15.02. (Fri) 20:30 Wolfsburg - Bayern Munchen

PROBABLE LINEUPS

WOLFSBURG
Benaglio
Fagner, Polak, Naldo, Schafer
Madlung,Freitas
Trasch, Diego, Perisisc
Dost
BAYERN MUNICH
Neuer
Rafinha, Van Buyten, Boateng, Alaba
Schweinsteiger, Luis Gustavo
Robben, Kroos, Ribery,
Gomez

Jupp Heynckes will have Tuesday’s Champions League round of 16 match away to Arsenal in mind when he picks his team to face Wolfsburg on Friday, especially with the Bundesliga seemingly in his control with 13 rounds to play.

Switzerland attacker Xherdan Shaqiri is still struggling to overcome an ankle injury suffered in late January and will miss yet another match, although right-back Rafinha is expected to be part of the matchday squad after overcoming an ankle problem of his own.

Defender Holger Badstuber, who suffered a serious knee injury in December's match against Dortmund, is out for the remainder of the season.

Dieter Hecking, meanwhile, is still without midfielder Vaclav Pilar, who was injured while on duty with the Czech Republic in August and whose knee surgery ruled him out for the rest of the campaign. Striker Patrick Helmes is also still missing after his knee injury in a pre-season friendly against Manchester City and is not expected back until next month at the earliest.

DID YOU KNOW?
Bayern have won their last four matches against Wolfsburg by a combined score of 8-1.
Wolfsburg last picked up a point against Bayern more than two years ago, when they played the Bavarian giants to a 1-1 draw at home on January 15, 2011.

Bayern have kept four successive clean sheets heading into Friday’s match, and during that stretch have outscored their opponents 11-0.

Ivica Olic has scored only two Bundesliga goals for Wolfsburg since moving from Bayern in the summer. Bas Dost leads the side with eight.

Mario Mandzukic played two seasons at Wolfsburg before moving to Bayern last summer. He is now the leading goals-scorer at his new club with 14 Bundesliga goals - two more than he scored all of last season for Wolfsburg.

Since winning the Bundesliga title in 2009, Wolfsburg have finished no higher than eighth in the table and came close to being relegated in 2011.

Prediction
Wolfsburg have managed only a single goal in each of their last three matches—not the sort of offensive form you want to bring into a match against free-scoring Bayern Munich. Heynckes will deploy a weakened squad on Friday, but it should still be enough to earn the three points with relative comfort.

Editor's Prediction
Wolfsburg 0-3 Bayern

Opta Facts Ligue 1 Matchday 25 February 15th-17th 2013

Lille - Rennes
Rennes are winless in their last 25 trips to Lille in the top-flight (D9, L16).
Rennes have only won two of their 36 away games against Lille in Ligue 1 (D12, L22).
Lille have only lost two home games this season (against Paris SG and Nice - W5, D4)
Lille have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven league games, only Valenciennes (9) and Reims (8) are on a worse run.
Rennes have scored two goals in each of their last four league games.
Rennes have only lost two of their last 10 away games in the top-flight (W6, D2).
Dimitri Payet is involved in 13 of Lille's last 18 goals in Ligue 1 (5 goals, 8 assists).

Marseille - Valenciennes
Valenciennes are unbeaten in their last five fixtures against Marseille in Ligue 1 (W2, D3).
Valenciennes have only won two of their 24 trips to Marseille in Ligue 1 (D6, L16).
Marseille are winless in their last three league games (D2, L1), equalling their longest drought this season.
Marseille have lost three of their last five home games, winning the other two.
Valenciennes have kept a clean sheet once in their last 19 league games.
Anthony Le Tallec has scored three goals in his last two starts against Marseille in Ligue 1.

Bastia - Nice
Bastia are unbeaten in their last four league games against Nice (W2, D2).
Nice have only won two of their 20 trips to Bastia in the top-flight (D5, L13). They have kept a clean sheet only once in this run.
Nice have only lost one of their last six away games in Ligue 1 (W3, D2).
Nice are winless in their last 14 away games in Ligue 1 against promoted teams (D7, L7).
Nice have won none of their four league games without Dario Cvitanich this season (D3, L1).
Anthony Modeste has scored seven goals in nine competitive games at Bastia's Furiani stadium this season.

Brest - Ajaccio
Ajaccio are unbeaten in their 11 competitive games against Brest (W6, D5).
Brest have won seven of their eight home games against Corsican teams in Ligue 1 (27 goals scored, 5 conceded).
Brest have lost their last five home games, their longest drought in the top-flight.
Brest have lost their last four league games, worst current streak.
Ajaccio have only won one of their last 11 away games in Ligue 1 (D5, L5).
Ajaccio are unbeaten in Ligue 1 in 2013 (W2, D3).
Adrian Mutu has failed to score away from home since November 24th (in Nancy).

Lorient - Evian TG
Evian TG are unbeaten against Lorient in the top-flight (W2, D1).
Lorient have only won once in their last six league games (D3, L2).
Lorient are unbeaten in their last six home games in Ligue 1 (W4, D2).
Evian TG have won none of their last seven league games (D4, L3), longest current drought. They are the only team yet to win a game in 2013 in Ligue 1.
Lorient have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six league games.
Yannick Sagbo is involved in three of Evian TG's four goals against Lorient in L1 (1 goal, 2 assists).

Montpellier - Nancy
Nancy have won two of their last three away games in Montpellier in Ligue 1.
None of Montpellier's last 11 top-flight games has ended in a draw (W7, L4), longest current run.
Montpellier are unbeaten in their last eight home league games (W7, D1), best current run.
Nancy have only won once in their last 15 away games in L1 (D5, L9), it was during their last trip (against Marseille).
Younès Belhanda has scored in his last three home games in L1 (between the 60th and 70th minute).
Sébastien Puygrenier has scored 19 goals in L1 since 2002/03, more than any other current defender.

