Wednesday, February 22, 2012

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23.02. (Thu) 21:05 Atletico Madrid - Lazio

Reja & Hernanes - Lazio (Getty Images)
Getty Images


PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATLETICO

Courtois
Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe
Suarez, Gabi
Arda, Adrian, Koke
Falcao
LAZIO 

Marchetti
Zauri, Ledesma, Dias
Gonzales, Matuzalem, Candreva, Lulic
Hernanes
Kozak, Rozzi

Diego Simeone will be without the services of his Brazilian namesake, who has been ruled out for a month. However, the return of Arda Turan could prove timely to the Argentine, with the Turkish midfielder set to provide some creativity in the former Juventus man's absence.


Elsewhere, Atletico can name an unchanged team from the one that faced Sporting Gijon over weekend with Sergio Asenjo will miss the games for family reasons, and Antonio Lopez a prolonged absentee. Lazio will be without a host of players for the trip to Madrid. Miroslav Klose is out with a back problem, while Tomasso Rocchi, Cristian Brocchi, Lorik Cana, Giuseppe Biava and Marius Stankevicius remain injured. The dearth of strikers could hand a start to 17-year-old Antonio Rozzi, who has made inroads into the first-team in recent weeks.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Atletico manager Diego Simeone represented the Italian side between 1999 and 2003.
  • The Spanish side have won their last five home matches in European competition; meanwhile Lazio have failed to win in their last three away games.
  • Arda Turan and Lorik Cana will be well-acquainted as were team-mates at Galatasaray last season.
  • Spain has not been a happy hunting ground for Lazio - they have won just once in the Iberian nation.
  • However, the Italians will have happy memories of facing a Spanish club - they beat Real Mallorca in the 1999 Uefa Cup final.
  • The Roman club have never won the competition in its current guise, but they did win the Cup Winners' Cup in 1999, following the victory up with Super Cup glory three months later.
Prediction
With the unrest surrounding Edy Reja's future, the string of missing players and the dominant nature of Atletico's victory last week, it's difficult to foresee a Lazio victory here. The Spaniards will be full of confidence following the result in Rome and I'd back them to ease to victory here and secure their place in the next round.
Editor's Prediction
Atl. Madrid 2-0 Lazio

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23.02. (Thu) 21:05 Manchester Utd. - Ajax

UEFA Europa League Chicharito Hernandez vs Ajax
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS


MANCHESTER UNITED

De Gea
Rafael, Jones, Smalling, Fabio Park, Cleverley, Scholes, Young Berbatov, Hernandez
AJAX
 
VermeerVan Rhijn, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Koppers
De Jong, Eriksen, Anita
Ozbiliz, Lodeiro, Sulejmani

With Manchester United facing a potentially tricky trip to Norwich City just two days after facing Ajax, Sir Alex Ferguson looks likely to rest several key players with the Red Devils already 2-0 up.

Although Ferguson may rest players, he also has his fair share of injuries to think about. Antonio Valencia (hamstring), Anders Lindegaard (ankle), Anderson (knock), Nemanja Vidic (knee), Darren Fletcher (bowel condition) and Michael Owen (thigh) are all out while.

However, Ryan Giggs (ankle) and Dimitar Berbatov (knock) may be able to return after missing last week’s first leg.

The visitors, as they did last week, have a number of injury issues themselves. Derk Boerrigter (back), Gregory van der Wiel (groin), Eyong Enoh (hamstring), Andre Ooijer (calf) and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (tibia/leg injury) all look likely to miss out, while Nicolai Boilesen (hamstring) is touch-and-go after sitting out the weekend win over NEC Nijmegen.

Despite bagging two goals against NEC in the league last time out, Dmitry Bulykin may also be forced to miss the trip to Old Trafford after he had to be substituted with only 31 minutes gone in the 4-1 win.


DID YOU KNOW?

