18.04. (Wed) 20:45 Chelsea - Barcelona

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA CechIvanovic, Terry, Cahill, Cole Mikel, Lampard Ramires, Mata, Kalou Drogba

BARCELONA   Valdes,Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Puyol Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta Sanchez, Messi, Pedro

Chelsea have problems in defence with David Luiz likely to miss out after being stretchered off at Wembley against Tottenham on Sunday and Gary Cahill also struggling with a foot problem. John Terry will continue to play, despite a rib injury, and Branislav Ivanovic should replace Jose Bosingwa at right-back, having been suspended for the FA Cup semi-final.

Elsewhere, manager Roberto Di Matteo must decide whether to keep faith with the players who served him so well in the 5-1 thrashing of Spurs or freshen up his team. Dider Drogba and Frank Lampard were both scorers on Sunday, so may have done enough to retain their places, although Fernando Torres, who started both games against Benfica, will be hoping for a recall to the starting XI.

Barcelona have no fresh injury worries and indeed have players returning from injury with Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Seydou Keita and Ibrahim Afellay all back in the squad. Javier Mascherano and Carles Puyol are both set to start in defence, with both players only one yellow card away from a suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Chelsea last met Barcelona in May 2009, again in the semi-finals of the Champions League. After a goalless first leg the Catalans qualified for the final with a stoppage time Andres Iniesta goal which cancelled out Michael Essien’s opener and saw Barca through on away goals.

• The Blues have a perfect record at home this season in the Champions League. Di Matteo’s men have played five, won five, scoring 16 times and conceding just two in the process.

• This fixture is the Londoners’ sixth Champions League semi-final in nine years. However, they have only ever won one, beating Liverpool 4-3 on aggregate in 2008.

• The Stamford Bridge side have never won the European Cup, although they have been runners-up, in 2008.

• Barcelona’s last trip to London was last May at Wembley when they beat Manchester United 3-1 to claim their fourth European Cup.
  

• Should the reigning champions win the Champions League this season it will be their fourth triumph in seven years and they will be the first club since AC Milan in 1990 to retain the trophy.

• This is the fifth consecutive season that Barcelona have been in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The last team to beat them at this stage was Inter Milan in 2010.

• Lionel Messi (pictured right) has faced Chelsea six times in the Champions League but has never scored against the Blues.

• When the two clubs met in the quarter-finals in 2000, Barcelona beat Chelsea 5-1 in the second leg at Camp Nou. That game saw Roberto Di Matteo start for the Blues, whilst a certain Pep Guardiola featured for the hosts.

Prediction

Chelsea head into the game in good spirits after dismantling Tottenham at Wembley, a result which should stand them in good stead to take on the Champions League holders.
The nature of their elimination at the hands of Barcelona back in 2009 may also provide extra motivation, if any were needed, although such has been the continued brilliance of the Catalans, that even that may not be enough for victory.

Editor's Prediction

Chelsea 2-2 Barcelona

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17.04. (Tue) 20:45 Bayern Munchen - Real

Bongarts

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BAYERN MUNICH Neuer Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba Gustavo, KroosRobben, Muller, Ribery Gomez

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

Bayern Munich will recall Philipp Lahm, Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez to the starting line-up for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first leg against Real Madrid, after the trio were rested on the bench for the weekend draw with Mainz.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is available after serving a one-match ban but may be left out in favour of Luiz Gustavo, who was an unused substitute on Saturday. Defenders Daniel Van Buyten (foot) and Breno (knee) are both out.

Madrid boss Jose Mourinho will likely reinstate Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Kaka to the starting XI after the trio were benched for Saturday's win over Sporting Gijon.

Xabi Alonso returns from domestic suspension, but Ricardo Carvalho (thigh) and Lassana Diarra (hamstring) are both sidelined.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Bayern Munich have posted six straight home victories in the Champions League and have won 12 of their last 13 European outings at the Allianz Arena.

• The Bavarian outfit have never lost to Real Madrid at home (W8, D1). Their overall record against Madrid is W10, D2, L6.

• The clubs have met each other in four previous European Cup semi-finals, with Bayern prevailing three times (1976, 1987, 2001) to Madrid's one (2000).

• Jupp Heynckes, who won the Champions League in his solitary season at the Madrid helm in 1997-98, has never beaten Spanish opposition over two legs as a coach.

• Real Madrid are unbeaten in this season's Champions League and, with just six goals conceded, have the best defensive record of the teams still involved in the tournament.

• The Castilian giants have recorded just one victory on German soil in 22 attempts (W1, D6, L15) - a 3-2 success over Bayer Leverkusen in 2000-01.

• Madrid are making a record 23rd semi-final appearance in Europe's elite club competition and they are seeking to reach their 13th final.

• Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured right) has struck 14 Liga hat-tricks for Madrid, two more than Ferenc Puskas' tally for the club, but still well behind Alfredo Di Stefano's record (22).

Prediction

The key to this first leg clash will probably rest on how Robben and Ribery fare against Madrid's full-backs - Alvaro Arbeloa and Marcelo - who can be exposed defensively. Bayern have virtually swept everything before them at home this season, but they will have their work cut out in containing the pace, power and counter-attacking ability of Mourinho's Madrid juggernaut.

Editor's Prediction

Bayern 1-1 Real Madrid

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16.04. (Mon) 21:00 Arsenal - Wigan

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ARSENAL Szczesny Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Santos Arteta, Song, Rosicky Walcott, Van Persie, Benayoun

WIGAN ATHLETIC Al-HabsiAlcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour Moses, Maloney Di Santo

Arsenal are missing centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who serves the final game of his suspension for picking up his 10th yellow card of the campaign against Manchester City.

