely to be missing key duo Wesley Sneijder and Lucio, with both players nursing muscle strains, while Sulley Muntari and long-term absentee Emiliano Viviano will also sit this match out.

On the plus side for the Nerazzurri, defenders Maicon and Cristian Chivu could return to the squad along with summer signing Diego Forlan, and while none of the trio are expected to start, they could well feature from the bench.

Francesco Guidolin should have a full squad at his disposal for Saturday's encounter, with the only expected change from last week's victory over Roma being the re-introduction of Antonio Floro Flores to the starting line up at the expense of Almen Abdi.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Inter have scored only one less goal than Udinese this season yet are positioned 12 places below the Bianconeri in the table.

• Inter have lost more than twice the amount of goals Udinese have so far in Serie A.

• If Inter emerge victorious on Saturday, they will temporarily climb into the top half of the table for the first time this campaign.

• Udinese have the best defensive record in Serie A, with the Bianconeri conceding only six goals this season.

• If Udinese win on Saturday night they will have won more games in Serie A than any other side this season.

• The Bianconeri have won only one game away from home in 2011-12.

Prediction

Inter have started to find form in the past few weeks, recording succesive league victories for the first time this campaign, and with the Bianconeri's poor away form this season, a slender victory for the hosts could be on the cards on Saturday night.

Editor's Prediction

Inter 2-1 Udinese

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03.12. (Sat) 20:45 Napoli - Lecce

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

NAPOLI De Sanctis Fernandez, Aronica, Fideleff Maggio, Dzemaili, Inler, Dossena Santana, Pandev Lavezzi

LECCE Benassi Oddo, Ferrario, Tomovic, Esposito, Mesbah Strasser, Grossmuller, Obodo Pasquato, Muriel

Unsurprisingly, coach Walter Mazzarri has his eyes firmly set on Tuesday's crunch Champions League encounter against Villarreal, and therefore it is likely he will field a much-changed XI on Saturday. An estimated six alterations should take effect from the side that drew 3-3 with Juventus on Wednesday.
Key performers Paolo Cannavaro, Hugo Campagnaro, Juan Zuniga, Walter Gargano, Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani are all likely to be sacrificed in favour of Federico Fernandez, Ignacio Fideleff, Andrea Dossena, Blerim Dzemaili and Mario Santana. Ezequiel Lavezzi is also set to lead the line, with his fellow countryman Santana ready to take the reins alongside midweek hero Goran Pandev in the hole.
Meanwhile for the visitors, they too are lining up several alterations from the disappointing 1-0 loss to Catania last week. Out of the side go Davide Brivio, Juan Cuadrado, Andrea Bertolacci and the injured Ruben Olivera, with Stefano Ferrario, Djamel Mesbah, Carlos Grossmuller and Cristian Pasquato coming in. A tactical switch to a 5-3-2 formation is also expected.
However, there isn't such luck for Edward Ofere, Guillermo Giacomazzi, Moris Carrozzieri, Souleymane Diamoutene and David Di Michele, who all face further spells on the treatment table

DID YOU KNOW?

• Napoli have won just two of their last eight league meetings against Lecce.

• However, Walter Mazzarri's men have always registered a Serie A goal against Lecce on home soil.

• The hosts have drawn their last three matches, and are winless in their last four in the league.

• At the San Paolo, Napoli have lost just one of their last eight league games, but have won just three.

• Lecce have scored only nine Serie A goals so far this season; only Cesena, with six, have scored fewer.

• Eusebio Di Francesco's side also have the worst goal difference, with -10.

• Seven of Lecce's eight points have been collected away from home thus far.

Prediction

Napoli should prevail and finish the weekend with three more points to their name, but not without a fight as an experimental line-up is in the offing. However, with Lecce looking likely to take a defensive mindset to the San Paolo, the home side should have enough to edge the points.

