18.12. (Sun) 21:30 Valencia - Malaga

Unai Emery, Sofiane Feghouli - Valencia

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA Alves Barragan, Rami, Ruiz, Alba Albelda, Topal Feghouli, Jonas, Mathieu Soldado

MALAGA Caballero Sanchez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal  Toulalan, Duda Cazorla, Isco Fernandez, Rondon

Unai Emery will have to do without the services of Hedwiges Maduro and Sergio Canales, who have been out since October with knocks and are still recuperating. Miguel is not in the best standing with the club and may not feature for quite awhile after arriving to practice late on Sunday and failing to meet with his coach.

Ever Banega, who had missed more than a month with a knee injury, returned to action as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Cadiz midweek in the Copa del Rey, and is likely to feature against Malaga, but not from the start.

On the suspension front, Tino Costa will miss the game due to yellow card accumulation, but he is also injured and wouldn't have played anyways, as he will sit out the rest of 2011 with an abductor injury.

For Malaga, Julio Baptista was only expected to miss a few weeks after being injured on October 1, but the former Real Madrid man is set to miss two months after his slow recovery revealed a fragment of bone that needs to be removed from his right foot.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Valencia sit in third place in La Liga with 30 points, seven behind co-leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona. 

• Unai Emery's side, who will face Stoke City in the Europa League Round of 32, have not tasted victory in their last three games in all competitions, losing two and drawing one.

• Star striker Roberto Soldado has 14 goals on the season, nine in the league and five in the Champions League, but only once this term has he scored on the road, netting the winner in a 1-0 victory over Sporting Gijon in mid-September.

• Malaga occupy sixth place in the league with 24 points.

• The last time the southern club visited Mestalla, they ended up on the wrong side of a thrilling 4-3 contest, with Aritz Aduriz scoring in the 90th minute to secure the victory for Los Che.

• Malaga winger Joaquin played for Valencia from 2006-2011, winning the Copa del Rey in 2007-08.

Prediction

Always better at home, Valencia should create enough chances in attack to see of the visitors and earn their first victory since December 3.

Editor's Prediction

Valencia 2-1 Malaga

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18.12. (Sun) 21:00 Paris Saint Germain - Lille Metropole

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN Sirigu Ceara, Lugano, Sakho, Tiene Sissoko, Bodmer Menez, Pastore, NeneGameiro

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

Embattled Paris-Saint Germain boss Antoine Kombouare is unlikely to ring the changes after his players emerged unscathed in Wednesday's 4-2 Europa League victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Mamadou Sakho, Salvatore Sirigu and Mohamed Sissoko will be handed starts after the trio  only made the bench in midweek. PSG will retain their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Javier Pastore providing the link to striker Kevin Gameiro, scorer of nine league goals this term.
Holders Lille travel to the capital with no major injury worries either. Tulio de Melo is still struggling with a torn hamstring, while Benoit Pedretti set for a starting berth after coming off the bench in last Sunday's 2-0 win over Dijon.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Paris Saint-Germain secured a narrow 1-0 win over Sochaux last weekend to stay in touch at the top.

• Les Parisiens have emerged victors in their last three home games against title-holders. 

• Kevin Gameiro has averaged more than a goal a game against Lille when playing for FC Lorient.

• Antoine Kombouare's men were eliminated from the Europa League despite a 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao, with Slovan Bratislava qualifying for the last 16 instead. PSG only have the Ligue 1 trophy and Coupe de France to compete for.

• Lille comfortably beat Dijon 2-0 on matchday 17. 

• Les Dogues have fond memories of recent games against PSG. In this fixture in May, a 2-2 draw enabled Lille to win their first league title for more than 50 years.

• Furthermore, Rudi Garcia's men edged out les Parisiens in the 2011 Coupe de France Final to seal a memorable double.

• Rudi Garcia's side are on a run of 15 games unbeaten in the league - a club record.

• Similarly, Lille have not lost on the road in Ligue 1 since April against Monaco. They have also lost just twice away in the league in 2011.

Prediction

The two sides come into this encounter on the back of disappointing European exits, but the onus is on the hosts to perform. Lille, unbeaten in 15 league games certainly won't be pushed into a defensive formation, so expect end-to-end attacking football from the off.
What looks likely is both sides nullifying each other's attacking threats - a draw on the cards and an entertaining match in store.

