Monday, April 9, 2012

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10.04. (Tue) 21:00 Blackburn - Liverpool

EPL, Blackburn Rovers Vs Sunderland, Junior Hoilett; Grant Hanley
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS


BLACKBURN ROVERS

Robinson
Orr, Dann, Hanley, Martin Olsson Lowe, N'Zonzi
Pedersen, Hoilett,
Marcus Olsson,
Yakubu
LIVERPOOL

DoniFlanagan, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique
Bellamy, Gerrard, Henderson, Downing
Carroll, Suarez

Blackburn have Anthony Modeste unavailable after his red card in their last  match against West Brom, whilst Vincenzo Grella is still out with a hip injury.

Michel Salgado is another long-term absentee with a rib problem but apart from that manager Steve Kean has a full squad to choose from.

Liverpool have long-term absentees Lucas and Charlie Adam (both knee) unavailable, whilst this fixture looks to have come too soon for Martin Kelly (ankle) and Glen Johnson (ankle).

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina is still suspended after being sent off against Newcastle, so Alexander Doni will continue to deputise, whilst Daniel Agger could start after making a substitute appearance in the previous game against Aston Villa after returning from injury.



DID YOU KNOW?

  • Blackburn have lost their last three matches in the Premier League having previously been on a mini-revival of three unbeaten.
  • Steve Kean's side have conceded 67 goals in the Premier League this season. Only bottom club Wolves have let in more (70).
  • Striker Yakubu (pictured right) has only found the net twice this calendar year, he scored 12 in 2011.
  • Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet since March 13, which was also the last time they won a game (Everton at home).
  • The Reds lost their last fixture at Ewood Park 3-1, when a Benjani double and a Martin Olsson strike downed the Merseysiders and ended Roy Hodgson's tenure at Anfield.
  • Kenny Dalglish's men have four points from their last six matches with a draw against Aston Villa ending a three-match losing streak.
Prediction
Steve Kean's men will be scrapping away until the finish as they fight to avoid relegation from the top flight and a win would take them out of the bottom three. Liverpool are out-of-sorts and could go away empty-handed.
Editor's Prediction
Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Liverpool

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10.04. (Tue) 21:00 Barcelona - Getafe

Fabregas and Messi celebrates a goal - Barcelona-Ac Milan (Getty Images)
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PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA

Valdes
Alves, Mascherano, Puyol, Adriano
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Fabregas, Messi, Cuenca
GETAFE

Moya
Valera, Diaz, Alexis, Torres
Michel, Lacen
Rios, Barrada, Gavilan
Miku

Pep Guardiola is set to make changes as Barcelona prepare for their second game in the space of three days by taking on Getafe at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets could all return to the starting XI after the trio were rested on the bench for Saturday's win at Zaragoza, while Gerard Pique, who missed the trip to Aragon with a thigh strain, remains a doubt.

Winger Ibrahim Afellay is nearing full fitness, but is not expected to be involved in the clash.

Getafe defender Mane is unavailable after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in the weekend victory over Sporting Gijon.

Abdelaziz Barrada may return to the starting line-up after overcoming a muscular problem, while Pedro Leon (knee) could also feature.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Barcelona are on a nine-game winning run in La Liga, outscoring their opponents 27-7 in those matches.
  • The Catalans are unbeaten in their last 33 home matches in La Liga (W30, D3) and in their last 53 at Camp Nou in all competitions.
  • Barca have struck 161 goals in all competitions this season, beating the club record for most goals scored in a single campaign (158 in 2008-09).
  • Getafe have won four of their last six matches in La Liga.
  • Los Azulones are one of only two Primera Division sides to beat Barca this season - the other being Osasuna.
  • Getafe have scored 33 goals so far in La Liga this season; Lionel Messi (pictured right) has netted 38.
Prediction
Getafe enjoyed an excellent win against Sporting Gijon at the weekend but they are unlikely to see enough of the ball at Camp Nou to hurt the Catalans, who continue steamrolling everyone who dares to stand in their way.
Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 3-0 Getafe

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10.04. (Tue) 20:45 Chievo Verona - Milan

Milan players celebrate a goal - Parma-Ac Milan (Getty Images)
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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHIEVO

Sorrentino
Frey, Andreolli, Cesar, Facchinetti
Luciano, Rigoni, Bradley
Thereau
Paloschi, Pellissier
AC MILAN

Abbiati
Abate, NestaMexes, Antonini
Emanuelson, MuntariNocerino
Boateng
Ibrahimovic , Robinho

Similarly to AC Milan, Chievo have a depleted playing squad, which sees Boukary Drame, Fernando Uribe, Gennaro Sardo, Bojan Jokic, Francesco Acerbi, Nikolai Gulan, Davide Moscardelli and Davide Mandelli all sidelined.

