15.12. (Thu) 21:05 Udinese - Celtic

PROBABLE LINEUPS

UDINESE Handanovic Isla, Danilo, Badu, Benatia Armero, Asamoah, Pinzi, Doubai Di Natale, Fabbrini

CELTIC Forster Cha, Loovens, Majstorovic, El Kaddouri  Wanyama, Brown, Ki, Ledley Hooper, Stokes

Udinese are in the driving seat for this match, sitting three points clear of Celtic before the start of play on Thursday. That being said, only a late penalty rescued a point for the Italians in the reverse fixture back in September, so they will be wary of the threat posed by the Scottish giants as they bid to secure their position in the next round.

The Serie A side have no major injury concerns ahead of the crucial clash. Veteran Antonio Di Natale is likely to lead the line, with Diego Fabbrini expected to partner in attack ahead of Floro Flores. Almen Abdi, the man who rescued a point for the Italians at Celtic Park, will be vying for a place with Giampiero Pinzi at the heart of midfield.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon claimed earlier this week that the pressure was off his side ahead of the clash in Italy, and that they would be going all out for victory. As such, Anthony Stokes – the Hoops’ top scorer in the Europa League this season – is expected to be partnered by Gary Hooper, as the visitors push for the goals that could send them through to the knockout phase.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The 1-1 draw back in September was Udinese’s first game against a Scottish club.

• The Italians have won all four of their previous home fixtures in the competition, the latest being a 2-0 win over Group I leaders Atletico Madrid.

• They are currently enjoying a fine season domestically, sitting in second place in Serie ‘A’ above AC Milan and level on points with leaders Juventus.

• Antonio Di Natale (pictured right) is their top scorer this season with 13 goals to his name; they may be forced to rely on the veteran on Thursday, as defender Dusan Basta is second on the list with just three.

• Celtic have taken only one point on their travels in Group I so far.

• They have played eight competitive matches on Italian soil and have never come away with a win.

• Their first competitive match against Italian opponents was back in 1967, when they beat Inter 2-1 in the final of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup.

• The Hoops have won just one of their last nine away games in Europe – a 3-0 win against FC Sion, given to them by default after the Swiss side fielded ineligible players.

• The two clubs have each scored five and conceded six thus far in the group stage this season.

• The Italians have chalked up twenty offsides in the group games so far – more than double that of their Scottish opponents.

Prediction

Although Lennon has stressed his side will respect the quality of their opponents, they must come out all guns blazing if they are to manage what no other side in Group I has this season, and win at the Friuli. This could well play in to Udinese’s hands, as they will be content to soak up any pressure from the visitors and punish them on the counterattack.
While you can expect a host of chances to be carved out for either side, I cannot see Celtic holding out for a win where the likes of Atletico Madrid have already failed.

Editor's Prediction

Udinese 3-1 Celtic

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15.12. (Thu) 19:00 Shamrock Rovers - Tottenham Hot.

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

SHAMROCK ROVERS Thompson Sullivan, Oman, Murray, Stevens Dennehy, O’Donnell, Turner, Rice, Paterson Sheppard

TOTTENHAM Cudicini Corluka, Kaboul, Bassong, Townsend Falque, Livermore, Sandro, Giovani Defoe, Pavlyuchenko

Younes Kaboul is likely to continue at centre-back as he will miss Sunday’s Premier League match against Sunderland through suspension, giving Harry Redknapp an opportunity to rest either William Gallas or Sebastien Bassong. Andros Townsend started at left-back against Rubin Kazan and with Danny Rose injured he could fill that spot again.

Changes can be expected in midfield as Spurs prepare for three matches in the next seven days. Jake Livermore has featured fairly regularly in the Europa League so far and could be partnered with Sandro in the centre of the park. The Brazilian was an unused substitute against Stoke City at the weekend.

The home side should be well-prepared for the game having not played since the end of November, with the domestic season in the Republic of Ireland already having reached its conclusion.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Having suffered five losses in Group A so far, this will be Shamrock Rovers’ final match of the season. The League of Ireland season ended back in October, with the Dublin side crowned league champions.

• Manager Michael O’Neill will take charge of the Hoops for the final time on Thursday evening. The 42-year old is out of contract at the end of the month and is in the frame for the Northern Ireland job.

• Also out of contract is striker Karl Sheppard, who has impressed during Rovers’ Europa League campaign this season. He has been linked with a host of English clubs including Sunderland.

• Former Spurs midfielder Rohan Ricketts (pictured right) is currently under contract with Rovers, although he is unlikely to feature in the starting line-up for this fixture.

• Twenty-one-year-old Shamrock defender Enda Stevens could find himself facing Spurs more often in the future. The Irish left-back has agreed to join Aston Villa and will link-up with Alex McLeish’s side in January.

• Following their loss at home to PAOK, Tottenham will need the Greek side to beat Rubin Kazan to have a hope of progressing. Redknapp’s team trail Rubin by three points and will also have to overturn a five-goal deficit in the goal difference column.

