17.12. (Sat) 15:30 Bayer Leverkusen - Nurnberg

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYER LEVERKUSEN Leno Castro, Friedrich, Toprak, Kadlec Bender, Rolfes Sam, Ballack, Schurrle Derdiyok

NURNBERG Schafer Maroh, Wollscheid, Klose, Simons Cohen, Zeitz Eigler, Didavi, Frantz Esswein

While Omer Toprak could return to the Leverkusen squad following a back problem, Robin Dutt may name the same back four that kept a clean sheet against Hannover last weekend. Eren Derdiyok should maintain his place at the heart of the attack. Renato Augusto, Rene Adler and Tranquillo Barnetta remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

In addition to long-term absentees Per Nilsson, Javier Pinola, Mike Frantz and Markus Mendler, Juri Judt will be missing for Dieter Hecking, having pulled out of training with a foot injury. Meanwhile, there are serious question marks over Marvin Plattenhardt and Tomas Pekhart, who are suffering from muscle problems and flu respectively.

Jens Hegeler is unable to play against his parent club, while Timothy Chandler will be suspended following his red card against Hoffenheim.

DID YOU KNOW

• Bayer Leverkusen have not lost at home to Nurnberg for nine years - since a 2-0 loss in December 2002.

• Stefan Kiessling made 59 Bundesliga appearances for Nurnberg, scoring 13 goals in a four-year spell at the club which ended in 2006.

• Eren Derdiyok has now matched his tally for last season with six league goals, including four of Leverkusen's last five league goals.

• Nurnberg were able to keep clean sheets in both league meetings with Bayer Leverkusen last season.

• Philipp Wollscheid will be playing against many of his former teammates, as he is set to join Leverkusen at the end of the season.

• The Bavarians sit bottom of the Bundesliga form table, with just five points from their last 10 games.

Prediction

Despite stuttering against Hannover, Robin Dutt's side have been in excellent form of late, and they should  brush aside their injury-ravaged opponents with relative ease. Absentees have not aided Nurnberg's cause, but a series of abject performances have seen the Bavarians slip agonisingly down the table.

Editor's Prediction

Leverkusen 3-0 FC Nürnberg

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17.12. (Sat) 15:30 Freiburg - Borussia D.

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

FREIBURG Baumann Hinkel, Krmas, Butscher, Bastians Flum Schmid, Rosenthal, Makiadi, Putsila Cisse

BORUSSIA DORTMUND Weidenfeller Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer Gundogan, Kehl Kuba, Kagawa, Grosskreutz Lewandowski

Marcus Sorg is deprived of the services of defenders Oliver Barth and Mensur Mujdza, who are out with injuries. In addition, midfielder Christian Bickel is also recuperating from a knock, while Julian Schuster is serving a suspension for accumulating yellow cards.

Dortmund will have to do without star player Mario Gotze, who has been ruled out until January. He joins defenders Julian Koch, Neven Subotic, Sven Bender and Moritz Leitner on the sidelines as Jurgen Klopp faces a selection headache.

Polish attacker Kuba is expected to start on the right side of the attacking midfield trident, while Croatian Ivan Perisic is also in with a chance to make the starting XI on Saturday.

DID YOU KNOW

• Freiburg boast the worst defensive record in the Bundesliga this season. Marcus Sorg's men have let in 35 goals in 16 games.

• Half of Freiburg's home matches against BVB have ended in a draw.

• The Breisgau-based outfit have not won their last game of a calendar year in their last 17 attempts.

• Borussia Dortmund have picked up 24 out of possible 30 points in their last 10 matches.

• BVB have lost just one of their last nine games against Freiburg.

• Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski has scored 10 goals, and assisted a further three in 16 Bundesliga matches.

Prediction

Freiburg are in deep trouble, and do not seem to be able to get a win from anywhere just now. Dortmund dropped two points against Kaiserslautern last week, but lightning rarely strikes twice.

Editor's Prediction

SC Freiburg 1-3 Dortmund

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17-12-2011 Harts na kvalitet MIODRAG KRIVOKAPIĆ, TRENER U SELTIKU (ŠKOTSKA 1)

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SPL Opta Facts - 17-18 December

Aberdeen v Hibernian

Hibs have scored on their last 10 trips to Pittodrie in all competitions.
The Dons ended a run of six league games without a win in their last match.
Aberdeen have not kept a clean sheet in the SPL since September (eight games since).
However, the Dons have scored in eight of their last nine league games.
Aberdeen's last 26 league wins at home have all come after they have opened the scoring: the last time they conceded first and won at Pittodrie was against Hibs in April 2008 (2-1).
Hibs have won only one of their last eight in the league.
Scott Vernon has netted three goals in four SPL appearances against Hibernian: his joint-most against any opponent.

