02-03-2011 20:00 Villarreal - Hercules

Starting To Struggle

Villarreal have been struggling recently and the Yellow Submarine continued to do so at the weekend, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Racing. The hosts were leading 2-1 at El Sardinero until the final seconds of the match when Nilmar struck to salvage a point.

The draw means that Villarreal have failed to win any of their last four fixtures in the Primera Division and have emerged victorious in just one of their last six competitive games. Once third and looking sure for a Champions League place, Juan Carlos Garrido's side now find themselves fourth in the league standings with 47 points from 25 matches, four points behind Valencia, who are currently third.

They do have a strong record at home collecting 32 out of a possible 39 points at El Madrigal, having scored 27 goals in those 13 fixtures, conceding only eight. The former Champions League semi-finalists will head into Wednesday's encounter against Hercules as the favourites.

Fighting For Survival

Hercules have achieved some encouraging and amazing results this season, including a shock 2-0 victory over defending champions and current league leaders Barcelona at Camp Nou but the Blanquiazules remain one of the sides in genuine danger of suffering relegation from the Primera Division at the end of the season.

Currently stationed 15th in the table with 26 points from 25 matches, Hercules are just two points above the relegation zone. At the weekend Esteban Vigo's side were held to a goalless draw at home by Getafe, which saw them get over their 2-1 defeat to Sevilla from the weekend before.

Hercules have wretched away form, too, as they have won just one game on the road in La Liga all season, and that came way back in September in Barcelona. Furthermore, they have scored just three times in opposition grounds in the league this campaign and have lost their last five away games.

Prediction

Hercules have proved this season that they are a side who can compete against the bigger teams in the Primera Division and win against them too. Villarreal have struggled of late but they should still be able to nick the game eventually.

Editor's Prediction

 Villarreal2

Hercules 1

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02-03-2011 20:00 Getafe - Atletico Madrid

Floating In Mid-Table

Heading into week 26 and with a Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid in store, Getafe find themselves comfortably placed in mid-table in the Primera Division. 

Despite a goalless stalemate at Hercules at the weekend, the Azulones are 10th in the league standings, having mustered 32 points from 25 matches.

Interestingly, Getafe are six points behind Athletic Bilbao, who are sixth in the table and occupy the final Europa League slot. Perhaps Michel's side would be overachieving if they were to finish in the top-six and qualify for Europe again next season, but they could still give it a try especially with other Europe-chasing sides dropping points.

However, their form in recent weeks has been disappointing. They have won just one of their last ten competitive fixtures, making it just one victory in 2011. As much as Europe remains in Getafe's sights, relegation worries them them too, perched just eight points above the drop zone.

Fight For Europe Continues

Atletico Madrid have had an appalling season by their standards but heading into week 26 the former Spanish champions still find themselves in contention for a place in Europe. 

With 34 points from 25 matches, Quique Sanchez Flores' team are four points behind sixth-place Athletic Bilbao - a place in the Champions League is out of reach but a slot in next season's Europa League could yet be managed.

At the weekend the 2009-10 Europa League winners, though, almost lost to Sevilla at home, relying on a late Jose Antonio Reyes goal to see them draw the match 2-2 and salvage a point. It was their fourth point out of a possible 18 in their last six matches.

Atletico's away record is modest as they have won only four league matches on the road and have lost seven times. However, in the reverse fixture against Getafe in mid-October, Atleti triumphed 2-0.

Prediction

This is a Madrid derby that both sides will be eager to win. Atletico Madrid haven't been in the best of forms and Getafe are at home. It is a tough one to call but Geta could just nick it.

Editor's Prediction

 Getafe2

Atletico Madrid 1

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Opta Facts - Chelsea v Manchester United

Chelsea v Manchester United

• Chelsea have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge.
• Man Utd have won none and lost five of their last eight matches at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
• United have failed to score in five of their last seven Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge and netted only once on each of the other two encounters.
• Fernando Torres has scored three goals in his last four Premier league games against Manchester United.
• The Red Devils have scored the most headed goals in the Premier League (14) while Chelsea have conceded the joint-fewest (4).
• Manchester United have the best attack having scored 61 goals while Chelsea have the best defence shipping just 22.
• Man Utd have allowed their opponents fewer shots on target against them (83) than any other team in the Premier League.
• Referee Martin Atkinson has awarded the most penalties (10) and flourished the most red cards (9) in the Premier League this season.
• There have been 48 yellow cards and one red in the last seven league meetings between Chelsea and Man Utd and average of seven cards per game, whereas they would normally average a 1.5 each per match.
• Nani has a league leading 12 goal assists in the Premier League this season.

