Bundesliga Opta Facts: 18 May

Borussia Dortmund - 1899 Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim and Dortmund have met nine times in the top flight, and both sides have a balanced record against each other (W3 each, D3; goal difference: 11-11).
Dortmund have won only one of their four Bundesliga home games against Hoffenheim, however, Hoffenheim are still waiting for their first away victory against them (D3). Additionally, Dortmund won another home game in the German Cup versus Hoffenheim in February 2008 (3-1, quarter final).
Hoffenheim haven't been relegated in 24 years. Their last relegation was back in 1989 when the club went down from the so-called Bezirksklasse to the Kreisliga (approximately level 7-9 in the German league system).
Hoffenheim have gained a league-low nine points from their away games this season (like Fortuna Dusseldorf).
Dortmund will become the first Bundesliga side since 1993 (reintroduction of suspensions due to fifth yellow cards) to complete an entire season without having any of their players suspended due to five cautions.
Hoffenheim have conceded a league-high 66 goals in the Bundesliga this season.
No side has been ahead in fewer Bundesliga games this term than Hoffenheim (10).
Dortmund could set up a new club record by scoring at least once against Hoffenheim. Never have they managed to score more than their current tally of 80 goals within a single season (also 80 goals in 2011/12).
Robert Lewandowski could become the first Dortmund player to finish as the Bundesliga top goalscorer in a season since 2001-02, when Marcio Amoroso scored 18 goals.
Marco Reus scored his 49th and 50th Bundesliga goals last week against Wolfsburg. No other Bundesliga midfielder has scored as many goals since Reus debuted in 2009/10.

Borussia Monchengladbach - Bayern Munich
Bayern haven't won any of their last three Bundesliga games against Monchengladbach (L2 D1). Only against Dortmund have they currently been waiting longer for a victory in the Bundesliga (six games).
Bayern haven't won any of their last five Bundesliga trips to Monchengladbach (L1 D4). Their last away victory there came in January 2006 when they won 3-1.
Monchengladbach are the only side in all competitions that hasn't lost a competitive match against Bayern this season (only considering teams to have played against Bayern this season).
Monchengladbach have lost only one of their last 10 home games in the top flight (W6 D3 and a 0-1 defeat to Schalke in their last home game).
Bayern haven't lost any of their last 24 games in the top flight (W20 D4). Their club record existing was set between May 1988 and March 1989 (27 Bundesliga games without defeat).
Bayern could set a new Bundesliga record by scoring at least once against Monchengladbach: Never has a team managed to score in 37 consecutive Bundesliga games (Bayern currently 36).
The 22 point difference between Bayern in first and Dortmund in second is the biggest between any two neighbouring sides/positions in the table.

VfB Stuttgart - 1. FSV Mainz 05
Mainz won the reverse fixture earlier this season, despite their keeper Heinz Müller scoring an own goal to open the scoring (0-1). Nicolai Müller scored a brace to seal a 3-1 victory for Mainz (with Elkin Soto scoring the final goal).
Stuttgart have lost only three of their 13 Bundesliga matches against Mainz (W7 D3).
Mainz haven't won any of their six Bundesliga trips to Stuttgart (L5 D1).
Mainz have won only one of their last 14 Bundesliga games (L5 D8) and they haven't won any of their last eight (L4 D4).
The last two Bundesliga victories that Mainz have secured from losing positions for Mainz have both come against Stuttgart (3-1 after 0-1 each).
No side has won fewer Bundesliga games than Mainz in 2013 (two, like Bremen and Dusseldorf), whilst no side has drawn as many games as Thomas Tuchel's team (9) in the second half of the season.
Mainz have lost as many as 13 points from winning positions in their last 13 Bundesliga games. No side has given away more points from leads than Mainz (18, like Dortmund) overall this term.
Only two teams have scored fewer goals this season than Bruno Labbadia's side, and no side has scored fewer goals in 2013 than Stuttgart (14, like Frankfurt and Furth).
Vedad Ibisevic has scored 15 of Stuttgart's 35 goals this season (43%) - no other Bundesliga player has had such an impact for their team.

Hannover 96 - Fortuna Dusseldorf
Against no other current Bundesliga team have Dusseldorf managed to average 2.0 points per game in the top flight (considering only sides against which they have played more than two games).
Dusseldorf have lost only three of their 13 top flight meetings with Hannover (W8 D2).
Hannover's last victory over Dusseldorf in a competitive match came more than 20 years ago on May 12th, 1993 (2-0 home victory in the second division).
Dusseldorf will most probably finish in 15th position if they win this game (due to their better goal difference on Augsburg). A defeat, however, could result in direct relegation (17th position).
Hannover have collected more points in every Bundesliga season than this term under coach Mirko Slomka, even if they win this match.
Hannover haven't won any of their last four home games (L1 D3). That's their longest run of this kind in more than three years (eight home games without a victory in 2009/10).
Dusseldorf haven't won any of their last 11 Bundesliga matches and have gained a league-low of only three points from these games (L8 D3). Their last victory came on matchday 22 (1-0 against Furth).
Only Werder Bremen have been waiting longer for a victory in the top flight (12 games) than Norbert Meier's side (11).
Dusseldorf have gained a league-low nine points in 2013 so far.
No side has gained fewer points on the road than Dusseldorf (nine, like Hoffenheim) this season.
Dusseldorf have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 BL games - only Bremen have gone longer, 13 games.
Hannover have conceded at least two goals in each of their last five matches in the Bundesliga.
Only Hannover have been given more yellow cards this season (74) than Dusseldorf (73).
Only Bremen have conceded more goals in the second half of the season (34) than Dusseldorf (32) and Hannover (31).
No keeper has made more saves than Hannover's Ron-Robert Zieler (145) and Dusseldorf's Fabian Giefer (125). However, both have made a league-high of four errors (each) leading to goals for the opposition.

