Bundesliga Preview - Round 2

  Schalke - Koln

• Raul has scored four goals in two games against Koln.

• Schalke have lost their last five Bundesliga games. Should the Royal Blues fall to Koln, it will be a new negative club record.

• Koln have won more times against Schalke than against any other team, except Stuttgart.

• The Billy Goats have lost in their last three visits to Gelsenkirchen without scoring a single goal.

TEAM NEWS:

Schalke
Ralf Rangnick will have to do without the services of first-choice attacker Jefferson Farfan and midfielders Levan Kenia and Christoph Moritz. Defenders Tim Hoogland and Sergio Escudero will also be forced to watch from the sidelines as they are still recuperating from knocks.

Koln
Centre-half Youssef Mohamad has been ruled out with an injury, and will join veteran midfielder Petit and youngster Kevin Pezzoni on the sidelines. First-choice striker Milivoje Novakovic is serving a one-game suspension after he was sent off in Koln's Bundesliga opener against Wolfsburg last week.

Strikers Sebastian Freis and Alexandru Ionita are also set to miss the game with injuries, while Thiemo-Jérôme Kialkan is expected to recover in time for the match, but is unlikely to take part.

Hamburg - Hertha Berlin

• Hamburg have not won in eight Bundesliga games, drawing five and losing three.

• Michael Oenning's men recorded just seven victories in 17 home games last season.

• Hertha Berlin last lost away from home in December 2010.

• The Old Lady have won just once in their last six games against Hamburg.

TEAM NEWS:

Hamburg
Michael Oenning is not expected to make major changes to the team that lost to Borussia Dortmund last Friday. Ex-Hertha Berlin man Gojko Kacar and star striker Paolo Guerrero are recuperating from injuries and are likely to miss the clash. Kevin Ingreso and new signing Jacopo Sala are also unavailable for this game.

Hertha Berlin
Youngster Abu Bakarr Kargbo is unlikely to make his Bundesliga debut with Hertha Berlin as he has been ruled out with an injury. Roman Hubnik, Nico Schulz and Marco Djuricin are also out with knocks while Raffael is suspended for the game on Saturday.

  Nurnberg - Hannover

• None of the last 30 games between the two teams have ended goalless.

• Nurnberg have averaged 1.6 goals against Hannover, more than against any other side currently in the Bundesliga.

• Hannover, together with Wolfsburg, are the only team currently in the Bundesliga against which The Club has a positive record.

• Nurnberg's Dieter Hecking is the longest serving Hannover coach, managing the 96ers from September 2006 to August 2009.

TEAM NEWS:
Nurnberg
Dieter Hecking will have to do without the services of defender Per Nilsson and midfielders Manuel Zeitz and Robert Mak.

Hannover
Hannover will be able to field an almost full-strength team on Saturday, with only midfielders Carlitos and Leon Andreasen as well as striker Artur Sobiech out of the squad with injuries.

Freiburg - Mainz

• Freiburg conceded twice from headers last weekend.

• The Caligiuri brothers, Freiburg's Daniel and Mainz' Marco, are set to play against one another for the first time in the Bundesliga.

• The Oh-Fives lost both of their last two visits to Freiburg 1-0.

• Mainz have conceded fewer goals on average against Freiburg, 0.7, than against any other team currently playing in the Bundesliga.
  

TEAM NEWS:

Freiburg
Jan Rosenthal and Kisho Yano are the only casualties for Markus Sorg's team, who will be looking to make amendments for the draw against newly-promoted Augsburg last Saturday.

Mainz
Thomas Tuchel will have a full-strength squad to choose from as his team prepares to continue the positive start to their Bundesliga campaign.

 
  Hoffenheim - Dortmund 
(Click here for full preview)

Wolfsburg - Bayern Munich

(Click here for full preview)

Borussia Monchengladbach - Stuttgart

• Gladbach have won six of their last seven home games under Lucien Favre.

• The Foals have conceded more goals against Stuttgart (145) than against any other team, except Bayern Munich, who Gladbach overcame at the Allianz Arena last Sunday.

• Stuttgart recorded their biggest opening day win last Saturday when they defeated Schalke 3-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

• Cacau is set to feature in his 250th Bundesliga game.
  

TEAM NEWS:

Borussia Monchengladbach
Lucien Favre will have a full-strength squad at his disposal as the Foals aim to continue their positive start in the Bundesliga.

