18.02. (Sat) 21:00 Olympique Marseille - Valenciennes

Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

MARSEILLE Mandanda Azpilicueta, N'Koulou, Diawara, Morel Diarra, Cheyrou Valbuena, Amalfitano, A. Ayew Brandao

VALENCIENNES Penneteau Mater, Isimat-Mirin, Gil, BongDucourtioux, Saez, Gomis,  Kadir, Danic Aboubakar

Marseille have been rocked by the news that top scorer Loic Remy will miss three weeks of action, including Wednesday's Champions League visit of Inter due to a hamstring problem.
The France international picked up the injury in the 3-1 Coupe de France victory over minnows Bourg-Peronnas, leaving Didier Deschamps with much to ponder as he tries to make do with an already limited frontline.
Brandao, who returned from a year-long loan in Brazil last month, scored two goals on Wednesday and seems the obvious choice, with Deschamps able to call up Jordan Ayew who returned from the Africa Cup of Nations and replaced Remy in midweek.
Meanwhile, Andre-Pierre Gignac has returned to training following a spell on the sidelines, with Stephane Mbia out.
Valenciennes themselves have been dealt a blow with the news that Gregory Pujol will sit out the trip to Stade Velodrome despite returning to light training after suffering a torn hamstring in the last few weeks.
Consequently, Carlos Sanchez returns after missing through injury for the last three matches, with Benjamin Angoua unlikely to be risked upon his return from international duty as Daniel Sanchez's side aim for a third straight league victory.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Marseille have not lost to a side in the bottom half of Ligue 1.
• OM, who were bottom of Ligue 1 after six games, remain just a point off a Champions League place following their 2-2 draw against Lyon in their last league outing.

• Didier Deschamps' men were held 2-2 against Saturday's visitors the last time they met, in May.

• Marseille are winless in their last three against Valenciennes.

• Valenciennes recorded a 1-0 victory over Nancy, thanks to ex-OM player Mamadou Samassa's late goal.

• Should VAFC record victory, it would be the first time they have strung together three consecutive victories since February 2010.

• Daniel Sanchez's men have not kept a clean sheet in their last 12 games on the road.

• Valenciennes have lost 16 of their last 23 games at Stade Velodrome, winning just two.

Prediction

Despite the injury to star player Loic Remy, one would believe that Marseille would still have enough with them to contend with the threat of Valenciennes, especially given their formidable home form.

Editor's Prediction

Marseille 2-0 Valenciennes FC

Read More

18.02. (Sat) 20:45 Juventus - Catania

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

JUVENTUS Buffon Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini Caceres, G'erini, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie Matri, Quagliarella

CATANIA Kosicky Motta, Spolli, Legrottaglie, Marchese Izco, Lodi, Almiron Gomez, Bergessio, Barrientos

Juventus look likely to stick with the 3-5-2 system deployed against Parma midweek, but not without four changes in personnel. Arturo Vidal's absence is enforced due to suspension, so Emanuele Giaccherini is expected to take up a central midfield role in his absence, while Martin Caceres, Paolo De Ceglie and Fabio Quagliarella are to replace fellow trio Stephan Lichtsteiner, Marcelo Estigarribia and Mirko Vucinic.

Meanwhile for visitors Catania, coach Vincenzo Montella is set to name an unchanged XI from last weekend's 4-0 mauling of Genoa. However, Andrea Campagnolo and David Suazo remain out of contention for a little longer yet, while Ciro Capuano requites a late fitness test, and Alessandro Potenza has been ruled out for the season.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Catania have lost only two of their nine clashes against Juventus since their return to Serie A in 2006.

• However, the Sicilians have managed to beat Juve only once during this time.

• Nevertheless, Catania are unbeaten in their last three away trips to Turin.

• Juventus have recorded goalless draws in their last two games against Siena and Parma, despite amassing a total of 24 shots on goal.

• However, the Bianconeri remain the only side still unbeaten amongst the 'top five' European leagues.

• No other Italian team has drawn more games than Juve so far this season.

