Saturday, October 22, 2011

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23.10. (Sun) 12:30 Ajax - Feyenoord

Dinamo Zagreb - Ajax: Ajax-players cheering
PROSHOTS


PROBABLE LINEUPS


AJAX

Vermeer
Van der Wiel, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Anita
S. de Jong, Eriksen, Janssen
Sulejmani, Bulykin, Boerrigter
FEYENOORD

Mulder
Dani Fernandez, De Vrij, Vlaar, Martins Indi
El Ahmadi, Bakkal, Clasie
Cabral, Guidetti
, Schaken
 
Ajax coach Frank de Boer will have to make do without the services of holding midfielder Eyong Enoh due to suspension.

Additionally, striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson is unavailable because of a fractured ankle, while full-back Nicolai Boilesen is unlikely to feature due to a hamstring problem.

Feyenoord boss Ronald Koeman will be without left-back Kaj Ramsteijn as the Netherlands Under-21 starlet is out of action due to a knee injury.

Furthermore, back-up goalkeeper Darley won't feature because of a knee injury, while defenders Bart Schenkeveld and Gill Swerts are still sidelined, too.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Ajax have yet to keep a clean sheet this Eredivisie campaign.
  • The Godenzonen have won their last four competitive games against Feyenoord.   
  • Serbian winger Miralem Sulejmani is his side's leading goalscorer with six goals.
  • The Amsterdam ArenA club have not won in their last four league matches.
  • Feyenoord lost their previous away game against AZ, 2-1.
  • Striker John Guidetti is the Rotterdam giants' leading goalscorer with four strikes, all of which came from spot-kicks.
  • The visitors have conceded only nine goals so far in 2011-12.
  • Nine different Feyenoord players have found the net so far this season.

Prediction
It's been quite a while since Feyenoord got a positive result in Amsterdam and they face a difficult task to get one on Sunday. The hosts will be determined to return to winning ways in the Eredivisie after a few disappointing results and they'll be high on confidence following their Champions League win in midweek. The visitors' lack of experience in combination with the individual quality of the Ajax attack makes the home side the clear favourites.
Editor's Prediction
Ajax 2-1 Feyenoord
Friday, October 21, 2011

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22.10. (Sat) 22:00 Barcelona - Sevilla

UEFA Champions League: FC Barcelona v FC Viktoria Plzen: Andres Iniesta
Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA


Valdes

Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Pedro, Messi, Villa

SEVILLA

Varas
Caceres, Spahic, Escude, Navarro
Trochowski, Medel
Navas, Manu, Perotti
Kanoute

Cesc Fabregas is slowly making his way back to fitness following a hamstring injury, but his efforts to return to the fold are likely to be rewarded with just a place on the bench for the visit of Sevilla.

Alexis Sanchez remains sidelined with a longer-term hamstring problem, as the curse of that particular physical ailment continues to be a concern for coach Pep Guardiola. Gerard Pique picked up a similar injury in last weekend's 3-0 defeat of Racing, and will be on the sidelines for another week.

Sevilla's main fitness concern is that of striker Alvaro Negredo, who has been ruled out of the contest as a result of a hamstring strain that has kept him out of action for most of the month of October.

Coach Marcelino will look to defend a seven-game unbeaten run in La Liga so far this season, and will likely employ Frederic Kanoute in a lone striking role.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Barcelona have scored 21 goals in four league matches at home so far this season, defeating Villarreal, Osasuna, Atletico Madrid and Racing in the process.
  • They have remained unbeaten in their first 13 games of the season, a club record.
  • Including last season's Super Cup clash at Camp Nou, Barca have defeated Sevilla in their last encounters in Catalunya with a score of 13-0.
  • Sevilla have made their best-ever start to a Primera Division campaign, winning four and drawing three matches in their seven-game unbeaten run.
  • The Andalucian side last recorded victory at Camp Nou in January 2010 in the Copa del Rey, when a 2-1 victory helped eliminate the holders.
  • Alvaro Negredo, who will miss the contest through injury, is the club's current leading scorer this season with three goals.

Prediction
Given Barcelona's propensity for hammering Primera Division opposition at home this season, with a goal difference of 21-0, it's difficult to envision Sevilla offering a great deal of resistance, as the champions march to another victory.
Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 3-1 Sevilla

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22.10. (Sat) 20:45 Juventus - Genoa

Sokratis & Del Piero - Juventus-Genoa - Serie A (Getty Images)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

JUVENTUS

Storari
Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini
Pepe, Pirlo, Marchisio, Estigarribia
Vucinic, Matri


GENOA


Frey
Mesto, Dainelli, Moretti, Antonelli
Kucka, Veloso, Rossi
Merkel
Palacio, Jorquera
Juventus have been dealt late injury blows to key performers Gianluigi Buffon and Arturo Vidal, allowing Marco Storari and Claudio Marchisio to come into the fold.

