28.01. (Sat) 22:00 Villarreal - Barcelona

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

VILLARREAL Diego Lopez Angel, Musacchio, Gonzalo, Oriol Valero, Senna, Bruno, Cani Ruben, Barroso

BARCELONA   Valdes Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal Xavi, Mascherano, Busquets Messi, Cesc, Pedro

Pep Guardiola's Barcelona side picked up injuries to key players in their 2-2 Clasico draw with Real Madrid on Wednesday. Andres Iniesta has been ruled out for three weeks after coming off with a hamstring tear on his left leg, while Alexis Sanchez could also miss out, too.

David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay are absentees with a broken leg and a ligament injury keeping the duo out long term. Victor Valdes will come back into the side to resume La Liga duty and Javier Mascherano may be drafted in to the first XI for the match at El Madrigal.

Jose Molina will welcome a number of his first team squad back into training in the past week or so. Carlos Marchena, Mateo Musacchio and Javi Camunas have all returned to fitness after shaking off niggling injuries.

Wakaso Mubarak has also returned to training after undergoing a successful nose operation. However, Jose Catala is still absent after surgery on his right knee at the start of January. Giuseppe Rossi is also still injured after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the start of the season.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Villarreal have picked up 16 of their 19 points at home this season. The only team to beat them at El Madrigal this campaign were Levante, who won 3-0.

• The Yellow Submarine have beaten Barca eight times (home and away) since first winning promotion to La Liga in 1998. The only team with more victories against the Catalans in that period is Deportivo La Coruna, with nine wins.

• Jose Molina's side are unbeaten in their last five matches at El Madrigal, winning three times and drawing twice.

• Barcelona have won the past three encounters at El Madrigal, with the last victory coming on April 2nd 2011, when they came out with a narrow 1-0 win.

• The last time a club made up at least five points in the second half of the season was in 2002-03 when Real Madrid overtook Real Sociedad. Los Blancos were five points behind after 19 matches and had a two-point lead over Sociedad in the final standings.

Prediction

Villarreal are not the impressive team of the past three or four seasons. The key departure of Santi Cazorla and the injury to Giuseppe Rossi have hurt them this campaign. In their previous match with Barcelona they lost heavily in a 5-0 defeat at Camp Nou, so this shows they can no longer cope with the big guns. Expect a comfortable victory Pep for Guardiola's side.

Editor's Prediction

Villarreal 0-3 Barcelona

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28.01. (Sat) 20:45 Juventus - Udinese

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

JUVENTUS Buffon Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini Vidal, Pirlo, Marrone Giaccherini, Matri, Vucinic

UDINESE Handanovic Ferronetti, Danilo, Domizzi Basta, Isla, Pinzi, Fernandes, Armero Floro Flores Di Natale

The Old Lady have a few concerns going into Saturday's clash, with both Claudio Marchisio and Simone Pepe doubtful. The midfield pair both limped out of the 2-0 victory over Atalanta last week, and will need to pass late fitness tests to take part on Saturday.
However the league leaders have been boosted by the return of Fabio Quagliarella and Alex Manninger, with the duo returning to the squad who defeated Roma in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday, after recovering from fractured cheekbone and twisted ankle respectively.
Francesco Guidolin's troops will travel to Turin without two of their midfield enforcers in the form of Kwadwo Asamoah and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, with the pair both representing Ghana at the African Cup of Nations, while Mehdi Benatia will also miss out, as the former Marseille youth is also at the tournament with Morocco.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Juventus are the only side to have won a point away at Udinese in this campaign.

• No other side in Serie A have drawn more games than the Old Lady this season.

• The hosts have only conceded two goals in their last seven league games.

• Antonio Di Natale has scored 50 per cent of Udinese's league goals this term.

• The visitors have lost two of their last three games in all competitions.

• Only the hosts have conceded less goals than Udinese this season.

Prediction

With the Old Lady in form following the 3-0 victory over Roma on Tuesday, along with having the opportunity to further stretch their lead at the Serie A summit, a victory for the hosts seems a likely outcome.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2-0 Udinese

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28.01. (Sat) 20:00 Ghana - Mali

PROBABLE LINEUP

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

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

The two teams are familiar with each other. Three years ago, Ghana and Mali squared off in a World Cup qualifying group that saw the Ghanaians beating their Malian opponents and drawing in the return leg. 

Les Aigles feel that the opportune time has come to gain revenge against the Black Stars on a bigger platform as the two get set for a second Group D west African derby. In the first all west African clash, Mali beat Guinea 1-0.

