League Two Opta Facts - August 2. - 3.

Bury v Chesterfield
Bury are unbeaten in their last three against Chesterfield at Gigg Lane, winning once (D2).
At the back end of last season, the Spireites won their last three games on the road, scoring six and conceding one.
Bury summer signing Ashley Grimes netted 10 times last season for Rochdale, although he managed just one goal in his last 17 games.
The Spireites failed to gain a single point from losing positions away from home last season; a league-low.
In the last 10 league meetings between the side two sides, 26 goals have been scored, averaging at 2.6 goals per game.

Cheltenham v Burton
The two sides have met eight times in their history with Cheltenham winning five and Burton winning three.
Burton are yet to win on the opening day of the football league season, losing two (D2). Indeed, both defeats on the opening day came away from home.
No side kept more clean sheets last season than Cheltenham Town (19).
Cheltenham's Scott Brown made more saves than any other goalkeeper in League Two last season (156).
Burton picked up 22 points on their travels last season, equating to just 28.9% of their total points tally.

Exeter v Bristol Rovers
Since their return to the football league in 2008/09, Exeter have failed to win on the opening day, losing twice (D3 L2).
Bristol Rovers did the double over Exeter last season, notably winning 2-1 at St James Park courtesy of goals from David Clarkson and Eliot Richards.
No side conceded fewer goals in the final fifteen minutes of matches last season than Bristol Rovers (5).
The Grecians won 11 times on the road last season; a joint-league-high alongside Port Vale and Gillingham.
The last five games (all comps) involving both Exeter and Bristol Rovers have produced 15 goals, averaging at three goals per game.

Fleetwood v Dag & Red
The two clubs met in the Football League for the first time last season with each team claiming a league victory. Fleetwood won their home fixture 2-1, courtesy of goals from Junior Brown and Gareth Evans.
Fleetwood failed to win any of their last six games of the 2012/13 season (L4 D2); their worst such run of that campaign.
Last season Fleetwood received seven red cards; a joint-league-high alongside Rotherham. Indeed, Fleetwood also picked up the most yellow cards (87).
No Dagenham and Redbridge player managed to reach double figures last season with Luke Howell topping their scoring charts with nine goals.

Newport v Accrington
This will be the first time the two clubs have met in the football league.
Only Torquay (16) lost more points from winning positions at home last season than Accrington Stanley (14).
Newport didn't concede a single goal during their three Blue Square Premier play-off matches last season, winning all three in the process, to clinch promotion.
Newport's Aaron O'Connor was the club's top scorer last season netting 18 goals in 39 games.
Former AFC Wimbledon winger Christian Jolley netted 13 goals and was the only other player to reach double figures for Newport.
Stanley managed to finish the season on a three-match unbeaten streak away from home last season (W2 D1).

Portsmouth v Oxford United
Portsmouth are without a win on the opening day in six attempts, losing three and drawing three.
Pompey are currently enjoying a seven-match unbeaten streak at Fratton Park (W4 D3).
Oxford finished the season on a three-match winning streak, scoring seven and conceding none.
Portsmouth won only once from losing positions at Fratton Park last season (D1 L11).
Teenage midfielder Jed Wallace ended the League One campaign by scoring four goals in his final eight games for Portsmouth.

Rochdale v Hartlepool United
The two sides met twice season in the 2011/12 League One campaign with Hartlepool United securing two victories, 3-1 and 2-0 respectively.
Prior to those fixtures Rochdale had gone three games unbeaten against Hartlepool, winning twice and drawing once.
Rochdale have failed to win any of their last seven opening day fixtures (D4 L3).
Hartlepool are unbeaten in their last five opening day fixtures; drawing four (W1). Indeed, they've failed to score in three of those fixtures.
Last season, Hartlepool won just nine of the 18 fixtures in which they took the lead (D6 L3); a joint-league-low alongside Bury.

Scunthorpe v Mansfield
Mansfield are unbeaten in their last seven league matches against Scunthorpe, winning four of those (D3).
Scunthorpe have won just once in their last eight opening day fixtures (D2 L5).
In 2013, Mansfield won 21 of 25 games played in the Blue Square Bet Premier, losing only four.
Last season, Scunthorpe drew only one game nil-nil; only two teams recorded fewer nil-nil draws in League One: Oldham Athletic and Coventry City (0).
The Iron won their last two games last season, but it wasn't enough to avoid relegation.

