03-03-2011 22:00 Real - Malaga

No Criticism

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid know that any slip they make will be heavily punished by league leaders Barcelona, and as if to reinforce the point, they slipped further behind the Catalan club at the weekend, having been held to a scoreless draw by Deportivo La Coruna. Los Blancos meet Malaga on Thursday night, eager to keep pace with their great rivals, who play 24 hours earlier.

The door had been opened for los Blancos to make an assault on the title a couple of weeks ago when Sporting de Gijon held Barca, but almost as quickly as crisis talk at la Blaugrana rose, Madrid’s inability to break down a packed and well organised Depor defence at the weekend has seen it quelled.

Mourinho evidently wasn’t impressed by the tactics adopted by the ultra-defensive Galicians at a venue that has previously proven cruel to los Merengues. “We played against one goalkeeper and 10 defenders for the second half,” he said after the draw. “Only one team played to win. The other played to exhaustion and defended and they won the prize. We, who tried to win, are penalised for this.

“I cannot criticise my players for their efforts as they did all they can.”

While it hasn’t been uncommon for teams to hold los Blancos to low scoring draws away from the capital, no-one has yet to breach the great club’s perfect record under Mourinho at their Bernabeu home. Madrid boast a perfect home record in all competitions this season, and they’ll expect to maintain it through this fixture, at least.

Slipping Back

Real Madrid may be the masters at spending big, but comparatively speaking, Malaga have splashed the cash this season, though their efforts in the transfer market have come up drastically short. Despite a number of relatively high profile acquisitions both in the summer and during January, the Andalucian club find themselves towards the bottom of the table and in deep relegation trouble.

Former Blancos boss Manuel Pellegrini took the reins from Jesualdo Ferreira in November, but just as the ex-Porto boss struggled to get the team playing, so too has the Chilean, whose side arrested a worrying run of seven matches without a victory with their 3-1 win over Almeria at the weekend.

Pellegrini’s return to the Bernabeu should simply be a sub-plot for the coach, who needs to be targeting quick points for his side against any opponents. Presently, Malaga are on a run of four matches unbeaten, which includes a point earned against Villarreal at El Madrigal. That impressive tie was secured thanks to a late goal from Sebastian Fernandez, and recent draws against Sevilla and Getafe potentially point to a brighter future.

But Malaga’s season has been one long false dawn for the club, starting when they were bought by Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani in the summer. Anything earned at the Bernabeu would be quite remarkable.

TEAM NEWS

Real Madrid

Los Blancos will again be without Gonzalo Higuain and Jerzy Dudek. Pepe has had his yellow card from the weekend rescinded. 

Malaga

Julio Baptista, Helder Rosario, Javier Malagueno, Duda and Reuben Martinez are out due to injury problems.

Real

Last 10 results

Date	Opponent	H	A		H	A	Competition	Season
26.02.2011.	Deportivo La Coruna		0:0			U	Spain 1	2010/2011
22.02.2011.	Olympique Lyonnais		1:1			U	Champions League - Final stage	2010/2011
19.02.2011.	Levante	2:0			U		Spain 1	2010/2011
13.02.2011.	Espanyol		1:0			U	Spain 1	2010/2011
06.02.2011.	Real Sociedad	4:1			O		Spain 1	2010/2011
02.02.2011.	Sevilla	2:0			U		Spain, Cup	2010/2011
30.01.2011.	Osasuna		0:1			U	Spain 1	2010/2011
26.01.2011.	Sevilla		1:0			U	Spain, Cup	2010/2011
23.01.2011.	Mallorca	1:0			U		Spain 1	2010/2011
20.01.2011.	Atletico Madrid		1:0			U	Spain, Cup	2010/2011

Malaga

Last 10 results

Date	Opponent	H	A		H	A	Competition	Season
28.02.2011.	Almeria	3:1			O		Spain 1	2010/2011
20.02.2011.	Villarreal		1:1			U	Spain 1	2010/2011
13.02.2011.	Getafe	2:2			O		Spain 1	2010/2011
06.02.2011.	Sevilla		0:0			U	Spain 1	2010/2011
29.01.2011.	Zaragoza	1:2			O		Spain 1	2010/2011
22.01.2011.	Valencia		3:4			O	Spain 1	2010/2011
16.01.2011.	Barcelona		1:4			O	Spain 1	2010/2011
08.01.2011.	Athletic Bilbao	1:1			U		Spain 1	2010/2011
05.01.2011.	Sevilla	0:3			O		Spain, Cup	2010/2011
02.01.2011.	Real Sporting Gijon		2:1			O	Spain 1	2010/2011

