25.03. (Sun) 20:45 Juventus - Inter

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

JUVENTUS Buffon Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini, De Ceglie Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio Pepe, Matri, Vucinic

INTER Cesar Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo Zanetti, Poli, Stankovic, Obi Milito, Forlan

Coming off two extremely positive results, a 5-0 victory over Fiorentina and an extra-time 2-2 draw with AC Milan that sent them through to the final of the Coppa Italia, Juventus coach Conte will be hoping to make it a treble of successes by heaping more misery on struggling Derby d'Italia rivals Inter.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will be back between the posts after sitting out the Coppa Italia midweek clash while in defence, Martin Caceres will step in at right-back for the suspended Stephan Lichtsteiner. Despite the fact that centre-back Andrea Barzagli has recovered from a calf injury, the former Palermo man is likely to start on the bench.

Italy international Andrea Pirlo will take on his former side and the in-form Mirko Vucinic will play wide on the left with Simone Pepe on the opposite flank in support of top-scorer Alessandro Matri, who last found the back of the net in the 1-1 draw on with AC Milan on February 25.

Meanwhile, a result against Inter's bitter rivals and his ex-employers may boost the morale of boss Claudio Ranieri and the Nerazzurri camp, but the former Chelsea trainer is likely to be without star midfielder Wesley Sneijder due to a groin problem, while Argentine Ricky Alvarez remains sidelined as well.

Youngster Andrea Poli, who has impressed in recent outings, looks likely to pip Esteban Cambiasso to a spot in the centre of the pitch alongside veteran Dejan Stankovic. Midfielder Fredy Guarin is set for his first call-up to the match squad since his winter move on loan from Porto and may feature as a substitute.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Juventus have not lost to Inter in their past three competitive matches, last suffering a 2-0 defeat in April 2010.

• The hosts remain the lone unbeaten team in Serie A and have only conceded nine goals at home this season.

• Juventus had drawn four Serie A matches in a row before defeating Fiorentina 5-0 last weekend.

• Inter have not won in Turin against the Old Lady since January 2008, beating them 3-2 in the Coppa Italia with two goals from Mario Balotelli.

• Milito has not scored against the Bianconeri in a competitive fixture since joining Inter in 2009.

• Ranieri coached Juventus for nearly two years from June 2007 to May 2009, before he was sacked.

Prediction

Although form often does not dictate what happens in heated rivalries like these, logic suggests second-placed Juventus will go in as clear favourites over seventh-placed Inter. Juve have just come out of a scoring slump with seven goals in their past two games, but Inter continue to be plagued by inconsistency during a very disappointing season. Three points for the hosts seems to be on the cards, even if the Nerazzurri will give it everything they have to try and salvage their campaign around with a positive result against their rivals.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2-1 Inter

Read More

25.03. (Sun) 20:00 Paris Saint Germain - Girondins Bordeaux

Panoramic

PROBABLE LINEUPS

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

GIRONDINS DE BORDEAUX Carrasso Henrique, Planus, Ciani Mariano, N'Guemo, Tremoulinas Plasil, Diabate, Obraniak Maurice-Belay

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti will welcome back Mohamed Sissoko and Nene for Ligue 1 duty, although the latter featured in Wednesday's 3-1 Coupe de France quarter-final against Olympique Lyonnais - Ancelotti's first defeat as manager.
With only the league to play for this season for les Parisiens, the onus is on the side to produce a strong run until the end of the season, starting with Sunday's game against les Girondins.
There are no major injury concerns, with Maxwell expected to replace Siaka Tiene on the left flank. Kevin Gameiro started ahead of Guillaume Hoarau in attack in the cup in midweek, though after another ineffective performance, was hauled off in favour of the No. 9, who is in line to continue his run in the first-team.
Bordeaux manager Francis Gillot has been dealt a blow with the news that Yoan Gouffran is out with a sprained ankle, and will miss two weeks of competitive action. Lamine Sane is also sidelined for les Girondins who are pushing to secure a spot in the Europa League as Ligue 1 enters its final stage.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Paris Saint-Germain are unbeaten in their last 13 Ligue 1 games, currently the best run of all the 20 teams in the division.

