20.12. (Tue) 20:45 Cagliari - Milan

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

CAGLIARI Agazzi Pisano, Canini, Ariaudo, Agostini Ekdal, Nainggolan, Conti CossuIbarbo, Larrivey

AC MILAN Abbiati Zambrotta, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Antonini Nocerino, Van Bommel, Seedorf  Boateng Ibrahimovic, Pato

The Rossoblu will welcome back Andrea Cossu after the former Verona playmaker missed the weekend defeat to Chievo through suspension, while Daniele Conti is also likely to return to the starting line-up.

However, the hosts will still be without long-term absentee Davide Astori, with the former Milan defender still nursing a fibula fracture, while Nene is also a doubt as the Brazilian is struggling with a muscle strain.

Christian Abbiati should return to the starting XI for the champions, after making the bench for the recent victory over Siena, while Gianluca Zambrotta and Luca Antonini should also return for the visitors.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Only Atalanta have drawn more games than Cagliari this season.

• The hosts have only won once in their last 10 league games.

• Only the bottom two of Lecce and Novara have conceded more goals than Cagliari this term.

• No other team in Serie A have won more games than Milan this season.

• Massimiliano Allegri's side have only lost two league games this season, with both defeats coming away from home.

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 10 league goals so far this season, only two less than Cagliari have managed in total.

Prediction

With Milan unbeaten in their last 10 league games, and with the incentive to temporarily take top spot in Serie A, an away victory seems a likely outcome.

Editor's Prediction

Cagliari 0-2 Milan

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20.12. (Tue) 20:00 Real - Ponferradina

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Diarra, Varane, Marcelo Altintop, Sahin Callejon, Kaka, Granero Higuain

PONFERRADINA Quintana Malo, Samuel, Baro, Sergio Borja Valle, Ruiz, Isaias Borja, Yuri , Domenech

Real Madrid go into the second leg against Ponferradina with a comfortable two-goal lead thanks to strikes in the first leg from Jose Callejon and Cristiano Ronaldo, and so Jose Mourinho's men are overwhelming favourites to progres.

Ronaldo surprisingly started the last Copa del Rey match but this was perhaps a ploy from his Portuguese coach to regain confidence for his star player after a poor display against Barcelona. CR7 scored a hat-trick in his last match against Sevilla so it appears he is back to his best, which would suggest that he may not be risked in a match that Madrid should comfortably win.

Expect Kaka, Gonzalo Higuain, and Esteban Granero to be employed in the attacking areas with Raphael Varane once again starting at centre back. Jose Callejon should be in the XI after impressing in his last few outings for the capital side.

Ricardo Carvalho is still sidelined with a back injury, while Sergio Ramos should also be rested after suffering a minor hamstring injury against Sevilla. Raul Albiol will miss the match as he serves his suspension after picking up two yellow cards in the first leg.

Ponferradina will be buoyed by their respectable performance against Madrid in the last game, so they will be looking to enjoy their time in the spotlight at Santiago Bernabeu.

DID YOU KNOW

• Real Madrid defeated Ponferradina 2-0 in the first leg, thanks to goals from Jose Callejon and Cristiano Ronaldo.

• Real Madrid have won their last six Copa del Rey matches, including the final victory over Barcelona in April.

• The last time that Madrid lost a Copa del Rey match was last season when they were defeated 2-0 in a second leg against Levante. Lucky for Jose Mourinho's side, they had already won the first match 8-0.

• Ponferradina won their league game on Saturday 2-0 against Arandina. Brazilian striker Yuri scored both goals.
  
• The visitors have never competed in the top tier of Spanish football. The highest level they have competed in is the Segunda Division, one below the top flight.
  
• Ponferradina are second in Segunda B Group 2, five points adrift of league leaders Mirandes.

Prediction

It would be an upset of momentous proportions if Ponferradina somehow achieved qualification against Real Madrid over two legs, and with Jose Mourinho's side going in to the match with a healthy two-goal advantage, the task is next to impossible for the Segunda B outfit.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 4-0 Ponferradina

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20.12. (Tue) 19:00 Bochum - Bayern Munchen

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

BOCHUM Luthe Kopplin, Maltritz, Acquistapace, Toski Federico, Kramer, Dabrowski InuiAydin, Tae-Se

BAYERN MUNICH Butt Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Pranjic Tymoshchuk, Alaba Robben, Kroos, Olic Petersen

Bochum duo Faton Taski and Christoph Kramer have struggled with fitness problems of late, but should be ready for the game against the Bavarians. North Korean striker Jong Tae-Se is set to lead the attack for Andreas Bergmann's men, who are looking to cause an upset at the Rewirpower Stadion.