Editor's Prediction

Napoli 1-0 Lecce

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03.12. (Sat) 20:00 Barcelona - Levante

barcelona-rayo vallecano (homenaje de tito vilanova)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA Valdes Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta Messi, Cesc, Villa

LEVANTE Munua Venta, Ballesteros, Lopez, Del Horno Valdo, Torres, Farinos, Juanlu Vicente Kone

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has a few injury problems going in to the match against Levante. Ibrahim Afellay is still sidelined and will be out for the foreseeable future after injuring his knee ligaments earlier in the season.

Brazilian full-back Adriano is also missing for the Catalan giants after pulling a hamstring in the midweek victory over Rayo Vallecano, and will also miss the Champions League match against BATE Borisov next week. Gerard Pique, meanwhile, picked up a yellow card in the match against Rayo, and so the Barca defender will be suspended.

Levante have a few injury issues of their own. On Thursday, defender Nano trained apart from his team-mates as he battles to recover from the ankle injury he suffered in the latter part of the victory over Sporting.

Manager Juan Ignacio Martinez is also sweating over the fitness of winger Juanlu, who exercised at a lower intensity on Thursday as he aims to shake off an injury to his right leg. However, it looks likely that he will make the grade against Barcelona. Jose Barkero misses the game as he serves a suspension.

DID YOU KNOW

• The last match between Barcelona and Levante ended in a 1-1 draw in La Liga at the end of last season.

• Barcelona have scored nearly double the amount of goals that Levante have notched up in the league this season, with 42 to 23.

• Barca have scored 34 goals at Camp Nou in the Spanish Primera Division this season, without reply.

• If Levante manage to win the match at Camp Nou, they will go just two points behind Barcelona in La Liga.

• Levante's top goalscorer this season is winger Juanlu, who has notched up six goals in 11 appearances.

• Prior to Levante's 4-0 win over Sporting last weekend, Juan Ignacio Martinez's side had lost three games on the bounce, which included losses against Valencia and Atletico Madrid.

Prediction

Levante have acquitted themselves superbly so far this season, with their veteran heads and workmanlike performances grinding out points. However, they come to Camp Nou with Barcelona having scored 34 goals at home in the league this season, and conceded none.  It is difficult to envisage any other outcome than a victory for Pep Guardiola's side.

Editor's Prediction

Barcelona 2-0 Levante

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03.12. (Sat) 18:30 Aston Villa - Manchester Utd

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ASTON VILLA Given Hutton, Collins, Dunne, Warnock Petrov, Herd N’Zogbia, Heskey, Agbonlahor Bent

MANCHESTER UNITED De Gea Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra Nani, Carrick, Fletcher, Young Rooney, Hernandez

Alex McLeish has a wealth of options to choose from in midfield, with Barry Bannan, Stephen Ireland, Fabian Delph and Jermaine Jenas all pushing for a starting place. However, they are going to struggle to replace Australian Chris Herd who McLeish said was worth "his weight in gold".

The Scot also hopes to have captain Stiliyan Petrov back fit after he missed the 0-0 draw at Swansea.

For United, Anderson is out until February with a knee injury whilst Fabio (hamstring) and Dimitar Berbatov (ankle) both suffered injuries against Crystal Palace and had to come off.

Michael Owen (ankle) and Tom Cleverley (thigh) are both out until the end of the year.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sir Alex Ferguson managed opposite boss Alex McLeish at Aberdeen from 1978-86.

• Ashley Young plays against his former club for the first time since his move to Old Trafford in the summer. He scored 30 goals in 157 games for the Villans.

• Manchester United have only conceded three goals away from home, which is the best in the league.

• They are, alongside Manchester City, the only team not to lose on their travels this season.

• They have scored in every match they have played in all competitions.

• Wayne Rooney hasn’t scored in eight league games after scoring nine in his opening five fixtures.

• Aston Villa have lost nine points from winning positions this season.

• After starting the season unbeaten in seven games they have now only won one of their last six matches – a 3-2 home win against Norwich.

• Villa have 32 wins at home compared to United’s 25, with 21 being drawn in this fixture.

• But they have not beaten United at Villa Park in the league since 1995 – 16 matches ago.

Prediction

There should be lots of creative players on show, but with neither manager likely to go too gung-ho, it is all set up for another classic clean sheet win for United away from home.

