14.04. (Sat) 22:00 Levante - Barcelona

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

LEVANTE Munua Lopez, Ballesteros, Cabral, Juanfran Torres, IborraValdo, Barkero, Botelho Kone

BARCELONA Valdes Alves, Mascherano, Puyol, Adriano Xavi, Busquets, IniestaFabregas, Messi, Sanchez

Levante trio Javi Venta, Javier Farinos and Arouna Kone are minor doubts for Saturday's visit of Barcelona after sustaining knocks in the midweek defeat at Sporting Gijon.

Defender Asier del Horno is out with a thigh injury, but Juanlu could make his first appearance for the club since December after recovering from a broken fibula.

Barcelona have been boosted by the return of long-term injury victim Ibrahim Afellay, who has been cleared for match action and is likely to be included in the squad travelling to Valencia.

Dani Alves and Cesc Fabregas are set to return from injury and suspension respectively, although defender Gerard Pique is a doubt.

Meanwhile, Barca have announced that left-back Eric Abidal is recovering well after undergoing a liver transplant on Tuesday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Levante have won three of their last four Liga matches at the Ciutat de Valencia.

• The Granotas' last home victory over Barcelona was a 1-0 triumph in the Copa del Rey in January 2004.

• Xavi Torres played for the Barcelona reserve team between 2007-09 and made a couple of appearances for the first-team under Pep Guardiola in May 2009.

• Barcelona are on a 10-game winning streak in La Liga.

• With Tuesday's victory over Getafe, Pep Guardiola has equalled Frank Rijkaard's record of 112 wins in La Liga as Barca coach. Only Johan Cruyff has won more (183).

• If he plays, Andres Iniesta (pictured right) will be making his 400th appearance in a Blaugrana shirt.

Prediction

Barca need to be wary as the hosts’ counter-attacks and doggedness can trouble them, but, in the end, the Catalans have been in majestic form since losing at Osasuna in February and, ominously for their rivals, appear to be peaking at the right time.

Editor's Prediction

Levante 0-2 Barcelona

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14.04. (Sat) 21:00 Olympique Lyonnais - Olympique Marseille

Panoramic

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

LYON Lloris Reveillere, Lovren, Kone, Cissokho Bastos, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Briand Lisandro, Gomis

MARSEILLE   Mandanda Azpilicueta, Nkoulou, Mbia, Morel Diarra, Cheyrou Amalfitano, Valbuena, A.Ayew Brandao

Lyon boss Remi Garde is without Yoann Gourcuff, Ederson and John Mensah through injury, and the trio have been left out of the party to travel to the capital for the Coupe de la Ligue final.

Club captain Cris revealed earlier this week that he is fit for the showpiece at the Stade de France after initially being ruled out for a month, and the Brazilian is included in the squad. Michel Bastos is expected to return to the starting XI after sitting out the 2-1 win over Auxerre last Saturday.

Olympique de Marseille's Didier Deschamps is able to recall a number of players who were rested in Wednesday's 1-3 defeat to Ligue 1 leaders Montpellier. 

Cesar Azpilicueta has won his fitness battle and is set to line-up in Paris, with Jeremy Morel, Mathieu Valbuena, Morgan Amalfitano and Andre Ayew all set to be renamed in the starting XI after all being named on the bench on Wednesday.

Striker Loic Remy is still a major doubt with a thigh injury, and strikers Brandao and Andre-Pierre Gignac are ready to deputise for him, with the Brazilian most likely to be used by Deschamps.

With OM suffering 11 defeats in their last 12 games, Saturday represents the last chance for the Provence club to qualify for the Europa League after languishing in 9th place in Ligue 1.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Olympique Lyonnais sit in fourth place in Ligue 1 after being Auxerre 2-1 last week, courtesy of two Lisandro penalties.
• Remi Garde's men beat Lorient 4-2 after extra-time in their semi-final. Jimmy Briand scored in the 94th minute to force an extra 30 minutes in which Bafetimbi Gomis and Alexandre Lacazette added two more to seal a final berth.

• Lyon have won the Coupe de la Ligue for the one and only time in 2001, having finished runners-up in 1996 and 2007 respectively.

• Les Gones are unbeaten against Marseille in their last four encounters.

• Olympique de Marseille occupy ninth place in Ligue 1 after suffering yet another defeat in their 3-1 reverse to league leaders Montpellier on Wednesday.

