MILOŠ KOCIĆ, GOLMAN PORTLANDA, I OVE SEZONE JEDINI SRBIN U MLS-u

Leskovčanin među „Jenkijima”. I ove sezone Miloš Kocić (27) biće jedini Srbin u MLS-u. U prošlom šampionatu iskusni golman branio je boje Toronta, a posle „trejda” završio je u mnogo jačem Portlandu.

- Došao sam u veoma ambiciozan klub - kaže Kocić. - Imam još godinu dana ugovora, ali mi je rukovodstvo nagovestilo da želi dugoročnu saradnju. Moja želja je da se vratim u Evropu, ali videćemo... Dobro smo se pojačali. Pre nekoliko dana stigao nam je nekadašnji igrač Mančester Junajteda, Mikael Silvestre. S pravom pucamo na sam vrh.
Kako su se pojačale ostale ekipe?
- Bilo je dosta promena u timovima. Prošle sezone najbolje je delovao Kanzas, ali je klub napustilo nekoliko važnih igrača. U Njujork je stigao Brazilac Žuninjo Pernambukano, bivši igrač Liona i Vaska. Uz Anrija i Kejhila, Njujork je sigurno jedan od favorita. Šta očekujete u susretima prvog kola?
- Premijerno kolo je uvek teško da se predvidi. Mi smo igrali pripremni meč sa Koloradom, koji je bio veoma loš. Dalas i Kanzas su imali dobre rezultate u predsezoni. Hjuston je jedan od favorita. Dobro igra na svom terenu, pa bih mu dao prednost protiv Vašingtona.
Ž. M.

MOJ TIP
Filadelfija - Kanzas X2
VANKUVER - TORONTO 3+
HJUSTON - VAŠINGTON 1
Dalas - Kolorado 2-3
Sijetl - Montreal 1

02.03. (Sat) 20:45 Milan - Lazio

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AC MILAN
Abbiati
De Sciglio, Yepes, Zapata, Constant
Montolivo, Muntari, Boateng
Niang, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

LAZIO
Marchetti
Pereirinha, Biava, Dias, Radu
Candreva, G'lez, Ledesma, Hernanes, Lulic
Floccari

A six-pointer is usually a phrase reserved for relegation tussles, but on Saturday evening AC Milan and Lazio do battle in a contest that could prove decisive in the chase for third place.

Back in October, the very thought of the Rossoneri being among the chasing pack for a Champions League spot was unthinkable, after back-to-back defeats to Inter and the Biancocelesti.

Come Spring, however, and circumstances have changed somewhat, with a victory over Barcelona and a 1-1 draw with the Nerazzurri, Milan's backdrop to this intriguing encounter.

As it stands, just two points separate the two sides, with Lazio a place better off than their hosts in third and both will be desperate to lay down a pivotal marker in the race for European football.

Abdoulay Konko, Miroslav Klose, Marius Stankevicius, Cristian Brocchi and Stefano Mauri are all missing for the visitors, while the San Siro side will be without Daniele Bonera and Nigel de Jong through injury - Philippe Mexes serves a one match suspension.

DID YOU KNOW?

With 16 goals to his name, Stephan El Shaarawy (right) is AC Milan's leading goalscorer so far this season.
Milan have won their last six matches at San Siro.

The Rossoneri have also scored at least twice in each of their previous five home games.

Massimiliano Allegri's side have won four of their last six league games.

Lazio are on an indifferent run of form, having lost three, drawn two and won one of their last five Serie A games.

Vladimir Petkovic's side ran out 3-2 winners at the Stadio Olimpico in the first meeting between the two sides back in October.

The Biancocelesti's cause has not been helped by an injury to Miroslav Klose, with the veteran striker the club's top scorer on 10 goals.

Prediction
Milan have looked a completely different proposition to the side that spluttered and staggered through the first-half of the season and with Lazio struggling for consistency, expect the Rossoneri to continue their revival.

Editor's Prediction
Milan 2-0 Lazio

02.03. (Sat) 18:30 Wigan - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

WIGAN ATHLETIC
Al Habsi
Scharner, Caldwell, Figueroa
Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour
Maloney, Kone, Santo

LIVERPOOL
Reina
Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique
Lucas, Gerrard,
Downing, Suarez, Coutinho
Sturridge

Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa (ankle) is facing a late fitness test ahead of the visit of Liverpool but Arsenal loanee Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) is expected to return to the squad.

