Monday, March 19, 2012

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20.03. (Tue) 21:00 Barcelona - Granada

Xavi Hernandez - Barcelona
Xavi Hernandez - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA

Valdes
Alves, Pique, Puyol, Adriano
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Fabregas, Messi, Alexis
GRANADA

Cesar
Nyom, Lopez, B Gomez, Siqueira
M Rico, Hurtado
A Gomez, Jara, Benitez
Uche

Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay has trained with his team-mates for the first time since rupturing knee ligaments in September, and may feature in Tuesday's Primera Division encounter against Granada at Camp Nou. Eric Abidal, despite his continuing health problems and the possibility that he will require a liver transplant, continues to train with his colleagues, but will not be considered for match action.

Alexis Sanchez and Carles Puyol were late substitutes in Saturday's win at Sevilla and could make returns to the starting line-up.

Granada will be without Carlos Martins after the midfielder was dismissed in the win over Sporting Gijon at the weekend, but Brazilian Henrique is available again after serving a one-match ban.

Roberto, Jaime Romero and Fran Rico are all doubts, while Pape Diakhate (hamstring) and Hassan Yebda (ruptured knee ligaments) are definitely out.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Barcelona are on a five-game winning streak in La Liga, outscoring their opponents 14-3 in those matches.
  • The Catalans are unbeaten in their last 31 home matches in La Liga and in their last 50 at Camp Nou in all competitions.
  • Barca are undefeated in their last 50 Liga matches in which Andres Iniesta (pictured right) has made an appearance.
  • Granada ended a run of three straight defeats with a 2-1 victory over Sporting Gijon at the weekend.
  • The Andalusians have lost six of their last seven away matches in the league.
  • Granada have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 16 matches in all competitions.
Prediction
Guardiola may have effectively surrendered the league title at the weekend, but he will be demanding his players to win every one of their remaining matches and hope Madrid have a couple of slip ups along the way. Granada secured an important victory over Sporting on Saturday but it will be nothing short of a miracle if they can contain, never mind topple, the Catalans at Camp Nou.
Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Granada

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20.03. (Tue) 20:45 Juventus - Milan

Martin Caceres - Juventus (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

JUVENTUS


Storari
Caceres, Bonucci, ChielliniL'steiner, Padoin, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie
Borriello, Del Piero

AC MILAN

Abbiati
 Bonera, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Antonini
Aquilani, Van Bommel, Nocerino
Emanuelson
Ibrahimovic, El Shaarawy


Juventus have one foot in the Coppa Italia final after a 2-1 win at San Siro in the first leg and should be full of confidence after their convincing 5-0 triumph over Fiorentina in Serie A.

Coach Antonio Conte looks set to go back to a 3-5-2 formation with Giorgio Chiellini recovering from injury to line-up alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Martin Caceres, who scored both goals for the Old Lady in the first leg, while Andrea Barzagli is still nursing a calf injury. Meanwhile Stephan Lichtsteiner, suspended for the club's next Serie A match versus Inter, and Paolo De Ceglie are pushed up into midfield.

Bianconeri talisman Alessandro Del Piero is in contention for a place in the starting XI as striker Marco Borriello, playmaker Andrea Pirlo and goalkeeper Marco Storari are almost certain to face their former team from the starting whistle.

Needing to overturn the aggregate deficit, Rossoneri boss Massimiliano Allegri welcomes back centre-back Philippe Mexes while veterans Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso could also make appearances at some point. However, although defender Alessandro Nesta and attacking midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng are back in training, neither is likely to participate on Tuesday.

Italy international Alberto Aquilani, who has made three substitute appearances in a row for the club, should be handed a first XI berth against his former team-mates while Robinho, Stephan El Shaarawy and Maxi Lopez are all vying for a spot in attack alongside star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