Consequently, coach Domenico Di Carlo is to make two changes from the side that impressively halted Catania's run of good fortune in a 3-2 win on Saturday. Swiss left-back Mickael Facchinetti is expected to make his debut for the club in the place of Drame, while Cyril Thereau replaces Luciano, allowing Luca Rigoni to drop into midfield at the expense of Rinaldo Cruzado.

Meanwhile the problems continue to stock up for visitors AC Milan. Just one point out of a possible six, including theshock 2-1 reverse to Fiorentina two days ago, has put Massimiliano Allegri firmly under the spotlight, but his task has not been helped with an ever-increasing list of injuries to first-team players.

Mark van Bommel, Thiago Silva, Filippo Inzaghi, Rodney Strasser, Flavio Roma, Mathieu Flamini, Alexandre Pato and Djamel Mesbah have all been ruled out of Tuesday's encounter, while Alberto Aquilani, Daniele Bonera and Massimo Ambrosini will sit out the match through suspension.

Two alterations are expected to be made from the weekend. Gianluca Zambrotta is to be dropped in favour of Luca Antonini, while Kevin-Prince Boateng should start as the team's trequartista, with Urby Emanuelson set to play in midfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Chievo are unbeaten in their last four games, winning two games on the bounce against Fiorentina and Catania.
  • However, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in this sequence. Their last came at the hands of Cesena six matches ago.
  • Their recent home form has been disappointing. The Flying Donkeys have lost four of their last seven at the Bentegodi.
  • AC Milan are in the midst of a four-game winless run in all competitions, including two successive defeats to Barcelona and Fiorentina.
  • Their away form has stuttered of late, having won just one of their last five. It comes in stark contrast to picking up six victories in seven away games prior to their dip in form.
  • However, they have won their past seven meetings with Chievo.
Prediction
AC Milan's form against Chievo is mightily impressive, so that coupled with the champions' mentality to bounce back in the face of adversity and and their hosts' poor displays at the Bentegodi should see the title holders' put on a strong performance. Expect Ibrahimovic to prove decisive in this one.
Editor's Prediction
Chievo 0-2 Milan

Serie A Opta Facts - 10-12 April


Bologna - Cagliari
Cagliari have won 16 of their 47 previous meetings with Bologna, the Felsinei have had the better on 13 occasions, 18 draws complete the record.
Cagliari are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Bologna, whose last win was in 2005 (1-0).
Over these last seven meetings, there was a 5-1 win to Cagliari in 2008/09 that remains the biggest win between these two sides in the top-flight.
Marco Di Vaio has already netted seven goals against the Sardinians in Serie A, three of which have come for Bologna.
Bologna are winless in their last three home fixtures, their last win came against Novara (1-0, goal courtesy of Robert Acquafresca).
The Sardinians have picked up just three points from their last eight games on the road in the league.
In six of these last eight away games Cagliari have failed to score.
Cagliari will have to make do without Mauricio Pinilla, who has scored seven goals in his last nine Serie A appearances for his side.
Previously, the Chilean striker had bagged just 10 goals in 41 Serie A appearances.

Catania - Lecce
These two sides have met just five times in Serie A: the record is perfectly even, with two wins each and a draw.
Catania have won the last two meetings: 3-2 at home thanks to a Lodi brace and 1-0 away in the reverse fixture back in November.
Last Saturday's 3-2 defeat against Chievo ended a run of eight games without losing for the Sicilians in this competition.
Cagliari and Chievo have been the only two sides able to win at the Massimino in this Serie A campaign.
Chievo have also been the only side managing to score more than a single goal at Catania over the last 17 league fixtures played there.
Catania would sit sixth in the Serie A table on 29 points, just six points below the top, taking into account just the home fixtures played by each team in this campaign.
Lecce have collected more points on the road (16) than at home (15) so far this term.
Catania have already been awarded nine penalties, a league-high alongside AC Milan.
Lecce have picked-up the most yellow cards in this Serie A season (86).
After three draws in a row, Lecce got back to winning ways against Roma last Saturday: 4-2, with braces by Luis Muriel (his first in Serie A), and David Di Michele (his ninth).