Mutual matches

Date	H	A		H	A	Competition	Season
16.10.2010.		4:1			O	Spain 1	2010/2011
16.05.2010.		1:1			U	Spain 1	2009/2010
24.01.2010.	2:0			U		Spain 1	2009/2010
04.04.2009.		1:0			U	Spain 1	2008/2009
08.11.2008.	4:3			O		Spain 1	2008/2009
23.04.2006.	2:1			O		Spain 1	2005/2006
11.12.2005.		2:0			U	Spain 1	2005/2006
20.03.2005.	1:0			U		Spain 1	2004/2005
07.11.2004.		2:0			U	Spain 1	2004/2005
07.02.2004.	2:1			O		Spain 1	2003/2004
21.09.2003.		3:1			O	Spain 1	2003/2004
18.05.2003.	5:1			O		Spain 1	2002/2003
21.12.2002.		3:2			O	Spain 1	2002/2003
19.01.2002.		1:1			U	Spain 1	2001/2002
08.09.2001.	1:1			U		Spain 1	2001/2002
04.02.2001.	4:3			O		Spain 1	2000/2001
16.09.2000.		3:3			O	Spain 1	2000/2001

Prediction

There should be no problems for Real Madrid in this fixture. Jose Mourinho’s men have won all of their home games this season, and Malaga don’t have the ability to match them.

Editor's Prediction

 Real Madrid3

Malaga 0

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03-03-2011 20:45 Ajax - RKC Waalwijk

DID YOU KNOW?

 

• Ajax have lifted the KNVB Beker 18 times so far.

• Maarten Stekelenburg has not conceded in his last four games.

• Miralem Sulejmani is Ajax's topscorer this KNVB Beker campaign with three goals in four outings.

• RKC have never reached the final of the KNVB Beker.

• Winger Derk Boerrigter came through the ranks of the Ajax youth academy.

LAST MEETING

March 21, 2010: RKC 1-5 Ajax

The Waalwijk side never really stood a chance against the Amsterdam giants and were heavily beaten. RKC eventually dropped to the Eerstedivisie after a disappointing season.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Ajax: Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Blind; De Jong, Eriksen, Enoh; Sulejmani, El Hamdaoui, Ebecilio

RKC: Levita; Mulder, Van Mosselveld, Varela, Drost; Duits, Ramos; Braber, Boerrigter; De Groot, Benson

Ajax

Last 10 results

Date	Opponent	H	A	N	H	A	Competition	Season
27.02.2011.	PSV Eindhoven		0:0			U	Netherlands 1	2010/2011
24.02.2011.	Anderlecht	2:0			U		Europa League	2010/2011
20.02.2011.	VVV Venlo	1:0			U		Netherlands 1	2010/2011
17.02.2011.	Anderlecht		3:0			O	Europa League	2010/2011
13.02.2011.	Roda		2:2			O	Netherlands 1	2010/2011
04.02.2011.	De Graafschap	2:0			U		Netherlands 1	2010/2011
30.01.2011.	NAC Breda		3:0			O	Netherlands 1	2010/2011
27.01.2011.	NAC Breda	4:1			O		Netherlands, Cup	2010/2011
23.01.2011.	Utrecht		0:3			O	Netherlands 1	2010/2011
19.01.2011.	Feyenoord	2:0			U		Netherlands 1	2010/2011

RKC Waalwijk

Last 10 results

Date	Opponent	H	A	N	H	A	Competition	Season
25.02.2011.	Veendam	3:2			O		Netherlands 2	2010/2011
18.02.2011.	Emmen	2:0			U		Netherlands 2	2010/2011
11.02.2011.	MVV Maastricht		0:3			O	Netherlands 2	2010/2011
07.02.2011.	Telstar		1:0			U	Netherlands 2	2010/2011
04.02.2011.	Helmond Sport	1:0			U		Netherlands 2	2010/2011
28.01.2011.	Den Bosch	0:1			U		Netherlands 2	2010/2011
25.01.2011.	Noordwijk	6:0			O		Netherlands, Cup	2010/2011
21.01.2011.	Almere City		3:1			O	Netherlands 2	2010/2011
18.01.2011.	Achilles 29		1:1			U	Netherlands, Cup	2010/2011
14.01.2011.	Eindhoven	4:1			O		Netherlands 2	2010/2011

