19-01-2011 22:00 Betis - Barcelona

Not So Bad

Prior to the first leg of their Copa del Rey encounter against Barcelona, Betis had tried to get the fixture reversed so that they would play in Sevilla first. This was not a move designed to give the Segunda Division side an advantage in the tie, it was simply because they were all too aware that their fans may not turn out to watch a cakewalk in the second leg.

Sadly for the underdogs, their fears have been realised and they go into this match in a hopeless position, trailing 5-0.

“For 50 minutes, we made things difficult for them,” coach Pepe Mel explained after the first leg, clearly proud of his side’s achievements before a late collapse put the tie completely beyond their reach. “We resisted for quite some time and we quite happy with this, as we lost to the best team in the world.”

“We created more chance than an average Primera Division side. In the end, we fell short.”

Back on league duty at the weekend, los Beticos took another step closer to mingling with the elite on a regular basis by maintaining their lead atop the Segunda courtesy of an easy 3-0 home victory against Alcorcon. Six points clear of their nearest rivals, Betis are seemingly cruising towards promotion and can view Wednesday’s match as a bonus encounter to be enjoyed.

A Good Week

Barcelona have enjoyed a very productive seven days, effectively booking themselves a place in the Copa del Rey semi-finals while extending their lead atop the Primera Division to four points – a tally that many pundits already see as decisive.

Prior to Real Madrid’s surprising 1-1 draw in Almeria, Pep Guardiola’s men had carried out the expected against Malaga, defeating the Andalucians 4-1 at Camp Nou. With only 36 minutes on the clock, the match was effectively over as a contest. The home fans had already celebrated goals from Andres Iniesta, Pedro and David Villa, and after Duda had the cheek to pull one back, Barca were quick to reassert their dominance by striking again through Villa.

Winning is a habit well ingrained in this Barcelona side, and even though they boast the most comfortable of advantages going into the second leg on Wednesday evening, they will be hungry to pick up another success. Guardiola named a strong squad for the first leg but may be reticent to do so again given the circumstances; even his superstars need a break sometimes.

Barca will have their eyes on a couple more records in the Primera Division after being named winter champions with a remarkable 52 points. Real Madrid’s all-time scoring record of 107 looks set to be smashed – Barca are on course for 122 – while Real Sociedad’s unbeaten run of 32 games could also be bettered.

Silverware is ultimately the most important thing to this winning machine, and they will move a step closer to another Copa del Rey triumph in midweek.

TEAM NEWS

Betis

Star man Achille Emana continues to miss out, and it could be another three weeks before he’s back in action. Antonio Dorado and Benat are also sidelined.

Momo and Miguel Lopez are nearing fitness, but neither will be available for the midweek clash.

Barcelona

Pep Guardiola has named a virtually full strength squad for this encounter. Daniel Alves and Carles Puyol miss out because of injuries, but all the other big stars are present.

Prediction

Barcelona’s reserve team have beaten Betis in the league this season, and la Blaugrana won’t field such a weak side on Wednesday. With fringe players jostling to impress Pep Guardiola, the visitors should complete a comfortable qualification with a second win.

Betis 1-3 Barcelona

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19-01-2011 20:45 Roma - Lazio

Four In A Row

Last season Roma won both the encounters against fierce city-rivals Lazio in Serie A and so did they the first one of this campaign to complete a hat-trick of Derby della Capitale victories. Tonight's match will be about stretching that run and putting Lazio in their place.

It will also be about getting past the Round of 16 in the Coppa Italia and reaching the quarter-finals as well as gaining a psychological advantage in the Scudetto race. With 35 points from 20 matches, Roma are currently placed in fourth place in the league standings, six points behind leaders Milan and just two behind Lazio, who are third. A win tonight will not only make them look the better side and beef up their confidence, it will also deflate the self-conviction of the Biancocelesti.

Coach Claudio Ranieri has firmly underlined the importance of the clash and wants a victory at any cost. The Italian said on Tuesday: "It's not a real derby, but we can feel it, and we want to win. I have rediscovered my team and we have been trying to climb point after point to win the Scudetto. Favourites for tomorrow? There is no favourite for the derby. We are playing well, but so are they.

"There is happiness and enthusiasm in the dressing room. Everyone wants to be there, and those teams with the most quality get there in the end. I expect a win tomorrow as Roma are aiming to win every competition they are involved in."

Dipped In Disappointment

Roma's start to the new year has been as much positive as Lazio's has been negative. While the Lupi have leapt to two wins in three league fixtures in 2011, the Aquile have fluttered to just one victory in three and look to be happy settling for a top-four place in the league standings despite being third at the moment.

Encouragingly for Lazio, though, they warmed up for tonight's Rome derby with a narrow 1-0 victory over Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday and will aim to build on that match. The former Italian champions have lost their last three encounters against their ferocious city-rivals but knowing that the form book counts for little in such big games and having reached won the Coppa Italia in 2008-09 they should be targeting a win.

