Premier League Opta Facts - 25th-26th February

Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers

Frank Lampard has scored more goals against Bolton than against any other team in the Premier League (11).
Only Robbie Fowler (12) has ever scored more PL goals vs the Trotters than Lampard (11).
Bolton have won none of their last 16 Premier League games against Chelsea (W0 D3 L13).
Bolton have drawn two and lost three of their last five league visits to Stamford Bridge but all three defeats were by just a one-goal margin.
The Blues have won just three of their last eight Premier League games at Stamford Bridge.
Bolton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 38 Premier League away games.
The last time Chelsea had fewer points after 25 games in the Premier League was season 2000-01 (37).
Bolton have kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 Premier League games.
Chelsea have kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 league fixtures.

Newcastle United v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Newcastle are unbeaten in their five Premier League games with Wolves (W2 D3).
Wolves have scored one goal in each of their five Premier League games against Newcastle.
Newcastle have won their last three home games in a row; they haven't won won four on the trot since October 2007.
Victory in their last away game ended a run of 10 on the road in the Premier League without a win for Wolves.
Wolves have recouped the most points from losing positions in the Premier League this season (13).
They've needed that resilience as they have trailed in 21 of their 25 league games, more than any other side.
Wolves are the only team in the Premier League without a goal from a shot outside the box.
In contrast, they have conceded the highest percentage of goals of goals from long range (27%).
Newcastle have conceded the joint-most penalties in the Premier League (8).
Wolves have gone 22 Premier League games without a clean sheet.

Queens Park Rangers v Fulham

QPR have failed to score in their last five games against west London neighbours Fulham (in all competitions).
Rangers suffered their heaviest ever Premier League defeat when they lost 6-0 to Fulham earlier this season at Craven Cottage.
QPR have lost five of their last seven Premier League home games.
Fulham have won just one of their last 12 Premier League away games (W1 D5 L6).
QPR have dropped the most points from wining positions this season (15) and 13 of those have been relinquished on home soil.
Rangers have scored the highest percentage of first half goals in the top flight this season (56%).
QPR have gone 16 games without a clean sheet in the Premier League.
Mark Hughes' side have won just one of their last 13 Premier League games.
Fulham haven't kept a clean sheet in their last nine league games.
39% of the goals Fulham have conceded this season have been shipped in the final 15 minutes of games, the highest percentage in the top flight.

West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland

Nicklas Bendtner has scored three Premier League goals against West Bromwich Albion; his joint-highest tally against any club.
West Brom have lost five and won none of their last six Premier League games at the Hawthorns.
Nobody has picked up fewer points on home soil than the Baggies this season (8) and West Brom have also scored the fewest home goals (9).
Sunderland have won three of their last four Premier League away games (W3 L1)
The Black Cats have conceded the highest percentage of headed goals in the top flight this season (31%).
West Brom have kept just one clean sheet in their last 17 Premier League games.
Sunderland are the only team not to score from the penalty spot this season.
Sunderland have made more tackles (552) than any other Premier League side.
Seb Larsson has fired in more direct free kicks on target than any other player (8) and scored the most goals via this route (3).
West Brom have scored the joint-highest percentage of goals in the opening 15 minutes of games (21% along with Liverpool).

Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa

Villa's win earlier this season was the first time in 11 Premier League meetings that the home side had won this fixture.
Only against Everton (six goals) has Agbonlahor scored more often than against Wigan (5).
Aston Villa have lost just one of their last seven Premier League meetings with Wigan (W4 D2 L1).
Wigan have won none of their last 10 Premier League games at the DW Stadium (W0 D4 L6).
The Latics have scored only eight goals in total in their last 10 home Premier League games.
Aston Villa have lost just one of their last six Premier League away games (W3 D2 L1).
35% of Wigan's goals have come from shots outside the box, the highest percentage in the top flight.
Villa have only kept one clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League matches.
Wigan have only kept one clean sheet in their last 22 top flight games.
32% of the goals Aston Villa have conceded have come from corners, a higher percentage than any other team.

