04.03. (Sun) 21:30 Real - Espanyol

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo Granero, AlonsoCallejon, Kaka, Ronaldo Higuain

ESPANYOL Casilla Galan, Rodriguez, Moreno, Didac Baena, RomaricWeiss, Verdu, Coutinho Alvaro

Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao has been ruled out of action for three weeks after sustaining a groin injury while on international duty with Portugal.

Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema are still sidelined through injury, while Lassana Diarra (back) and Hamit Altintop (calf) have resumed training again and could be fit in time for Sunday's visit of Espanyol.

Meanwhile, France U21 international Raphael Varane could be in line for a rare start in central defence in place of the suspended Pepe.

Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino has received some positive news on the injury front with the return to fitness of forward Sergio Garcia, who has recovered from the knee problem that has kept him out of action since mid-January.

Long-term absentees Walter Pandiani and Javi Marquez have also returned to training for the injury-plagued Catalan side, with goalkeeper Cristian Alvarez and Juan Albin also reported to be close to making returns. Right-back Ernesto Galan is available again after serving a one-match suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Real Madrid have won their last nine league games - their longest winning streak in La Liga since a 10-match run between Sep-Dec 2011.

• Los Blancos have netted 80 goals in their 24 league matches so far, breaking Valencia's top-flight record of 79 goals at this stage in the 1941-42 season.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) has scored more league goals this season (29) than 12 clubs in the Spanish top division, including Espanyol (27).

• Espanyol are on a four-game winless run in the league (D2 L2), but are unbeaten in their last four away matches (W1 D3).

• The Catalan club have not registered a league victory at Bernabeu since the 1995-96 season.

• Espanyol have conceded the most penalties in the Primera Division this season (six), while Real Madrid have been awarded the most penalties (10).

Prediction

Real Madrid showed the hallmark of champions last weekend when they ground out a win at Rayo Vallecano, despite being second-best for long periods. But they should make short work of Pochettino's side, whose bright start to 2012 has been scuppered by a lengthening injury list.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 3-0 Espanyol

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04.03. (Sun) 20:45 Inter - Catania

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

INTER Julio Cesar Faraoni, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso SneijderForlan, Milito

NOVARA Carrizo Motta, Spolli, Legrottaglie, Marchese Seymour, Lodi, Almiron Barrientos, Bergessio, Gomez

Claudio Ranieri's side have a few injury concerns going into Sunday's clash, with Andrea Ranocchia and Ricardo Alvarez ruled out with thigh and muscle strains respectively, while Freddy Guarin is still nursing the calf injury that has plagued him since signing from Porto in January.

However, the hosts could be boosted by the return of Maicon after the Brazil international returned to training following a knee injury. Although he is unlikely to start the tie, the former Monaco man may well feature from the bench.

The visitors will travel to Milan without the services of Alessandro Potenza, with the former Fiorentina defender ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury, while Andrea Campagnolo and David Suazo will also miss out.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Inter have lost five of their last six league matches.

• The Nerazzurri have drawn the least amount of games of any club in Serie A this term (three).

• The hosts have both scored and conceded 34 times this season.

• Ranieri's men have not won in Serie A since the 2-1 victory over Lazio back in January.

• Catania have won exactly a third of their league games this campaign (eight).

• The visitors have only failed to score in one of their last 11 league encounters.

• Montella's side have lost three of their last four away games in Serie A.

Prediction

With the Nerazzurri failing to win since their victory over Lazio back in January, along with the visitors' impressive form of late, an away victory seems a likely outcome.

Editor's Prediction

Inter 1-2 Catania

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04.03. (Sun) 18:00 Granada - Valencia

Roberto Soldado - Valencia

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GRANADA Cesar Nyom, Lopez, Gomez, Siqueira F Rico, M RicoAbel, Uche, Benitez Ighalo

VALENCIA Guaita Bruno, Rami, Ruiz, Mathieu Albelda, T CostaFeghouli, Jonas, Alba Soldado

Granada defender Inigo Lopez could recover from the muscle problem that ruled him out of last weekend's defeat at Osasuna and start against Valencia on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Roberto and midfielder Carlos Martins are suspended for the clash, while Hassan Yebda is sidelined for several months with ruptured knee ligaments. Brazilian left-back Guilherme Siqueira is available for selection again after serving a one-match suspension.

Valencia will be without Argentine midfielder Ever Banega, who has been sidelined from action for up to six months after undergoing surgery for a broken ankle.

Right-back Miguel will also sit out the trip to Granada through injury, with Bruno likely to deputise.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Granada have won three and lost two in the league since Abel Resino was appointed coach in January.

• The Andalusian club have won four of their last six league matches played at Nuevo Los Carmenes.

• Granada have scored 10 goals in the five games for which Resino has been in charge, having netted just 12 in 19 matches prior to this.