Ben Watson (leg) and Albert Crusat (knee) are both long-term absentees, however, and Ivan Ramis (knee) will not feature again until next season.

Liverpool will be without Fabio Borini (shoulder) for the rest of the campaign whilst Brad Jones (shoulder) is still out.

Young defender Martin Kelly (knee) is still some way from a return, but the Reds will have an otherwise fully fit squad should Daniel Sturridge (knock) pass a late fitness test.

DID YOU KNOW?

Liverpool have not won at the DW Stadium since 2007, when a Yossi Benayoun goal handed them a 1-0 win.

Luis Suarez is just four short of 50 goals in his Liverpool career. He is 7/2 to score the first goal with bet365.

Steven Gerrard has already laid on nine assists so far this season, the most in the Premier League.

Wigan's 2-1 win at Anfield last term was just their second over the Reds in Premier League history.

If selected, Arouna Kone will make his 25th appearance for the Latics. He has already scored 10 times since moving from Levante.

Goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi is just two appearances shy of 125 for Wigan.

A six-goal game will take the number scored in Wigan - Liverpool contests to the half-century mark.

02.03. (Sat) 17:00 Reims - Paris Saint Germain

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

STADE DE REIMS
Agassa
Fofana, Tacalfred, Weber, Signorino
Ca, Krychowiak
Fortes, Devaux, Diego
Courtet

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Sirigu
Jallet, Alex, Sakho, Maxwell
Menez, Verratti, Matuidi, Pastore
Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic

Stade de Reims coach Hubert Fournier is without right-back Aissa Mandi following his red card in his previous Ligue 1 outing last weekend.

Mohamed Fofana could revert into the right-back role for the visit of the Ligue 1 leaders, though there is a clamour for places up front, with Nicolas Fauvergue and Nicolas De Preville vying for the striker position, though Gaetan Courtet should be handed the nod.

Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti could rest a few players for the trip to lowly Reims, though Zlatan Ibrahimovic should feature, having been suspended for the Champions League return against Valencia next week.

David Beckham featured for a combined 102 minutes in both clashes against Olympique de Marseille in the Coupe de France and Ligue 1 over the past five days, but the returning Marco Verratti should relegate him to the bench.

The leaders have also been boosted by the return of Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta to training, though it is unclear whether they will be risked on Saturday afternoon.

DID YOU KNOW?

Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 against arch-rivals Marseille in their last Ligue 1 outing.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have gone fifteen games unbeaten at the Parc des Princes.

PSG have averaged three goals per game in their last six home encounters against promoted sides.

Stade de Reims are face a relegation battle as they are 17th with 24 points.

Hubert Fournier's side have failed to win an away game in 23 attempts in Ligue 1.

Reims' Diego and Gael Courtet have scored almost two thirds of the club's league goals so far this season.

Prediction
With Carlo Ancelotti's side enjoying a three-point lead over Lyon, and a further five ahead of Marseille, it appears to be their title to lose. Reims have struggled since their surprise start in October, and have continued to languish in the bottom half of the table. Expect the visitors to complete a routine victory ahead of the Champions League tie against Valencia.

Editor's Prediction
Stade de Reims 0-3 PSG

02.03. (Sat) 16:00 Real - Barcelona

Probable lineups

REAL MADRID
Diego López
Arbeloa • Sergio Ramos • Pepe • Marcelo
M. Essien • L. Modrić
José Callejón • Kaká • Cristiano Ronaldo
K. Benzema

BARCELONA
Valdés
Dani Alves • Piqué • J. Mascherano • Jordi Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Iniesta
Pedro • L. Messi • David Villa

Real Madrid are set to make several changes for Saturday's Clasico against Barcelona to conserve energy for the midweek Champions League trip to Manchester United.

Marcelo, Luka Modric, Kaka and Karim Benzema could all feature after missing out in the 3-1 Copa del Rey win at Camp Nou on Tuesday.

Defender Sergio Ramos returns after serving a one-match ban, but winger Angel Di Maria is ineligible after his red card against Deportivo La Coruna.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is expected to start despite missing training with a fever on Wednesday.

Defender Adriano (hamstring) is available while midfielder Alex Song (knee) is a minor doubt.

DID YOU KNOW?

Real Madrid have won 10 of their last 11 home matches in La Liga and are unbeaten in their last 24.

