17.03. (Sun) 21:00 Barcelona - Rayo Vallecano

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BARCELONA
Pinto
Dani Alves • Piqué • J. Mascherano • Adriano Correia
Thiago Alcântara • Busquets • Fàbregas
A. Sánchez • L. Messi • Iniesta

RAYO VALLECANO
Rubén
Tito • Gálvez • Jordi Amat • Arbilla
Roberto Trashorras • Adrián
A. Bangoura • A. Domínguez • Piti
A. Delibašić

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol could be sidelined for up to a month after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Friday.

Xavi (hamstring) and Victor Valdes (suspension) also sit out Sunday's clash, but youngster Marc Bartra is available after overcoming a knee problem.

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas and winger Alexis Sanchez may return to the line-up after starting on the bench against AC Milan in midweek.

Rayo boss Paco Jemez will be without suspended trio Jose Manuel Casado, Javi Fuego and Leo Baptistao.

Mikel Labaka has returned to training following an ankle injury but is not match fit, while fellow defender Jordi Amat is available after serving a one-match ban.

DID YOU KNOW?

Barcelona are on a nine-match winning run at Camp Nou in La Liga.

The Catalan giants will face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the first leg to be played at Parc des Princes on April 2.

Lionel Messi has scored 13 goals in his last 11 appearances for Barcelona.

Rayo Vallecano are on a four-match winless run away from home in La Liga, losing three.

Los Franjirrojos have lost their last four meetings with Barcelona by an aggregate score of 19-0.

Rayo's last win over Barca at Camp Nou was a 2-0 success in May 2000.

Prediction
Barcelona dispelled doubts about their form in spectacular fashion against Milan in midweek and they will now look to put together a run of wins and wrap up the Liga title as soon as possible. Rayo are not great away from home and they are also missing some key players.

Editor's Prediction
Barcelona 2-0 Rayo Vallecano

17.03. (Sun) 21:00 Saint Etienne - Paris Saint Germain

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AS SAINT-ETIENNE
Ruffier
Clerc, Sall, Perrin, Brison
Bodmer, Lemoine
Gradel, Hamouma, Mollo
Aubameyang

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Sirigu
van der Wiel, Thiago Silva, Sakho, Maxwell
Menez, Verratti, Matuidi, Pastore
Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic

Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the visit of Paris Saint-Germain to Stade Geoffrey-Guichard.

Midfielder Jeremy Clement is out for six months following the horror ankle injury he sustained two weeks ago against Stade Rennes, with former PSG midfielder Mathieu Bodmer - who left the capital in January - set to take his place.

In-form Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will lead the line, with the likes of Max-Alain Gradel and Yohan Mollo providing the width.

For Paris Saint-Germain, Carlo Ancelotti will be without Christophe Jallet, Thiago Motta and Lucas Moura for the trip to the Rhone region.

Jeremy Menez could be in line for a recall, with Lucas being out for two weeks after an injury sustained in the 2-1 win over Nancy last weekend. David Beckham is likely to start from the bench, but will be in familiar surroundings as he returns to the venue where he was famously sent off for England against Argentina at World Cup 1998.

DID YOU KNOW?

Saint-Etienne have beaten PSG twice this season, prevailing in Ligue 1 at Parc des Princes, with Ibrahimovic shown a red card before a 5-3 penalty shoot-out win in the Coupe de la Ligue - both in November.

Christophe Galtier's side have not lost a game in 2013, winning six and drawing three - the best form of any side in Ligue 1.

Les Verts' key striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sits behind only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the number of goals he has been involved in the top five European leagues since the turn of the year.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has not scored in 190 minutes against Saint-Etienne this season.

Paris Saint-Germain sit top of Ligue 1, four points clear of Olympique Lyonnais, and just nine clear of fourth-placed ASSE.

Les Parisiens have lost both of their last two away league encounters, to relegation-threatened Sochaux and Stade de Reims.

PSG were drawn against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals. The sides played out a 2-2 draw in a glitzy pre-season friendly in Paris in August, before the Catalans prevailed on penalties.

Prediction
Saint-Etienne have been, since the turn of the year, one of the best sides if not the best in the division, and having already picked up two wins against Carlo Ancelotti's side this season, the odds are that the Ligue 1 leaders will falter here again to blow the title race wide open for yet another week.

