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)

OPTA Facts La Liga 2012-13 Matchday 26

Getafe v Zaragoza
Getafe have only won one of their last 11 top-flight meetings with Real Zaragoza (5D 5L), though that was the reverse meeting this season (1-0 away).
Los Manos are unbeaten in five trips to Madrid to face Getafe in La Liga, winning two and drawing three.
Both of their top-flight victories at the Coliseum have come via a 2-0 scoreline.
Adrian Colunga has directly participated in more goals than any other Spanish player in La Liga in the year 2013 (five goals, three assists).
In the last two league meetings between Getafe and Real Zaragoza, seven red cards have been shown (four to Getafe, three to Zaragoza).
Luis Garcia's side have won their last two home league games; they have not won three in a row on home soil this season.
Zaragoza are without a win in eight league games (D3 L5), their worst ever run under Manolo Jimenez.
Only Valencia (12) have scored more headed goals than Getafe (10) this season.

Real Madrid v Barcelona
Real Madrid have gone four successive home league games without a victory against Barcelona (1D 3L), they have not gone five on home soil since 1973/74.
The fifth victory of that run against a Barcelona side led by Dutch legend Johan Cruyff was also Real Madrid's heaviest home league defeat in the Clasico (0-5).
After recording their best ever run of five successive league wins in the Clasico, Barcelona have won just one of the last four (2D 1L).
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in three of the last four Clasicos in La Liga, with Real losing on the last occasion he failed to net (1-3 in 2011/12).
Lionel Messi has scored on three of Barcelona's last four trips to the Bernabeu in La Liga (four goals in total).
Jose Mourinho's side are unbeaten in 24 home league games (W20 D4), with Barcelona themselves the last away team to win there back in December 2011 (3-1).
The Catalans have won more away games than any other team in Europe's top five leagues this season (11).
After his goal at the Riazor, Gonzalo Higuain became the third player to net 100 league goals for Real Madrid this millennium (after Cristiano Ronaldo (136) and Raul (134).
Real Madrid have not won a league Clasico at the Bernabeu since Raul netted his last goal against Barcelona (May 2008, 4-1).
Xavi has assisted three of the last four goals Lionel Messi has netted in the league away at Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho has only won one of his five clashes with Barcelona in La Liga (D2 L2) and that was in the Nou Camp.
With his double against Granada, Lionel Messi extended his record to 10 consecutive away games without failing to score.
Of all the players to have scored at least six goals this season, David Villa has the best minutes/goal ratio of all Spaniards (107.7).
Mesut Ozil has created a chance more frequently than any other regular player in La Liga this term (one every 23.2 minutes on average).

Deportivo La Coruna v Rayo Vallecano
Deportivo have only won two of their last eight top-flight meetings with Rayo, drawing three and losing three.
The Galician side have the opportunity to win two straight La Liga games against Rayo at the Riazor for the first time in their history in this game.
Rayo have never won at the Riazor in the Primera, but five of their eight trips there have ended level (3L).
The Galicians have lost six successive league games; with defeat here, they would equal their worst ever run of top-flight defeats set between 66/67 and 68/69.
Paco Jemez's side have lost three away games in a row; they have not lost four in a row on the road all term.
Riki has scored 10 goals already this season, reaching double figures for a single Liga campaign for the first time.
Pizzi (three goals, three assists) and Riki (six goals) have been involved in all of Deportivo's last 10 league goals between them.
Deportivo have conceded a league-high 14 goals in the final 15 minutes of games this season, while Rayo have shipped a league-high eight in the opening quarter-hour.
Depor have lost more points after scoring the first goal of the game (18) than any other team in the Primera this season.

Osasuna v Athletic Bilbao
Osasuna have only won one of their last seven against Athletic in the top-flight (1D 5L), though that was at the Reyno last season (2-1).
The Lions have only won one of their last eight trips to face Osasuna in La Liga (3D 4L).
The side from Navarra have won their last three home league games; they have not won four in a row on home soil in the same season since March 2008.
Athletic have lost their last three league games; they are yet to lose four in a row under Marcelo Bielsa.
Osasuna have not lost any of the seven games that Kike Sola has scored in this season (5W 2D).
Fernando Llorente has scored on his last two trips to the Reyno de Navarra in La Liga, but has only scored in one game all season.
Osasuna have drawn a league-high four games 0-0 this term.
Mendilibar has only one two of nine games against former club Athletic in La Liga (D1 L6), though both victories did come on home soil.
Only Jesus Navas (49) has had more shots without scoring than Ander Herrera (37) this term.

Valencia v Levante
Valencia are without a win in two derbies against Levante (1D 1L), they have never gone three in a row without one against their city rivals in La Liga.
Las Granotas have picked up three consecutive draws at the Mestalla, with two of those finishing goalless.
Los Che have never lost a home derby against Levante in the Primera (4W 3D), but they have not won one since January 2007 (3-0).
Both Valencia defeats with Valverde as manager (in 11 games, won seven and drawn two) have come on home soil (0-1 against Rayo and 0-5 v Real Madrid).
JIM's side have failed to win any of their last four league games (1D 3L), their worst run since February 2012 (eight).
Roberto Soldado has scored in six of Valencia's eight home wins this season (seven goals).
The last nine goals scored by Levante in the league have come from eight different players, with only Barkero netting twice (one penalty).
Aly Cissokho has scored two goals in La Liga (both from headers) despite attempting only two headed shots.

Granada v Mallorca
Granada have won three and drawn three of their seven clashes with Mallorca in the top-flight (1L).
The Balearic side have never won in three previous trips to Los Carmenes in the Primera but are unbeaten in two (2D).
After their 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture, Granada have the opportunity to complete their first league double since promotion ahead of last season.
Tomer Hemed has scored two of Mallorca's last three goals against Granada, including the goal that earned a draw in this fixture last term.
El-Arabi began his scoring run of four successive games against Mallorca earlier this season, the best run by a Granada player since their promotion, but has not scored since this run ended.
Mallorca are winless in eight league games (D2 L6) and have lost their last four in a row on the road.
No Granada player has scored more league goals than Odion Ighalo since the start of last season (10) and the striker has scored in three successive games.
Mallorca have scored a higher percentage of headed goals than any other team in La Liga this season (33%, level with Valencia).