Mutual matches

Date	H	A	N	H	A	Competition	Season
21.03.2010.		5:1			O	Netherlands 1	2009/2010
08.08.2009.	4:1			O		Netherlands 1	2009/2010
18.04.2007.	3:1			O		Netherlands, Cup	2006/2007
08.04.2007.		2:2			O	Netherlands 1	2006/2007
20.08.2006.	5:0			O		Netherlands 1	2006/2007
16.04.2006.		4:2			O	Netherlands 1	2005/2006
04.12.2005.	4:1			O		Netherlands 1	2005/2006
07.05.2005.	4:0			O		Netherlands 1	2004/2005
03.12.2004.		2:1			O	Netherlands 1	2004/2005
06.03.2004.		1:0			U	Netherlands 1	2003/2004
13.09.2003.	4:1			O		Netherlands 1	2003/2004
03.05.2003.	6:1			O		Netherlands 1	2002/2003
26.10.2002.		1:1			U	Netherlands 1	2002/2003
10.02.2002.	3:1			O		Netherlands 1	2001/2002
13.10.2001.		2:0			U	Netherlands 1	2001/2002
03.05.2001.		2:2			O	Netherlands 1	2000/2001
30.11.2000.	3:0			O		Netherlands 1	2000/2001

Prediction

Editor's Prediction

  Ajax3

1           Waalwijk

.

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02-03-2011 20:45 Celtic - Rangers

DID YOU KNOW?

• This is the first Old Firm Scottish Cup replay since goals for Harry Hood and Lou Macari secured a the trophy for Celtic in a replay at Hampden Park on May 12, 1971.
• The Parkhead side lost their 16-game undefeated run against Motherwell on Sunday, when John Sutton hit a double to hand Neil Lennon’s side their first defeat since November.
• The Hoops will be without first choice keeper Fraser Forster, who was sent off just before half-time in the original tie, when the on-loan Newcastle stopper brought down Steven Naismith, who will also be unavailable for the Ibrox side after receiving a red card later on in the game.
• Celtic midfielder Kris Commons is the only Hoops player to have scored on his debut, the League Cup semi-final victory over Aberdeen. Then in his Old Firm debut in the Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox, before scoring on his Parkhead debut in the league win over Rangers.
• Striker Anthony Stokes is still looking to open his scoring account in the Old Firm, having already scored 17 goals for Celtic this season.
• Rangers will be looking to secure the Scottish Cup this season in order to level the Parkhead side’s record of 34 cup victories, with the Ibrox side only being one behind their rivals.
• The Ibrox side’s bad boy midfielder El Hadji Diouf will be looking for his first goal in Scotland after having scored in the Europa League draw with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday evening.
• Inverness Caledonian Thistle await the winners of the Old Firm clash in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup at the Tulloch Stadium in the Highland capital.
• This Old Firm game will be the fifth game in a season in which the Glasgow giants will square up to one another a record seven times, with a League Cup final clash upcoming on March 20.
• Rangers captain David Weir is set to return to action at the age of 41, after having missed his first league game of this season. The four goal victory over St Johnstone which saw Walter Smith’s side cut the lead enjoyed by Celtic to five points.

LAST MEETING

February 20, 2010: Celtic 3-0 Rangers

Celtic looked to place a huge marker on the league title race with a dominant victory over their Glasgow rivals, with Gary Hooper grabbing a first-half double, before Kris Commons finished the game off late on.

Players to watch

Beram Kayal: The Israeli playmaker has been centre to everything that Celtic have done right, in going to the top of the Scottish Premier League. And his importance to the Parkhead side was illustrated during their weekend defeat to Motherwell, which Kayal was suspended for.

Nikica Jelavic: The Rangers hitman scored against the Parkhead side last season when he played for Rapid Vienna. The Croatian will be the key to victory for the Ibrox side after they lost top scorer Kenny Miller who left during the January transfer window.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Celtic: Zaluska; Juarez, Majstorovic, Mulgrew, Izaguirre; Brown, Kayal, Ledley, Commons; Samaras, Hooper.

Rangers: McGregor; Whittaker, Weir, Bougherra, Papac; Diouf, Davis, Bartley, Edu, Lafferty; Jelavic.

Prediction

After one of the best Old Firm fixtures for years in the first tie, expect this one to be full of fireworks as both sides look to gain the victory that will make them the favourites for the trophy. But home advantage should help Celtic as they look to bounce back from their weekend defeat.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers

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Spanish La Liga Opta Facts - 2nd-3rd March

Almería v Racing
In three attempts, Almería have never beaten Racing at home in the top flight.
The montañeses have won three of their seven top-flight meetings with the Andalucians, all by a score of 1-0.
Pedro Munitis´ only league goal of the season so far came against Almería.
Only Málaga have picked up fewer points at home than Almería (13) this season.
However eight of these 13 points have come in their last four home matches (two wins, two draws).
Racing are unbeaten in five league games, their longest such run this season.
In Racing´s last match, Giovani dos Santos scored his first top-flight goal since his hat-trick for Barcelona in May 2008.