Editor's Prediction

Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester United

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03.12. (Sat) 18:00 Real Sporting - Real

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PROBABLE LINE-UP

SPORTING GIJON Juan PabloSuarez, Botia, Hernandez, Canella Castro, Rivera, CasesTrejo, Barral, de las Cuevas

REAL MADRID   Casillas Diarra, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo Khedira, Sahin Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo Higuain

Alberto Lora is the home side's only injury concern going into the game and the right-back is expected to miss out with a hamstring strain. Damian Suarez is likely to deputise for the 24-year-old.

Experienced striker Mate Bilic has returned to fitness yet Sporting will more than likely opt for captain David Barral as a lone forward.

Jose Mourinho is likely to start with Nuri Sahin in central midfield, alongside Sami Khedira as Xabi Alonso serves a suspension. However, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to shake off a knock to start for the Liga leaders.

Real Madrid will be without Ricardo Carvalho, who has now picked up a knee injury in training while Alvaro Arbeloa will be absent once again.

Kaka is expected to be named on the substitute's bench after returning to training while Gonzalo Higuain could be given the nod upfront in place of Karim Benzema.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sporting were one of only two teams (the other being Zaragoza) to beat Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last season in the league, a win that ended Jose Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten home record.

• The club from Gijon finished last campaign in a respectable 10th place yet are currently languishing in 18th position.

• Mesut Ozil completed his first 90 minutes for Real Madrid in this season's La Liga in last weekend's 3-2 win over Valencia.

• Real Madrid are the only side in Spain's top flight this season yet to concede a headed goal.

• Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his last 17 penalties in La Liga, a longer run than any other player from one of Europe's top five leagues.

• Madrid have won their previous 71 games in La Liga where they have taken the lead.

Prediction

It is difficult to look beyond a Madrid win on Saturday, yet this may not be the goalfest many expect. The visitors will surely miss Xabi Alonso in the middle and despite Sporting's poor league position, they are a difficult opponent to break down at El Molinon.

Editor's Prediction

Sporting G 1-2 Real Madrid

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03-12-2011 Espanjol nemoćan NEBOJŠA MILIČIĆ, TRENER U ŠPANIJI

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La Liga Opta Facts - 3-5 December

Atlético de Madrid - Rayo Vallecano

Atlético have only won one of their last six meetings with Rayo in the top flight.
The rojiblancos have only won one of their last four league games at home to the franjirrojos: 2-0 in 03/04, their last meeting.
Rayo have won two of the three matches in which they have scored at Atlético's ground in Primera.
The rayistas have only won one of their 13 derbies since the turn of the century, though this was did come earlier this season (1-0 at Getafe).
Only Real Madrid and Barcelona have picked up more points at home in La Liga this season than Atlético (15).
The franjirrojos have failed to score in their last three league away games.
Gabi has made the most fouls in LigaBBVA (87) in 2011.
Álvaro Domínguez is the highest-scoring defender in LigaBBVA this season (three), along with Iñigo Martínez.
This season Atlético have lost just one of their six matches (three wins and two draws) without Godín playing, and have conceded 2.43 goals per game with him playing vs just 0.5 without him.
Three of Arda Turan's five assists in the league this season have been for headers from Adrián.
The rojiblancos have only conceded one goal in the last 15 minutes of the first half, while Rayo are yet to score in this period in the league this season.

Barcelona - Levante

Levante have lost their last six league matches at the Camp Nou, despite scoring in five of these.
Barcelona are the first side in the history of the Spanish league to keep a clean sheet in 11 consecutive league games at home (the last to do so was Almería in April).
The azulgrana are unbeaten in their last 26 league games at the Camp Nou (23 wins, three draws).
Against Sporting, Levante ended a run of three consecutive league defeats.
Juan Ignacio Martínez's men are the second highest-scoring side on the road in LigaBBVA this season (nine).
Barcelona have scored the most goals in the opening 15 minutes of league games this season (10, five more than second-placed Real Madrid).
Levante's record for most goals scored in games in Primera (5-1 at home in 64/65) and conceded (2-6 away in 07/08) both came against Barcelona.
The four teams to have registered the most possession at the Camp Nou this season (Rayo, Atlético, Zaragoza and Mallorca) have all conceded at least four goals.
Arouna Koné has already scored more league goals with Levante this season (five) than he did with Sevilla and Hannover combined (three).