• Valencia have won just one of their last eight league fixtures - a run that has seen their lead over fourth-placed Levante shrink to just five points.

• Los Che are on a six-game winless run away from home in the league. Their last win on the road came at Rayo Vallecano in November.

• Roberto Soldado (pictured right), who netted a hat-trick for Spain in their friendly win over Venezuela in midweek, has not scored in his last eight appearances for Valencia.

Prediction

Amid a poor run of results that has caused no small amount of unrest among the Mestalla faithful, Sunday's trip to Granada represents a big game for the visitors, who will be desperate for a win to get the critics off their back. While the Andalusians have made an encouraging enough start to life under Resino, this might just prove to be a bridge too far for them.

Editor's Prediction

Granada 0-1 Valencia

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04.03. (Sun) 17:10 Tottenham - Manchester United

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM FriedelWalker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto Kranjcar, Sandro, Modric, Bale Van Der VaartAdebayor

MANCHESTER UNITED De GeaJones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra Nani, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs Rooney, Welbeck

At one stage it looked like Tottenham would be without their star man Gareth Bale after the winger missed Wales' midweek clash with Costa Rica due to a hamstring injury; however, Harry Redknapp has suggested that the former Southampton man will recover in time for Sunday's game.

Spurs are also hoping Rafael van der Vaart (calf), Kyle Walker (ankle) and Ledley King (knee) will all pass late fitness tests before the visit of the champions, but long-term absentees Tom Huddlestone, David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas and William Gallas remain sidelined.

Scott Parker will also be unavailable for the match at White Hart Lane after seeing red in the north London derby last weekend, and central midfield is therefore where the manager's main selection headache lies, with Jake Livermore and Sandro vying for a starting place.

As for Manchester United there is also some good news regarding their main man, Wayne Rooney. The striker has recovered from a throat infection that has kept him out of the squad for the last couple of fixtures.

Sir Alex Ferguson still has a number of injury worries though: Antonio Valencia (hamstring) and Tom Cleverley (foot) are still out and Chris Smalling is a fresh doubt after suffering a clash of heads while representing England against the Netherlands on Wednesday. Ashley Young played the whole 90 minutes in that international friendly and therefore may not start, while Michael Owen returned to training in the week but will not be match fit in time for the Spurs clash.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Tottenham have failed to beat Sir Alex Ferguson's side since May 2001 - a total of 21 Premier League meetings without a win, and 25 in all competitions.

• Spurs need one more draw at White Hart Lane to record their 100th in the history of the top-flight.

• The hosts have failed to score in four out of the last five league and cup meetings with United.

• Harry Redknapp's side have netted more goals than anyone one else in the opening 15 minutes of league games this season (10), while the Red Devils are one of just two teams yet to concede in the first quarter of an hour.

• Manchester United have already won 30 points away from home this campaign, which is five more than their total for the whole of last season.

• Wayne Rooney (pictured right) has scored in six out of his last seven league games against Tottenham, with Ryan Giggs netting more league goals against Spurs than any other team (10).

• The Red Devils have only managed three clean sheets in their last 12 domestic games.

• United centre-back Rio Ferdinand will make his 450th league appearance in English football if he plays a part on Sunday.

• Sir Alex Ferguson's strike partnership at White Hart Lane could be Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, two men who scored in United's 3-0 win over Spurs in the first game at Old Trafford this season.

• Harry Redknapp's surprise January signing Louis Saha could face his former club for the first time in a Tottenham shirt. He played 124 games for Manchester United and scored 42 goals after signing for around £12 million from Fulham in 2004.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction
Tottenham 0-2 Manchester United

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04.03. (Sun) 17:00 Paris Saint Germain - Ajaccio

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN Sirigu Jallet, Alex, Sakho, Maxwell Motta, Sissoko Menez, Pastore, Nene Hoarau

AJACCIO Ochoa Diawara, Medjani, Poulard, Bouhours Mostefa, Pierazzi Andre, Cavalli, Tiberi Eduardo

Carlo Ancelotti will have a very strong unit to select from for this clash. Milan Bisevac remains doubtful, but otherwise the Italian can call upon all of his top players, with Ceara and Christophe Jallet having shaken off problems to feature in the squad last weekend.

Not too many changes are anticipated from the team that drew 4-4 with Olympique Lyonnais, with Guillaume Hoarau, who struck twice last weekend, and Javier Pastore liable to retain their spots in the starting XI.

Ajaccio may start this game with a more defensive outlook than they have had in recent times, but they will travel to the capital with a group of players who have achieved strong results in 2012. Fabrice Begeorgi remains a long-term absentee, having seriously injured his knee earlier in the season, while on-loan Marseille defender Leyti N’Diaye is unlikely to play any part.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Last weekend’s dramatic 4-4 draw with Lyon at Stade Gerland opened the door for Montpellier to snatch the leadership of Ligue 1 from Paris Saint-Germain.
  