• Marseille have not lost a Coupe de la Ligue match since September 2008, winning the 2010 and 2011 editions of the trophy.

• Didier Deschamps' men are seeking an unprecedented third straight cup victory, and will be the first side to do so if they win on Saturday.

• Loic Remy is the top scorer of the competition with four goals.

Prediction

The Coupe de la Ligue final promises to be a mouthwatering clash with two of France's biggest teams participating in the showdown. Form has a big part to play, given Lyon's great run since their Champions League elimination. Match that with OM's shocking record of 11 defeats in 12, and it would be hard to see the Provence club win the cup for an unprecedented third time. A close match, but OL should prosper.

Editor's Prediction

Lyon 2-1 Marseille

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14.04. (Sat) 20:45 Udinese - Inter

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

UDINESE Handanovic Coda, Danilo, Domizzi Pereyra, Fernandes, Pazienza, Armero Asamoah Torje, Di Natale

INTER Julio Cesar Zanetti, Lucio, Chivu, Nagatomo Guarin, Cambiasso, Stankovic Alvarez, Milito, Zarate

Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin will be without the services of striker Antonio Floro Flores and right-sided player Dusan Basta through injury.

Mehdi Benatia missed the 3-1 loss to Roma and will be sidelined for Saturday's encounter as well. Giampiero Pinzi is suspended and will likely be replaced by Michele Pazienza in midfield.

Meanwhile, Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder is still nursing a groin injury and will not feature while Maicon has not yet recovered from his knee problem.

Luc Castaignos is dealing with a hamstring injury and will miss out on the festivities at the Friuli while Walter Samuel has been ruled out for three weeks due to a muscle problem.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Udinese have picked up only one win in their last seven encounters (W1, D3, L3).

• The Zebrette have suffered only one loss in their 16 Serie A matches at the Stadio Friuli this season.

• Guidolin's men have been held scoreless four times in the past nine games.

• Inter are unbeaten (W2, D1) since Andrea Stramaccioni replaced Claudio Ranieri and have scored nine goals during that span.

• The Nerazzurri have secured only one win in their last six league matches away from San Siro.

• Inter have found the back of the net on just 16 occasions in 17 fixtures away from home.

Prediction

Udinese are mired in a slump at the moment but are still a very tough nut to crack at home, while Inter have had problems on the road all season. This is a big match for both teams and they will each take a share of the spoils when everything is said and done at the Friuli.

Editor's Prediction

Udinese 1-1 Inter

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14.04. (Sat) 20:00 Real - Real Sporting

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao Khedira, SahinHiguain, Ozil, Callejon Benzema

SPORTING GIJON Juan Pablo Orfila, Botia, Hernandez, Canella Lora, CasesTrejo, Colunga, De las Cuevas Barral

Jose Mourinho may opt to rest some of his players for Saturday's visit of Sporting Gijon with an eye on the midweek Champions League semi-final away to Bayern Munich.

Ricardo Carvalho (thigh) remains sidelined, while Nuri Sahin is in line to make his first La Liga start in place of the suspended Xabi Alonso.

Cristiano Ronaldo could start on the bench, as the Portugal star will miss next week's El Clasico through suspension should he pick up a yellow card.

Sporting will be without Gregory, Sebastian Eguren and Carmelo, who are all sidelined through injury.

Pedro Orfila, Roberto Canella and Oscar Trejo sustained knocks in Wednesday's win over Levante but are expected to make the trip to the capital.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Real Madrid are on a 17-match unbeaten run in La Liga (W14, D3).

• Los Merengues need to score four more goals to surpass their own record for most goals struck in a single Liga season (107 in 1989-90).

• Should Crisitiano Ronaldo (pictured right) score on Saturday, he will beat his own record for most goals scored by a player in a single Liga campaign (40 in 2010-11).

• Sporting Gijon have won just three of their last 15 matches in La Liga.

• Having shipped an average of 1.9 goals per game this season, the Asturians have the leakiest defence in the Primera Division.

• A Miguel de las Cuevas goal gave Sporting a famous 1-0 win at the Bernabeu in this corresponding fixture last season.