Los Blancos' 3-1 win over Barcelona on Tuesday was their biggest victory at Camp Nou since a 5-1 success in January 1963.

Madrid have netted 101 goals in 42 matches across all competitions this season (2.4 goals per game).

Barcelona have won just three of their last seven matches in all competitions (W3, D2, L2).

The Blaugrana have recorded only one victory in their last seven encounters against Madrid (W1, D3, L3).

Lionel Messi has scored in a record 15 successive Liga matches.

Prediction
Real Madrid's confidence will be sky-high after dispatching their arch-rivals with ease in the Copa del Rey, but this Liga clash is merely a distraction before the serious business of Tuesday's visit to Old Trafford. A blistering start to the season under Tito Vilanova promised so much for Barcelona, but they will need to buck up their ideas quickly to prevent their campaign from petering out.

Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 1-1 Barcelona

02.03. (Sat) 16:00 Chelsea - West Brom

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA
Cech
Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole
Lampard, Ramires
Moses, Mata, Hazard
Ba

WEST BROM
Foster
Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell
Mulumbu, Yacob
Dorrans, Morrison, Brunt
Long

Interim Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez looks set to make numerous changes to the team that defeated Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup on Wednesday night, with the likes of Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Demba Ba all set to return.

Spanish defender Cesar Azpilicueta (leg) missed the win on Teeside and is unlikely to be involved, but centre-back Gary Cahill (virus) could be available for selection after also missing the win at 'Boro.

One man who definitely will not be involved is central midfielder Oriol Romeu (knee), who is out for the remainder of the season.

West Brom boss Steve Clarke will be without striker Romelu Lukaku who is ineligable to play against his parent club.

However Baggies striker Shane Long (ankle) should be fit to start at Stamford Bridge after resuming training midway through the week.

Defender Goran Popov (ban) serves the final match of a three-game suspension for spitting at Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker, while midfielders Zoltan Gera and George Thorne (both knee) are out for the rest of the season.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea's last two managers have been sacked after defeats to West Brom. Andre Villas-Boas was axed after a 1-0 defeat at the Hawthorns in March 2012 and his replacement Roberto Di Matteo departed the club after a 2-1 defeat in November of the same year.

Rafa Benitez's win ratio of 51.9% makes him the Blues' ninth most successful manager in the Premier League area. He is lower than the likes of Avram Grant (66.7%), Luiz Felipe Scolari (55.6%) and Claudio Ranieri 53.3%.

Chelsea have been awarded more penalties (nine) than any other side in the Premier League this season.

Blues midfielder Frank Lampard is now just three goals shy of equaling the club's all-time scoring record of 202, which was set by striker Bobby Tambling in the 1960s and 70s. He is 13/10 to score anytime with bet365.

West Brom have conceded 32% of their goals on the road after the 80th minute this season.

In seven of their last eight Premier League wins the Baggies have scored exactly two goals.

The Black Country side have a win ratio of less than 25% for the month of March. They have four wins in 20 games.

02.03. (Sat) 16:00 Manchester United - Norwich

Probable lineups

MANCHESTER UNITED
De Gea
Rafael • C. Smalling • R. Ferdinand • P. Evra
Nani • Anderson • M. Carrick • A. Young
W. Rooney
J. Hernández

NORWICH
M. Bunn
R. Martin • S. Bassong • M. Turner • Garrido
B. Johnson • J. Howson
R. Snodgrass • W. Hoolahan • A. Pilkington
G. Holt

Sir Alex Ferguson will be without defender Phil Jones (ankle), but Robin van Persie has been passed fit after overcoming a hip injury.

However, veteran midfielder Paul Scholes (knee) may recover in time to feature this weekend, while Ryan Giggs and Danny Welbeck will also be in contention.

Nevertheless, Sir Alex will no doubt cast one eye over next Tuesday's momentous Champions League clash with Real Madrid and may look to rest some of his big-name stars as a result.

Chris Hughton, meanwhile, should stick with a similar side to the one that conquered Everton at Carrow Road last weekend, although he may be able to welcome back Andrew Surman (knee) and Alexander Tettey (knock).

The Canaries will still be without John Ruddy between the sticks, however, although the 26-year-old is expected to return this month.

Elsewhere, Kei Kamara and Luciano Becchio are in contention for a starting berth up front if Hughton decides to go for a more attacking line-up with two forwards.

DID YOU KNOW?

Manchester United are now undefeated in 17 games in all competitions and an impressive 15 in the Premier League.