Prediction

Bore draws against Parma and Siena of late should signal a possible upset on the cards in the favour of Catania, but this writer cannot envisage yet more dropped points from the hosts, who desperately need the win in order to re-establish themselves as table-toppers. However, the potency of both sides' attacks is sure to play the deciding factor.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2-1 Catania

Read More

18.02. (Sat) 20:00 Real - Racing Santander

Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo Khedira, Alonso Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo Benzema

RACING SANTANDER TonoAlvaro, Torrejon, Bernardo, Cisma Diop, Bedia Arana, Adrian, Acosta Stuani

Angel Di Maria and Sami Khedira could both be set to resume their roles in the Madrid first team after their recent return from injury, with Gonzalo Higuain and Esteban Granero set to make way.

Marcelo has shrugged off a knock and may be favoured at left-back over Fabio Coentrao, who deputised for the Brazilian during last weekend's 4-2 win over Levante.

While Lassana Diarra sat out of training on Thursday, the French midfielder is said to be fit for Saturday's encounter with Hamit Altintop (calf) the only real injury concern for Jose Mourinho.

Racinghave two major injury concerns going into the game with Manuel Colsa spraining his ankle and unlikely to feature, with Edu Bedia a strong candidate to replace him in midfield.

Jairo Samperio is also struggling for fitness so Lautaro Acosta expected to come into the team, with top scorer Christian Stuani in line to start the game upfront on his own.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Real Madrid are currently on a run of seven wins on the bounce in La Liga, having not dropped a point since losing to Barcelona in December.

• Los Blancos could only imagine a 0-0 draw when they met Racing in September, the only league game this campaign where they have shared the spoils with another side.

• Real possess the two assist leaders in Liga this season with Angel Di Maria setting up 13 goals while Mesut Ozil has assisted 11 strikes.

• Racing are struggling this season and currently find themselves in the relegation zone, sitting in 18th place.

• Juanjo Gonzalez' men have picked up only one league win on the road all season, a 2-0 victory over Osasuna on January 15.

• Christian Stuani is the team's top scorer in the Primera Division, with a total of five goals.

Prediction

With Real Madrid in great form and scoring for fun at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, it is difficult to see anything other than a convincing victory for Jose Mourinho's men, especially with Racing struggling in the relegation zone.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 4-0 Racing

Read More

18.02. (Sat) 18:30 Freiburg - Bayern Munchen

Alexander Hassenstein

PROBABLE LINEUPS

FREIBURG Baumann Sorg, Diagne, Hohn, Lumb Makiadi, Flum Schmid, Rosenthal, Caligiuri Jendrisek

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm Luiz Gustavo, Alaba Muller, Kroos, Ribery Gomez

Due to several squad changes, a very different Freiburg line-up will feature compared to that which faced Bayern in the first round.

Christian Streich is expected to drop a striker and use a 4-2-3-1 formation, with previous starter Ivan Santini giving way for Jan Rosenthal. Otherwise, the trainer is expected to use the same line-up that featured in a 3-2 loss away to Wolfsburg last week-end.

Jupp Heynckes is expected to stick with the same starting line-up that earned a 2-0 win against Kaiserslautern last week, meaning that Arjen Robben will likely be benched.

David Alaba will deputise for still-injured Bastian Schweinsteiger in defensive midfield, while Jerome Boateng will continue to stand-in for Daniel van Buyten at centre-back. Diego Contento returned to training this week, but is not expected to be fully fit to play.

DID YOU KNOW

• Freiburg are without victory against Bayern Munich since 1996, when a three-game win streak over the Bavarians ended.

• The Breisgau are experiencing their third-worst Bundesliga season ever, in terms of points.

• Twelve SCF players have been on target this season: on ly Schalke (13) and Dortmund (14) have more.

• Bayern Munich will try to earn consecutive wins for the first time since the winter break.

• No Bundesliga team has received as many goals from substitutes as the Bavarians, who have tallied eight strikes from replacements.

• Should he feature as expected, Manuel Neuer will earn his 100th Bundesliga appearance.

Prediction

Freiburg are hopeless in the relegation battle, and will likely finish last. If their team was not good enough before the winter break, it certainly is not after, with unproven reinforcements having been signed to replace the likes of Papiss Cisse. Following a difficult spell, Bayern have found their tactical strengths, and should have no trouble.