Prediction

Despite their shock win over Levante, Sporting are in crisis amid reports of a rift between Clemente and his players after he appeared to criticise the quality of his squad. There are no such concerns for the Madridistas, but Mourinho will want a commanding display from his team to build momentum heading in to heavyweight clashes with Bayern and Barcelona.

Editor's Prediction

Real Madrid 3-0 Sporting G

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14.04. (Sat) 18:45 PSV Eindhoven - AZ Alkmaar

PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINEUPS

PSV Tyton Hutchinson, Marcelo, Derijck, Manolev Wijnaldum, Toivonen, Engelaar Labyad, Matavz, Mertens

AZ EstebanReijnen, Moisander, Viergever, Poulsen Elm, Martens, MaherBeerens, Altidore, Gudmundsson

PSV will be without the services of Erik Pieters on Saturday, with the left-back currently nursing a foot injury. Stanislav Manolev is likely to deputise, given the inconsistent form of the young Jetro Willems.

Netherlands international Kevin Strootman is also unlikely to feature, having been withdrawn before the interval through injury in his side’s last outing.

Phillip Cocu will also be unable to call upon goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, who is currently recovering from a shoulder problem.

For the visitors, Brett Holman has returned from suspension but is unlikely to make an appearance due to a muscular problem. Furthermore, Celso Ortiz remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Rasmus Elm is doubtful, too.

Dirk Marcellis picked up a booking in his side’s last outing against Twente, and will therefore be suspended for Saturday’s tie.

DID YOU KNOW?

• PSV currently sit fifth in the league standings, trailing leaders Ajax by seven points.

• The Eindhoven side’s title dreams were dealt a huge blow away to RKC in midweek, the Waalwijk outfit running out 2-1 winners.

• The Brabant outfit recently picked up their first piece of silverware since 2008, claiming the KNVB Beker courtesy of a 3-0 win over Heracles.

• AZ have failed to win their last three matches, drawing their last two league outings by a scoreline of 2-2.

• The second-placed visitors are just three points behind Ajax, and can draw level on points with a win on Saturday.

• Jozy Altidore (pictured) is the Alkmaar side’s top scorer, netting three in his side’s last two domestic outings.

Prediction

This will undoubtedly be a fiercely-contested encounter, with both sides needing a win to keep their title dreams alive. PSV's matches versus the bigger teams tend to involve plenty of goals, not least the 2-6 drubbing they suffered at the hands of Twente. A high-scoring draw may well be on the cards.

Editor's Prediction

PSV 2-2 AZ

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14.04. (Sat) 18:30 Bayern Munchen - Mainz 05

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Contento Tymoshchuk, Schweinsteiger Robben, Muller, Pranjic Olic

MAINZ Wetklo Pospech, Kirchhoff, Noveski, Zabavnik Baumgartlinger, Polanski, Soto Zidan Szalai, Choupo-Moting

Jupp Heynckes is likely to rotate his squad ahead of the crunch clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. Ivica Olic is in with a chance to step in for Mario Gomez, while Danijel Pranjic and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk could deputise for Franck Ribery and Luiz Gustavo respectively.

David Alaba might be given a rest with Diego Contento slotting in at left-back while injured duo Daniel Van Buyten and Breno are definite absentees for the Bavarians, who have a nearly full-strength squad at their disposal.

Mainz will have to do without the services of Stefan Bell, Bo Svensson and Marcel Risse, who are still recovering from knocks. The Oh-Fives' top goalscorer in the Bundesliga, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, and former Real Madrid man Adam Szalai are set to spearhead the attack.

DID YOU KNOW

• Bayern Munich have won their last eleven home games in all competitions.

• Mario Gomez scored his first Bundesliga goal against Mainz.

• The Bavarians lost the first encounter between the two teams 3-2 earlier this season.

• Mainz have bagged the three points away to Bayern Munich in the league only once in their history. This happened last season in a 2-1 win at the Allianz Arena in September 2010.

• The Oh-Fives have won three of their last five matches against the Bavarians.

• Despite being in the bottom half of the table, only four Bundesliga sides have scored more than Mainz' 47 league goals this season.

