Ligue 1 Opta Facts - December 2-4

Caen v Marseille

Caen have only won two of their 11 home games against Marseille in L1 (18.2%), which represents their second worst win ratio against teams currently in the top flight (no wins out of three against Lorient being their worst).
Marseille are unbeaten in their last four trips to Caen in L1, registering three wins and one draw; their last defeat at the Stade Michel d'Ornano was on the 22nd of March 1997 (1-0).
The last 16 Ligue 1 encounters between these teams have only produced one draw; however it was their last meeting (2-2) on the 29th of May 2011.
Marseille have not won any of their last seven league matches played in December, registering two defeats and five draws whilst only scoring two goals in those encounters.
Marseille have scored 10 headed goals in Ligue 1 this season (five by Rémy, three by A. Ayew and one each by J. Ayew and Alou Diarra) which is a record in Europe's top five leagues.
Marseille have only lost three of the last 43 Ligue 1 matches in which Stéphane Mbia has played.

Ajaccio v Lille

Ajaccio have won only one of their last 10 league encounters with Lille, their last victory was back in May 2005 (2-0).
Lille are unbeaten in their last five trips to Ajaccio in L1, having registered two victories and three draws.
Ajaccio have not won any of their last 10 league matches (three draws and seven defeats) which is currently the longest winless streak in L1.
Lille are unbeaten in 13 league matches (seven wins and six draws) which is currently the longest unbeaten run in the top flight.
Lille are the only unbeaten team away from home this season in Ligue 1.
Lille are unbeaten in their last 10 Ligue 1 encounters with promoted teams, registering 9 wins and a draw.
Ajaccio are the only team that have yet to keep a clean sheet in L1 this season, in the top five European Leagues only Blackburn, Norwich and Novara are in the same situation.
Lille's 10 away goals in the league have all come in the second half of matches.

Brest v St Etienne

Both matches between these teams last season ended as 2-0 victories for the home team.
St Etienne have lost five of their last seven matches away to Brest in Ligue 1.
All of St Etienne's six victories in L1 this season have been against teams in the bottom half of the table.
Brest have won their last two top flight matches at their Francis-Le Blé stadium (3-1 against Lorient and 2-0 against Sochaux).
The top flight clubs from Brittany are all unbeaten at home this season in Ligue 1 (Brest, Lorient and Rennes).
Bruno Grougi has scored four goals in his last three league appearances at the Francis-Le Blé stadium.
Florent Sinama-Pongolle has scored in two consecutive league appearances for the first time since September 2008.
Five players have been sent off against St Etienne, which is a record in L1 this season.

Dijon v Sochaux

Dijon and Sochaux have met once before, in a last sixteen League Cup tie in October 2006 which Sochaux won 5-0 at home.
Dijon have recorded two successive victories in L1, which is currently the best run in the top flight.
Sochaux are unbeaten in their last seven Ligue 1 matches against promoted teams, having registered five wins and two daws.
Dijon's substitutes have scored five goals in L1 this season, only Lille's are as prolific.
Sochaux have conceded the most goals in L1 in 2011 (50).
Sochaux have not won any of their last five away matches in L1 (three defeats and two draws).
Dijon have lost every league match in which they have been trailing at half time this season.

Evian TG v Valenciennes

Evian TG and Valenciennes have already played twice in the past, in the third tier in 2004/05. ETG then called Croix de Savoie, drew 1-1 at home but lost 1-0 at Valenciennes.
ETG have scored at least once in every one of their last eight league matches, which is currently the longest run in L1.
ETG have only kept one clean sheet at home in the league this season, on the second matchday of the season, against Nice (1-0).
Valenciennes are the only team that have yet to score in the first 15 minutes of an L1 match this season.
ETG have won their last two matches at home in the top flight (against Auxerre and Lorient).
Valenciennes have only won two of their last 33 away matches in the top flight (1-0 against Arles-Avignon on the 17th of April and 2-0 against Monaco on the 23rd of October 2010).
Yannick Sagbo has netted five goals in his last five league appearances at Annecy's Parc des Sports.
Daniel Wass is the first Evian Thonon Gaillard player to score in two consecutive top-flight appearances.