Stuttgart
Bruno Labbadia is likely to have some selection headaches especially regarding his team's defence as Ermin Bicakcic and captain Matthieu Delpierre are both injured. In addition, ex-Valenciennes man Johan Audel has been ruled out of the game.

Kaiserslautern - Augsburg

• Kaiserslautern's new signings Richard Sukuta-Pasu and Itay Shechter are yet to record a goal for the Red Devils in the Bundesliga.

• Marco Kurz has never won against Augsburg as coach.

• Augsburg scored five goals from headers last season, and, following the draw against Freiburg last Saturday, they have already recorded two this time around.

• There was not an away win in any of the eight 2nd Bundesliga games between the two sides.
  
  
  
  Rock-hard | Left-back Leon Jessen was Kaiserslautern's best player last Saturday

TEAM NEWS:

Kaiserslautern

Marco Kurz is facing a selection headache as defenders Jan Simunek, Lucas and Alexander Bugera are out as well as striker Adam Nemec.

Augsburg

The Bundesliga newcomers will have to do without the services of Gibril Sankoh, who is suspended, as well Torsten Oehrl and Nando Rafael, who are injured.

Bayer Leverkusen - Werder Bremen

• Leverkusen's Robin Dutt has lost all of his games against Werder Bremen as a coach.

• The Aspirins have drawn against Werder Bremen more times than against any other team.

• The Green-Whites have not won against Leverkusen in six games.

• Werder Bremen have never lost against the Aspirins after taking the lead.

TEAM NEWS:

Bayer Leverkusen

Long-term casualty Rene Adler and deputy goalkeeper Fabian Giefer are both out of this game, meaning new signing Bernd Leno is likely to feature in goal. Bastian Oczipka and Tranquillo Barnetta have also been ruled out of the clash with injuries.

Werder Bremen

Thomas Schaaf cannot rely on the services of defenders Naldo, Leon-Aderemi Balogun, Mikael Silvestre and Sebastian Boenisch, who have been deemed unfit. Midfielders Ozkan Yildirim and Tim Borowski as well as striker Denni Avdic are also likely to miss the game with various injuries.

Read More

13.08. (Sat) 15:30 Wolfsburg - Bayern Munchen

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Wolfsburg (4-2-3-1)
Benaglio; Hasebe, Kjaer, Russ, Schafer; Ochs, Trasch, Josue, Salihamidzic; Helmes, Mandzukic

Felix Magath is set to have a nearly full squad on hand, with only long-term absentees Arne Friedrich and Thomas Kahlenberg, as well as the dropped Diego, unavailable from his first-team squad.


Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1)
Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm; Gustavo, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Gomez

Franck Ribery is fit once more and tipped to start, although should he be unable play the full 90 minutes, Toni Kroos will be on hand to deputise. The fitness of Arjen Robben is also in question; the Dutchman complained of back problems, which were confirmed by coach Jupp Heynckes. The only confirmed absentee from Jupp Heynckes' squad is Breno, who is not yet fully fit.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wolfsburg have only enjoyed one win in their last 10 competitive matches against Bayern (two draws, seven defeats).

The Wolves' last win against Bayern was an emphatic one, though. In April 2009 they beat the Munich-based side 5-1 at home.

Felix Magath's men have won four of their last five league games (one defeat).

Bayern Munich have only lost one of their last 10 Bundesliga games (seven wins, two draws), not allowing their opponents more than one goal in any of these fixtures.

The Allianz Arena outfit have only won one of their last six Bundesliga outings at Wolfsburg (three draws, two defeats).

If the Bavarians lose this weekend, the German record champions would start the new campaign with two defeats for the first time in Bundesliga history.


Prediction

It always is a spectacle to behold when Felix Magath faces his former Bayern, and Saturday's match will be no exception. Wolfsburg started their season well last week, but their elimination from the DFB Pokal means they are still struggling for consistency. Bayern suffered a surprise defeat in their first match, but are likely to bounce back after several of their stars impressed during the midweek internationals.