Prediction

Bayern Munich might be thinking about Real Madrid and the Champions League, but they still should be able to bag the three points against Thomas Tuchel's players at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Editor's Prediction

Bayern 1-0 Mainz

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14.04. (Sat) 18:00 Milan - Genoa

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

AC MILAN Abbiati Bonera, Nesta, Yepes, AntoniniNocerino, Van Bommel, Muntari Emanuelson Ibrahimovic, El Shaarawy

GENOA Frey Mesto, Granqvist, Carvalho, Bovo Rossi, Veloso, Kucka, Sculli Ze Eduardo, Palacio

AC Milan had many walking-wounded during the 1-0 over Chievo, but the situation is less dire for coach Massimiliano Allegri for the clash at San Siro.

Goalkeeper Christian Abbiati has a foot problem, but is expected to feature nonetheless, while defender Daniele Bonera and midfielder Alberto Aquilani return from suspension with the former slotting in at right-back. However, veteran Massimo Ambrosini and centre-back Thiago Silva are sidelined due to injury.

Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel has recovered to play at the heart of midfield, but playmaker Kevin-Prince Boateng and striker Alexandre Pato are still not available. Thus, Stephan El Shaarawy looks set to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front with Robinho, Antonio Cassano, and Maxi Lopez all options off the bench.

Genoa's situation seems to be getting worse by the week as the coaching reappointment of Alberto Malesani, following the sacking of Pasquale Marino, has done little to lift their form and they now sit just two points above the relegation zone.

Former Milan man Kakha Kaladze is injured along with midfielder Kevin Constant, while Fernando Belluschi and left-back Emiliano Moretti are both suspended.

Another ex-Rossonero, striker Alberto Gilardino, could find himself on the bench to start this one in favour of Ze Eduardo who could partner the club's top-scorer Rodrigo Palacio upfront.

DID YOU KNOW?

• AC Milan have lost just one of their last six matches against Genoa, a 1-0 reverse in May 2010.

• Star striker Ibrahimovic leads the Serie A scoring charts with 23 goals.

• Allegri's men have let in nine goals at home this season, less than any other Serie A team.

• Genoa have not won in their previous 10 matches, their last victory coming February 5 against Lazio.

• The Grifone have the worst defensive record in the top flight this season, having conceded 58 times.

• Gilardino has scored three goals in 11 appearances since his winter move from Fiorentina.

Prediction

Genoa nearly pulled off a shocking comeback on their last trip to San Siro, a 5-4 loss to Inter, but Milan do not have the defensive issues that have plagued their city rivals and Allegri's men should see off the visitors, despite their desperation to avoid relegation, with relative ease.

Editor's Prediction

Milan 3-1 Genoa

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15.04.2012. Ovog vikenda startuje nova sezona u najboljoj ligi Finske

Dosta je bilo skijanja i klizanja. Vreme je da se zakotrlja „bubamara“. Ovog vikenda kreće nova sezona i u najboljoj ligi Finske, u kojoj dvadesetčetvrti put titulu šampiona brani Helsinki, a po svemu sudeći, samo čudo može da ga spreči u odbrani trona.
Kladionice tvrde isto – Helsinki će ponovo do titule. Ekipa koja je protekle sezone imala 24 boda više od drugoplasiranog Intera iz Turkua, ni ove godine ne bi smela da ima problema. Helsinki se oslanja na domaće snage, izuzev gambijskog napadača Dembe Savidža, koji je stigao iz Honke. Osim njega, najveća opasnost za protivničke golmane biće Berat Sadik, koji je do sada u dresu ovog kluba postigao 15 golova na 27 mečeva. Šampion Finske ima ekipu „vrednu“ oko osam miliona evra, a po tom parametru relativno mogu da ga „prate“ Jivaskila, Inter, TPS i Honka. Inter je favorit za drugu poziciju, verovatno zahvaljujući tome što u sastavu ima šestoricu stranaca.

KVOTE ZA PRVAKA
Helsinki 1,50
Inter Turku 6,50
Honka 7,00

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Ligue 1 Opta Facts - 15-16 April

Lille - Ajaccio
Only one of the last 11 Ligue 1 meetings between these teams has seen Ajaccio win.
The last three Ligue 1 encounters between Lille and Ajaccio have witnessed 13 goals.
Lille are winless in four previous Ligue 1 matches this season without their international full back Mathieu Debuchy.
Ajaccio are on a run of four consecutive draws in the league.
Lille's Stadium Nord has witnessed more goals (55) than any other ground in Ligue 1 this season.
Ajaccio have conceded 30 goals in 10 previous Ligue 1 trips to a title-holder's stadium, picking up only one point in the process.
Attacking midfielder Eden Hazard has scored in each of his last seven league appearances at home.
Winger Dimitri Payet has scored a goal in each of the last three matchdays.

