16.02. (Sat) 20:45 Roma - Juventus

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ROMA
Stekelenburg
Marquinhos, Burdisso, Dodo
Lamela, Bradley, De Rossi, Marquinho
Pjanic, Totti
Osvaldo

JUVENTUS
Buffon
Barzagli, Bonucci, Caceres
Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Asamoah
Vucinic, Matri

Antonio Conte's side are looking to make it three wins on the bounce when they travel to the capital to take on a stumbling Roma side who are still getting used to life under interim coach Aurelio Andreazzoli.

Having emerged unscathed from the emphatic 3-0 victory away at Celtic in the Champions League on Tuesday night, the Juventus coach has no new injury concerns, although Federico Peluso and Claudio Marchisio are suspended.

Kwadwo Asamoah could return to the starting XI after returning from international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Ghana, while Leonardo Bonucci is also available having served his two-match domestic suspension.

Having both found the net in the Bianconeri's last two matches, Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri are once again expected to lead the line, and Nicolas Anelka could make his Serie A debut from the bench. Paolo De Ceglie and Luca Marrone are also pushing for starts.

Andreazzoli made numerous changes to Zdenek Zeman's favoured starting lineup in the 3-1 defeat to Sampdoria and is faced with several injury concerns for Saturday.

Alessandro Florenzi did not take part in Thursday's training session as he is suffering from flu, and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Daniele De Rossi could face late fitness tests on their respective knee and thigh injuries.

The Giallorossi are already without Leonardo Castan, Federico Balzaretti and Mattia Destro for the clash against the Italian champions, so Andreazzoli will be hopeful that his star players can make a quick recovery.

DID YOU KNOW?
Juventus thumped the Giallorossi 4-1 in the reverse fixture earlier this season, with Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Alessandro Matri and Sebastian Giovinco getting on the scoresheet.

These two sides are Serie A’s top scorers, with 100 goals shared evenly between them. However, Roma have conceded the second-most in the division (45) whilst Conte's side have the best defensive record (16).

Roma have lost four of their last six Serie A matches and are currently 10 points behind arch-rivals Lazio who occupy the final Champions League spot.

Roma have only been able to secure one victory in their last 15 Serie A encounters against Juventus, back in February 2004.

Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and Erik Lamela are tied as the Giallorossi's top league goalscorers with 11 goals. Fabio Quagliarella leads the Old Lady's charts with seven.

Mirko Vucinic moved from Roma to Juventus in 2011 for a reported fee of €15 million. The Montenegrin has scored 19 goals in 62 games since joining.

Prediction
Aurelio Andreazzoli has a tough task on his hands if he is to transform this Roma side into European hopefuls. Though he has plenty of attacking talent at his disposal, the Giallorossi have real problems at the back and I expect Juventus to take advantage of their defensive vulnerability and heap more misery on the capital outfit.
Editor's Prediction
Roma 1-2 Juventus

16.02. (Sat) 20:00 Granada - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GRANADA
Tono
Nyom, Lopez, Mainz, Siqueira
Recio, M Rico
Torje, Aranda, Nolito
Ighalo

BARCELONA
Valdes
Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano
Thiago, Song, Fabregas
Pedro, Messi, Sanchez


Granada midfielder Dani Benitez will miss Saturday's Primera Division encounter against Barcelona after undergoing a hernia operation earlier in the week.

Fran Rico (knee) is also sidelined, but boss Lucas Alcaraz has a full squad to choose from otherwise.

Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura is likely rest some his stars ahead of the midweek Champions League trip to AC Milan.

Striker David Villa will not travel to Andalusia after being hospitalised with kidney stones, while playmaker Xavi (hamstring) is still out.

DID YOU KNOW?
Granada have won three of their last four matches in La Liga.
The Andalusian outfit have lost their last three encounters against Barcelona by an aggregate score of 3-8.

Granada have kept four clean sheets in their last five matches at Los Carmenes.

Barcelona have won just one of their last four away matches in all competitions (W1, D2, L1).

The Blaugrana boast the best attack in the Primera Division, with 78 goals scored in their 23 matches (3.3 goals per game).

Lionel Messi has scored eight goals in his last five Liga matches for Barca.