• Despite these statistics, les Parisiens have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last six games.

• Carlo Ancelotti's men sit just two points ahead of Montpellier in the race for the title.

• Bordeaux have only lost two of their last seven games away to PSG in all competitions.

• Les Girondins have scored at least once in their last seven matches against PSG.

• Francis Gillot's men earned a 1-1 draw against the league leaders in the corresponding fixture earlier this season in November.

Prediction

Whilst Bordeaux are expected to offer some resistance, a wounded PSG are expected to lay down the law and comfortably dispatch Francis Gillot's men. 2-0 to the hosts.

Editor's Prediction

PSG 2-0 Bordeaux

Read More

25.03. (Sun) 17:30 FC Köln vs Borussia Dortmund

Bongarts



PROBABLE LINEUPS

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

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

Stale Solbbaken will not be able to rely on Christopher Buchtmann, Adil Chihi and Mark Uth, who are all sidelined with injuries. Mato Jajalo is also set to miss the game against the reigning German champions as he is serving a suspension, while Lukas Podolski, who has been linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer, is set to spearhead the attack.

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp will have a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal for the match against Koln, with only Julian Koch and Mario Gotze sidelined with knocks. The 19-year-old Germany international recently returned to training after a serious injury in January, but the BVB supporters will have to wait a bit more for his return to action.

DID YOU KNOW

• Koln have won just once against Dortmund in 15 attempts since the turn of the millennium.

• The Billy Goats have the least number of shots on target from all 18 Bundesliga sides this season.

• Moreover, Koln have accumulated more bookings than any other team in the German top flight - 54 yellow cards and five red cards.

• Dortmund are on a 10-away-game unbeaten streak, and could break the club record set under Ottmar Hitzfeld in season 1995/1996 with a positive result on Sunday.

• Since Jurgen Klopp took over the team, BVB have won all of their games against Koln.
• Marcel Schmelzer scored his first ever Bundesliga goal against the Billy Goats in a 5-0 demolition of Solbbaken's team in the first part of the season.

Prediction

Borussia Dortmund are on fire now, and are likely to a bridge too far for the struggling Billy Goats. Barring a Podolski miracle, Jurgen Klopp's side will easily stroll past Stale Solbbaken's team.

Editor's Prediction

FC Koln 0-2 Dortmund

Read More

25.03. (Sun) 15:30 Ajax - PSV Eindhoven

PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AJAX Vermeer Van Rhijn, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Koppers Enoh, Eriksen, AnitaOzbiliz, De Jong, Aissati

PSV Tyton Hutchison, Marcelo, Bouma, Pieters Wijnaldum, Toivonen, StrootmanLens, Matavz, Mertens

Ajax head coach Frank de Boer will be without several first team regulars due to injury as Nicolai Boilesen, Gregory van der Wiel, Miralem Sulejmani, Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Derk Boerrigter are all unavailable.Additionally, midfielder Theo Janssen won't feature on Sunday either due to a one-match ban.

PSV trainer Phillip Cocu doesn't have too many injury worries ahead of Sunday's encounter as defender Abel Tamata is the only player with physical problems.Back-up shot stopper Andreas Isaksson is expected to return to the match squad after a brief injury lay-off, while Stanislav Manolev is back from suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Ajax are on a six-game unbeaten run in the Eredivisie.

• The Amsterdam side have lost only one home match in the league in 2011-12.

• Jan Vertonghen has already netted seven Eredivisie goals this term, more than any other defender in the Dutch top tier.

• PSV have not won a single Eredivisie game away from home in 2012.

• The Eindhoven giants have not kept a clean sheet once in their last 18 official games.

• Dries Mertens (pictured right) is the Eredivisie's most valuable player at the moment with 18 goals and 11 assists.