Lorient - Montpellier
Montpellier have won 20 Ligue 1 games for the second time in their history (after 09/10).
Since earning promotion to Ligue 1 in 2009, Montpellier have scored more goals against Lorient than versus any other opponents (11).
Montpellier have never won in four previous trips to the Moustoir stadium in Ligue 1.
Lorient are in the relegation zone for the first time since August 2010 and have won just one of their last 16 league games.
Lorient have now failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 consecutive league games.
Lorient have scored with just 3% of their total number of attempts in the first half of Ligue 1 matches this season.
17 of Olivier Giroud's 19 Ligue 1 goals this term have come after the half-time break.
Moroccan international Younes Belhanda has netted six goals in his last seven competitive starts for Montpellier.

Nancy - Bordeaux
Bordeaux have won three and drawn one of their last four competitive meetings with Nancy.
Bordeaux have kept clean sheets in their last two league trips to the Marcel-Picot stadium.
The reverse fixture saw Jaroslav Plasil score the fastest Ligue 1 goal of the season, just 14 seconds into the match.
Nancy are on a run of four consecutive wins in Ligue 1 for the first time since 2005.
Nancy have picked up more points than any other Ligue 1 side since March (16), thanks to five wins and one draw.
Bordeaux have won just one of their last seven league fixtures.
ASNL's midfielder Bakaye Traore has scored four goals in the last three matchdays.

St Etienne - Brest
Brest have never won in nine previous trips to St Etienne in the top flight, suffering seven defeats in the process.
St Etienne are winless in four consecutive league matches for the first time this season.
Les Verts have lost all of their last three home games in Ligue 1.
Brest are one of two Ligue 1 teams without an away win this season.
Brest have scored a league-high eight goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season.
Brest have scored 67% of their goals before half time, a league-high proportion this term.
Despite being in the lead for 115 minutes in their last two away games, Brest lost both matches.
11 of Bruno Grougi's 17 Ligue 1 career goals have come from penalties of direct free kicks.
The reverse fixture was one of four Ligue 1 games this term to see two players (Roux and Aubameyang) score braces.

Sochaux - Dijon
Sochaux have kept the fewest clean sheets in Ligue 1 this term (four).
Dijon have kept just one clean sheet away from home in the top flight.
Sochaux have won two consecutive league games at their Bonal stadium for the first time this season.
Since the appointment of Eric Hély as manager, Sochaux have scored the second-most goals in Ligue 1 (nine).
Last season, Sloan Privat scored in both of his two Ligue 2 appearances against Dijon, while on loan at Clermont.
Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga has scored in each of the last three matchdays.
The reverse fixture saw more misplaced passes than any other Ligue 1 game this season (252).

Valenciennes - Evian TG
No team has conceded fewer goals at home than Valenciennes this season (eight).
Should Evian TG beat Valenciennes, they would become the first team in Ligue 1 this season to achieve a run of four consecutive away wins.
Evian TG are the first team this season in Ligue 1 to score in 12 consecutive away games.
Had Evian managed to hold on to their leads during Ligue 1 games, they would have 21 more points to their name.
Valenciennes striker Mamadou Samassa has found the net on average every 73 minutes at the Stade du Hainaut this term in the league, a better ratio than any other player at home.

Auxerre - Paris SG
Paris SG have lost just one of their last six competitive matches at the Abbé-Deschamps stadium.
The Parisians have now failed to keep a clean sheet in eight consecutive Ligue 1 games.
Since the introduction of the three-point rule, no team with fewer than 29 points at this stage of a 20-club Ligue 1 campaign managed to stay up.
The 1997/98 season is the only occasion where PSG managed to score more than two goals in 31 previous trips to Auxerre in the top flight.
Carlo Ancelotti boasts the highest goals-per-game ratio amongst all 25 managers who have coached a Ligue 1 side this season (2.1).
PSG midfield schemer Thiago Motta has played more minutes than any other player without ever ending on the losing side this season in Ligue 1 (720 mins).
Brazilian winger Nenê has scored four goals in five league appearances against Auxerre.
Auxerre's Kamel Chafni has scored more Ligue 1 goals against PSG than versus any other opposition (three).