Toulouse - Troyes
Troyes have only won once in their seven away games in Toulouse in Ligue 1 (D2, L4).
Toulouse have lost their last two league games without scoring a single goal (six conceded).
Troyes are winless in their last 21 away games in Ligue 1 (D6, L15). They are the only team yet to win on the road in France's top-flight this season.
Troyes have conceded 23 goals in the last 30 mins in L1 2012/13, more than any other team.
Wissam Ben Yedder has failed to score in his last 625 minutes of play in Ligue 1.
Fabien Camus is involved in six of Troyes' last nine Ligue 1 goals (4 goals, 2 assists).

Bordeaux - Lyon
Lyon are winless in their last six away competitive games in Bordeaux (D2, L4).
Lyon have failed to score in six of their last eight encounters against Bordeaux in Ligue 1.
Bordeaux have lost only twice in their last 29 home league games (W13, D14).
Bordeaux have failed to score more than two goals in each of their last 36 home games in Ligue 1.
Bordeaux's games are the less prolific in the top 5 European leagues this season (average of 1.75 goal/game).
Lyon have just back to back Ligue 1 games for the first time this season.
Lisandro has scored 55 goals in L1, joint-best tally alongside Kevin Gameiro since 2009/10.

Reims - St Etienne
Reims have only won three of their last 27 encounters against St Etienne in L1 (D9, L15).
Reims have failed to score in their last six Ligue 1 games against St Etienne.
Reims have failed to win any of their last seven home games in Ligue 1 (D5, L2).
St Etienne have won their last four league games, their best run this season.
Les Verts have only lost once in their last 10 away games in Ligue 1 (W4, D5).
St Etienne have not conceded a single goal against a promoted club in L1 this season (W3, D1).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is involved in 47% of St Etienne's goals in L1 this season (17 out of 36).

Sochaux - Paris SG
Sochaux have lost seven of their last eight Ligue 1 games against PSG.
PSG have won 16 times in Sochaux, more than anywhere else away from home in Ligue 1.
PSG have won their last four away games in Ligue 1 without conceding a single goal.
Sochaux have only kept one clean sheet at home in Ligue 1 this season.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored in each of his nine away games in Ligue 1 this season.
Lucas Moura has assisted three of PSG's last five goals away from home in L1.

Opta Facts – Bundesliga 15-17 February 2013

VfL Wolfsburg - FC Bayern Munich
Wolfsburg have claimed just one point from their last seven duels with Bayern Munich, scoring only three goals in the process.
Wolfsburg have failed to score in the last three meetings with Bayern.
Wolfsburg are the third-best away team in the top flight. However, only two teams have collected fewer points at home than Wolfsburg (10).
Never before have Wolfsburg gained fewer points from their first 10 home games than 2012/13 (currently 10).
Bayern's current record of 54 points and +48 goals is a level never before reached by any other team in the Bundesliga after 21 games.
Never before has there been a gap of 15 points between position one and two in the top flight after 21 games.
No other team has managed to concede only seven goals after 21 games in Bundesliga history.
No other team in Europe's top five leagues has conceded as few as 0.33 goals per game this season.
Bayern's current away record (W9 D1) is the best in Bundesliga history after 10 games.
Never before has a team conceded as few as one goal on the road in their first 10 away matches (Bayern's current goal difference on the road is 25-1).
Bayern haven't lost any of their last 17 competitive matches. After losing against Leverkusen in October (1-2), they have won 13 of their ensuing 17 competitive matches (D4).
Bayern have won only two of their last six duels which took place on a Friday (D2 L2). Wolfsburg haven't lost any of their last four Friday games (W2 D2).
Bayern are yet to concede a goal in the second half of the season (4 games). Keeper Manuel Neuer has faced only three shots on his goal in these four games.
Mario Mandzukic moved from Wolfsburg to Bayern last summer. He scored 20 Bundesliga goals for Wolfsburg in 56 matches. He has already scored 14 Bundesliga goals in only 18 matches for Bayern.
Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking made his first Bundesliga appearance as a player under Jupp Heynckes in 1984. Hecking has won only two of his 12 (BL) coaching duels against Heynckes (L7 D3). His respective team has never scored more than one goal in these matches.

FSV Mainz 05 - FC Schalke 04
Schalke have lost only three of their 13 Bundesliga duels against Mainz (W8 D2).
Mainz have failed to score in seven of these 13 duels.
Mainz' last home victory against Schalke came in May 2006 (1-0). They haven't won any of their last four home games against Schalke, scoring only two goals (D1 L3) in the process.
Jens Keller made his debut as Schalke coach on December 18th in a 1-2 home loss in the German Cup against Mainz.
Schalke have won only one of their last 10 Bundesliga games (D3 L6). They have dropped in the table from second down to to 10th during this period.
No other team has conceded as many goals as Schalke (23) in their last 10 Bundesliga games.
Schalke have lost five of their last six away games, their only point came in a 0-0 at Augsburg.
Schalke's last Bundesliga victory on the road came on October 20th 2012 at Dortmund (2-1).
Mainz have collected only one point from their last two home games. Never before had they failed to score in two consecutive home games this season (0-0 against Freiburg, 0-3 against Bayern).
Jens Keller has never won a Bundesliga game on the road as a coach: He has drawn three and lost four of his seven away games (with Schalke and Stuttgart).
Mainz striker Adam Szalai is the leading scorer for his team (12 goals).
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (who has recently suffered from an eye injury) hasn't scored a Bundesliga goal in 433 minutes. He has scored only two goals in his last 13 BL appearances. His last goal came on November 27th, 2012 (1-3 defeat at Hamburg).
Schalke players Christian Fuchs and Roman Neustadter will face their former club in this fixture.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen - FC Augsburg
Leverkusen have never lost a competitive game against Augsburg (W4 and D1 in the German Cup, eventually winning 4-3 on penalties).
Leverkusen haven't won any of their last three Bundesliga games (2D 1L).
Leverkusen have won their last seven meetings with teams from the state of Bavaria (goal difference 18-4) - including two victories over Bayern Munich.
Augsburg haven't lost any of their last five Bundesliga games (1W 4D). Their Bundesliga record is a run of six undefeated games which came between February and March 2012.
Only Augsburg and Bayern Munich remain undefeated in 2013.
Only two teams have collected fewer points on the road than Augsburg (seven points). However, Augsburg haven't lost any of their last three Bundesliga away games (W1 D2) which is a new club record for them.
Leverkusen have fallen behind in nine games this season, they haven't won any of these (D4 L5). Their last Bundesliga victory after a deficit came in September 2011 (4-1 at Augsburg).
Stefan Kiessling, who scored his 100th Bundesliga goal last weekend at Monchengladbach, has been involved in 17 goals in his last 15 Bundesliga matches (12 goals, 5 assists).
No player has scored more Bundesliga goals this season than Stefan Kiessling (14, like Robert Lewandowski and Mario Mandzukic).
No player has been involved in more Bundesliga goals this season than Kiessling (19, like Thomas Muller).
Sacha Molders has scored seven of Augsburg's 17 Bundesliga goals this season - although he has only made 11 appearances.
Two Leverkusen players have a history with Augsburg: Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg player from January 2011 till June 2012) and Jens Hegeler (January 2009 till June 2010).
Augsburg's Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker (1998-2008) and Dominik Reinhardt (Leverkusen youth player till 1991) are former Leverkusen players.

