11.03. (Sun) 16:00 Valencia - Mallorca

PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINEUPS

VALENCIA Diego AlvesBruno, Ruiz, Rami, Mathieu  Albelda, Tino Costa Pablo, Jonas, AlbaSoldado

MALLORCA CalatayudChico, Nunes, Ramis, P.Caceres Marti, Tejera Nsue, Alfaro, Castro Victor

Unai Emery has a few selection issues for for the match against Mallorca on Sunday afternoon. Jeremy Mathieu, Victor Ruiz, and Adil Rami have all shook off minor injuries and all are in contention to start the match. Miguel is doubtful after picking up a knock against Barcelona last month, from which he is still recovering.

The only long-term absentees for Valencia is Sergio Canales, who has returned to light training after his ligament injury, and Ever Banega, who will miss six months of the season after breaking his leg in a freak car accident. Hedwiges Maduro is also out of action for the foreseeable future.

Joaquin Caparros has a number of first-team players doubtful for the La Liga encounter. Michael Pereira, Dudu Aouate, and Victor Caceres only participated in light training on Thursday, so it is touch and go whether they will feature.

Fernando Tissone is unlikely to be available after missing training this week with an ankle injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The last encounter between Valencia and Mallorca saw a late Tomer Hemed strike cancel out Adil Rami's first half goal which shared the points in a 1-1 draw.
  

• Valencia are in pole position to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League after defeating PSV 4-2 in the first leg of the side's round of 16 clash on Thursday.

• Unai Emery's side currently lie in third place in the Primera Division, five points ahead of Levante, but trail Barcelona in second place by 14 points.

• Mallorca's last trip to the Mestalla proved to be a fruitful visit. Two Chory Castro goals helped the Islanders to a vital 2-1 away victory.

• Mallorca's two top goalscorers this season are Tomer Hemed and Victor Casedesus, with six goals each.

• Joaquin Caparros' side have scored 14 goals less than Valencia in the league this season, but have conceded just one less, giving them the best goal difference in the bottom half of the table.

Prediction

Mallorca won on their last trip to the Mestalla but Valencia are a more impressive outfit this season. The star players in attack for hosts may be too much too handle for Joaquin Caparros' side, so expect Valencia to create a lot of opportunities in attack. A comfortable home victory is the most likely scenario.

Editor's Prediction

Valencia 2-0 Mallorca

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11.03. (Sun) 15:00 Manchester United - West Brom

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED De GeaRafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Young Rooney, Welbeck

WEST BROM   FosterTamas, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell Morrison, Andrews, Mulumbu, BruntOdemwingie, Fortune

Sir Alex Ferguson could ring the changes following the home defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League, but that isn't likely to happen as he keeps his foot on the gas in the Premier League.

One change that could happen, however, is Rio Ferdinand stepping back into the starting lineup. Chris Smalling was forced off on Thursday night as the head wound that he suffered on international duty opened up again, and the vastly experienced centre-back should step back in.

Steven Reid's injury is likely to force one of only two changes made by West Brom boss Roy Hodgson to the team who beat Chelsea. The defender limped out of the game last weekend with an ankle ligament injury and will miss the rest of the season.

Jerome Thomas is the other change for Hodgson, with the club confirming on Friday afternoon that he would miss the match with a hamstring injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Manchester United beat West Brom 2-1 earlier in the season despite only having one shot on target.

• Wayne Rooney (pictured right) has scored in three of his last four games against West Brom, and five goals in his last three Premier League outings.

• United have won all but five of their last 43 home games in the Premier League, but one of those five was last season's game against the Baggies, a 2-2 draw.

• Paul Scholes has scored four goals in his six appearances against the club. 

• The Red Devils have scored 21 per cent of all chances created so far this season, the best conversion rate in the league.

• West Brom have never beaten United in the Premier League.

• Roy Hodgson has already won as many away games with the Baggies (eight) as he did with Liverpool (one) and Fulham (seven) combined in three years.

• West Brom have not beaten Manchester United in the league ince March 1984, a run of 15 games.

Prediction

The Baggies will be coming to Old Trafford high on confidence following their victory over Chelsea and United's loss to Bilbao, but I expect a backlash from the champions, and with maybe a couple of changes the Red Devils should run out as winners.

Editor's Prediction

Man Utd. 3-1 West Brom

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11.03. (Sun) 15:00 Swansea - Manchester City

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SWANSEA CITY VormRangel, Williams, Caulker, Taylor Routledge, Britton, Allen, Sinclair Sigurdsson Graham

MANCHESTER CITY HartRichards, Kolo Toure, Lescott, Clichy Nasri, Yaya Toure, Barry Aguero, Balotelli, Silva

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers will be without the services of winger Nathan Dyer, who is serving the first game of a three-match ban after the 24-year-old saw red during the victory away to Wigan last Saturday.

Dyer’s absence from the starting line-up will allow former Newcastle midfielder Wayne Routledge to regain a spot in Rodgers' side, having missed out on the Swans' previous two fixtures against Wigan and Stoke City.

The only doubt for Rodgers is the fitness of Wales international Ashley Williams, who has
been suffering from a stomach bug but is expected to be fit enough to take his place at the heart of the Swansea defence.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will arrive in Wales minus skipper Vincent Kompany, who limped off early during the Citizens' Europa League defeat away to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night.

The Italian will also be hoping to welcome back defender Micah Richards to take over the right-back spot, after left-back Gael Clichy was forced to fill in during the defeat in Lisbon, when Richards and Pablo Zabaleta were both missing due to injury.

Maverick frontman Mario Balotelli will also be hoping for a first-team return after his excellent cameo performance in midweek for Mancini’s side, replacing Edin Dzeko, who had a night to forget during the defeat.