Editor's Prediction

SC Freiburg 0-3 Bayern

Read More

18.02. (Sat) 18:15 Sunderland - Arsenal Preview

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

SUNDERLAND Mignolet Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson Larsson, Colback, Gardner, McClean Sessegnon Campbell

ARSENAL Szczesney Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, GibbsRamsey, Song, ArtetaWalcott, Van Persie, Oxlade-Chamberlain

Sunderland have no fresh injury worries coming into their FA Cup tie with Arsenal and so are likely to field an unchanged 11 from the last time out, which incidentally was against the Gunners in the Premier League.

Arsenal on the other hand have plenty to think about after their chastening defeat to AC Milan on Wednesday night. They will have to contend without defender Laurent Koscielny who picked up a knee injury in the loss.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to be restored to the starting line-up having been left out against Milan, with Tomas Rosicky to start from the bench. Kieran Gibbs will continue his comeback from injury at left back.

Thierry Henry will no longer be available as his loan from New York Red Bulls expired on Thursday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Despite taking charge of one less game than Steve Bruce this season, Sunderland have scored eight more goals under Martin O’Neill.

• The Black Cats have lost 11 games this season in all competitions, just three of which have come under O’Neill (pictured right).

• Sunderland have scored just nine goals more than Robin van Persie has in all competitions this season.

• Robin van Persie is the top scorer at Arsenal this season with 28 goals, with the next best - Theo Walcott - having scored six.

• Arsenal gave conceded the same amount of goals away from home in the Premier League this season as Sunderland have both home and away.

• The Gunners have only kept only two clean sheets since the turn of the year, one of which was in the FA Cup.

Prediction

Arsenal are likely to be scarred from their demoralising defeat at the hands of AC Milan and may find the going tough against Martin O’Neill’s confident Mackems.
The sides' meeting earlier this month is likely to have little bearing on this game and Sessegnon could prove the difference between the teams.

Editor's Prediction

Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal

Read More

18.02. (Sat) 15:30 Hertha - Borussia D.

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

HERTHA BERLIN Kraft Morales, Hubnik, Mijatovic, Hubnik Ebert, Niemeyer, Raffael, Bastians Ramos, Lasogga

BORUSSIA DORTMUND Weidenfeller Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer Bender, Kehl Kuba, Lewandowski, Grosskreutz Barrios

Hertha Berlin will have to do without the services of Chrisitian Lell and Maik Franz, who are recuperating from injuries. In addition Fabian Lustenberger will watch from the sidelines, together with former Bayern Munich man Andreas Ottl, who is banned after picking up a red card against Stuttgart in the last round.

Jurgen Klopp will not be able to rely on Julian Koch, Mario Gotze and Shinji Kagawa, who are recovering from knocks. Robert Lewandowski is likely to deputise for the Japanese, while Lucas Barrios is expected to spearhead the attack for the German champions.

DID YOU KNOW

• Hertha Berlin have lost their last three home games.

• The club, who were promoted this season, have had a player sent off in each of their latest two games.

• Hertha Berlin won the reverse fixture 2-1 earlier this season, with Peter Niemeyer and Raffael netting for the capital side.

• Borussia Dortmund have won all of their matches since the turn of the year.

• BVB are the best visiting team in the Bundesliga so far with six victories, two draws, and two defeats.

• Borussia Dortmund are yet to taste defeat in their last 15 games in the German league.

Prediction

With Dortmund on a good run, it is hard to overlook Klopp's men as favourites. They have been on fire recently and it would be unlikely to see them drop points in Berlin on Saturday afternoon.