Manchester City v Blackburn Rovers

Manchester City have lost none of their last eight Premier League games against Blackburn (W5 D3 L0), winning four of the last five.
Manchester City have earned 64 points from the last 66 available on home soil and won the last 17 in a row at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens have kept four clean sheets in their last five Premier League home games.
Blackburn have won just two of their last 21 Premier League away games (W2 D8 L11).
Rovers have kept just one clean sheet in their last 31 matches on the road.
Yakubu has the best conversion rate of shots into goals of any regular player in the Premier League this season (38%).
79% of the goals Man City have conceded have come in the second half games, the highest percentage in the Premier League.
Joe Hart has the best saves to shots ratio of any regular goalkeeper this season, saving 79% of shots on target faced.
Paul Robinson has the worst saves to shots ratio of any regular goalkeeper this season, preventing just 52% of accurate attempts from beating him.
Man City have kept seven clean sheets in their last 10 Premier League matches.

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

Rafael van der Vaart has scored four goals in total in three Premier League games against Arsenal.
Since Harry Redknapp joined Tottenham, Spurs have won three, drawn three and lost two of the eight meetings in all competitions against Arsenal.
Tottenham have kept just one clean sheet in their last 32 matches in all competitions against the Gunners.
In all three visits to the Emirates, Spurs under Harry Redknapp have found themselves two goals down at some stage, but have won one, drawn one and lost one of those games.
Spurs have lost just one of the last seven league games against the Gunners (W3 D3 L1) and won three of the last four (W3 D1 L0).
Robin van Persie has scored four goals in his last five starts against Tottenham in the Premier League.
Gareth Bale has netted three times against Arsenal, his joint-highest tally against any opponent in the Premier League (along with Wigan).
Arsenal have picked up the fewest points in the head to heads between the top seven teams in the Premier League this season (4).
The Gunners have scored 248 goals in London derbies under Arsene Wenger.
Spurs victory at the Emirates last season ended a run of 17 away league games against the Gunners without a win for the Lilywhites.
Only David Silva (12) has more assists than Emmanuel Adebayor (10) in the Premier League this season.

Norwich City v Manchester United

The last four games in all competitions between Norwich and Man Utd at Carrow Road have ended with a 2-0 scoreline, as did the meeting earlier this season at Old Trafford.
After not keeping a clean sheet all season, the Canaries have kept shut outs in their last two home games.
Norwich have lost just one of their last six home games in the Premier League (W3 D2 L1).
Manchester United have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League away games (W8 D4 L1).
Only Norwich City have scored more headed goals (14) than Manchester United (11) this season.
Five of Javier Hernandez's eight Premier League goals this season have been the opening goal of the game.
Manchester United have posted the best shooting accuracy figures in the Premier League this season (53%) and best conversion rate (20%).
The Red Devils have kept the most clean sheets in the Premier League this season (12) while only Blackburn (0) have kept fewer than Norwich (2).
Grant Holt has committed more fouls than any other player so far this season (60).
Norwich have scored more goals from crosses than any other Premier League side (20).

Stoke City v Swansea City

Swansea have won the last four games with Stoke in all competitions.
Stoke have won just two of their last eight Premier League home games (W2 D2 L4).
In their last eight away games, Swansea have either scored twice or not at all.
Tony Pulis' side have conceded the highest percentage of goals in the first half (55%).
Stoke have fired in fewer shots on target than any other team in the Premier League (64) and have the worst shooting accuracy (34%).
Stoke have been caught offside fewer times than any other team in the Premier League (34).
Stoke have conceded the most goals from the penalty spot this season (7).
Ryan Shawcross has made more defensive clearances than any other player in the top flight this term (318).
Stoke have won just one of their last nine Premier League games (W1 D3 L5).
Ashley Williams has blocked more shots than any other player this season (33).

Read More

24.02. (Fri) 11:20 Japan - Iceland

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

JAPAN Hayashi Inoha, Makino, Konno, Komano Shibasaki, Masuda, Okubo, Kashiwagi, Nakamura Maeda

ICELAND Gunnleifsson Jonsson, Adalsteinsson, Kristjansson, Jonasson Danielsson, Bjarnason, Skulason Smarason, Thorvaldsson, Thorsteinsson

With both 30th-ranked Japan and 102nd-ranked Iceland sending out their B-teams for Friday's friendly, this match will be of less interest to casual fans and more interest to coaching staff, journalists and scouts.

Unable to summon his European stars for this non-Fifa match date, Japan manager Alberto Zaccheroni has called up a roster of J-League players that includes five newcomers who could potentially earn their first caps. Defenders Masahiko Inoha and Tomoaki Makino, both playing in Japan again after unsuccessful stints in Europe, will join mainstays such as Yasuyuki Konno and Yasuhito Endo.