1. FC Nurnberg - Werder Bremen
Bremen dismissed Thomas Schaaf earlier this week. Schaaf had been Werder's coach for more than 14 years and took charge of 479 Bundeliga games for the club.
Nurnberg's last home victory over Bremen came back in March 2006 (3-1). They haven't won any of their last five home games against Bremen (L3 D2).
There hasn't been a goalless draw between these two sides in 21 years (last 0-0 came in August 1992 at Nurnberg).
Against no other side have Nurnberg scored as many goals in the Bundesliga as against Werder Bremen (81).
Bremen finally staved off relegation last week and they will finish the season in 14th position.
Nurnberg are currently in 13th and they could climb as high as 9th with a victory over Bremen (depending on the other results).
Bremen will finish 14th this season, which is their worst placing in the final BL table in 33 years (17th in 1979/80 resulting in their relegation).
Bremen haven't won any of their last 12 games in the top flight (L6 D6) which is currently the longest such run in the Bundesliga. They would set up a new club record if they fail to win this game against Nurnberg. Never in their Bundesliga history have Bremen gone more than twelve games without a victory (also 12 in 1995/96).
Never have Bremen finished a season with fewer than nine wins - they have currently won eight times this term.
Bremen have gained 34 points so far and they would equal their club record if the lose against Nurnberg. Never have Bremen collected fewer than 34 points in an entire season (current club record: 34 points in 1974/75).
Bremen have kept fewer clean sheets than any other side this season (three - every other team have at least five clean sheets). The last side to complete an entire season with only three clean sheets was Monchengladbach in 1998/99.
19 of Nurnberg's 36 conceded goals have come after set-piece situations; the highest proportion of all teams. Five of the last six goals that they have conceded have come in this manner.

SC Freiburg - FC Schalke 04
The winner of this game will qualify for the Champions League play-offs next season. In the event of a draw, Eintracht Frankfurt (currently 6th) could overtake both teams - but only of they win by five goals against Wolfsburg.
Against no side have Freiburg won more Bundesliga games than against Schalke (11, like against Kaiserslautern). Against no other side have Freiburg scored as many goals in the Bundesliga as against Schalke (39).
Freiburg have won their last three home games. This is their longest home run since 2010 (also three consecutive wins at home, October - November).
When Christian Streich took over as coach in winter 2011/12, Freiburg were in 18th position and had the worst defensive record of all 18 teams. They have now kept 20 clean sheets in only 50 Bundesliga games under Streich.
Freiburg have already kept 13 clean sheets this season (like 2000/01). They could set up a new club record with a 14th clean sheet.
Schalke have scored 38 of their 56 Bundesliga goals in the second half of games this season (68%) - the highest proportion in the league. Only Bayern have scored more goals in the second half (53).
Freiburg haven't conceded any goals in the second half in their last seven BL games.
Freiburg have hit woodwork 18 times this season (a league-high) and they hit woodwork twice last week at Furth.
Julian Draxler; who will return after suspension, has been involved in seven goals in his last nine Bundesliga appearances (five goals, two assists).
Daniel Caligiuri will miss the game through suspension. Freiburg haven't won any of their four games without the midfielder this season (L2 D2).
Max Kruse (11 goals, 8 assists) and Jonathan Schmid (10 goals, 4 assists) have been involved in 66% of Freiburg's goals this season.

FC Augsburg - SpVgg Greuther Furth
The last four meetings (Bundesliga and second division) between these two sides have resulted in a draw. Furth's last win in a competitive match against Augsburg came in April 2009 (2-1 in the second division).
Augsburg will most probably avoid relegation if they collect more points against Furth than Dusseldorf do against Hannover. They could be directly relegated if they lose and Hoffenheim win at Dortmund.
Augsburg have finished a BL matchday outside the relegation zone only once this season: on matchday three (15th).
Furth will go down in history as the worst performing home team in Bundesliga history: By losing their last home game against Freiburg last week (1-2), they became the first side in professional German football (i.e. Bundesliga, second and third division) to complete a season without a single home victory.
However, Furth have gained 17 points from their away games - never before has a team been relegated that picked up more points on the road than Furth this season (considering only seasons with 34 matchdays/18 teams).
Furth have won their last two matches on the road, whilst keeping a clean sheet in both games. Never in Bundesliga history has a team been relegated that won their last three away games.
Augsburg could win three consecutive Bundesliga home games for the first time in their history. They have kept a clean sheet in their last two (2-0 against Frankfurt, 3-0 against Stuttgart).
Only Furth have scored fewer goals (25) than Augsburg (30) this season.
Furth (8.9%) and Augsburg (8.7%) have the lowest shot conversion rates in the top flight this term.
Furth have conceded a league-high 627 fouls. Only two teams have been given more yellow cards than Furth (70).