DID YOU KNOW?
  • Juventus' 5-0 win over Fiorentina on the weekend ended a run of four consecutive draws in the league.
  • The Bianconeri are tied with Roma for the most Coppa Italia trophies (nine), but have not won the competition since 1995.
  • Del Piero's only goal this season has come in the Coppa Italia, during the quarter-final win over Roma
  • AC Milan were the last side in this fixture to score three goals in a single match, when they won 3-0 back in May 2010.
  • Aquilani, now on loan at Milan from Liverpool, played on loan at Juventus last season, making 34 appearances for the Turin club.
  • In three competitive meetings this season, Allegri's side have failed to defeat Juventus, drawing one and losing two so far.
Prediction
AC Milan will feel aggrieved as their last clash in Serie A with Juventus had plenty of controversy regarding Sulley Muntari's 'ghost goal' after his effort appeared to have crossed the line before Gianluigi Buffon's save. However, with the Bianconeri holding a significant away victory already, the Scudetto holders will have to come out and attack and that could play into the hosts' hands.
Editor's Prediction
Juventus 2-2 Milan

Premier League Opta Facts - 20th & 21st March


Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland

Sunderland have drawn 99 games in the Premier League era.

The Black Cats have won four and lost none of the last seven meetings with Rovers in the Premier League.

Blackburn have not kept any clean sheets in their last 15 Premier League games at Ewood Park.

Blackburn haven't won back to back league games since November 2010.

Sunderland have kept one clean sheet in their last nine Premier League away games.

Blackburn have conceded more headed goals than any other team in the Premier League (12).

Sunderland have conceded a league-high proportion of headed goals (32%) in the top flight.

The Black Cats have shipped a league high proportion of 19% of their total goals conceded in the opening 15 minutes of matches.

Blackburn have scored nine goals from free kicks this season, more than any other side in the Premier League.

Sunderland have scored more goals from direct free kick shots at goal than any other team (4).


Manchester City v Chelsea

Frank Lampard has scored six goals in his last 10 Premier League games against Man City.

Carlos Tevez has scored in each of his last five Premier League appearances against Chelsea, netting six in total across those games.

Man City have failed to score in 13 of their last 19 Premier League games against Chelsea, but have scored in four of the last five.

There have been four penalties awarded in the last five meetings between City and Chelsea.

Manchester City have won their last 19 Premier League home games and could set the record for the competition's longest ever run of home victories if they win this match.

Chelsea have only won one of their last seven Premier League away games (W1 D4 L2).

80% of the goals conceded by Man City have been netted in the second half this season, more than any other team.

Roberto Mancini's side have only lost one league game after going ahead this season and that was against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Mario Balotelli has the best minutes per goal scored rate in the top flight this season, netting every 90.3 minutes on average.

Juan Mata is the most prolific creator in the top flight setting up a chance for team-mates every 23.7 minutes on average.


Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City

Tottenham have drawn 99 games at White Hart Lane in the Premier League era.

Matthew Etherington has scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances against Spurs.

Spurs have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their seven Premier League meetings with Stoke City.

Stoke have already earned more points away from home (14) this season than they managed in the whole of 2010-11 (12).

Despite losing their last three Premier League games, Spurs still have more points (after 28 games) than in any previous Premier League season.

Spurs haven't lost four Premier League games in a row since November 2004 and haven't lost back to back home games since September 2008.

Stoke have scored a league high 37% of their goals from headers.

Tottenham have netted a league-low proportion of 4% of their goals from headers.

The Potters have conceded a league-high 54% of their goals in the first half of games this season.

Stoke have scored the highest proportion of set piece goals in the Premier League (59%).



Everton v Arsenal

Everton didn't manage a single shot on target when they lost at the Emirates Stadium back in December.

Four of Arsenal's six Premier League away victories this season have seen the Gunners come from behind to win.

Arsenal have recovered more points from losing positions than any other team in the Premier League this season (19).

The Gunners are the first team in the Premier League era to win four consecutive games from losing positions.

Arsenal have scored more goals (80) against Everton than any team against any single opponent in Premier League history.

Everton have conceded in the 70th minute of four of their last seven games against the Gunners, including each of the last two.

Everton have won none and lost seven of their last nine Premier League games against Arsenal.

Lee Mason will officiate this fixture and awarded a controversial offside goal to Everton's Louis Saha when these two sides met at the Emirates last season.

Tim Cahill has scored for Everton in three of the last four games against Arsenal at Goodison Park.

Robin van Persie has scored 44 goals in his last 45 Premier League appearances.


Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool

Liverpool have drawn 99 games away from home in the Premier League era.

The Reds have netted 496 goals on the road in Premier League history.

QPR have won one of the last 11 league games against Liverpool (W1 D2 L8).