Espanyol v Mallorca
Espanyol are unbeaten in their last nine league matches at home to Mallorca.
A 4-1 win in their last match ended a run of four straight league defeats for Espanyol.
The periquitos have conceded exactly one goal in their last three league games at home, each time in the first half.
Espanyol have won the last eight league matches in which José Callejón has scored.
Mallorca have scored only two goals in their last seven league games.
The islanders have claimed only one point from the last 18 available away from home.
Luis García has scored or assisted seven of Espanyol´s last 14 league goals.

Getafe v Atlético de Madrid
In their last meeting at the Coliseum, Getafe managed their first-ever home top-flight win over Atlético.
Only twice in 13 top-flight games have Getafe failed to score at home to one of their Madrid rivals.
Three of Dani Parejo´s nine league goals for the Azulones have come against other sides from Madrid.
Getafe have lost four of their last five league games at the Coliseum.
Jaime Gavilán has assisted four of Getafe´s last five league goals.
A win in their last away game at Real Zaragoza ended a run of three straight defeats on the road for Atlético in the league.
The colchoneros have not won back-to-back away matches in the league since the 2008/09 season.

Osasuna v Deportivo de la Coruña
Osasuna have failed to score in five of their last six league meetings with Deportivo.
Three of the last five league clashes between the sides have ended goalless.
Osasuna are unbeaten in their last five league games at home.
The rojillos have shipped only one goal in total in these five matches.
Deportivo have won only one of their last eight league games on the road, losing five.
Depor´s last three league games have produced just three goals in total.
Deportivo have scored only seven goals from open play this season in the league, the fewest.

Real Madrid v Málaga
Real Madrid have won 12 of their last 13 league meetings with Málaga.
The merengues have never been beaten at home by Málaga in the top flight (24 wins, five draws).
Real Madrid have kept three straight clean sheets in the league, the last time they managed four consecutive shut-outs was in September 2009.
1-0 has been the most common result for Madrid in the league this season (five times), followed by 0-0 and 2-0 (three times).
José Mourinho´s side have won their opening 12 league matches at home for the second season running - the last side to win their first 12 home games before this was Real Madrid in 1986.
Málaga have won just one of their last 11 away matches in Liga BBVA, but have drawn the last two. 
Madrid have the best defence from set pieces in the league this season, conceding just three goals this way.
The merengues are the only side not to have lost a single point after going ahead in the league this season.

Real Sociedad v Levante
Real Sociedad have won only one of their five matches against the granotas in the top flight.
Despite this they are unbeaten in both matches at home to the side from Valencia.
Levante have never won in the Basque country in the Spanish top flight (three draws, four defeats).
Real Sociedad have not drawn a league match since the second game of the season.
Erreala have won their last three home games in Liga BBVA, keeping a clean sheet in each match.
The granotas have won four of their last five league matches, rising from 19th to 13th as a result.
Raúl Tamudo has scored in his last three league matches at Anoeta.

Real Zaragoza v Athletic de Bilbao
Real Zaragoza have won three of their last four league matches at home to Athletic.
The Basque side have scored at least twice on seven of their last eight trips to La Romareda, but won only two of these.
Real Zaragoza are without a win in their last four league games.
Andoni Iraola has either scored or assisted each of Athletic´s last three away goals in the league.
The Basque side have lost their last two away games.
Bilbao are the top scorers in the opening 15 minutes of Liga BBVA matches this season (10 goals).
Athletic are on a run of three straight league defeats, their poorest run since the end of the 2008/09 season.

Sevilla v Sporting de Gijón
Sevilla have won 12 of their last 13 games at home to Sporting in the top flight.
Fredéric Kanouté has scored four goals in five league meetings with the Asturians.
The nervionenses have drawn three of their last five league games.
Only four sides have lost more games at home in Liga BBVA this season than Sevilla (four).
Ivan Rakitic has scored in Sevilla´s last two league games.
Sporting Gijón have drawn their last three league games.
Sporting have only lost one of their last eight matches in Primera, their best run since December 2009.
However they have scored just one goals in their last four league clashes.