United have taken 89 per cent of the league points available to them recently, having won five and drawn one of their last six matches. In the same period, title rivals Manchester City have taken just 61% of their potential points.

The Red Devils have also won every single one of their home league games this season bar one - a 3-2 defeat to Tottenham in late September.

Sir Alex's side are still on course for a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble, having already achieved that feat once in 1999. United have also completed a league and FA Cup double on three occasions, and won a league and European double in 2008.

Wayne Rooney is 7/2 to score the first goal in the game with bet365.

Norwich City are unbeaten in their last four league games but have won just two of their last 11.

However, Chris Hughton's side will be buoyed by the knowledge that they beat Manchester United 1-0 in November's reverse fixture thanks to an Anthony Pilkington header (United's last defeat in the Premier League).

The Canaries' away form has been nothing short of dire this term - they have won just once in 13 games on the road, having drawn six and lost six.

Norwich's Kei Kamara has already scored against Manchester United this campaign - in a pre-season friendly for Sporting Kansas City. He also scored the equaliser for the Canaries in their 2-1 win against Everton last week.

Hughton's side have three points less than Norwich did this time last season under Paul Lambert, though a win this Saturday could lift them to 10th place.

Barclays Premier League Opta Facts – March 2-4

Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion
Chelsea have lost their last two Barclays Premier League games against WBA and they were the final matches in charge for Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo respectively.
The Blues had won each of their previous 11 Premier League encounters with the Baggies.
Chelsea have scored 17 goals in six previous Premier League home games against West Brom.
Chelsea have gone six Premier League games without keeping a clean sheet, winning only two games in that run.
Seven of WBA's last eight Premier League wins have seen them score exactly two goals.
WBA have won only four of the 20 Premier League games they've played in March.
Chelsea have been awarded nine penalties this season, more than any other side.
Romelu Lukaku is the top scoring teenager in the top five European leagues with 12 goals but is ineligible for this game as it is against his parent club.
Frank Lampard has scored 199 goals for Chelsea and is three away from equalling the 202-goal club record set by Bobby Tambling (*prior to Chelsea's midweek FA Cup meeting with Middlesbrough).
Shane Long has scored a goal on each of his last two league starts against Chelsea. The Irish forward has netted 19 Premier League goals in total.
Of teams to have played 20+ PL games in March, only Ipswich Town (0.61) average fewer points per game than West Brom (0.85)

Everton v Reading
Everton have won only two of their five Barclays Premier League encounters with Reading.
Four of the five Premier League meetings between these two sides have gone under 2.5 goals.
Reading are the only side in the Premier League to concede a goal in each of their away games this season.
Nine of Reading's goals this season have come from substitutes, a league-high.
Adam Le Fondre has bagged five Premier League goals in 2013; only Gareth Bale, Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku have more (6 each).
One of Adam Le Fondres's three braces this season came in the reverse fixture between the two teams.
Everton have used fewer players than any other Premier League side this season (22).
Only Southampton (27) and Reading (20) have dropped more points from leading positions this season than Everton (19).
Reading have won eight points thanks to goals scored after the 80th minute this season. Only league leaders Manchester United (9) have won more.
Tottenham Hotspur (8) are the only side to drop more points thanks to goals conceded after the 80th minute than Everton (7).
Only Man Utd (20.5%), Chelsea (18.0%) and Arsenal (16.7%) have better shot conversion rates this season than Reading (14.6%).
Everton have won just one of their last six (D3 L2); but have tasted defeat at home just once in 13 home games this season (W6 D6).

Manchester United v Norwich City
Norwich have won two of their last four Barclays Premier League games against Manchester United but they have both come at Carrow Road.
Norwich's last league win at Old Trafford came in August 1989.
United and Norwich have scored 23 (13 and 10 respectively) headed goals in the Premier League this season.
Just one of the 31 goals that Manchester United have conceded this season have been scored from outside the box.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side have kept three consecutive league clean sheets for the first time this season. This is their best run since March/April 2012 when they kept five in a row.
Man Utd are looking to win five league games in a row for the second time this season, no other side has managed this once.
United will be unbeaten for 16 games if they avoid defeat in this game, surpassing Man City's 15 game unbeaten run from the start of the season.
United have hit the woodwork 19 times this season, only Everton have done so as often.
Robin van Persie has hit the woodwork seven times, more than six Premier League sides in their entirety.
United have claimed a league high and club Premier League record 27 points from losing positions this season but have not had to do so since January.
If Ryan Giggs features in this game it will be his 1000th senior appearance (Currently his record is: Manchester United - 931 apps, Wales - 64 apps, Great Britain - 4 apps).