Editor Prediction

VfL Wolfsburg 2-2 Bayern Munich

Read More

13.08. (Sat) 15:30 1899 Hoffenheim - Borussia D.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Hoffenheim (4-2-3-1)
Starke; Beck, Vorsah, Compper, Braafheid; Rudy, Salihovic; Obasi, Babel, Johnson; Schipplock

The Sinsheim outfit are facing an injury crisis with five players from the first team ruled out from the Bundesliga clash against the defending champions. Defenders Manuel Gulde and Andreas Ibertsberger, midfielders Tobias Weis and Boris Vukcevic as well as striker Vedad Ibisevic have been deemed unfit to start the game on Saturday.

Hoffenheim record transfer Gylfi Sigurdsson and defender Matthias Jaissle are set to recover from injuries by Saturday, but are unlikely to start the match against Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1)
Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Lowe; Gundogan, Bender; Gotze, Kagawa, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski

Jurgen Klopp will have to do without the services of first-choice striker Lucas Barrios, who is out for at least four weeks after picking up an injury while on international duty. Defenders Patrick Owomoyela, Neven Subotic, Julian Koch are also set to miss out on the clash against Hoffenheim as they are still recuperating.

Germany international Marcel Schmelzer is expected to recover in time for the game, but is unlikely to start the match.

DID YOU KNOW?

Hoffenheim have lost just once in their six Bundesliga games against the reigning champions.

There have been four dismissals and three penalties in the seven competitive matches between the two teams.

Hoffenheim lost their Bundesliga opener for the first time in their history last Saturday.

Borussia Dortmund won against every team last season, except Hoffenheim, on their way to their seventh Bundesliga title.

Germany international Mario Gotze, who played a key part in the national side's win over Brazil on Wednesday, has been in scintillating form so far, and was involved in all three goals Dortmund scored in the Bundesliga opener.

Kevin Grosskreutz recorded his first double last Friday.

Prediction

The Bundesliga champions traditionally have problems against Hoffenheim, but are in great form and will be expected to improve their record in Sinsheim on Saturday. Holger Stanislawski's men will put up a fight, but will most likely lose out to Borussia Dortmund.

Editor Prediction

Hoffenheim 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Read More

Premier League Opta Stats - 13-15 August

Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Brett Emerton has scored in three of his five Premier League appearances against Wolves.
Blackburn have scored first in all six Premier League meetings against Wolves.
Rovers conceded the highest percentage of goals in the second half of games of any team in the 2010-11 Premier League.
Rovers have drawn four of their last six Premier League games at Ewood Park.
Mick McCarthy's side have only kept two clean sheets in their last 20 Premier League away games.
Wolves have only ever won seven out of 57 Premier League away games.

Fulham v Aston Villa

Eight of the last 13 Premier League games between Fulham and Villa have ended as draws.
Aston Villa dropped more points (26) from winning positions than any other team in the 2010-11 Premier League.
Fulham conceded the highest percentage of first-half goals (63%) in the 2010-11 Premier League.
Aston Villa conceded a joint league-high 14 goals from corners in 2010-11.
The Villans have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 20 Premier League away games.
Fulham have lost just one of their last nine Premier League home matches.

Liverpool v Sunderland

Sunderland have only scored in three of their last 14 Premier League matches against Liverpool.
Liverpool have won eight and lost just one of the last 10 Premier League games against the Black Cats.
The Reds have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League games at Anfield.
Sunderland have won their last two Premier League away games; they have won three in a row only once (in Autumn 1999).
Liverpool averaged 1.87 points/game with Steven Gerrard starting in the last three seasons & 1.69 points/game without him.
Sunderland scored with 11 % of their shots in 2010-11 - only two teams (West Ham & Wigan) netted with a lower proportion.

QPR v Bolton Wanderers

QPR had the best defence in the 2010-11 Championship conceding just 32 goals.
Bolton lost their last five Premier League games of 2010-11.
The Trotters have won just one of their last 18 Premier League away games and have picked up just one point from the last 36 available on the road.
QPR won none of their last three home matches in the Championship, drawing two and losing the other.
Bolton have won four and lost none of the last five matches against QPR.
QPR won both meetings with Bolton in the Premier League by a single goal margin.

Wigan Athletic v Norwich City

Norwich City were the top scorers in the 2010-11 Championship with 83 goals.
Norwich City have the 7th best (out of 44) all-time Premier League points/game record in August, with 1.58 per match.
Wigan have lost both of their previous home games on the opening day of a Premier League season without finding the net.
Wigan have only kept one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League games at the DW Stadium.
The Latics have only lost three of their last 15 Premier League home matches
Norwich have lost only one of their last eight away games in the league.
But the Canaries have won none of their last 30 away games in the Premier League, a run stretching back to December 1994.