Editor's Prediction

Hertha BSC 0-2 Dortmund

Read More

18.02. (Sat) 15:30 Kaiserslautern - Borussia MG

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

KAISERSLAUTERN Trapp Dick, Simunek, Rodnei, Jessen Sahan, Tiffert, Borysiuk, Jorgensen Wagner, Shecter

GLADBACH   Ter Stegen Jantschke, Brouwers, Dante, Daems Herrmann, Nordtveit, Neustader, Arango Reus, Hanke

Marco Kurz has a full set of players to pick from, save Dorge Kouemaha who is yet to regain full fitness from a thigh problem. Leon Jessen is set to be preferred to Alexander Bugera at left-back after a series of sub-par performances.
A contributing factor to Borussia Monchengladbach's good form has perhaps been a favourable record with injuries. There is a question mark over Marco Reus' fitness, but the 22-year-old is expected to recover sufficiently in time for this clash.
Elsewhere, Roel Brouwers could be set to start ahead of Martin Stranzl after a string of impressive performances.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Kaiserslautern have not lost at home to Gladbach since August 1995.

• The Fritz Walter Stadion side have also failed to win in one of the subsequent home meetings between the two sides - a 2-2 draw in May 2004.

• Despite their excellent record against Lucien Favre's side, Lautern are on an 11-match run without a league victory - the longest such streak in the division.

• Borussia Monchengladbach have the tightest defence in the Bundesliga this season. Kaiserslautern have conceded the most goals.

• Only Bayer Leverkusen have managed to score more than one goal against Lucien Favre's side, in a 2-2 draw in October.

• Gladbach are one of three Bundesliga teams without a defeat since the end of the winter hiatus.

Prediction

Despite Kaiserslautern's good record against Saturday's opponents, the visitors are truly in the ascendancy. Lucien Favre's men have been transformed into a well-oiled unit. Their defensive frailties have been put right, and are unlikely to be troubled by Kaiserslautern's limp attack. What's more, with the likes of Herrmann, Reus and Hanke in good form, Borussia Monchengladbach are primed for an easy victory.

Editor's Prediction

Kaiserslautern 0-2 Mönchengladbach

Read More

18.02. (Sat) 13:30 Chelsea - Birmingham City

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA CechBosingwa, Luiz, Cahill, Bertrand Meireles, Lampard, Essien Sturridge, Torres, Mata

BIRMINGHAM MyhillCarr, Caldwell, Davies, Murphy Fahey, Mutch, Spector, Elliot, Burke Rooney

Having failed to win in their last four games in the Premier League, Chelsea, and boss Andre Villa-Boas in particular, will welcome a distraction from their inconsistent campaign, and a victory over Birmingham City might just be the right tonic.

Ashley Cole and Ramires will miss out with calf and knee injuries respectively. Captain John Terry could feature, despite suffering from a knee injury, but new-boy Gary Cahill is expected to deputise. Didier Drogba remains on Afcon leave, so Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge will lead the line.

Chris Hughton’s side will not prove easy opposition on Saturday. Having been relegated last season, they currently sit in the playoff positions and will feel confident of their chances for an immediate return to the top flight.

Central-midfielder Guirane N'Daw is the only casualty that Hughton suffers from, with Keith Fahey his most likely replacement. The manager also confirmed earlier in the week that striker Nikola Zigic will not play, while Marlon King is also expected to miss out.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Birmingham beat Chelsea 1-0 in the Premier League last season.

• Fernando Torres (pictured right) hasn't netted in his last 19 games since grabbing a brace against Genk in mid-October.

• Birmingham have scored the most goals, 18, in the final 10 minutes of games in the Championship.

• The last time Chelsea had fewer points after 25 games in the Premier League than their current total of 43 was way back in 2000-01, when they had 37.

• The Championship side are unbeaten in their last thirteen games, with seven wins in their most recent nine games.

• Their defensive prowess is also noteworthy, having conceded the second-lowest amount in the division, behind Hull City.

• Out of 15 games played between the two sides in all competitions, Chelsea have only lost once.

• The two sides have faced each other just once before in the FA Cup. Chelsea won 1-0 in the fourth round of the 2004-05 campaign.

Prediction

You would fully expect Chelsea to overcome the lower-division side, purely because of the obvious gulf in class between the two. In fact, victory for Villas-Boas may be necessary to keep the wolves from the door and anything else would be an utter disaster.
Opposite number Chris Hughton will not be expecting anything from the game and, at the risk of sounding patronising, will be happy to focus solely on a vital promotion push without the distraction of FA Cup football. However, the home side’s defence is all over the place at the moment, so they have a very good chance of grabbing a goal.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham

Read More