22.01. (Sun) 15:00 Novara - Milan

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

NOVARA Ujkani Rinaudo, Centurioni, Garcia Morganella, Jensen, Radovanovic, Gemiti RigoniCaracciolo, Mascara

AC MILAN Amelia Abate, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Antonini Ambrosini, Van Bommel, NocerinoSeedorf Ibrahimovic, Robinho

Novara boss Attilio Tesser will be missing a number of defenders as Massimo Paci and Paolo Dellafiore are suspended and Carlalberto Ludi remains injured. However, he can call in several winter transfer window reinforcements as Leandro Rinaudo, Daniel Jensen and new strike duo Andrea Caracciolo and Giuseppe Mascara are all set to start.

Meanwhile, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri received two pieces of bad news this week as Kevin-Prince Boateng (who would have been suspended) and Alexandre Pato have each been sidelined for four weeks due to knocks suffered in recent matches. The former Portsmouth midfielder suffered a thigh problem during the derby defeat to Inter and the young Brazil striker, despite scoring the winning goal in extra-time of their Coppa Italia clash with Novara on Wednesday, picked up a muscle strain - meaning attacking options are fairly limited.

As such, veteran Clarence Seedorf should return to the starting XI in behind the two strikers and Robinho should pip Stephan El Shaarawy to partner Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front. Midfielder Alexander Merkel may also get a chance to shine from the bench after returning to the club from Genoa this past week. At the back, Alessandro Nesta is serving a one-match ban, so Philippe Mexes should step in.

Mathieu Flamini, Antonio Cassano, Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Aquiliani, and Mario Yepes are all dealing with long-term injury concerns and unavailable.

DID YOU KNOW?

• AC Milan have not played Novara in Serie A for over 50 years. The teams last met in league play during the 1955-56 campaign, when the Rossoneri won both matches.

• Milan's loss to Inter last weekend ended a positive run of 12 matches without a defeat in the top flight.

• The champions have the best attack in Serie A this season, having scored 37 goals, four more than closest competitors Napoli.

• Novara have the fewest wins in Serie A, just two, and have not picked up three points in any of their previous six matches. Their last victory was against Parma on November 26.

• The hosts have the worst defensive record in Serie A, conceding a total of 35 goals at an average of 1.94 per match.

• Novara striker Raffaele Rubinho is the only player to have scored in all of Italy's professional divisions with the same club.

Prediction

The hosts, despite sitting at the very bottom of the Serie A standings, have made some shrewd moves in the winter transfer market and will be hoping that they can start making a run in the league to try to avoid relegation back to Serie B. However, despite Milan's long injury list, Allegri's men should have just enough quality to overcome their spirited opponents.

Editor's Prediction

Novara 1-2 Milan

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22.01. (Sun) 15:00 Siena - Napoli

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

SIENA Pegolo Vitiello, Contini, Terzi, Del Grosso Mannini, Vergassola, D'Agostino, Brienza Calaio, Destro

NAPOLI De Sanctis Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena Hamsik, Pandev Cavani

The hosts could welcome back Simone Vergassola to the starting line up for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Novara back in October, after the former Sampdoria midfielder returned from the bench in last week's defeat to Parma.

However the Bianconeri will again be without first choice goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic, with the Serbia international still in recovery following groin surgery, while Luca Rossettini is suspended for the clash, meaning a likely start for Matteo Contini.

The visitors have some problems of their own, with Ezequiel Lavezzi likely to miss out, with the Argentina international still suffering from the thigh strain that has seen him miss his side's last four encounters, while Marco Donadel and Mario Santana are both doubtful for Sunday's clash.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Siena have both scored and conceded 19 goals in Serie A this term.

• The Bianconeri have never lost at home to Napoli in Serie A.

• The hosts have lost exactly a third of their home games this campaign.

• Napoli have lost only two of their away games in Serie A so far this term.

• The visitors are the second most prolific side in Serie A this term with 33 goals, only four behind champions AC Milan.

• Only Juventus and Atalanta, have drew more games than the Azzurri this season.

Prediction

After dropping two points in Monday's clash with Bologna, the Azzurri will be desperate to return to winning ways, and with the quality at Walter Mazzarri's disposal, expect a comfortable victory for the visitors.

Editor's Prediction

Siena 1-3 Napoli

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22.01. (Sun) 14:30 Manchester City FC - Tottenham

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER CITY Hart Zabaleta, Richards, Lescott, Clichy Nasri, Milner, Barry, Silva Dzeko, Aguero

TOTTENHAM Friedel Walker, Kaboul, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Parker, Modric, Bale Van der Vaart Defoe

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has Micah Richards back for this game, after the defender missed the prevous match. He could slot in at the centre at the expense of Stefan Savic, as Vincent Kompany is unavailable due to suspension.

Both Kolo and Yaya Toure are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, and are unavailable for this game. Otherwise, the Italian boss has all other players available as Mario Balotelli has recovered from an ankle injury.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp will not be able to field Emmanuel Adebayor in this fixture, since he is not allowed to play against his parent club. This should see Jermain Defoe leading the line up front.

Ledley King is a doubt due to a hamstring injury. But if he regains fitness, the centre-half should play alongside Michael Dawson in the heart of defence.