No team with fewer than 12 points after 14 Premier League home games has ever survived in the Premier League (QPR have 11).

QPR have dropped more points (15) from winning positions than any other team and 13 of those have been thrown away on home soil; also a division-high.

55% of the goals QPR have scored have come in the first half, a Premier League high.

Adel Taarabt has fired in the most shots this season without scoring in the Premier League (63) closely followed by team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips (58) and then Stewart Downing of Liverpool (52).

Liverpool have won just two of their nine Premier League games in 2012.

QPR have won just one of their last 16 Premier League matches, a run which includes a 0-1 defeat to Liverpool.

QPR have picked up the joint-most red cards (5) along with Bolton.

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20.03. (Tue) 20:30 Greuther Furth - Borussia D.

Borussia Dortmund: Shinji Kagawa, Jakub Blaszczykowski & Lukas Piszczek
Bongarts


PROBABLE LINEUPS

GREUTHER FURTH


Grun
Nehrig, Kleine, Mavraj, Schmidtgal
Furstner, Prib
Klaus, Sararer
Occean, Nothe


BORUSSIA DORTMUND



Langerak
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Gundogan, Kehl
Kuba, Kagawa, Perisic
Lewandowski



Greuther Furth coach Michael Buskens turns 44 today and will be hoping for a belated birthday present as his side look to get past the Bundesliga leaders and into the DFB-Pokal final.

The hosts will likely stick with a similar team that saw them ease past 1860 Munich at the weekend with in-form Canadian striker Olivier Occean starting in attack. He could be joined by former Germany international forward Gerald Asamoah, who only made the bench at the weekend.

Borussia Dortmund will likely re-instate Australian goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak for this week's cup tie. With Sven Bender injured, Ilkay Gundogan may continue in midfield while the defence could remain unchanged.

Ivan Perisic may get a run out in order to rest one of the attacking midfield three but Lucas Barrios will likely have to settle for the bench once more. Mario Gotze's return from injury nears but it is unlikely he will see any action this week.

DID YOU KNOW
  • Greuther Furth have won six of their last seven games in all competitions. A league draw with Ingolstadt blemishes a near-perfect record.
  • Olivier Occean is enjoying a great scoring patch for the Cloverleaves. He has bagged six goals in his last seven outings.
  • The hosts have already eliminated two Bundesliga outfits on their way to the semi-final. Nurnberg and Hoffenheim both fell at their hand in the previous two rounds.
  • Borussia Dortmund come into the game on the back of setting a new unbeaten record for the club. It is now 20 league games since BVB last tasted defeat in the Bundesliga.
  • Jurgen Klopp's men were taken all the way to penalties by second-tier outfit Fortuna Dusseldorf in the third round. They scraped through, winning the shootout 5-4.
  • Dortmund last lifted the trophy 23 years ago in the 1988/89 season. The closest they have come since was in 2007/08 when they ended as runners-up to Bayern Munich.
Prediction
The leaders of the 2. Bundesliga have shown they are no pushovers with wins against Nurnberg and Hoffenheim in the previous two rounds but the reigning Bundesliga champions could prove a bridge too far for the hosts. They will be high on confidence but as long as BVB do not get complacent, they should find themselves earning a spot in the final. The attacking quartet for Dortmund may well prove too much for the hosts and they should be able to win by a couple of clear goals at least.
Editor's Prediction
Greuther Furth 1-3 Dortmund

La Liga Opta Facts - Week 29 (20-22 March)


Osasuna - Getafe

The last two league meetings between Osasuna and Getafe in Iruña have ended goalless.

The rojillos have only managed to score in two of their seven matches at home to Getafe in the top flight.

The side from Navarre are without a league win over Getafe since December 2008 (D3 L3 since then).

Osasuna have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight league games at home, though they have won their last three.

The azulones have conceded in all but one of their 14 away games this season in LigaBBVA (except at Real Sociedad).

Luis García's men have won their last two league games: they haven't won three in a row all season.

Just two of Getafe's last 16 league goals against Osasuna have been scored by foreign players (Uche in May 2009 and Cata Díaz in October 2009).

Osasuna have won every LigaBBVA match in which they have opened the scoring at home this season (seven).

Osasuna have scored the fewest goals thanks to substitutes in the league this season (one).