Espanyol v Real Valladolid
The last four league meetings between Espanyol and Real Valladolid have all ended in draws, with Espanyol winning the previous game back in 2008 (1-0 at home).
Los Pericos have won five of their last seven in La Liga against Valladolid on home soil (1D 1L).
Valladolid have not lost any of their last six trips to Barcelona to face Espanyol in the Primera when they have found the back of the net (4W 2D).
Espanyol have won their last five league games in Cornella and are unbeaten in six there since Javier Aguirre took charge.
After their 2-1 win in Vallecas last time out, Real have the opportunity to win successive top-flight away games for the first time since March 2009.
Oscar (nine) and Manucho (seven) have scored almost half of Real Valladolid's league goals this season (47%).
Valladolid have scored a league-high 11 goals in the first 15 minutes of games this term.
Victor Sanchez, the most booked player in La Liga this term, has picked up eight of his 13 yellows since Aguirre took charge of Espanyol.
Joan Verdu, who scored a penalty in the reverse fixture with Valladolid, has scored more goals on home soil than any other Espanyol player this campaign (five).

Malaga v Atletico Madrid
Malaga have only won one of their last five clashes with Atletico in La Liga on home soil (D2 L2).
Malaga have scored exactly three times in three of their last four home victories over Atleti in La Liga.
The Red-and-Whites have kept two successive clean sheets at La Rosaleda in La Liga; they last bettered that with a run of five shutouts there that ended in 1972/73.
Manuel Pellegrini's side have won just one of their last four home league games (D2 L1), though that was the last game there (1-0 v Athletic).
Diego Simeone, who opened with a 0-0 draw against Malaga, has the best win percentage of any Atleti manager since their promotion (59.6% in La Liga).
Isco has scored four of Malaga's last six league goals, though just one came at La Rosaleda and that was a penalty.
Falcao has scored more penalties than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this season (eight).
Atletico Madrid have won more games by the odd goal than any other team in the Primera this season (nine).
Malaga have lost just two points having scored the first goal this season, a league-low.
Only Thibaut Courtois (13) has kept more clean sheets than Willy Caballero (10) this season.

Real Sociedad v Real Betis
Real Sociedad have drawn five of their last seven league clashes with Betis (1W 1L).
Nine of Real Sociedad's last 10 home victories over Betis in La Primera have arrived by the odd goal (the exception; 2-0 in March 1998).
Real Sociedad have only lost one of their last 15 league games; 4-3 against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu (6D).
If they do not lose this game, los txuri-urdin will accumulate nine successive home games without defeat in the top-flight for the first time since November 2003 (29).
The Green-and-Whites have lost their last three away league games without netting a single goal.
No player has scored as a substitute against Sociedad at the Anoeta this season; Deportivo are the only other team yet to concede to a sub on home soil.
Betis are the only team in La Liga yet to lose a point to a goal in the final 10 minutes this season.
Real Socieded have been fouled the second most times this season (389) and have committed the second least fouls themselves (300).
Carlos Vela has won more penalties than any other player in La Liga this season (four).

Sevilla v Celta Vigo
Sevilla have won three of their last four clashes with Celta Vigo in La Liga, though they did lose the reverse fixture this season (2-0 in the Balaidos).
Celta's last four victories at the Pizjuan have all ended 1-0, though Sevilla themselves have kept a clean sheet in their last three home victories over the Galician side.
Nine of the last 10 goals scored by Celta against Sevilla in the league have come from foreign players.
Sevilla have won four consecutive home league games, they have not enjoyed a longer run within one season since 2006/07 (eight).
Iago Aspas has participated in 10 of Celta's last 13 league goals (six goals, four assists).
Sevilla have scored the highest percentage of goals in the final 15 minutes before half-time this season (29%) but have conceded the highest portion in the quarter-hour after the break (30%).
Only in one game this term (away at Valencia; one) have Sevilla had fewer shots on target than the two they managed at the Balaidos earlier in the campaign.
Sevilla have won all three games against a team managed by Abel Resino in La Liga, though they have had a different manager in each one (Ramos, Jimenez, Michel).

01.03. (Fri) 20:45 Napoli - Juventus

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NAPOLI
De Sanctis
Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Britos
Mesto, Behrami, Inler, Armero
Hamsik
Cavani, Insigne

JUVENTUS
Buffon
Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini
L'steiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah
Vucinic, Giovinco
Napoli only have a minor injury concern ahead of their must-win clash against Juventus on Friday at the Stadio San Paolo.

Alessandro Gamberini will be assessed before the game which means Miguel Britos may deputise for the 31-year-old.

The Partenopei have been struggling in recent weeks and Giandonmenico Mesto and Pablo Armero may be sacrificed for Christian Maggio and Juan Zuniga.

Meanwhile, Antonio Conte can field a full-strength side with Giorgio Chiellini returning to the fray after being out since December.

Paolo De Ceglie, Nicklas Bendtner and Simone Pepe are all unavailable, while Nicolas Anelka and Martin Caceres did not train on Wednesday because of back pain.

There are no suspensions for either side to contend with.

DID YOU KNOW?

Napoli have failed to win any of their last five matches in all competitions, and have drawn their last three consecutive encounters in Serie A.
The Partenopei have not lost to Juventus at the Stadio San Paolo in the league for six games. A run which stretches back to October 2000.
Edinson Cavani who is Serie A's leading marksman, has failed to score in his last 500 minutes of football.
Juventus can stretch their lead at the top of Serie A to nine points with a win on Friday, with only 11 games left to play.
The Bianconeri's biggest away win against Napoli is 6-2, way back in 1974-75 season.
The Old Lady are undefeated in their last four league games against the Naples club.

Prediction
This really is a win or bust game for Napoli if they harbour ambitions of lifting their first Scudetto since the late 1980s, but the signs are not good. Cavani is struggling to find the back of the net and nobody has stepped up to fill the void his barren spell has left. Juve, meanwhile, continue to produce results without excelling and would perhaps be quite pleased to come away with anything other than a defeat, and they might just sneak this one.

Editor's Prediction
Napoli 1-2 Juventus

Championship Opta Facts – March 1-2

Derby v Crystal Palace
Just one of the last 16 meetings between these two clubs has seen the away side victorious (11 home wins, four draws).
Palace have won more games from losing positions than any other Championship team this season (5).
Derby have conceded more headed goals than any other side in the Championship this term (14).
If the Championship had started on November 24th, Palace would only be 10th in the table with a record of W5 D7 L5.
Derby have won only three points from their last five Championship games (D3 L2).

Wolves v Watford
Wolves have lost only one of their last 15 home games against Watford (all comps), winning five and drawing nine.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have won only four points from losing positions in the Championship this term; a league-low.
However, no side have lost more points from games that they have been leading in at home than Wolves (19).
Watford have scored a league-high 10 goals in the opening 15 minutes of Championship games this season.
Matej Vydra has averaged a goal every 92 minutes in the Championship this season; the best average for all players to have scored more than five goals.
Watford have picked up more cards than any other Championship side this season (67 - 63y, 4r).

