23.08. (Tue) 20:45 Zurich - Bayern Munchen

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Zurich:
Leoni; Koch, Barmettler, Teixeira, Rodriguez; Schonbachler, Aegerter, Buff, Djuric; Chermiti, Mehmedi

Midfielder Stjepan Kukuruzovic is suffering from cruciate ligament damage and will miss the majority of the season, while Mathieu Beda is suspended after picking up a red card in the first-leg at the Allianz Arena. The pair were replaced by Heinz Barmettler and Oliver Buff in the 0-2 loss to Neuchatel Xamax on Saturday, and the duo are expected to retain their places.

Bayern Munich:
Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm; Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Gomez

Jerome Boateng and Luiz Gustavo sat out the 5-0 trashing of Hamburg, but are expected to be available for the game on Tuesday. Their replacements on Saturday, namely Daniel Van Buyten and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, delivered impeccable performances, meaning the German and the Brazilian are not guaranteed a starting spot against Zurich.

Croatian striker Ivica Olic, who only recently returned from a nine-month spell on the sidelines, suffered a hip injury in the game against Hamburg and is expected to be out for eight weeks. Brazilian defender Breno has also been ruled out the match as he is still recuperating.

DID YOU KNOW?

Zurich have played 12 games against German opposition, losing nine, drawing one, and winning just two times.

The Swiss side have eliminated a team from Germany in a two-legged play-off only once back in season 1976-77, when they knocked Dynamo Dresden out of the European Cup on away goals rule after a 4-4 aggregate score.

The Super Swiss League runner-ups have qualified for the group stage of the Champions League only once back in season 2009/2010.

Zurich's Ludovic Magnin spent seven years in the Bundesliga, playing for Werder Bremen and Stuttgart. He replaced current Bavarians captain Philipp Lahm in the Swabians' line-up in 2005.

Bayern Munich eliminated Swiss oppositions in the form of Neuchatel Xamax 3-2 on aggregate under Jupp Heynckes in his first stint with the German side back in 1987-88 European Champions' Cup.

The Bavarians have won four of their last five away games in the Champions League.

Bayern Munich's Ivica Olic and Jerome Boateng played against Zurich with Hamburg in the round of 32 of the 2007-2008 Uefa Cup. The Croatian scored in a 3-1 first-leg win in Switzerland, and the Red Shorts went on to progress after a goalless draw in Germany.

The Bavarians last missed on a place in the Champions League back in season 2007-2008.


Prediction

Bayern Munich are in red-hot form after three consecutive wins, and taking into account the immense improvements in defence, Jupp Heynckes' men are expected to get a good result in Zurich on Tuesday night. The hosts entered the game back on a 0-2 home defeat, but their underdog status can play to their advantage.

Editor's Prediction

FC Zurich 0-1 Bayern Munich

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23.08. (Tue) 20:45 Villarreal - Odense

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Villarreal (4-3-1-2):
Lopez; Mario, Musacchio, Zapata, Oriol; Bruno, Marchena, Cani, Valero; Nilmar, Rossi

With vice-captain Gonzalo Rodriguez still out after the broken fibula he sustained in April, Matteo Musacchio is set to continue in his place, as the Yellow Submarine look to start with the side that lost to Niels Thorborg's men last week. Following their appearances last week, Villarreal will look to Giuseppe Rossi and Nilmar in attack.

Odense (4-2-3-1):
Wessels; Ruud, Christensen, Reginiussen, Ruud; Sorensen, Djemba-Djemba; Johansson, Andreasen, Kadrii; Utaka

After resting many of the more recognisable names at the weekend, a more familiar side is set to line up in El Madrigal. After his stellar performance last Wednesday, Stefan Wessls can be assured of a starting berth for the Scandinavians, while Kalilou Traore could miss out despite scoring at the weekend.

DID YOU KNOW?

Villarreal qualified for the Champions League in their only previous appearance in the preliminary rounds, defeating Everton 4-2.

Only Marcos Senna, the Villarreal captain, remains from the team that started the side's 2006 Champions League semi-final draw against Arsenal at El Madrigal.

Villarreal defeated Odense in the second round of the 2004-05 Intertoto Cup, progressing with a 5-0 aggregrate victory over their opponents.