Editor's Prediction

PSG 2-2 Lille

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18.12. (Sun) 20:45 Napoli - Roma

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

NAPOLI De Sanctis Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena Hamsik, Lavezzi Cavani

ROMA Stekelenburg Rosi, De Rossi, Heinze, Jose Angel Simplicio, Greco, Pizarro Totti Lamela, Osvaldo

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri is set to name a full-strength XI against Roma, in comparison to their weakened lineup that earned a 1-1 draw at Novara last weekend, as Gokhan Inler and Walter Gargano are ready to replace Blerim Dzemaili and Goran Pandev.

Marek Hamsik will also move from the pivot to accommodate the incoming midfield players, and return to his role behind Edinson Cavani, alongside Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Meanwhile for the visitors Roma, Marco Cassetti, Fabio Borini, Simon Kjaer and Fernando Gago follow Nioolas Burdisso to the treatment table, as Luis Enrique is once more forced to reshuffle his pack.

However, Miralem Pjanic is also suspended and cannot feature, so three changes from the draw with Juventus should see Aleandro Rosi, Fabio Simplicio and David Pizarro step in for Rodrigo Taddei, Federico Viviani and Pjanic.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Napoli won both of last season's fixtures against Roma by 2-0.

• The southern Italian giants have drawn 47 times against Roma in Serie A; only against Torino, with 50, have they drawn more games.

• However, Napoli have won just one of their last six league games, but have drawn four times in the process.

• In addition, Walter Mazzarri's side have won just two of their last six home games.

• Prior to last season, Roma were unbeaten against Napoli in the past 10 Serie A meetings, winning six and drawing four.

• Roma are also winless in their last three games, winning just two of their last seven league matches.

• Interestingly, Daniele De Rossi's strike against Juventus is Roma's only goal in their last three Serie A games.

• Away from home, Luis Enrique's side have lost four of their last five games, without scoring a goal in the last two.

Prediction

Napoli should capitalise on their visitors' selection misfortune, but it promises to be a match oozing in quality and entertainment value. The hosts are tipped to start with their strongest XI on Sunday, and this coupled with Roma's defensive frailities means another defeat seems to be on the cards for the under-pressure Luis Enrique.

Editor's Prediction

Napoli 2-1 Roma

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18.12. (Sun) 17:10 Manchester City - Arsenal

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

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

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

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will not be able to call upon the services of full-back Gael Clichy as the former Arsenal player is suspended for this game. With Aleksandar Kolarov out with a groin injury, Pablo Zabaleta would be expected to fill in at left-back while fit-again Micah Richards will take the right-back slot after missing two games with a calf problem.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has no more new injuries to deal with, but his full-backs are all still out of action. This means that Thomas Vermaelen is likely to continue playing in the left-back position, while Johan Djourou should man the right-back spot.

Abou Diaby (muscle), Lukasz Fabianski (knee), Kieran Gibbs (hernia), Carl Jenkinson (back), Ryo Miyaichi, Bacary Sagna and Andre Santos (all ankle) are all sidelined with injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester City are currently on a run of 12 consecutive victories at Eastlands in the Premier League.

• Roberto Mancini's men fell to their first defeat in the league this season when they were beaten by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the last round of games.

• City have had trouble keeping clean sheets in recent times, having conceded one goal in each of their last four league games at home.

• Arsenal have gone undefeated in their last eight games in the Premier League, winning seven in the process. The lone draw was a 1-1 result against Fulham at the Emirates Stadium.

• The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five league games against City.

• Robin van Persie (pictured right) has managed to hit the back of the net 33 times in 32 games in the Premier League in 2011. Alan Shearer holds the record for the most number of goals scored in a calendar year, having netted 36 times in 1995.

Prediction

Arsenal may have done well so far, but a wounded Manchester City will want to recover from their defeat at the hands of Chelsea by securing a strong victory over Arsene Wenger's men.
While the visitors are no mugs with the ball, it appears unlikely that the Eastlands club would lose two consecutive games in the Premier League. And home advantage should ensure that three points are the order of the day for City.

Editor's Prediction

Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal

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18.12. (Sun) 16:00 Tottenham - Sunderland

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM Friedel Walker, Gallas, King, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Modric, Parker, Bale Van der Vaart Adebayor

SUNDERLAND   Westwood  O'Shea, Bramble, Brown, Bardsley Larsson, Vaughan, Colback, Richardson Sessegnon Wickham

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will be forced to re-jig his central defensive pairing in the wake of Younes Kaboul’s dubious sending off against Stoke last time out.