Prediction
Following some shrewd signings in January, Granada seem well-positioned to make a push away from the relegation zone. However, the visitors are in imperious form and are more than capable of picking their way through the Andalusian side's dogged backline.
Editor's Prediction
Granada 0-2 Barcelona

16.02. (Sat) 18:30 Borussia D. - Eintracht Frankfurt

PROBABLE LINEUPS

DORTMUND
Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Santana, Hummels, Schmelzer
Gundogan, Bender
Blaszczykowski, Gotze, Reus
Schieber

FRANKFURT
Trapp
Jung, Zambrano, Anderson, Oczipka
Rode, Schwegler
Aigner, Meier, Inui
Lakic

Jurgen Klopp will be able to welcome Ilkay Gundogan back into the starting line-up after the Germany international sat out his side's 2-2 draw with Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday. He should come into the team at the expense of Sebastian Kehl.

Neven Subotic is in line for a return to the fold after over a month out with a hamstring injury, but Felipe Santana could continue in his place. Finally, Julian Schieber will make a rare start up front in place of the suspended Robert Lewandowski.

Frankfurt, meanwhile, will be able to name a full-strength line-up for the trip to Signal Iduna Park, with only Martin Amedick set to miss out as he looks to build up fitness.

DID YOU KNOW?
Borussia Dortmund have lost four games already this season, more than they did in the whole of 2011-12.

The German champions have beaten Eintracht Frankfurt more times than any other opponent.

Julian Schieber has not contributed to any goals in his 12 Bundesliga appearances this season.

Eintracht Frankfurt have only lost one of their last five matches with Dortmund.

Their coach, Armin Veh, has not come out on top against Dortmund in six encounters.

The top-four hopefuls have only lost once since the end of November. That came at Bayer Leverkusen, their last trip to North-Rhine Westphalia.

Prediction
Eintracht Frankfurt have certainly proved themselves to be a stubborn opponents across the course of their remarkable run this season, but Dortmund will be eager to bounce back, and in spite of the absence of Robert Lewandowski, should come out on top.
Editor's Prediction
Dortmund 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

Premier League Opta Facts – February 17th

Liverpool v Swansea City
Liverpool have not scored against Swansea City since they were promoted to the Barclays Premier League last season; drawing blanks in all three previous league meetings (D2 L1).
Luis Suarez did score in the last clash between the two at Anfield (in the Capital One Cup); however, Swansea ran out 3-1 winners.
Liverpool have won five of their last seven home games in the league; losing the other two.
However, the Reds are without a win in four in all competitions (D2 L2).
Liverpool are yet to enjoy a victory over a side in the top half of the division this season (D7 L7).
Swansea have won just one of their last six league matches on the road (D3 L2).
Only Swansea City (92%; 35 of 38) and Newcastle (82%; 28 of 34) have scored a higher proportion of their goals from open play than Liverpool this season (77%; 34 of 44).
Swansea have dropped a league low two points from leading positions this season; having gone on to win nine of the 10 games they have taken the lead in this season.
No side has conceded fewer goals in the opening 30 minutes of matches this season than Swansea City (five; level with Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur).
Liverpool have benefitted from four own goals scored by their opponents this season; more than any other team in the top-flight.
But Swansea are one of three clubs this season yet to score an own goal this season (along with Fulham and Arsenal).
Liverpool are the first team in Europe's top five leagues to hit 500 shots this season (503)

Aleksandar Brković, trener Partizana, analizira rukometnu Ligu šampiona

Srpski prvak, Partizan, bitisanje na domaćem terenu u Ligi šampiona završava ovog vikenda, kada u Niš stiže moćni Hamburg. Imena Duvnjaka, Lackovića, Lindberga, Vorija, Bitera, Hensa, sigurno će da budu magnet da tribine niškog „Čaira” budu dobro popunjene. Trener crno-belih Aleksandar Brković veruje u još jedan jak otpor renomiranom protivniku.

- Nema bele zastave, pokušaćemo da iznenadimo Hamburg - kaže Brković. - Kladionice su nas opet potcenile, ali ne verujem da ćemo da izgubimo sa velikom razlikom.

Šta mislite o ostalim susretima?
- Monpelje je silno oslabljen odlaskom Nikole Karabatića. Povređen je i Dragan Gajić. Iako su Francuzima bodovi preko potrebni u borbi za četvrto mesto, mislim da su Čehovski Medvedi bliži trijumfu.
PIK Seged bi mogao da iznenadi Dinamo iz Minska i dođe na korak do osmine finala. Metalurg je rešio pitanje prolaska u narednu rundu, pa će rasterećen da putuje u Sankt Peterburg - zaključio je Brković.
Ž. M.