Fortuna Dusseldorf - SpVgg Greuther Furth
Furth didn't win any of their five away games in the second division at Dusseldorf (D2 L3), scoring only one goal (by Edgar Prib in their last match at Dusseldorf 2011/12).
No team has ever avoided relegation in Bundesliga history with Furth's current record of 12 points after 21 games.
No Bundesliga team has averaged lower possession rates this season than Furth (41.9%) and Dusseldorf (41.7%)
Dusseldorf have won four of their last five home games (L1). The team have collected 16 of their 24 points at home (67%).
Furth's only two victories this season have come on the road which means that they have gained nine of their 12 points (75%) away from home - no other team has such a high proportion.
Furth coach Michael Buskens was born on March 19th 1968 in Dusseldorf. He appeared in 101 Bundesliga games for Dusseldorf (6 goals) and in one game in the second division.
Dusseldorf striker Stefan Reisinger made 105 appearances for Furth in the second division (28 goals). His teammate Dani Schahin made 34 appearances for Furth in the second division (two goals). However, they never were teammates at Furth.
Dusseldorf players Adam Bodzek and Andreas Lambertz will miss the match due to previously picking up their fifth yellow card each.
Furth's Milorad Pekovic will also miss the game due to previously picking up a fifth yellow.
No other player has made more errors which have led to a goal than Fabian Giefer (3) this season.

Hamburger SV - Borussia Monchengladbach
Hamburg have won only one of their last eight duels against Monchengladbach (D3 L4).
Hamburg haven't won any of their last three home games against Monchengladbach (D1 L2).
Hamburg have reached their best league position so far this season (7th, 31 points), they have collected as many points as Freiburg and Mainz who are fifth and sixth in the table.
Only Dortmund (9 points) and Bayern (12) have collected more points than Hamburg (7) in the second half of the season.
Monchengladbach have lost only one of their last nine Bundesliga games (W3 D5) a 1-2-loss at Nurnberg on matchday 20.
Monchengladbach haven't won any of their last five away games (D4 L1).
Hamburg have fallen behind in each of their last three games, however they have turned two of them into victories (4-1 at Dortmund and 3-2 against Bremen plus a 0-2-defeat to Frankfurt).
Monchengladbach have gained the most points of all teams from trailing situations this season (9).
Conversely they have given away the most points of all teams from leading scenarios (13).
Monchengladbach have already conceded 32 goals in only 21 games this season. They conceded only 33 goals in Lucien Favres first 46 games as Monchengladbach coach.
Hamburg strikers Rudnevs (10 goals) and Son (9) have scored 19 of Hamburg's 26 goals (73%). They have scored nine of Hamburg's last 10 goals.
No other player has scored more goals in the last eight matchdays than Artjoms Rudnevs (7).
Monchengladbach's Patrick Herrmann has scored exactly one goal in each of his last three Bundesliga matches. He has never done that before. After 21 matchdays, he has already equalled his personal career high of six goals in a Bundesliga season.
Hamburg's Marcell Jansen played for each of Monchengladbach's youth teams. He also appeared in 73 Bundesliga games (five goals) for the club (2004-07)

SV Werder Bremen - SC Freiburg
Freiburg haven't won any of their last 12 Bundesliga meetings with Werder Bremen (D2 L10).
Their last Bundesliga victory against Bremen came on July 28th, 2001 (3-0).
Against no other team have Freiburg lost more Bundesliga games than against Bremen and Bayern Munich (19 each). They have lost 70% of their Bundesliga meetings with Bremen.
Christian Streich's first home loss as Freiburg coach came in a 1-2-defeat against Bremen in the first half of the season. Previously to that game he had set a new club record of 10 undefeated home games with Freiburg.
Bremen have currently won back-to-back games in the top flight for the first time in 15 months (2-0 vs. Hannover, 4-1 at Stuttgart).
Freiburg haven't conceded a goal in three of their last four games.
Freiburg kept a clean sheet for the ninth time last week only Bayern Munich have kept more, 15.
They kept nine clean sheets in their entire 2011/12 campaign.
Freiburg have hit the woodwork 10 times this season (only Bremen and Leverkusen have hit it more often, 11). They hit the post twice last week against Dusseldorf (1-0).
Bremen have failed to score only once in their last 15 Bundesliga games (0-5 vs. Dortmund on matchday 18). However, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 of their last 13 games (2-0 vs. Hannover on matchday 20).
Mehmet Ekici scored his first brace in the top flight last week against Stuttgart (after failing to score in his previous 20 games). He has scored all of his six Bundesliga goals away from home.
Freiburg's Max Kruse was a Bremen player between 2006 and 2009. He made one Bundesliga appearance for the club. Kruse is currently Freiburg's top scorer (5 goals, 6 assists). He has had a hand in four of Freiburg's last five Bundesliga goals (1 goal, 3 assists).

Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
Against no other team have Dortmund won as many Bundesliga games as against Frankfurt (36).
Dortmund have lost only one of their last 16 competitive home games against Frankfurt (W11 D4 and a 2-3-defeat in February 2010).
Frankfurt have currently collected 37 points. They haven't collected as many points after 21 games in 20 years (1992/93: 41 points).
Frankfurt have won all four of their games this season on a Saturday evening - with a total goal difference of 10-2.
Dortmund won 81 points last season, they can't collect more than 78 points this season - even if they win every game.
Dortmund have already conceded 26 goals. They conceded only 14 goals in their first 21 games in 2011/12 and 10 in 2010/11.
Dortmund have already lost more home games this season (3) than in their last two seasons combined (one home loss in 2011/12 and 2010/11 each).
Frankfurt's Bastian Oczipka (7 assists) and Dortmund's Lukasz Piszczek (6 assists, 1 goal) are the top scoring Bundesliga defenders this season.
Dortmund haven't won any of their last six Bundesliga games without Ilkay Gündogan in the starting line-up (D3 L3). They have lost only one of their last 15 Bundesliga games with Gündogan as a starting player (W11 D3).
As a coach, Armin Veh has won only one of his 13 competitive games against Dortmund (L10 D2 and a 1-0 victory at Dortmund with Stuttgart in February 2007).

FC Nurnberg - Hannover 96
Hannover have won their last four Bundesliga duels with Nurnberg, scoring 10 goals. Hannover have never managed to win more than four consecutive Bundesliga games against one club.
Both teams have won eleven matches against each other and drawn eleven with a goal difference of 51-51.
There has never been a scoreless draw between these two teams in Bundesliga history.
Nurnberg haven't lost any of their last seven Bundesliga home games (W4 D3). This is currently the longest such home run in the top flight.
The last time they had a longer home run was from November 2007 till May 2008 (10 unbeaten home games).
Nurnberg coach Michael Wiesinger has currently claimed five points from his first four games (his predecessor Dieter Hecking gained only four points from his first four).
Hannover have lost their last five Bundesliga games away from home. They have lost 14 of their last 16 Bundesliga games on the road (W2).
As a coach, Mirko Slomka has won seven of his 10 Bundesliga duels against Nurnberg (D1 L2). Against no other team has he won more than six games.
No player has provided more assists this season than Hannover's Szabolcs Huszti (8, like Bayern's Thomas Müller and Dortmund's Marco Reus).
Mame Diouf has been involved in 31 goals in only 38 competitive games (24 goals, 7 assists; before Hannover's Europa League game on Thursday).
Diouf has scored 15 goals and recorded seven assists in his 27 Bundesliga appearances.
Nurnberg's Hanno Balitsch appeared in 150 Bundesliga games for Hannover from 2005 till 2010 (12 goals).
Raphael Schäfer was a Hannover player from 1991 till 1998. He never appeared in a competitive match for the first team.

1899 Hoffenheim - VfB Stuttgart
Hoffenheim have won only one of their nine Bundesliga duels with Stuttgart (D4 L4 and a 3-0-victory in the first half of the season).
Stuttgart have lost their last five Bundesliga games. A longer run of this kind last came in May/June 1987 when the club lost seven consecutive games in the top flight (a club record).
As a coach, Bruno Labbadia has never before lost five consecutive league games.
Hoffenheim have won only one of their last 11 Bundesliga games (D2 L8 and a 2-1-victory against Freiburg in their last home game).
Stuttgart are the only team who have lost all four Bundesliga games in 2013.
Hoffenheim have conceded 24 goals in the first 45 minutes of their games this season, no other team has let in more than 18. Stuttgart have conceded 25 goals in the second half, only Bremen have conceded more (26).
As many as eight goals have resulted from individual errors by Stuttgart players, this is the highest number of all teams (Hoffenheim second with 7 individual errors leading to goals).
Hoffenheim have scored only one goal from outside ths box this season, Stuttgart have scored none.
No other team has conceded as many goals from outside the area as Stuttgart (10 goals) and Hoffenheim (9, like Bremen).
Hoffenheim's Matthieu Delpierre, Tobias Weis, Andreas Beck, Sebastian Ru¬dy, Matthias Jaissle, Boris Vukcevic and Sven Schipplock are former Stuttgart players. Delpierre and Beck won the Bundesliga with Stuttgart in 2007.
Delpierre made 162 Bundesliga appearances for Stuttgart (3 goals), he moved to Hoffenheim last summer.
Stuttgart striker Vedad Ibisevic is still Hoffenheim's most successful Bundesliga goal scorer (43 goals in 92 games).
Ibisevic hasn't scored a goal in 389 minutes (4 games).

Statisticki najbolji

Odbrana Bajerna je od granita. Lider Bundes lige i verovatno novi šampion Nemačke može da se pohvali da je primio najmanje golova u svim evropskim ligama. Samo sedam puta protivnici su se radovali golu protiv bavarskog giganta. Najveće zasluge idu na adresu golmana, Manuela Nojera, koji je prosto začarao mrežu. Naravno, ne bi bio toliko uspešan da ispred sebe nije imao Lama, Dantea, Boatenga, Badštubera i ostale defanzivce. Još zanimljiviji podatak je da je nemački reprezentativac primio samo gol na gostovanjima. Manje od pola gola po susretu prima lider Segunde Elče, dok Porto procentualno prima pogodak na svake dve utakmice.

Ko ima najbolji napad u Evropi? Verovatno bi većina prvo pomislila na „vanzemaljce” iz Barselone. Ipak, ubojitiji napad ima PSV. Četa Dika Advokata postigla je čak 75 golova, što je impozantan učinak od 3.40 pogotka po meču, neznatno više od Katalonaca.
Ž. M.

NAJEFIKASNIJI NAPAD
1. PSV (Holandija 1) 3.40 (75/22)
2. Barselona (Španija 1) 3.39 (78/23)
3. Rendžers (Škotska 4) 2.69 (62/23)

NAJNEFIKASNIJI NAPAD
1. Kerkira (Grčka) 0.42 (9/21)
2. Lokarno (Švajcarska 2) 0.50 (9-18)
3. Gimaraeš B (Portugal 2) 0.51 (14/27)

NAJBOLJA ODBRANA
1. Bajern (Nemačka 1) 0.33 (7/21)
2. Elče (Španija 2) 0.48 (12/25)
3. Porto (Portugal 1) 0.50 (9/18)

NAJGORA ODBRANA
1. Afan Lido (Vels) 2.65 (61/23)
2. Dambarton (Škotska 2) 2.47 (52/21)
3. Konah (Vels) 2.45 (54/22)

Tipovi na blic

ŽELJKO BRKIĆ

14.02. (Thu) 21:05 Tottenham Hot. - Olympique Lyonnais

PROBABLE LINEUPS

TOTTENHAM
Lloris
Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto
Lennon, Dembele, Parker, Bale
Dempsey
Adebayor
LYON
Vercoutre
Reveillere, Dabo, Bisevac, Umtiti
Ghezzal, Gourcuff, Gonalons, Malbranque Lopez, Gomis

Andre Villas-Boas is set to make some changes from the side that defeated Newcastle United 2-1 on Saturday with Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Jan Vertonghen poised to come into the starting line-up to freshen up the backline.