Southend v Plymouth
Southend have won just one of the last 10 league meetings with Plymouth, drawing six and losing three.
Last season, only Burton (23) won more points from losing positions than Southend (21).
Southend ended last season without winning a game at Roots Hall in nine attempts (D4 L5).
Southend scored 69% of their goals in the second half of matches in the 2012/13 campaign; a league-high proportion.
Last season, only Dagenham and Redbridge (8) and Bradford City (8) scored more goals from the penalty spot than Plymouth (7).

Torquay v Wimbledon
The two clubs have met four times in the league with each side winning twice. Both meetings last season ended in away wins.
AFC Wimbledon were the only side not involved in a nil-nil score-line in the 2012/13 League Two campaign.
Indeed, the Dons kept the fewest clean sheets in the division (7).
No side lost more points from winning positions at home last season than Torquay (16).
Both Torquay and Wimbledon scored 30 goals in the second half of matches last season.

Wycombe v Morecambe
Wycombe have never lost to Morecambe in the league, winning five and drawing three.
The Chairboys are unbeaten in their last three opening day fixtures (W2 D1), including a 2-0 home victory over Morecambe in 2010.
Wycombe scored just six times in the final 15 minutes of games last season, fewer than any other side.
Morecambe conceded 70% of their goals in the second half of games last season; a league-high proportion.
In the 2012/13 campaign, only Torquay (16) and Accrington (14) lost more points from winning positions at home than Wycombe (13).

York v Northampton
York were unbeaten against Northampton last season, drawing 1-1 at home and winning 2-0 at the Sixfields Stadium.
No team in any of England's top four divisions drew more games nil-nil last season than York City (9).
Northampton have lost only once in their last nine opening day fixtures (W2 D6).
The Cobblers won four games away from home last season; a joint-league-low alongside Torquay and Aldershot (4).
No side won fewer points from losing positions than York last season (4).

Najava trećeg kola kvalifikacija za Ligu Šamoiona

Partizan nulom „preti” Ludogorecu. Jermenski Širak je eliminisan rezultatskom „nularicom”, ali više od stanja na semaforu stadiona u Humskoj treba i mora da brine očajna igra crno-belih. U trećem kolu kvalifikacija za Ligu šampiona, čiji prvi mečevi su na programu u utorak i sredu, 30. i 31. jula, biće potrebno daleko više samopouzdanja, hrabrosti, ali i kvaliteta da bi se eliminisao bugarski predstavnik. Jer, fudbaleri Ludogoreca sigurno neće biti „ludi” i svaki poklon izabranika Vuka Rašovića oberučke će prihvatiti.

28.07. (Sun) 22:00 USA - Panama

 

PROBABLE LINEUPS

USA (4-4-2): 

Rimando

Parkhurst, Gonzalez, Besler, Beasley

Bedoya, Holden, Beckerman, Torres

Donovan, E. Johnson.

ROSTER:
GOALKEEPERS: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla), Michael Parkhurst (FC Augsburg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsingborg), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Brek Shea (Stoke City), Jose Torres (Tigres)
FORWARDS: Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes)

Panama (4-4-2): 

Penedo

Rodriguez, Torres, Parrish, Chen

Quintero, Sanchez, Gomez, Godoy

Perez, Torres

ROSTER:
GOALKEEPERS: Jaime Penedo (no club), Luis Mejia (Fenix - Uruguay), Alex Rodriguez (Sporting San Miguelito)
DEFENDERS: Leonel Parris (Tauro), Harold Cummings (Arabe Unido), Carlos Rodriguez (Chepo), Roman Torres (Millonarois - Colombia), Jean Carlos Cedeño (Alianza), Roderick Miller (San Francisco), Richard Dixon (Sporting San Miguelito), Roberto Chen (San Francisco)
MIDFIELDERS: Gabriel Gomez (Junior (Colombia), Marcos Sanchez (Tauro), Eybir Bonaga (San Francisco), Juan Perez (Tauro), Jairo Jimenez (Chorrillo), Alberto Quintero (Chorrillo), Anibal Godoy (Chepo), Rolando Escobar (Deportivo Anzoategui - Venezuela)
FORWARDS: Blas Perez (FC Dallas - USA), Gabriel Torres (Zamora - Venezuela), Cecilio Waterman (Fenix - Uruguay), Rolando Blackburn (Chorrillo)

