Motherwell v Dunfermline Opta Facts - 24th January

Motherwell have won four of their last five league meetings with Dunfermline.

The Steelmen have scored exactly twice in their last three games at home to the Pars (W2 L1).

Two players, Joe Cardle and Michael Higdon, scored braces in the meeting between the sides earlier this season: both also scored last time out in the league.

Motherwell have taken just two points from their last five SPL games combined.

The Steelmen have won only one of their last eight league games at home.

A win last time out ended a run of seven defeats in eight games for Dunfermline in the league (one draw).

All four of the Pars' league wins this season have come on the road.

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24.01. (Tue) 20:45 Juventus - Roma

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

JUVENTUS Buffon Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, De Ceglie Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio Pepe, Matri, Vucinic

ROMA Stekelenburg Rosi, Juan, Heinze, Taddei Gago, Greco, Pjanic Totti Lamela, Bojan

Juventus have only one real injury concern going into Tuesday's clash, with Fabio Quagliarella still on the sidelines after the former Napoli forward sustained a fractured cheekbone in the recent victory over Lecce.

Luis Enrique has a few problems to contend with, as both Marco Cassetti and Dani Osvaldo are ruled out of the tie, with the pair suffering from achilles and thigh problems respectively.

Another potential issue for the Giallorossi is the likely absence of Daniele De Rossi, with the Italy international still nursing the groin problem that saw him miss the 5-1 demolition of Cesena on Saturday evening, meaning Leandro Greco is likely to keep his place in the middle of the park for the visitors.

DID YOU KNOW

• Juventus have scored in all but two of their matches in all competitions this season.

• Both Juventus and Roma have won this competition a record nine times.

• The Old Lady have not won the Coppa Italia in 17 years, with their last triumph coming in 1995.

• Roma are unbeaten in their last six games, which included a 1-1 draw with the Bianconeri on December 12.

• The two sides met at the quarter-final stage of the competition last season, with goals from Mirko Vucinic and Rodrigo Taddei securing a 2-0 victory for Roma.

• The visitors have appeared in more finals than any other side in Italy, appearing 16 times.

Prediction

Juventus remain unbeaten this season in all competitions, but Luis Enrique's visitors have really found their feet in recent weeks. However, home advantage should prevail for the Old Lady.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2-1 Roma

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24.01. (Tue) 20:00 Mali - Guinea

Goal.com

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MALI Diakite Coulibaly, Tamboura, Berthe, Kante A Traore, Keita, Kone, M Traore Maiga, Diabate

GUINEA Yattara Zayatte, Diallo, Kalabane, Camara Balde, Feindouno, Diallo, Yattara Bangoura, I Traore

Mali were involved in one of the most dramatic matches at the last tournament in Angola when they came back from 4-0 down with 15 minutes left to draw with the hosts in the opening match. They have since been working to rebuild their squad with the arrival of Frenchman Alain Giresse as coach. A younger squad has been built by Giresse around Barcelona star Seydou Keita, who is now 30 years old. The Malians will be without influential midfielder Mahamadou Diarra of Monaco, who did not make the trip to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Mali have also announced the call-ups of Ousmane Berthe and Souleymane Keita to their Afcon squad following injuries to midfielder Kalilou Traore and defender Mohamed Fofana.
The Eagles will be hoping to win their first game of this tournament against their neighbours if they are to do better than their last showing where they crashed out in the first round, albeit with one of the most impressive midfield talents in all of the continent.
Guinea will go into this game with the confidence of having stopped giants Nigeria from qualifying for the tournament in a tough group duel last year. Having missed out on the 2010 edition, the Syli Nationale will be looking to make it to the last eight and match their previous feats of 2004-2008.
Anything short of the quarter finals will be seen as failure on the side of Michel Dussuyer’s men who have the influential midfielder Pascal Feindouno and striker Ismael Bangoura in his side. They will also be able to count on the support of their minister of sport, former Liverpool forward Aboubacar Titi Camara who has been a force of inspiration for the team. Guinea have been hit with the loss of Kevin Constant, however, as the player decided to pull out of the squad ahead of the tournament for reasons that are not entirely clear.
Both teams have to contend with the overpowering presence of Ghana in their group.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Mali have produced some of the best defensive midfielders on the continent in the last decade, which include Seydou Keita, Mahamadou Diarra and Momo Sissoko.

• While the two team have been runners up in the 1972 and 1976 editions, Mali came fourth as recently as 2002, while Guinea’s best has been in the quarter-finals between 2004 and 2008.
  
• Mali and Guinea share land borders as well as similar cultures and are predominantly Muslim.
  
• Guinea finished top of their Afcon qualifying group to dispatch giants Nigeria and keep them from a place at Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

• Guinea is nicknamed the Syli Nationale, which means the National Elephant.

• This is Guinea's tenth appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Prediction

Both of these teams are capable of scoring goals, and this encounter could end in a score draw.

Editor's Prediction

Mali 2-2 Guinea

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24.01. (Tue) 17:00 Ghana - Botswana

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GHANA Kwarasey Paintsil, Alhassan, Boye, Mensah Annan, Badu, Andre Ayew Gyan, Muntari, J. Ayew

BOTSWANA Marumo Thuma, Gabonamong, Ohilwe, Ramohibidu Mogorosi, Mongala, Mafoko, Moatlhaping Moloi, Ramatlhakwane

If the last two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations are anything to go by, then it is safe to say the 2012 tournament is Ghana’s to lose.

The west Africans have improved game after game with each passing tournament, and sustaining such performances in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea could lead them to the ultimate prize. Ghana came third in 2008; second in 2010 and the absence of giants such as Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon has convinced several pundits that the Black Stars are in for gold this time around.

Their opening game is against debutants Botswana – a lowly-placed side, but with a danger-man who scored five out of their seven goals during the qualifying campaign to come second on the overall top scorers’ chart.

The four-time African champions have no injury worries as key striker Asamoah Gyan has recovered in time to be a probable starter. However, one of their influential defenders Isaac Vorsah will miss the opening game due to a suspension.

The southern Africans’ Joel Mogorosi of Township Rollers will miss the tournament and Botswana Defence Force XI defender Mompathi Thuma has injury worries. Their star player  Dipsy Selolwane of SuperSport United is serving a suspension and cannot play in the opening game.

It appears the tournament regulars have the upper hand as the most experienced side, but the Zebras also look set to be part of history, and have nothing to lose in the process.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic has put his job on the line if he does not win the trophy.

• Ghana have made 17 appearances at the Afcon - winning four titles; two of which were won on home soil (1963 and 1978).
  
• The Black Stars did not lose a game throughout the qualifying campaign and conceded only a goal.
  
• Botswana were the first country to qualify for the Afcon finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

• The coach of the Zebras is a former army officer who has declared a no sex ban on his players throughout the tournament.
  
• Botswana is making their debut after qualifying from a group that contained Tunisia, Togo and Malawi in it.

Prediction

Ghana are the most experienced side in this encounter and could carry the day, but the southern Africans have proven to have what it takes to end the game in a draw.

Editor's Prediction

Ghana 1-1 Botswana

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