Hamburger SV - Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Leverkusen haven't lost any of their last seven Bundesliga games against Hamburg (W3 D4).
Leverkusen haven't lost any of their last seven BL games (W5 D2). Their last defeat came in March (1-2 against Bayern Munich). They have currently won their last four games in a row.
Sascha Lewandowski and Sami Hyypiä made their managerial debut on matchday 29 in 2011/12 against Hamburg (1-1). The duo will most likely split after this season (Hyypiä will go on alone with the first team while Lewandowski continues as youth coach for the club).
Sascha Lewandowski has the best points-per-game-average of all coaches in Leverkusen's Bundesliga history (1.95 points per game; considering only coaches with at least 10 games for Leverkusen).
Never before has a Leverkusen player scored as many goals within one campaign as Stefan Kießling (currently 24) who is fighting for the unofficial Bundesliga goal scoring title against Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski (23 goals).
Son and Rudnevs are Hamburg's top goal scorers in this campaign, they scored 24 goals (12 each) - as many as Leverkusen's Kießling has alone.
Against no other side has Andre Schürrle scored as many BL goals as against Hamburg (5; additionally 3 assists). He has been involved in eight goals in his seven Bundesliga meetings against Hamburg.

Eintracht Frankfurt - VfL Wolfsburg
Against no side do Frankfurt have a lower points-per-game-average in the Bundesliga than verus Wolfsburg (0.9 points per game).
Frankfurt haven't qualified for the Europa League in six years. They could become the first newly promoted side to directly qualify for Europe since Kaiserslautern in 1997/98.
Wolfsburg have already collected 25 points on the road this season. 28 away points within one Bundesliga campaign would be a new club record.
Frankfurt have scored a league-low 14 goals in the second half of the season (like Furth and Stuttgart).
Only Bayern have conceded fewer goals on the road (4) than Wolfsburg this season (20).
Stefan Aigner has been substituted off the pitch in 24 Bundesliga games this season. No player in Bundesliga history has been substituted off in more than 25 games within one season (Schalke's Rene Eijkelkamp in 1997/98).
Naldo is the top scoring player among all Bundesliga defenders this season (six goals). The Brazilian once scored a hat-trick against Frankfurt with Werder Bremen (6-2 in December 2006).
Dieter Hecking has set a new personal Bundesliga record, as his team haven't lost any of their last nine games.
Diego Benaglio (163 games) will most likely extend Wolfsburg's goalkeeper record of 163 Bundesliga appearances (set up by Claus Reitmaier). Never has a keeper appeared in more than 163 Bundesliga matches for Wolfsburg.

15.05. (Wed) 20:45 Benfica - Chelsea

PROBABLE LINEUPS

BENFICA
Arthur
Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Melgarejo
Matic, Perez
Salvio, Lima, Gaitan
Cardozo

CHELSEA
Cech
Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole
Luiz, Ramires
Oscar, Mata, Moses
Torres

Benfica go into the game on the back of a disastrous last-minute defeat to arch rivals Porto which could cost them their domestic title - their first loss since September.

On the injury front, though, manager Jorge Jesus doesn't have any problems to contend with.

Rafa Benitez is set to be without John Terry (ankle) and Eden Hazard (hamstring) for the Europa League final after both picked up injuries in Saturday's 2-1 win over Aston Villa.

Fernando Torres will continue in attack for the Blues as Demba Ba is cup-tied having already turned out in the competition for Newcastle earlier in the season.

Apart from that, Chelsea have a fully fit squad to take to Amsterdam.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wednesday will see Benfica take part in their ninth major European final.

The Portuguese giants are on a run of six straight European final defeats since lifting the European Cup in 1962.

Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo has scored in six of his team's last ten matches against English teams. He is 11/2 with Paddy Power to open the scoring on Wednesday.

The Portuguese outfit go into the final having played exactly twice as many European games as their rivals, 362 to the Blues' 181.

The sides met for the first time last season when Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea won 1-0 in Lisbon and 2-1 at home to eliminate Jorge Jesus' men in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Blues are aiming to become the first team to win Uefa's top-two club competitions in reverse order in successive campaigns.

Chelsea could also become only the fourth team to lift all three of Uefa's major club trophies, after Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich.

Prediction
Jorge Jesus' side are a mixed bag. At times they are capable of producing some exhilarating passing football at an intensity which carves teams open at will. Whereas, on other occasions, such as over the two-legged quarter-final tie against Newcastle, they can look laboured and uninspired for long periods.

Chelsea have an embarrassment of creative talent and, if afforded time and space, the likes of Juan Mata and Oscar can pick apart even the tightest of defences. A lot could depend on which Fernando Torres turns up, if the Spaniard has his shooting boots on, it's hard to look past the Blues.

