Thursday, January 12, 2012
Preview Matches | by
013.01. (Fri) 15:00 Tunisia - Cote D'Ivoire
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
| TUNISIA  MathlouthiIfa, Haggui, Abdennour, JemalKorbi, Saihi Msakni, Chikhaoui, Dhaouadi Khelifa | COTE D'IVOIRE  CopaSiaka, Kolo, Boka, Lolo Yaya, Zokora, Tiote Gervinho, Kalou, Drogba |
Sami Trabelsi is likely to pick a starting lineup that will end up being very close to the team that will face Morocco in the first Group C match on January 23. The coach settled on his 23-man team on Wednesday, cutting Tunisian domestic league players Walid Hichri, Hatten Baratli, and Iheb Msakni from his provisional squad.
Yassine Chikhaoui is set to feature prominently against the Ivorians in order to ascertain his readiness. The play-maker missed the 3-0 victory over Sudan due to a last-minute trip to his club Zurich to settle some urgent administrative issues. Meanwhile, the north Africans will be hoping to recover Majdi Traoui, who pulled out of practice with an injury on Tuesday.
Elephants coach Francois Zahoui has also picked his final Afcon roster, deciding to leave out midfielder Marco Ne and backup goalkeeper Ibrahim Kone from his preliminary list. The west Africans have a match against a second north African opponent, Libya, lined up for Monday.
Aside for an injury to defender Emmanuel Eboue, the Ivorians are in good health and ready to put the finishing touches on their preparations for a tournament that many believe is the best chance for their generation of sparkling talents to lift the continental trophy. Zahoui might replace Eboue with Igor Lolo, Bejamin Angoua, or Sol Bamba.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- The last time these two teams faced each other, Tunisia hosted Cote D’Ivoire in Sousse and the match ended in a goalless draw. To date, it is the only goalless game between the two sides.
- The Carthage Eagles and Elephants have played each other 15 times, with the north Africans winning on six occasions, the Ivorians winning four times, and the remaining five games ending in draws.
- The widest margin of victory recorded historically between Cote D’Ivoire and Tunisia was during their first encounter back in 1963 when the west Africans won 3-0. Tunisia’s biggest victory is a 5-3 home triumph in 1991.
- Journeyman Kader Keita played in the Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 for Etoile from 2000 to 2001 before continuing onto the UAE, Qatar, France, Turkey, and then back to Qatar.
Preview Matches | by
0SPL Opta Facts - 14th January
St Johnstone v Rangers
Rangers have won 10 of their last 12 SPL games against the Saints (W10 D1 L1).
St Johnstone have failed to score in their last four league meetings with the Gers.
Rangers have never failed to score in 11 games at St Johnstone in the SPL.
The Teddy Bears have only lost a higher proportion of SPL games at Celtic Park (56%) than they have at St Johnstone in the SPL (27%, 3/11).
None of the last eight league games at McDiarmid Park have ended in a draw (four Saints' wins, four defeats).
Rangers have lost three of their last four SPL games on the road.
Prior to this run, the Gers had lost just three of their last 30 away from home in the league.
St Johnstone have dropped just two points after taking the league in the SPL this season, the joint-fewest in the competition (with Hearts).
Rangers have opened the scoring in the most SPL games this season (18).
Aberdeen v Kilmarnock
Aberdeen have won only one of their last seven league meetings with Killie (W1 D1 L5).
However the Dons have only lost two of their last 12 against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie (W6 D4 L2).
Aberdeen have lost only one of their last six SPL games (W3 D2 L1).
Kilmarnock have won just one of their last 14 league away matches (W1 D6 L7).
Killie have only failed to score in one of their last nine league matches.
48% of Aberdeen's league goals this season have come from set pieces, the highest proportion in the SPL.
Celtic v Dundee United
United have never won at Celtic Park in the SPL (W0 D6 L19).
It is 19 years since United last won away at Celtic in the league in the 1992/93 season.
Overall Celtic have won six of their last seven league meetings with the Terrors, drawing the other.
Gary Hooper has scored six goals in six appearances against United in the SPL.
Celtic are on a run of 10 consecutive SPL wins, their best run within a single season since 2008/09.
The Bhoys have conceded just one goal in their last seven league matches combined.
Celtic have only lost one of their last 25 league matches at home (W20 D4 L1).
Both sides have scored in United's last five SPL games (W2 D2 L1).
Dundee United are unbeaten in their last four league matches on the road (W1 D3).
United have scored the fewest goals from outside the box in the SPL this season (2) while Celtic have scored the most (12).
By contrast, Dundee United have conceded the joint-most goals from distance in this competition (10), while Celtic have conceded the fewest.
Dunfermline v Hibernian
The Pars are unbeaten in their last three league meetings with Hibernian (W2 D1).
Dunfermline have won only one of their last nine league games at home to Hibs (W1 D5 L3).
Dunfermline have taken just one point from the last 21 available in the league.
The Pars have failed to score in their last three SPL games.
Hibs are without a win in nine league games, managing just three draws in this run.
Hibernian have lost their last three in a row on the road in the league.
Dunfermline have scored the highest proportion of their goals in the second half in the SPL this season (75%).
Hearts v St Mirren
Hearts have lost just one of their last 13 SPL meetings with St Mirren (W8 D4 L1).