Coach Edy Reja retains his side's ambitions for progress in the competition and enthused on Tuesday: "Nobody wants the lose the derby, even though it is in the Coppa Italia. It is very important for us to continue this adventure. For Roma this is less important because they are in the Champions League, and they are fighting for the league with the challengers."

TEAM NEWS

Roma

20 players have been called up to the squad. Julio Sergio will stand in goal and Mirko Vucinic is expected to start upfront. Talisman Francesco Totti is unavailable as he is suspended following a four-match ban imposed on him for kicking out at Inter's Mario Balotelli in last season's Coppa Italia final.

Lazio

Reja has called up 20 players to his team. Bizzarri is likely to be slotted between the posts, Hernanes, Mauri and Zarate will be the three attack-minded midfielders and Floccari the lone striker upfront.

Prediction

It's a derby, and a Rome derby nonetheless, and predicting this game is difficult. Roma do seem the better and more smoothly functioning side at the moment but a match like this is often determined by small details. It promises to be a fiercely fought encounter, though, and the Lupi should just about edge past Lazio.

Roma 1-0 Lazio

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19-01-2011 20:45 Inter - Cesena

Fifth In A Row? Oh, Yeah

Italian and European champions Inter have made an Alice In Wonderland-esque start to the new year under new coach Leonardo and suddenly after four months of flirting with disaster they seem to be on course for the Scudetto.

With league leaders and city-rivals Milan drawing twice in a row in Serie A and Inter winning three league fixtures in succession, the gap between the two sides has now been trimmed down to nine points with the Nerazzurri having two games in hand.

One of those games is tonight against Cesena, who seem to be engaged in a long-term relationship with the relegation demon. A victory for Inter will propel them to go level on points with Roma on 35 points and just six behind Milan; and indeed maximum points should be comfortable for the Beneamata.

However, Inter coach Leonardo warns against complacency and said on Tuesday, "The first few minutes against Cesena are decisive because they set the pattern for the match. The way you approach a game is important and against Bologna (a 4-1 win last weekend) it was virtually perfect. We'll try to do the same again tomorrow against Cesena."

Realising The Impossible

Cesena are in real danger of suffering relegation from Serie A at the end of the season after just one year in the Italian top flight. The Seahorses are currently stuck to one place above the bottom-three with just 19 points, same as many as Lecce, who are 18th.

The trip to Milan comes off the back of a 1-0 home loss to Scudetto-challengers Roma, which followed an encouraging goalless draw with Genoa at home. The start of the new year has been good for Massimo Ficcadenti's side, who defeated fellow relegation candidates Brescia 2-1 in their opening game of 2011.

Last time the Seahorses played against a Milanese side, they won 2-0 as they conquered Milan at the Dino Manuzzi, but this time, Ficcadenti admits, it will be be tough and explained, "We must start again, we knew from the beginning it would be a difficult championship.

"We're trying to do something but everyone is looking for strikers, even the big teams to make up for injuries. We do need to score goals, though.''

TEAM NEWS

Inter

Thiago Motta has been rested with a minor injury but Sulley Muntari has been included in the 20-man squad despite his recent handing of a transfer request. Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito are expected to lead the line again.

Cesena

21 players have been called up to the squad for the trip to Milan. Steve von Bergen and Maximiliano Pellegrino are expected to be the two centre-backs, with Erjon Bogdani as the lone striker ahead of attacking midfielders Emanuele Giaccherini and Luis Jimenez in a 4-3-2-1 formation.

Prediction

A win for Inter looks to be the most likely result. With Samuel Eto'o in death-defying form and Diego Milito rediscovering his old self, it is going to be a Herculean task for the Cesena defensive unit to contain the Italian giants.

Inter Milan 3-0 Cesena

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19-01-2011 20:45 Auxerre - Olympique Marseille

Too Many Draws

It’s not been an easy season for Auxerre. After charging into the Champions League at the last moment in May, they found juggling domestic and European responsibilities difficult, not helped by an injury epidemic that decimated their squad. They find themselves in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final, nevertheless, and will be keen to bustle their way to the Stade de France for April’s final.

The manner in which the hosts will play is easily predicted. AJA will purposefully try to draw Marseille out of their half and counterattack swiftly. This is a ploy frequently used by Jean Fernandez, who nearly got this tactic to work so brilliantly in the league meeting between the sides.

On a quick counter just before half-time, Julien Querica got clear, inducing a foul from Stephane Mbia that brought the defender a red card and won the hosts a penalty. Thereafter, AJA showed one of their less attractive traits: an inability to break teams down.

Fernandez was left to rue missed chances in the weekend’s draw with Monaco, whom they constantly caught out with their quick attacking play. “It’s a match that leaves a lot of regrets given the way it went,” he explained, Ligue 1’s official side reports. “We had a massive amount of chances in the first half. We were just lacking that second goal tonight.

“In the second half, we took our foot off the pedal a bit, and Monaco took advantage to win a lot of possession in midfield.”

The fact that Auxerre have drawn 12 of their 20 league games makes for uncomfortable reading for the former Marseille boss, who has grumbled that his team are conceding too frequently. Despite their holes at the back, AJA still have an ability to keep games tight, which will be valuable on Wednesday night.