Editor's Prediction
Benfica 1-3 Chelsea

14.05. (Tue) 21:00 Reading - Manchester City

PROBABLE LINEUPS

READING
McCarthy
Gunter, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly
Karacan, Guthrie
McCleary, McAnuff, Robson-Kanu
Pogrebnyak

MANCHESTER CITY
Hart
Richards, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy
Barry, Yaya Toure
Silva, Tevez, Nasri
Aguero

Manchester City will be without right-back Pablo Zabaleta after the Argentina defender was sent-off in Saturday's shock FA Cup final defeat to Wigan.

Scott Sinclair (shoulder) is unlikely to be included after spending last week in hospital receiving treatment for a blood clot.

Nigel Adkins may be able to call on the services of goalkeeper Adam Federici (ankle) and young midfielder Hope Akpan (ankle) after the pair resumed training after recent lay-offs.

Veteran striker Jason Roberts (hip) is out for the season and winger Jimmy Kebe (groin) is still some way off a return to action.

DID YOU KNOW?
Manchester City have won just eight games on the road this year - the lowest amount out of all the sides in the top five.
They have also scored the fewest amout of goals (23) away from the Etihad Stadium out of all the sides in the Premier League's leading quintet.
City's points tally of 75 from 36 games is 14 shy of the 89 they claimed when winning the Premier League last season.
Reading need just one point for their last two games to ensure they do not finish bottom the Premier League.
Nigel Adkins has seen his team concede the joint-highest amount of goals in the top flight this season (67). Wigan, Newcastle and Aston Villa are the other sides.
Thy Royals points tally of 28 points from 36 games is eight points shy of the 36 they earned when being relegated from the top flight on goal difference in 2007/08.

Prediction
With all the turmoil surrounding Manchester City it would be wise to suggest they may come into this game unsettled, however, such is the superiority of their squad, they should still canter to victory against the long since relegated Royals. Nigel Adkins will be hoping to wave goodbye to the Premier League with a home win, and his side will no doubt work doubly hard to give themselves a fighting chance, but they may come up short against the FA Cup finalists.

Editor's Prediction
Reading 1-3 Manchester City

Scottish Premier League Opta Facts – Kilmarnock v Hibernian May 15

Hibernian are unbeaten in four clashes with Kilmarnock this season (in all competitions), winning twice.
Leigh Griffiths has netted six times in four appearances against Killie this season, including a hat-trick in their Scottish Cup meeting in March.
Griffiths has netted six times in his last six appearances for Hibernian in all competitions.
Ross Caldwell's 90th minute winner against Hearts helped the Hibees end an eight game winless run in the Scottish Premier League (D5 L3).
Only Dundee (16) have picked up fewer points at home this season than Kilmarnock (19).
Kille have conceded more goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season (16) than any other side in the SPL.

Europa League Final Opta Facts - Benfica v Chelsea

This will be Benfica's ninth major European final. After winning the first two (European Cup finals in 60/61 and 61/62) they have lost each of their last six.
Chelsea will be taking part in their fifth major European final, having won three so far, including last season's Champions League.
The two sides have only met on two previous occasions, in March and April last season in the Champions League, when the Blues won both games, 2-1 at home and 1-0 away.
Three of the four scorers in those games, Salomon Kalou and Raul Meireles for Chelsea and Javi Garcia for Benfica, are no long with their respective clubs (Frank Lampard, still with the Blues, also scored).
The Super Eagles have met English opposition in a European final before, when they were beaten 4-1 at Wembley by Manchester United in the 1968 European Cup Final.
Chelsea have suffered just one defeat in their eight previous clashes with Portuguese opposition, winning six (including each of the last five) and drawing one.
The Blues have shipped just one goal in their last four games against sides from Portugal.
Benfica, on the other hand, have registered just one victory in their last seven clashes with English sides; 3-1 at home to Newcastle in April.
In European competitions this season (excluding qualifiers), only PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic (7) has provided more goal assists than Chelsea's Juan Mata (6).
Victor Moses has netted in each of Chelsea's last four Europa League games (four in four).
Benfica hitman Oscar Cardozo has netted five in his last five Europa League fixtures.
Six of the Blues' last eight Europa League goals have come after the break.

Premier League Opta Facts - 14 May

Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Wigan need to win this game to realistically avoid relegation to the Championship.
No FA Cup winning team has ever been relegated in the same season.
Last season Arsenal lost at home to Wigan in their 34th game, a result which helped the Latics avoid relegation.
That victory last season is Wigan's only Premier League away win against Arsenal.
Arsenal have scored more counter attack goals than any other Barclays Premier League team this season (7).
The Gunners have drawn their last two home games, they have not drawn three in a row within the same season since March-April 2011.
Arsenal have taken 14 points from their last six games, a total only Chelsea can match.
Wigan have taken five points from their last six games, only three teams have fewer in this period.
In the six games before that, Wigan took 10 points.
Arsenal's last four Premier League games have gone under 2.5 goals with three of them going under 1.5 goals.
Last season the FA Cup winners lost 4-1 (Chelsea at Liverpool) in their first game after the victory.