Chievo - AC Milan
This will be the 20th meeting between these two sides in Serie A: Chievo have won just twice, both at the Bentegodi, the Rossoneri have had the better on 14 occasions.
The last 10 meetings have all been won by AC Milan.
Chievo have kept just one clean sheet against AC Milan: 0-0 in 2002/03.
Massimiliano Allegri's side won the reverse fixture 4-0, the biggest win in the historical head-to-head between these two teams.
The 1-1 draw in their last away game v Catania ended a run of four consecutive wins for the Rossoneri away from the San Siro.
Last Saturday against Fiorentina, Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted his 12th consecutive penalty in Serie A.
In their 3-2 win v Catania, Chievo managed to score more than two goals for the first time in this campaign.
Last Saturday Antonio Cassano played his first game after being sidelined for six months, he had seven touches, completed two passes out of three and won a foul.
Despite defeat against the Viola in their last game, AC Milan still boast the best attack of this competition (61 goals, 23 of which have been scored by current Serie A top-scorer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic).

Fiorentina - Palermo
This will be the 50th meeting between these two sides in Serie A: the Viola lead by 27 wins to 14, just eight draws complete the form.
Palermo have had the better in four of their last six meetings against Fiorentina, two wins for the Tuscans complete the record.
These two sides have shared the points just once in their last 14 meetings: 1-1 at the Barbera in March 2007.
At the Franchi, this fixture has ended without a winner only once in Serie A, back in 1949.
By beating AC Milan last Saturday, the Viola ended a negative run that had seen them taking just two points from their previous five games.
Delio Rossi's side though have lost their last two home games, against Chievo and Juve, conceding seven goals in the process.
Palermo have won just one game on the road in this campaign, on their last trip to Bologna.
The last time Palermo went unbeaten away from home for three games in a row was between April and May 2010.
Amauri has scored four goals against his current team, two of which came when he was at Palermo; he has also scored two goals against the Rosanero in the top-flight.
Last Saturday Amauri managed to score his first goal on his 11th appearance for Fiorentina in the league, ending a goal scoring drought that had started in April 2011.

Genoa - Cesena
The draw is the most frequent result between Genoa and Cesena in the league (seven times out of 15), Genoa lead by five wins to three.
However, these two sides have only ever shared one draw at the Marassi in the league (0-0 in 1981).
Genoa are winless in their last 10 fixtures, and have drawn their last three home games.
The Grifoni would be one spot above bottom on just five points, taking into account just these last 10 match-days.
Cesena have won just one game in 2012, and have drawn their last three games (0-0 the last two).
Cesena have found the net with just two of the last 64 shots attempted over the last eight games of this Serie A campaign.
This game will see this season's worst attack (Cesena, 18 goals scored) meeting the worst defence (Genoa, 58 goals conceded),
11 of these goals conceded by Genoa have come in the first 15 minutes of play, a league-high figure.
Cesena have scored and conceded the fewest headed goals this season (one in both cases).
After losing four away games in a row, Cesena drew 0-0 in their last away fixture against Lecce.
Last Saturday against Novara, Rodrigo Palacio scored his 17th goal of this campaign, already one more than the total of those he bagged over the previous two Serie A seasons.

Inter - Siena
Inter are unbeaten in Serie A against Siena.
Over these 15 meetings, only once have Inter failed to score against Siena (0-0 in 2005/06).
In the two fixtures played in 2009/10, the Nerazzurri won at the San Siro 4-3 coming back from 2-3 down, while they secured the Scudetto by winning the return leg 1-0 in Siena thanks to a Milito effort.
Milito is the Serie A top scorer in 2012 on 14 goals.
The "Principe" has recorded a 50% conversion ratio since the start of 2012, finding the net with 14 of his 28 total attempts.
Under new manager Stramaccioni, Inter have conceded six goals in two games from a total of 11 shots on target conceded to their opponents.
By beating Genoa in their last game at home, Inter ended a run of five winless games at the San Siro in the league.
Should they lose against Siena, Inter would equal their record of home defeats in a single Serie A campaign dating back to 1955/56 (six).
Siena have won five of their last seven Serie A fixtures.
This the Tuscans' best Serie A campaign so far: they had never picked up 39 points after the first 31 match-days before.
Siena have conceded just 32 goals, previously they had always shipped at least 33 after the first 31 games of the season in the top-flight.