The azulones have scored in their last five league games: they have not scored in six in a row since January 2011.

Mendílibar's men have scored the highest proportion of their goals in the first half in LigaBBVA this season (66%).


Barcelona - Granada

Barcelona have won all 17 matches at home to Granada in the top-flight.

Barcelona have played more games at home to Granada without ever dropping a point than any side against any other in Primera.

After Granada (17 games) Córdoba have played the most top-flight games at Barcelona without ever winning (eight matches).

Overall, the nazaríes have only won four LigaBBVA matches against Barça, the last one coming in 1971/72 (D4 L27).

Barcelona have won all but one of their league games at home this season (0-0 vs Sevilla), and are unbeaten in 31 at the Nou Camp (W28 D3).

Guardiola's men are on their best run of league wins since February 2011 (five).

Granada are, along with Betis, the only side not to have drawn away from home in Primera this season.

The Andalucian side have only kept one clean sheet in their 13 top-flight away games this season (vs Athletic in November 2011).

By scoring against Sevilla (his 150th in La Liga), Messi equalled his goal tally from last season in the league (31).

Barcelona have conceded the joint-fewest goals from inside the box in the league this season (18), while Granada have scored the fewest in this way (19).


Sporting Gijón - Mallorca

Sporting have won their last three league games against Mallorca.

The Sportinguistas have scored exactly once in all five of their league games under Javier Clemente.

Mallorca are on a run of four away games without a win in the league (D1 L3).

Both of the islanders' away wins in the league this season have been by a 1-0 scoreline.

The rojiblancos are unbeaten in their last four on home turf (W2 D2).

All but one of Sporting's last 13 goals against Mallorca in the top-flight have come in the second half.

Sporting have kept the fewest clean sheets in LigaBBVA this season (three).

Mallorca have scored the lowest proportion of their goals in the last 15 minutes of league games this season (7%, 2/28).

Since Clemente took over at Sporting (five games) they have averaged 4.6 yellow cards per game in the league: previously they averaged 2.4.

Caparrós and Clemente have met five times in the league, with the former winning three compared to just one for his opposite number.


Atlético de Madrid - Athletic de Bilbao

Athletic have won five of their last eight league meetings with Atlético (L3).

Athletic have scored exactly one more goal than the previous match in their last four league meetings with the rojiblancos (0, 1, 2, 3).

None of the last 12 league meetings between Atlético and Athletic have ended in a draw.

The Basque side have won on three of their last four league visits to the Vicente Calderón.

Athletic have kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 league away games (exception was vs Getafe, Jan 2012).

Bielsa's men have won just one of their last seven league games on the road (D3 L3).

Toquero has scored more goals against Atlético than any other side in La Liga (three).

Falcao (17) has already scored more goals than Diego Forlán (16) managed in his debut league season with Atlético.

The Basque side have conceded the most goals to penalties in LigaBBVA this season (six).

Atlético have made the fewest substitutions in the league this season (74).


Valencia - Real Zaragoza

Real Zaragoza are without a win at Mestalla in the league since it changed its name from the Estadio Luis Casanova (last win in Jan 1993), drawing six and losing 10 of 16 visits since.

Valencia have scored in all but one of their 13 league matches at home this season (except 0-1 vs Real Sociedad).

Valencia have conceded twice in each of their last two league games at home (D1 L1).

The maños have picked up just one win in their last 14 league games on the road (2-0 at Espanyol).

Zaragoza have scored in the fewest LigaBBVA matches this season (14).

Real Zaragoza's opponents have picked up fewer yellow cards than any other side's in Liga BBVA this season (57).

Six of Valencia's last eight league goals have come in the first-half.

There has been a red card in four of the last six league meetings between these two sides.

Roberto Soldado is the only Spanish player to score more than one hat-trick in LigaBBVA this season (2).


Real Sociedad - Levante

Erreala have only won one of their seven top-flight meetings with Levante (D2 L4), this coming in March 2007.

The donostiarra have never lost in the top-flight against Levante at home (W1 D2), scoring exactly once in each game.

The txuri-urdin are on a run of four straight league wins at home, their best run since February-April 2005 when they managed five.

A clean sheet in this match would be the first time Real Sociedad have kept four consecutive shut-outs at home in the top-flight since 1998/99.