Buffon suffered a bruised shoulder during training on Thursday, paving the way for former AC Milan shot-stopper Storari to line up between the sticks. Their summer recruit Vidal, on the other hand, is still recovering from a thigh injury incurred in Wednesday's session.

Other changes are also seen on the flanks, as Milos Krasic and Eljero Elia have been dropped from the side, amid reports that coach Antonio Conte is unhappy with their form. Therefore, Simone Pepe and Marcelo Estigarribia are likely to be handed the responsibility of providing width.

Meanwhile, Genoa have also opted to make alterations from the team that drew 0-0 with Lecce in last weekend's drab affair. Emiliano Moretti is expected to replace the suspended Kakha Kaladze in central defence, while Marco Rossi should make way for the incoming Giandomenico Mesto at right-back.

Elsewhere, Valter Birsa will be sacrificed for Rossi, who moves from defence into midfield, and Cristiano Jorquera should replace Andrea Caracciolo in attack.
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Juventus have beat Genoa six times, with the visitors winning just once since their return to Serie A in 2007.
  • Impressively, the Old Lady have scored in each of their last 16 meetings with the Grifoni.
  • Juventus have failed to score at home just four times since March 2008, but interestingly every time they haven't found the net, they have lost.
  • In addition, they are unbeaten in their past seven games and have lost just once in their last 16.
  • Meanwhile, Genoa have beaten Juventus away from home just twice in 44 fixtures, and have suffered 53 defeats against Juventus on 88 occasions; their worst record against any Serie A team.
  • Alberto Malesani's side have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last nine away games, losing seven on the road.
  • Rodrigo Palacio has been involved in eight of his Genoa's nine total goals this season, scoring five and assisting three.

Prediction
Despite the goalscoring prowess of Genoa, their rearguard is susceptible to leaking goals and the impressive firepower possessed by the Old Lady, coupled with their defensive solidity this season, means that all in all it should prove to be a winning formula for Juventus, as they prepare to keep up the pace at the Serie A summit.
Editor's Prediction
Juventus 2-1 Genoa

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22.10. (Sat) 20:00 Malaga - Real

UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid CF v Olympique Lyonnais
Getty

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

MALAGA

Ruben
Gamez, Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal
Cazorla, Toulalan, Maresca
Joaquin, Van Nistelrooy, Isco

  REAL MADRID
 
Casillas
Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo
Alonso, Khedira
Kaka, Ozil, Ronaldo
Higuain


Malaga only have one major injury concern and that is Julio Baptista, who is still recovering from a foot problem. The Brazilian did not take part in Thursday's training session, and it is touch and go whether the former Real Madrid man will face his former club.


Manuel Pellegrini's side will also be without goalkeeper Willy Caballero, who is suspended after receiving a straight red card in the last Primera Division match, a 3-0 defeat against Levante.
Madrid will still be without Raul Albiol, who is currently sidelined after fracturing his cheekbone on international duty. There are still concerns over the fitness of Ricardo Carvalho and Nuri Sahin, with both expected to miss the match at La Rosaleda.
Kaka started the last Liga match against Betis and scored a wonderful goal to complement a very good performance, and with Angel di Maria somewhat off-form midweek, the Brazilian may once again be given another opportunity.
Jose Mourinho is spoiled in his attacking options at the moment, with both Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain in excellent form. However, the Argentine may just get the nod after scoring a magnificent hat-trick in his last start.


DID YOU KNOW?
  • Malaga have scored less than half the amount of goals that Real Madrid have notched up in La Liga this season, with 10 goals to 24.
  • Manuel Pellegrini's side spent 58 million on new recruits during the summer transfer window.
  • Malaga's top goalscorer last season in La Liga was Jose Rondon with 14 goals, 26 less than Madrid's highest marksman Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese netted 40, a division record.
  • Real Madrid have scored 21 goals in their last five games.
  • The last encounter between Real Madrid and Malaga came in March of this year when Jose Mourinho's men destroyed the visitors 7-0. Ronaldo fied a hat-trick.
  • If Jose Mourinho's men lose this match, then Malaga will join them on 16 points in La Liga.