Editor's Prediction
AS Saint-Etienne 2-1 PSG

17.03. (Sun) 20:45 Sampdoria - Inter

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SAMPDORIA
Romero
Gastaldello, Palombo, Costa
De Silvestri,Polli,Krsticic,Obiang,Estigarribia
Eder, Icardi

INTER
Handanovic
Zanetti, Ranocchia, Chivu, Pereira
Kuzmanovic, Gargano
Schelotto, Guarin, Cassano
Palacio

A 4-1 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur was not enough to preserve Inter’s Europa League campaign, but both the victory and the manner of it might be enough to see the Nerazzurriout of what manager Andrea Stramaccioni has called a “period of great difficulty.”

Since striker Diego Milito went down with a knee injury that will keep him sidelined the rest of the season, Inter have won only one of four Serie A matches, scoring just five goals. But forwards Rodrigo Palacio and Antonio Cassano each found the back of the net against Spurs and will be expected to start up top once again as Stramaccioni looks to coax some more offense from his side.

He will, however, be without suspended defender Juan Jesus, and left-back Yuto Nagatomo is also unavailable due to a knee injury. Argentine centre-back Walter Samuel trained during the week and will likely start on the bench.

Sampdoria had lost just twice since the December 17 appointment of manager Delio Rossi until dropping a 3-1 decision against Cagliari last weekend. Presently 11th in the table, i Blucerachiati could rise into the top half of the table with a win at home to Inter coupled with a Bologna loss or draw against Juventus.

Winger Davide Gavazzi is Rossi’s only injury or suspension concern and will be out for the rest of the season after surgery to repair a torn cruciate ligament.

DID YOU KNOW?

Inter’s 4-1 win over Tottenham marked the first time this season the Nerazzurri had scored more than three goals in a match.

Inter have won just three of the 10 Serie A matches they’ve played in 2013.

Rodrigo Palacio’s brace against Catania earlier this month took him to nine Serie A goals on the campaign, tying him with the injured Diego Milito for the team scoring lead.

Sampdoria had kept five clean sheets from six matches before falling 3-1 to Cagliari last weekend.

Coming into the 2012-13 Serie A season, Sampdoria were handed a one-point deduction for their role in the 2011-12 Italian football corruption scandal.

This will be the 131st meeting between Sampdoria and Inter, of which the Nerrazzurri have won 71 and lost only 20. Sampdoria last beat Inter on this ground in September 2009.

Prediction
Inter are struggling to create goalscoring chances these days; Sampdoria are capable of playing some of the stingiest defense in Italy. Don’t expect a barrage of goals in this one. Sampdoria should feel good about their chances of taking at least a point from this.

Editor's Prediction
Sampdoria 1-1 Inter

17.03. (Sun) 17:00 Chelsea - West Ham

PROBABLE LINEUPS

CHELSEA
Cech
Azpilicueta, Luiz, Terry, Cole
Ramires, Lampard
Moses, Mata, Oscar
Torres

WEST HAM
Jaaskelainen
Demel, Collins, Reid, O'Brien
Jarvis, Collison, O'Neil, Diame, Vaz Te
Carroll

Chelsea boss Rafael Benitez is expected to make some changes from the starting XI which beat Steaua Bucharest on Thursday, but club captain John Terry is likely to keep his place ahead of Gary Cahill.

Frank Lampard is set to come straight back into the side, while Victor Moses is also pushing for a recall. Up front, Fernando Torres could get an opportunity to get on a goalscoring run after netting in the Europa League, with Demba Ba having to settle for a place on the bench. Long-term absentee Oriol Romeu (knee) remains sidelined.

As for the visitors, Sam Allardyce will be looking to build on their 1-0 win at Stoke in their previous match. Ricardo Vaz Te may get a starting berth with the away side looking for extra pace going forward.

On loan Liverpool forward Andy Carroll will again lead the line. Joe Cole (hamstring) is set to miss out on facing his former side, while George McCartney (knee) and Kevin Nolan (ankle) are also sidelined.

DID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea's Fernando Torres , scored only his second goal of 2013 against Steaua in the Europa League on Thursday. The other one was in the FA Cup against Brentford.

The Blues have the joint-second best scoring record in the Premier League along with Liverpool - with 56 goals. Only Manchester United (68) have netted more.

The meeting between the two teams earlier in the season finished in a 3-1 West Ham win. Mata gave the Blues an early lead before second half goals from Carlton Cole, Mohammed Diame and Modibo Maiga.

The Hammers are the joint-lowest scorers away from home in the league along with Stoke City - they’ve both scored 9 goals.

West Ham have only won two of their last eight games in the league - 1-0 wins against Swansea City and Stoke.