Southampton v Queens Park Rangers
Southampton have won only five of their last 17 league games against QPR.
Saints have scored more own goals than any other side this season, helping their opponents to five goals.
Individually, Jos Hooiveld has equalled an all-time Barclays Premier League record by scoring three own goals in a single campaign this season. Scott Dann (2011/12), John Pantsil (2010/11) and Andreas Jakobsson (2004/05) are the others.
Only one of the three previous teams to win two or fewer of their opening 27 games in the top-light have avoided relegation (West Brom in 2004-05) and only two of the last 11 sides to win three or fewer have ultimately survived.
QPR have scored only four goals in their last 10 Premier League games.
Saints have thrown away 27 points from leading positions this season, more than any other side.
Rickie Lambert is the top scoring Englishman in the Premier League this season with 12 goals.
Only Arsenal players (Y25 R3) have been shown fewer yellow cards than Saints' players this season (Y30).
Three of Rickie Lambert's four assists this season have been for Morgan Schneiderlin to score.
QPR have fallen behind in 10 games away from this season, losing eight and winning none.

Stoke City v West Ham United
Premier League games between Stoke and West Ham have averaged only 2.1 goals per game.
Jussi Jääskeläinen has made more saves in the Premier League than any other goalkeeper this season (109).
West Ham have scored with each of their last nine Premier League penalties.
The Hammers have allowed more opposition shots on target from outside the box than any other PL team this season.
Just one of Stoke's 26 league goals this season have been scored from outside the area; a low for the Premier League.
West Ham have won only one of their last nine Premier League games in March.
Stoke have fired in fewer shots (203; excl. blocked) than any other side in the Premier League.
Kevin Nolan has scored four winning goals for West Ham in the Premier League this season. Only Gareth Bale (6) and Robin van Persie (5) have netted more.
Sam Allardyce's team have lost their last five Premier League matches on the road. The club haven't lost six in a row since December 2006.
West Ham have won two and lost eight of their 13 matches against team in the top half this season.

Sunderland v Fulham
Sunderland have won only one of their last seven Barclays Premier League games against Fulham but that came earlier this season at Craven Cottage (3-1).
The Black Cats have failed to score in six of their last nine Premier League games against Fulham.
Sunderland have scored just two headed goals this season; fewer than any other side in the top flight.
Fulham are yet to lose this season in the Premier League when Dimitar Berbatov has scored (W4 D3).
The Stadium of Light has seen just 27 Premier League goals scored at it this season; fewer than any other ground.
Sunderland have lost their last three games in a row, they have not lost four in a row since April 2011.
Of the players to score 10+ goals in the Premier League, Steven Fletcher has the joint-best shooting accuracy (62.5%).
Stephane Sessegnon have been fouled 71 times; more than any other player in the top flight.
46% of Fulham's goals this season (17 of 37) have been scored in the final 30 minutes of matches.
Steve Sidwell has made 92 tackles this season. Only Mark Noble (95) and Morgan Schneiderlein (105) have made more.

Swansea City v Newcastle United
Swansea won three of their four Premier League games in March last season and boast the best winning record in March of any Premier League side (75%).
The Swans have lost just two points from leading positions this season, the best record in the top division.
The last two teams to win the League Cup (Liverpool and Birmingham) lost their first league games after lifting the trophy.
Newcastle have conceded exactly two goals in each of their last three games but have won two of those matches.
The Magpies have taken nine points from their last four matches after taking only seven from the previous 13.
Moussa Sissoko has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances.
The Swans have won none of the 14 games they have fallen behind in this season. However, they have managed to avoid defeat in six.
No team have used more players in the Premier League this season than Newcastle United (29).
Only Arsenal (7 games) and Swansea (5) have gone on to win all of the matches they have been leading in at half-time.
The Swans have made more clearances off the line than any other side (9).