Leeds United v Millwall
Millwall have won just one of their last eight trips to Elland Road (L5 D2).
Leeds have conceded a league-high 73% of their goals in the second half of matches this season.
No side have averaged fewer shots (excl. blocked) per game than Leeds United this season (7.7) in the Championship.
Only Wolves (4) have picked up fewer points than Millwall (7) over their last 10 Championship games.
Leeds have kept two successive clean sheets in the league for the first time since March 2012.

Barnsley v Bolton
Five of the last seven meetings between Barnsley and Bolton have ended in a score draw.
Bolton have lost more points from leading positions than any other Championship side this season (26).
No side have conceded more goals in the opening 10 minutes of games than Barnsley (7), while Bolton have scored the most in this period (7).
Barnsley have lost just one of their last seven Championship games (W5 D1 L1), but this defeat came in their last match against Bristol City.
Bolton are unbeaten in five league games (W3 D2), conceding just four goals over those matches.

Blackburn v Peterborough
Jordan Rhodes has scored one hat-trick this season, and this came in Blackburn's 4-1 away win at Peterborough back in November.
No ground has seen fewer goals than Ewood Park in the Championship this season (36).
Peterborough have conceded 21 goals in the final 15 minutes of Championship games this term; a league-high.
Blackburn have collected just two points from their last four league games (D2 L2).
The Posh have kept only one clean sheet in their last 20 league games.

Blackpool v Bristol City
Tom Ince has scored three of Blackpool's four goals against Bristol City since February 2012.
Blackpool have come from behind to win more points than any other side in the Championship this season (20).
Blackpool have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Championship games this season than any other side (18).
Bristol City have won the fewest points away from home in the Championship this season (11).
The Seasiders have won just nine points from their last 12 league games (W2 D3 L7).

Brighton v Huddersfield
Brighton have won none of their last five home games against Huddersfield in all competitions (D3 L2).
The Seagulls have won three and drawn one of their last four league games, conceding only one goal in this run.
Huddersfield have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four league games, but conceded six goals in the other match during this run.
Only Ipswich (12) have scored fewer away goals in the Championship than Huddersfield (16) this season.
Cardiff (11) are the only side to have conceded fewer goals at home than Brighton (14) in the league this term.

Charlton v Burnley
Just one of the last 14 competitive meetings between Charlton and Burnley have ended in a draw.
Charlton have conceded more goals in the 90th minute or later than any other side (7), while they are also the only side not to score in this period of the game (0).
Burnley have won just two points from their last six Championship games (L4 D2).
Charlton have won just one of their last six league games (W1 D1 L4).
Charlie Austin has scored just four goals in his last 15 appearances for Burnley, this after netting 20 in his previous 17 games (all comps).

Hull v Birmingham
Hull City have lost only five points from leading positions in the Championship this term; a league-low.
Hull have drawn more games 0-0 than any other Championship team this season (4).
Birmingham have lost only one of their last eight Championship matches (W3 D4 L1).
The Tigers have won four of their last six league games (L2).
There have been just 83 goals scored in matches involving Hull City this season, only Brighton games (80) have seen fewer goals.

Ipswich v Leicester
Leicester City defeated Ipswich 6-0 earlier this season; the joint-biggest win in the Championship so far this term.
The Foxes have conceded the highest proportion of first half goals in the Championship this season (64%).
Leicester City have picked up the fewest cards in the Championship this season (33; 32y 1r), while Ipswich have the second fewest (39; 39y, 0r).
Ipswich have netted just one goal in their last four league matches.
In fact, no side have failed to score in more games than Ipswich Town this season (12).

Middlesbrough v Cardiff
Middlesbrough have lost four of their last five home games against Cardiff City in all competitions (W1).
Over the last 10 games, Middlesbrough have won only seven points; a tally that only Wolves (4) have won fewer than.
Cardiff City have conceded only six goals in their last 11 Championship games.
Fraizer Campbell has netted five goals in five games for Cardiff since signing for the club.
Middlesbrough have not scored a first half goal in any of their last nine Championship games.

Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last four games against the Owls, winning three and drawing one.
Wednesday have failed to find the net in 12 different Championship games this season; a joint-league high.
The Owls are on the longest current unbeaten run in the Championship; seven games (W4 D3).
Nottingham Forest have won two successive league games for the first time since November. They haven't won three in a row since May 2011.
Leroy Lita has scored in three of his five appearances for Sheffield Wednesday since joining the club on loan from Swansea City.

OPTA Facts - Serie A - Week 27

Bologna - Cagliari
This will be the 50th meeting between these two sides in Serie A - the Sardinians lead by 17 wins to 14, with 18 draws.
Bologna have won only once in their last nine league games against Cagliari, with five wins for the Sardinians (incl. in the reverse fixture).
Bologna have won only one of their last four games against Cagliari at the Dall'Ara, with two wins for the visitors.
Bologna have lost on only won of their last five match-days (two wins, two draws).
The Rossoblu are unbeaten in their last four home league games (2W, 2D).
Cagliari are unbeaten on the last seven Serie A match-days (4W 3D).
The Sardinians have won their last two games on the road - previously, they had picked up only two points from six games away from home in the league.
Cagliari have scored in each of their last 10 away fixtures.
In their last away game against Pescara, Cagliari kept their first clean sheet on the road, following a run of seven games in which they had always conceded.
Cagliari have conceded the most goals in the second half (31), and the most in the last 15 minutes of play (16).

Catania - Inter
Catania and Inter have met 31 times in Serie A: the Nerazzurri lead by 22 wins to five.
However, two of Catania's five wins have come over the course of the last six meetings.
Catania have lost more games against Inter than against any other Serie A opponent, and have also conceded the most goals against the Nerazzurri (69).
All of Catania's wins against Inter have come at the Massimino, while Inter have won at Catania's ground eight times so far.
Inter have scored in each of their last 14 games against Catania (an average of 2.4 goals per game).
Catania have won five of their last eight league fixtures, losing only one in the process.
Only AC Milan (24) have picked up more points than Catania (23) over the last 11 Serie A match-days.
Catania have won four of their last five home games, keeping a clean sheet three times.
Inter have won only one of their last six league games, losing two.
The Nerazzurri have picked up only one point from their last seven games on the road, scoring only five goals; previously they had won six games in a row away from home.
Catania have won the most games from losing situations (five out of 14 in this campaign).
Esteban Cambiasso has already scored four goals against Catania, including one of his two Serie A braces; only against Fiorentina has he bagged more goals (five).