Further forward, Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to start his first match for the club since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Younes Kaboul (knee) and Jermain Defoe (ankle) both remain a couple of weeks away from returning while Sando (knee) will miss the rest of the season.

For the hosts, Remi Garde could also change the team which lost 3-1 at home to Lille. Yoann Gourcuff has struggled to make the starting XI for the club on a consistent basis but could be given a chance to add to his three appearances in the Europa League.

Up front Bafetimbi Gomis may also potentially come in to give increased attacking options alongside fellow strike partner Lisandro Lopez.

DID YOU KNOW?
Tottenham finished second in Group J behind Serie A outfit Lazio. The north London club took 10 points from their six games.

Hugo Lloris made 195 appearances for Lyon during his four-year spell at the club before he departed to move to Tottenham in August.

The north London club have won the Uefa Cup twice - during its inaugural season in 1972 and in 1984. Spurs are 16/1 to win the tournament with Coral.

Lyon won Group I in impressive fashion - taking 16 points out of a possible 18 - nine more than second-placed Sparta Prague.

Ex-Spurs midfielder Steed Malbranque has scored twice in 16 appearances since he joined Lyon last summer.

Bafetimbi Gomis has netted twice in three Europa League games so far this season, and has been linked with a move to a host of Premier League sides.

Prediction
The hosts go into the tie in solid form while their opponents suffered a loss last weekend. With Bale in sparkling form and with hoe advantage, Spurs are favourites to win and should just edge it and take a narrow lead into the second leg.
Editor's Prediction
Tottenham 2-1 Lyon

14.02. (Thu) 19:00 Sparta Praha - Chelsea

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SPARTA PRAGUE
Vaclik
Svejdik, Zapotocny, Vidlicka, Pamic
Holek, Husbauer, Matejovsky, Jarosik
Balaj, Kadlec
CHELSEA
Cech
Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand
Ramires, Mikel, Marin
Oscar, Torres, Moses


The home side should choose a fairly strong team for this game, with exciting youngster Vaclav Kadlec a key threat in attack.

He would be supported up front by Albanian Bekim Balaj, who has scored five goals in 10 appearances since moving from KF Tirana.

In defence, the experienced Tomas Zapotocny will be crucial in the centre, hoping to use his considerable experience of European football to good effect for the home side.

For Chelsea, Demba Ba is cup-tied having played in this competition already for Newcastle, so it will fall to Fernando Torres to lead the line.

Blues manager Rafael Benitez may choose this competition to experiment with his side, allowing some of his fringe players time on the pitch.

John Terry remains out with a knee injury, while midfielder Oriel Romeu (knee) is another who is a long-term absentee.

DID YOU KNOW?
Sparta Prague first began their Europa League campaign at the beginning of August, beating Admira of Austria 4-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.

Czech midfielder Jiri Jarosik spent two seasons with Chelsea, making enough league appearances in the 2004-05 season to earn a Premier League winner’s medal but being loaned to Birmingham City after the arrival of Michael Essien.

Sparta Prague have tasted success in European club competition before, winning the Mitropa Cup for central European teams three times before the tournament was discontinued in 1992.

These teams last met in the Champions League group stage in the 2003-04 season, with the sides drawing 0-0 at Stamford Bridge after the Blues won 1-0 away in Prague thanks to a goal from William Gallas .

Chelsea have not played in this competition since the 2002-03 season, when they lost 5-4 on aggregate in the first round to Norwegian side Viking FK.

If the Blues were to win this competition, they would have then won each European club competition in their history.

Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has won this competition once as a manager in the 2003-04 season when he was in charge of Valencia.

The Blues are 5/1 to beat Sparta Prague 1-0 with Coral.

Prediction
This competition may not be a priority for Chelsea, but they will be hoping to have a good performance away from home.

Sparta sit third in the Czech top division, but even with home advantage the Blues should have enough to overcome their threat in this first leg.
Editor's Prediction
Sparta Prague 1-2 Chelsea

14.02. (Thu) 18:00 Zenit - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ZENIT ST PETERSBURG
Malafeev
Anyukov, Lombaerts, Hubocan, Yanbayev
Witsel, Danny, Denisov
Hulk, Zyryanov, Alves
LIVERPOOL
Reina
Wisdom, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique
Shelvey, Allen, Henderson
Borini, Suarez, Sterling

Brendan Rodgers travels to Russia with new signing Daniel Sturridge unavailable for the second consecutive fixture, this time due to being cup-tied.

Raheem Sterling (illness) should be fully recovered in time for the game, although full back Martin Kelly (knee) remains a long-term absentee.

Zenit boss Luciano Spalletti is likely to have a fully fit first-team squad to choose from, following the Russian winter break.

DID YOU KNOW?
Zenit St Petersburg have never lost to an English side on home soil.

Between them, these two clubs reached three European finals in four seasons between 2005 and 2008.
Zenit are 8/1 to beat Liverpool 1-0 with Coral.

Liverpool centre back Martin Skrtel helped Zenit to the 2007 Russian league title before leaving for Merseyside the following year.

Liverpool's only away defeat in the Europa League this term came in Russia, against Anzhi Makhachkala.

Thursday's clash will be the first time the two clubs have met in their history.

Liverpool have won as many matches as they have lost (two) away on Russian turf.

Prediction
Having seen their hopes of Champions League qualification all but dashed with Monday's home defeat to West Brom, Liverpool could - and perhaps should - be looking at this fixture as representing the potential beginning of a season-saving trophy challenge. Should players and staff alike head into the tie with such an attitude then the Reds surely boast the requisite class and experience in their ranks to match and dispatch their Russian opponents.