Three of the last four Premier League games between Chelsea and West Ham have featured over three goals. The hosts are 5/1 with bet365 to win by thee goals on Sunday.

Prediction
The hosts head into the match on the back of timely boost of Europa League progression, but their opponents will be the fresher of the two teams. This could turn out to be a London derby packed full of goals, and Chelsea may just grab the three points.

Editor's Prediction
Chelsea 3-2 West Ham United

17.03. (Sun) 16:00 Tottenham - Fulham

PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM
Lloris
Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto
Lennon, Parker, Dembele, Bale
Holtby
Defoe

FULHAM
Schwarzer
Riether, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise
Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagounis, Duff
Ruiz
Berbatov

Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) and Aaron Lennon (hamstring) missed the loss to Liverpool last time out but both featured in the 4-1 loss to Inter in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday so are expected to make Saturday's matchday squad.

Tom Huddlestone (knee) made the bench at Anfield and San Siro, but did not make the pitch as he continues his return to first-team action, while Sandro (knee) remains a long-term casualty.

Meanwhile, Fulham manager Martin Jol has a near-fully fit squad to choose from for the trip to White Hart Lane, with only Mahamdou Diarra (knee) definitely missing out while Eyong Enoh and Kerim Frei are slowly returning to match fitness.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tottenham's defeat away at Liverpool was their first in 13 games in the Premier League.

Andre Villas-Boas' side have scored just 22 times in front of their own fans in the league all season.

But have only failed to find the back of the net on three separate occasions this term, with only league leaders Manchester United boasting a better record with two.

The reverse fixture between the two clubs at Craven Cottage back in December ended 3-0 to Tottenham, with Jermain Defoe grabbing a double and Sandro completing the rout.

The game will see Dimitar Berbatov, Mousa Dembele and possibly Clint Dempsey feature against their former clubs, while Martin Jol managed Tottenham for three years between 2004-07.

Fulham have picked up just 12 of their 33 points on their travels this season.

Only four teams in the have conceded more goals on the road than Fulham's tally of 27.

Fulham have won none of their last eight Premier League matches against Tottenham, losing the last six in a row. Spurs are 10/1 with bet365 to win 3-1 on Sunday.

Prediction
The blip that was the defeat against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend is likely to be long forgotten by the time Fulham visit White Hart Lane. With a timely boost of progress through to the Europa League quarter-finals behind them, Spurs head into this game full of confidence and looking to press their home advantage and keep their top-four hopes on track.

Editor's Prediction
Tottenham 3-1 Fulham

17.03. (Sun) 15:00 Milan - Palermo

PROBABLE LINEUPS

AC MILAN
Abbiati
Abate, Mexes, Zapata, De Sciglio
Flamini, Montolivo, Muntari
Boateng, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

PALERMO
Sorrentino
Munoz, Bergen, Munoz
Morganella, Arrovela, Donati, Kurtic, Garcia
Miccoli, Dybala

It was all going too well. After getting their Serie A campaign back on track and defeating Barcelona 2-0 in the first-leg of their round of 16 tie, AC Milan were sent tumbling out of the Champions League on Tuesday.

A 4-0 defeat to Barcelona was a crushing blow, but now the Rossoneri's attentions turn to qualifying for the tournament again next season via their domestic efforts.

Massimiliano Allegri's side sit in third spot in the table, three points ahead of Fiorentina in fourth, but will be without Nigel de Jong and Giampaolo Pazzini through injury, while Kevin Constant is suspended.

Palermo go into the game second from bottom and have injury concerns of their own. Abel Hernandez, Andrea Mantovani, Edgar Barreto and Andrea Dossena are all out of action, with the Rosanero in desperate need of stabilisation after a season that has witnessed five changes of coach.

DID YOU KNOW?

AC Milan have won their last seven home games in Serie A.

Mario Balotelli was ineligible for the Rossoneri's Champions League exit to Barcelona, but will boost his side by returning on Sunday.

There have been over 2.5 goals in each of Milan's last six games at San Siro.

Massimiliano Allegri's side have been winning at half-time and full-time in five of their last five home games in Serie A.

Palermo have drawn four of their last six games, losing the other two.

The Rosanero have struggled for goals and Fabrizio Miccoli remains the club's top goalscorer with a tally of just five.

Prediction
Milan will be low after their Champions League exit, but their form in 2013 remains impressive and Massimiliano Allegri will ensure they bounce back against a struggling Palermo side.

Editor's Prediction
Milan 3-0 Palermo