Fiorentina - Chievo
These two sides have shared only one draw over the course of their last 15 Serie A meetings (in the reverse fixture in Verona), with 10 wins for the Viola in the process.
In their 17 meetings in the top-flight, neither side has ever scored more than two goals in a single game.
Chievo have won four of their last seven meetings against Fiorentina in the league.
The Serie A record in Florence in this clash sees the hosts leading by five wins to three.
Fiorentina have lost five of their last eight league games (two wins, one draw).
Fiorentina have suffered only one defeat in their last 17 home games in the league (7D 9W).
Chievo have picked up only one point from their last four league games.
Chievo have never scored more than a single goal in any of their last 10 Serie A fixtures.
Eugenio Corini's side are yet to draw away from home this season (3W 10L).
Luca Toni has already scored six goals in Serie A against Chievo, only against Parma (nine) he has bagged more so far.

AC Milan - Lazio
Lazio are unbeaten in their last six league games against AC Milan: four draws, followed by two wins.
Before those two losses, the Rossoneri had remained unbeaten against Lazio for 27 games in a row in Serie A.
AC Milan are unbeaten in their last 22 meetings with Lazio at the San Siro (13W 9D).
Only Juventus can match Lazio's total of 54 Serie A draws with Milan.
The Rossoneri are unbeaten in their last eight league games (5W 3D).
At home, Massimiliano Allegri's side are on a run of six consecutive wins, and have kept a clean sheet in each of the last five.
Lazio got back to winning ways on Monday night against Pescara, after taking only two points from their previous five fixtures.
Lazio have won only one of their last eight away games in Serie A, losing four.
Vladimir Petkovic's side have conceded eight goals in total in their last three away games - previously they had shipped 10 in 10 games on the road between this and last season.
Last Sunday in the derby against Inter, AC Milan conceded their 13th headed goal - a league-high.
Since he made his debut for AC Milan, Mario Balotelli has mustered the most shots in Serie A: 20, 14 of which have been on target (incl. four goals).

Napoli - Juventus
Juventus are unbeaten in the league against Napoli in their last four meetings: two draws, followed by two wins.
However, the Partenopei are unbeaten in their last five league games against the Old Lady at the San Paolo (four wins, followed by last season's 3-3 draw).
In those last five meetings at the San Paolo, the hosts have netted an average of 2.8 goals per game.
Napoli are unbeaten in their last nine league games, although they've been held to a draw in each of the last three.
Napoli have lost only one of their last 16 league games at home, winning 12.
Juve last conceded more than a single goal away from home on their last visit to the San Paolo in November 2011 (3-3).
Juventus boast the best defence in the league (only 17 goals conceded), while Napoli have netted only one goal on the last three match-days.
Against Juventus, Edinson Cavani scored his first Serie A hat-trick in January 2011; however, El Matador has failed to score in six of his seven appearances against the Old Lady in the league.
Marek Hamsik has already netted five goals against Juve, only against Palermo (seven) has he has scored more often in Serie A.
Napoli are Alessandro Matri's favourite opponent in Serie A, alongside Roma (five goals for him in 10 appearances against the Partenopei).
Against Siena, Paul Pogba became the second youngest player to score five goals in any of the top five European leagues, after Romelu Lukaku.

Pescara - Udinese
Udinese remain unbeaten against Pescara in the top-flight (3W 2D for the Friulani so far).
These two draws came in the two previous meetings played at the Adriatico in Serie A.
Pescara have never kept a clean sheet against Udinese in Serie A, with the Friulani scoring an average of 2.2 goals per game.
Pescara have collected only one point from the last seven match-days.
The Dolphins have lost their last three home fixtures, conceding seven goals in the process.
Udinese have never registered the same result twice in a row over the course of their last seven league fixtures.
Francesco Guidolin's side have failed to score in their last two league games, while their captain, Antonio Di Natale, hasn't found the net in any of his last six Serie A appearances.
Pescara remain the only side in Serie A yet to concede a goal scored by Di Natale in his career.
Udinese have taken only one point from their last four games on the road, and lost the last three against Juventus, AC Milan and Genoa.
Against Udinese, Elvis Abbruscato has scored his only Serie A brace, in January 2007, when he was at Torino.
Pescara have the worst defence in Serie A his season so far (53 goals conceded).

Roma - Genoa
Roma and Genoa haven't shared a draw in their last 13 league meetings (Roma lead by eight wins to three).
Roma have scored in each of their last 11 meetings against Genoa (on average 2.2 goals per game).
At the Olimpico, the Giallorossi are unbeaten in their last 10 meetings against Genoa, and have won the last six.
Roma have won back to back games in the league, after taking only two points from their previous six fixtures.
The Giallorossi have scored in each of their last 32 home games in the league (69 goals in total).
Genoa are unbeaten in their last five Serie A fixtures, and have alternated between an away draw and a home win.
However, away from home, the Grifoni are without a win in their last six games (4D 2L).
Roma have scored the most headed goals so far this season (14).
Despite having played a game less, Roma still boast the joint-most prolific attack from open play this season (37 goals scored, along with Juventus).
Pablo Osvaldo has scored three goals in three Serie A appearances against Genoa for Roma.
Francesco Totti needs a goal to equal Gunnar Nordahl on 225 goals, currently the all-time second-highest scorer in Serie A.
Totti has found the net in three of his last four appearances against Genoa in Serie A.

Sampdoria - Parma
Parma have won their last four Serie A meetings against Sampdoria, conceding only one goal in the process.
The record in the last nine meetings at the Marassi is even, with four wins apiece and a draw.
Samp are unbeaten on their last five match-days (three home wins, two away draws).
At home, the Blucerchiati are unbeaten in their last four games, courtesy of a draw, followed by three wins in a row, with 11 goals scored and only one conceded.
Parma are winless in their last seven league fixtures, picking up only three points in the process.
The Ducali have lost four of their last five Serie A games.
Away from home, Roberto Donadoni's side have won only one of their last eight league games, losing five.
Parma are yet to keep a clean sheet away from home this season in 13 games.
Amauri has already scored six goals in Serie A against Sampdoria, more than against any other opponent.
Neither side have scored in the opening 15 minutes of play so far in this campaign.

Siena - Atalanta
Siena have won only two of their last 11 league games against Atalanta, with five wins for the Nerazzurri.
The Tuscans have kept only one clean sheet so far in 13 meetings against Atalanta in Serie A (back in January 2009).
Siena have lost only once in six games at home against Atalanta, winning two and drawing three so far.
Siena have been involved in only one draw in the last 12 match-days in Serie A, winning three in the process.
Siena have won their last three home games, previously they had lost three in a row at their ground.
Atalanta have won just one of their last 10 games, losing six times in the process.
Atalanta have lost six of their last seven away games in the league, winning the remaining one.
11 of Siena's 27 total goals scored this season have been headers - 41%, a league-high proportion.
Atalanta have already conceded a league-high five goals from direct free-kicks.
Germán Denis has already scored three goals in six appearances against Siena, only against Roma (five) he has scored more in Serie A so far.