The Frenchman’s one-match suspension means captain Ledley King is likely to be given every chance to prove he is fit enough to partner William Gallas at the heart of the north Londoners’ backline.

Regarding his attack, Redknapp must decide whether to start with Jermain Defoe, who played and scored against Shamrock Rovers in the midweek Europa League tie, but will probably continue with Rafael van der Vaart in support of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Despite James McLean’s eyecatching display in Sunderland’s stirring comeback win over Blackburn last Sunday, boss Martin O’Neill is likely to stick with the same line-up which started that match as he prizes defensive solidity above all else at White Hart Lane.

Midfielder Craig Gardner and striker Nicklas Bendtner are also set to be included again after injuries, but both will probably start on the bench - although O'Neill may decide to omit Bendtner and club captain Lee Cattermole, who were both arrested on Friday. Both missed O'Neill's first game in charge, Bendtner with a groin strain and Cattermole who was serving a suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Tottenham and Sunderland have met a total of 96 times in the league. The two sides boast 35 victories each, while there have been 26 draws.

• Prior to last weekend’s defeat away at Stoke, Tottenham had been on a run of eleven matches unbeaten in the Premier League, and six consecutive victories.

• Prior to their victory over Blackburn last weekend, Sunderland had only won one of their previous nine matches in the Premier League.

• Tottenham have only lost one of their last 23 Premier League home matches.

• Sunderland have won only one of their seven away matches in the Premier League this season.

• Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart have scored a combined 14 goals in Tottenham’s 14 Premier League matches this season.

• Sebastian Larsson (pictured) has scored more direct free kicks than any other player in the Premier League over the last five years. He has three to his name already this season.

• Tottenham are unbeaten in all nine of the Premier League matches in which captain Ledley King has played this season.

Prediction

Sunderland will start the match in confident mood after victory over Blackburn last weekend, but a Tottenham side itching to set the record straight after a controversial defeat at Stoke last time out will overwhelm them with superior pace and guile on route to a comfortable win.

Editor's Prediction

Tottenham 2-0 Sunderland

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18.12. (Sun) 15:05 Aston Villa - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ASTON VILLA Guzan Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock Herd, Petrov, Bannan Albrighton, Bent, N’Zogbia

LIVERPOOL   Reina Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique Adam, Henderson, Rodriguez Kuyt, Suarez, Downing

Brad Guzan will continue deputising for Shay Given, while Gabriel Agbonlahor is suspended having picked up his fifth booking of the season against Bolton. His omission could see Emile Heskey (against his former side), Stephen Ireland or Nathan Delfouneso get a starting place. Fabian Delph has recovered from a knee injury which saw him miss the Bolton match.

For Liverpool, Jay Spearing is suspended for the second game of his ban and Steven Gerrard has not recovered from his ankle injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Aston Villa’s 2-1 win at Bolton was their first away win this season in all competitions.

• They have had just 63 shots on target in the league, fewer than any other team.

• Villa have lost two of their last three home games.

• At Villa Park, the home side have 38 league wins to Liverpool’s 27, while 21 have ended in a draw.

• Villa player of the year Stewart Downing (pictured right) could make his return at Villa Park. Downing scored the only goal in this fixture on the last day of last season before making the move to Anfield.

• That was Villa’s first win at home against Liverpool in 13 matches going back to a 2-1 win in 1998.

• Liverpool have the best defensive record having only conceded more than a single goal on one occasion – a 4-0 loss at Tottenham Hotspur.

• Liverpool’s games have produced the fewest goals this season with only 31 in 15 matches.

• Their win against QPR was just their third at Anfield in eight matches.

• The Reds have tasted defeat in just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions.

Prediction

Villa have come up against both Manchester clubs and Tottenham this season but offered little to no threat, and with Gabriel Agbonlahor suspended and Darren Bent having not scored in four, Liverpool will feel they just need to score once to come away with the points.

Editor's Prediction

Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool

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18.12. (Sun) 15:00 Cesena - Inter

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

CESENA Antonioli Comotto, Von Bergen, Rodriguez, LauroParolo, Guana Ceccarelli, Mutu, Ghezzal Eder

INTER Julio Cesar Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo Alvarez, Motta, Cambiasso, Zanetti  Pazzini, Forlan

Cesena coach Daniele Arrigoni will be without the services of Guillermo Rodriguez, captain Giuseppe Colucci and Raphael Martinho due to injury while Marco Rossi is suspended.
Cristian Chivu, Jonathan and Wesley Sneijder trained away from the rest of the first team on Friday and will miss the match. Andrea Ranocchia also went through a personalised recovery session and will not feature on Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Cesena have won three out of their last four games, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

• The Seahorses have not beaten Inter in their last 18 Serie A encounters (W0 D6 L12).