DID YOU KNOW?

• This game will be played almost 29 years to the day since Swansea last claimed victory in this fixture, coming out 4-1 winners in 1983.

• The home side have only conceded 10 goals at the Liberty Stadium this season, with Roberto Mancini’s outfit being the only team who have a better defensive record at home.

• Danny Graham is the Welsh side’s top goalscorer so far this season, having claimed 10 league goals since his move from Watford in the summer.

• Swansea’s Dutch born goalkeeper Michel Vorm has achieved 10 clean sheets so far in his first season in the Premier League.

• Manchester City claimed a four-goal victory when the two sides met at the start of the season, with Sergio Aguero claiming a double on his debut and Edin Dzeko and David Silva also scoring.

• Goalkeeper Joe Hart (pictured right) has gone 390 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League, with Everton’s Darron Gibson being the last player to beat the England stopper.

• Argentine frontman Aguero is currently Manchester City’s top scorer in the Premier League, having scored 16 times in his 25 appearances for the club. 

• Roberto Mancini’s side currently have an incredible 11-goal advantage to go along with their two-point lead over their local rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. 

Prediction

The Liberty Stadium has been one of the toughest venues for visiting sides to gain a result at this season, and with Manchester City suffering disappointment during their Europa League trip to Sporting Lisbon, they will be extra motivated to keep rivals Manchester United at arm’s length at the top of the league.
Without the services of inspirational captain Vincent Kompany, the trip to Swansea will be even harder for Roberto Mancini’s side, but their strength in depth should be able to see them sneak through and continue to lead the Premier League.

Editor's Prediction

Swansea City 1-2 Manchester City

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11.03. (Sun) 15:00 Genoa - Juventus

Getty Images

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GENOA Frey Rossi, Roger, Kaladze, Moretti Jankovic, Kucka, Biondini, Sculli Gilardino, Palacio

JUVENTUS Buffon Lichtsteiner, Caceres, Vidal, De Ceglie Marrone, Pirlo, Marchisio Pepe, Borriello, Vucinic

With Luca Antonelli, Cesare Bovo and Andreas Granqvist all out, coach Pasquale Marino is forced to name a makeshift defence, as Roger Carvalho and Marco Rossi should fill in at centre-back and right-back respectively to replace Granqvist and Giandomenico Mesto, who is to be dropped from the XI that drew 2-2 with Lecce last weekend.

However, the biggest news sees the return of Alberto Gilardino, who will partner Rodrigo Palacio up front for the Rossoblu. As a result, Giuseppe Sculli will be forced to play out on the left-hand side of midfield, despite his two-goal salvo against the Serie A strugglers.

Meanwhile for Juventus, they too have troubles at the back, with Leonardo Bonucci's suspension, incurred during the 1-1 draw with Bologna, only adding to the injury woes of key duo Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini. To compensate, expect Arturo Vidal to fill in alongside Martin Caceres at centre-back.

Fortunately for young midfielder Luca Marrone, he will be the biggest winner out of the Old Lady's current lack of numbers, as he is set to replace the Chilean in midfield. Also, regardless of his latest disappointing performance, Marco Borriello should be given the chance to redeem himself ahead of Alessandro Matri in attack.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Genoa have lost more times against Juventus than any other Serie A opponent.

• They have won just one of their last seven home games against Juventus.

• Genoa are also winless in their past five league fixtures, losing three of these.

• Juventus' Alessandro Matri has scored in both of his games against Genoa in a Bianconeri jersey.

• However, Antonio Conte's men have been held to a draw in five of their last six league games, including the last three.

• The Old Lady have also drawn six of their last eight away games in this campaign.

Prediction

Genoa currently have no problems in finding the back of the net, but it's their deficiencies at the back which continue to haunt them - in stark contrast to Juventus, who hold the key to the most watertight defence on the peninsula, but currently are finding trouble at the other end. Therefore, a draw seems the most likely outcome, frustrating Antonio Conte once more in the process.

Editor's Prediction

Genoa 1-1 Juventus

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10.03. 2012. OVOG VIKENDA STARTUJE AMERIČKA FUDBALSKA LIGA

Ragbi, hokej i košarka dobili su dostojnog konkurenta. Amerikanci sve ozbiljnije shvataju „evropski“ fudbal, o čemu najbolje svedoči podatak da je prvi put u 17 godina dugoj istoriji MLS-a (skraćeni naziv elitnog fudbalskog takmičenja) organizovan „draft“, izbor igrača po ugledu na čuvenu NBA ligu. Ljubitelji fudbala u Sjedinjenim državama od ovog vikenda moći će da uživaju u najvažnijoj sporednoj stvari na svetu.
Novina ima još, a najveća je da u ligi učestvuje i Montreal, još jedan kanadski klub, treći ukupno. Iako je broj timova povećan na 19, i dalje će svaka ekipa da odigra 34 utakmice u toku sezone. Triput protiv klubova iz svoje, a jednom sa timovima iz „suprotne“ konferencije. Tri najuspešnija tima sa „istoka“ i „zapada“ izboriće direktno učešće u plej-ofu, dok će oni koji zauzmu četvrtu i petu poziciju dodatno da se bore za isto. Važno je napomenuti da iz MLS lige nema ispadanja.
Kladionice su za najvećeg favorita odredile aktuelnog šampiona, ekipu Los Anđelesa, sa Bekamom, Robijem Kinom i kapitenom američke reprezentacije Donovanom.

KVOTE ZA PRVAKA
Los Anđeles 4.50
Sijetl 7.50
Solt Lejk 8.50
Hjuston 8.50
Njujork 9.00

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