Reading v Manchester City
Reading have won both of their previous Barclays Premier League home games with Manchester City, keeping a clean sheet in both games.
Overall the Royals have taken nine points from five games against City.
City have scored 62 goals in 36 games, at this stage last season they had scored 88.
Man City have won only two of their last seven away Premier League games (D2 L3).
Reading have allowed the most shots on target in the Premier League this season (219), Man City the fewest (102).
Man City will end the season with the most clean sheets in the Premier League. Currently they have 17.
No side has fewer clean sheets this season than Reading (5).
Last season Manchester City's strikers contributed 54 Premier League goals; this season the total is 36.
11 of Reading's 41 goals this season have been scored by substitutes.
Five of Man City top scorer Edin Dzeko's 13 goals this season have come as a substitute.

12.05. (Sun) 20:45 Milan - Roma

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MILAN
Abbiati
Abate • Zapata • Mexès • Sciglio
Flamini • Muntari • Nocerino
Boateng • Balotelli • Shaarawy

ROMA
Lobonț
Torosidis • Marquinhos • Castan • Balzaretti
Bradley • Rossi • Florenzi
Lamela • Osvaldo • Totti

Back in November, not many people would have had AC Milan down as Champions League contenders with the Rossoneri languishing in mid-table, but their remarkable turnaround can be completed if they beat Roma on Sunday.

A win against the Giallorossi will ensure third place and a chance to qualify for Europe's premier competition as they enter the play-off round before the group stages next season.

Milan's Daniele Bonera, Luca Antonini and Riccardo Montolivo are all doubts for Sunday's clash and will be assessed beforehand.

Nigel de Jong and Bojan are unavailable, but there are no suspension concerns for coach Massimiliano Allegri. Mario Balotelli is expected to recover from a fever to take his place in the line-up but Giampaolo Pazzini could step up if necessary.

Roma, meanwhile, have one absentee in goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg which means Bogdan Lobont will get the nod, but there are no suspensions for Aurelio Andreazzoli to contend with as they continue their chase for a Europa League spot.

DID YOU KNOW?
On November 11, after a 3-1 loss to Fiorentina, AC Milan sat 13th in Serie A but since then 16 wins from a possible 24 have seen the Rossoneri storm to third.
Stephan El Shaarawy is the club's top scorer on 16 goals but has found the back of net just twice in his last 18 appearances.
The Rossoneri have only lost one of their last four encounters against Roma, but it was a 4-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico this season.
Roma sit in sixth place, two points off the Europa League places with two games to go. They do have the opportunity of European football elsewhere as they're in the Coppa Italia final with Lazio.
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has been heavily linked with a move to the capital club, but the 45-year-old has denied such rumours.
Pablo Osvaldo is the club's top scorer this season with 16 goals.

Prediction
Both teams have everything to play for, but despite beating Fiorentina, Roma's 1-0 reverse to Chievo midweek has killed their momentum. Milan, meanwhile, have been formidable at home having not lost in their last 11 league matches at San Siro and it may just give them the upperhand in this one.

Editor's Prediction
Milan 2-1 Roma

12.05. (Sun) 19:00 Atletico Madrid - Barcelona

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ATLETICO MADRID
Courtois
Juanfran • Miranda • Godín • Luis
Gabi • Tiago
García • Adrián • Turan
Falcao

BARCELONA
Valdés
Alves • Piqué • Correia • Alba
Xavi • Busquets • Iniesta
Pedro • Messi • Villa

Atletico Madrid midfielder Mario Suarez is a doubt for Sunday's clash against Barcelona after suffering a ligament injury in the midweek win at Celta Vigo.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and striker Diego Costa also picked up knocks in Wednesday's match but are expected to be fit in time for the weekend.

Lionel Messi has recovered from a hamstring injury and is set to start for Barcelona after coming off the bench to score twice in the 4-2 win over Betis last Sunday.

Victor Valdes (foot), Pedro (illness) and Javier Mascherano (knee) have been declared fit, while Cesc Fabregas returns following a one-match ban.

DID YOU KNOW?
Atletico Madrid have won just one of their last four home matches in La Liga (W1, D1, L2).
With just 28 goals conceded, Los Colchoneros boast the best defensive record in the Primera Division.
Radamel Falcao has scored five goals in his last five matches for Atletico.
Barcelona have won just one of their last seven away matches in all competitions (W1, D3, L3).
The Catalan giants have won their last five encounters with Atletico Madrid.
Barca have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four games across all competitions, conceding 11 goals in that sequence.

Prediction
Atletico will be fully focused on Friday's Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid after guaranteeing Champions League football for next season with the win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday. Barca will be determined to finally clinch the Liga title, while Messi's expected return to the starting line-up will also give them a boost.

Editor's Prediction
Atl. Madrid 1-2 Barcelona

12.05. (Sun) 17:00 Manchester United - Swansea

PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED
De Gea
Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Kagawa
Van Persie, Chicharito

SWANSEA CITY
Tremmel
Rangel, Williams, Monk, Davies
Britton, De Guzman
Routledge, Pablo, Dyer
Shechter

Sir Alex Ferguson has few injury and suspension problems to deal with as he prepares to name his final Manchester United starting XI for a game at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney, however, may well not feature as speculation continues to mount about his future at Old Trafford - the 27-year-old reportedly asked to leave the club a fortnight ago.