Hearts v Dunfermline

Hearts have won seven of their last nine league meetings with the Pars, drawing the other two.
The Jambos have opened the scoring in their last seven league meetings with Dunfermline.
Hearts have won only one of their last seven league games (D1 L5).
The Jambos have failed to score in five of their last seven games in the SPL.
Hearts are unbeaten in the last 13 league games in which they have opened the scoring at home (12 wins, one draw).
The Pars have picked up just one win from their last 13 league games.
Dunfermline have scored in each of their last seven league games.
10 of Dunfermline's 14 points in the league this season have come on the road.
Only Rangers (8) have conceded fewer league goals than Hearts this season (14).

Kilmarnock v Dundee United

Killie are without a win in their last nine league clashes with Dundee United.
Both sides have found the net in the last six meetings between Kilmarnock and the Terrors in the SPL.
United have conceded 20 goals in their last eight league games on the road combined.
Kilmarnock have opened the scoring in their last five league games (W3 D1 L1).
Only Celtic and Rangers have picked up more points at home in the SPL this season than Kilmarnock (15).
Only Rangers (5) have scored more goals from penalties than Kilmarnock (3) in the SPL this season.
United have conceded the joint-most goals from indirect free kicks (5) and the most from corners (4) in the SPL this season.

Motherwell v St Mirren

Motherwell have won only three of their last nine league games at home to the Saints.
The last three league meetings between the sides have produced just four goals in total.
Motherwell have lost only one of their last nine in the SPL (six wins, two draws).
The Steelmen have won only one of their last six at home in the SPL (D2 L3): only five teams have picked up fewer points on their own turf this season.
St Mirren have taken only one point from the last nine available in the league.
The Buddies have won only one of their last six on the road in the SPL.
St Mirren have bagged just five second-half league goals this season: fewer than any other SPL side.

Rangers v Inverness CT

There have been only eight goals scored in the last five league meetings between Caley Thistle and Rangers combined.
The Gers have averaged just 1.6 points per game at home to Inverness in the SPL: fewer than against any other side.
Rangers have conceded just 10 goals in their last 28 league games combined.
The Gers are unbeaten in 13 in the league at Ibrox (W9 D4).
Excluding penalties, Inverness are one of two sides against whom Nikica Jelavic has played in the SPL, but not scored (with Dunfermline).
Jelavic has scored eight goals in his last eight league appearances for the Gers.
Caley Thistle are yet to keep a clean sheet in the SPL this term: Aberdeen hold the record for most SPL matches without a clean sheet at the start of a season (22 in 99/00).
Inverness have won two of their last three on the road in the league.
Caley Thistle have conceded the most goals from outside the box in the SPL this season (nine).

St Johnstone v Celtic

St Johnstone's win at Celtic earlier this season ended a run of 12 consecutive league defeats against the Bhoys.
Celtic have won on their last six league trips to St Johnstone.
Celtic are on a run of six straight league wins, they have not won seven in a row since October 2010.
The Bhoys have conceded only three goals in their last eight league matches combined.
St Johnstone have lost three of their last four league games at home.
Antony Stokes has scored five goals in Celtic's last four league games on the road.
Celtic are the only SPL side yet to concede a goal from outside the box in the SPL this season.
The Bhoys have scored twice as many goals from outside the box (10) as any other side in the SPL this season.

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16.12. (Fri) 20:30 Bayern Munchen - Koln

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Boateng, Van Buyten, Badstuber, Lahm Tymoshchuk, Kroos/Schweinsteiger Robben, T. Muller, Ribery/Pranjic Gomez

FC KOLN Rensing Brecko, Geromel, Jemal, Sereno Lanig, Riether Clemens, Jajalo, Peszko Podolski

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has both positive and negative news on the injury front. Franck Ribery could miss the contest, while there is a chance Bastian Schweinsteiger could make his return having been out since the start of November with a broken collarbone.

The reinstatement of Brazilian defender Breno is still unknown as well, as the troubled stopper continues his preparations for returning to the first team having recently being arrested on suspicion of arson.

For Koln, no major news has emerged in recent days regarding their first XI - Petit, Novakovic, Andrezinho and Chihi are all still out - so expect much of the same from the Rhineland outfit.

DID YOU KNOW

• Lucas Podolski has scored 14 goals in 15 appearances for Koln in the Bundesliga this season. Five of them have been in the last three matches.

• Koln have already been in action this week - a 1-1 draw with Mainz on Tuesday evening with that man Podolski earning his side a draw.

• Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez is the top scorer in the Bundesliga, with 15 for the season.

• The Billy Goats are the only side to remain unbeaten at the Allianz Arena since building was completed on the stadium in 2005.

• Koln coach Stale Solbakken is said to be against doubling up on flying winger Arjen Robben, meaning the Dutchman could have an interesting game ahead of him.

Prediction

Perhaps a little bold to predict Koln's first defeat at the Allianz, but Bayern have failed to score less than two goals in just five games. Even without Ribery, Bayern have the necessary class to overcome the visitors.

Editor's Prediction

Bayern 2-1 FC Koln

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