MOJ TIP
PIK Seged (Mađ) - Dinamo M. (Bel) 1
ST. PETERBURG (Rus) - METALURG (Mak) 2(h)
Partizan (Srb) - Hamburg (Nem) 1(h)
ATLETIKO (Špa) - SAVEHOF (Šve) 2(h)
Silkeborg (Dan) - Gorenje (Slo) 2(h)
MONPELJE (Fra) - ČEH. MEDVEDI (Rus) 2

Championship Opta Facts – February 16th

Cardiff v Bristol City
After a run of 23 games without a win in this fixture that ended in 2008, Cardiff have won six and lost just two of their last 10 in the league against the Robins.
The Welsh side have won their last three league games on home soil against City, scoring exactly three in each game.
After no clean sheets in their first 28 league games, Bristol City have kept two in their last three.
The struggling Robins have won as many games in their last four as they did in the previous 21 (three).
Malky Mackay's side have lost just one of their last 15 in the Championship and are unbeaten in eight (W6 D2).
The Red Dragons, who were held 0-0 at Huddersfield last time out, have only twice gone consecutive games without a victory all season.

Birmingham City v Watford
The Blues have won their last five home games against Watford, a run that includes a 1-0 playoff win back in May 1999.
Blues defender Curtis Davies scored the first brace of his league career in this fixture last season, and has since added another one (v Barnsley on Boxing Day).
Birmingham City have scored a 90th minute goal in three of their last four league games; without those strikes, they would be four points worse off.
Lee Clark's side have gone 16 league games without a clean sheet, last keeping one against Bristol City back in November.
The Hornets have scored at least twice in eight of their last nine league games and have only failed to score in one of their last 16.
Gianfranco Zola's side have only lost one of their last eight on the road (W5 D2), though this did come last time out at Bristol City.

Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough
Merouane Zemmama has scored on his last two appearances against Crystal Palace (all competitions).
The last five league meetings between Palace and 'Boro at Selhurst Park have all ended 1-0, with the away side winning three of those games.
Despite this, Middlesbrough have only managed six goals in their last 11 trips to Selhurst Park combined, and never more than once in a single game.
The Eagles have not scored a first-half goal in any of their last five league games, netting all four of their goals after the break in this run.
Palace top scorer Glenn Murray has scored six in his last 10 league games, but has failed to score seven times in this run (three braces).
None of Boro's last 16 league games have ended level (seven wins, nine defeats).

Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have not lost in eight league trips to face Derby, last losing at the home of the Rams in May 1993 (D3 W5).
The West Midlands side have only failed to score once in this eight game run, scoring at least twice in each of the other seven (22 in total).
Jamie Ward has scored in each of his last four league appearances.
Nigel Clough's side have only managed one clean sheet in their last nine league outings.
Wolves have only scored two first-half goals in their last 10 league games combined, and both of those were netted by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
Struggling Wolves are now without a win in eight league games (D3 L5).

Hull City v Charlton Athletic
Hull are without a win in six against Charlton (D4 L2) and last beat the Addicks in November 1985.
The Londoners are unbeaten in eight trips to Hull in the Football League, winning four and drawing four.
Only one of the last 11 goals Charlton have conceded in the league has come in the first-half.
After a run of three straight wins in early January, Chris Powell's side have gone three without tasting victory (D1 L2).
The Tigers have only lost one of their last six league games at the KC Stadium, suffering a shock defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in January.
The last eight league games involving Hull City have only seen three goals netted before the half-time break.

Ipswich Town v Blackpool
Blackpool have won three and lost none of their last four against Ipswich in the Championship, including a 6-0 drubbing of them back in August.
Despite this, the Seasiders have never won at Portman Road in the Football League, drawing four and losing five of nine previous trips.
All nine league meetings between these sides in Suffolk have seen both sides find the net.
Tom Ince has netted four goals in his last three appearances for Pool.
Blackpool's last five league games have all ended 2-1, with the Lancashire side winning two and losing three in this run.
Ipswich have only won one of their last six league games, drawing two and losing three.

Nottingham Forest v Bolton Wanderers
Bolton are unbeaten in seven meetings with Forest in all competitions, winning three and drawing four and not tasting defeat since October 1995.
The Trotters have only won one of their last seven (D2 L4) and kept one clean sheet in their last 12 league trips to Forest, but both of those came in their most recent game at the City Ground (2-0 in March 2001).
Bolton have only managed one clean sheet in their last eight league games.
Dougie Freedman's side are winless in five away league games, drawing two and losing three.
After consecutive shutouts in December, Forest have gone nine league games without keeping a clean sheet.
The Tricky Trees have lost three successive league games; they have not lost four in a row since December 2011.