DID YOU KNOW?
This is the second time the United States and Panama have met in a Gold Cup final. The Yanks won on penalties in the 2005 edition.
The Americans have won the last three meetings between these sides. Panama's last victory over the USA was in the group stage of the 2011 Gold Cup.
No matter what, a player from one of these two sides will finish as the tournament's top scorer. Panama's Gabriel Torres and the USA's Chris Wondolowski and Landon Donovan all currently have five goals.
The United States are on a 10-match winning streak, the longest in U.S men's national team history.
Panama are on a decent run of its own, with four victories (including a pair of 2-1 wins over Mexico) and a scoreless draw in their last five games.
USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann will leave coaching duties to assistants Andreas Hertzog and Martin Vasquez, following his suspension by CONCACAF for being sent off at the end of the USA's semi-final victory over Honduras.

27.07. (Sat) 20:00 Valencia - Milan (Preview)

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Valencia (4-2-3-1)

Alves; 

Mathieu, Ruiz, Rami, Cissokho 

Romeu, Parejo

Piatti, Banega, Guardado

Soldado

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Diego Alves, Vicente Guaita, Yeray Lopez
Defenders: Adil Rami, Victor Ruiz, Joao Pereira, Antonio Barragan, Ricardo Costa, Jeremy Mathieu, Aly Cissokho
Midfielders: Oriol Romeu, Sofiane Feghouli, Ever Banega, Juan Bernat, Javier Fuego, Michel, Andres Guardado, Dani Parejo
Forwards: Jonas Goncalves, Roberto Soldado, Pablo Piatti, Jonathan Viera, Paco Alcacer, Roberto Ibanez, Fede Cartabia

AC Milan (4-3-3)

Abbiati

Constant, Mexes, Zapata, De Sciglio

Montolivo, Muntari, Boateng

Niang, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati, Marco Amelia, Gabriel
Defenders: Luca Antonini, Daniele Bonera, Kevin Constant, Phillipe Mexes, Bartosz Salomon, Didac Vila, Cristian Zaccardo, Cristian Zapata, Mattia De Sciglio
Midfielders: Kevin-Prince Boateng, Bryan Cristante, Nigel De Jong, Urby Emanuelson, Sulley Ali Muntari, Ricardo Montolivo, Antonio Nocerino, Riccardo Saponara, Rodney Strasser, Bakaye Traore
Forwards: Mario Balotelli, Giacomo Beretta, Robinho, Stephan El Shaarawy, M'Baye Niang, Nmandi Oduamadi, Andrea Petagna

DID YOU KNOW?
Mestalla is hosting the only Guinness International Champions Cup match that is not being played on American soil.
The match marks the first meeting between the two storied sides.
Both teams will play their next matches in New York, with the winner taking on the winner of Chelsea-Inter and the loser dropping down to the loser's bracket and meeting the Chelsea-Inter loser.
There will be no extra time in any matches in the ICC. If a match is tied after regulation, it goes straight to penalty kicks. Teams receive two points for a regulation win and one for a PK win.
Los Che striker Roberto Soldado is the subject of fervent transfer rumors, with the club's president saying he could be had for a €30 million transfer fee. Tottenham are said to be the Spanish forward's most serious suitor.
AC Milan are also heavily involved in the transfer market, with the club being linked to Japan star Keisuke Honda.

Boris Sekulić (Košice) analizira 3.kolo Slovačkog prvenstva

Boris Sekulić

 Košice ne mogu bez Srba. Nemanja Matić je „utabao” put zemljacima sjajnim igrama u dresu kluba sa istoka Slovačke. Istom stazom nastavio je njegov mlađi brat Uroš, a treću sezonu žuto-plavi dres nosi i defanzivac Boris Sekulić (22). Posle Zemuna i Beograda sa Karaburme, put je perspektivnog desnog beka odveo u Košice, gde je morao da prođe probu, a kada je zadovoljio čelnike kluba, potpisao je ugovor sa ekipom koja je prethodni šampionat završila na četvrtom mestu.