Rennes - Nice
Nice are winless in their last 12 league trips to Rennes, their last victory was in 1990.
Rennes have dropped 11 points after being in the lead at their Route de Lorient stadium this season, only Bordeaux have fared worse at home.
Rennes have failed to win any of their last four home games in the league.
Nice have suffered defeats in all three Ligue 1 games this term without commanding centre half Renato Civelli.
Nice have yet to keep a clean sheet on the road this season in Ligue 1.
Nice have won four of their last seven matches, which is as many as during their previous 24 Ligue 1 fixtures this season.
Nice winger Anthony Mounier has scored three goals in his last two league appearances.

Marseille - Caen
Marseille have failed to win any of their last 12 competitive games, suffering 11 defeats in the process, their longest run without success since 1962.
If the season had started in January, Marseille would be in the relegation zone.
Marseille have suffered three consecutive league defeats at their Vélodrome stadium for the first time since 2004/05.
Caen have lost all of their last three away league matches, failing to score a single goal in the process.
Marseille have won both of their two competitive encounters with Caen this season.
Caen have managed three wins in their last five trips to the Vélodrome stadium in the top flight.
Caen are one of two Ligue 1 sides to have conceded goals from former African Player of the Year winner Abedi Pelé and his two sons Andre and Jordan Ayew.
Caen have now gone over 200 minutes without a goal conceded in Ligue 1.
Marseille forward Loïc Rémy has netted six goals in five previous appearances against Caen in all competitions.

Toulouse - Lyon
Lyon are goalless in their last five trips to Toulouse in the top flight.
Five Lyon players have been sent off in OL's last four trips to Toulouse in Ligue 1.
In his last league appearance at the Stadium municipal, Lyon full back Aly Cissokho scored an own goal and received a red card.
TFC have picked up a league-high eight red cards this term and have conceded more fouls than any other side.
No Toulouse player has managed to score more than four Ligue 1 goals in 2011/12, a record low this season.
Argentine goalscorer Lisandro has netted Lyon's last three league goals; he has never missed a penalty in Ligue 1 (nine converted out of nine attempted).

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14.04. (Sat) 15:30 Schalke 04 - Borussia D.



PROBABLE LINEUPS

SCHALKE Unnerstall Howedes, Matip, Papadopoulos, Fuchs Jones, Hoger Farfan, Raul, Draxler Huntelaar

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

Schalke will be nearly at full strength on Saturday, with only goalkeepers Ralf Fahrmann and Timo Hildebrand sidelined with injuries. It is anticipated that Benedikt Howedes will move into a right-back position, and that Christian Fuchs will return to play on the opposite side of defence.

Jermaine Jones' role as a midfield anchor is considered safe, but his partner in the centre is uncertain with either Marco Hoger or Lewis Holtby set to fit in alongside the USA international.

Mario Gotze missed Wednesday's 1-0 win over Bayern, but is expected to be fit to feature as a substitute in the big derby. The youngster's return means that only long-term absentee Julian Koch will be out of action for the title holders.

Jurgen Klopp is expected to retain the core of his midweek starting XI, although there may be one change with Sven Bender replacing veteran Sebastian Kehl in defensive midfield.

DID YOU KNOW

• Schalke have dropped points just twice at the Veltins-Arena this season (one draw, two losses).

• Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been on target 43 times this season in all competitions. His 24 strikes in the Bundesliga are second only to Mario Gomez's count of 25.

• The most likely S04 starting line-up contains just two players born in the Ruhr area: Joel Matip and Julian Draxler.

• Dortmund have won two of the last three derby matches with Schalke. The other was a scoreless draw

• The last time BVB visited Gelsenkirchen, away fans staged a boycott due to increased ticket prices.

• Robert Lewandowski has scored four goals in as many games. His tally now stands at 25 in all competitions, plus 10 assists in 41 appearances

Prediction

The Ruhr derby is always a spirited clash, and Dortmund will be feeling both joy and fatigue heading into the match. While Schalke's leaky defence did concede four times in midweek, the fact that they will play at home and will revert to their preferred back four ahead of the BVB clash suggests the Nurnberg disaster was only a one-off. A draw is fitting.

Editor's Prediction

Schalke 1-1 Dortmund

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