  • The last time Manchester United won the first-leg of a European tie and were knocked out came in 2007 as they defeated AC Milan 3-2 at Old Trafford, before an injury-ravaged side lost 3-0 in Italy.
  • Paul Pogba (pictured right) will make his European debut if he features at any point.
  • United haven’t lost any of their last 11 home European matches. Their last home loss was against Besiktas in November 2009.
  • They have lost just two home matches in Europe since losing to Deportivo La Coruna in October 2001.
  • Ajax have lost just five of their last 20 away Europa League matches, but have only won four of their last away matches in the Champions League.
  • Of their 13 goals so far in Europe this season, five of United’s have been scored in the final 15 minutes of matches.
  • Reported United target Christian Eriksen currently leads Ajax’s assist chart this season with 11.
  • If he features, Ryan Giggs will make his 900th appearances for United.
Prediction
It was tempting to go with a bigger scoreline prediction given United’s form recently but, with many key players likely to be rested, maybe the end result won’t be quite as emphatic.
Nevertheless, it should be a comfortable night for Ferguson’s side and they will be hoping to avoid any complacency, with an early Ajax goal undoubtedly having the potential to create a nervous atmosphere at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
Editor's Prediction
Man Utd. 3-0 Ajax

Bundesliga Opta Facts - 24-26 February


Borussia Mönchengladbach - Hamburger SV
Borussia have won four of their last six BL games against Hamburg (D1, L1) including this season's first meeting when Gladbach beat HSV 1-0 courtesy of an Igor de Camargo goal. It was the last match in charge of the Redshorts for former HSV manager Michael Oenning who was sacked in the aftermath of that game.
Only once in their BL history have the Foals accrued more points after 22 games than they have this term (46): When they won the league in 1969-70 they had registered 51 points after the same number of games (adjusted to the three-points rule).
Only three teams have ever conceded fewer goals after 22 games of a BL season than Gladbach have this campaign (13): Bremen 1987-88 (ten), Stuttgart 2003-04 (ten) and Bayern 2007-08 (11).
Gladbach are unbeaten in six games (W 5, D 1) - only Dortmund (16 games) and Hannover (nine games) have currently gone longer without defeat.
Gladbach and Hannover are the only two sides in the league yet to lose a home game this term. The Foals have now gone 14 league home games without defeat - currently the longest run of its kind in the Bundesliga.
Last week's 3-1 defeat to Bremen was only the second defeat for Hamburg in the 13 BL games since Thorsten Fink took charge of the team (W 4, D 7). The Redshorts have lost none of their last seven league games on the road (W 4, D 3) - only reigning champions Dortmund have gone longer without defeat away from home (nine games).
The Foals have scored the fewest goals in the current top four (36), but boast the best defensive record in the league with only 13 goals conceded.
Foals manager Lucien Favre has only lost one of his six BL encounters with HSV (W 2, D 3). HSV gaffer Thorsten Fink only lost three of his 18 BL games against Gladbach during his playing career (W 9, D 6).
Gladbach-born HSV midfielder Marcell Jansen joined Borussia in 1993 and signed his first professional contract with the Foals in 2004. The German international made 73 BL appearances for Gladbach between 2004 and 2007, scoring five goals in the process.

FSV Mainz 05 - 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Mainz have only lost one of the last seven meetings with Lautern in all competitions (W 3, D 3) when they were beaten 3-1 on the road by the Red Devils in this season's first meeting.
Since the foundation of the Bundesliga in 1963 there have been 16 Rhineland-Palatinate derbies in the top two tiers of German football and the German Cup. The head-to-head record is perfectly balanced with five wins for each side (D 6).
Mainz are unbeaten in four games (W 1, D 3), but have only enjoyed one win in their last nine league games (D 6, L 2).
Lautern have gone 12 league games without a win (D 7, L 5) - currently the longest run of its kind in the German top flight. Their last win came over four months ago when they beat Freiburg 1-0 at home.
In none of their previous 44 BL seasons (partially adjusted to the three-points rule) have Lautern accrued as few points after 22 games as they have this term (18).
Mainz and Lautern have both only kept one clean sheet in their last 12 league games. The last time FCK shut their opponents out away from Betzenberg was in April 2011 when they beat Schalke 1-0 at Veltins Arena.
Only three teams in BL history have ever netted fewer goals after 22 games of a BL season than Lautern have this term (16) and all of these three sides finished the season in the bottom three.
Mainz have netted a joint league-high nine goals in the opening 15 minutes while Lautern have shipped more goals in the first quarter-hour than any other side in the league (nine).
Mainz equalled an all-time BL record by netting their fifth own goal of the campaign last weekend. Additionally, it was the sixth career own goal for Mainz defender Nikolce Noveski who has hence equalled the BL record for the most own goals by a single player set by Manfred Kaltz.
Since his return to Mainz in January Mohamed Zidan has netted once in each of his three games for FSV and has now registered as many goals in three games as Lautern's top scorer Itay Shechter has netted in the whole of the campaign so far.