Nenad Jovanović (Volfsberger) analizira 2. kolo Austriskog šampionata

Nenad Jovanović

Ivan Vukomanović (Standard) pred start Belgiskog prvenstva

Ivan Vukomanović

Posle bogate igračke karijere, red je došao na trenersku. Ivan Vukomanović (36), bivši fudbaler Obilića, Bordoa, Crvene zvezde, Kelna, moskovskog Dinama, Alanije, Lokerena, Makabija iz Herclije i Antverpena, ovog leta postao je pomoćni trener Standarda.

Insajderi Prognoziraju - Hungary, OTP Bank Liga - 1. kolo / Lazar Arsić (Lombard)

Lazar Arsić

Insajderi Prognoziraju - Romania, Liga I Bergenbier - 2. kolo / Branko Grahovac (Ocelul)

Branko Grahovac

Insajderi Prognoziraju - Ukraine, Prem`er Liga - 3. kolo / Željko Ljubenović - Zorja

Željko Ljubenović

Insajderi Prognoziraju - Czech, Gambrinus liga - 2. kolo / Miloš Karišik (Liberec)

Miloš Karišik 

Od ovog vikenda tri nove lige u kladioničarskim listama

Anderleht brani pehar, Horsens se vraća u elitu. Ako je verovati procenama kladionica, neće biti mnogo neizvesnosti u najboljoj ligi Belgije, kao ni u drugom po rangu ligaškom takmičenju u Danskoj, barem kada su prvaci u pitanju. Po tom parametru, do poslednjeg kola mogla bi da se vodi borba u Mađarskoj.

01.07. (Mon) 00:00 Brazil - Spain

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BRAZIL
César
Alves • Silva • Luiz • Marcelo
Paulinho • Gustavo
Hulk • Oscar • Neymar
Fred

SPAIN
Casillas
Arbeloa • Piqué • Ramos • Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Fàbregas
Pedro • Soldado • Iniesta

Brazil have no injury worries and are expected to field the same team that beat Uruguay for Sunday’s final against Spain.
Selecao boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has named the same starting XI in three of his side’s four matches and is unlikely to make changes, although out-of-form striker Hulk’s place may come under threat.

Spain have no injuries to report and are at full strength for the Maracana clash.

Cesc Fabregas and Roberto Soldado have shaken off muscle injuries and could return to the side after sitting out the penalty shoot-out victory over Italy.

DID YOU KNOW?
Brazil are unbeaten in 10 matches, winning their last five. They have not lost a competitive game at home since 1975.
The five-time world champions have won four of eight previous meetings with Spain (W4, D2, L2), but the two countries have not faced each other since 1999.
Brazil handed the Spanish their heaviest-ever World Cup defeat in 1950. They won 6-1 at the Maracana before going on to lose to Uruguay in the final.
Four of Brazil’s Confederations Cup squad play their club football in Spain.
Spain are on a record 29-match unbeaten run in competitive matches, stretching back to the 2010 World Cup (W24, D5).
La Roja’s only competitive win over Brazil came in the first round of the 1934 World Cup.
Spain have won their last six encounters against South American opponents in all competitions, including friendlies. The last Latin American side to beat Spain was Argentina in a friendly in September 2010.
Fernando Torres has scored five goals in his last three appearances for Spain.

PREDICTION
Both sides have shown fleeting moments of brilliance in the run up to the final without being overly impressive, with the Spanish finding it hard to adapt to the equatorial conditions. Brazil, of course, will be desperate to give their country’s morale a much-needed lift by winning their last competitive match before next year’s World Cup. However, it is hard to look past Spain, whose intricate passing game may prove too much for the Samba stars to handle.

Editor's Prediction
Brazil 1-2 Spain

30.06. (Sun) 18:00 Uruguay - Italy

PROBABLE LINEUPS

URUGUAY
Muslera
Pereira • Godín • Lugano • Cáceres
Rodríguez • Arévalo • Silva
Suárez • Cavani • Forlán

ITALY
Buffon
Barzagli • Bonucci • Chiellini
Maggio • Pirlo • Rossi • Giaccherini
Candreva • Marchisio
Shaarawy

Uruguay and Italy will feel hard done by as they battle for third place in the Confederations Cup rather than the trophy itself.