Torino - Palermo
Since these two sides have re-established themselves in the top-flight, they've shared two wins apiece and three draws.
After losing the first ever meeting played against Palermo at home back in October 1932, the Granata have remained unbeaten at home against the Rosanero in 18 meetings (15W 3D).
Palermo have never scored more than a single goal at Torino's ground in the top-flight.
Torino have won only one game over the last five match-days (2D 2L).
However, the Granata have taken 10 points from the last 12 available at home.
Palermo are winless in their last 12 games, however, they've drawn five of their last six fixtures.
Despite remaining unbeaten (three draws in three games), Alberto Malesani became the third manager to be sacked at Palermo this season.
Palermo are winless in their last 17 away games in the league (10L 7D).
Matteo Brighi has already scored four goals against Palermo in Serie A, against no other side he has been as prolific.
Against the Rosanero, Rolando Bianchi scored his only Serie A hat-trick (in Palermo-Reggina 4-3 in September 2006).
Torino have already conceded 10 penalties this season - a record across the top five European leagues.
Only three of Palermo's 22 total goals in this campaign have been scored from set pieces.

OPTA Facts - Bundesliga - March 1-3

Eintracht Frankfurt - Borussia Monchengladbach
Monchengladbach have won four of their last five Bundesliga meetings with Frankfurt (L1).
Frankfurt's first loss this season came on matchday 7 at Monchengladbach (0-2).
Frankfurt and Monchengladbach met in the UEFA-Cup final in May 1980, Frankfurt won the cup (2-3 away, 1-0 at home).
Monchengladbach had won 14 Bundesliga games at the same stage of last season, but this time around they have won only seven.
Monchengladbach haven't won any of their last six competitive matches (D3 L3).
Monchengladbach haven't lost against any of the top four teams so far this season (W1 D5).
Frankfurt have collected eight points in the second half of the season so far - they didn't win more than eight in the entire second half of 2010/11.
Only Dortmund have thrown away more points after leading (14) than Monchengladbach (13, along with Stuttgart).
Frankfurt have dropped just two points from leading positions this season (along with Wolfsburg).
Lucien Favre and Armin Veh have met as coaches four times (with different teams) in the top flight, with Favre winning all of the clashes.
Armin Veh has a history as a player with Monchengladbach (1979-83 and 1984/85; 65 BL games, three goals).
Frankfurt defender Anderson made 13 BL appearances for Monchengladbach in 2010/11. Frankfurt first took him on loan from Monchengladbach in 2011/12 and subsequently bought the player last summer.
Karim Matmour moved from Monchengladbach to Frankfurt in 2011. He made 77 Bundesliga appearances for Monchengladbach (four goals).
Frankfurt's top goal scorer Alex Meier (12 goals) hasn't scored in 462 minutes now. This is his longest run without scoring a goal this season.
Martin Stranzl's duel success rate is the highest of all Bundesliga players this season - 73%.
Stranzl is also the joint-top scoring defender this season (4 goals, along with Wolfsburg's Naldo).

Borussia Dortmund - Hannover 96
Dortmund have won their last four home games against Hannover and have always scored at least three goals in these matches (goal difference 16-4).
Dortmund and Hannover met on December 19th 2012 when Dortmund playmaker Mario Götze secured a 5-1-victory courtesy of his first hat-trick as a senior player.
Dortmund have already lost more BL home games (3) than in their previous two campaigns combined (2).
Dortmund have won only three of their last eight home games (D2 L3).
Hannover have lost 14 of their last 17 BL games on the road (W2 D1). They have gained only one point from their last six away games.
Hannover boast by far the highest shot conversion rate in the top flight (23.4%).
Dortmund have thrown away 14 points after leading this season (more than any other team). They dropped only nine from leading positions in their entire 2011/12 campaign.
No other team has taken as many penalties in BL games this season than Dortmund and Hannover (6 each). Dortmund have already taken four in 2013.
No other team have faced as many opposition shots on goal in 2013 as Hannover (57). That's already more than Bayern Munich have faced in the entire season so far (53).
Hannover midfielder Szabolcs Huszti has been involved in 28 goals in his 35 competitive matches this season (14 goals, 14 assists). Only Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has been involved in more (29).
In home games, Hannover striker Mame Diouf has bagged one goal every 77 minutes on average. That's the best rate in Bundesliga history (legendary Bayern Munich striker Gerd Müller scored every 78 minutes on average). However, Diouf has scored only two away goals in his Bundesliga career (at a rate of 528 minutes per goal).

VfL Wolfsburg - Schalke 04
Schalke have won their last two meetings against Wolfsburg without conceding a goal (4-0 and 3-0, both home games for Schalke).
Wolfsburg haven't lost any of their last nine home games against Schalke (W4 D5). They have also won three of their last four.
There have been only four victories for the respective home team in 34 competitive games between Schalke and Wolfsburg (three for Wolfsburg, one for Schalke).
Schalke coach Jens Keller is still waiting for an away victory in the German top flight (D4 L4; with Schalke and Stuttgart).
Michel Bastos, who was signed by Schalke in January, has already been involved in four Bundesliga goals (three goals, one assist) in only four appearances.
Diego is Wolfsburg's top scorer (five goals, five assists). He has scored all of his goals and assists in 15 games under coach Dieter Hecking and under Lorenz-Günther Köstner (who succeeded former head coach Felix Magath).
Diego is still waiting for his 50th Bundesliga goal (currently he's on 49).
Schalke keeper Timo Hildebrand has posted a save percentage rate of only 46%. No other current Bundesliga keeper has posted such a low figure.
Schalke have conceded 13 goals so far this year, only Werder Bremen have shipped more (18).