FC Köln - Bayer Leverkusen
Following a run of 15 league games without a win against Leverkusen, Köln have won the last two league encounters with Bayer.
On the 32nd day of last season Köln enjoyed their first win over Bayer in over 14 years when they beat Leverkusen 2-0 courtesy of a brace by Milivoje Novakovic and consequently ended Bayers title hopes.
Köln have never won both meetings with Leverkusen in a single BL season, nor have the Billygoats ever beaten Bayer three times in a row.
Köln have conceded the second-most goals this term (43, only Freiburg have shipped more). Only twice in their BL history have the Billygoats allowed more goals after 22 games (2005-06: 47, 1997-98: 48) - they were relegated at the end of both these campaigns.
Bayer have gone four away games without a win - something that last happened to them between February and May 2010.
Köln have lost five of their last six league games (W 1), scoring only three goals in the process.
Köln are the only side in the league to use all three available substitutions in each of their 22 league games. Leverkusen, on the other hand, have made the fewest changes of all BL teams this term (50).
Bayer's young goal-keeper Bernd Leno conceded a career-high four goals in Leverkusen's 4-1 defeat against Köln in this season's first meeting of the two sides. Prior to that game Leno boasted the best saves-to-shots ratio in the league (89%), while he now has only the 14th best figure in that particular ranking (67%).
Milivoje Novakovic has been directly involved in each of Köln's last six league goals against Bayer (three goals, three assists).
Miso Brecko is the first player in the league to be suspended for the third time this season. After two suspensions for sending-offs he will now have to sit out against Bayer after picking up his fifth yellow card of the camapign in last week's 2-1 defeat to Nürnberg.

FC Augsburg - Hertha BSC
Otto Rehhagel, who took charge of Hertha last Sunday, is the most experienced manger in BL history. The 73-year-old will oversee his 825th game in the German top flight and is the second-oldest manager in BL history behind only former Werder gaffer Fred Schulz.
Augsburg will be the 48th team Rehhagel has faced in the Bundesliga as player and manager. From the 51 teams ever to play in the Bundesliga, Rehhagel has only never faced Augsburg, Hoffenheim, Mainz and Tasmania Berlin.
Each of the last five Hertha managers have lost their first BL game in charge of the Old Lady. Rehhagel has won his first BL game with each of the last four German clubs he has taken charge of (Lautern, Bayern, Bremen, Düsseldorf), though.
Augsburg have won none of their three matches against Hertha in all competitions (D 2, L 1) and had at least one player sent in each of these three encounters.
FCA are winless in six games (D 4, L 2), but have lost none of their last four BL matches on home soil (W 2, D 2).
Hertha have gone 11 BL games without a win (D 4, L 7) and are the only side in the league to lose all five league games since the turn of the year.
The Berlin-based side have gone 12 games without a clean-sheet - something that last happened to them in 2006-07.
Hertha have failed to net more than one goal in any of their last eight league games (four goals in total) and have currently gone 279 minutes without scoring.
Since 1995-96, no team making their Bundesliga debut has acccrued as few points as Augsburg have this term (18). Only one of the six clubs to have played their first ever BL season during that period was relegated after their first top-flight campaign, though (SSV Ulm in 1999-2000).
Jos Luhukay's men have shipped more goals following set-pieces than any other team in the league (16). Hertha have netted two of their last three league goals from dead-ball situations.

VfB Stuttgart - SC Freiburg
None of the last 12 competitive matches between these two sides have ended in a draw.
Freiburg have only enjoyed one victory in their last 12 games away at Stuttgart in all competitions (D 1, L 10) - they won the corresponding fixture last season 1-0 at Mercedes-Benz-Arena.
Stuttgart have won only two of their last 13 league games (D 4, L 7). Both of these wins have come at home against teams form the current bottom four (2-1 against Augsburg, 5-0 against Hertha).
Freiburg still have the worst defensive record in the league (49 goals conceded), but held record champions Bayern to a stalemate last weekend.
Stuttgart are yet to enjoy back-to-back home wins in the league this season.
Freiburg are the only side apart from Wolfsburg to lose their last three league games on the road. This means that new SCF manager Christian Streich still hasn't won a single point with Freiburg away from home.
Since the turn of the year Stuttgart have only taken something from games against teams against whom they had lost this season's first meeting. The Swabians won the first leg against Freiburg this campaign 2-1.
Freiburg are in 12th place in the BL table of the second half of the season and therefore the best Baden-Wuerttemberg side in 2012 - Stuttgart follows in 13th place, Hoffenheim in 14th.
Freiburg's last seven league goals have been scored by either defenders or midfielders. The last striker to score for SCF in the league was Demba Papiss Cisse in December, who has since left Freiburg to join Newcastle.
Martin Harnik has netted more goals in the Bundesliga since the turn of the year than any other player (five).
Stuttgart striker Julian Schieber has netted three goals in three appearances against Freiburg - only against Frankfurt has he scored as many goals in the top flight.
SCF players Julian Schuster, Andreas Hinkel, Oliver Barth and Simon Brandstetter have all formerly plied their trade with Stuttgart.

