SPL Opta Facts 21-22 February 2011

Dundee United v Kilmarnock

United are unbeaten in 10 SPL meetings with Kilmarnock, though seven of these have been draws.
Both sides have found the net in the last seven clashes between the Terrors and Killie.
Kilmarnock have won on only one of their last 15 league visits to Tannadice.
United are without a win in three at home in the league (D2 L1).
Dundee United have benefitted from three own goals in their last three league matches.
There have been just 11 goals scored in Kilmarnock's last eight league games on the road.
Only Hearts (8) have scored fewer away goals than Kilmarnock (9) in the SPL this season.

Celtic v Dunfermline

The Bhoys have won 14 of their last 16 league meetings at home to Dunfermline, but lost the other two.
In 22 matches, only two newly-promoted sides have ever taken points off Celtic at Parkhead in the SPL: Inverness in 2010 and Hibernian in 2000.
Celtic are on a run of 17 consecutive league wins.
The Bhoys have conceded just two goals in their last 12 league games combined.
All four of the Pars' wins in the league this season have come on the road.

Motherwell v Hibernian

Motherwell have won their last two league clashes with Hibernian, keeping a clean sheet each time.
The Steelmen have scored in their last 14 league matches at home to the Easter Road outfit.
Motherwell are unbeaten in five in the league, winning three.
Motherwell have won their last three at home in the SPL, scoring three times in each match.
The Steelmen have scored more league goals in their last three matches at Fir Park (9) than in the previous 12 there combined (8).
Hibs have won only one of their last 14 SPL games.

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Championship Opta Facts - February 21st to 23rd

Barnsley v Birmingham City

The last two meetings between Barnsley and City have ended 1-1, with Barnsley opening the scoring in both games.
The Tykes have won only one of their last five matches at home to Birmingham, losing three.
None of Barnsley's last 22 league matches have ended in a draw (11 wins, 11 defeats).
Barnsley have scored in their last 15 league games at home, the longest run by a side in the Championship this season.
Birmingham are unbeaten in 10 league games, only Middlesbrough (11) have gone on a longer run without defeat in the Championship this season.
There has been just one goal scored in Birmingham's last three league games combined (Redmond in 86th minute vs Portsmouth).

Millwall v Middlesbrough

Boro are unbeaten on their last three trips to Millwall (W1 D2).
Scott McDonald, who scored in both league meetings with the Lions last season, has scored in his last two league games.
Millwall have failed to score in their last four league games at home.
A win last time out ended Middlesbrough's longest winless run of the season in the league (six games).
Boro have conceded at least twice in their last four league games on the road.

Blackpool v West Ham

The Hammers have scored seven goals over their last two meetings with Blackpool, including a 4-0 home win earlier this season.
West Ham have won six of their last eight league meetings with the Seasiders, drawing the other two.
Blackpool are unbeaten in seven in the Championship, winning five of these.
The Seasiders have conceded exactly once in each of their last five league games.
West Ham have won only one of their last five league games on the road.
Mark Noble has scored three penalties in West Ham's last four league games.

Hull City v Brighton

Hull have won only one of their last five meetings with the Seagulls (D1 L3).
The last four meetings between the sides at Hull have ended 2-0: twice to Hull and twice to Brighton.
Hull have kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league: no side has kept six in a row in the Championship this season.
There have been only eight goals scored in the last eight league games involving Hull.
Brighton are unbeaten in seven league games (W5 D2), their best run of the season.

Derby County v Leicester City

Leicester have won to nil in their last three meetings with the Rams.
Derby have scored just one goal in their last five clashes with the Foxes combined.
Derby are without a win in five league games, failing to scored in four of these.
At home, the Rams have won four of their last five in the Championship.
Leicester have taken 1.33 points per game under Nigel Pearson in the league this season, compared to 1.38 under Sven Goran-Eriksson.
David Nugent has scored four goals in Leicester's last five league games.

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21.02. (Tue) 20:45 Napoli - Chelsea

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PROBABLE LINE-UPS

NAPOLI De Sanctis Aronica, Campagnaro, Cannavaro  Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Dossena  Hamsik, Lavezzi Cavani

CHELSEA Cech Ivanovic, Luiz, Cahill, Bosingwa Essien, Meireles, Ramires Mata, Sturridge, Torres

Napoli have a largely full strength squad to choose from ahead of the clash in Naples – and most importantly, the ‘Big Three’ of Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi are all expected to start. Uruguay international Cavani netted twice to condemn Manchester City to an early exit from the competition, and the hosts will look to their talismanic forward to fire them past another English side.

With Hamsik starting in midfield alongside Lavezzi behind Cavani, Napoli are an attacking force to be reckoned with and will likely pose a serious threat to a somewhat-beleaguered Chelsea defence.

It’s a big night for Gary Cahill, who will likely start should John Terry fail to reach full fitness, but Andre Villas-Boas will be relieved to have both Michael Essien and Ramires available for selection to shore up the centre of midfield. Frank Lampard has overcome a calf injury sustained against Norwich, and is likely to be in the squad against Walter Mazzari’s men, but Ashley Cole is expected to miss out.

Up front, both Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata should start behind Fernando Torres, who now more than ever needs to rediscover goalscoring form if the Blues are to leave Italy with a priceless away goal.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Napoli have twice before played host to English sides – they drew 0-0 with Liverpool in last season’s Europa League group stages, before their 2-1 win over Manchester City earlier in this season’s Champions League.

• They have not lost a match at Stadio San Paolo since they returned to European competition in 2008 after a 13-year absence. The last side to record a victory in Naples was Eintracht Frankfurt, way back in December 1994.