Granada - Real Zaragoza

Zaragoza have won 11 of their 26 meetings with Granada in Primera, losing nine.
The maños have only managed two wins in their 13 league visits to Granada in Primera.
Granada head into this game in their best run of form in the league this season (two wins and one draw from their last three).
Fabri González's men are without a win in their last four league matches at home.
The Andalucians have failed to score in four of their six matches on their own turf this season.
All seven of Granada's league goals this season have been netted by different players.
Zaragoza have conceded the most penalties in the league this season (five).
Javier Aguirre's men have lost every match after conceding first in the league this season (seven).
Granada have failed to score in the most matches in the league this season (eight).
This game sees the lowest-scoring side in LigaBBVA this season (Granada - seven), meet the division's poorest defence (Zaragoza - 27 goals conceded).

Mallorca - Athletic

Athletic have dropped the most points after going ahead in the league this season (10).
The Basque side's defeat to Granada last time out ended a run of eight games unbeaten in the league.
Against Racing, Caparrós achieved his first league win since joining Mallorca as a manager.
Last time out Bielsa's men failed to score for the second time in the league this season (also vs Málaga).
Against Racing, Mallorca scored twice at home in the league for the first time this season.
Against Granada, Athletic lost for the first time with Aurtenetxe on the pitch in the league this season.
Five different players have scored Athletic's seven goals away from home in the league this season.
Mallorca have scored the highest proportion of their goals from penalties in the league this season (4/11).
Mallorca have conceded the most goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half in the league this season (six).

Osasuna - Real Betis

Osasuna have only won three of their last nine league meetings with Real Betis in the top flight.
The rojillos have lost three of their last four league matches at home to the verdiblancos.
There has been just one 0-0 draw in the 23 matches between the sides at Osasuna in Primera (in 82/83).
Real Betis have not conceded a single goal scored five in total in their last three wins over Osasuna in Pamplona.
The side from Navarre hold the record for the joint-biggest win at Real Betis in the league (5-0 in 06/07).
After Barcelona (0), Osasuna have conceded the joint-fewest goals at home in the league this season (three, level with Granada).
Real Betis have only taken one point from the last 27 available and have lost their last five league games on the road.
Ibrahima's three goals in the league this season have come thanks to assists from Raúl García.
Pepe Mel's side are the only team in LigaBBVA who have not conceded a goal in the first 15 minutes of games.

Racing - Villarreal

Villarreal have won 13 of their 22 league meetings with Racing, losing four and drawing five.
Racing are without a win in their last four at home to the Yellow Submarine (two defeats, two draws).
Racing are the only side in LigaBBVA who have managed just one win this season.
Similarly, Racing are the poorest home side in the competition this season (six points, -2 GD).
This match sees the lowest-scoring side at home in the league this season (Racing, three) face the lowest-scoring on the road (Villarreal, two).
Racing have dropped the second-most points after conceding goals in the last 15 minutes of LigaBBVA matches this season (five).
Héctor Cúper resigned from Racing after managing his lowest-ever win % in Primera (7.69%), behind his time at Real Betis (14.29%).
Racing won the only match in which they managed to open the scoring in the league this season.

Real Sociedad - Málaga CF

Prior to their last league meeting (0-2) Real Sociedad had always scored against Málaga at Anoeta in Primera (eight previous meetings in total).
Last time out (3-2 at Betis) the donostiarras ended a run of eight league games without a win.
Duda has played at least 45 minutes in all but four of Málaga's league matches this season: they lost all four of these.
Málaga have won all the league matches in which they have opened the scoring in the league this season (six).
Agirretxe has scored the most headed goals in the league this season (four).
The txuri-urdines have conceded the most right-footed goals in the league this season (13).
Before this season, Roberto Soldado was the last player to score from his own half in Primera (May 2007): Iñigo Martínez has already done this twice in 2011/12.
Málaga are the only side in LigaBBVA yet to concede in the last 15 minutes of matches this season, while Real Sociedad have shipped the most in the opening 15 minutes (five).
Manuel Pellegrini has lost only one of his seven league meetings with Real Sociedad (two draws).
Turienzo Alvarezhas shown the most yellow cards in La Liga this season (63).