Juventus - Lazio
These two sides have met 135 times so far in Serie A: Juve lead by 69 wins to 32, with 34 draws.
Juve are unbeaten in their last 14 meetings against Lazio, whose last win dates back to 2003/04 (2-0 at the Olimpico).
That was also the last game when the Old Lady failed to score in the league against Lazio.
Last Saturday Juventus ended the first half 0-0 for the 12th time this season; each time they have gone on to keep a clean sheet in the game.
Juventus have already kept 17 clean sheets - a league-most; last season they had finished just 10 games without conceding in the whole campaign.
Gigi Buffon is now the ‘keeper with the most clean sheets amongst the top-5 European leagues (17).
In facts, Juventus boast the best defence of this Serie A campaign (only 17 goals conceded).
None of the last 46 shots faced by Juventus over the last five match-days has gone past Buffon.
Siena have been the only side able to keep a clean sheet at Juventus this term (0-0).
Lazio have alternated a home win to an away loss over the last four rounds: this trend would result into a Juve win in this fixture.
Roma-born Simone Pepe has scored Juventus' last two goals against Lazio in Serie A, enough to secure the Old Lady two 1-0 wins.
Alex Del Piero's next goal v Lazio will be his 10th against them in Serie A.

Napoli - Atalanta
These two sides have met 81 times in Serie A: Napoli lead by 36 wins to 20.
Napoli are unbeaten in their last four meetings against Atalanta, though the Partenopei have won just three of the last 13 meetings against them in the league.
Atalanta have scored just two goals in total over their last 11 visits to the San Paolo in Serie A.
Last Saturday against Lazio, Napoli conceded their first penalty of the campaign - now all Serie A sides have conceded at least one this season.
Napoli are winless in the last four rounds: after drawing with Udinese and Catania, the Partenopei lost to Juventus and Lazio.
The last time Napoli lost three games in a row in Serie A was between February and March 2009.
Atalanta have won just one of their last six league games, and one of their last 11 away from home.
The Nerazzurri haven't scored a goal in their last four games on the road.
Edinson Cavani has already scored six goals in his six previous appearances against Atalanta in Serie A, but only once for Napoli; he hasn't scored more goals against any other Italian opponent.
Over his last two league appearances, the Uruguayan striker fired in just two shots, one on target, without scoring.

Parma - Novara
The reverse fixture won by Novara 2-1 is the only previous meeting between these two sides.
Parma have won just one of their last 10 games, in their last game at the Tardini (3-1 vs Lazio).
That result ended a run of four home games without a win for the Ducali in this competition.
Novara have conceded six goals over their last two games, as many as they had shipped in total over their previous nine fixtures.
Novara have not shared the points in their last 10 games on the road: their last away draw was in October, 1-1 vs Lecce.
Novara have the worst away record of this campaign: just eight points for them.
Attilio Tesser's side have already conceded 12 headed goals in this Serie A season, a league-high.
They are also the only side yet to score a goal in the opening 15 minutes of play this season.
Parma have conceded the most goals in the second half: 36, 16 of which have come in the closing 15 minutes of play.
Sebastian Giovinco has had 44 shots off target, only Antonio Di Natale has had more inaccurate attempts at goal.

Roma - Udinese
Roma and Udinese have already met 75 times in Serie A: the Giallorossi lead by 34 wins to 19.
Over the last four seasons, this fixture has recorded a perfect balance: both sides have won three times, with Udinese having the better in the reverse fixture, one draw completes the record.
Udinese have failed to score at Roma's ground just once in their last 12 meetings, on their last visit to the Olimpico in November 2010.
Last Saturday against Lecce, Roma ended a game conceding more than three goals for the third time this season.
Including that defeat against Lecce, Roma have now lost 12 games this season, only on one occasion over their previous 26 Serie A campaigns have the Giallorossi lost 12 of their first 31 games: that was in 2004-05 when Totti & co. failed to qualify for Europe.
Roma remain the side with the fewest draws in this campaign (just five, three at home).
By scoring last Saturday against Parma, Antonio Di Natale has reached the 20-goal tally for the 3rd consecutive season in Serie A.
Di Natale has already scored 11 goals against Roma - his favourite target in Serie A.
Four of Udinese's last five goals against the Giallorossi in the top-flight have been scored by Di Natale.
Francesco Totti has scored 12 goals vs Udinese, including five braces.
33 of Roma's 49 total goals in this competition have been scored by new signings (67%).