Newcastle United v Arsenal

The Gunners have won just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions away from the Emirates Stadium.
The Magpies have lost just one of their last nine Premier League games at St James Park.
Newcastle have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League matches.
Arsenal had a player sent off in both games against Newcastle last season.
Robin van Persie has scored five goals in eight appearances against Newcastle.
Van Persie has scored in his last nine away games, a Premier League record.

Stoke City v Chelsea

Chelsea have won their last nine opening day fixtures, the longest run of its kind since the Premier League started, and the longest such current run of any side in the four tiers of English football.
The Blues dropped fewer points from winning positions (6) than any other team in the 2010-11 Premier League.
Stoke scored 30% of their goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, a league-high proportion in that period of the game.
The Potters scored only one goal in the opening 15 minutes of games in 2010-11, a league low.
Chelsea have won five and lost none of the six Premier League games against Stoke.
André Villas-Boas lost only one away game in all competitions with FC Porto last season (v Villarreal in May).

West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United

West Brom are yet to win an opening day fixture in the Premier League. The Baggies have drawn two and lost three of their five attempts so far.
The Baggies recouped more points (27) from losing positions than any other team in the 2010-11 Premier League.
West Brom conceded a joint league-high 14 goals from corners in 2010-11.
David de Gea conceded more goals to shots from outside the area than any goalkeeper in LigaBBVA last season (11).
Man Utd came back to win only three of 11 PL games where they were trailing last term (v West Ham and v Blackpool twice).
West Brom only kept two clean sheets in the league in 2010/11, the lowest ever amount in a single Premier League season.

Manchester City v Swansea City

Joe Hart posted the best save % of any goalkeeper in the 2010-11 Premier League (76%).
Man City won more penalties (9) than any other team in the 2010-11 Premier League.
Manchester City have drawn all five of their home games on the opening day of PL seasons, with four of those games ending 1-1.
Swansea have lost their last five games on the opening day of the season, the current longest such run of any side in the four tiers of English football.
Man City have won nine and lost none of their last 10 Premier league home games.
Manchester City scored the most goals from deflected shots (8) & own goals accrued (2) combined (10).

Read More

Championship Opta Facts - 13-14 August

Barnsley v Southampton

After a run of nine clashes between the sides in which both teams scored on each occasion, the last two meetings combined saw just a single goal scored.
Despite this, the last five meetings between the teams at Oakwell have seen 19 goals netted in total.
The Tykes managed just two clean sheets from their last 12 home games last season.
Southampton have now won 10 of their last 11 league games.
The Saints lost just one of their last eight away games last term.
Southampton scored a League One-high 30 second half goals on their travels last season.

Birmingham v Coventry

The Blues overturned a 0-2 deficit to beat Coventry 3-2 at St Andrews in an FA Cup match this January.
None of the last eight clashes between the sides in Birmingham have ended in draws, with the Blues winning three of the last four.
The Sky Blues scored in their last eight away games last season, but conceded in seven of them.
Birmingham have now gone seven league games without a win.
The Blues only netted 19 home league goals last season, the fewest of all Premier League sides.
Birmingham had fewer shots than any other team in the Premier League last term (314).

Crystal Palace v Burnley

None of the last 11 meetings between the Eagles and the Clarets have ended in away wins.
Jay Rodriguez has scored two goals in his last three appearances against Palace.
71% of the goals the Eagles conceded at Selhurst Park last season came in the second half - the highest proportion of all Championship sides.
Palace won a league-high 92% of the home games they took the lead in last season (11 of 12).
Burnley recouped a league-high 12 points from trailing positions on their travels last term.
Eddie Howe's side lost four of their last five away games without scoring last season, but won the other 4-2 at Leeds.

Doncaster v West Ham

These sides haven't met in league competition since March 1958.
Rovers have scored at least one goal in each of their last 14 meetings with the Hammers - they last failed to score in a 0-0 draw at Upton Park in December 1950.
Doncaster netted just 12 set piece goals in the league last season, the fewest of all sides.
Rovers have drawn their last three home league games, but are winless in nine.
The Hammers lost their last four away league games last term, conceding 11 goals in the process.
West Ham conceded a Premier League high eight goals in the opening 15 minutes of away games last season.