Apart from that, the Gunners are only suffering from the long-term absences of Jack Wilshere, Per Mertesacker (both ankle), Emmanuel Frimpong (knee), Francis Coquelin and Abou Diaby (both hamstring).

Arsene Wenger is likely to stick with the 4-3-3 formation that beat Wolves 0-3.

The Latics are missing Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega once again, but have no fresh injury concerns and are likely to remain unchanged from their 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Arsenal have won eight of their last nine matches.

• The Gunners cruised to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Wigan at the DW Stadium on December 3.

• Arsenal boast the second best home defence in the league, having only conceded 12 goals compared to Manchester City's 10.

• Wigan have only beaten their opponents once in their Premier League history, with a historic 3-2 victory at the DW Stadium helping to seal their top-flight survival in April 2010.

• The Latics are searching for their fourth victory in five league matches, following their impressive 1-0 victory over Manchester United.

• Of the last six matches Wigan midfielder Shaun Maloney (pictured right) has been involved in, they have lost just once.

Prediction

I believe that this will be a walk in the park for Arsenal, even though Wigan are fighting for their lives. The Latics' form has picked up in recent weeks, but the Gunners are playing some irresistible football themselves and look set to coast to a comfortable victory on their home turf.

Editor's Prediction

Arsenal 3-1 Wigan Athletic

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15.04. (Sun) 21:00 Auxerre - Paris Saint Germain

Panoramic

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AUXERRE Sorin Dudka, Boly, Grichting, Hengbart Mandjeck, Cisse Chafni, Traore, Contout Oliech

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN Sirigu Jallet, Alex, Sakho, Maxwell Bodmer, Motta, Matuidi Pastore, Nene Menez

Auxerre boss Jean-Guy Wallemme has no major injury concerns ahead of the visit of Paris Saint-Germain to Stade de-l'Abbe Deschamps on Sunday.
Delvin Ndinga and Ben Sahar both participated in training sessions, though neither is expected to make the starting XI as the coach is tipped to go with the same XI that lost narrowly to Olympique Lyonnais last week.
Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti heads into the match on the back of a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over fierce rivals Olympique de Marseille.
Les Parisiens are without Mohamed Sissoko after his red card in the 'Clasico', and with Ancelotti tipped to favour the 4-2-3-1 formation, Mathieu Bodmer is in line to make an appearance.
Clement Chantome is still sidelined, and with Jeremy Menez deputising as a centre-forward to full effect in place of out-of-form Guillaume Hoarau and Kevin Gameiro, the trend may be set to continue away to Auxerre on Sunday.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Auxerre lie bottom of Ligue 1 after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat to Lyon last weekend.

• No side with less than 29 points at this stage of the season has managed to escape relegation from Ligue 1. Jean-Guy Wallemme's team currently have amassed 27 points.

• Nene has four goals in his last five games against Auxerre.
• Paris Saint Germain's win over Marseille last weekend sees them occupy second in Ligue 1, three points behind Montpellier.

• PSG have only scored more than two goals away to Auxerre on one previous occasion

• Carlo Ancelotti's side are yet to lose a game in Ligue 1 when Thiago Motta has played.

Prediction

With the Ligue 1 title race hotting up with only seven games left to play, Paris Saint-Gemain cannot afford to drop points at this stage of the season. Comfortable win for PSG in my opinion.

Editor's Prediction

AJ Auxerre 0-2 PSG

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15.04. (Sun) 20:45 Roma - Fiorentina

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

ROMA Stekelenburg Taddei, Kjaer, Heinze, Angel Gago, De Rossi, Marquinho Totti Osvaldo, Bojan

FIORENTINA Boruc Cassani, Gamberini, Natali, Nastasic Montolivo, Behrami, Lazzari, Pasqual Ljajic Jovetic

Luis Enrique's men have suffered an inconsistent second half to the season and are without a host of names for the visit of Fiorentina.

South American defenders Nicolas Burdisso and Juan are unlikely to feature due to injury, while Bogdan Lobont, Leandro Greco, Fabio Simplicio, Marco Cassetti and Fabio Borini are all among those for the Giallorossi currently receiving treatment. Marquinho could start ahead of Miralem Pjanic in midfield having scored two goals in his last three games.

Viola, meanwhile, have slumped alarmingly close to the relegation zone following a run of just two wins in their last 11 games. One of which came at San Siro against AC Milan, and the hero of that match, Amauri, is suspended for the visit to the Olimpico.

Defensive duo Per Kroldrup and Michele Camporese are both sidelined through injury but Delio Rossi may well be able to welcome Juan Manuel Vargas back to the side after two weeks out.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Roma have won five of their last six games at home.

• Should Luis Enrique's men win, it will be the first time they have achieved back-to-back league victories since their first two fixtures of the year.

• Roma have suffered only three Serie A defeats in 16 home games this season.

• The Giallorossi have lost a total of 12 games this season, the worst record in the top-half alongside Inter and Chievo.

• In the reverse of this fixture earlier this season, Fiorentina ran out 3-0 winners at the Artemio Franchi.

• The Viola's last victory at Stadio Olimpico was back in February 1992 when they recorded a 3-1 win.

• Fiorentina have only taken three points on their travels on two ocassions out of 16 games on the road this season.

• Delio Rossi's side could drop into the relegation zone should they lose and Genoa and Lecce win. However, the Griffins travel to San Siro on Saturday whilst Serge Cosmi's side host Napoli.

Prediction

Luis Enrique's side should have more than enough about them to see off a Fiorentina side who have only won away from home twice this season. Both teams have something to play for with Roma hoping to sneak a Champions League spot while Viola are fighting for the Serie A lives. The Giallorossi should be able to earn back-to-back victories for just the second time this year and use that as a base for their European push.

Editor's Prediction

Roma 3-1 Fiorentina

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