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FA Cup Opta Facts - 1st-2nd March

Everton v Reading

• Everton have won five and lost only one of the seven matches in all competitions against Reading.
• Reading have only lost one of their last seven FA Cup matches away from home.
• Reading ended a run of 19 FA Cup games away from home against top flight opponents without a win with their victory on Merseyside against Liverpool last season.
• Everton have not kept a clean sheet in their last nine FA Cup matches.
• Leighton Baines has scored in three of Everton's last five FA Cup matches.
• Louis Saha has scored in four of his last six FA Cup matches.
• Shane Long has scored four goals in his last three FA Cup matches.
• The Toffees have only kept one clean sheet in their last 9 FA Cup games at Goodison Park.

Manchester City v Aston Villa

• None of the last eight matches between Man City and Aston Villa have ended as an away win.
• Edin Dzeko has scored in both of his two FA cup appearances.
• Carlos Tevez has scored in his last three FA Cup appearances.
• City have won their last four matches at home against Aston Villa.
• Overall the head to head record in the FA Cup is Man City five wins, two draws and two victories for Aston Villa.
• Mario Balotelli scored a hat-trick the last time Villa and Man City met at the City of Manchester Stadium.
• Villa have conceded five penalties in their last six Premier League games against the Citizens.
• City have only won one of their last six FA Cup games against fellow Premier League sides.
• Villa have only won two of their last 12 FA Cup matches against fellow Premier League sides and on both occasions their opponents were Blackburn Rovers.

FA Cup Round 5 Replay

Arsenal v Leyton Orient

• In 25 FA Cup ties against lower division opposition under Arsene Wenger, Arsenal have never lost.
• Robin van Persie has scored five goals in his last seven FA Cup appearances.
• The Gunners have conceded exactly one goal in all four of their FA Cup matches this season.
• The last 3 times Arsenal have knocked out Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, the Gunners have lost in the cup final 1952, 1972, 1978, all 0-1.
• The Gunners have gone eight FA Cup matches without a clean sheet.
• Scott McGleish has scored six goals in his last six FA Cup matches this season.
• Leyton Orient have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 FA Cup matches.
• Since losing to Leeds in 1997, Arsenal are unbeaten in 30 FA Cup matches at home (not including the first void match against Sheffield United in 1999).
• Leyton Orient have not lost any of their last nine FA Cup matches away from home, but have won just one of the last eight away at top flight opposition.

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Championship Opta Facts - March 1

Derby v Doncaster

• Rovers have won four of their last six meetings with Derby, with the Rams picking up a victory in the other two.
• Dean Sheils netted a brace in this season's reverse fixture for Doncaster Rovers.
• Derby have only scored three goals in their last nine league games combined, and all of them have come in the first half.
• Derby have picked up one point from a potential 15 available at Pride Park in 2011, the worst home record of this calendar year in the Championship.
• Donny have lost three of their last four away league games and haven't won on the road since November 13th (3-2 at Portsmouth).

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest

• Middlesbrough have only won one of the last 32 meetings between the sides; a 2-1 win at the City Ground in the Premiership in March 1999.
• The last six meetings between the sides on Teesside, however, have ended in draws; four of them 1-1.
• Boro have conceded nine goals in their last three league games combined.
• Billy Davies' side have claimed just two points out of the last available nine away from home and have only scored one goal in the process.

Portsmouth v Scunthorpe

• This will be the first league meeting between the sides since January 1980 although Pompey did defeat the Iron 2-1 in the 2004 FA Cup.
• Portsmouth have won their last two home meetings with Scunthorpe.
• The Iron haven't won at Fratton Park since February 1964.
• Scunthorpe are the only Championship side to have lost all of their away games in 2011.
• The Iron have played five games away from Glanford Park and have so far failed to score a single goal.
• Pompey have won four consecutive league games for the second time this season and have managed four straight clean sheets for the first time since September 2006.

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