Ipswich v Hull

Ipswich are unbeaten in five home meetings with the Tigers, winning two and drawing three.
Overall, just two of the previous 26 clashes between these sides have been won by the visiting side.
Ipswich conceded 11 goals in the final 15 minutes of games at Portman Road last season, the most of all sides on their own patch.
The Tigers drew six away games they had fallen behind in last term - a league-high.
Just one of Ipswich's last eight home games has ended in a draw.
The Tigers have now taken just two points from the last 15 available in the league.

Leeds v Middlesbrough

Four of the last five clashes between these teams have been won by the away team, who have scored at least twice in each victory.
Luciano Becchio has netted two goals in two appearances against Boro.
Leeds United scored a higher percentage of goals from open player than any other side in the second tier last season (83%).
The Whites drew five games from winning positions at home last season, a joint-league-high shared with Watford.
Middlesbrough are unbeaten in five league games, winning four of them.
'Boro won their last two away games last season, netting seven goals in the process.

Leicester v Reading

Jimmy Kebe has netted two goals in his last three appearances against the Foxes.
The Royals have won their last three clashes with Leicester, including winning 2-1 on their last two trips to the home of the Foxes.
Reading scored 11 goals in the final 15 minutes of away games in the Championship last season, a league-high.
Leicester conceded a higher proportion of home goals in the first half than any other side in the second tier last season - 59%.
Reading are unbeaten in eight regular Championship away games, winning four and drawing four.
New Leicester captain Matt Mills netted a late winner for the Royals in this fixture last season.

Millwall v Nott'm Forest

Only one of the last 11 meetings between these sides has been won by the away team.
Forest have failed to score on four of their last five trips to the New Den, not winning there since a 2-1 victory in October 2002.
Millwall conceded four goals from throw-ins in the league last season, two more than any other side.
Forest won their last two regular away games last season, netting three goals on both occasions.
Steve McLaren's new side haven't drawn any of their last six regular away games, winning two and losing four.
Millwall only lost one of their last seven league games at the New Den last term, winning three and drawing three.

Portsmouth v Brighton

Brighton have lost five and drawn one of their last six trips to Fratton Park in all competitions, not winning there since December 1985.
The Seagulls have scored just two goals at Fratton Park in this six game period, and both of those came in a 2-4 defeat in August 2002.
Only three goals were scored in the opening 15 minutes of games at Fratton Park in the entire 2010/11 campaign - every other Championship ground saw more.
Pompey failed to score in each of their last three home games last season.
Brighton are unbeaten in eight away league games, winning five and drawing three.
Gus Poyet's side had the best away defensive record in League One last season, conceding just 18 goals on their travels all year.

Watford v Derby

Only one of the last eight meetings between these sides has ended in a draw, with Derby winning four and Watford winning three.
The Rams have won just one of their last 10 trips to Vicarage Road in all competitions; a 1-0 victory in December 2009.
Watford scored eight goals from corners at Vicarage Road last season, the most of all teams on their own ground.
Derby were the only side to lose every game they fell behind in on the road last season (12).
The Hornets have conceded two or more goals in nine of their last 10 league games.
Derby have lost four and drawn two of their last six away games.

Blackpool v Peterborough

The last four meetings between these sides have seen a total of just four goals netted, with at least one team keeping a clean sheet on each occasion.
The Posh have failed to score in four of their last six meetings with the Seasiders.
Peterborough only failed to score in one of their last 17 away games last term.
Blackpool conceded exactly three goals in four of their last six home league games.
The Tangerines scored and conceded in 18 of their 19 league games at Bloomfield Road last season - a Premier League record.
Blackpool conceded more goals at home than any other Premier League team last term (37).

Cardiff v Bristol City

The last four meetings between these sides in league competition have seen a total of 17 goals scored - an average of over four per game.
Peter Whittingham has scored three goals in his last three appearances against the Robins.
Cardiff City scored more goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other Championship side last season - 16.
The Robins netted more away goals in the opening 15 minutes than any other side in the second tier last season - 9.
The Bluebirds have only lost one of their last 11 regular Championship games.
Jon Stead has scored three goals in his last four league games for the Robins.

Read More