• Les Parisiens only avoided their first defeat under Ancelotti thanks to a dramatic late header from Hoarau, who had earlier opened the scoring with a neat finish.
  
• The last time that PSG tasted defeat was in the first week of December, when they lost to Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League, 14 matches ago.
  
• PSG have scored exactly twice the number of goals that their visitors have at Parc des Princes this season, notching 24 in 13 games in front of their home fans.
  
• On Sunday, they will attempt to end a three-game streak of draws in the league.
  
• Over the course of the last eight Ligue 1 fixtures, Ajaccio have the second-best form in the league, winning 17 points. Montpellier's record is superior on goal difference.
  
• Their only defeat in that time came away against league leaders, who smashed them 3-0.
  
• Before embarking on this run, Ajaccio sat rock-bottom of the table with only one win to their credit.
  
• They actually won 4-2 in their last trip to PSG, but that was in 2006 and represents their only success in six attempts.

Prediction

Although Ajaccio’s recent form has been excellent, while PSG’s has been rather stumbling, Les Parisiens showed enough last weekend to suggest that they’ll be able to win this match with some to spare. Humbled easily by Montpellier away from home, expect the proud visitors to be similarly beaten on Sunday.

Editor's Prediction

PSG 3-0 AC Ajaccio

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04.03. (Sun) 15:30 Nurnberg - Borussia MG

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

NURNBERG Schafer Feulner, Maroh, Wollscheid, Hlousek Simons, Cohen Chandler, Hegeler, Esswein Pekhart

MONCHENGLADBACH Ter Stegen Jantschke, Brouwers, Dante, Daems Reus, Nordtveit, Neustadter, Arango Hanke, De Camargo

Hanno Balitsch finds himself suspended for the clash having picked up five yellow cards, while goalkeeper Alexander Stephan and forward Mike Frantz are sidelined for Sunday's match-up, suffering from a thigh and hamstring problem, respectively.

Per Nilsson and Javier Pinola are also missing due to a lack of fitness.

For Gladbach, Patrick Herrmann continues his recovery from a broken collarbone, while young Amin Younes is struggling with an inflammation of the pubic bone, meaning that he also is unlikely to be present.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Only one goal has been scored per game in the last three encounters that these sides have had against each other.

• Nurnberg have not won against Gladbach in their last five attempts, with the visitors currently on a head-to-head winning streak of three matches.

• The hosts have the second-poorest goal record in the Bundesliga this year with 22, despite sitting comfortably in 10th place.

• Gladbach are one of the only two teams who have not recorded a loss since the winter break, winning four times and drawing twice. Borussia Dortmund are the other, with six wins.

• Last season, while going through a poor run of form, Gladbach broke a five-match winless streak at Frankenstadion with a 1-0 win.

• Gladbach's goal difference so far this season is in excess of Nurnberg's by a margin of 33.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction 
Nurnberg 1-1 Borussia MG

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04.03. (Sun) 15:00 Roma - Lazio

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ROMA Stekelenburg Rosi, Juan, Heinze, Taddei Marquinho, De Rossi, Pjanic  Totti Lamela, Borini

LAZIO Marchetti Diakite, Biava, Dias, Scaloni Ledesma, Matuzalem Gonzalez, Hernanes, Mauri Klose

Pablo Osvaldo, Marco Cassetti and Fernando Gago are all suspended and will miss the crunch clash for Roma at the weekend. Erik Lamela will likely replace Osvaldo up front to partner Fabio Borini in attack.

There is some good news coming out of Trigoria as Francesco Totti returned to training after injuring his foot during a practice game on Wednesday. The Giallorossi feared that he might miss the match because of the knock but the captain is certain to feature on Sunday.

Edy Reja is still the coach of Lazio after his resignation was rejected by club president Claudio Lotito last week. The 66-year-old will have to tinker with his back line as Stefan Radu, Abdoulay Konko and Luciano Zauri are all sidelined.

Influential veterans Cristian Brocchi and Tommaso Rocchi will also miss the match but Stefano Mauri, who returned last weekend after a long injury lay-off, is available for selection.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Roma are unbeaten in their last seven matches at the Stadio Olimpico, outscoring their opponents 16-4 during that span.

• The Giallorossi are unbeaten in their last 13 derby matches when they are the 'home' team (W8 D5).

• Luis Enrique's men have picked up only two victories in their last seven games (W2 D2 L3).

• Roma have scored 15 goals in their last five encounters at home.

• Lazio have conceded 10 goals in their last four Serie A contests.
  

• The Biancocelesti have only secured one win in their last five games on the road.

• Reja's men have won seven matches by a one-goal margin this season.