The visitors' 18-man squad is light on big names overall; veteran goalkeeper Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson and defender Hallgrimur Jonasson are the only two players who started in Iceland's last international fixture, a 5-3 loss to Portugal in the final round of Euro 2012 qualifications. Manager Lars Lagerback will use his first match as a chance to try out unknown players and hopefully come away with some pride and even a draw from the reigning Asian champions.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In their last meeting in a 2004 friendly, Japan beat Iceland 3-2 at Manchester City Stadium with two goals from Tatsuhiko Kubo and an eventual game-winner by Alex dos Santos.

• This will be Japan's first match since their 1-0 loss to North Korea in Pyongyang last November.

• At 18 years and two months, Yuya Kubo would unseat Hidetoshi Nakata to become the youngest Japanese player to score an international goal were he to find the net.

• Iceland has yet to qualify for either the World Cup or European Championships.
• Iceland manager Lars Lagerback coached the Sweden national team for nearly a decade, leading them to two Round of 16 appearances at the World Cup and three Euro appearances.

Prediction

Japan are undoubtedly the stronger of the two sides, but depending on substitutions it's not out of the question that Iceland can pull back a consolation goal or two.

Editor's Prediction

Japan 3-1 Iceland

Read More

SPL Opta Facts - 25-26 February

St Mirren v Aberdeen

St Mirren are unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Aberdeen, winning three and drawing one.
Aberdeen have lost on their last three league visits to St Mirren Park, and on four of the last five.
St Mirren have won more SPL matches at home to the Dons (6) than any other side (Kilmarnock 4).
The Saints have failed to score in their last four SPL matches.
St Mirren's last three league games have all ended goalless: no side has ever drawn four consecutive SPL games 0-0.
Aberdeen's last two league games have ended goalless, and there have been just three goals in their last five combined.
The Dons are unbeaten in seven league games: they have never before gone unbeaten in eight in a row in the SPL.
Aberdeen have shipped only two goals in their last seven league games combined.

Celtic v Motherwell

The Bhoys have won eight of their last nine league meetings with Motherwell.
Celtic have won three of their last four league games at home to the Steelmen by the same scoreline: 4-0 (one 1-0).
In 24 visits, Motherwell have scored just six SPL goals at Celtic Park, and never more than once in a match.
Motherwell have hit at least three goals in four of their last five league games.
The Steelmen are unbeaten in six in the SPL, their best run this season.
Celtic are on a run of 16 consecutive league wins.
The Bhoys have kept a clean sheet in their last five SPL matches, and have conceded only twice in their last 13 combined.
Celtic have scored 16 SPL goals from outside the box this season, nine more than any other side.

Hearts v Dundee United

United have scored just three goals in their last eight visits to Tynecastle in the league combined.
A win at Hearts in July ended a run of seven league games without a win for the Terrors in this match in Edinburgh.
United have won both league meetings between the sides so far this season 1-0.
Dundee United have won their last four meetings with the Jambos in the SPL, and have lost only one of the last 10.
Hearts have failed to score in seven of their last 10 league meetings with United.
Hearts are without a win in four in the SPL (D1 L3), scoring just once in this run.
United are unbeaten in four in the league (W2 D2), they have not gone five without defeat all season.
These two sides (Hearts 10, Dundee United 13) have scored the most goals in the last 15 minutes of SPL games this season.

Kilmarnock v Hibernian

Hibernian have scored in their last 10 league meetings with Killie.
Kilmarnock have lost just one of their last 12 league games at home to Hibernian (W8 D3 L1).
Killie have lost only one of their last six in the league at Rugby Park.
Kilmarnock have hit only three goals in their last six league games combined.
Four of Killie's last seven league goals have come from outside the box.
Hibernian have shipped at least three goals in four of their last five league games.
Hibs have won only one of their last 15 league matches.

St Johnstone v Dunfermline

The 3-0 win on Christmas Eve was the first time St Johnstone had beaten Dunfermline in the SPL (D6 L6 previously).
St Johnstone have never beaten the Pars at home in the SPL, and have failed to score in the last four on their own patch.
None of the last 11 matches between the sides in all competitions has been won by the team playing at home.
The Saints have lost six of their last eight league games at home.
Dunfermline have won only one of their last 15 SPL matches.
The Pars have lost seven of their last eight league away games.