Prediction
Malaga have a 100% record at La Rosaleda so far in La Liga this season but they face a momentous task in keeping Real Madrid's attacking prowess at bay. Madrid have scored 21 goals in their last five games and are showing no signs of letting up. The home side have the quality to cause Jose Mourinho's side problems, with the playmaking of Cazorla in midfield and the instinctive play of Van Nistelrooy in the box, but Madrid are playing with bags of flair at the moment, so expect them to secure a comfortable away victory.
Editor's Prediction
Malaga 1-3 Real Madrid

Ligue 1 Round 11 Preview


Saturday 22nd OCTOBERKOSunday 23rd OCTOBERKO
Bordeaux - Brest1900Auxerre - Stade Rennes1700
Caen - Montpellier1900
PSG - Dijon1700
Olympique Marseille - Ajaccio1900
PSG - Olympique Lyon2100
Nancy - Nice1900


Saint Etienne - Valenciennes1900
Sochaux - Evian1900
Lorient - Toulouse 2100
 all kick-offs in CET

BordeauxvsBrest

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

  
Carrasso
Chalme, Henrique, Ciani, Marange
N'Guemo, Sane
Traore, Plasil, Ben Khalfallah
Diabate


Elana
Coulibaly, Zebina, Ewolo, Makonda
Poyet, Grougi, Culma, Lesoimier
Roux, Baset


TEAM NEWS
  • Bordeaux crashed to a 3-0 defeat away to Nice last weekend.
  • Francis Gillot's men are now winless in six league games.
  • Les Girondins are still without Jussie, with the player recovering from a foot problem.
  • Brest secured their third consecutive 1-1 draw against Caen on matchday ten.
  • Alex Dupont's men are remarkably still winless in the campaign so far.
  • Out of the ten Ligue 1 games the visitors have played, they've drawn eight. 

CaenvsMontpellier

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

 
Thebaux
Vandam, Leca, Herteaux, Raineau
Hamouma, Seube, Proment, Bulut
Frau,
Niang


Montpellier HSC
Jourden
Bedimo, Hilton, El Kaoutari, Bocaly
Saihi, Estrada
Cabella, Utaka, Marveaux
Giroud
TEAM NEWS
  • Caen drew 1-1 with Brest on matchday ten.
  • The result maens that Les Malherbes are now unbeaten in five games, arresting a previous run of three straight defeats.
  • Last season, Franck Dumas' men took four points off Saturday's visitors.
  • Montpellier came out on top in an enthralling match against Dijon which ended 5-3.
  • La Paillade are only two points behind leaders PSG.
  • Hat-trick hero Olivier Giroud shall lead the line, with Geoffrey Dernis injured for 3 weeks, and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa servinga suspension.

Olympique de MarseillevsAjaccio

PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Marseille
Mandanda
Morel, N'Koulou, Diawara, Azpilicueta
Cheyrou, Diarra, Lucho Gonzalez
Valbuena, Remy, Ayew

AC Ajaccio
Ochoa,
Lippini, Medjani, Poulard, Mendy,
Mostafa, Pierazzi,
Cavalli, Sammaritano,
Ilan, Socrier



TEAM NEWS
  • Under-fire Marseille were held to a 1-1 draw against Toulouse last Saturday.
  • L'OM are unbeaten in four Ligue 1 games, but have only won once in the league this season.
  • Didier Deschamps' men lost 1-0 to Arsenal in the Champions League, with Aaron Ramsey netting a 92nd minute blow.
  • Ajaccio were easily brushed aside 3-1 by PSG on matchday ten.
  • The Corsicans lie in the relegation zone after going on a five match winless streak.
  • Olivier Pantaloni's men won their last meeting with Marseille 3-1 in January 2006.

NancyvsNice

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

  
Gregorini
Helder, Andre Luis, Loties, Hadara
Cuvillier, Diakhite, Mangani, Bakar
M'Bile, Niculae


  OGC Nice
Ospina,
Clerc, Pecjinovic, Civelli, Monzon
Hellebuyck, Meriem, Coulibaly, Abriel
Mouloungoui, Mounier

TEAM NEWS
  • Winless Nancy succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against Lyon in their previous league game.
  • Jean Fernandez's men, are, along with Brest, yet to pick up a victory in Ligue 1 this season.
  • ASNL won this fixture 3-0 back in May.
  • Nice convincingly thrashed Bordeaux 3-0 on matchday ten.
  • The victory enabled Les Aiglons to propel to 13th in the table.
  • Eric Roy's men have failed to win any of their previous four encounters against Nancy.