Wigan Athletic v Liverpool
Wigan have lost only one of their last six Barclays Premier League games against Liverpool after losing seven of the opening nine against them.
Six of the seven Premier League games between Wigan and Liverpool at the DW Stadium have gone under 2.5 goals.
Wigan have conceded in all of their 13 home games in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool have drawn their last two away games in the Premier League. No side has drawn more games on the road this season than Liverpool (6).
Luis Suarez is one of just three players from Europe's top five leagues to fire in more than 100 shots (excluding blocked) so far this season (along with Messi and Ronaldo).
Wigan have lost 10 of their 14 matches against teams currently in the top half of the Premier League this season (W1 D3).
Only Ali Al-Habsi (6) has made more errors leading to goals this season than Jose Reina (4).
Liverpool (13), Wigan and Tottenham (11 each) have scored more goals in the 15 minutes immediately after half-time than any other team in the Premier League this season.
Just one of Wigan's goals this season has been scored by an English player (Ben Watson).
Liverpool have benefitted from four own goals this season; more than any other side.

Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal
Tottenham have lost only one of their last seven Barclays Premier League home games against rivals Arsenal.
Spurs have thrown away leads in their last two Premier League games against Arsenal and have lost both matches 5-2.
12 of the last 13 league matches between Tottenham and Arsenal have gone over 2.5 goals.
There have been 121 goals between these sides in Premier League history, only Everton v Man Utd games have seen as many.
Gareth Bale has scored more away goals than any other player in the Premier League this season (11).
Bale is only the eighth different Tottenham player to score 15+ goals in a Premier League season.
Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale are the only players from Europe's big five leagues to score six league goals from outside the box this season.
Tottenham have scored 11 goals from outside the area, more than any other Premier League side this season.
Both these sides have scored five league goals from counter-attacks this season, no Premier League side has more in 2012-13.
Olivier Giroud has had more headed attempts than any other player in the top-flight this season (26).
No ground has featured fewer first half goals this season (10) than White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa v Manchester City
Man City have scored four or more goals in three of their last five league games against Aston Villa.
Villa have averaged only 0.84 pts per game against Man City in the Barclays Premier League era, only against Man Utd (0.46) and Arsenal (0.83) have they averaged fewer.
Only Reading (14) have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of league matches this season than Manchester City (13).
No side has conceded more goals in the final half an hour of games this season than Aston Villa (25).
The Villans haven't kept a clean sheet in 11 league games; the longest current such run in the Premier League.
No-one has scored more Premier League goals in 2013 than Christian Benteke (6).
Aston Villa have claimed a league-low two points from losing positions this season, losing 13 of the 15 games they have fallen behind in.
Paul Lambert's side are the only team to throw away two goal leads on three separate occasions this season (D2 L1).
Manchester City have won 69% of games with Matija Nastasic this season (11 of 16) and just 45% of those that he has missed (5 of 11).
Aston Villa have lost more league games in March (35) than any other side in Premier League history.

SPL Opta Facts - March 2nd

Hearts v Motherwell
The last three meetings between these two sides have produced a total of just two goals (a 1-0 win each and a 0-0 draw).
At Tynecastle, the Jambos have lost just one of their last five clashes with Motherwell, winning two and drawing two.
Hearts have lost four games in a row now, shipping a total of 11 goals in the process.
The Steelmen have failed to score in three of their last five games.
51% of the goals Hearts have conceded this season have come in the first half (20 out of 39), a league-high proportion.
Michael Higdon has bagged a total of six goals in his last six games for Motherwell.
Hearts have conceded a total of six goals in their last two home games after shipping just 1 in the four games at Tynecastle before that.

Ross County v Inverness CT
The sides have met three times already this season, once in the SPL when Inverness won 3-1 at home and twice in the Scottish Cup when Caley Thistle won a replay 2-1 at home after drawing 3-3 at Ross County.
Billy McKay has netted three in the last two clashes between the two sides (in all competitions).
Ian Vigurs has scored a goal for County in each of the last three meetings between the two sides (in all competitions).
County have kept four clean sheets in a row, the longest current run without conceding in the SPL and the joint-longest such run this season overall.
Caley Thistle have conceded nine goals in the opening 15 minutes of their games, a division-high figure.
County are unbeaten in nine SPL games now, the longest current run without a defeat.

02.03. (Sat) 15:30 Borussia D. - Hannover 96

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Gundogan, Kehl
Blaszczykowski, Gotze, Reus
Lewandowski

HANNOVER
Zieler
Chahed, Djourou, Schulz, Pocognoli
Konan, Hoffmann, Pinto, Rausch
Diouf, Abdellaoue

Borussia Dortmund come into Saturday’s match a whopping 17 points adrift of Bayern Munich and on the back of a DFB-Pokal loss to the Bundesliga leaders in the Bavarian capital on Wednesday.