Werder Bremen - FC Augsburg
Bremen haven't won any of their three Bundesliga meetings with Augsburg (D2 L1). Only three other BL teams are also still without a victory in the top flight against Augsburg (Wolfsburg, Monchengladbach and Furth).
Courtesy of another loss in this game, Bremen will be the only team this season who haven't gained any points from their two meetings with Augsburg in 2012/13.
Augsburg gained nine points from their 17 games in the first half of the season. They have already gained the same amount from only six games in 2013 (i.e. second half of the season).
Augsburg have lost only one of their last seven Bundesliga games (W2 D4 and a 1-2-defeat against Leverkusen on matchday 22).
However, Augsburg have won only one of their last 12 BL games away from home (D5 L6 and a 3-2-victory at Dusseldorf on matchday 18).
Augsburg have conceded 14 goals in their last seven away games.
Bremen have won only one of their last five home games (D1 L3 and a 2-0-victory over Hannover on matchday 20).
Bremen have conceded 13 goals in their last five home games.
No other team has conceded as many goals in 2013 as Werder Bremen (18). They conceded six last week at Bayern Munich (1-6).
Only Leverkusen have attempted more shots (125) in 2013 than Augsburg (102).
Only Bayern Munich have faced fewer opposition shots (44) in 2013 than Augsburg (67, along with Schalke).
Thomas Schaaf will appear for the 470th time as a coach in the Bundesliga in this game. Only five coaches have overseen in even more games.
Augsburg striker Sascha Mölders has scored five goals in his last six Bundesliga away games.
Bremen striker Nils Petersen has scored seven goals in his last six Bundesliga home games.
Werder defender Sebastian Prödl will miss this match due to previously picking up a red card.
Bremen have already conceded six red cards this season, a joint-league-high.

1. FC Nurnberg - SC Freiburg
Freiburg haven't lost any of their last seven games against Nurnberg (W5 D2). Only against Rostock have they ever enjoyed such a long streak of unbeaten Bundesliga games (also seven; September 1998 - September 2001).
Freiburg have won their last three away games at Nurnberg. Only against Kaiserslautern have they ever won four straight away games (1995 - 2000).
Freiburg's biggest Bundesliga victory over Nurnberg came in the first half of the season when they won 3-0 at home.
Nurnberg have lost only one of their six games in 2013 (all under new coach Michael Wiesienger; W1 D4 and a 0-3-loss at Dortmund on matchday 19).
Freiburg have lost only one of their last nine Bundesliga games (D4 W4 and a 1-2-loss at Hoffenheim on matchday 20).
They have kept a clean sheet in five of their last nine Bundesliga games.
Nurnberg haven't lost any of their last eight home games (D4 W4). That's the longest run of this kind for Nurnberg since 2007/08 (10 unbeaten home games).
Freiburg have lost only one of their last eight away games (D3 W4 and a 1-2-loss at Hoffenheim on matchday 20).
Max Kruse has been involved in five of Freiburg's last eight goals (two goals, three assists).
No other Bundesliga player has created as many goal-scoring chances this season as Max Kruse (69).
Kruse is waiting to register his 50th Bundesliga start (currently he has 49 top tier starts under his belt).

Hamburger SV - SpVgg Greuther Furth
Hamburg won their first Bundesliga meeting with Furth in the first half of the season (1-0 at Furth). In losing that game to Hamburg, Furth set a new record by losing their first four home games without scoring a goal.
Hamburg have won five of their last six home games (L1, 0-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt on matchday 20).
Furth have gained nine of their 13 points from away games, which equates to 69%, the highest proportion in the top flight.
Furth have won only one of their last 21 Bundesliga games (D7 L13 and a 2-1-victory at Schalke on matchday 20).
Furth haven't scored in any of their last three games. They have also failed to score in 14 of their 23 Bundesliga games.
No other team has had as few big chances as Furth (21). They‘ve also posted the lowest conversion rate for big chances (28.6%).
With an average age of 22 years and 256 days, Furth's starting team last week at Leverkusen was the youngest in their history (Bundesliga and second division).
Three of Hamburg's last six goals against were the result of individual errors.
Only Hannover and Stuttgart players have made more individual errors which have lead to a goal (eight each) than Hamburg (seven, along with Hoffenheim).
Hamburg's Heiko Westermann is on the cusp of his 250th Bundesliga appearance (currently 249 so far).
Westermann's career as a professional player started with Furth in 2002/03 (until 2005; 83 games in second division, two goals).
Only Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer has posted a higher save percentage rate (85.2%) than Furth's Wolfgang Hesl (77.6%).
Hesl made his first Bundesliga appearance with Hamburg in 2007/08 (matchday 34) in a 7-0-victory over Karlsruhe.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen - VfB Stuttgart
Against no other team have Leverkusen won as many Bundesliga games as they have managed against Stuttgart (27).
Stuttgart have won only one of their last ten competitive away games at Leverkusen (D3 L6 and a 4-2-victory in February 2009).
No other club have picked up as many red cards as Stuttgart (114) and Leverkusen (110) in the Bundesliga. Indeed, five players have been sent off in the last six clashes between Leverkusen and Stuttgart.
Bayer Leverkusen have won six of their last seven Bundesliga home games (L1). They have lost only one of their last 14 home games in the league (W10 D3 and a 2-3-loss against Borussia Dortmund in February).
Leverkusen have won only one of their last seven competitive games (D3 L3 and a 2-1-victory against Augsburg on matchday 22).
In a table only for the second-half of the season, Stuttgart would find themselves in 18th place (four points; goal difference 4-12).
Stuttgart have scored only 25 goals so far - this is the club's worst scoring performance in 47 years (they scored only 24 goals in 23 games in 1965/66).
Ibrahima Traore has been involved in each of Stuttgart's four Bundesliga goals in 2013 (two goals, two assists).
Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling has been involved in 19 goals (13 goals, six assists) in his last 17 Bundesliga games.
Against no other club has Kiessling scored as many goals (12) as he has against Stuttgart. Indeed, he has scored in each of his last seven Bundesliga games against Stuttgart (11 goals).
Bruno Labbadia was Leverkusen head coach in 2008/09. Leverkusen finished ninth in the table and lost the German Cup Final against Bremen (0-1).
As a coach, Labbadia has never won a game against Leverkusen (D3 L3).

1899 Hoffenheim - FC Bayern München
Hoffenheim haven't won any of their nine games against Bayern to date (D3 L6).
Hoffenheim have gained 16 points from their 23 games so far. Since the three points for a win system was established in Germany, no side with such a poor record has ever avoided relegation at the end of the season.
Bayern's current record of 60 points and a goal difference of +55 has never before been equalled (or bettered) by any other team in the Bundesliga after 23 games.
Dortmund (second in the table) are 17 points adrift of Bayern. Never before has a team pegged back more than seven points to become champion at this stage of the season.
Hoffenheim have won only one of their last 13 games (D2 L10).
Bayern haven't lost any of their last 14 Bundesliga games (D3 W11).
Never before has a team had such an outstanding away record in Bundesliga history after 11 away games as the Munich giants currently boast (W10 D1 L0; goal difference 27-1).
No other team has scored as many goals as Bayern (63), while no other team has conceded as many as Hoffenheim (48).
Matthieu Delpierre and Dante were teammates at Lille OSC in 2003/04.
Takashi Usami (2011/12) and Patrick Ochs (2002-04, Bayern reserve team) have a playing history with Bayern Munich.
Bayern's Tom Starke (2010-12), David Alaba (2010/11) and Luiz Gustavo (2007 - January 2011) have all played for Hoffenheim in the past.
Marco Kurz and Bayern's director of sports, Matthias Sammer, won the Bundesliga with Dortmund in 1994/95.
Franck Ribery has been involved in 99 goals in his 147 Bundesliga games (48 goals, 51 assists). He has also been involved in six goals in his last two matches against Hoffenheim (three goals, three assists).

