24.01. (Thu) 22:00 Malaga - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MALAGA
Kameni, Sanchez, Demichelis, Weligton, Gamez, Toulalan, Camacho, Joaquin, Isco, Eliseu, Santa Cruz

BARCELONA
Pinto, Alves, Pique, Puyol, Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas, Pedro, Messi, Iniesta

Barcelona and Malaga complete a trio of matches against each other when they play the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final at La Rosaleda on Thursday evening. Manuel Pellegrini's side currently hold an advantage on away goals in this cup clash after drawing 2-2 at Camp Nou in the first leg last week.
The visitors will be without their coach Tito Vilanova as he receives more medical treatment in New York, but can call on all of their 25-man squad after Isaac Cuenca was given the green light to return to competitive action after a long period out with a knee injury.
After drawing against Malaga in the first leg of this fixture last week, the Blaugrana went on to surrender a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Real Sociedad in La Liga on Saturday which marked their first loss in the league this campaign.
Malaga, meanwhile, followed up on their impressive performance at Camp Nou with a 1-1 draw in the Liga at home to Celta Vigo.
The Andalusian side will be without Nacho Monreal after he was sent off in the first leg for a foul on Pedro. However, having exceeded expectations with a weakened side to draw 2-2 last week, it is likely that Pellegrini will recall the likes of Isco, Joaquin, Welligton and Martin Demichelis.
New loan signings Lucas Piazon from Chelsea and Diego Lugano from Paris Saint-Germain may also be included in Malaga's squad.

DID YOU KNOW?
A late equaliser from Ignacio Camacho in the first leg secured Malaga an away-goal advantage going into this game, with Manuel Iturra scoring their other goal. Lionel Messi and Carlos Puyol were on the scoresheet for Barcelona in that 2-2 draw.
Malaga have won just once so far in 2013, when they beat Eibar 4-1 on January 8 in the previous round of the Copa del Rey.
Diego Buanonotte has enjoyed a prolific start to the calendar year in front of goal for Pellegrini's side, having scored a fine free kick against Barcelona during their 3-1 loss on January 13 and netting twice in that 4-1 victory over Eibar.
The Blaugrana are the current reigning champions in the Copa del Rey, after they defeated Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the final of last season's competition.
Cesc Fabregas has not lost any of the 11 Spanish cup games he has played for Barcelona. In those games he has scored four and supplied seven assists.
Barcelona have so far conceded 35 goals in 33 games in all competitions this season, at an average of 1.06 per game, compared to 48 in 64 games last season at an average of 0.75 per game.

Prediction
Despite Barcelona failing to record a victory in their last two matches expect them to rediscover their winning formula at La Rosaleda as they defend their Copa del Rey title.
Editor's Prediction
Malaga 1-3 Barcelona

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League Two Opta Facts 24-28th January 2013

AFC Wimbledon v Port Vale

AFC Wimbledon have collected only 9 points from their 13 home games this season - the lowest tally in the division.
AFC Wimbledon are unbeaten in their last three league games (W2 D1) - the longest streak this season they've managed without losing.
Port Vale are unbeaten in their last six away league games (W4 D2) and have won the last three on the road in succession.
Port Vale have won all nine away games in which they have taken the lead in this season, while AFC Wimbledon have not won any of 11 home matches in which they have fallen behind (D3 L8).
AFC Wimbledon defeated Port Vale on both occasions the teams met last season (3-2 and 2-1).

Bradford City v Wycombe Wanderers

Bradford are on a run of four league games without a win (D1 L3), a sequence that includes two home defeats.
Wycombe have suffered only two defeats in their last 11 league games (W7 D2), and have lost only one away game in their last five on the road (W3 D1).
Wycombe have yet to score a single goal in the final15 minutes of matches this season - the only side in the division that has failed to do so.
Bradford have won eight of the nine home matches in which they have taken the lead (W8 L1).
Wycombe have lost seven of the nine away games in which they have fallen behind (W1 D1).

Burton Albion v Barnet

Burton have lost only one of their last 12 home games (W8 D3) and are on a run of four straight home wins.
Barnet have lost just one of their last six matches (W4 D1 L1) in League Two.
Burton are tied with Port Vale and Northampton for most goals scored at home this season, with 30.
Only Burton (9) have scored fewer goals away from home than Barnet (10 - tied with Torquay).
In the past four meetings between these two teams, Barnet have emerged victorious on three occasions (L1), including both encounters at the Pirelli Stadium.