Inverness CT v Rangers

Both teams had a man sent off in the earlier meeting at Inverness this season.
Rangers have won their last three league meetings with Inverness CT.
Only Celtic (44%) have won a higher proportion of their SPL games against Rangers than Inverness (15%).
There have been just five goals scored in the last five league games involving Inverness.
Caley Thistle are unbeaten in three at home in the league (W2 D1).
Rangers have lost four of their last 12 SPL matches.
The Gers have lost three of their last six on the road in the league.
Rangers have scored the joint-fewest goals from outside the box in the SPL this season (four, level with Hibernian).

Read More

Poslednje kolo treće kvalifikacione runde za sp u Aziji iz ugla Slobodana Pavkovića

Najviše uzbuđenja u poslednjem kolu treće kvalifikacione runde u Aziji moglo bi da bude u Grupi E. Ukoliko Iran savlada Katar, Bahrein će protiv Indonezije da „juri“ gol-razliku, koja bi mogla da ga odvede u narednu fazu borbi za plasman na Svetsko prvenstvo 2014. godine u Brazilu.
Za dešavanja u azijskom fudbalu boljeg sagovornika od Slobodana Pavkovića, tehničkog direktora Fudbalskog saveza Singapura, nismo mogli da nađemo. Naš stručnjak na ovoj funkciji nalazi se već pet godina, a pre toga radio je u Omanu, bio selektor Kuvajta...

GRUPA A
KINA – JORDAN 12 – Pošto je u ovoj grupi sve rešeno, utakmice su na nivou prijateljskih. Selektori će možda da kombinuju sastave, da probaju neke igrače. Ne verujem da će neko preterano da taktizira, pa isključujem mogućnost remija.
IRAK – SINGAPUR 1 – Moja selekcija se za ovu utakmicu pripremala u Dubaiju. Međutim, šanse Singapura su izuzetno male, pa moram da kažem da je Irak apsolutni favorit.

GRUPA B
J. KOREJA – KUVAJT 1 – Velika je razlika u fudbalu koji se igra u Koreji i onog u Kuvajtu. Kvalitet je ubedljivo na strani domaćina. Ukoliko ne bude nekih nepredviđenih okolnosti, Kuvajt nema šta da traži na ovom gostovanju.
UAE – LIBAN 2 – Pravo je čudo kako Liban sa samo amaterskim fudbalom u svojoj zemlji beleži ovakve rezultate. Emirati nemaju nijedan bod, pa je dvojka realna.

Read More

23.02. (Thu) 21:05 Atletico Madrid - Lazio

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATLETICO Courtois Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Suarez, Gabi Arda, Adrian, Koke Falcao

LAZIO  Marchetti Zauri, Ledesma, Dias Gonzales, Matuzalem, Candreva, Lulic Hernanes Kozak, Rozzi

Diego Simeone will be without the services of his Brazilian namesake, who has been ruled out for a month. However, the return of Arda Turan could prove timely to the Argentine, with the Turkish midfielder set to provide some creativity in the former Juventus man's absence.


Elsewhere, Atletico can name an unchanged team from the one that faced Sporting Gijon over weekend with Sergio Asenjo will miss the games for family reasons, and Antonio Lopez a prolonged absentee. Lazio will be without a host of players for the trip to Madrid. Miroslav Klose is out with a back problem, while Tomasso Rocchi, Cristian Brocchi, Lorik Cana, Giuseppe Biava and Marius Stankevicius remain injured. The dearth of strikers could hand a start to 17-year-old Antonio Rozzi, who has made inroads into the first-team in recent weeks.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Atletico manager Diego Simeone represented the Italian side between 1999 and 2003.

• The Spanish side have won their last five home matches in European competition; meanwhile Lazio have failed to win in their last three away games.

• Arda Turan and Lorik Cana will be well-acquainted as were team-mates at Galatasaray last season.

• Spain has not been a happy hunting ground for Lazio - they have won just once in the Iberian nation.

• However, the Italians will have happy memories of facing a Spanish club - they beat Real Mallorca in the 1999 Uefa Cup final.

• The Roman club have never won the competition in its current guise, but they did win the Cup Winners' Cup in 1999, following the victory up with Super Cup glory three months later.

Prediction

With the unrest surrounding Edy Reja's future, the string of missing players and the dominant nature of Atletico's victory last week, it's difficult to foresee a Lazio victory here. The Spaniards will be full of confidence following the result in Rome and I'd back them to ease to victory here and secure their place in the next round.

Editor's Prediction

Atl. Madrid 2-0 Lazio

Read More