Fortuna Dusseldorf - 1. FSV Mainz 05
Dusseldorf's last victory over Mainz came in March 1998 (2-0 at home, Bundesliga). They haven't won any of their last three games against Mainz (D1 L2), failing to score in each of these games.
Dusseldorf have won only one of their 15 Bundesliga games which took place on a Sunday (D7 L7 and a 2-0-victory over Karlsruhe in March 1996). They have also lost all their four Sunday games this season.
Dusseldorf have won five of their last six home games. Their only loss came against Augsburg (2-3).
Never before have Mainz conceded as few goals (28) after 23 games in their Bundesliga history.
Mainz haven't won any of their last four Bundesliga games (D3 L1). Their last victory came in January against Furth (3-0).
Dusseldorf have lost five of their last seven competitive games (W2).
Mainz have drawn their last three Bundesliga games. They have never drawn more than three consecutive games in their Bundesliga history.
No other team has conceded as many goals as Dusseldorf have from crosses (13).
Dusseldorf have posted the lowest average possession figure in the Bundesliga (41.7%).
Andrey Voronin appeared in 75 games (second division) for Mainz between 2000 and 2003 (29 goals). He was the top scorer in Germany's second division in 2002/03 (20 goals).
Only three players have scored more goals than Mainz striker Adam Szalai and Frankfurt's Alex Meier (12 each).
Norbert Meier is just one short of his 50th Bundesliga game as a coach.
He has lost all of his four games as a coach against Mainz so far.

Ligue 1 Opta Facts - March 1-3

Montpellier v Rennes
Rennes have only won three of their 14 trips to Montpellier in the top-flight (D4, L7).
None of the last eight games between these two teams in Ligue 1 has ended in a draw.
Montpellier are unbeaten in their last nine home league games (W8, D1), winning the last seven.
Montpellier have scored in 24 of their 26 league games this season (92%).
Souleymane Camara has scored six goals against Rennes in the top-flight, more than against any other team.

Reims v Paris SG
Paris SG have won once in their last six trips to Reims in Ligue 1 (D3, L2).
Paris SG have lost none of their last 16 league games against a promoted team (W14, D2).
Reims have only won once in their last 18 league games (D7, L10).
Reims have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 league games, longest current run in the top-flight.
Paris SG have kept 17 clean sheets in Ligue 1 this season, more than any other team in the Top 5 European leagues.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored as many goals as Reims in Ligue 1 this season (22).
Gaëtan Courtet has scored six of his eight league goals at home this season.

Bastia v Ajaccio
Bastia are unbeaten in their last five competitive games against Ajaccio in Ligue 1 (W3, D2).
Bastia are winless in their last six games in the top-flight (D2, L4), their longest drought this season.
The last four Corsican derbies in Ligue 1 have only produced three goals.
Bastia have only scored one goal in their last six league games.
Dennis Oliech has scored two goals and made one assist in five league games with Ajaccio.

Lorient v Valenciennes
Valenciennes have lost their last three trips to Lorient in Ligue 1 (3 goals scored, 7 conceded).
Valenciennes have failed to keep a clean sheet in their six league games in Lorient.
Lorient have conceded at least one goal in their last eight league games.
Valenciennes have only scored seven goals in their last 13 games in Ligue 1 (0.53 per game). They had scored 27 goals in their 13 previous league games (2.07 per game).
Anthony Le Tallec has scored five goals against Lorient in L1, his favourite prey in the top-flight.
Jérémie Aliadière is involved in 19 of Lorient's 42 goals in Ligue 1 this season (45% - 11 goals, 8 assists)

St Etienne v Nice
Nice have won their last four trips to St Etienne in the top-flight.
Nice have lost one of their last 12 games against St Etienne in Ligue 1 (W8, D3).
St Etienne are the only unbeaten team in Ligue1 in 2013 (W5, D2).
Nice have won their last three away games in Ligue 1, without conceding a goal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in each of his last five league games, longest run in Ligue 1 this season.

Sochaux v Nancy
Sochaux are unbeaten in their last four encounters with Nancy in L1 (W3, D1).
Nancy have failed to win any of their last six away league games in Sochaux (D2, L4).
Sochaux are unbeaten in their last three games in L1 (W1, D2), their joint-best current run this season.
Nancy have only won once in their last 16 away games in Ligue 1 (D5, L10).
Nancy have only kept a clean sheet once in their last 15 away games in L1 (v Marseille).
All of Cédric Bakambu's five goals in Ligue 1 this season have been scored at home.
Sébastien Roudet has scored Sochaux's last two goals against Nancy in Ligue 1.

Toulouse v Evian TG
Toulouse are winless in their last five L1 games (D3, L2), their longest drought this season.
Evian TG have failed to win any of their last nine league games (D4, L5), longest current drought.
Evian TG are the only team yet to have won a single Ligue 1 game in 2013.
Toulouse have failed to score in three of their last four league games.
ETG have scored three league goals in 2013, lowest tally alongside Bastia and Valenciennes.
ETG striker Saber Khlifa has failed to score in his last 327 minutes of play in L1, his longest streak this season.

Brest v Lyon
Lyon have only won once in their seven away games against Brest in Ligue 1 (D2, L4).
The last two L1 games between Brest and Lyon in Brittany have all ended in a 1-1 draw.
Lyon have scored exactly one goal in each of their last five Ligue 1 encounters against Brest.
Brest have failed to win any of their last six home games in Ligue 1 (D1, L5).
Lyon have scored seven goals in their last two Ligue 1 games (4 v Bordeaux, 3 v Lorient).
Lyon have registered 12 points from losing positions, highest tally in L1 2012/13.
Clément Grenier is involved in three of Lyon's last four away goals in L1 (2 goals, 1 assist).

Marseille v Troyes
Troyes have won three of their 13 away games in Marseille in Ligue 1 (D2, L8).
Marseille have won 15 of their last 17 home league games against promoted teams.
Troyes are unbeaten in their last seven competitive games (W3, L4), their longest current streak this term.
Troyes are winless in their last 22 away top-flight games (D7, L15) - they are the only side yet to win on the road in Ligue 1 this season.
Marseille have won eight games this season with a 1-0 scoreline, highest tally in the league.
Troyes have conceded 25 goals in the last 30 minutes in L1 2012/13, more than any other team.