The Premier League champions will be without right-back Rafael (suspended) after he saw red for a kick at Brazil team-mate David Luiz in their home game with Chelsea last time out.

Danny Welbeck (knee) missed Sunday’s clash with the Blues, but could be set to return to the first team squad, however, Ashley Young (ankle) and Darren Fletcher (illness) are out for the rest of the season.

Michael Laudrup, a leading candidate to replace Ferguson's successor David Moyes at Everton, looks likely to be without leading goalscorer Michu (hamstring) for the Swans’ trip to the north west.

Goalkeeper Michel Vorm (head) is a severe doubt after suffering a nasty clash of heads during Tuesday’s win over Wigan, whilst midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng (dead leg) may return after missing the past two games.

Chico Flores (calf) and Roland Lamah (hamstring) could both return to the first-team squad.

DID YOU KNOW?

After 1,498 games in charge of Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson will take charge of a game at Old Trafford for the final time on Sunday afternoon. He's won 894 of those, with 337 draws and 267 defeats.
The Scot has already wrapped up a 13th Premier League crown - the 20th overall for United - and they will lift the trophy in front of their fans at Old Trafford after the clash with the Swans.
Two wins in their last two games would see United finish with 91 points and equal their second-highest points total in the Premier League era which they earned in the 1999/00 season. Their all-time high is the 94 points they claimed when winning the title for a second consecutive season in 1993/94.
Swansea striker Itay Shechter's goal in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Wigan on Tuesday was his first club goal since scoring for Bundesliga side Kaiserlautern in October 2011 - more than 18 months ago.
The south Wales club can guarentee a top-half finish with a win. After 36 games they have one point fewer than the 47 points they managed last season, when they finished 11th.
Michael Laudrup's men, along with eighth-placed West Brom, are the only sides in the top flight to have a goal difference of nil. No side since Tottenham in 2008-09 has finished the season with a level goals for and against tally.

Prediction
Although this match is effectively a dead rubber, Sir Alex Ferguson will not want to end his outstanding reign in the Old Trafford hotseat with a defeat, and his United side should have far too much quality for Swansea on Sunday afternoon.

For their part the Swans have remained competitive in the latter stages of the season despite already claiming a place in Europe, with their win against Wigan on Tuesday having major consequences at the foot of the Premier League.

But they should be easily brushed aside by the English Champions who will want to mark their 20th top-flight crown in style.

Editor's Prediction
Man Utd. 3-0 Swansea City

12.05. (Sun) 16:00 Fulham - Liverpool

PROBABLE LINEUPS

FULHAM
Schwarzer
Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise
Kacaniklic, Karagounis, Enoh, Emanuelson
Ruiz
Berbatov

LIVERPOOL
Reina
Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique
Lucas, Henderson, Shelvey
Downing, Sturridge, Coutinho

Mladen Petric and Simon Davies remain doubtful for this fixture after both players missed the 4-2 loss to Reading with hip and hamstring problems respectively.

Alexander Kacaniklic is likely to start over Damien Duff on the right after a good performance off the bench against Reading. Steve Sidwell will miss the rest of the season though suspension.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard misses out after undergoing surgery on a persistent shoulder problem.

Daniel Agger and Joe Allen are also out for the season so Martin Skrtel will come in to the backline while Philippe Coutinho will continue as playmaker.

With no Gerrard or Allen, Jonjo Shelvey could get the nod in midfield – especially after the stunner he scored for the U21s this week.

Luis Suarez is unavailable as he serves his 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic.

DID YOU KNOW?
Fulham have lost their last four in the Premier League and have won just three of their last 12.
After a run of six goals in six games at the start of the year, Fulham top scorer Dimitar Berbatov hasn’t hit the back of the net since 1st April – six games ago.
The Cottagers’ biggest defeat of the season was a 4-0 reverse against Liverpool.
Liverpool are unbeaten in six in the Premier League, with just one defeat in 11 in all competitions.
The Reds’ 6-0 win over Newcastle two weeks ago was the fourth time this year they’ve won by a margin of four or more goals, including the 4-0 romp over Fulham in December.
Fulham did the double over Liverpool last season, the first time they beat the Reds twice in the same season.

Prediction
Even without their top scorer, the Merseyside outfit will have too much for their opponents who have struggled to pose much of a goal threat in their recent games. Unless Berbatov finds some form in front of goal, the Cottagers won’t prove too difficult for Brendan Rodgers’ charges.

Editor's Prediction
Fulham 0-3 Liverpool

12.05. (Sun) 15:00 Genoa - Inter

PROBABLE LINEUPS

GENOA
Frey
Granqvist • Portanova • Manfredini • Antonelli
Matuzalém
Kucka • Bertolacci
Rigoni
Borriello • Flores

INTER
Handanovič
Schelotto • Chivu • Pasa • Nagatomo
Cambiasso
Kovačić • Álvarez
Kuzmanović
Guarín • Rocchi

Despite a run of five matches without defeat, Genoa coach Davide Ballardini looks set to switch to a 4-1-2-1-2 formation from his tried-and-trusted 3-5-1-1 for the visit of Inter on Sunday.