Cheltenham v Rochdale

Cheltenham have not lost at home in the league since the 15th September (1-3 v Southend) - a run of 10 matches (W7 D3).
Alongside Southend, Cheltenham have conceded a league-low 12 goals at home this season.
Rochdale have scored the most goals away from home (28) in League Two this season.
Rochdale have picked up just six points from their last 10 league games (W2 L8); only Accrington (5) have won fewer points in their last 10 matches.
In the last two meetings between the two sides, Rochdale have triumphed by a score of 4-1.

Chesterfield v Southend United

Chesterfield are unbeaten in their last six home matches in League Two (W4 D2) with a goal difference of +10 over these games (F14 A4).
Southend are on a run of three successive league defeats, failing to score in all three games during this poor run.
Southend (alongside Rotherham) have gained a league-high 16 points after falling behind in matches this season.
Chesterfield are the only team in the division yet to win a penalty this season.

Dagenham & Redbridge v Morecambe

Dagenham have not drawn in the league since the 27th October, a run of 14 matches (W7 L7).
Morecambe have drawn five of their last eight league games (W1 L2).
If all matches finished at half-time, Dagenham would be 5th in the table instead of 13th.
Dagenham have been awarded a league-high nine penalties, with six of these being given at Victoria Road.
The sides have not drawn in any of their last six meetings, with the last four encounters all ending in a 2-1 scoreline.

Exeter City v Torquay United

Exeter are unbeaten in their last five league matches (W3 D2); while Torquay have not won in six (D3 L3).
Only Burton (9) have scored fewer goals away from home than Torquay (10, tied with Barnet).
Exeter have collected only 16 (35.6%) of their 45 points at home.
The reverse fixture was the last match either side played; on the 15th Jan they shared the points in a 1-1 draw at Plainmoor.

Fleetwood Town v Oxford United

Oxford United are currently on a four-match winning streak, part of an eight match unbeaten run (W5 D3) in League Two.
Fleetwood have won only one of their last five home games (D2 L2) in League Two, scoring just twice during this time.
Only Gillingham (23) have conceded fewer goals this season than Fleetwood (28).
Fleetwood have scored a league-high 13 (38%) of their goals in the last 15 minutes of matches and have only conceded a league-low two (7%) in the same period.

Gillingham v York City

Gillingham have lost five times this season, with three of these defeats coming in their last four home games (the other match being drawn).
York City have recorded a league-high seven draws away from home this season.
York City have won only once in their last six league games (D3 L2).
Gillingham have the best defensive record in the division with 23 goals conceded.
Gillingham striker Danny Kedwell has scored nine of his 10 goals at home in League Two this season.

Plymouth Argyle v Accrington Stanley

Accrington are currently on a run of four successive away defeats in League Two.
Accrington have conceded a league-high (joint with AFC Wimbledon) 11 goals in the opening 15 minutes of games in League Two this term.
Plymouth defeated Morecambe 2-1 in their last league match, breaking a run of six games without a victory (D3 L3).
Plymouth have not lost to Accrington in any of the sides' last four meetings (W1 D3).
Plymouth have lost a joint league-high 17 points after being ahead in matches, with 12 of these points being lost at Home Park.

Rotherham United v Bristol Rovers

Rotherham have not drawn in 11 league matches (W6 L5).
Bristol Rovers have collected the joint fewest points away from home (10), but four of these have come in their last two away games (W1 D1).
Bristol Rovers have the most porous defence in the division with 49 goals conceded.
Bristol Rovers have kept a league-low two clean sheets this season, but one of these came in their last game (3-0 v Fleetwood).
Rotherham have salvaged a joint league-high 16 points after falling behind in League Two this season, with nine of these points coming in home matches.

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24.01. (Thu) 19:00 Niger - DR Congo

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NIGER
Daouda, Fatoukouma, Dankowa, Chikoto, Koudize, Issoufou, Moutari, Lacina, Boubacar, Maazou, Sidibe

DR CONGO
Kidiaba, Mpeko, Kasusula, Mabiala, Mongungou, Mulumbu, Kabangu, Makiadi, Mbokani, Mputu, Lualua

