Thursday, April 8, 2010

10.04. (Sat) West Ham United - Sunderland

  • West Ham have won the last five Premier League home games against Sunderland.
  • Carlton Cole has been booked in five of his six Premier League appearances against Sunderland, this is more times than against any other opponent.
  • West Ham have four points fewer after 33 games than they did in 2002-03 when they were relegated.
  • Sunderland have scored 11 times in the opening 15 minutes this season, more than any other side.
  • Sunderland have been shown six red cards, more than any other side.
  • None of Darren Bent's last seven league goals have come away from home.

10.04. (Sat) Hull City - Burnley

  • At least one of the two teams has failed to score in the last eight meetings between Burnley and Hull.
  • Four of the last five matches between Hull and Burnley have ended with a 2-0 scoreline, while the other was 1-0.
  • Burnley have failed to score in their last four visits to Humberside.
  • Burnley have the worst away record in Premier League history after 16 league games on the road with just one point and a goal difference of -36.
  • 23 of Hull's 27 points this season have been garnered at the KC Stadium.
  • Hull have kept just two clean sheets in their last 10 home games.

10.04. (Sat) 22:00 Real - Barcelona

  • Barcelona have won their last three meetings against Real Madrid, netting an average of three goals per game.
  • These two sides have shared three wins each in their last six meetings at the "Bernabeu", including Barca's incredible 6-2 win in their last visit to Real Madrid.
  • On that occasion, Leo Messi, current top-scorer in La Liga with 26 goals, scored a brace; the Argentine Ballon d'Or has already netted six goals against Real Madrid.
  • On the other side, Gonzalo Higuaín has netted eight goals in his last five league appearances (24 overall in this campaign, the second-most behind Messi).
  • Manuel Pellegrini's side are on a run of 12 consecutive league wins, and have notched-up 15 wins in a row at home.
  • Pep Guardiola's side are on a run of seven wins and a draw in La Liga, but have managed to win only two of their last four fixtures away from home.
  • Real Madrid and Barcelona boast the best attacks of La Liga - respectively 83 and 75 goals scored this season.
  • Barca also boast the best defence - only 19 goals conceded.

10.04. (Sat) 20:00 Xerez - Getafe

  • Getafe's 5-1 win in the reverse fixture is the only previous meeting between these two sides in the top-flight.
  • Xerez are unbeaten in their last four league games (two wins and as many draws) - currently their best run in the top-flight.
  • At home, Néstor Gorosito's side have collected seven points from their last three games.
  • Getafe are unbeaten in their last three games on the road (two draws and a 3-1 win in their last outing against Deportivo at the Riazor).
  • Getafe have shared only five draws so far this term - only Real Madrid (two) have drawn less games.

10.04. (Sat) 20:00 Villarreal - Real Sporting

  • These two sides have met only three times in the top-flight so far: Villarreal lead by two wins to one.
  • The Yellow Submarine won their only previous meeting at home against Sporting (2-1, in February 2009).
  • Villarreal have notched-up two wins and a draw in their last three league fixtures, and have kept a clean sheet in the last two.
  • At home, Juan Carlos Garrido's side are on a run of four consecutive wins, and have not conceded a single goal in the last three games on their own soil.
  • Sporting have drawn their last two league games, and suffered only one defeat in their last five.
  • However, away from home Manuel Preciado's side have scored only one goal from their last three league fixtures, and won only one of their last 10.