Both teams have the chance to progress to the knockout stages with a win on Saturday. The four-time African champions will be without two key defenders – John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah – both serving suspensions.

Coach Goran Stevanovic will probably start young defenders Jonathan Mensah and John Boye in the absence of their captain. It is, however, unclear whether key striker Asamoah Gyan, who limped out of training on Thursday with a suspected ankle complaint, will be able to make it for Saturday’s crucial clash.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Ghana are set to be rewarded with $90,000 per player if they win this competition.
  
• The Black Stars will advance to the quarter-finals if they defeat the Eagles and Guinea do not beat Botswana.
  
• Ghana have played more international friendlies (nine) than their Malian counterparts (two) over the last two years.

• Mali are known by their nickname, the Eagles.

• The two west Africans were paired in the same group during the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualification in 2009.
  
• Both teams scored their first 2012 Afcon goals in the first half of their respective matches.

Prediction

Ghana are far better on paper than their Malian counterparts coupled with past engagements between the two sides. The Ghanaians need to utilise their chances and they will carry the day.

Editor's Prediction

Ghana 1-0 Mali

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28.01. (Sat) 20:00 Real - Zaragoza

CL - Olympique Lyonnais v Real Madrid

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo Diarra, Xabi Alonso Callejon, Ozil, Ronaldo Benzema

REAL ZARAGOZA Roberto Obradovic, Da Silva, Lanzaro, Paredes Micael, Dujmovic, Apono, Lafita Luis Garcia Postiga

Real Madrid will be without Sami Khedira who is absent through an ankle injury, while Angel Di Maria is still missing with a knock. Jose Mourinho's men do not have any new absentees since their Copa del Rey exit midweek and Pepe looks set to continue to start in central defence.

The Portugal international will play alongside Sergio Ramos who is available for the game as his sending off versus Barcelona on Wednesday will only see him banned from the Copa del Rey.

Marcelo could come into the starting line-up at left-back while Jose Callejon may be given the nod ahead of Kaka in attack. Karim Benzema is expected to replace Gonzalo Higuain as Madrid's lone striker.

For Manolo Jimenez's side, there are no recent injury problems as Paulo da Silva is expected to continue at the heart of the defence after returning from a broken leg while Ivan Obradovic is set to feature at right-back.

The visitors are expected to name three players on-loan at the club in midfield - Apono, Ruben Micael and Tomislav Dujmovic, while Helder Postiga looks set to lead the line with support coming from Luis Garcia.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Real Madrid have been awarded nine penalties in the league this season, more than any other side.

• Los Blancos have scored at least three goals in 15 of their 18 home games this term in all competitions. The three games where they failed to score more than three were all against rivals Barcelona.

• Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 30 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions this season.

• Real Zaragoza are winless in 12 games (nine defeats, three draws), the longest streak without a win in La Liga this campaign.

• In 57 previous visits to the Santiago Bernabeu, Zaragoza have only picked up four wins, although they did beat Mourinho's men 3-2 last season.

• Zaragoza's top goalscorer in the league is Helder Postiga with four goals, and the Portuguese forward previously played under Mourinho at Porto between 2003 and 2005.

Prediction

With Madrid going goal crazy at home and Zaragoza's run of 12 games without a win in Liga, it is diffifult to see anything other than a comfortable home win when the two teams meet on Saturday evening.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 4-0 Zaragoza

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28.01. (Sat) 19:00 Brestois - Paris Saint Germain

Panoramic

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

BREST Elana  Baysse, Zebina, Martial , LorenziLesoimier, Ewolo, Licka, Poyet Toure/Alphonse, Baset

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN Sirigu Ceara, Sakho, Bisevac, Maxwell Jallet, Bodmer, Chantom Menez, Nene Gameiro

Stade Brestois boss Alex Dupont has no major injury concerns ahead of the visit of the league leaders to Stade Francis La Ble. Star man Nolan Roux has left the club to join Ligue 1 champions Lille earlier in the week, with Zurich forward Alexandre Alphonse looks likely to fill the void up front as the club look to prolong their unbeaten run in the league.
On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti is without Javier Pastore after the ex-Palermo midfielder limped off in the Coupe de France win over Sable last week. The Argentine international is expected to miss two weeks, leaving Ancelotti to tweak PSG's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
Clement Chantome, back from a thigh injury could take his place in midfield with Kevin Gameiro returning to spearhead the attack after being named on the bench against Toulouse a fortnight ago.
New signing Maxwell continues to stand-in for Saka Tiene who is away at the Africa Cup of Nations as les Parisiens continue their charge towards the title.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Brest lie in 11th place in Ligue 1 with 24 points following their 1-0 win over Nice on matchday 20.