Bundesliga Opta Facts - 10 April


FC Augsburg v VfB Stuttgart
Martin Harnik scored a brace in Stuttgart's 2-1 win in the reverse fixture, Tobias Werner replied for Augsburg with his only Bundesliga goal to date.
Stuttgart have won each of their last three competitive games against Augsburg.
VfB are unbeaten in seven Bundesliga games (five wins, two draws), Dortmund (23 games) being the only team with a longer unbeaten run in the league.
Augsburg's unbeaten run of six games (their longest ever in the top flight) came to an end when they lost 2-1 at Bayern Munich last weekend.
Augsburg are unbeaten in a club record eight Bundesliga home games (five wins, three draws) and have kept a clean sheet in five of those games.
Stuttgart have already scored 29 games in 2012, six more than in the entire first half of the season. Dortmund (31) are the only team that have scored more goals in 2012 than VfB (29).
Winter signing Ja-Cheol Koo (four goals) is Augsburg's top goal-scorer in 2012.
Stuttgart's winter signing Vedad Ibisevic has scored seven goals and set up an additional four in 2012.
Stuttgart's Martin Harnik (eight goals in 2012) has failed to score in his last five appearances, though.
Alex Bellinghausen, set to leave Augsburg for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the summer, has set up three of Augsburg's last five goals.

SV Werder Bremen v Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia won the reverse fixture 5-0, their biggest Bundesliga win in the last 17 years, with Marco Reus bagging a hat-trick in the game.
Bremen haven't lost any of their last 21 Bundesliga home games against Mönchengladbach (16 wins, five draws).
Both teams have won just one of their last seven league matches.
Werder have celebrated just one home win in 2012 (3-0 over Hanover on matchday 25). In the first half of the season, Werder won seven out of eight home games.
Gladbach have conceded just 20 goals, as many as in the 1969/70 season when they won the league. Bayern (19) are the only team with a better defensive record.
Borussia haven't conceded a goal before half-time in their last 14 league games, but have scored twelve first-half goals themselves in that period.
Gladbach's Tony Jantschke could make his 50th Bundesliga appearance in this match.
Borussia have scored 996 away goals in the top flight.
Claudio Pizarro has scored six goals against Gladbach in seven Bundesliga games for Bremen, but none in nine games against Gladbach for Bayern Munich.
Werder's Marko Marin started his Bundesliga career in Mönchengladbach, scoring four goals and setting up another eleven in 37 Bundesliga games between 2007 and 2009.
Since Reus joined Borussia in 2009, Gladbach have picked up just one point from the five games Reus has missed.

Hertha BSC v SC Freiburg
Freiburg have won just two of their 15 Bundesliga games against Hertha (five draws, eight defeats), while Hertha have averaged 1.93 points per game against Freiburg, more than against any other current Bundesliga club.
Freiburg have won just one of their last nine Bundesliga games against Hertha (three draws, five defeats), on their last visit to the Olympic Stadium (September 2009) Freiburg won 4-0.
Hertha coach Otto Rehhagel has won five out of nine Bundesliga games against Freiburg (and lost four), but his last three duels with Freiburg have all ended in defeat (all with Kaiserslautern).
Freiburg are unbeaten in six games, picking up 14 out of a possible 18 points for the first time since 2000/01 when they finished sixth.
Hertha have failed to score in four out of seven games under Otto Rehhagel. Kaiserslautern (five) are the only team that has scored fewer goals in 2012 than Hertha (six).
Freiburg have scored at least two goals in each of their last four Bundesliga games, their second-best run in Bundesliga history (six games in a row in 1994/95).
Hertha are yet to score a goal from a set-piece since Rehhagel took over. Their last goal from a set-piece came at the end of 2011 (Roman Hubnik on matchday 17).
Freiburg came back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw against Nürnberg at the weekend, for the first time since the reverse fixture against Hertha (2-2).
16 different players have scored Bundesliga goals for Freiburg this season, a league high.
Rehhagel and Freiburg coach Christian Streich have crossed swords once before. Streich played for FC Homburg in March 1990 when they travelled to Rehhagel's Werder Bremen, coming away with a goalless draw.
Hertha's Levan Kobiashvili made his Bundesliga debut for Freiburg, and so did team-mate Felix Bastians.

