10.03. (Sat) 16:00 Chelsea - Stoke City

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA CechIvanovic, Terry, Luiz, Cole Lampard, Ramires, Meireles Sturridge, Drogba, Mata

STOKE CITY SorensenHuth, Woodgate, Shawcross, Shotton Whelan, Wilson, Whitehead, Etherington Walters, Crouch

Having rested a number of their key players in the midweek FA Cup win over Bimringham City, Roberto di Matteo is likely to restore a number of them to the starting line-up. Ashley Cole is doubtful with an ankle injury, but should recover in time but fellow full-back Jose Bosingwa is unlikely to return.

Captain John Terry has described his recovery from knee surgery as "incredible" and could take a place in the starting lineup here.

After their impressive 1-0 win over Norwich City in their last match, Tony Pulis is unlikely to make many changes to his side. However, Andy Wilkinson was taken off with a hamstring injury against the Canaries, and may not be risked in the centre of defence.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chelsea’s Fernando Torres last scored on October 19th 2011 against Genk in the Champions League, with his current barren spell standing at 23 matches in all competitions, and nearly 24 hours.

• Chelsea have won only three of their last 12 Premier League games, a run of form which cost former manager Anrde Villas-Boas his job.

• However, the Blues have lost just once at home in their last seven Premier League matches, when they were defeated 3-1 by Aston Villa on December 31 thanks to goals from Stephen Ireland, Stiliyan Petrov and Darren Bent.

• Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and Salomon Kalou (pictured right) have enjoyed a great deal of scoring success in the Premier League against Stoke City, with three goals apiece.

• These two teams first met this season on the opening day, with the game ending in a 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium thanks to some resolute Stoke defending in a game of few clear chances.

• Chelsea and have won all three of their previous encounters with Stoke at Stamford Bridge since the Potters' promotion, scoring 16 goals.

• After a run of four straight defeats in January, Stoke’s form has improved thanks to two straight wins over Swansea and Norwich City at the Britannia Stadium which have kept them in the top half of the table.

• Like their hosts, Stoke have enjoyed success in the FA Cup this season, reaching the quarter-finals thanks to a 2-0 victory away to Crawley Town. The Potters will face Liverpool in yet another away tie, their fourth in four rounds.

• Stoke’s Glenn Whelan recently became Stoke’s most-capped player of all-time in winning his 37th cap for the Republic of Ireland in a recent friendly against the Czech Republic. Whelan beat legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks’ record, who made 36 appearances for England while with the Potters.

• Robert Huth began his career in English football with Chelsea, making his debut at the age of 17 in the 2001-02 season. In five years with the Blues, Huth made 42 appearances before moving to Middlesbrough and then on to Stoke.

Prediction

Chelsea’s recent struggles have been well-documented but, with their 2-0 win against Birmingham, they should have regained some confidence under interim manager Roberto di Matteo.
With home advantage, and several first-team players rested, they should win this comfortably.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 2-0 Stoke City

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10.03. (Sat) 16:00 Sunderland - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

SUNDERLAND Mignolet Bardsley, O'Shea, Turner, Richardson Larsson, Colback, Gardner, McClean Campbell, Bendtner

LIVERPOOL Reina  Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Enrique  Henderson, Adam, Spearing, Bellamy  Suarez, Carroll

Martin O'Neill will be forced to reshuffle the side which were held to a 1-1 draw against bitter rivals Newcastle, after Lee Cattermole and Stephane Sessegnon were handed four and three match bans respectively for their dismissals in the Tyne-Wear derby.

Wes Brown remains out with a knee injury sustained in the game against Norwich, but David Vaughan returns to the squad alongside goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who is available for the first time in over a year after battling a long-term knee injury.

Titus Bramble also returns to the squad after suffering with a calf strain of late, but he is unlikely to return straight into the starting eleven.

Liverpool face a couple of late fitness tests ahead of their trip north to Sunderland, with Steven Gerrard battling to return to the side after missing last week's game against Arsenal with a hamstring injury picked up on international duty with England.