VfL Wolfsburg - 1899 Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim won this season's first meeting with Wolfsburg 3-1. In that game Wolves outfield-player Makoto Hasebe had to deputise for VfL goal-keeper Marwin Hitz, who was sent off when Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath had already used all three available substitutions.
With their 3-1 win over Wolfsburg earlier this season Hoffenheim completed their best ever start to a BL season - never before had they won 12 points from their opening six games of a BL campaign.
Hoffenheim have won none of their three BL outings at Wolfsburg. Their first two BL visits to Wolfsburg both saw them lose 4-0 while they at least got a point from their last league game at VW Arena (2-2).
The last seven BL meetings between these two sides have seen a total of 28 goals.
Hoffenheim are on a run of six winless games (D 5, L 1). 1899 have only enjoyed one victory in their last 12 league games with their last three matches all ending in draws.
The Wolves have only lost one of their last ten BL games on home soil (W 7, D 2) and are unbeaten in their last six at VW Arena (W 4, D 2). Felix Magath's men have won 23 of the 27 points they have accrued so far this season in front of their home crowd.
Hoffenheim have only won one of their last eight BL games on the road (D 1, L 6) and have failed to score in four of these eight games.
Only Hoffenheim (431) have commited more fouls than Wolfsburg (429) this season.
Hoffenheim have netted a league-low nine second-half goals.
1899 have scored 25% of their goals this term from outside the area - only Gladbach have also netted such a high percentage of their goals from distance.
Hoffenheim striker Firmino has scored three of his so far eight BL goals against Wolfsburg.

Werder Bremen - 1. FC Nürnberg
Nürnberg have scored more goals against Werder than against any other team in the German top flight (79).
Werder have won seven of their last eight league encounters with FCN, but lost the corresponding fixture last season 3-2 at Weserstadion.
Bremen had only 28% of the possession and registered only two shots in their 1-1 draw against Nürnberg earlier this season. Both figures are the lowest for Werder in a single BL game since Opta's detailed data collection began in 2004/05.
Nürnberg have scored the fewest goals on the road so far this term (seven). Dieter Hecking's men have failed to score in five of their last six BL away games.
Nürnberg have netted 52% of their league goals this campaign from set-pieces - a higher proportion than any other side in the league. Four of the last five goals Werder have conceded in the league have come from dead-ball situations.
Werder's Markus Rosenberg (six) and Nürnberg's Tomas Pekhart (five) are the two players who have hit the woodwork most often this term.
Werder goal-keeper Tim Wiese is set to make his 250th BL appearance while striker Claudio Pizarro could make his 150th appearance in the German top flight.
FCN goal-keeper has conceded 29 goals in ten BL games against Werder - more than he has allowed against any other side in the German top-flight. Schäfer has so far never managed to keep a clean sheet against Werder.
Werder midfielder Mehmet Ekici plied his trade with Nürnberg last season and made 32 BL appearances for FCN (three goals). With nine assists to his name he was Nürnberg's best provider last campaign. Since he has joined Bremen he has only registered one goal and one assist.