DR Congo will attempt to get their first win of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations when they lock horns with the Mena of Niger at the Nelson Mandela Bay Sports Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
Both countries are yet to cross paths in any level of football and this Group B clash promises fireworks as each of the teams aim at getting the maximum points which will urge them closer to the knockout stage.
On paper, it might look like a David and Goliath affair, but considering how the Nigeriens held Mali until the last minute before succumbing, there is much at stake in this epic clash.
With players such as Moussa Maazou, who has previously played at the highest level in France and Russia as well as Koffi Dan Kowa of Esperance Sportif du Zarziz, Abdul Karim Lacina of Cotton Sports Garoua, and Issoufou Boubacar Garba of Hammam, the Nigeriens can cause havoc if underrated.
The Leopards are also brimming with confidence after coming from two goals down to draw with group favourites Ghana, and they will be hoping to build on that and record their first win in this campaign.
Tressor Mputu, midfield anchor Youssoup Mulumbu, veteran Lomana Tressor Lua Lua and the free scoring Dieumerci Mbokani can lessen the load of the Leopards if they avoid complacency.
An interesting department of the game will be in the middle where the energy-sapping Mulumbu will battle for supremacy with young midfielder Amadou Moutari of French side Le Mans, who is likely to start.
The gangling central defence duo of Kowa and Koroumah Fatoukouma will also have an arduous task in their hands in keeping Mputu and Mbokani at bay.

DID YOU KNOW?
Niger’s heaviest defeat in their football history was handed to them by DR Congo’s neighbours Congo Brazzaville, who walloped them by 10-0 in Cote d’Ivoire on December 27, 1961.
DR Congo qualified to the next stage the last time they played in Group B of the Afcon which was in Egypt 2006.
Niger have the least number of European-based players in this year’s Afcon.
The last time Claude Le Roy faced a German coach in the Afcon was in 2008 when Otto Pfister masterminded Cameroon’s 1-0 win over Ghana.
Niger’s German coach Gernort Rohr has lost his last two Afcon games against teams handled by French coaches (Alain Girese of Mali in the 2010 Afcon when he was coaching Gabon, and Patrice Cateron of Mali in the Group B game of the ongoing tournament).
This is Niger’s third major Caf tournament participation in a row - 2011 Chan, 2012 and 2013 Afcon editions.

Prediction
The odds favour coach Claude Le Roy’s charges after that vintage performance against favourites Ghana on Sunday.
Editor's Prediction
Niger 1-2 DRC

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24.01. (Thu) 16:00 Ghana - Mali

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GHANA
Dauda, Paintsil, Vorsah, Boye, Asamoah, Annan, Badu, Adomah, Atsu, Wakaso, Gyan

MALI
Samassa, Diawara, Tamboura, Wague, N’Diaye, C. Diarra, Keita, K. Traore, M. Traore, S. Diarra, Diabate

The Black Stars are under pressure to beat the Eagles of Mali on Thursday after drawing their first group match. Ghana threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with DR Congo in the Group B opener. But the Malians fought hard to record a 1-0 win over Niger to move to the summit of the table.
This will be the third meeting between the two sides in the last 12 months. At the 2012 Afcon, the four-time African champions beat Mali 2-0 in the group stage, but the Black Stars suffered the same defeat when they met again in the third place play-off.
Ghana were deprived of the services of some key players who had injury concerns prior to the first match and coach Kwesi Appiah will be hoping those players are available.
Defender Isaac Vorsah was unable to pass the fitness test to start in central defence. Anthony Annan, who ordinarily is a starter, had to come on in the 73rd minute. The two players are likely to return to the starting line-up against Mali.
Captain Asamoah Gyan and Mubarak Wakaso picked up injuries after the DR Congo match, but the medical team is optimistic that they will pass the fitness test for the second match.
Goalkeeper Fatau Dauda who was the only local player to play on Sunday will maintain his spot after justifying his place in the team.
Mali came into the tournament with a great deal of confidence after winning bronze last year at the expense of Ghana. Their coach Patrice Carteron is fresh to the Africa terrain, but he has a collection of players who have played together for a while and also play competitively at club level.
The Eagles will draw inspiration from the former Barcelona man Seydou Keita, who is making his sixth appearance at the Afcon. The 33-year-old proved his worth after scoring the lone goal against Niger and he will certainly be a thorn in the flesh of Ghana’s team. The likes of Diawara and Diabate are other players who offer a great deal to the Malian side.

DID YOU KNOW?
The last time Ghana won the Africa Cup of Nations title was in 1982.
Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah is a former captain of the Black Stars.
The Black Stars denied Mali of qualification to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Ghana’s Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu was the first to score a goal at the 2013 Afcon.
Mali are making their eighth appearance at the tournament while Ghana are making their 19th appearance at the Afcon.
The Eagles are the first team to win a match at the tournament after the first three matches ended in draws.
Mali’s best performance in the history of the competition was in 1972 when they finished as runners-up.
Seydou Keita dedicated his goal against Niger to the people of Mali.

Prediction
It is going to be one of the toughest games at the group stage, but expect Ghana to pick the three points. In the first match, most of the Black Stars players who were expected to shine had an average game but once they come to light on Thursday, it will be difficult for the Malians to stop them.
Editor's Prediction
Ghana 2-1 Mali

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