The Jambos have won six of their last seven at home to the Buddies, drawing the other and winning the last four in a row.
Despite playing just three games against them, Rudi Skacel has scored more goals against St Mirren than any other side in the SPL.
The Jambos have won three of their last four in the league, drawing the other.
Only Celtic and Rangers have picked up more points at home in the SPL this season than Hearts (21).
St Mirren have only won one of their last eight league games on the road (W1 D3 L4).
Both sides have scored in the Buddies' last six league games.
Only Celtic have scored more first half goals in the SPL this season than St Mirren (17).
The Buddies have scored the fewest second half goals in the SPL this season (5).
Motherwell v Inverness CT
Motherwell have won their last two league games against Inverness, scoring three times in each win.
Keith Lasley has scored a 77th-minute goal in the last two meetings between the sides in the SPL.
The Steelmen have lost just one of their last 12 league clashes with Caley Thistle (W9 D2 L1).
Inverness are without a win in their last seven league visits to Fir Park (D2 L5).
Motherwell have lost their last two SPL games: they haven't lost three in a row since February last year.
The Steelmen have won only one of their last seven SPL games at home.
Caley Thistle are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet in the SPL this season.
Inverness' away games have averaged 3.6 goals per game in the league this season.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
12.01. (Thu) 22:00 Osasuna - Barcelona
Getty
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
OSASUNA  Fernandez Damia, Flano, Sergio, Satrustegui Nekounam, Raul Garcia, Timor Lamah, Ibrahima, Torres | BARCELONA  Pinto Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Adriano Iniesta, Busquets, ThiagoCuenca, Fabregas, Pedro |
Jose Luis Mendilibar has several injury problems going into the game and will be without Roversio, Kike Sola, Ruben, Jukka Raitala and Ion Echaide, although Raul Garcia could pass a late fitness test to start in midfield.
The home side could give a number of younger players an opportunity, with Roberto Torres and Eneko Satrustegui in line for starts against the Primera Division giants.
With Barcelona holding a commanding lead going into the second leg, Pep Guardiola could use the game to rotate his squad. Jose Manuel Pinto will replace Victor Valdes in goal to resume his usual starting role in Copa del Rey fixtures.
Adriano could start at left-back in place of Eric Abidal with Maxwell apparently close to moving to French club Paris Saint-Germain. Seydou Keita has now joined up with his Malian team-mates for the African Cup of Nations, and Thiago could come into the midfield.
The Catalan club are likely to go into the game with a rotated frontline with the newly crowned Ballon d'Or, Lionel Messi, in line for a rest. Isaac Cuenca could also start the game after rejoining the Barcelona first squad after a recent spell training with the B team.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Osasuna have never won the Copa del Rey title yet the club were runners-up in 2005, losing to Real Betis 2-1.
- The side from Navarre are currently fifth in La Liga, four points behind Levante who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.
- Jose Luis Mendilibar's team have conceded 12 goals against the reigning European and Liga champions this season in only two meetings.
- Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas both grabbed braces to give Barcelona a commanding 4-0 lead heading into the second leg of the tie.
- Despite their loss in last season's Copa del Rey final to Real Madrid, the Catalans are the most successful side in Spanish cup history, with 25 triumphs.
- In three Copa games this season, Guardiola's men have scored 14 goals and are yet to concede.
BARCELONA
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
Pinto
Montoya, Fontas, Pique, Muniesa
Sergi Roberto, Busquets, Thiago
Pedro, Rafinha, Fabregas
It is difficult to see anything other than a comprehensive victory for Barcelona. With the Catalan club holding a 4-0 lead from the first leg, Osasuna will essentially be playing for pride, bu with an injury-plagued squad, expect more goals for Pep Guardiola's men.
Editor's Prediction
Osasuna 0-3 Barcelona 
12.01. (Thu) 21:00 Napoli - Cesena
Getty Images
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
NAPOLI  De Sanctis Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Zuniga Hamsik, Dzemaili Pandev | CESENA  Antonioli Comotto, Von Bergen, Rodriguez, RossiParolo, Guana Ceccarelli, Mutu, Candreva Eder |
Walter Mazzarri is expected to make some changes to the side that defeated Palermo 3-1 on Sunday evening, with Edinson Cavani among others expected to be rested for the cup clash. The hosts will also be without the injured Ezequiel Lavezzi, with the Argentina international still suffering from the muscle strain that has seen him miss the Azzurri's last two matches.
Cesena make the trip to Naples without the injured duo of Raphael Martinho and Dominique Malonga, with the pair ruled out of the tie with muscle problems. However, Jorge Martinez looks set to return to the squad after recovering from a calf injury, although he is unlikely to start the game - the Uruguay international may well feature from the bench.
| DID YOU KNOW |
- Napoli
have lost only one of their last 10 matches in all competitions.
- The last time the two sides met in this competition, the Azzurri triumphed with a 4-0 victory.
- If Napoli lift the trophy this season, it will be 50 years since the first time they won the competition.
- Cesena have yet to concede a goal in the Coppa Italia this season.
- The visitors are averaging two goals a game in the competition this term.
- Cesena will travel to Naples, on the back of a three game losing streak.
Prediction
Even with some key players missing out, the Azzurri should still have more than enough quality to see off the visitors, and a comfortable home victory seems a safe bet.
Editor's Prediction
Napoli 2-0 Cesena 
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