Meanwhile, David Bentley (knee), William Gallas (calf), Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Jermaine Jenas (Achilles) are all sidelined due to their respective injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester City's 5-1 victory at White Hart Lane early on in the season was their biggest win over Tottenham away from home.

• Roberto Mancini's men are in solid form at home, and are currently on an unbeaten streak of 20 matches in the Premier League. This run has also seen them accumulate 15 consecutive victories at Eastlands.

• City have also conceded only four goals at the Etihad Stadium in league games this season, which makes them the team with the best home defence in the league.

• The current league leaders have scored 57 goals so far, making their attack the most prolific in the top-flight. But the goals have dried up recently, as they have managed only four goals in their last four outings in the Premier League.

• Tottenham Hotspur had lost only once in 15 Premier League matches against this opposition before losing the last two meetings between the two sides.

• Historically, Spurs have a slight upper hand as they have beaten City on 56 occasions while losing 52 matches. A further 34 games ended in draws.

• The north London club have lost only once in their last nine league games away from home. That defeat was a 2-1 loss to Stoke City.

• Gareth Bale (pictured right) has created more goals than any other player for Tottenham, with seven assists to his name this season. But David Silva is at the top of the Premier League charts with 11 assists.

Prediction

Manchester City have been very strong at home despite their recent results in Cup competitions. Their objective has been to win the Premier League, and they will be able to take a fair amount of confidence from the fact that they beat Spurs 5-1 earlier in the season.
But that was early days, and Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has seen his side reach the dizzying heights of third place since, and a potential title tilt could be possible if the visitors take three points on the day.
Even so, one would expect Roberto Mancini to play his cards right and secure a victory, albeit a tight one.

Editor's Prediction

Manchester City 2-1 Tottenham

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22.01. (Sun) 14:30 AZ Alkmaar - Ajax

PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AZ Esteban Reijnen, Moisander, Viergever, Poulsen Maher, Martens, Elm Beerens, Benschop, Holman

Ajax Vermeer Ligeon, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Anita Enoh, Eriksen, Janssen Sulejmani, De Jong, Aissati

AZ coach Gertjan Verbeek has no notable injury worries ahead of Sunday's game, with Roy Beerens and Nick Viergever both expected to feature despite picking up minor knocks in Thursday's 3-2 KNVB Beker win over the same opponents.

Charlison Benschop is likely to get the nod again up front at the expense of Jozy Altidore, while Etienne Reijnen is expected to start ahead of Dirk Marcellis.

Ajax boss Frank de Boer will have to make do without the services of long-term injury concern Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, while Nicolai Boilesen still is not yet fully match-fit either.

Additionally, both right-back Gregory van der Wiel and winger Derk Boerrigter are both unavailable due to injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• AZ are currently sitting atop of the Eredivisie table with a one-point lead over second-placed PSV. 
  
• The hosts' goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado (pictured) has already kept nine clean sheets so far this season.

• The 2009 Eredivisie champions have already netted 23 goals at home in the current campaign, conceding only twice.

• Ajax are the league's number-four side at the moment with 33 points from 17 games.

• Miralem Sulejmani is the Amsterdam side's leading goalscorer at this stage with 11 strikes to his name.

• The away side have won their last four league games, scoring 12 goals and conceding just once.

Prediction

AZ have been in outstanding form at the Afas Stadium this season and only PSV and Feyenoord have managed to score on their turf in the league. Ajax thus await a difficult task to bag the full three points on Sunday and it will not be a surprise if AZ come out winners. The table-toppers beat their regional rivals 3-2 in the KNVB Beker on Thursday and AZ are therefore the favourites to win by a slight margin.

Editor's Prediction

AZ 2-1 Ajax

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22.01. (Sun) 12:00 Osasuna - Valencia

Roberto Soldado - Valencia

PROBABLE LINEUPS

OSASUNA Fernandez Damia, Sergio, Flano, Satrustegui Anunciatta, Nekounam, Timor Nino, Lekic, Lamah

VALENCIA Alves Barragan, Rami, Ruiz, Jordi Alba Banega, Albelda Feghouli, Jonas, Pablo Hernandez Soldado

For the home side, Ibrahima Balde, Kike Sola and Ruben look set to miss out against the visitors after each picked up an injury this month.

For Los Che, Roberto Soldado returns from suspension and will likely feature, but the injuries continue to mount.

With Sergio Canales and Hedwiges Maduro still out after being injured earlier in the season, Pablo Piatti will likely miss the clash after picking up a knock against Levante in midweek.

In defence, Miguel is set to sit out, while Pablo Hernandez is ready to win his fitness battle after picking up a bit of a strain in the Copa del Rey win on Thursday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Osasuna currently sit in sixth place in the league with 26 points and are four points behind Levante in the race for a Champions League spot.

• Despite having a solid league season, the club haven't seen victory in their last five games, three of which were in the Copa del Rey.

• The hosts have lost only one league game at home this season and are the highest team in the table with a negative goal differential, at minus nine.

• Valencia are in third place in La Liga with 34 points.

• Los Che have not won in their last five games on the road in all competitions.

• Unai Emery's team could not defeat Sunday's opponents last season, tying 3-3 and losing the other encounter.

Prediction

Valencia have struggled on the road as of late, and playing at the Reyno de Navarra is no easy task. The hosts should have enough to steal a point from the Europa League contenders.

Editor's Prediction

Osasuna 1-1 Valencia

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