Montpellier v Lorient

Montpellier have been in the top three of the table for 14 of this season's 15 L1 match days, no team has been as consistent this season.
Montpellier are unbeaten in their last seven top flight matches (five wins and two draws).
Montpellier have scored 32 goals in L1 this season; as many as they did over the whole of last season.
Montpellier have won six of their seven home league matches this season, losing only once (3-0 to PSG).
Montpellier and Lorient have already played at La Mosson this season, a last 16 League Cup tie which Lorient won 2-1 thanks to goals from Innocent Emeghara and Joel Campbell.
Lorient have lost their last three away matches in the top flight and have only registered only one away win in L1 this season (away to PSG on the opening day of the season).
Olivier Giroud is the first player to score 11 goals after 15 L1 matchdays since Karim Benzema in 07/08.

Nice v Rennes

Rennes are unbeaten in their last 10 Ligue 1 matches against Nice, winning five and drawing five.
Rennes are unbeaten in their last five trips to the Stade du Ray in L1, having won twice and drawn three.
Rennes have scored in their last 13 league matches against Nice.
Nice have suffered three consecutive defeats in L1 without scoring a single goal, both are currently the longest such streaks in Ligue 1.
Rennes are the only team in L1 without a draw away from home this season (five wins and three defeats).
Rennes, who are currently on a run of two successive league wins, have yet to win three in a row in L1 this season.
Victor Montaño has netted three goals in his last four league appearances against Nice.
91% of Nice's points in L1 this season have been collected at home (10 out of 11) which is the highest ratio in L1 this season.

Bordeaux v Nancy

Nancy have lost 19 of their last 26 matches away to Bordeaux in L1, winning three and drawing four of those encounters.
Nancy have only kept three clean sheets in their 26 trips away to Bordeaux in Ligue 1
Only Lyon (27) have inflicted more defeats on Nancy than Bordeaux (26) in Ligue 1.
Of the teams currently in Ligue 1, Bordeaux have scored the most goals against Nancy (80).
Bordeaux are unbeaten in their last seven home matches in L1, only Lorient are on a better run (unbeaten in eight).
Nancy have never scored more than once in their seven away matches in the league this season.
Nancy's solitary away victory in L1 this season was against PSG on the 14th match day.
Yoann Gouffran has scored five goals in the last five L1 match days, the most of all players over that period.

PSG v Auxerre

PSG have gone three league matches without a victory, only the two bottom teams are currently on worse runs; Ajaccio are winless in 10 whilst Nice have not won in five.
PSG have not scored in their last two league matches, only Nice are on a worse streak (no goals in three).
Auxerre have only won two of their last 21 away matches in L1 (against Toulouse and Lorient last season).
Auxerre have lost six of their last seven competitive matches.
PSG lost both of their league matches against Auxerre last season (2-3 at the Parc des Princes and 0-1 at the Stade Abbé Deschamps).
Auxerre have won three of their last five league matches at the Parc des Princes.
None of the last nine L1 matches between these teams at the Parc des Princes have finished as a draw (three wins for Auxerre and six PSG victories).
Auxerre have conceded 48 goals at the Parc des Princes, more than at any other away ground in L1.

Lyon v Toulouse

Since their foundation in 1970, Toulouse have never won away to Lyon in the league, losing 13 and drawing four of their 17 encounters.
Since 2010, Lyon have only lost two of their 35 matches at home in L1 (against St Etienne last season and Rennes this season) managing 23 wins and 10 draws.
Lyon have scored at least one goal in their last seven home matches in the league against Toulouse.
None of Lyon's last 12 league matches have ended as a draw (seven wins and five defeats) which is currently the longest run without drawing in the top flight.
Lisandro has scored 13 goals in his last 16 Ligue 1 starts.
Toulouse have not scored a single goal in their last three away matches in L1.
This season Lyon have not lost a single L1 match in which Lisandro has started (three wins and two draws).
Toulouse have kept the most clean sheets in Ligue 1 this season (nine).