Sevilla - Getafe

Sevilla have lost their five league games against Getafe.
At the Sánchez Pizjuán Sevilla and Getafe have a level record in Primera: three wins and three defeats each, with one draw.
The azulones have always scored at least as many goals as the previous season in each of their top-flight visits to Sevilla (three last season).
Sevilla and Mallorca are the only two teams in LigaBBVA this season who have lost after going ahead at home (once each).
The Andalucians have conceded the fewest goals from inside the area (exc. Penalties) in the league this season (six).
Getafe have conceded goals to players from more different nationalities than any other side in La Liga this season (11).
Luis García faces the side who scored the most goals against his sides last season: eight.
Iglesias Villanueva has shown the most yellow cards to home sides in the league this season.

Sporting - Real Madrid

Madrid have kept a clean sheet on their last six league visits to El Molinón (four wins, one draw).
Sporting were one of two teams who managed to win at the Bernabéu last season in the league (along with Zaragoza).
Real Sociedad are the only side to have scored more than once at El Molinón in La Liga: the other two teams to win there both did so by a 1-0 scoreline (Barcelona and Valencia).
José Mourinho's side are on a run of nine straight league wins, their best run since the Portuguese's arrival at Madrid.
The whites' tally of 46 league goals is their most-ever at this stage of a season.
The current table-toppers have won the last 71 league matches in which they have taken the lead.
Madrid are the best away side in the league this season with five wins, and are top-scorers on the road (18).
The whites have scored the most goals from outside the box (5) and in the second half (27) and are the only side yet to concede a headed goal in LigaBBVA this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his last 17 league penalties, a longer run than any other player in Europe's top five leagues (David Villa, 15).
Three of Real Madrid's four league defeats last season came without Xabi Alonso in the starting XI, one of them against Sporting.

Valencia - Espanyol

The periquitos have won just seven of their 72 trips to Valencia in the league.
Valencia have scored in all but one of their league games this season (at Sevilla).
The Catalonians have only once managed to score more than once in one game this season (on matchday three vs Athletic).
Espanyol are, along with Sevilla and Osasuna, the side who have seen the most red cards in the league this season (four).
The Catalonians are one of two sides (along with Betis) where the side scoring the first goal has always won in the league this season.
Los che have won the most points thanks to goals scored after the 75th minute in the league this season (six).
Emery's men are, along with Barcelona, the only team who have not conceded a goal in the last 15 minutes of the first half.
Unai Emery has made the most changes to his starting XIs from one game to another in La Liga this season (54).
Valencia are, along with Athletic, the only side who have not played out a goalless draw in the league this season.

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03.12. (Sat) 16:00 Wigan - Arsenal

PROBABLE LINEUPS

WIGAN Al Habsi Boyce, Caldwell, Gohouri, Figueroa McCarthy, Diame, Watson Moses, Gomez Rodallega

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

Wigan have no new injury worries for this game; only third choice goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is unavailable.

Arsenal have four players missing through injury: Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere are long-term absentees, while Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs have both joined them on the sidelines recently.

Thomas Vermaelen, Gervinho and Robin van Persie were all rested for the midweek League Cup defeat to Manchester City and they should all return to the starting line-up for this match.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The two sides have played each other 16 times in their history, but they had never met before Wigan’s promotion to the Premier League in 2005. In the past six years, the Gunners have dominated the encounters with 12 wins and just two for the Latics.

• Arsenal have not won on their last two visits to Wigan. They were held to a 2-2 draw last December and were beaten 3-2 in April 2010 with the Latics scoring three goals in the final 10 minutes of the game top secure the three points.

• Arsenal celebrated their 125th Anniversary this week. The club was founded on December 1 1886 as Dial Square before becoming Woolwich Arsenal in 1891 and just Arsenal in 1913.