The South Americans had the stuffing knocked out of them by a late Paulinho header in their 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the semi-finals, while the Azzurri were beaten 7-6 in the most epic of penalty shoot-outs against Spain.

That leaves the two sides to battle it out on Sunday for what is effectively the tournament's wooden spoon, but both are expected to field strong sides and Uruguay could again start with their prized forward line of Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.

Cesare Prandelli's only concern is the fitness of striker Alberto Gilardino, who suffered a knock against Spain, meaning Stephan El Shaarawy could get the nod after watching on from the bench in their last encounter.

DID YOU KNOW?
It's nearly two years since the two sides last met. Back in November 2011 Uruguay prevailed 1-0, with Sebastian Fernandez netting the only goal of the game.
In the eight games in which the nations have clashed, Uruguay have won three, Italy two, while there have been two draws.
Eight of Oscar Tabarez's Uruguay squad ply their club football in Italy.
He may have attracted interest from a host of big clubs, but Edinson Cavani's international record is a disappointing one. He has scored just six times in his last 28 games for Uruguay.
The Azzurri were beaten by Spain on penalties in the semi-finals, but they were the first side in 16 attempts to record a clean sheet against la Roja.
Uruguay's full-backs had best be on their guard - Italy have attempted more crosses than any other side in the competition (69).

PREDICTION
They've had a day less to recover than Sunday's opponents, but such was the impressive nature of their display against Spain in the semi-finals, Italy will have just enough left in the tank to edge past Oscar Tabarez's Uruguay.

Editor's Prediction
Uruguay 1-2 Italy

27.06. (Thu) 21:00 Spain - Italy

PROBABLE LINEUPS

SPAIN
Casillas
Arbeloa • Ramos • Piqué • Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Iniesta
Pedro • Torres • Silva

ITALY
Buffon
Barzagli • Chiellini • Bonucci
Maggio • Pirlo • Rossi • Giaccherini
Candreva • Marchisio
Gilardino

Spain will be hoping for a repeat of their Euro 2012 final victory over a weakened Italy team when they meet at the Castelao in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup.

Vicente del Bosque is expected to select Iker Casillas to start in goal despite using all three goalkeepers already in the tournament. However, Roberto Soldado and Cesc Fabregas are doubts for the meeting after sitting out training on Monday. Fernando Torres is favourite to start ahead of the Valencia striker while Juan Mata and David Silva will be in contention to replace the Barcelona star.

Italy boss Cesare Prandelli is expected to use a three-man defence following injuries to Mario Balotelli and Ignazio Abate, neither of whom will feature again in the competition.

Alberto Gilardino will therefore start in attack while Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo will return from suspension and injury respectively to form the heart of midfield. Christian Maggio and Emanuele Giaccherini will begin the game as wing-backs, wide of an all-Juventus back line.

DID YOU KNOW?
Spain secured back-to-back European Championship titles when they trounced Italy 4-0 in the final of Euro 2012.
Fernando Torres is currently the highest scoring player in the competition with five goals in three games.
La Roja are the tournament's most prolific team with 15 goals in three fixtures, though 10 of those came against minnows Tahiti.
Italy hold the upper hand in previous meetings between the two nations's with 10 wins to Spain's nine in their 31 previous meetings.
The Azzurri have already improved upon their performance in the 2009 edition of the Confederations Cup where they were eliminated in the group stage.
Italy have only defeated Spain once in their previous eight encounters. That triumph came August 2011 when goals from Riccardo Montolivo and Alberto Aquilani secured a 2-1 win.
Gianluigi Buffon will move to within four appearances of joining Fabio Cannavaro as the nation's highest-capped player with 136 outings.

PREDICTION
In a repeat of the Euro 2012 final, Italy will be without some key players as they look to avenge last summer's defeat in Kiev. The Azzurri lost their previous game against hosts Brazil 4-2 and will be without Mario Balotelli as they look for an improved performance against Spain. However, Cesare Prandelli is expected to switch to a three-man defence which earned his team a 1-1 draw in the group stages of Euro 2012. They will need to press Spain with great intensity if they are to pick up the win, but la Roja will be confident that they have the extra quality to secure safe passage to the final.

Editor's Prediction
Spain 2-1 Italy