Odense have participated in Europe in all but one of the previous six years, their best showing a fourth-place finish in the Uefa Cup group stage in 2006-07

Spanish opponents have become familiar to the Danish club, who have recorded defeats against the likes of Osasuna, Getafe and Villarreal themselves.

Despite previous defeats to Spanish clubs in Europe, Odense recorded a surprise 2-0 victory in the Santiago Bernabeu in 1994-95, defeating a Real Madrid side that featured then-Denmark captain Michael Laudrup, to reach the Uefa Cup quarter-final.

Prediction

A sublime performance from Stefan Wessels last week guided his side to a clean sheet last week, but home advantage is likely to be key for the Yellow Submarine, who should ease to victory against their visibly weaker opponents.

Editor's Prediction

Villarreal 2-0 Odense

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Udinese v Arsenal - Opta Facts - 24 August

Last week's first leg at the Emirates was the only previous meeting between these two sides.

Arsenal have lost only five of their 26 previous meetings with Italian opposition in Europe, and have conceded only one goal in the last seven occasions they have faced an Italian side.

Arsenal will visit Udinese after having failed to score in their two opening Premier League fixtures; the last time this happened to the Gunners was 42 years ago, back in the 1969/70 campaign.

Arsenal have won all nine legs of their five Champions League Qualifying matches to date, including the reverse fixture with Udinese, conceding only two goals in the process.

Udinese have lost three of their last four European games, drawing one.

However, at home they are unbeaten in their last five games (four wins and a draw).

Arsenal's last eight European games away from home have seen them lose six times, and win two; though one of these wins did come at this stage last season at Celtic (2-0).

Last Tuesday at the Emirates, Udinese attempted 18 shots, six more than Arsenal, but hit the target only three times

Eight of these shots were attempted by Antonio Di Natale, who has been the Serie A top-scorer in the past two seasons (29 goals scored in 2009-10 and 28 last term).

Overall, Di Natale has been the most prolific Serie A scorer over the last five seasons with 97 goals in 160 games.

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PREDRAG JOKANOVIĆ (NACIONAL) TIPUJE 2 KOLO

MOJ TIP

Benfika je sedmi put zaredom ostala bez pobede u prvom prvenstvenom kolu. Prošlog petka vodila je 2:0 protiv Žil Visentea, ali je domaćin na kraju izvukao 2:2. Zato sam sada sto odsto uveren da će velikan iz Lisabona savladati Feirense.
BENFIKA - FEIRENSE 1

Tri boda će u uzeti i Porto, kao i Braga, koja će bez muke savladati Maritimo.
PORTO - ŽIL VISENTE 1

Akademika - Rio Ave 1x
Fereira - Leirija 1x

Sporting je pokraden u prošloj rundi u remiju sa Olhanenseom, pa predlažem da se odigra dvojka na gostovanju Beira Maru.
Beira Mar - Sporting2

BRAGA – MARITIMO 1
Olhanense – Setubal 1x

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NIKOLA ĐURĐIĆ (HAUGESUND, NORVEŠKA 1) TIPUJE KOLO

MOJ TIP

Od Grenland – Viking 1

Valerenga je kraću pauzu u prvenstvu zbog mečeva kupa iskoristila da se pojača dvojicom kvalitetnih fudbalera, pa je vreme da najzad pobedi. Olakšavajuća okolnost je što gostuje Sarpsborgu, najslabijem timu u ligi, glavnom kandidatu za ispadanje.
SARPSBORG – VALERENGA 2

Sogndal – Start 0-2

Rozenborg, poput Valerenge, ne blista, pa je angažovao Isaha iz Crvene zvezde i talentovanog Čeha Dočkala, ali ni to mu neće pomoći da izbegne poraz od mog Haugesunda. Mi smo u formi, gazimo redom, u seriji smo pobeda i ceo grad je uz nas, tako da očekujem da pobedimo velikana drugi put ove sezone.
HAUGESUND – ROZENBORG 1

Stromsgodset – Alesund 3+
Tromso – Fredrikštad 1
Stabek – Bran 3+
Molde – Lilestrem 1

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