Bayern München - FC Schalke 04
Schalke have suffered more defeats (40) and conceded more goals (168) against Bayern than against any other team in the Bundesliga.
The Gelsenkirchen-based side have only lost one of their last five matches in all competitions (W 2, D 2), but lost their last BL outing at Bayern 4-1 last season.
In 1976-77 Schalke beat Bayern 7-0 on the road. That 7-0 drubbing is still Bayern's heaviest defeat in the Bundesliga and Schalke's biggest win in the German top flight.
In April 2009 Schalke won at the Allianz Arena for the first time when they beat Bayern 1-0. In the aftermath of that defeat Jürgen Klinsmann was sacked as Bayern manager.
FCB have won nine of their last ten league games at Allianz Arena (L 1). Only upcoming opponents Schalke (28) have accrued more points at home this term than the German record champions (27).
The Royal Blues have only lost one of their nine BL games following a midweek Europa League match (W 7, D 1).
Only Schalke (50) have scored more goals so far this term than Bayern (49).
Bayern's Mario Gomez and Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar currently share the lead in the BL scorer charts (18 goals each).
Jupp Heynckes (2003 - September 2004), Manuel Neuer (1991-2011) and Rafinha (2005-10) have all formerly been under contract to Schalke, while Schalke's Alexander Baumjohann plied his trade with Bayern between summer 2009 and January 2010.
Current S04 manager Huub Stevens was sacked as Hertha gaffer in December 2003 following a 3-1 defeat against a Schalke side managed by Jupp Heynckes. Schalke's next league goal will be their 300th in Huub Stevens' two stints with the club.

Borussia Dortmund - Hannover 96
Hannover have only won of their last seven BL encounters with Dortmund (D 3, L 3) when they came bach from 1-0 down courtesy of late goals by Karim Haggui and Didier Ya Konan to beat the reigning champions 2-1 in this season's first meeting between the two sides.
The last six BL duels between Hannover and Dortmund have seen a total of 27 goals - an average of 4.5 goals per game.
This match will see the two teams with the longest current unbeaten runs take each other on. Hannover have gone nine games without defeat, while league-leaders Dortmund suffered their last defeat in this season's first meeting with Hannover and haven't lost any of their 16 BL games since.
Borussia have won their last six games on the bounce and could equal the club record for the most consecutive wins in the Bundesliga with a victory over Hannover. BVB have managed to win seven games in a row three times before - they achieved that feat twice last season and once in 2008-09.
Hannover are unbeaten in their last five BL games on the road, but have only enjoyed one win in their last ten league games away from AWD Arena (D 5, L 4) and have failed to score more than one goal in any of these matches.
Dortmund haven't conceded a goal in 387 minutes in all competitions. The last team to score against the reigning champions was Hoffenheim at the end of January. If BVB shut out Hannover they will have gone the whole month of February without conceding a single goal.
The Reds have lost none of their nine BL games following a midweek Europa League match (W 4, D 5).
Dortmund have netted at least once in each of their last 18 BL games - currently the longest run of its kind in the league.
With 49 (Dortmund) and 34 points (Hannover) respectively both teams have registered their second-best ever points haul after 22 games in the Bundesliga. The only campaign in which both sides had accrued more points after the same number of games was last season when Dortmund had won three and Hannover had won four more points than they have this term.
BVB midfielder Sven Bender has won an average of 2.26 points per game in his so far 66 BL appearances - the best points-per-game average by any BL player with at least 50 BL appearances.
Christian Pander scored one and assisted two goals for Hannover in the Reds' 4-2 win over Stuttgart last weekend and could make his 100th BL appearance against Dortmund.

Ligue 1 Opta Facts - 24-26 February


Ajaccio - Dijon
Dijon have never won in five competitive games at the François Coty stadium (three draws and two defeats).
Seven of the 11 competitive encounters between Ajaccio and Dijon have ended in draws, including five 1-1 score lines.
Ajaccio are winless in three consecutive league matches, failing to score in the last two.
Dijon are unbeaten against fellow promoted teams this season in Ligue 1 (two wins and one draw).
Ajaccio have drawn both of their two league meetings this season against fellow promoted sides.
Dijon have managed to score in their last seven league fixtures, currently the longest run in Ligue 1.
Dijon have kept just one clean sheet in 12 away Ligue 1 games.
Loan signing Gaël Kakuta has scored three goals in just three competitive starts for Dijon.

Auxerre - St Etienne
Auxerre are unbeaten in their last seven league encounters with Saint-Etienne, winning four of these games.
The last three league meetings between these teams have all ended in draws.
In 23 Ligue 1 trips to the Abbé-Deschamps stadium, St Etienne have won on just three occasions, suffering 16 defeats in the process.
St Etienne are the first team this season in Ligue 1 to score four goals in two consecutive games.
St Etienne are currently fourth in the league, which is their highest position at this stage of a top flight season since 1987/88.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has netted seven of St Etienne's 13 away goals in Ligue 1 this term.
Auxerre have dropped 18 points after leading in their games, more than any other team in Ligue 1 this season.