Back On Track At Last

French champions Olympique de Marseille have endured a mixed season to date. Didier Deschamps’ side are fifth in the league standings at present – well below where they would hope to be just after the halfway point – but are still involved in the Champions League and are still in with a shout of retaining the Coupe de la Ligue.

This competition was kind to OM last season, allowing the Provence side to overcome a well established mental barrier that prevented them from being successful. Les Phoceens had gone nearly 20 years without any silverware prior to a 3-1 victory over Girondins de Bordeaux at the Stade de France, which hasten the capitulation of les Marine et Blanc and ushered Marseille in to become Ligue 1 champions.

It was Bordeaux who were the last visitors to the Stade Velodrome on league duty too. After enduring a disappointing winless streak of six matches domestically, including a defeat against Ligue 2 Evian in the Coupe de France, OM looked a stronger force, finally coming through to win 2-1.

“It was difficult, though, towards the end of the match, and we should have done better in terms of controlling it, especially in the second half when we lost the ball too much,” Deschamps told Canal+ after Sunday night’s victory.

Heartening for les Phoceens were goals from Andre-Pierre Gignac and Brandao, who have both toiled to find any form this season. If this pair can continue finding the net, keep a close eye on the men from the south.

TEAM NEWS

Auxerre

Jean Fernandez continues to miss five players. Alexandre Licata and Yaya Sanogo are both long-term complaints, while there is no return for Delvin N’Dinga as yet. Additionally, Jean-Pascal Mignot is sidelined due to injury. Roy Contout is absent again because of illness.

Marseille

Didier Deschamps is sweating over the fitness of centre-backs Stephane Mbia and Gabriel Heinze. On the other hand, Hilton could make his return to the team. Cesar Azpilicueta won’t play again this season.

Prediction

After OM’s much-improved weekend performance, they should be considered favourites for this match, but it’s likely to be a tight affair. If Didier Deschamps men replicate the level they showed against Bordeaux, they will have enough to pick up the win and book a place at the Stade de France.

AJ Auxerre 0-1 Marseille

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19-01-2011 20:45 Ajax - Feyenoord

De Boer Era

The Amsterdam side parted company with head coach Martin Jol hardly a month ago, but the atmosphere at the Amsterdam ArenA has already completely changed ever since Frank de Boer has taken over as caretaker boss.

De Boer is widely known to be the type of coach who gives promising youngsters the chance to prove their worth and this has already been the case during his first two games in charge. Denmark international Christian Eriksen has returned to the starting XI and the young playmaker put in two impressive performance. Additionally, youngsters such as Lorenzo Ebecilio and Aras Ozbiliz got some playing time.

The Godenzonen sit only fourth in the league table at the moment, but they still have every chance of walking away with the league title at the end of the season. Ajax trail table toppers PSV by six points, but have a game in hand.

Ajax can't afford to slip up against Feyenoord though if they are to keep their title ambitions alive. The Europa League hopefuls will be eager to start the second half of the season with a win.

Disappointing Season

Even though nobody really expected Feyenoord to fight for the league title this term after the departure of experienced players such as Roy Makaay, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Denny Landzaat and Kevin Hofland, nobody would have expected the Stadionclub to be fighting against relegation either.

However, staying clear of the drop zone seems to be Feyenoord's top priority at the moment. After 18 games, the fallen Rotterdam giants have collected only 20 points and they still await their first away win of the season.

They picked up a number of encouraging results in the last weeks of 2010 though and Feyenoord appear to be on their way up. A win against Ajax would mean they're seven points clear of the relegation spots and would give Feyenoord an encouraging start to the second half of the season.

Key man in Feyenoord's improvement in the last couple of weeks of 2010 has been young attacker Luc Castaignos. The 18-year-old is considered to be one of the most promising youngsters around in Europe and he already is Feyenoord's leading goalscorer, despite his tender age.

TEAM NEWS

Ajax

De Boer will have to make do without the services of the injured Kenneth Vermeer, Florian Jozefzoon, Urby Emanuelson and Nicolas Lodeiro, while attacker Mounir el Hamdaoui will miss the game due to a bout of flu.

Additionally, star player Luis Suarez is unavailable for Sunday's match due to suspension.

Feyenoord

Head coach Mario Been will have to make do without a number of first team regulars for Sunday's game. Attackers Jon Dahl Tomasson and Sekou Cisse are still sidelined with various injury problems. Additionally, defenders Dani Fernandez and Bart Schenkeveld are unavailable due to injury, too.

Midfielder Leroy Fer is on his way back, but it appears to be doubtful he'll be match fit in time for the match in Amsterdam.

Prediction

There appears to be little doubt that Ajax start the match as favourites and the Amsterdam side are widely expected to pick up the full three points. Feyenoord have been in very poor form away from De Kuip and I don't see them getting a good result on Sunday. The individual class of the Ajax attack will probably prove to be too much for the shaky Feyenoord defence and I see the Godenzonen record a win by at least a two-goal margin.

Ajax 3-1 Feyenoord

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