29.03. Najave Meceva

Europa League, četvrtfinale, prvi mečevi

AZ - Valencia
Biće mnogo teže Valensiji protiv AZ-a nego što im je bilo protiv PSV Ajndhovena u prethodnoj rundi.
AZ je bolje organizovan, nemaju zvezde u timu, ali su kolektivno jači od PSV-a. AZ je delovao umorno za vikend kada su pobedili sa 1-0 jer su prošle nedelje odigrali 120 minuta u kupu.
AZ je odigrao puno mečeva ove sezone no isto se može reći i za Valensiju.
Odbrambeni igrač Virgever je suspendovan u ekipi domaćina ali se njegov kolega iz odbrane, S. Poulsen, vraća u postavu.
Valensija je imala užasnih deset dana za sobom. Prvo su izgubili od Saragose (koja je igrala sa deset pa sa devet igrača) a onda su izgubili sa 1-3 od Hetafea.
Po pitanju sastava oni deluju dosta dobro pred ovaj meč. Rami je suspendovan dok je Banega još uvek povređen kao i Kanales i Brito. Odjednom Valensija deluje kao ekipa koja nema samopouzdanja a gledajući kvote moram da kažem da će moj izbor na ovom meču biti pobeda domaćina.

Atletico Madrid - Hannover 96
Nemam nikakav problem da prihvatim to da je Atletiko Madrid favorit ali je kvota 1.53 smešna. Kako je Hanover odjednom postao slaba ekipa? Dobro, iako su bez poraza na svom terenu oni se ipak ove sezone dosta muče na gostovanjima u okviru Bundes lige.
I Atletiko Madrid je izgubio od poslednjeplasirane Saragose ovog vikenda. Penal koji je dosuđen u poslednjem minutu je rešio meč u korist domaćina. Dijego se vratio u postavu na tom meču a za ovaj meč će i Tiago Mendes biti spreman. Samo su Silvio i A. Lopez još uvek povređeni.
Hađi, Štindl i Egiman, čiji je nastup neizvestan za Hanover, su ipak otputovali u Španiju.
Smatram da su kladionice dovele do toga da se ne možete kladiti na pobedu domaćina.

Schalke 04 - Athletic Bilbao
Šalke je u sjajnoj formi a Huntelar nastavlja svoju golgetersku seriju. On je posle povrede nastavio da postiže golove a za vikend je postigao oba gola za Šalke protiv Bajer Leverkuzena.
Izgleda da su mečevi protiv M. Junajteda iscrpli ekipu Atletik Bilbaoa jer se oni dosta muče posle tih sjajnih pobeda nad Junajtedom. Oni za vikend nisu uspeli da pobede ni Sporting iz Hihona. Ljorente se vratio u postavu ali su njegove kolege iz napada, Muniain i Susaeta, odigrali veoma loše. Može se reći da se očekivalo da će Baskijci popustiti jer su igrali po dva meča svake nedelje. Oni su se plasirali i u finale Španskog kupa.
Oni su otputovali u skoro najjačem sastavu.
Kvota na pobedu domaćina je dosta dobra i trebalo bi je iskoristiti ali ja imam isuviše poštovanja za Atletik.

Sporting Lisbon - Metalist Kharkiv
Izgleda da treba i dalje da se držim Metalista. Nekoliko puta tokom ove sezone sam rekao da bi oni mogli da doguraju do samog kraja ovog takmičenja tako da nema smisla da odustanem od njih u četvrtfinalu. Nisam bio zadovoljan njihovom igrom u domaćem prvenstvu za vikend. Oni su izgubli sa 2-4 na gostovanju Arsenalu iz Kijeva. “Umorni, dekoncentrisani, sa mislima u Lisabonu” - to su reči njihovog trenera.
U prethodnoj rundi su oni gubili sa 0-1 na gostovanju Olimpijakosu i posle dve trećine meča niko nije očekivao da će Metalist uspeti nešto da promeni. A onda su se krajem meča oni razbudili, promašili su penal, ali su ipak uspeli da postignu dva gola pred kraj meča.
To vam je Metalist. Svašta može da se desi kada oni zaigraju ofanzivno.
Oni su ove sezone i dalje bez poraza na gostovanjima u Evropi.
Kristaldo nije igrao protiv Olimpijakosa, Edmar je bio suspendovan, no obojica će biti na raspolaganju sutra.
Sporting je bez poraza na poslednjih deset mečeva na domaćem terenu u Evropi no postoji mogućnost da taj niz u Lisabonu bude prekinut. Igrač sredine terena M. Fernandez se vraća u sastav Sportinga pošto se oporavio od gripa.
Kao što sam već rekao ostaću veran ovoj ekipi iz Ukrajine.

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29.03. (Thu) 21:05 Schalke 04 - Athletic Bilbao

Marcelo Bielsa - Athletic Bilbao

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SCHALKE Hildebrand Uchida, Matip, Papadopoulos, Fuchs Jones, Holtby Farfan, Raul, Draxler Huntelaar

ATHLETIC BILBAO Iraizoz Iraola, Amorebieta, Martinez, Aurtenetxe Herrera, Iturraspe, De Marcos Susaeta, Llorente, Muniain

Having put together a good run of form, Huub Stevens is expected to stick with the same starting line-up from the weekend's 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen when his team faces Athletic Bilbao.

Lars Unnerstall and Ralf Fahrmann both remain sidelined, leaving Timo Hildebrand to continue in goal, while Benedikt Howedes and Christoph Metzelder both have hamstring injuries. Meanwhile Teemu Pukki is unavailable, having already represented HJK Helsinki in the qualifying rounds.