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02-12-2011 MILAN PERENDIJA (OCELUL, RUMUNIJA) OČEKUJE DA PADNE BUNKER SPORTULA

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30.11. (Wed) 21:05 Tottenham Hot. - PAOK

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM Gomes Walker, Sandro, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Livermore, Modric, Dos Santos Defoe, Pavlyuchenko

PAOK Kresic Etto, Contreras, Malezas, Lino Arias, Garcia, Fotakis Salpingidis, Athanasiadis, Papazoglou

Tottenham have five injury worries ahead of their clash at White Hart Lane on Wednesday evening, with Rafael van der Vaart, Danny Rose, Nico Kranjcar, Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson all unavailable for selection.
The visiting side will have an almost full squad to choose from, but former Porto player Vierinha will not travel to London after sustaining an injury at the weekend in their Greek Super League fixture against Kerkyra.
The hosts will most likely be taking this tie seriously with three out of the four teams all up for a place in the last 32 of the Europa League, with the visitors especially geared up after going unbeaten so far in Group A and currently topping the table by a narrow solitary point.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This is the 23rd Europa League (or equivalent) campaign for PAOK.

• The side hold the second most consecutive participations in Europe’s second tier competition, entering the tournament nine times in a row from 1997/98 to 2005/06 – just one behind Belgian side Club Brugge's record of 10 uninterrupted entries.

• The Greek outfit’s most successful run in the tournament was back in the 1997/98 season, when they qualified for the second round by beating Arsenal 2-1 on aggregate in the first, but lost to Spanish side Atletico Madrid 9-6 over two legs.

• Current attacker Dimitrios Salpingidis (pictured right) is PAOK’s most appeared player in a Uefa competition and also the side’s highest goalscorer in Europe.

• Tottenham were the inaugural winners of the now defunct Uefa Cup in 1972 and last won the tournament in 1984.

• The game against Laszlo Boloni’s side will be a landmark for Spurs, with the north London outfit playing their 150th game in a Uefa competition, whilst PAOK can record their 150^th European goal against Harry Redknapp’s men.

• Spurs made the last 32 in their last Europa League campaign back in 2008/09, which was the last in a trio of consecutive appearances.

Prediction

Wednesday night’s clash will come down to who wants it the most. Tottenham are just one point off the top of Group A and know a win will put them in a prime position to progress into the last 32.
However, pride is at stake for PAOK as they attempt to keep their unbeaten run going as well as staying ahead of their opponents going into the final group game.

Editor's Prediction

Tottenham 2-1 PAOK

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30.11. (Wed) 20:45 Manchester Utd. - Crystal Palace

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED Amos Rafael, Smalling, Fryers, Fabio Valencia, Pogba, Fletcher, Park Diouf, Macheda

CRYSTAL PALACE   Price Clyne, McCarthy, Gardner, Moxey Ambrose, Garvan, Dikgacoi, Scannell Zaha, Easter

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to ring the changes for this quarter-final but it looks to be too soon for Danny Welbeck who is still suffering with a muscle injury and Michael Owen is definitely out with a thigh injury. Chris Smalling and Darron Gibson are back in contention for the Red Devils, with youngsters Paul Pogba and Ezekiel Fryers two fledglings set to start.

Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman welcomes back influential midfielder Darren Ambrose but he will be without Dekel Keinan as he is cup tied after representing Cardiff in earlier rounds. Another loanee, striker Chris Martin, should be available but Jonathan Williams is still absent with a broken leg and Lee Hills and Alex Marrow are also out.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sir Alex won his first major trophy at Manchester United when they beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in the 1990 FA Cup final replay.

• Palace beat fellow Championship side Southampton in the last round, goals from Darren Ambrose and Jermaine Easter sealed a 2-0 victory over the league leaders.

• Manchester United cruised through to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over League Two side Aldershot with goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia.

• The last time the Eagles travelled to the North West they were beaten 5-2 in 2004, and weeks before they had lost the last League Cup encounter between the sides 2-0 with Louis Saha and Kieran Richardson getting the goals.

• Dougie Freedman has been in charge at Selhurst Park since the start of the year. The 37-year-old is another Glaswegian manager and he’ll face the leader of that group in Sir Alex.