Evian TG - Nancy
Evian TG are unbeaten in their last five home matches in Ligue 1, with four wins followed by one draw,
Nancy have yet to beat a promoted team this season in Ligue 1 with two draws and one defeat.
Nancy have managed more wins on the road (three) than at their Marcel-Picot stadium (two) this season in the league.
Nancy have failed to score in their last three league fixtures.
ETG are still winless in Ligue 1 since the appointment of new manager Pablo Correa, suffering two defeats and drawing twice.
Veteran midfielder Cédric Barbosa has scored or assisted nine of ETG's 17 goals at their Parc des Sports stadium in the top flight.

Montpellier - Bordeaux
Montpellier and Bordeaux have both picked up 13 points in Ligue 1 since the turn of the year, more than any other team.
None of the teams currently ranked in the top three spots have managed to beat Bordeaux this season (three draws and one defeat).
Bordeaux have lost only one of their last eight league matches at the Mosson stadium.
Montpellier have conceded only one goal in their last seven league matches at their Mosson stadium.
Montpellier have suffered more defeats against Bordeaux (22) than versus any other opponent in Ligue 1.
Olivier Giroud has scored or assisted 49% of Montpellier's goals this season in Ligue 1, a higher involvement than any other player in France's top flight this term.
Since 2009, four penalties have been awarded in league matches between Montpellier and Bordeaux but only one was scored.
Bordeaux have won three consecutive league games for the first time since 2009/10.

Nice - Caen
Nice are winless in their last eight competitive games.
Nice have failed to score in their last three competitive outings at their Ray stadium.
Four of the last five Ligue 1 encounters between Nice and Caen have ended in draws.
In their last league trip to Nice, Caen managed their biggest ever away win in the top flight (4-0 in May 2011).
85% of Nice's overall points tally this season in the league has been picked up at home.
All four Nice victories in Ligue 1 this season have been by at least a two goal margin and have all been at home.
Caen have failed to score in four of their last five away Ligue 1 games.
Livio Nabab has scored in each of his last three league appearances.

Valenciennes - Lorient
Valenciennes are unbeaten in three consecutive league games for the first time this season.
Lorient have never managed to win at Valenciennes in the top flight, with three goalless draws and two defeats, scoring just one goal in total.
Lorient are unbeaten in their last six Ligue 1 meetings against Valenciennes (three wins and three draws).
The last two league meetings between Valenciennes and Lorient have been goalless.
VAFC have scored exactly one goal in each of their last four league games at their Hainault stadium.
Lorient are now winless in nine consecutive league matches, their longest run without success since 2008/09.
20 of Lorient's 24 Ligue 1 goals this term have been scored in the second half of games.

Lyon - Paris SG
Paris SG have won only one of their last 17 league matches at the Gerland stadium, losing 10 times in the process.
PSG are unbeaten in their last four competitive matches against Lyon, winning three of these games, including victory at the Gerland stadium in the Coupe de la Ligue in October 2010.
Lyon have now suffered nine league defeats for the first time since 1999/00, when they lost 10 during the whole season.
Lyon are one of two sides to have scored in all of their home matches this season in Ligue 1.
Lyon have lost two of their last five home league games, which equals their number of defeats in the previous 35 fixtures at their Gerland stadium.
PSG have kept a clean sheet in each of their last four away games in Ligue 1.
Kevin Gameiro has converted just two of his last 44 shots in Ligue 1.
Nenê has failed to score in any of his last 20 appearances away from home in Ligue 1.

Brest - Marseille
Marseille have never managed to win at eight trips to Brest in the top flight.
Brest is the Ligue 1 venue where Marseille have played the most games without ever winning.
None of the previous 17 Ligue 1 encounters between Brest and Marseille have ended in an away win, regardless of venue.
Brest have been involved in more draws than any other team across the top five European leagues this season (14).
Marseille are on a run of three consecutive away wins in Ligue 1; no Ligue 1 side this season have managed four in a row.
Brest are winless this season in Ligue 1 in seven matches against sides currently ranked in the top five.
Brest are one of three clubs who have never lost after leading this season in Ligue 1.
Games involving Brest have seen the fewest goals this term in Ligue 1 (43 goals in 24 fixtures: 1.8 on average).