Jupp Heynckes is likely to rotate his team in order to avoid risk of injuries, meaning squad players could be given a chance to shine. Franck Ribery, who was sent off in the first half of the 3-0 win over Koln, could be given a rest, together with captain Philipp Lahm.


Nils Petersen, Ivica Olic and even Takashi Usami could be picked in attack, while there is the possibility that Hans-Jorg Butt replaces Manuel Neuer in goal for Jupp Heynckes' men. Centre-half Breno is unavailable as he is slowly working his way back to the squad.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bochum currently sit ninth in the 2.Bundesliga, 15 points off the promotion places.

• Bjorn Kopplin is a former Bayern Munich player, and represented Germany at the U20 World Cup in Egypt in 2009, scoring two goals in five games.

• Bochum spent four years in the first division from 2006 to 2010. Their narrow escapes from relegation earned them the nickname 'The Unrelegatables'.

• Bayern Munich were eliminated from the DFB Pokal by Schalke in the semi-finals of the competition last year.

• The Bavarians have averaged more than 2.5 goals per game in the league this season, conceding less than 0.6 strikes per match.

• Bayern Munich have triumphed 44 times in 66 encounters with Bochum, losing on seven occasions.

Prediction

Bochum are a tough nut to crack, and can hold their own as proven by their performance in the relegation play-off against Borussia Monchengladbach last season. They also have the home advantage, and should be able to give the Bavarians a run for their money. However, Jupp Heynckes' men are favourites to progress to the next round of the DFB Pokal.

Editor's Prediction

VfL Bochum 1-2 Bayern

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20.12. (Tue) 18:00 Siena - Fiorentina

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

SIENA Brkic Vitiello, Rossettini, Terzi, Del Grosso Mannini, D'Agostino, Gazzi, Brienza Calaio, Destro

FIORENTINA Boruc De Silvestri, Gamberini, Natali, Pasqual Behrami, Montolivo, Vargas Kharja Gilardino, Jovetic

Siena coach Giuseppe Sannino looks likely to make three changes from the XI that fell to an unfortunate 2-0 reverse to AC Milan on Saturday, as the trio of Daniele Mannini, Gaetano D'Agostino and Mattia Destro should come in for Angelo, Francesco Bolzoni and Reginaldo.

On the injury front for the new boys, experienced midfielder Simone Vergassola is unlikely to feature, but is set to undergo a late fitness test, while the same outcome is expected for Nicola Belmonte, who is also doubtful.

Moving onto Fiorentina, the biggest alteration sees the return of midfield talisman Riccardo Montolivo, with Amidu Salifu ready to make way for his talents. Also, Cesare Natali is set to replace Matija Nastasic at centre-back, while Houssine Kharja is to be preferred to Andrea Lazzari.

However, Salifu's absence may be enforced as he is to be given a late test to prove his fitness, while Adem Ljajic additionally needs to be given the green light. Mattia Cassani and Per Kroldrup remain out of contention, as a comeback after New Year is now anticipated for the pair.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Siena currently find themselves in freefall, losing their last four on the bounce.

• Additionally, the Bianconeri are without a clean sheet in 11 matches.

• Three of Siena's four wins this season have come at home.

• Meanwhile, Fiorentina have won just one of their five Serie A fixtures under Delio Rossi.

• The Viola have not won on the road all season, losing five of their seven away trips.

• However, they have been defeated only once at the Artemio Franchi thus far, and are unbeaten in their past six games at the venue.

• Rossi's men have the upper hand, winning six of their 12 Serie A meetings. Siena have won just three times.

Prediction

Fiorentina should prove too much for their Tuscan neighbours come Tuesday, as Delio Rossi will hope to oversee a morale-boosting victory to mark the end of what has been a dismal first half of the season for the Viola.

Editor's Prediction

Siena 0-2 Fiorentina

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