As a result, two personnel changes from the midweek 0-0 draw with Torino see Emiliano Moretti and Mattia Cassani replaced by Andreas Granqvist and Antonio Floro Flores.

However, the Ligurian side will not be able to call on trio Cristobal Jorquera, Ruben Olivera and Damiano Ferronetti - all of whom have been ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile for the Nerazzurri, on the back of an alarming nine losses in their last 12 matches, they also make a series of alterations ahead of their trip to the Marassi, with Ezequiel Schelotto, Simone Pasa and Yuto Nagatomo incoming.

Regarding the club's well-documented list of absentees, Jonathan, Andrea Ranocchia, Gaby Mudingayi, Luca Castellazzi, Rodrigo Palacio, Dejan Stankovic and Walter Samuel are all doubtful and unlikely to be risked.

There is no change, though, for season-ending casaulties Javier Zanetti, Joel Obi, Diego Milito, Ibrahima Mbaye, Walter Gargano and Matias Silvestre, while Alvaro Pereira and Juan Jesus are suspended.

DID YOU KNOW?
Inter are unbeaten in their last 12 Serie A meetings with Genoa, winning eight and drawing four.
However, the Nerazzurri have lost each of their last three away league games, scoring just once.
Yuto Nagatomo has netted both his first and last Serie A goal against Genoa, respectively in March and December 2011.
Genoa have lost each of their last four home matches against Inter without scoring any goals.
Nonetheless, the Rossoblu are unbeaten in their last four home games in Serie A.
Striker Ciro Immobile scored his fifth and last league goal in the reverse fixture against Inter.

Prediction
They may be one of Serie A's present in-form teams, but Genoa's recovery has seen them pick up more draws than victories - the joint second-highest haul in the division - and that coupled with an Inter side who will be more than happy with a share of the spoils to end their run of defeats means a stalemate should be the order of the day in Liguria.

Editor's Prediction
Genoa 1-1 Inter

12.05. (Sun) 14:30 Stoke City - Tottenham

PROBABLE LINEUPS

STOKE
Begovic
Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Shotton
Nzonzi, Adam, Whitehead
Walters, Crouch, Jerome

TOTTENHAM
Lloris
Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto
Parker, Dembele
Lennon, Bale, Sigurdsson
Adebayor

Stoke enter Sunday’s clash in fine spirits after Wigan’s 3-2 defeat to Swansea all-but cemented the Potters' place in the Premier League next season.

The scene at the Britannia, however, is not as rosy as would be expected. The rising tide of frustration directed at manager Tony Pulis over his style of play and the club’s perceived stagnation has been an enduring presence towards the end of the season, and Pulis will be out to silence his critics come Sunday with a competitive performance.

He could be without the services of Mark Wilson for the clash after the defender was withdrawn with a hamstring injury during his last last outing at Sunderland.

Andy Wilkinson and Glenn Whelan were both expected to return to the fray during that match, but their absence at the Stadium of Light has raised concerns of that the pair are suffering with more serious injuries than initially diagnosed.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have undoubtedly entered the business end of their season as they vie for Champions League qualification with Chelsea and arch-rivals Arsenal.

A draw at Stamford Bridge kept them firmly in the running, but Villas Boas will have no interest in returning from Sunday’s match without all three points as his side sit one point behind Arsenal and a distant three behind Chelsea with just two games remaining.

Moussa Dembele is expected to return to action after recovering from an injury picked up against Southampton last weekend, but will be subjected to a late fitness test before the team travels up north.

A vital late equaliser against Chelsea could earn a place in the starting XI for Gylfi Sigurdsson, whilst Emmanuel Adebayor’s man-of-the-match showing at Stamford Bridge will likely see him lead the Tottenham line once more.

DID YOU KNOW?
Stoke are unbeaten in their last three Premier League clashes against Tottenham, with one win and two draws.
The Potters have hit the target fewer times than any other side this season (110).
Stoke need just one point to guarantee mathematical safety.
The last time Tottenham lost a game to a side sitting in the bottom half of the table was in November, during a 1-0 shock home defeat to Wigan.
Apart from Aston Villa (13), Spurs have scored more goals (12) over the past six games than any other club in the Premier League.
Tottenham are undefeated in nine of their last ten away matches in the top-flight.
Andre Villas Boas’ two previous meetings against the Potters, with both Chelsea and at Tottenham, have ended goalless.

Prediction
Despite Stoke’s impressive record against Tottenham in recent outings, what’s at stake for the visitors will most likely determine the outcome of Sunday’s clash. Moreover, the technical superiority of the Spurs’ ranks serves only to compound the struggle that Stoke are expected to endure at the weekend.

Editor's Prediction
Stoke City 0-2 Tottenham

11.05. (Sat) 22:00 Espanyol - Real

PROBABLE LINEUPS

ESPANYOL
Casilla
López • Colotto • Moreno • Capdevila
Forlín • Sánchez
Stuani • Verdú • Mubarak
García

REAL MADRID
López
Nacho • Varane • Carvalho • Marcelo
Essien • Modrić
María • Kaká • Ronaldo
Higuaín

Espanyol trio Cristian Alvarez, Felipe Mattioni and Simao will miss Saturday's Primera Division clash against Real Madrid.