Brendan Rodgers side will likely be doing their utmost to keep things tight during the opening away leg, and they may not win, but they will be confident that a draw will be sufficient to take back to Anfield and complete the job the following week.

Editor's Prediction
Zenit 1-1 Liverpool

13.02. (Wed) 20:45 Shakhtar - Borussia D.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SHAKHTAR
Pyatov
Srna, Chygrynskiy, Rakytskyy, Rat
Hubschmann, Fernandinho
Teixeira, Mkhitaryan, Douglas Costa
Luiz Adriano
DORTMUND
Weidenfeller
Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer
Bender, Sahin
Blaszczykowski, Gotze, Reus
Lewandowski

Borussia Dortmund will be boosted by the return of defenders Marcel Schmelzer and Neven Subotic. The former had missed Germany's friendly with a foot injury, while the latter had been struggling with a hamstring problem.

Ilkay Gundogan is also out after picking up a knock, with Nuri Sahin set to feature again, but Kevin Grosskreutz will miss this game as he battles pneumonia.

Shakhtar, meanwhile, have an empty spot on the right wing following the January departure of Willian. Alex Teixeira is expected to fill in for his compatriot, though Taison could make his debut.

Olexandr Kucher is suspended, leaving either Dmytro Chygrynskiy or Sergey Krivtsov to parter Yaroslav Rakytskyy at the back. Either Tomas Huschmann or Taras Stepanenko will cover the defence alongside Fernandinho.

DID YOU KNOW?
Shakhtar have not played in a competitive game in over two months, but have won 10 of their 12 mid-season friendlies.

Taison joined Shakhtar from Metalist Kharkiv in January for €15.2 million, the highest-ever fee for a transfer between two Ukrainian clubs.

The 1-0 loss against Juventus on matchday 6 of the tournament was the only home game that Mircea Lucescu's side lost in the whole of 2012.

Borussia Dortmund are one of four unbeaten teams in the Champions League. The others are Malaga, Juventus, and their Ruhr rivals Schalke.

Robert Lewandowski has scored in Jurgen Klopp's side's last six matches.

Saturday's loss to Hamburg at Signal Iduna Park was the heaviest defeat the German champions had endured since losing 5-1 to Bayern Munich in 2009.

Prediction
Both of these teams caught the eye in the group stage with their quick-paced, attacking football, and all the sings point to a thrilling contest. Both have fearsome attacks and a tendency to leave matters at the back neglected, and I'd expect a draw.

Editor's Prediction
Shakhtar 2-2 Dortmund

13.02. (Wed) 20:45 Real - Manchester Utd.

PROBABLE LINEUPS
REAL MADRID
Lopez
Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao
Khedira, Alonso
Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo
Benzema
MANCHESTER UNITED
De Gea
Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Carrick, Cleverley
Valencia, Rooney, Kagawa
Van Persie

Real Madrid defender Pepe is fit after an ankle injury and is set to make his first start since December in the Champions League showdown against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Xabi Alonso (groin) and Raphael Varane (hamstring) are also available, but captain Iker Casillas is sidelined with a broken thumb.

Sami Khedira, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil are all likely to return to the starting line-up after being rested during the weekend.

United defenders Phil Jones and Jonny Evans will be assessed after the duo picked up knocks in the 2-0 win over Everton on Sunday.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher (illness) is out, but Ashley Young (knee) and Michael Carrick (hip) have recovered from injuries.

DID YOU KNOW?
Real Madrid have won five of their last six matches at the Santiago Bernabeu and are unbeaten in their last 33 home matches in all competitions (W27, D6).

The Spanish champions have won three of their eight previous meetings with Manchester United in European competition (W3, D3, L2).

Cristiano Ronaldo made 292 appearances for United between 2003 and 2009, scoring 118 goals.
Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 14 matches across all competitions, but have won just four of their last nine away games (W4, D3, L2).

The three-time European champions have a poor record on Spanish soil, having registered only two wins in 20 previous visits (W2, D8, L10).

Sir Alex Ferguson has emerged victorious in just two of his 14 prior encounters with Madrid counterpart Jose Mourinho (W2, D6, L6).

Prediction
United travel to the Bernabeu in fine form, but their record of two wins in 20 matches in Spain does not make for encouraging reading. Although Real have been inconsistent in La Liga, they generally raise their game for occasions like these and could edge the first leg of this glamour tie.

Editor's Prediction 
Real Madrid 2-1 Man Utd.

Europa League Opta Facts (UK sides only) - Feb 14th

Zenit Saint Petersburg v Liverpool
This will be the first meeting between Zenit and Liverpool in European competition.
Liverpool have won four and lost one of their last six matches with Russian opponents in Europe; with that defeat coming in this season's group stages (0-1 v Anzhi).
The Merseyside club have won two and lost two of their four trips to Russia and are yet to keep a clean sheet.
Zenit have lost both of their previous European clashes with English sides 1-0; with both coming in the group stages of this Europa League. In 2005, they lost to Bolton and in 2007, they were bettered by Everton.
Liverpool have lost five and won just two of their last 11 away matches in the Europa League. However, both wins have came in their last three trips.
Liverpool opened the scoring in five of their group games. No side scored the first goal more often.
Jonjo Shelvey has scored four goals and assisted one in his last six appearances in the Europa League.
Liverpool's passing accuracy of 89% was the best in the group stages. Only two teams (Basel; 3702 and Twente; 3726) made more passes than Liverpool (3603).
Zenit have won three and lost none of their last six competitive home games in all competitions.
Stewart Downing started all six of Liverpool's group games. He was only the Red to do so.