• Lazio have been outscored 14-7 in their last five encounters away from home.

Prediction

The form book can be thrown out of the window when bitter rivals lock horns and Luis Enrique’s men will do just enough to avenge their loss to the Biancocelesti earlier this season.

Editor's Prediction

Roma 2-1 Lazio

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04.03. (Sun) 13:00 Newcastle - Sunderland

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

NEWCASTLE Krul Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon Taylor, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez Ba, Cisse

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

Newcastle are hopeful that Papiss Cisse can start up front alongside Senegalese strike partner Demba Ba, despite having been substituted in last week's draw with Wolves after picking up a groin strain.

Magpies boss Alan Pardew has no suspended players for the derby clash and, with only long-term absentees such as Leon Best, Sammy Ameobi and Steven Taylor currently troubling the Newcastle treatment table, the home side will go into the game with near enough their strongest possible XI.

Sunderland are also relatively injury-free at present but are sweating over the fitness of Phil Bardsley after the right-back withdrew from Scotland's squad to face Slovenia in midweek.

The derby could see a return for David Vaughan to the midfield however, though the former Crewe man is more likely to start on the bench after having spent just over a month out with an ankle knock.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Newcastle have lost only one of the last 14 Tyne-Wear derbies.

• However, the Magpies haven't been able to secure consecutive wins over Sunderland in the same season since the 2005-06 campaign.

• If Pardew's men were to grab victory in Sunday's clash, it would be the club's 10th derby double over their neighbours. Sunderland have achieved the feat six times.

• To date, the Tyneside outfit have 53 wins in the fixture, while the Black Cats only have 44. There have been 47 draws between the two teams.

• The first competitive Tyne-Wear derby took place in the FA Cup in 1888, with Sunderland emerging as 2-0 victors.

• The Stadium of Light outfit have lost just three games in the Premier League since Martin O'Neill replaced Steve Bruce as manager, picking up 22 points from a possible 36.

• The Mackems have failed to keep a clean sheet against their rivals in 23 games.

• Newcastle legend Jimmy Lawrence has made more Tyne-Wear derby appearances than any other player (27), but it is former Sunderland man George Holley who has scored the most amount of goals in the clash (22).

• Both teams have players within their squads who have crossed the Tyne-Wear divide, with Newcastle man Danny Simpson having played on loan at Sunderland in 2007, and Black Cats defender Titus Bramble having spent five years as a Magpie.

• Sunderland haven't won in Newcastle since their 2-1 victory on November 18, 2000.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction 

Newcastle 3-1 Sunderland  

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04.03. (Sun) 12:30 Parma - Napoli

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

PARMA Mirante Zaccardo, Ferrario, Paletta B'biany, M'iga, Musacci, Galloppa, Modesto Giovinco, Okaka

NAPOLI De Sanctis Grava, Cannavaro, Britos Maggio, Gargano, Dzemaili, Dossena Hamsik, Lavezzi Cavani

Parma are set to make three changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Catania last Sunday, all enforced on coach Roberto Donadoni, who also prepares to face his former employers.

Alessandro Lucarelli's red card and Sergio Floccari's injury during the trip to Sicily pave the way for Gabriel Paletta and Stefano Okaka to come into the fold, while Massimo Gobbi is a doubt. Nonetheless, Francesco Modesto will be ready to step into the former Fiorentina man's shoes on the left flank.

Meanwhile, for high-flyers Napoli, four alterations look likely to take effect from their impressive 1-0 win over Inter.

The sacrificial lambs are expected to be Hugo Campagnaro, Gokhan Inler and Juan Zuniga, along with the suspended Salvatore Aronica, as Miguel Britos, Andrea Dossena and Marek Hamsik are to start against the Gialloblu at their expense. Blerim Dzemaili will also be rewarded for his virtuoso display against the Nerazzurri with a place in central midfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Parma have drawn four of their last six Serie A games, winning just once.

• The Ducali are are unbeaten in their last seven games at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

• Sergio Floccari has scored five goals against Napoli - his favourite Serie A opponent - making his absence a real blow for the hosts.

• Parma have scored in each of their last 12 trips to the San Paolo in the top flight.

• However, Napoli are unbeaten in their last three visits to Parma, picking up two wins in the process.

• The Partenopei have won their last four fixtures, keeping three clean sheets while doing so.

• Napoli have Serie A's second-best defence away from home, conceding just 11 goals.

• They have lost just one of their last seven games.

Prediction

The absences of Lucarelli in defence and Floccari in attack may prove costly for the hosts, as they will be without their leader at the back and second-top scorer for the visit of a currently in-form Napoli. Coach Walter Mazzarri also seems to have finally found the nucleus of his best team, so a comfortable win for the southern Italians should come to pass.

Editor's Prediction

Parma 0-2 Napoli

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