Toulouse - Sochaux
None of the last 13 Ligue 1 meetings between these sides have ended in a draw.
10 of the last 11 goals scored in league matches between Toulouse and Sochaux have come after the half-time break.
Sochaux have won their last two league encounters with Toulouse, scoring four goals without reply.
TFC's last three goals against Sochaux in Ligue 1 have been netted by defenders.
68% of Toulouse's goals have been scored by their midfielders, a higher involvement than any other team this season in Ligue 1.
Sochaux have converted just one of their last 83 shots in Ligue 1.
71% of the goals Sochaux have conceded in the league this season have come in the second half of games, a higher percentage than any other side.

Rennes - Lille
Rennes have won just one of their last 18 league encounters against Lille.
Lille have scored in all of their last nine league matches at the Route de Lorient stadium.
Rennes have lost just one of their 18 home games in all competitions this season (v Marseille in January).
Lille are on a run of two consecutive 1-0 away wins with the winning goal coming shortly after the 75th minute on both occasions.
Rudi Garcia has never lost in 10 encounters with Frédéric Antonetti during his Ligue 1 managerial career, winning six times in the process.
Victor Montaño has scored three goals in as many league starts against Lille.

Filip Đuričić (Herenven, Holandija 1) Tipuje 23 kolo

PSV pali sve „lampice“. Timu iz Ajndhovena u goste dolazi Fejenord, a ja sam siguran u trijumf „filipsovaca“, koji žele prvo mesto. Naruku im ide i činjenica da je forma gostiju u silaznoj putanji. Tvente će da slomi otpor Utrehta još u prvom delu igre, pa bih i na ovom meču fiksirao jedinicu, odnosno igru 1-1.
Roda je veliki favorit protiv De Grafšapa, kao i Ajaks na terenu Ekscelziora. Ipak, ne bih se zaletao sa dvojkom na ovom meču, jer „kopljanici“ umeju i neprijatno da iznenade.

MOJ TIP
RKC – Vitese 3+
Breda – Den Hag 2
Roda – De Grafšap 1
Venlo – Herakles 2
NEC – Groningen X
Ekscelzior – Ajaks 2
TVENTE – UTREHT 1-1
PSV – FEJENORD 1
Alkmar – Herenven 2

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23.02. (Thu) 19:00 Valencia - Stoke City

Europa League,Pablo Piatti ,Ryan Shawcross,Stoke City FC v Valencia CF
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS


VALENCIA


Guaita
Bruno, Rami, Dealbert, Mathieu
Topal, Costa
Feghouli, Piatti, Jonas
Aduriz
STOKE CITY


Begovic
Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson
Pennant, Palacios, Delap, Etherington
Walters, Crouch

Both sides will be expected to name similar line-ups to those which featured in the first leg last Thursday in order to rest players that were in action over the weekend.
Valencia suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Barcelona on Sunday, losing 5-1 thanks to a magical display from Lionel Messi, and will be looking to restore their pride against Stoke and improve on their one-goal advantage.
Los Che’s latest injury worry came in unfortunate circumstances after Ever Banega failed to secure his handbrake at a petrol station, resulting in his car running over his ankle. The midfielder now faces surgery on a double fracture, leaving him out of action for the rest of the season.
The Potters knocked Crawley Town out of the FA Cup at the weekend and will no doubt rotate the squad accordingly, replacing the fringe players with stronger individuals to try and overturn their deficit in this tie.
Matthew Upson is back from European suspension and could feature, whilst Dean Whitehead is doubtful after suffering a gashed shin in last week’s initial encounter at the Britannia Stadium.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Last Thursday’s first leg was Valencia’s 100th game in the Europa League/UEFA Cup.
  • Stoke City have won just one of their last five games in all competitions.
  • Los Che are unbeaten in their last six European home fixtures – with four wins and two draws – their last defeat coming to Manchester United in the group stages of the Champions League in 2010.
  • Potters striker Peter Crouch (right) has failed to score in six meetings with Spanish sides.
  • In 32 games against English sides, Valencia have won nine, drawn 15 and lost eight.
  • Before beating Stoke last week, Thursday’s hosts had not won in their last eight meetings with sides from England, with their last victory coming against Arsenal in March 2003.
Prediction
Valencia had the edge in the first leg and on home turf many will expect them to dominate further to put the tie beyond the Premier League outfit. The support in the Mestalla will be overwhelming for the men in white and Stoke will find it hard to deal with an atmosphere that competes with their own at the Britannia, as well Los Che’s experienced winners.
Editor's Prediction
Valencia 2-0 Stoke City

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23.02. (Thu) 19:00 Athletic Bilbao - Lokomotiv Mos.