Lille v Bordeaux
Bordeaux are unbeaten in their last six encounters with Lille in Ligue 1 (W2, D4).
Bordeaux have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven away games in Lille in Ligue 1.
Lille have won their last three Ligue 1 games, best current run in the top-flight.
Bordeaux have lost their last three Ligue 1 games, worst current streak alongside Nancy.
Bordeaux have suffered as many defeats in their last six league games (four) as they did in their previous 33.
Dimitri Payet is the only player in the Top 5 European leagues to have registered at least 10 goals and 10 assists this season.
Ludovic Obraniak has scored four goals in five games against Lille in Ligue 1, more than against any other top-flight team.

SMENE TRENERA - LEGENDARNI IGRAČ MILANA U FUNKCIJI IGRAČ-TRENER

Čelnici švajcarskog prvoligaša Siona imenovali su prvotimca Đenara Gatuza (na slici) za trenera tog kluba, dok je doskorašnji strateg Viktor Munjoz postavljen na mesto skauta. Iskusni Italijan je peto rešenje na klupi crveno-belih i imaće dvostruku ulogu do kraja sezone, pošto će pored obaveza na terenu osmišljavati taktiku i sastavljati tim.

Čudnovatim odlukama predsednika Palerma, fenjeraša italijanskog prvenstva, nikad kraja. Posle tri nedelje u klubu smenjen je Alberto Malezani i na njegovo mesto vraćen prethodnik, Đan Pjero Gasperini.
M. C.


SPISAK SMENA
- Sion (Švajcarska 1)
- Palermo (Italija 1)
- Tvente (Holandija 1)
- Grojter (Nemačka 1)

MEČEVI BARSELONE I PSV-a OBILUJU GOLOVIMA, U STOPU IH PRATI PARTIZAN

Aksiom da se fudbal igra zbog publike, najbolje razumeju Barselona i PSV. Goleade na utakmicama španskog i holandskog giganta nisu nikakva novost, ali da „maleni” Herakles ne mari preterano za odbranu svog i protivničkog gola, mnoge iznenađuje. Ekipa iz Almela redovno igra 4+, što donekle „razume” najefikasniji tim italijanskog prvenstva Roma. Ljubitelje najvažnije sporedne stvari na svetu sa našeg područja naročito će obradovati podatak da jedino Partizan drži korak sa Evropom, i na svojim mečevima ima visok prosek postignutih, odnosno, primljenih golova.

Barselona (Španija 1) 25 82-28 110 4.40
PSV (Holandija 1) 24 78-27 105 4.37
Herakles (Holandija 1) 24 48-50 98 4.08
Roma (Italija 1) 26 54-47 101 3.88
Partizan (Srbija) 15 45-12 57 3.80
Rendžers (Divizija 3) 28 70-21 91 3.50

* Tim, broj odigranih utakmica, gol razlika, ukupan broj postignutih i primljenih golova, prosek golova po meču.

DA LI I KLADIONICE UČESTVUJU U NAMEŠTANJU FUDBALSKIH MEČEVA

Iznenađenje! Skoro nijedan od velikih favorita prethodnog vikenda nije poražen. Naprotiv, malo ih je koji nisu osvojili tri boda. Sudeći po tome, kladionice nikako nisu mogle dobro da prođu, a mi, ljubitelji klađenja, konačno smo imali priliku da zaradimo neki dinar. Samo da ih ne vratimo već narednih dana, pošto su realni vikendi već godinama prava retkost.

Idemo dalje. Nastavljamo da vas upozoravamo na mečeve i timove od kojih kladionicama zavisi ogroman deo zarade. Klubove za koje malo koji kladioničar nije čuo i koje su sastavni deo miliona tiketa svakog vikenda. Na one koji „nose” najveću uplatu. One za koje bi kladionice „dale sve što imaju” samo da ne pobede.
Upravo takvi favoriti su u prošlom kolu imali mnogo uspeha, a ne pamtimo kada se dogodilo da svih sedam „najzvučnijih” klubova ostvari pobede u istom danu (upravo se to desilo u subotu). Potpunog potopa kladionice su dan kasnije spasili Holanđani, odnosno Ajaks i Alkmar, koji nisu uspeli da savladaju mnogo slabije rivale, uz Bordo, kojeg je potpuno iznenadio Brest.
D. Ar.

subota
Dortmund - Hanover 1 1.25
Leverkuzen – Štutgart 1 1.55
Čelsi – VBA 1 1.40
Everton – Reding 1 1.35
Mančester J. – Norič 1 1.25
Rems – PSŽ 2 1.45
Valensija – Levante 1 1.45
Beira Mar – Benfika 2 1.25

27.02. (Wed) 22:00 Sevilla - Atletico Madrid

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SEVILLA
Beto
Coke, Fazio, Spahic, Navarro
Kondogbia, Medel
Navas, Morel, Reyes
Negredo

ATLETICO MADRID
Courtois
Juanfran, Godin, Diaz, Luis
Tiago, Suarez
Adrian, Turan, Rodriguez
Falcao

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes this semi-final tie remains firmly in the balance, despite the 2-1 advantage his side takes to Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

With Barcelona leading Atletico by 12 points in La Liga and Rojiblancos already out of Europe, the Copa del Rey represents their last chance of silverware this season, and Simeone will have no fresh injuries or suspensions to worry about ahead of kick-off.

Striker Adrian was rested against Espanyol at the weekend and midfielder Cristian Rodriguez came on as a second-half substitute, so both are likely to feature on Wednesday.

Sevilla boss Unai Emery will have Emir Spahic back after the defender served a suspension against Barcelona and both striker Alvaro Negredo and attacker Jose Antonio Reyes will come back into the starting XI after starting on the bench against the Catalans.

Midfielder Piotr Trochowski is out with a long-term knee injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sevilla are 12th in La Liga, 22 points behind Atletico Madrid.

Sevilla knocked out Zaragoza, Mallorca and Espanyol to reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

On Wednesday, the Andalusians will be looking for their first win over Atletico since October 2010, a run of six matches.

Rojiblancos have won nine Copa del Rey titles, there most recent back in 1996.

Atletico head into Wednesday’s match having kept three consecutive clean sheets.

Diego Costa and Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo are the Copa del Rey’s top goalscorers with six goals apiece.

Prediction
Atletico's 2-1 lead coming into this second leg could be a big advantage. They have the best defensive record in Spain this season and will be looking for a fourth clean sheet on the bounce against a Sevilla side that struggles for goals if Negredo is not firing.

Editor's Prediction
Sevilla 0-2 Atl. Madrid