Sparta Prague v Chelsea
Chelsea and Sparta Prague met previously in the group stages of the Champions League in 2003/04. Chelsea won the match in the Czech Republic, with the London clash finishing in a draw.
The two matches between Sparta and Chelsea produced just one goal in total.
Chelsea have played just two matches in the Czech Republic (W1 D1) and are yet to concede a goal.
Sparta Prague have won none of their last 10 clashes with English teams in Europe; losing seven.
Prague have scored just once in their last eight matches against English opposition, and in none of their last five at home.
Despite finishing third in their group, Chelsea were the top scorers in the Champions League group stages this season; bagging themselves 16 goals.
In Juan Mata's last five games in Europe for Chelsea, he has been involved in six goals (scoring three, assisting three).
From Chelsea's last seven games on the road (all competitions), Frank Lampard has scored six goals.
Chelsea heve won none of their last four away games in all competitions (D3 L1).
Sparta Prague haven't played a competitive fixture since December 6th due to the Czech Liga winter break.

Newcastle United v Metalist Kharkiv
This will be the first meeting between Newcastle United and Metalist Kharkiv.
Newcastle's four previous matches against Ukrainian opposition have all been against Dynamo Kyiv (W2 D1 L1).
Newcastle have won 18 and lost none of their last 23 home games in the Europa League.
Metalist's only clash with English opposition came in the 2007/08 Europa League. They were eliminated in the first round by Everton (4-3 on aggregate).
Kharkiv have won five and lost two of their last nine away matches in Europe.
Oleksandr Goryainov made 31 saves in the group stages; more than any other goalkeeper that reached the knock-out stages.
Gael Bigirimana was the only Newcastle player to feature in all six group games for the club.
No side scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Europa League group stage matches than Metalist Kharkiv (5).
Only Partizan Belgrade (56) and Molde (61) committed fewer fouls in the group stages than Newcastle (63).
Kharkiv picked up just five yellow cards in their six group games; meaning they had the best disciplinary record of any side.

Tottenham v Olympique Lyonnais
Tottenham and Lyon previously met in the second round of the 1967/68 Cup Winners Cup. The tie ended 4-4 on aggregate with Lyon progressing on away goals.
Spurs are unbeaten in their last three matches against French opposition (W2 D1) although, they last played a side from France in 1971.
Olympique Lyonnais have won just one of their last nine fixtures against English sides (in all competitions), losing three.
The French giants have lost five of their eight previous trips to England (W2 D1).
Jermain Defoe has scored four goals in his last two starts in the Europa League.
Only Bayer Leverkusen (94) and Stuttgart (84) attempted more shots in the group stages of the Europa League than Lyon (83).
Lyon allowed their opponents to score four times in the 15 minutes after half-time; more often than any other side that qualified for the knock-out stages.
Kyle Walker (10) was one of only two defenders to create 10+ chances during the Europa League group stages (along with Stuttgart's Gotoku Sakai).
Only Bordeaux (six) scored more goals in the opening 30 minutes of Europa League group stage matches than Lyon (five).
Emmanuel Adebayor has scored five goals in his last five starts in the Europa League.

Champions League Opta Facts - February 12-13

Celtic - Juventus
o Celtic and Juventus have met four times in the past, each of their encounters ending in a home win.
o Their last encounter dates back to October 2001, in the Champions League group stages. The Bhoys won 4-3 at Celtic Park.
o The last two competitive encounters between Celtic and Juventus have produced 12 goals.
o This is the first time Celtic have reached the last 16 of the Champions League since 2007/08. They've never progressed further.
o Juventus hadn't reached the knockout stages of the Champions League since 2008/09.
o No Italian club has won at Celtic Park in the Champions League (two defeats, two draws).
o Celtic have suffered only two defeats in 23 home games in the Champions League, both against Barcelona.
o Juventus are one of four teams unbeaten in the Champions League this season with Borussia Dortmund, Malaga and Schalke.
o Celtic have scored the joint-most headed goals in the Champions League this season, alongside Galatasaray (4). Three of them have been netted by Georgios Samaras.
o Only PSG conceded fewer goals (3) than Juventus (4) in the Champions League group stages this season. They've kept a clean sheet in their last three games.
o Juventus have the most prolific substitutes in the Champions League this season with four goals from players who have come off the bench.
o Juventus had the joint-most shots in the group stages this season, alongside Real Madrid (126, including blocked shots).
o Andrea Pirlo completed the most crosses during the group stages (23).
o Fraser Forster was the busiest goalkeeper in the group stages among the teams who reached the last 16 with 25 saves.

Valencia - Paris SG
o This is the first ever competitive meeting between Valencia and PSG.
o Valencia have won all six of their encounters with French clubs in the Champions League (since 1992/93).
o Nantes are the only French club to beat Valencia in European competition over 90 minutes. It was back in April 1980 in the Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals. Since then, Valencia have won 13 and drawn four of their competitive encounters with French clubs.
o No French club has ever kept a clean sheet against Valencia in European competition.
o Valencia are unbeaten in their last nine games at the Mestalla in the Champions League (six wins, three draws), scoring 28 goals during that run.
o PSG hadn't reached the knockout stages of the Champions League since 1994/95.
o PSG have won their last four Champions League games, the best run currently.
o PSG have conceded at least two goals in six of their last seven competitive games against Spanish sides.
o PSG have lost only two of their last six competitive away games in Spain, winning three (against Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna and Sevilla) and drawing one.
o PSG had the best defensive record in the Champions League group stages this season, conceding only three goals in six games.
o All 14 of PSG's goals in the Champions League this season have been scored from inside the box.
o Valencia benefited from the most penalties in the Champions League group stages this season (3). They have converted all of them.
o Roberto Soldado has scored 14 goals in his last 14 Champions League starts.
o Jonas has netted three goals in two starts at the Mestalla in the Champions League this season.
o Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the top assist provider in the Champions League this season (5).
o Ibrahimovic has only scored four goals in 27 games in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

12.02. (Tue) 20:45 Valencia - Paris Saint Germain

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

VALENCIA
Alves
Pereira, Rami, R Costa, Cissokho
Victor Ruiz, T Costa
Piatti, Banega, Guardado
Soldado
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Sirigu
Jallet, Alex, Sakho, Maxwell
Lucas Moura, Matuidi, Verratti, Pastore
Lavezzi, Ibrahimovic

Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde has no significant injury worries ahead of the visit of Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain to the Mestalla on Tuesday evening.

The likes of Joao Pereira, Victor Ruiz and Diego Alves should return to the starting line-up, having been named among the substitutes for the 1-0 win over Celta Vigo at the weekend.