Javi Martinez, Iker Muniain y Fernando Llorente - Athletic Bilbao
Javi Martinez, Iker Muniain y Fernando Llorente - Athletic Bilbao

PROBABLE LINEUPS


ATHLETIC BILBAO


Iraizoz
Iraola, San Jose, Amorebieta, Aurtenetxe
Iturraspe, De Marcos
Susaeta, Ander
, Muniain
Llorente
LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW


GuilhermeShishkin, Burlak, Belyayev, Yanbaev
Glushakov, Zapater, Tarasov
Maicon, Caicedo, Torbinskiy
The Spanish outfit decided to rest several key players over the weekend in a 3-0 win against Malaga, and appear in a healthy state in the lead-up to the Europa League match.

Javi Martinez may be back in the lineup after not participating in the last league game due to suspension, whilst Fernando Llorente will hope to score the goals to overcome the current disadvantage.

The visitors also look in good shape entering the clash and will likely go with the same starting lineup as they did in the first leg. As usual, Felipe Caicedo will be the heart of the attack after scoring a crucial goal in the first leg.

Both clubs look set to be at full strength in a contest that could make or break their seasons as they look to continue on the road to the final in Romania.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Athletic Bilbao, who finished top of Group F, have never won the Europa League title, just like their opponents for Thursday.
  • In the team's last seven games in league and cup play, they have scored 19 goals.
  • Marcelo Bielsa's club have not lost at home since the end of November.
  • Lokomotiv Moscow hold a 2-1 advantage in the tie after second half strikes from Denis Glushakov and Felipe Caicedo erased Iker Munain's opener for the Spaniards.
  • The Russian team's last victory on the road was in early November, a 3-1 win at AEK Athens. The eastern European team have never won a game in Spain, losing four and drawing one.
  • The winner of this tie will face either Ajax or Manchester United in the round of 16, with the English giants holding a 2-0 advantage.
Prediction
In the friendly confines of San Mames, the hosts, with star Fernando Llorente leading the attack, should be able to create enough chances to find a couple goals and see off the visitors to advance.
Editor's Prediction
Bilbao 2-0 Lokomotiv

Dušan Kecman (Partizan MTS, Jadranska liga) tipuje 21. kolo

ŠIROKI - ZLATOROG LAŠKO 1 - Široki ima odličnu ekipu, igra fantastično. Da je još neke utakmice dobio, mogao je i u borbu za fajnal for. Sigurna jedinica.
CIBONA – PARTIZAN 2 - Iako maksimalno respektujemo Cibonu, nama je to jedna od najvažnijih utakmica i želimo da overimo plasman na fajnal for. Biće teško, ali posle osvajanja Kupa dobili smo pozitivne impulse i možemo da slavimo u Zagrebu.
MAKABI – HEMOFARM 1 - Kec “kao kuća”, Makabi je apsolutni favorit za osvajanje Jadranske lige.
KRKA – BUDUĆNOST 1 – Neizvesno. Prednost dajem Krki, koja igra odlično na domaćem terenu, a i mora da dobije da bi pobegla sa dna tabele. Budućnost će tražiti svoju šansu, ali je ovo pre kec nego dvojka.

Milan Borjan (Sivas, Turska) pred 28. kolo

Smeo bih ruku u vatru, i to ne samo ja, već svi koji poznaju prilike u turskom fudbalu, da će Karabuk, koji je mesto iznad crte, da lagano savlada već prežaljeni Ankaraguču. Karabuk je, podsetiću, u sjajnoj seriji od tri uzastopne pobede, beži sa dna i, po svoj prilici, uspeće da sačuva elitni status.
U derbiju Galatasaraj - Bešiktaš biće malo golova, ako ih uopšte i bude. Kajzeri će da pregrmi Ordu, Fenerbahče će da pobedi Eskišehir, moj Sivas odlazi, bez dvojice standardnih napadača, na noge Genčlerbirligiju...

MOJ TIP
Ordu – Kajzeri 2
KARABUK – ANKARAGUČU 1
Samsun – Bursa X2
MANISA – GAZIJANTEP 1
Eskišehir – Fenerbahče 2
Bujukšehir – Antalija 1X
Genčlerbirligi – Sivas -
Trabzon – Mersin 1
GALATASARAJ – BEŠIKTAŠ 0-2