Glen Johnson is the other member of the first-team squad struggling with injury, after picking up a hamstring strain in the Carling Cup final win over Cardiff.

Daniel Agger remains the only other person on the injury table for the away side, with the Dane likely to be sidelined for the remainder of March with cracked ribs.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Sunderland have posted victory over Liverpool just once in their last 11 attempts, with that win coming courtesy of the now infamous beach ball goal from Darren Bent in this fixture back in October 2009.

• That controversial strike is the only goal which Sunderland have managed in Liverpool's last five visits to the Stadium of Light.

• Sunderland have conceded a higher proportion of headed goals than any other Premier League side this season.

• Liverpool were held on the opening day of the season by Sunderland, as Sebastian Larsson's superb volley earned then-Mackems manager Steve Bruce a deserved 1-1 draw.

• The penalty miss from Dirk Kuyt (pictured right) against Arsenal last weekend marked the eighth Liverpool have missed from the spot this season in all competitions.

• Liverpool have the worst conversion rate of any Premier League side this campaign, turning just 8.6% of their shots into goals.

• Sunderland have won 19 points from their 13 home fixtures this season, whilst Liverpool have won 19 points from their 13 away fixtures.

• The Reds have picked up just five points from their last six games. In the same run of fixtures, Sunderland have notched 10 points.

Prediction

Sunderland are still going well under Martin O'Neill but their expectations have been tempered recently by some more 'realistic' results.
A battling draw against Newcastle and the suspensions that has brought may just mean that the Reds can take the frustrations of Arsenal's smash and grab victory at Anfield last week out on the Mackems.
If Kenny Dalglish's men keep things tight then they should have more than enough up top to grab all three points.

Editor's Prediction

Sunderland 1-2 Liverpool

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10.03. (Sat) 15:30 Bayern Munchen - 1899 Hoffenheim

Bongarts



PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Contento Luiz Gustavo, Kroos Robben, Muller, Ribery Gomez

HOFFENHEIM Starke Johnson, Vestergaard, Compper, Braafheid Rudy, Weis Vukcevic, Firmino, Babel Mlapa

Bayern are set to receive a massive boost as Bastian Schweinsteiger returns from injury. Reports from Munich indicate that the vice-captain is fit to play for up to 45 minutes as a substitute on Saturday, although if the hosts lead at half-time, he may not be risked ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Basel.

Daniel van Buyten remains unavailable as he recovers from a metatarsal fracture, and Rafinha is doubtful for the match due to a bout of flu. In the Brazilian's stead, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk could deputise, or David Alaba or Diego Contento could fill in on the left of defence, with Philipp Lahm switching to the right.

Hoffenheim will be short of a key player in right-back Andreas Beck, who played very well against Franck Ribery in the first round but is suspended following his 10th yellow card of the season. Strjan Lakic, Sven Schipplock are out with knocks, while Sejad Salihovic has been suspended by coach Markus Babbel. Finally, Andreas Ibsertsberger and Matthias Jaissle remain sidelined as they recover from long-term injuries.

DID YOU KNOW

• Bayern Munich have never lost to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga, and have won all three of their previous home games against the Sinsheim outfit.

• Philipp Lahm is expected to captain the record champions in his 250th Bundesliga appearance.

• Bastian Schweinsteiger has made just four appearances since November 2.

• Hoffenheim are undefeated in their last five matches: their most recent loss was a 3-1 result against Dortmund in late January.

• The village side have scored (27) and conceded (28) fewer goals than ever before in the Bundesliga after 24 rounds.
• Each of Hoffenheim's eight goals since the winter break has been scored by a different player.

Prediction

In spite of their slump as of late, Bayern have dropped points just twice and conceded only three goals at home this season: only Dortmund have taken more points in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheimhave had trouble away from home, and more often than not come out on the losing end. They have proven hard to beat as of late, but should not be expected to take something from Saturday's match, especially if the Bavarians are on target first.