• The two sides have met 41 times in their history and not surprisingly United have dominated the head-to-head matches with 26 wins, there have been nine draws and the Eagles have just six victories. In the League Cup this will be their sixth meeting and Palace have not won any of the previous five encounters.

• Palace are a strong side away from home this season – they have won four out of their nine away games but only average one goal per game on their travels.

• Although they have performed well in the Championship this season, the Eagles have not won since their victory over Southampton and have not scored a goal in their past five matches.

• The average age of United’s sides so far in this competition has been 26 versus Leeds and just 24 against Aldershot. They won both games 3-0.

• United will be without their top scorer in the competition, Michael Owen, but Palace will have theirs, Wilfried Zaha, available and keen to add to his three goals already.

Prediction

It’s hard to predict a game like this when the exact nature of Sir Alex ’s line-up is unknown. It will be a good test for the United youngsters against an improving Palace side under Freedman, but expect the home side to come out victorious.

Editor's Prediction

Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

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30.11. (Wed) 19:00 Celtic - Atletico Madrid

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CELTIC Forster Cha Du-Ri, Majstorovic, Loovens, Matthews Kayal, Wanyama, McCourt Samaras, Stokes, Hooper

ATLETICO MADRID Asenjo Perea, Miranda, Dominguez, Filipe Mario Suarez, Gabi Arda, Diego, Reyes Adrian

Celtic manager Neil Lennon will be wary of tinkering with a winning side too much for this crunch tie against the 2009-10 Europa League winners. His biggest decision will be which forwards to play and how to deploy them. Gary Hooper has been in fine goalscoring form, but he also has James Forrest, Georgios Samaras and Anthony Stokes at his disposal. Northern Ireland midfielder Paddy McCourt could come in for Joe Ledley on Wednesday night after making an appearance from the bench in their 5-0 thrashing of St Mirren over the weekend. Atletico Madrid will likely be lacking their star striker Radamel Falcao, who has a strained abductor muscle from Colombian international duty. Tiago Mendes, Eduardo Silvio and captain Antonio Lopez are also ruled out of the match at Celtic Park. Manager, Gregorio Manzano, will be aware of the larger threat the SPL side pose at their home ground despite beating them in Spain. Teenage goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, could be dropped by the former Sevilla boss having been red carded in their clash with Real Madrid on Sunday, which would see 22-year-old Sergio Asenjo given a chance between the sticks.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Atletico Madrid won the reverse tie in September 2-0. It was the first game of the group stage for both sides, with the Hoops not having lost in the tournament since.

• Celtic sit third in Group I with five points, below Wednesday’s Spanish opposition and Italian club Udinese, who both have seven points from four games.

• The La Liga club lost on Sunday 4-1 to their local rivals Real Madrid. Atletico took a surprise lead through Adrian but were eventually swept aside by Jose Mourinho’s team.

• SPL striker Gary Hooper (pictured right) has scored six times in the last five games for the Glaswegian club.

• The Spanish side, currently lying 11th in La Liga, beat Premier League club Fulham to take the 2009-10 Europa League crown.

• Celtic are on a run of five straight victories in all competitions. However, they have only collected one win in Europe this campaign, which came in their last match at home to France club Rennes.

• Atletico Madrid have the 19th worst away record in the Spanish top flight this season – they have won none, drawn one and lost five on their travels.

• The last time the Hoops lost was three days after their defeat against Manzano’s side, on September 18 against bitter rivals Rangers.

• In the Europa League, both clubs have an identical away record having both lost 2-0 and drawn 1-1 respectively.

Prediction

This game will be decisive for Celtic’s continental hopes. If Lennon’s men succumb to defeat their chances of qualifying for the knockout stage are all but gone, and a draw would be equally damning. The Scottish side are in fine form but, on the other hand, with only one scalp in Europe this season it would be foolish to immediately condemn the Spanish side to a loss. However, Atletico Madrid’s appalling away form has to be taken into consideration and – if Stokes, Samaras and Hooper perform as they have in recent games – then Celtic Park could be looking at a memorable victory.

Editor's Prediction

Celtic 4-2 Atl. Madrid

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