Prediction

The home side have won their last five Eredivisie games, whereas PSV managed to win only two out of their last five league encounters. Therefore, Ajax start the match at the Amsterdam ArenA as clear favourites. The Eindhoven giants won't be pushovers though as they can not afford to lose in order to keep their title ambitions alive. Nevertheless, their poor defence could cost them on Sunday as they are unlikely to shut out the Ajax attack.

Editor's Prediction

Ajax 2-1 PSV

Read More

25.03. (Sun) 15:00 Lazio - Cagliari

Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

LAZIO Marchetti Konko, Diakite, Biava, Radu Gonzalez, Ledesma, Mauri Hernanes Kozak, Rocchi

CAGLIARI Agazzi Pisano, Ariaudo, Astori, Agostini Ekdal, Conti, Nainggolan Cossu Thiago Ribeiro, Pinilla

Edy Reja must contend with a lengthy list of absentees that include Javier Garrido, Senad Lulic and striker Miroslav Klose on the treatment table, while Andre Dias and Matuzalem are suspended from featuring against Cagliari.

Nevertheless, Lazio look set to call upon Mobido Diakite, Abdoulay Konko, Alvaro Gonzalez and Libor Kozak as replacements from the 1-0 defeat to Catania last weekend.

Meanwhile for Cagliari, they too have a number of players missing from contention. Moestafa El Kabir, Daniele Dessena, Rui Sampaio and Sebastian Eriksson all sit out of the league clash with the capital outfit, as Michele Canini is also banned.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Lazio ended a run of seven consecutive games without a defeat at home in Serie A after losing to Bologna.

• They have kept a clean sheet in four of their last six home matches.

• Lazio have conceded the most goals in the opening 15 minutes of play and the fewest in the last 15.

• Last Sunday's win over Cesena ended a run of three straight defeats for Cagliari in Serie A.

• These two sides have not shared the points in their last 10 league encounters, the last occasion being a 0-0 draw in 2006-07.

• The Sardinians have won 16 of their 53 previous meetings, compared to Lazio's superior 23.

Prediction
Editor's Prediction 

Lazio 2-1 Cagliari   

Read More

25.03. (Sun) 15:00 Napoli - Catania

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

NAPOLI De Sanctis Fernandez, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Dzemaili, Inler, Dossena Hamsik Lavezzi, Cavani

CATANIA Carrizo Bellusci, Legrottaglie, Spolli, Marchese Izco, Lodi, Almiron,  Gomez, Bergessio, Barrientos

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri is set to give Hugo Campagnaro a breather at the weekend, with Federico Fernandez his likely replacement. Gianluca Grava is available for selection after recovering from a hamstring injury, but will almost certainly start proceedings from the bench.

Christian Maggio returned from the thigh injury he sustained against Chelsea on March 14 to play a part in the Partenopei's midweek win over Siena in the Coppa Italia and should receive the nod once again on Sunday.

Catania boss Vincenzo Montella must have breathed a sigh of relief when Sergio Almiron trained with the squad on Friday. Barring an unexpected setback, the Argentine will start in midfield at the San Paolo.

Giuseppe Bellusci should replace the injured Marco Motta at right-back for the visitors as they look to spring a surprise over Napoli.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Napoli are currently riding an eight-game unbeaten streak in Serie A, keeping five clean sheets during that span.

• Mazzarri's men have scored 14 goals in their last five league encounters.

• The Partenopei advanced to the final of the Coppa Italia by beating Siena 3-2 on aggregate. 

• Catania have not conceded a goal in their last three matches.

• Montella's side are undefeated in their last six contests (W4 D2).

• The Sicilians have won seven games by a one-goal margin so far this season.

Prediction

Both teams are on a roll right now in domestic play but Napoli have lost only once at home since the winter break and have too many weapons for Catania to handle.    

Editor's Prediction

Napoli 2-1 Catania

Read More