Saint EtiennevsValenciennes.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AS Saint-Etienne

 Ruffier,
Nery, Paulao, Mignot, Ghoulam,
Lemoine, Clement
Aubemayang, Battles, Sako
Kitambala


    
Penneteau
Mater, Mirin, Gil, Bong
Saez, Cohade
Dossevi, Kadir, Danic
Aboubakar
 TEAM NEWS
  • Saint Etienne won for the first time in eight games aaginst Evian. 
  • The 2-1 victory enabled Les Verts to move to 9th in the table.
  • Sainte are winless in four against VAFC.
  • Valenciennes secured an emphatic 3-0 victory against Sochaux on matchday ten.
  • Daniel Sanchez's men are unbeaten in three against Les Verts.
  • Valenciennes have had more possession of the ball in their last six games than their opponents, but have only won twice in that time.

SochauxvsEvian

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

  FC Sochaux
 Richert
Corchia, Perquis, Peybernes, Sauget
Anin,
Boudebouz, Martin, Mikari
Butin, Maiga

  Evian Thonon Gaillard
  Andersen 
Djedje, Cambon, Barbosa, Ehret
Leroy, Rabiu, Sorlin, Govou
Adnane, Sagbo



TEAM NEWS
  • Sochaux crashed to a 3-0 defeat to Valencinnes last weekend.
  • Les Lionceaux have now conceded a league high 22 goals in their last ten games.
  • This will be the first league encounter between the two teams.
  • Evian's poor run continued when they lost to Saint Etienne 2-1 on matchday ten.
  • Bernard Casoni's men have now failed to win in eight games.
  • Evian's Jon Mensah misses out with injury.

LorientvsToulouse

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

  FC Lorient
Lecomte
Pedrinho, Bourillon, Manga, Le Lan
Jouffre, Romao, Mvuemba, Autrel
Emeghera, Aliadiere




   Toulouse FC
Ahamada
Akpa-Akpro, Congre, Abdennour, M'Bengue
Capoue
Machado, Devaux, Sissoko, Tabanou
Bulut

TEAM NEWS
  • Lorient fell to their second defeat of the season to Rennes last weekend.
  • The 2-0 defeat ended Les Merlus' six match unbeaten run.
  • Christian Gourcuff's men are seventh in the table, with four wins from ten.
  • Toulouse salvaged a 0-0 draw against Marseille at home last weekend.
  • The draw kept Le Tefece in the top six with 18 points.
  • Alain Casanova's side are unbeaten in three games against Lorient.

AuxerrevsStade Rennes

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


Sorin
Dudka, Boly, Coulibaly, Berthod
Cisse, Oliech
Chafni, Traore, Contout
Le Tallec



  Stade Rennais FC
Costil
Danze, Kana-Biyik, Mangane, Catherine
Pajol, M'Vila
Hadji, Feret, Pitroipa,
Montano
TEAM NEWS
  • Auxerre collapsed to a 3-1 defeat against champions Lille on matchday ten.
  • The defeat marked AJA's first since opening day.
  • Laurent Fournier's men have won twice this season, but remain in 10th place.
  • Stade Rennes easily beat Lorient 2-0 last wekend.
  • Les Rouge et Noir's last victory against Auxerre came in March 2009.
  • Frederic Antoinetti's men were in Europa League action on Thursday, drawing 1-1 with Celtic


PSGvsDijon

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


Sirigu
Ceara, Lugano, Sakho, Tiene
Bodmer, Matuidi
Menez, Pastore, Nene
Gameiro

 Dijon FCO
Reynet,
Bamba, Zarour, Paulle, Souprayen
Mandanne, Sangare, Altama, Corgnet, Bautheac,
Jovial
TEAM NEWS
  • Leaders PSG successfully negotiated past Ajaccio 3-1 last weekend.
  • Les Parisiens have won their last four games in succession
  • Hat-trick hero Kevin Gameiro will lead the line after last week's treble against Ajaccio.
  • Dijon lost out on a goal-laden encounter against Montpellier.
  • The 5-3 defeat against La Paillade came despite Benjamin Corgnet's hat-trick.
  • Patrice Carteron's men have only one win in five games.

LillevsOlympique Lyon
Lille                 Sunday 21:00                      
Both sides suffered European defeats against Inter and Real Madrid respectively on Tuesday evening, but the Ligue 1 duo will be desperate to get back on track on the domestic scene. Trailing PSG at the summit, the 2010-11 champions will be desperate to claim a win against Remi Garde's outfit and underline their title ambitions. Kick-off on Sunday is at 2100 CET

A full preview of this fixture can be found here