Editor's Prediction

Bayern 2-0 Hoffenheim

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Championship Opta Facts - March 10th -11th

Coventry City v Birmingham City

None of the last six meetings between Coventry and Birmingham have ended as a draw.
Coventry have dropped more points from winning positions on home soil than any other team in the division (13).
Birmingham have lost just one of their last 13 matches in the league.
Four of the last five meetings between these two sides in the league has ended with a 1-0 scoreline.
Coventry have won five and lost just one of their last seven home games in the league.
Birmingham have scored 13 goals in their last three away games in the league, winning all three.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Portsmouth

Brighton have scored a league-low two headed goals in the Championship this campaign.
Brighton are unbeaten in their last 11 Championship matches.
Portsmouth have won none of their last seven league games, picking up just two points from a possible 21.
Pompey have failed to score in five of those seven matches.
Portsmouth have committed a league-high 433 fouls in the second tier.
The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last six Championship games on home soil.
Pompey have won just one of their last eight on the road, lost three of the last four and scored just one goal in the last four away trips.

Burnley v Crystal Palace

Burnley have scored a higher proportion of headed goals (32%) than any team in the Championship.
74% of the goals Palace have conceded have been netted in the second half, a league-high proportion.
The Clarets have scored a joint-league-high nine goals from corners.
Jay Rodriguez has scored eight goals in his last 10 appearances for Burnley and scored the winner in this fixture last season.
Burnley have lost four of their last five Championship games.
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last seven Championship matches.
The away side has failed to score in five of the last six matches between Burnley and Palace.

Derby County v Watford

Victory over Blackpool in midweek ended a run of seven matches without a win in the league for the Rams.
Watford have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 league matches.
The Hornets mustered nine shots on target against Derby at Vicarage Road earlier this season, yet lost the game 0-1.
Derby have won four of the last five matches against Watford.
The Rams have lost five of their last 11 games at home (all without scoring), but when they have netted in that run they have won.
Watford have won just one of their last seven Championship matches away from home.

Hull City v Ipswich Town

Ipswich have scored a joint-high 17 headed goals in the Championship this season.
Hull have not lost any of their last eight Championship games, but have drawn the last four in a row.
No Championship team has scored more than one goal against Hull since Southampton netted two in November.
Hull have conceded only six goals in their last 15 league games and kept seven clean sheets in their last eight matches.
The Tigers have failed to score in seven of their last 11 league games.
Michael Chopra has scored six goals in his last seven Championship appearances for Ipswich.
Hull have won three of the last four matches against Ipswich including a league game and an FA Cup tie already this season.

Nottingham Forest v Millwall

Nottingham Forest have conceded a division high 17 headed goals which accounts for 32% of the goals they have shipped, also a league high.
Andy Keogh has scored in four of his last five Championship outings.
Forest have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 Championship matches.
The Midlands side have the worst home record in the Championship with just 15 points from 18 league games.
They have lost seven and won only one of their last nine matches in the league at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest didn't manage any shots on target against the Londoners when the two sides met at the New Den in August.
Forest have won just one of the last six meetings with Millwall.

Peterborough United v Blackpool

Blackpool have recovered more points from losing positions than any other side in the Championship (26), 14 of those away from home (also a league high).
Peterborough have recouped more points from losing positions on home turf than any other team in the Championship (13).
Blackpool have scored 71% of their goals in the second half of games, the highest percentage in the Championship.
Peterborough have shipped a league low proportion of 46% of their goals in the second half of games.
Tom Ince has scored four goals in his last three Championship appearances.
Peterborough have won just one of their last 11 Championship games.
Peterborough managed 12 shots on target to Blackpool's six when they met at Bloomfield Road and yet lost the game 1-2.