The Basque side have alternated between a win and a defeat in each of their last 10 league games, losing to Getafe last time out.

Levante have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last eight league games on the road (W1 L7).

13 of the 18 goals scored in top-flight games between Real Sociedad and Levante have come in the second half.

Rubén Suárez has come on as a substitute more often than any other player in LigaBBVA this season (19).


Villarreal - Real Madrid

Real Madrid have won eight of their last nine league meetings with Villarreal (L1), scoring at least three goals in the last four.

The Madrid side have averaged three goals per game in their last four league games at El Madrigal.

The Yellow Submarine have only lost one of their last nine league games at home (W4 D4), losing to Getafe.

Against Málaga José Mourinho's side's run of 11 straight league wins came to an end.

The merengues are unbeaten in 11 on the road in the league (W10 D1) and are seven matches off their record of games without defeat on the road (18).

Real Madrid have won their last 10 league games on the road, their best-ever streak away from home, and two short of Barcelona's all-time record set last season.

Aside from a Xabi Alonso penalty, Real Madrid's last 24 league goals against Villarreal have been bagged by foreigners.

27 points from 27 games is Villarreal's lowest-ever points total at this stage of a season in Primera.

Real Madrid have picked up the most points after conceding first in La Liga this season (21).

Kaká has scored more La Liga goals against Villarreal (5) than any other side.

José Mourinho has a win % of 80% with Real Madrid in Liga BBVA, slightly lower than Manuel Pellegrini's record with the merengues (81.6%).


Racing de Santander - Sevilla FC

Sevilla managed their joint-biggest away win in Primera two seasons ago at El Sardinero: 5-1 in May 2010.

Sevilla have lost on just one of their last eight league visits to Santander (W4 D3).

Racing are without a win in five at home in the league, their poorest run this season (D3 L2).

The hispalenses have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven away games in the league.

The verdinegros have had three players sent off in their last four league games at home to Sevilla.

José Antonio Reyes is yet to score since returning to Sevilla (11 league games).

Manu del Moral's brace in the first meeting this season means that he has scored more goals against Racing in Primera (2) than any other side.

Sevilla, Sporting Gijón and Real Zaragoza have picked up the joint-fewest points in La Liga in 2012 (nine).

Míchel has picked up fewer points per game in the league this season as Sevilla manager (1.17), than Marcelino (1.23).

Clos Gómez has awarded the most penalties in Primera this season (seven) and the most to away side (four).


Real Betis - Espanyol

Betis have only won one of their last 11 top-flight meetings with Espanyol (D6 L4).

The Andalucians have only won one of their last 13 league matches at home to Espanyol.

The last four league meetings between Real Betis and Espanyol at Villamarín have ended in a draw.

The verdolagas are on a run of four league games without a win (D1 L3).

Pepe Mel's side have managed to score in their last eight games at home in the league.

The periquitos have managed just one win in their last eight league games on the road (D4 L3).

The last time Real Betis had three players sent off in a top-flight game was against Espanyol in April 2007.

Real Betis have lost the most matches by a single-goal margin in LigaBBVA this season (10).

The verdiblancos have picked up the most points thanks to goals scored in the last five minutes of league games this season (nine).

Espanyol's last seven league goals on the road have all been bagged by different players.


Málaga - Rayo Vallecano

If Málaga beat Rayo, it would be their best-ever run of straight wins at La Rosaleda in Primera (five).

The franjirrojos have drawn none of their last 15 league games (W7 D8).

Málaga CF have never lost at home to Rayo in Primera (W2 D2), scoring twice in each match.

Just one of Rayo's last 12 league goals has come in the first half.

Michu is the top-scoring midfielder in La Liga this season (13).

Rayo have won all four league matches in which Diego Costa has scored.

Santi Cazorla has scored the most goals from direct free kicks in La Liga this season (four).

Only Cani and Özil have been subbed off as often as Piti in La Liga this season (17 times).

Málaga have received the fewest yellow cards in the league this season (51).

Málaga's last nine league goals have all come in the second half.

Málaga (71%) and Rayo (70%) have scored the highest proportion of their goals in the second half of La Liga games this season.

Pellegrini's men have won every league game in which they have opened the scoring in the league this season (eight).