Athletic Bilbao will also be able to name an unchanged side from Sunday's 1-1 draw with Sporting Gijon. Fernando Llorente made his comeback from a hip problem in the clash with Javier Clemente's side, and is free to start at the Veltins Arena.

Ander Herrera and Ander Iturraspe have both been struggling with injuries of late, but came through the match on Sunday unscathed, and have both been named in Marcelo Bielsa's squad.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Schalke boast an unbeaten record at home in the Europa League this season, but have kept a clean sheet just once - during a 0-0 draw with AEK Larnaca.

• The Royal Blues faced Spanish opposition at this stage of the competition in 1996-97, when they beat Valencia en route to winning the trophy.

• Julian Draxler (pictured, right) is the only player to have featured in all 10 of his side's Europa League games since the start of the group stage.

• Athletic Bilbao are competing in the quarter-finals of this tournament for the first time since 1976-77, when they went on to lose to Juventus in the final.

• All three of the Basque club's previous trips to Germany have ended in defeat.

• Fernando Amorebieta will be hoping to mark his 27th birthday with victory over Huub Stevens' men.

Prediction

Schalke will approach this game full of confidence, having responded to a poor run of form in an impressive manner, recording four straight victories. Meanwhile, since their heroic exploits against Manchester United in the last round, Athletic Bilbao have stuttered, and have failed to win any of their last three games. Marcelo Bielsa's men are capable of raising their game, though, but I'd expect Schalke's superior confidence levels to see them through.

Editor's Prediction

Schalke 2-1 Bilbao

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29.03. (Thu) 21:05 AZ Alkmaar - Valencia

PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AZ Alvarado Marcellis, Moisander, Klavan, Poulsen Elm, Martens, MaherGudmundsson, Altidore, Holman

VALENCIA Guaita Barragan, Ruiz, Dealbert, Mathieu Albelda, T CostaFeghouli, Jonas, Alba Soldado

Striker Roy Beerens (ribs) is the only injury doubt for AZ as they prepare for Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Valencia at the AFAS Stadion. Coach Gertjan Verbeek will be forced into making a change in defence, though, as Nick Viergever is suspended, following his dismissal against Udinese in the previous round.

Jozy Altidore, who came off the bench to set up Johann Gudmundsson's winner against RKC Waalwijk at the weekend, could be restored to the starting line-up at the expense of Charlison Benschop.

For Valencia Adil Rami is suspended after being sent off in the previous round against PSV, but striker Roberto Soldado returns after a one-match ban. Miguel, Ever Banega and Sergio Canales are all out injured for the Spanish side, who should recall David Albelda and Tino Costa to the starting XI after the duo were rested on the bench for Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Getafe.

DID YOU KNOW?

• AZ are unbeaten in seven European home games this season, winning five times and drawing twice.

• The Eredivisie leaders have never lost to Spanish opponents at home. Their overall record in seven outings is three wins, three draws and one defeat.

• Jozy Altidore (pictured right) played for Spanish club Villarreal for three years between 2008 and 2011 and in November 2008 became the first American to score in La Liga.

• Valencia have won just three of their 13 La Liga matches played in 2012.

• Los Che are unbeaten against Dutch opposition in 10 outings, recording four wins and six draws.

• Roberto Soldado has netted four times in his last three games for Valencia.

Prediction

After embarrassing losses to Real Zaragoza and Getafe over the past week, the writing seems to be on the wall for Emery, unless he can mastermind European success to appease the demanding Los Che faithful. Rami's absence is a big blow for the Mestalla side, though, and the hosts will fancy their chances of taking a lead to Spain for the second leg.

Editor's Prediction

AZ 2-1 Valencia

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29.03. (Thu) 21:05 Atletico Madrid - Hannover 96

Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATLETICO MADRID Courtois Perea, Dominguez, Godin, Filipe Assuncao, Tiago Adrian, Diego, Arda Falcao

HANNOVER Zieler Cherundolo, Eggimann, Pogatetz, Pander Stindl, Pinto, Rausch Schlaudraff Diouf, Abdellaoue

Diego Simeone will be buoyed by the return of both Diego and Tiago this week, with the Brazilian even managing to get some minutes under his belt against Zaragoza at the weekend.

Atletico Madrid prepared for the match with a training session on Tuesday, with all but two first-team players taking part. Silvio and club captain Antonio Lopez are currently recovering from injuries, and are working towards rehabilitation.

Hannover are coming off a spirited display against Bayern Munich at the weekend, in which they were only narrowly beaten 2-1 by the Bavarians. Mirko Slomka has a near full squad at his disposal for the trip to the Spanish capital, with only long-term absentee Leon Andreasen unavailable.

Both side's will be hoping to take an advantage going into the second leg, which takes place on April 5 at the AWD Arena.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Atletico Madrid won the inaugural Europa League competition in 2010, defeating Fulham 2-1 thanks to a Diego Forlan brace.

• Los Colchoneros' next European goal will be their 400th overall in Uefa club competitions.

• Diego Simeone's men are on a run of seven straight continental home victories.

• Hannover have never got beyond the quarter-finals of any European competition in their history.

• Mirko Slomka guided Schalke to the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup in the 2005/06 campaign.

• Hannover have lost just one out of five Europa League away games this season, against Standard Liege in a 2-0 defeat.

Prediction

Atletico Madrid have won seven continental home matches in a row and they should have no problem in dispatching the least experienced team left in the competition. Mirko Slomka's men will certainly play with a lot of freedom as they go into the match as huge underdogs, but the firepower in attack of the home side will prove too much for the Germans.

Editor's Prediction

Atl. Madrid 3-1 Hannover 96

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