Coach Jurgen Klopp will likely name a side similar to the one that fell 1-0 at Allianz Arena, although captain Sebastian Kehl could come into the midfield for Sven Bender.

The big news for the champions is that Robert Lewandowski is allowed to play after having his ban for his red card against Hannover reduced by one game.

Hannover are just a single point back off the Europa League places coming into the weekend, although a loss at Dortmund coupled with wins for Mainz, Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach would see them drop from seventh place to 10th.

Coach Mirko Slomka has several injuries to worry about ahead of kick off. Defender Mario Eggimann won’t play again this season due to a broken leg; right-back Steve Cherundolo is out with a knee injury; midfielder Leon Andreasen will be out at least another month with a knee problem; midfielder Szabolcs Huszti has a hamstring sprain and defender Felipe is out injured as well.

DID YOU KNOW?

Borussia Dortmund have won just one of their last five matches in all competitions — a 3-0 win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on February 16.

Dortmund will be without Robert Lewandowski and his 14 Bundesliga goals on Saturday. Next on the club’s scoring table is Marco Reus with 10, followed by Jakub Blaszczykowski with nine and Mario Gotze with eight.

Torsten Frings, who played for Dortmund between 2002 and 2004, announced his retirement from football on Tuesday.

Hannover come into Saturday’s match having won four of their last five Bundesliga matches.

Hannover have beaten Dortmund just once (in September 2011) in the Bundesliga since 2008 — a run of nine matches.

One-time Manchester United prospect Mame Biram Diouf leads Hannover with 10 Bundesliga goals so far this season and will start up front with Mohammed Abdellaoue, who has six.

Prediction
It’s hard to imagine Dortmund’s slump going on much further. Bayer Leverkusen are nipping at their heels in the league, and if they’re not careful they could find themselves out of the automatic Champions League places before too long. They’ll win on Saturday, but Hannover are in good enough form to at least find the back of the net at Signal Iduna Park.

Editor's Prediction
Dortmund 3-1 Hannover 96

RANKO POPOVIĆ, TRENER TOKIJA, O POČETKU ŠAMPIONATA JAPANA

Naši treneri su na ceni u Japanu. Pored Dragana Stojkovića Piksija, koji je „ikona” u „zemlji izlazećeg Sunca” i koji uspešno predvodi Nagoju, drugu sezonu na klupi Tokija sedi Ranko Popović. Nekadašnji trener subotičkog Spartaka, prethodne sezone sa timom iz glavnog grada završio je na sredini tabele, a ove su ambicije da se napravi korak više. Koliko je šampionat izjednačen i koliko će kladioničarima biti teško da pogode mečeve u Japanu, govori neverovatan podatak koji je izneo Popović:

- Prošle sezone Gamba Osaka je postigla najviše pogodaka i imala najviše pasova, a ispala je iz lige.
Kako je protekao prelazni rok u Japanu?

- Dosta skromno. U Japanu je na snazi štednja, pa se klubovi nisu utrkivali u dovođenju nekih bombastičnih pojačanja. Po meni, Urava je najbolje odradila prelazni rok. Dovela je nekoliko odličnih japanskih igrača. U Kašivu je stigao bivši napadač Zvezde i Partizana Kleo. U principu, nema favorita, ko bude imao dužu klupu i koga budu mimoišle povrede, biće bliži borbi za vrh.

Koje su ambicije Tokija?
- Rukovodstvo kluba želi da bude među prvih pet, ali mislim da možemo da napadnemo sam vrh. Napustilo nas je nekoliko nosilaca igre, kao što je kapiten Kajijama koji je stigao u Panatinaikos, ali smo se i pojačali.

Šta može da se očekuje u premijernom kolu?
- Bilo bi veliko iznenađenje ako Jokohama ne bi pobedila Šonan. Novi prvoligaš je verovatno najslabiji tim u ligi, sa skromnim budžetom.

Ž. M.

MOJ TIP
SENDAI - KOFU 1
JOKOHAMA - ŠONAN 1
Nagoja - Ivata 1
C. Osaka - NIgata 1X
Hirošima - Urava 1X

Tipovi na blic 01.-03. 03. 2013.

IVAN OBRADOVIĆ
(SARAGOSA, ŠPANIJA 1)