Valencia v Barcelona
Los che have lost only one of their last five league games at home to Barcelona, drawing the last two.
Barcelona have not lost in the Cominunitat Valenciana in the league since a 1-3 defeat at Villarreal in October 2007.
David Villa has scored in none of the last five league meetings between Valencia and Barcelona.
Valencia have won four of their last five home league games.
Barcelona have scored 40 away goals in the league this season, no other side has scored more than 18.
Hércules remain the only side to have scored more than once against Barcelona in a league match this season.
Last time out was the fifth time that Messi, Villa and Pedro had all scored in the same competitive match (all competitions).
Barcelona are the only Liga BBVA side not to have conceded a goal in the opening 15 minutes this season.
Valencia have scored a goal in the last 15 minutes of eight of their last 10 league games.
Los che have won the most points from losing positions in the league this season (15).

Villarreal v Hércules
The only previous top-flight meeting between the sides was the 2-2 draw at Hércules earlier this season.
The "yellow submarine" has won only one of its four league matches against fellow sides from the Comunitat Valenciana this season.
Hércules have netted just three away goals in the league this season, at least four fewer than any other side.
Only Valencia have rescued more points from losing positions than Villarreal in Liga BBVA this season (13).
Juan Carlos Garrido´s men are without a win in four league games, their poorest run this season.
Hércules have failed to score in their last nine away games in the league.
Only Barcelona have scored more first half goals in the league this season than Villarreal (27).

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02-03-2011 22:00 Valencia - Barcelona

Need To Defend Third

A strong victory over Athletic Bilbao at the weekend has left Valencia extremely well placed to claim a spot in the Champions League next season, but no sooner have they opened up a gap to third placed Villarreal, they could see it close as they meet champions Barcelona on Wednesday evening.

Unai Emery’s side have been the masters of the narrow victory this season and managed to edge past los Leones thanks to a couple of late strikes, another hallmark of their recent performances. With 19 minutes remaining, Juan Mata levelled Fernando Llorente’s first half strike, and as the game approached its twilight period, Jonas scored a timely first goal for the club.

“With perseverance we beat a big rival at a very difficult venue, and for that we must be doubly pleased,” the coach explained after the weekend’s fixture. 

“San Mames demands that players fight duels, and I think that we were present.”

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s clash, the coach explained that he expects his side to approach the game at the Mestalla “with enthusiasm and a need to defend third place”.

Boasting a four point gap to a Villarreal side who are seeing their good form slide away, even a defeat at home to the league leaders would be no catastrophe, but the battling east coast outfit will be hoping to at least secure a draw.

Strong Start To Important Week

Talk of crisis at the Camp Nou has been averted for the time being. After a 1-1 draw with Sporting and a surprise 2-1 defeat in the Champions League against Arsenal, there were concerns that Barcelona’s campaign was about to come apart at the seams

But Pep Guardiola’s side have since responded with two impressive wins. A home fixture against Athletic Bilbao was considered a test, and Barca passed it narrowly, picking up a 2-1 success. Last weekend they then travelled to face a well-organised Mallorca side who had picked up a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou earlier in the season, and showing some fine form, the Blaugrana earned a routine 3-0 success that was made all the more pivotal by Real Madrid’s failure to overcome Deportivo La Coruna later in the evening.

Describing the fixture as the first of three “important” games, Guardiola was evidently happy with his side’s mentality and, ultimately, their performance, remarking,“We found it harder than ever to get going tonight and that has to serve as a lesson for other games. Obviously the goal helped us. It was another story altogether after the break though, we played with more intensity and suffered less.”

Accepting of the fact that Barca’s injury problems are simply something “that happens during the season”, Guardiola has confidence in his fringe players to step in and perform well, with the role of Seydou Keita at the weekend highlighting the good performances that can come from the Blaugrana bench.

Should Barca start Wednesday’s match as sluggishly as they played the early part of Saturday’s, they could find the going really tough, as Guardiola will no doubt warn his players.

TEAM NEWS

Valencia

Bruno is banned, which could prompt Ricardo Costa to go into the right-back berth as an emergency measure. Aritz Aduriz, David Albelda and Nacho Gonzalez continue to work their way back from injuries.

Barcelona

Reports suggest that Xavi could be back in action for the Blaugrana, while Dani Alves will certainly be welcomed back after a one-match ban. Jeffren Suarez is back training with the main squad but Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes are set to miss out.

Prediction

Though the Mestalla is a difficult venue to go and win in, Barcelona have proven time and again that they’re capable of rising to the challenge at just the right moment. After last weekend’s impressive success, the Blaugrana have to be favoured, though Valencia are more than capable of making life difficult for their guests.

Editor's Prediction

 Valencia1

Barcelona 2

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