Defender Mattioni and midfielder Simao are yet to return to training after sustaining calf injuries, while goalkeeper Alvarez is out with a torn hamstring.

Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Malaga and will miss the trip to the Cornella-El Prat.

Alvaro Arbeloa, Sami Khedira and Marcelo could all return from spells on the sidelines but Sergio Ramos is still out with a hamstring problem.

DID YOU KNOW?
Espanyol are on a four-match winless run at home in La Liga (D3, L1).
Los Periquitos are on a 10-match winless run against Real Madrid, losing eight.
Espanyol's last home win over Real was a 2-1 triumph in October 2007.
Real Madrid have only won two of their last five away matches in all competitions (W2, D1, L2).
The Castilian giants are the only team to remain unbeaten at home across all competitions in Europe's top five leagues this season (W23, D5).
Cristiano Ronaldo scored the 200th goal of his Madrid career in the win over Malaga. He has achieved this feat in just 197 matches.

Prediction
Real were sensational in the demolition of Malaga and they will want to continue winning games to keep away the media circus that is threatening to undermine the club. Espanyol have little to play for after securing their top-flight status for next season and could fall to a third-straight defeat.

Editor's Prediction
Espanyol 1-3 Real Madrid

11.05. (Sat) 21:30 Porto - Benfica

PROBABLE LINEUPS

PORTO
Helton
Danilo • Maicon • Otamendi • Sandro
González • Moutinho • Fernando
Rodríguez • Defour • Martínez

BENFICA
Moraes
Pereira • Luisão • Garay • Almeida
Gaitán • Pérez • Lima
Salvio • Cardozo • Matić

Porto will be able to call on the talents of Alex Sandro after the Brazilian full-back recovered from a muscle strain to be declared fit. The ex-Santos man has been training throughout the week and is said to be at 100 per cent for the decisive clash, although Maicon, who trained apart from the rest of the Dragao, is still an uncertainty.

Benfica will give Argentina international Enzo Perez until the last minute to prove his fitness. The 27-year-old was expected to miss Saturday's encounter with a thigh strain, but has shown improvements in training and could still make it.

DID YOU KNOW?
Porto remain unbeaten in the Primeira Liga, but could well miss out on the title without losing a single match.
With two games left, they trail Saturday's rivals by two points. Defeat would hand Benfica the title, while a win would put the Dragao one point ahead going into the final day.
Porto are looking for a third-successive Primeira triumph, having recorded back-to-back titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Benfica are the league leaders with 74 points from 28 games. In that run they have also netted 73 times, seven goals more than their rivals for the title.
The Aguias' top scorer is Lima (right), with 17 in the league. He trails Porto sharpshooter Jackson Martinez, who has netted 25 times.
Coach Jorge Jesus has won a trophy every year in his four at the Benfica helm; but the last time he lifted the league title was back in 2009-10.

Prediction
Porto need a win in what is a key match to decide the fate of the 2012-13 Primeira Liga title. That necessity, plus Benfica's busier schedule as they prepare for a Europa League final, should play in the Dragao's favour as they seek victory.

Editor's Prediction
Porto 2-1 Benfica

Championship Opta Facts: May 12 - 13

Watford v Leicester
The Hornets have gone five games unbeaten against Leicester at Vicarage Road, winning four (D1).
Watford have picked up just one win in their last five at Vicarage Road (D2 L2).
Leicester have won only once in their last nine games on the road (D4 L4).
No side conceded fewer headed goals in the Championship this season than Leicester City (7).
Chris Wood has scored just twice in his last 14 games for the Foxes.
Troy Deeney has scored five times in his last eight appearances for Watford.
There have been two red cards in the last four meetings between the sides (one each). Indeed, Watford received six red cards during the regular season; more than any other side.
The last time Watford reached the play-offs, they were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Hull in 2008.
Five of the last seven teams who have finished third in the regular Championship season have been promoted via the play-offs (inc. Watford in 2006).
Anthony Knockaert has had a hand in four of Leicester's last five goals (three assists, one goal).
David Nugent's goal is his first in his last 17 games for Leicester City in all competitions.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Crystal Palace
Palace have lost just once in their last four league trips to Brighton (W2 D1).
The away side has failed to score in all three meetings between Palace and Brighton this season.
The Seagulls are yet to lose at home in 2013, going 10 games unbeaten (W7 D3).
Brighton are unbeaten in their last 10 Championship matches (inc. Play-offs); winning five (D5).
The last seven clashes between the two sides have produced a total 18 goals, an average of 2.57 goals per game.
Palace are without a win in their last five play-off fixtures (D2 L3), exiting at the semi-final stage to Watford (2006) and Bristol City (2008).
The Seagulls conceded eight goals in the final 15 minutes of their matches this season; a joint-low in the Championship.
Gus Poyet's side also ended the season with the best defensive record; conceding just 43 goals.
Crystal Palace have scored 12 penalties from 15 taken this season; a league-high.
Friday's result was Brighton's seventh nil-nil draw of the season; a league-high.
Kazenga Lua Lua has netted three goals in his last four games.