OPTA Facts: FA Cup Fifth Round + Fourth Round Replay

Luton v Millwall
Millwall have won four of the five previous meetings between these two sides in the FA Cup; losing the other.
The Lions have won five and lost just one of their last eight clashes with Luton in all competitions.
In the last round, Luton became the first non-league side to win away at a top-flight team in the FA Cup since 1986 (Altrincham beating Birmingham City 2-1).
Luton are competing in fifth round for the first time since 1994.
The Hatters have progressed on five of their last six FA Cup fifth round ties; but never (from four meetings) when facing a team from a higher division.
Millwall have reached the FA Cup fifth round for the second time since they reached the final in 2004 (as well as last season).
Millwall have won 13 and lost none of their last 17 matches in the FA Cup against sides from lower divisions (excluding qualifiers).
Luton Town have won seven and lost none of their last eight games at home in all competitions.
The Blue Square Premier side have conceded just three goals in their last six at home; keeping three clean sheets in that run.
Millwall have won none of their last six on the road (in all competitions); losing four.

Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers
This is the eighth time that Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers have been drawn together in the FA Cup. Arsenal have progressed on four occasions; although Blackburn were victorious in their last meeting (2007 Fifth Round) winning the replay 1-0 (after the initial match ended 0-0).
Arsenal are unbeaten in 34 games against lower ranked sides in the FA Cup (W27 D7).
The Gunners are also unbeaten in 34 FA Cup ties at home (W25 D9).
This will be Arsenal's sixth appearance in the fifth round since winning the trophy in 2005. They have failed to progress on three of the previous five occasions.
Olivier Giroud bagged a brace in the Fourth Round for Arsenal and has scored five in his last five appearances for the London club.
Jordan Rhodes has bagged nine goals in his last 10 appearances for Blackburn in all competitions.
Rovers have won six and lost just one of their last 10 in all competitions.
Arsenal have won five of their last seven in all competitions at the Emirates (D1 L1).
Blackburn have lost three of their last four visits to the Emirates by at least four goals on each occasion (D1; all competitions).
The two games between Arsenal and Blackburn in the Premier League last season produced 15 goals.

MK Dons v Barnsley
This will be the first meeting between MK Dons and Barnsley in the FA Cup.
Three of the previous five meetings between the two clubs in all competitions have ended in draws.
This is the first time MK Dons have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Karl Robinson's side have won four and lost none of their last six home matches in the FA Cup.
Since beating QPR 4-2 in the fourth round, MK Dons have lost three of four matches (D1), scoring only two goals.
Barnsley have won six and lost none of their last seven in all competitions.
Jason Scotland has scored three goals in just 75 minutes of action for Barnsley this season (three sub appearances).
Izale McLeod, who returned to MK Dons in the January transfer window, scored for the Dons in the first ever clash between these two sides back in August 2004.

Oldham Athletic v Everton
Oldham are unbeaten in five matches against Everton in the FA Cup (W3 D2).
The last time the sides met, Oldham left Goodison Park with 1-0 win in the FA Cup third round in 2008.
Everton have won just one of their last five visits to Oldham in all competitions (D2 L2).
Everton are unbeaten in their last seven away games in the FA Cup (W5 D2).
The Toffees have won four of their last six on the road (D1 L1); with their only loss in that run coming at Old Trafford last weekend.
The Latics have won just three of their last 12 (in all competitions). However, two of those wins have come in the last three.
Forward Lee Barnard has scored in each of his two appearances for Oldham signing joining on loan from Southampton.
Left-back Leighton Baines has scored four times in his last eight appearances for Everton in all competitions.

Manchester City v Leeds United
This will mark the sixth occasion that Manchester City and Leeds United have clashed in the FA Cup. Leeds lead the head-to-head with three wins to two.
The two teams met in the fifth round back in 1977. Leeds won 1-0 at Elland Road.
None of the last four matches between the two sides in all competitions have ended in an away win (three home wins and a draw).
The Premier League Champions have won six of their last nine in all competitions but are without a win in three (D2 L1)
Neil Warnock's side have lost five of their last seven on the road (W1 D1; all comps).
The Whites have not kept a clean sheet away from home this season.
Ross McCormack has scored four goals in his last six for Leeds.
Manchester City have conceded just two goals in their last five home games in all competitions; keeping four clean sheets.
The last time the two teams met in March 2004, James Milner started in midfield for Leeds.