• Alex Dupont's men have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three league encounters.

• Brest held les Parisiens to a 2-2 draw in this fixture last season. They are currently on a five match unbeaten run.

• Paris Saint-Germain occupy 1st place in Ligue 1 with 43 points after their 3-1 win over Toulouse in their previous outing.

• Les Parisiens, who remain three points ahead of Montpellier, have drawn five of their last visits to Stade Francis Le Ble.

• Despite that run, Brest last won against PSG in 1985.

• Interestingly, the capital club have failed to win any of their games in which Javier Pastore (right) has not featured in.

Prediction

In what could necessarily be billed as a tight encounter given les Parisiens' recent games against a tricky Brest side, it would be difficult to see them gain three points at a stadium in which they have come unstuck in recent years.

Editor's Prediction

Brest 1-1 PSG

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28.01. (Sat) 18:30 Koln - Schalke 04



PROBABLE LINEUPS

KOLN Rensing Brecko, Sereno, Geromel, Eichner Clemens, Lanig, Riether, Peszko Podolski Novakovic

SCHALKE Unnerstall Uchida, Papadopoulos, Metzelder, Fuchs Matip, Hoger Obasi, Raul, Draxler Huntelaar

Adil Chihi and Petit are the big absentees for the Billy Goats, and will be forced to watch the game from the stands together with fellow injury casualties Christopher Buchtmann and Mark Uth. In addition, Ammar Jemal is away on international duty with Tunisia at the Africa Cup of Nation and will not take part in the match.

Schalke are facing an injury crisis and will have to do without the services of the like of Benedikt Howedes, Lewis Holtby, Alexander Baumjohann and Peer Kluge. Long-term casualty Ralf Fahrmann, who is unlikely to play again this season, will also miss the game, together with Jermaine Jones, who is banned from league action until March 1.

DID YOU KNOW

• Koln have conceded 36 times in 18 Bundesliga games so far this season, which is the second worst defensive record after Freiburg (39 goals).

• Lukas Podolski has found the back of the net on 14 occasions in the league this season, and is two strikes behind Mario Gomez and one behind Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the goalscorer standings.

• Koln have triumphed just once in their last seven games against Schalke.

• Schalke are on a four-match winning streak, which is two victories shy of the club record last matched under Mirko Slomka in 2006/2007.

• Raul has scored five times in his last three games against Koln.
• The Royal Blues have netted six goals from corners this season, which is the joint best record in the league together with Bayer Leverkusen.

Prediction

Koln certainly have the firepower to breach any Bundesliga defence, but their inconsistency at the back has often cost them. Schalke have been on fire recently, and despite missing a key figure in Benedikt Howedes in defence, they should be able to claim the three points.

Editor's Prediction

FC Koln 2-3 Schalke

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28.01. (Sat) 17:00 Botswana - Guinea

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

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

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

Botswana were the surprise team of the first round of matches when they gave World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana a run for their money on Tuesday. Even though the Zebras lost 1-0, they proved that they were not pushovers and showed how much the smaller African countries have developed. The debutants showed the reason why they were the first team to qualify for the tournament as they played the Ghanaians in a pulsating game and only lost courtesy of a scrambled goal off a corner kick from John Mensah. The Zebra’s forward man Jerome Ramatlhakwane was on his way to put them equal when he was brought down by goal scorer Mensah, who was promptly given his matching orders.
They will face the Syli Natonale of Guinea who also lost their opening match 1-0 to Mali. This game is shaping up to be a winner takes all affair, with the losers sure to be eliminated, while the three points for the win may still allow for survival in a group that contains favourites Ghana.
The Guineans saw their hard work against Mali undone by a fierce shot from Bakaye Traore. It means that they are staring at a potential group stage exit for the first time since 2004, as they have always reached the quarter-finals of the competition, aside from in 2010 when they did not qualify.
Michel Dussuyer’s men came into this competition on the back of their famous knocking out of giants Nigeria in qualifying and should be able to hold their own against Bostwana, who also held the Super Eagles to a goalless draw in a recent friendly.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Botswana were the first country to qualify for the Afcon finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

• The coach of the Zebras, Stanley Tshosane, is a former army officer who has declared a no sex ban on his players throughout the tournament.

• Botswana is making their Afcon debut after qualifying from a group that contained Tunisia, Togo and Malawi.

• All the players of the Zebras play their football at the local league or across the border in South Africa's PSL.

• Guinea finished top of their Afcon qualifying group to dispatch giants Nigeria and keep them from a place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

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

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

• Guinea rank number 79 on the Fifa list, 15 places above their opponents who are 94th.