• Spurs find themselves on the verge of being knocked out having also lost to Rubin in Russia, while they only drew with PAOK away from home in Greece.

• Redknapp has put his faith in some of his younger players during the competition this season. The key trio of Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale has been restricted to only one start each in the tournament.

• Goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe and Giovani Dos Santos sealed a 3-1 victory for Spurs when the two sides previously met at White Hart Lane. Stephen Rice had opened the scoring.

• Spurs have conceded just one goal in their three Europa League away matches against Hearts, PAOK and Rubin Kazan so far. Bibras Natcho’s solitary strike was enough to hand the Russians victory in November.

Prediction

Redknapp should have a strong spine fresh and available for selection here, which will be enough to seal the points. Spurs will be aware of the need not to let up on their hosts, however, as they look to close the goal difference gap between themselves and second place rivals Rubin Kazan.

Editor's Prediction

Shamrock Rovers 0-3 Tottenham

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15.12. (Thu) 11:30 Al Sadd - Barcelona

Clasico : Real Madrid - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AL SADD  Saqr Nabeel, Koni, Lee Jung-Soo, Belhadj Al-Bloushi, Rizik, Alyazidi Al Khalfan, Niang, Keita

BARCELONA   Valdes Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Maxwell Iniesta, Keita, Thiago Cuenca, Villa, Pedro

The Qatar club will be glad star striker Mamadou Niang came through the 2-1 victory over Esperance unscathed after being a doubt for the game with an infection.

Al Sadd are able to field a full-strength squad against Pep Guardiola's men and are likely to line-up with Kader Keita and Khalfan Al Khalfan in support of Niang.

Barcelona are expected to rotate their starting line-up from the side that defeated Real Madrid 3-1 at the weekend. Javier Mascherano appears a certainty to come into the defence with Carles Puyol likely to be rested.

Seydou Keita and Thiago are in contention to start in midfield while David Villa and Pedro will be hoping to earn some valuable game-time in attack where Isaac Cuenca could come in for Lionel Messi.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Al Sadd qualified for the Club World Cup by defeating Jeonbuk Motors in the 2011 AFC Champions League final in a penalty shoot-out in November.

• The club are the most successful side in Qatar, winning a record 12 league titles, with the first coming in the 1971-72 season.

• The Qatari giants have never met the Catalan club and will be looking to shock the European champions.

• Barcelona won the competition in 2009, defeating Estudiantes 2-1 in the final, with Lionel Messi grabbing an extra-time winner.

• Pedro netted twice in the 2009 edition which helped him to become the first player to score in six different competitions in one season.

• The winner of the game will face either Santos or Kashiwa Reysol in Yokohama in the final on Sunday.

Prediction

Barcelona will be high in confidence after their Clasico victory at the weekend and it is difficult to see anything other than a convincing win for Pep Guardiola's men against the 2011 AFC Champions League winners.

Editor's Prediction

Al Sadd 0-3 Barcelona

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15.12. (Thu) 01:15 Universidad de Chile - LDU Quito

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE Herrera Rojas, M. Gonzalez, O. Gonzalez Diaz, Rodriguez, Araguiz, Mena Vargas, Canales, Castro

LIGA DE QUITO Dominguez Guagua, Araujo, Calderon Reasco, Acosta, Hidalgo, Ambrosi, Gonzalez Barcos, Bieler

Universidad will revert to trainer Jorge Sampaoli's favoured 3-4-3 formation having sacrificed a winger for a holding midfielder in the first leg to combat the altitude. That means Francisco Castro will return to the left side of a three-pronged attack alongside Gustavo Canales and Eduardo Vargas. After being caused multiple problems by Neicer Reasco in the first leg the Chileans will look to nullify his threat by closing the gaps in wide areas.

Liga need to score in order to have a chance of earning their second Copa Sudamericana title in three years. The away goals rule is not applied so a single goal victory would be enough to take the tie to extra time. Ezequiel Gonzalez will look to supply the killer balls to the attacking Argentine duo of Claudio Bieler and Hernan Barcos; the latter of which will hope for an improved performance from the first leg.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Universidad de Chile can win their first continental trophy in the first final in the history of the club.

• Liga de Quito are the only club to have won a tie in the tournament proper when playing the second leg away from home. They achieved this feat in every round, eliminating Independiente, Libertad and Velez Sarsfield.

• Eduardo Vargas needs just one goal to match compatriot Humberto Suazo's record of 10 goals in a single edition of the Copa Sudamerica.

• The U are currently on a run of 34 games unbeaten in both league and cup competition.

• The Ecuadorian side are no strangers to high pressure finals. They have won the Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa Sudamericana twice since 2008.

• Hernan Barcos still has a chance of beating Eduardo Vargas to being the tournament's top-scorer. With seven goals he could match his Chilean counterpart with a brace in the second leg.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction 
Universidad de Chile 2-1 L.D.U. 

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