Of the players who featured in Valencia's last meeting with PSG in the Emirates Cup back in 2007 in London, only David Albelda and Mamadou Sakho remain - though the latter is the only one of the pair expected to start.

Sakho's defensive partner Thiago Silva is out, as is namesake Thiago Motta with the pair nursing thigh injuries, though the Brazilian missed out the last couple of games through suspension.

Blaise Matuidi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Christophe Jallet and Ezequiel Lavezzi were all on the bench in Friday's 3-1 win over Bastia, and all should return to the starting 11.

David Beckham will travel to the Mestalla to watch his new team-mates in action, but has not been included in the squad. His first fixture is likely to be in the Clasico double-header against Olympique de Marseille in two weeks.

DID YOU KNOW?
Valencia sit in fifth place in La Liga, two points behind Malaga, but are unbeaten in four games - fixtures which have included Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Should the hosts pick up victory on Tuesday, it will be their 50th in the European Cup/Champions League.

Los Che have not lost in 17 games out of 18 to Ligue 1 opposition, having beaten PSG's compatriots Lille in the group stage.

Valencia have not lost a Champions League home game since September 2010 (1-0 v Man Utd) - a run of nine fixtures.

Paris Saint-Germain sit top of Ligue 1, six points clear of Olympique Lyonnais.

The Parisien club have conceded just one goal on the road in Europe this season, in a 1-0 reverse to FC Porto.

PSG's record in Spain reads W3 D1 L3. They lost their last fixture in Spain to Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League.

PSG have not been this far (with the exception of a second group stage appearance in 2001) since 1994-95 - the year they were also last champions of France.

Prediction
A difficult match to predict in all honesty. Valencia's home Champions League record speaks for itself and this - despite the allure of the Paris Saint-Germain squad, remains uncharted waters for a club only recently embarking on a pathway of success. Never estimate those who have been in this position often, something even PSG can't claim. Draw, but the visitors should sneak an advantage.

Editor's Prediction
Valencia 1-1 PSG

12.02. (Tue) 20:45 Celtic - Juventus

PROBABLE LINEUPS
CELTIC
Forster
Matthews, Lustig, Wilson, Izaguirre
Brown, Wanyama, Mulgrew
Samara, Hooper, Forrest
JUVENTUS
Buffon
Bonucci, Barzagli, Caceres
Pirlo
Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Vidal, Asamoah
Vucinic, Giovinco

With Celtic currently enjoying an 18-point lead at the top of the SPL, Neil Lennon made a host of changes for the weekend win over Inverness in order to ensure fresh legs.

However, question marks remain over a number of players. Emilio Izaguirre (knee) and Georgios Samaras (thigh) had previously been rated as 50/50 for the match, but with Lennon insisting their treatments would be as aggressive as possible, starts look highly plausible.

Efe Ambrose will be available for selection, but his appearance in Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations final win on Sunday means he looks set to take a place on the bench, with Kelvin Wilson already highlighted as a probable starter.

Juventus head coach Antonio Conte has almost a full squad to pick from, with very few players missing for the trip to Scotland.

Giorgio Chiellini (calf) is still a few days away from a return, while Paolo De Ceglie, Simone Pepe and Nicklas Bendtner (all thigh) will miss out too.

On the positive side for Conte, Claudio Marchisio has recovered from the injury which had kept him out for a month, while Kwadwo Asamoah is back from Afcon duty with Ghana.

Meanwhile, Leonardo Bonucci's domestic suspension means he will be refreshed for Tuesday.

DID YOU KNOW?
On each of the four previous occasions these sides have met, the home team has been victorious.
Twelve goals have been scored over the course of their last two meetings.

Celtic have never been further than this stage of the competition since it was rebranded as the Champions League. They are 19/5 to qualify for the next round with BetVictor.

From their previous 23 Champions League home matches, Celtic have only been beaten twice. Both of those defeats came against Barcelona.

Like Borussia Dortmund, Malaga and Schalke, Juventus are unbeaten so far in this season's competition.

The Italians conceded just four goals in the group stages. Only Paris Saint-Germain have a better record, having let in three goals.

The Serie A leaders scored four of their 12 group stage goals from the bench, more than any other side.
Gianluigi Buffon is the only player in either squad who played the last time the two sides met in 2001.

Prediction
Juventus will be at near enough at full strength for the trip to Glasgow, but Celtic's home record in the Champions League speaks for itself, therefore the Serie A side will not be in for an easy evening. A score draw looks a good bet.

Editor's Prediction
Celtic 1-1 Juventus

U utorak i sredu prvi susreti osmine finala Lige šampiona

Vatromet u Madridu obasjaće zimskim sivilom usnulu Evropu. Počinju dueli osmine finala Lige šampiona, čiji će derbi između Reala i Mančester Junajteda, na najlepši mogući način najaviti buđenje fudbalskog „ranog” proleća.

Od četiri susreta, koji su na programu u utorak i sredu, najviše pažnje svakako privlači duel na „Santjago Bernabeu” stadionu, na kojem će snage da odmere dva velika tima, ali i dve trenerske veličine. Promišljeni egoista, Žoze Murinjo, „ugostiće” prekaljenog „ratnog veterana” sa Ostrva, ser Aleksa Fergusona.
- Oni su kao Porše i Ferari. Nemoguće je odabrati ko je bolji - nedavno je izjavio Kristijano Ronaldo, vešto driblajući nezgodno postavljena novinarska pitanja.
Ništa manje interesantan neće da bude ni duel Valensije i Pari Sen Žermena, posebno zbog ambicija prebogatih gostiju, koji treneru Anćelotiju, Ibrahimoviću i ostalim skupo plaćenim vedetama, ne bi lako oprostili ranu eliminaciju od „šišmiša”.
D. Đ.

UTORAK
VALENSIJA (Špa) - PSŽ (Fra)
Međusobni susreti -
Valensija - Francuzi 18 13 4 1 39-15
Španci - PSŽ 16 5 3 8 23-27

SREDA
REAL M. (Špa) - MANČESTER J. (Eng)
Međusobni susreti 8 3 3 2 17-14
Real M. - Englezi 28 10 8 10 40-36
Španci - Mančester J. 43 14 17 12 64-56