1. FSV Mainz 05 v 1. FC Köln
These teams have met in the Bundesliga teams seven times, with the home team winning six of those matches. The reverse fixture ended 1-1.
These teams have faced each other 18 times in all competitions, with the away team winning just two of these games (both teams once).
This will be Mainz's 200th Bundesliga game, with Nicolke Noveski having made an appearance in 177 of the first 199.
Mainz have lost just one of their last eight home games (five wins, two draws), while Cologne have lost eight of their last eleven away games (one win, two draws).
Mainz have dropped 28 points from winning positions this season, more than any other team.
Cologne have conceded 59 goals this season, more than any other team.
Cologne have attempted a league-low 8.8 shots per game and conceded a league-high 15.9 shots per game.
Cologne have conceded a league-high 35 goals after the break, Mainz have the second-worst record with 31.
Mainz have lost a league-high six games from a winning position, Cologne (four) have the second-worst record in that regard.
Just two teams have scored more goals on the counter-attack than Cologne (nine), Mainz (seven) are in fourth place.
Mainz are the only team to score in all 12 games in 2012, they would set a new club record if they could stretch that run to 13.
Mainz player Zdenek Pospech played three years under Cologne coach Stale Solbakken (at Copenhagen).

La Liga Opta Facts - Matchday 33 - 10 April


Barcelona v Getafe
Barcelona have won five of their last seven Liga meetings with Getafe, but lost in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
Getafe have never won in seven previous trips to the Camp Nou in La Liga.
Getafe have lost all of their last four league trips to Catalonia.
Guardiola's men are unbeaten in their last 33 home matches in la Liga (W30 D3)
Barcelona have kept a league-high 16 clean sheets this season.
Barcelona have received fewer cards at home than any other side in La Liga (26 cards at the Camp Nou including a second yellow).
13 of the 15 Liga fixtures at the Camp Nou this season have seen Lionel Messi score.

Osasuna v Espanyol
Osasuna have conceded 11 goals in their last two games, they are the first side to concede five goals or more in two consecutive Liga fixtures this term.
None of the last 10 league encounters between Osasuna and Espanyol have ended as draws, with five wins each.
Espanyol have lost all of their last three trips to Osasuna in the league, failing to score in the process.
Five of Espanyol's last six away games in La Liga have ended as draws.
Osasuna have always won this season in the league after scoring the opening goal at the Reyno de Navarra stadium (seven).
Osasuna have won their last two home matches against Catalan sides in La Liga.

Real Sociedad v Betis
Real Sociedad have suffered just one defeat in their last seven league matches against Betis.
Betis are unbeaten in their last four Liga fixtures, only Spain giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are currently enjoying longer runs without defeat.
Real Sociedad have won all three games against Andalusian sides at Anoeta this season in La Liga.
Philippe Montanier's men have won five of their last six matches at Anoeta in La Liga.
Betis are the only side without an away draw in La Liga this season.
Real Sociedad's last three Liga goals have all been scored by Mexican international Carlos Vela.

Ligue 1 Opta Facts - Marseille v Montpellier 10 April


Montpellier have never managed to win in 16 previous Ligue 1 trips to Marseille.
Montpellier have conceded eight goals out of just 16 shots faced in their last two league outings at the Vélodrome stadium.
Marseille are currently enduring their longest run without a win in all competitions (11 games) since 1962.
Montpellier have won just one of their last six away games in Ligue 1.
Montpellier's next win will equal their highest tally in a single Ligue 1 season (20 victories in 2009/10).
Only Lorient and Auxerre have picked up fewer points than Marseille since the turn of the year (nine).
Marseille are on a run of 10 league games without a clean sheet.
Two of Montpellier's last three goals against Marseille in Ligue 1 have been scored in their own net by OM players.
Marseille are one of only two sides to have always lost after trailing at half time this season in Ligue 1.