Huddersfield Town v Wigan Athletic
The only previous meeting between the two teams in the FA Cup was back 1977. Huddersfield won 2-0 at home.
Wigan have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1987.
The Latics have won six of their last 10 away FA Cup matches against sides from lower divisions.
Roberto Martinez's side have kept only two clean sheets in their last nine in all comps. Both were in the FA Cup.
Huddersfield have lost 11 of their last 15 FA Cup matches against top flight opposition (W1 D3). The victory (over Birmingham City) came in their last home match against Premier League opposition.
Town have lost two of their last eight (W3 D2), after going on a ten-match run without a victory (D5 L5).
The Terriers' last seven goals in all competitions have been netted by different scorers.
Jordi Gomez has scored twice in Wigan's three FA Cup matches this season.
Shaun Maloney has netted in his last two games for Wigan.

Manchester United v Reading
The last two times Man Utd have beaten Fulham at Old Trafford in the FA Cup (as they did in the last round), they have gone on to win it (2004, 1999).
Manchester United are unbeaten in 12 matches in all competitions against Reading (W8 D4). The last time they lost to Reading was in the FA Cup in January 1927.
The Red Devils have won 15 of their last 19 home ties in the FA Cup (D2 L2).
Sir Alex Ferguson's side have conceded just one goal in their last five FA Cup matches at Old Trafford.
This is the third time in the last four years that Reading have reached the FA Cup fifth round; and only the eighth time in their history. On each of the last two appearances, they have progressed to the last eight.
Only once in the last 12 occasions that Reading have drawn against opponents from the same division in the FA Cup have they progressed to the next round.
Wayne Rooney has scored three goals in his last two starts against Reading.
Adam Le Fondre has scored seven goals in his last seven appearances for Reading in all competitions. He also scored against Manchester United earlier this season.
The clash between the two teams earlier in the season (in the Premier League) saw seven goals scored in the opening 35 minutes.

Chelsea v Brentford
Only once in the last 14 years have Chelsea failed to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Chelsea are unbeaten in four matches (all competitions) against Brentford (W3 D1).
Before last month's clash, their only previous FA Cup meeting came in 1950. Chelsea won 1-0.
Brentford have won just one of their last six (D3 L2).
Chelsea have lost only two of their last 18 replays in the FA Cup; winning 13. Of the three that went to penalties, Chelsea were eliminated twice on spot-kicks.
Fernando Torres' only goal in his last 12 appearances for Chelsea came against Brentford in the original clash.
Marcello Trotta, on loan from Fulham, has scored three in four for Brentford (all comps).
In just nine FA Cup games for Chelsea, Juan Mata has played a part in 10 goals (scored four and assisted six).
Frank Lampard has been involved in 23 goals (scored 14 or assisted nine) in his last 24 appearances in the FA Cup.

Završnica engleskog FA kupa, najstarijeg takmičenja na svetu

Još tri koraka do „Vemblija”. U većini zemalja, Kup je izgubio smisao, ali ne i na Ostrvu. Najstarije takmičenje na svetu, engleski FA kup, koji se igra od davne 1871. godine, pobuđuje veliku pažnju u kolevci fudbala. I ove godine došlo je do „seče” favorita. U osmini finala, u kojem se igra jedan meč, nema Liverpula i Totenhema, ali je svoje mesto našao Luton, član Konferencije.

SUBOTA
LUTON – MILVOL
Međusobni susreti: 22 25 31
07/08 1-1; 0-0 (L1) 00/01 0-1; 0-1 (L1)
05/06 2-1; 1-2 (Š) 99/00 0-2; 0-1 (L1)

Najveće iznenađenje dosadašnjeg dela FA kupa je Luton, koji je u prethodnoj rundi izbacio premijerligaša Noriča, i to na gostujućem terenu. Ekipa koja je ne tako davno igrala u Šampionatu, sada je skliznula u Konferenciju, sa šansama da se eventualno nađe u borbi za baraž. S druge strane, momci iz Pekama, siromašnog kvarta Londona, igraju dobro ove godine u Šampionatu i kandidati su za baraž, za ulazak u Premijer ligu. Tradicija je na strani Milvola, koji je blagi favorit.

ARSENAL – BLEKBURN
Međusobni susreti: 58 31 30
11/12 7-1; 3-4 (P) 09/10 6-2; 1-2 (P)
10/11 0-0; 2-1 (P) 08/09 4-0; 4-0 (P)

„Tobdžije” su u prošloj rundi na jedvite jade izbacile Brajton. Ipak, Arsenal je na domaćem terenu veliki favorit protiv nekadašnjeg šampiona Engleske, koji grca i u Šampionatu, sa malim izgledima da se domogne makar baraža. Arsen Venger će verovatno da promeša karte, jer londonski klub u utorak čeka dvoboj sa Bajernom, u prvom meču osmine finala Lige šampiona.
Ž. M.