• Daniele Arrigoni's men have picked up just one victory at home in the league so far this season.

• Inter have kept three clean sheets in their last four Serie A matches.
  

• The Nerazzurri have found the back of the net in their last 14 league games against Cesena.

• The Coppa Italia holders have scored seven goals in their last five contests away from home.

Prediction

The Nerazzurri look primed to pick up their third straight Serie A win and continue their march up the league table.

Editor's Prediction

Cesena 1-2 Inter

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18.12. (Sun) 15:00 Juventus - Novara

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

JUVENTUS Buffon Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, De CeglieMarchisio, Pirlo, Giaccherini Pepe, Matri, Del Piero

NOVARA Ujkani Morganella, Dellafiore, Ludi, Gemiti Centurioni Marianini, Radovanovic, Rigoni Mazzarani, Meggiorini

Antonio Conte does not have many injuries worries ahead of the match as Mirko Vucinic is the only player sidelined but the 42-year-old coach will be missing the services of Arturo Vidal and Leonardo Bonucci through suspension. Emanuele Giaccherini looks poised to start on the wing, while Alessandro Del Piero should get the nod upfront.
Novara boss Attilio Tesser has the luxury of choosing from a fully-fit squad as he looks to spring a surprise over Juve on Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Juventus are unbeaten at home this season (W5 D2) and have outscored their opponents 16-5 in the process.

• The Bianconeri have keep three clean sheets at the Juventus Stadium this term.

• The Turin outfit have won five games by a one-goal margin in the 2011-12 campaign.

• Novara have picked up just two wins against Juve in their last 24 Serie A encounters (W2 D9 L13).
  

• The Serie A newcomers are winless on their road travels this season (W0 D2 L5).

• Attilio Tesser's men have conceded 14 goals in their seven matches away from home this term.

Prediction

The league leaders should have no problem extending their unbeaten run with a straightforward win over the Serie A new boys in Turin.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 3-0 Novara

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18.12. (Sun) 13:00 QPR - Manchester Utd

an Utd.

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

QUEENS PARK RANGERS Cerny Traore, Hill, Gabbidon, Young Faurlin, Derry, Barton Wright-Phillips, Helguson, Bothroyd

MANCHESTER UNITED De Gea Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Smalling Nani, Carrick, Jones, Young Rooney, Welbeck

The most glaring omission for the Hoops will be the ever-enigmatic Adel Taarabt who is still on the route to recovery from a thigh muscle strain. Similarly crocked are Paddy Kenny (thigh) and Anton Ferdinand (hamstring), while current goalscorer-in-chief Heidur Helguson faces a late fitness test of the groin problem that saw him miss out at Anfield.

It’s likely that Neil Warnock will plump for largely the same personnel who were narrowly edged out by Liverpool, with Shaun Derry coming in to provide extra cover in the middle. Sir Alex Ferguson also has a spate of injuries to contend with following the additional headaches supplied by the long-term absences of Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic. The duo join the Da Silva twins, Javier Hernandez, Anderson, Dimitar Berbatov plus assorted others in the Carrington treatment room. With that in mind, it’s likely that United will give Phil Jones another chance to impress in midfield, as well as utilise the dual attacking threats of Nani and Ashley Young on either flank, with Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney up top.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester United have hit the back of the net just once in each of their last three League games away from Old Trafford, clocking up three 1-0 results before this weekend.

• Shaun Wright-Phillips (pictured right) has had more shots without getting on the scoresheet than any other Premier league player, failing to hit the back of the net in 32 attempts.

• United are undefeated in their last 11 outings against QPR, winning eight of those meetings.

• United have won just six of their last 21 Premier League games in London.

• QPR have lost four of their last six Premier League games.

• United have conceded 79 per cent of their goals in the second half - the highest proportion in the league.

• Heidur Helguson has scored six goals in his last seven top-flight appearances.

• QPR have never beaten Manchester United in the Premier League.

Prediction

A return to prolific form in front of goal against Wolves hardly suggests United are firing on all cylinders, yet they have too much clout to be worried by QPR. Helguson might cause Evans and Ferdinand a few problems but on the whole, I can't see this game going anyway other than an away win.

Editor's Prediction

QPR 1-2 Man Utd.

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