• Arsenal have not won any of their three recent trips to the North West, with defeats to Blackburn and United this season and Bolton last season. You have to go back to a 3-1 victory over Blackpool in April for the last time they were triumphant in this part of the country.

• Home is not necessarily where the heart is for Wigan as Roberto Martinez’s side have not won at the DW Stadium in four attempts. The Latics have also not kept a clean sheet in 10 games.

• Despite victory over Sunderland, Wigan are still in the bottom three of the Premier League; however, if they were they to record consecutive victories for the first time in 13 attempts they would close the gap on the sides just outside of the relegation zone.

Prediction

Arsenal are the in-form team in the Premier League at the moment and are unbeaten in six, and will be confident they can make it seven against second bottom Wigan. With Van Persie in sparkling form the Gunners should have too much and will run out comfortable victors.

Editor's Prediction

Wigan Athletic 1-3 Arsenal

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03.12. (Sat) 16:00 Manchester City - Norwich

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER CITY Hart Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy Milner, Yaya Toure, Barry, Silva Balotelli, Aguero

NORWICH CITY   Ruddy Naughton, Martin, Barnett, Tierney Bennett, Fox, Johnson, Pilkington Hoolahan Morison

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini welcomes Mario Balotelli back into the the squad after the striker completed his one-match suspension. He should join Sergio Aguero in attack, as Edin Dzeko started the recent League Cup game against Arsenal. The Italian boss has no further injury concerns at the moment.

Meanwhile, Paul Lambert has to make do without the services of James Vaughan and Elliott Ward, since the duo are sidelined with their respective knee injuries. Ritchie De Laet (back) is a doubt for this encounter as he is reportedly yet to return to training following his injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester City are the only team yet to be beaten in the Premier League this season.

• Along with Liverpool and Newcastle United, Roberto Mancini's men also have the best defensive record in the league; they have let in only 12 goals in 13 matches.

• The hosts have not lost a single game in their last 16 league clashes at home. They are also on a run of 11 consecutive victories.

• Norwich City last beat these opponents back in 2001, with a 2-0 result at Carrow Road.

• If all matches ended at half-time the Canaries would be in sixth position in the league, as opposed to their current 10th place.

• Paul Lambert's men have conceded 11 goals on their top-flight travels this season. In the top half of the table, only Arsenal have shipped more.

Prediction

City's home form is exemplary, and while Norwich have made a confident return to the top flight, firepower from the likes of Aguero and Balotelli is likely to be too much for them to handle, ensuring another Etihad win for Roberto Mancini's men.

Editor's Prediction

Manchester City 3-0 Norwich City

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03.12. (Sat) 16:00 Tottenham - Bolton

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

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

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

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp looks set to play a front two of Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor, though Rafael van der Vaart could make an appearance as he attempts to recover from a hamstring problem.

Elsewhere, it should will most likely be a first-choice team, though Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson are on the long term injury list with ankle problems.

Bolton Wanderers are without David Wheater, who will be serving the first of his four-game suspension picked up for a straight red card last weekend. As the defender had already seen red this season, he has picked up an extra one-game ban on top of the three earned for serious foul play.

David N'Gog could make a return to the team after injury, but is unlikely to dislodge either Kevin Davies or Ivan Klasnic.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Spurs are aiming to win their sixth consecutive league game on Saturday, while Bolton are aiming to avoid their fifth defeat in six matches.

• The north London club have only lost one of their last 22 home games in the Premier League.

• Bolton have lost 10 of their 13 league games this season, but that record extends to 15 of their last 18 including the end of last season.

• In their 13 games matches so far in the league, Owen Coyle's men have conceded 31 goals.

• Kevin Davies (pictured right) has scored six goals in his last six appearances against Tottenham.

• In the last 15 games between the sides, none have resulted in an away win.

Prediction

It should be a hard-fought match from both sides, and though Spurs are likely to be weary following their midweek efforts, they should have the strength to get past a Bolton side lacking in form and confidence.

Editor's Prediction

Tottenham 2-0 Bolton

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