• Part of this fearsome home record is down to their miserly defense: they conceded a goal apiece against City and group-winners Bayern Munich, which ended a run of 573 minutes without conceding at home in Europe.

• After a run of just one win in six Serie ‘A’ matches, Mazzari’s men have recorded two wins on the bounce – the latest an impressive 3-0 success at Fiorentina.

• The much-maligned Fernando Torres (pictured right) has managed just two goals in nine Champions League games for Chelsea, whilst Napoli hitman Edinson Cavani has netted four times in six appearances in his maiden season in the competition.

• Chelsea are competing in the last 16 of the Champions League for the ninth season in a row.

• They have a disappointing record against Italian sides, having won only once in seven visits to Italy – the last a 4-0 thrashing of Lazio in the 2003/04 season.

• In knockout contests, however, their record reads much better: they have won two of three two-legged ties against Serie A opponents, against Juventus in 2008/09 and and Vicenza Calcio in the 1997/98 Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final.

• Chelsea have notched 53 attempts on goal so far in this season’s competition – only Barcelona and Real Madrid have managed more.

• Conversely, Napoli have managed just 18 – the lowest total in the competition, with the exception of Turkish side Trabzonspor.

Prediction

We’ve seen some high scoring matches in the last 16 so far this season, and Tuesday’s clash in Naples should be no different. Chelsea have the pace to pose a real threat on the counterattack, particularly if Napoli stick with a back three; the hosts, meanwhile, have the attacking prowess to challenge any defence in Europe, particularly one missing their talismanic captain.
I’m expecting a lively encounter at Stadio San Paulo, with plenty of attacking flair on offer. The Blues may struggle to leave Naples with a victory, but they should have enough to grab a priceless away goal to leave the tie nicely poised going in to the second leg.

Editor's Prediction

Napoli 2-1 Chelsea

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Italian Serie A Opta Facts - 21& 22nd February

Siena v Catania

This will be the 10th meeting between these two sides in Serie A: seven of the previous nine have ended as draws while Siena have won the other two.
At the Artemio Franchi, both sides have always scored against one another, with the hosts winning one and three draws.
Against Lecce on Sunday, Siena conceded four goals for the first time this season.
The Tuscans have won just one of their last six games; 1-0 at home against Roma.
Siena are unbeaten in their last four home games (two wins and two draws), conceding only one goal in the process.
Catania have won just one of their last seven games, losing three.
Away from home the Sicilians are winless in their last five games: two draws followed by three consecutive losses.
Catania's Pablo Barrientos has scored three goals in his last two Serie A appearances.

Bologna v Fiorentina

These two sides have met 121 times so far in the top-flight: Fiorentina lead by 45 wins to 36, with 40 draws.
Bologna have shared 24 draws at home against Fiorentina, more than against any other side visiting the Dall'Ara.
In fact, seven of the last 11 meetings in Bologna between these two sides have ended as draws.
Bologna have won just one of their last 10 meetings against the Viola, drawing five times.
Bologna are unbeaten in their last six games in the league, and have conceded just two goals in the process.
Bologna have never repeated the same result twice in a row over their last eight games at home.
In their last game against Napoli, the Viola conceded three goals for the first time in this campaign.
The Tuscans have won just one of their last 12 away games, however they have kept three consecutive clean sheets on the road.
Marco Di Vaio has already scored eight goals against Fiorentina, only against Udinese (nine) has he bagged more in the top-flight.

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21.02. (Tue) 18:00 CSKA Moskva - Real

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CSKA MOSCOW Chepchugov A Bere'ski, V Bere'ski, Igna'vich, Schennikov Wernbloom, AldoninOliseh, Dzagoev, Musa Doumbia

REAL MADRID Casillas Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo Khedira, AlonsoOzil, Kaka, Ronaldo Benzema

CSKA Moscow have some key personnel missing Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Real Madrid, including goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev (torn knee ligaments), Mark Gonzalez (hip) and playmaker Keisuke Honda (knee).

Latvian midfielder Aleksandrs Cauna, who underwent surgery in mid-January after breaking his toe, is also ruled out, while Pavel Mamaev and Kirill Nababkin serve one-match suspensions.

The absence of several established players could force CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky to hand competitive debuts to January signings Pontus Wernbloom and Ahmed Musa.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will be deprived of the services of Angel Di Maria, who aggravated a leg injury during Saturday's win over Racing Santander.

Also sitting out the trip to the Russian capital is Lassana Diarra, who is nursing a back problem, while Hamit Altintop is sidelined with a calf injury. Karim Benzema is likely to retain his place in attack ahead of Gonzalo Higuain.

DID YOU KNOW?

• CSKA Moscow, who are currently enjoying their three-month winter break in Russia, have not played a competitive match since December 7, when they beat Italian giants Inter 2-1 at San Siro in the group stages.

• The Russian side have never faced Real Madrid before, but are unbeaten against Spanish opposition in five outings (W3 D2).

• Should CSKA win against Real, it would represent their 50th victory in Uefa club competitions.

• Real Madrid have won 27 of their last 30 matches in all competitions, scoring in every game in that sequence.

• Los Merengues are the only side in the competition with a 100 per cent record and boast the best defence with just two goals conceded.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) has converted 23 successive penalty kicks for Real since failing against Almeria in December 2009.

Prediction

Despite their spate of injuries and suspensions, CSKA are not to be taken lightly at home as they will be more accustomed to playing on the artificial turf of the Luzhniki stadium and the sub-zero Moscow night. The visitors have far too much quality in their ranks, though, and should have enough to secure a win.

Editor's Prediction

CSKA Moscow 1-2 Real Madrid

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