Prediction

Guinea have a point to prove in this second match of the group stages, and they will be desperate to win, while Botswana will have more confidence to push forward than they had against Ghana.

Editor's Prediction

Botswana 1-2 Guinea

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28.01. (Sat) 15:30 Werder - Bayer Leverkusen

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

WERDER BREMEN Wiese Fritz, Sokratis, Silvestre, Harthez Ignjovski, Bargfrede, Ekici, Trybull Pizarro, Rosenberg

LEVERKUSEN   Leno Da Costa, Toprak, Friedrich, Kadlec Reinartz, Bender Castro, Ballack, Schurrle Derdiyok

The most notable absence for Thomas Schaaf is Brazilian centre-back Naldo, who has a knee ligament injury. Back-up keeper Sebastian Mielitz is out with a bruised shoulder, while Sebastian Prodl will continue his recovery from surgery. Aaron Hunt has a groin problem and Lukas Schmitz will miss the clash though suspension. Tim Borowski is fit, but is likely to start on the bench.

Bayer Leverkusen's perennially-long injury list has taken a turn for the better. Tranquillo Barnetta and Renato Augusto have both recovered from their physical problems, but are unlikely to be in Robin Dutt's starting XI. Rene Adler is close to a return, but with Bernd Leno's great form in the first half of the season, is not expected to challenge for a first-team spot. Meanwhile, Sidney Sam is close to a return, but the trip to Bremen comes too soon for him.

DID YOU KNOW

• Werder Bremen defender Clemens Fritz will make his 200th Bundesliga appearance should he be selected.

• Since losing 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund, Werder have won their last three home matches.

• Tim Wiese and Clemens Fritz will be facing their old club. The Germany goalkeeper started his career at the BayArena, while Fritz had a three-year spell there.

• Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Michael Ballack (right) played with Claudio Pizarro at Bayern Munich, before leaving for Chelsea in 2006. The Peruvian followed him to Stamford Bridge a year later.

• The BayArena club have not been beaten by Saturday's opponents for almost four years, since a 1-0 home loss in May 2008.

Prediction

A combination between the hosts' excellent recorfd at home and Bayer Leverkusen's excellent record against Werder Bremen leaves the obvious conclusion of a draw. The two sides are very evenly matched, and without a doubt will be jostling for the same European spot come the end of the season.

Editor's Prediction

Werder Bremen 1-1 Leverkusen

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28.01. (Sat) 15:30 Bayern Munchen - Wolfsburg

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm Schweinsteiger, Kroos Robben, Muller, Ribery Gomez

WOLFSBURG Benaglio Trasch, Madlung, Felipe Lopes, Rodriguez Vieirinha, Josue, Jiracek, Schafer Dejagah, Mandzukic

Franck Ribery returns to the starting line-up for Bayern, meaning that coach Jupp Heynckes will have a selection headache: one of Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos or Anatoliy Tymoshchuk will sit out, more likely than not the latter. Following Daniel van Buyten's injury last weekend, Jerome Boateng will shift to occupy the Belgian's central defensive position, while Rafinha will stand in at right-back.

For Wolfsburg, Mario Mandzukic has recovered from a knock, having missed last week's action, and is expected to play from the start. There is a question mark over the position of right-winger, as Koo Ja-Cheol and newcomer Vieirinha are in a head-to-head race for the nomination. Similarly in central defence, Alexander Madlung and Marco Russ will vie for a starting berth. Jan Polak, Srdjan Lakic, and Thomas Hitzlsperger are anticipated to be omitted from Felix Magath's matchday squad.

DID YOU KNOW

• Bayern Munich have scored more and conceded fewer goals at home than any Bundesliga team, but have three fewer points than Schalke on their own soil.

• The German record champions have found the net within the opening 15 minutes on nine occasions this season, a Bundesliga best by a margin of three.

• Should he appear as expected, Mario Gomez will participate in his 200th Bundesliga game on Saturday.

• Wolfsburg have taken just four points away from home all season; their only win came on August 6 in their Bundesliga opener.

• Felix Magath's side have brought in eight players this January, and offloaded three.

• Sebastian Polter, the 20-year-old striker who made his Bundesliga debut in December, has scored his team's last two goals, the winners against Koln and Stuttgart.

Prediction

Felix Magath is always especially keen to bring out the best from his teams ahead of a clash with Bayern, but the record champions are unlikely to slide for a second game. The hosts have an impressive record at home, and the return of Franck Ribery will be a big boost.

Editor's Prediction

Bayern 2-0 Wolfsburg

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