Reading v Leicester City

Reading have dropped fewer points from losing positions than any other team in the Championship (2).
The Foxes have netted a league-high 55% of their goals in the first half of matches this season.
Leicester have shipped a divisional high 40% of goals from set pieces, a higher percentage than any other team in the Championship.
Reading have kept six clean sheets in their last seven Championship games.
Leicester have earned more red cards than any other side in the division (8).
Reading have more points than any other team in the Championship in 2012 (24).
The Royals have won eight of their last nine games at the Madejski Stadium.

Southampton v Barnsley

Barnsley have recovered fewer points from losing positions in the Championship than any other team (1).
Southampton have scored a joint-high 17 headed goals in the Championship.
St Mary's has seen a league-high nine goals in the opening 15 minutes of games in the Championship this season.
Barnsley have won just one of their last seven Championship matches.
The Tykes have lost their last four away league games, the last three without scoring.
Rickie Lambert has scored five goals in his last three Championship matches.
Saints are unbeaten in their last eight league games.

West Ham United v Doncaster Rovers

Victory over Forest in midweek ended a run of seven matches without a win in the league for Doncaster.
The win at Nottingham Forest also ended a run of one point from their previous eight away games.
The Hammers have lost just one of their last 10 Championship fixtures.
West Ham scored from their only shot on target when they won 1-0 away at Doncaster earlier this season.
Doncaster have score exactly one goal in each of their last five visits to Upton Park.
Rovers have lost only two and won two of their last eight visits to Upton Park, with the last two visits ending 1-1.
Sam Allardyce's team have drawn their last three Championship matches at Upton Park.

Bristol City v Cardiff City

Cardiff have dropped more points from losing positions than any other team in the Championship (23).
A divisional high 46% of Cardiff's goals have been netted rom set pieces this season.
Ashton Gate has seen more goals (16) scored in the final 15 minutes of matches of any stadium in the Championship.
Victory in midweek against Leicester ended a run of seven league matches without a win for the Robins.
Cardiff have won just one of their last seven league games.
There have been 18 goals scored across the last four league meetings between these two sides.
Cardiff have won four of the last five meetings with Bristol City, losing just one of the last eight.

Middlesbrough v Leeds United

Boro have scored a joint-league-high nine goals from corners.
None of the last seven meetings between Leeds and Middlesbrough have ended as a home win, with five being away victories.
There were three red cards in the meeting between Leeds and Boro at Elland Road earlier this season.
Middlesbrough have lost just one of their last seven Championship games, winning four of the last five.
Leeds have failed to score in their last three Championship outings.
The Whites have won just one of their last eight Championship matches on the road.
Boro have only won two of their last six league games at the Riverside.

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10.03. 2012. RANKO DESPOTOVIĆ (URAVA) PRED PRVO KOLO ŠAMPIONATA JAPANA

Ni Japan nam nije daleko. Uz Ranka Despotovića, napadača Urave, fiksevi iz „Džej“ lige bukvalno su vam pred nosom – na našim stranicama. Ipak, pre fikseva standardno pitanje. Ko je favorit za osvajanje titule?
- Liga nikada nije bila jača - „izokola“ odgovara Despotović. - Nagoja je uvek opasna, Gamba Osaka takođe, a naravno da ne bi trebalo zaboraviti Kašimu i šampiona Kašivu. Možda bih, ipak, Nagoju stavio ispred ostalih.
Koliko je bilo promena u odnosu na prethodnu sezonu?
- Mnogo. Svi klubovi imaju više novca, pa su dovodili puno igrača. Gambu je napustio najbolji napadač, ali je dovela dosta Brazilaca. Kašiva nije mnogo „tumbala“ sastav, a dobro se pojačala. Mi smo doveli trenera Mihajla Petrovića iz Hirošime, a upravo je naš prvi rival najviše oslabljen.

MOJ TIP
G. Osaka – Kobe 1X
Hirošima – Urava X2
Nagoja – Šimicu 1
Saporo – Ivata 0-2
Sendai – Kašima 0-2
Tosu – C. Osaka X2
Kavasaki – Nigata 1X
Omija – FK Tokio X2
KAŠIVA – JOKOHAMA 1

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