Atletico Mineiro last 5 league matches: 

Atletico Mineiro last 3 home matches:

Botafogo last 5 league matches: 

Botafogo last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Atletico Mineiro -1, Botafogo -20

Atletico Mineiro home points: 7

Botafogo away points: 1

The 9th leg in the Brazil Serie A this weekend and with it this duel between the leaders Atletico Mineiro and last spot holders in the table, Botafogo, a match that on a first glance should go only one way and that is for the home side.

Atletico Mineiro shares 17 points, the same as Internacional, but has a better goal differential that makes them leaders. The competition is still in it’s early stages and the teams are clustered together with very few points separating them.

One bad step here and either Internacional and Vitoria can take their place. Atletico is the clear favorite and has not lost any matches played at home, although they where only 3 so far, managing 2 victories and one draw. They suffered an important blow in the last leg whilst traveling to 4th Grêmio Barueri and conceded no less than 4 goals whilst scoring only 2, this being the only match lost by them in the 8 played this season.

Botafogo is last in the Brazilian table with only 6 points earned so far, 9 goals scored and 14 conceded. They won only one match so far and ended 3 in draws and their situation in away is a disaster with no games won, one draw and the last 3 matches lost.

My pick: Atletico Mineiro to win

Europa League preliminaries

Zimbru last 5 matches: 

Zimbru last 3 home matches:

Okzhetpes last 5 matches: 

Okzhetpes last 3 away matches:

The first qualifying round of the new competition that will replace the Uefa Cup, Europa League, kicks off on 2nd of July and as expected brings forward but a handful of teams known to the general audience. Moldova’s Zimbru Chisinau seems like the favorite against FC Okzhetpes from Kazakhstan.

Zimbru finished the last edition of the domestic championship on the forth place, with a considerable gap from leaders and the team that dominates the competition, Sheriff Tiraspol.

The last match they played was in the middle of March in the championship and this could be an advantage as their preparation period is over and they are hipped up for the next season that will begin this week in Moldova.

FC Okzhetpesis in the middle of the domestic championship with 13 games played so far and occupies the 10th spot. They have not won any of the 4 matches played this June either home and away and the statistic is very clear on their form as they scored 2 goals and conceded no less than 12 in them.

Zimbru Chisinau should have no problem in disposing of them especially as they need to take an important advantage at home for a worry-free return leg.

My pick: Zimbru Chisinau to win

Europa League preliminaries

Anorthosis last 5 matches: 

Anorthosis last 3 home matches:

Kaerjeng last 5 matches: 

Kaerjeng last 3 away matches:

Maybe the most powerful team to enter the competition this soon, Anorthosis Famagusta should have no problems in disposing of Kaerjeng (Luxembourg). The team from Cyprus was one of the surprises in the last season of the Champions League as they gathered 6 points in the group stage with opposition such as Inter Milan and Werder Bremen.

Not much to say about this match as Anorthosis played their last official game in April and Kaerjengin late March and the favorite is clear if we take into considerations the teams performances and names in the last years and also the domestic championships in witch they activate.

The Cypriot side should take this one and with a considerable and comforting advantage for the return leg.

My pick: Anorthosis Famagusta to win

FIFA Confederations Cup Final, South Africa

USA last 5 matches: 

Brazil last 5 matches: 

World FIFA ranking:

USA : 14

Brazil : 5

USA produced the greatest surprise of the tournament after eliminating Confederations Cup favorites, Spain, in the semi-finals and now everybody is taking them seriously when they meet Brazil in the Final of the competition.

Losing the first 2 games of the competition in Group B and facing though opposition from Brazil and Italy coupled with the enthusiastic manner in witch Egypt started the competition, the United States looked destined to stop in that phase with a good chance of finishing on the last spot. Their victory over Egypt 3-0 coupled with Brazil’s win over Italy with the same scoreline created the perfect outcome for them to qualify to the semi-finals.

They took Spain by surprise and stopped their record winning streak dating back from 2006 with 2 goals and a good tactical play that conserved the result and left the Iberian team with no chances of opposition.

Brazil was looking forward to test their strength against Spain, a game that could have brought together the 2 top teams form the continents that dominate football. They now have to face the USA, a team witch they defeated in the group phase 3-0 (2-0 at half time) but in a very different perspective as then the US has one player less for a good part of the match.

It’s clear that that win will have to be forgotten and the Cariocas will have to put out a different game taking into consideration the morale that their rivals have at the moment.

My pick: Brazil to win

FIFA Confederations Cup, South Africa

Brazil last 5 matches: 

South Africa last 5 matches: 

World FIFA ranking:

Brazil : 5

South Africa : 72

Brazil advanced to the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup in a champions manner, as Spain in the other group, winning all 3 games in the group stage and will now face the hosts of the competition, somewhat a surprise appearance.

Starting off with a 4-3 victory over Egypt in the 90 minute from a penalty kick, the team through some changes in defense won 3-0 the disputes with United States and in a fantastic performance over Italy.

They scored no less than 10 goals and conceded only 3 from the North African team and are now hopeful as hey enter this match with a high morale and expecting to meet Spain in the Final for a clash with the best team in Europe at the moment.

South Africa qualified to the semi-finals after obtaining one victory and ending the match against Iraq with a goalless draw. They took full advantage, in the last leg, of Iraq’s poor performance against New Zealand as they ended 0-0 and their loss 0-2 against Spain did not count.

They scored only 2 goals in the entire competition and conceded 2 and they are certainly satisfied to have got this far and face Brazil, as for this match they chances are very slim.

My pick: Brazil to win

FIFA Confederations Cup, South Africa

Spain last 5 matches: 

USA last 5 matches: 

World FIFA ranking:

Spain : 1

USA : 14

Current Euro holders and favorites to win this Confederations Cup trophy, Spain will meet the USA team in the first semi-final and will probably face their greatest test yet in the competition as neither South Africa, Iraq or New Zealand where no match for them in the group phase.

Spain is in an incredible winning streak, the last game they have played in with they did not emerged as winners was way back in October 2007 in a goalless friendly match against Finland and their last defeat even further in November 2006 0-1 against Romania.

They scored 8 goals in the 3 matches of the group stage and did not concede any. The team is in grate form and was qualified after the first 2 games.

USA produced the surprise of Group B, managing to claim the second spot after the last round. Their 3-0 victory over Egypt coupled with a 3-0 Brazil victory over Italy was enough for them to position themselves over Italy on goal differential. After the first 2 games, when they where last in the group, no many, including me, thought that they stood any chances of advancing, more so with the good football showed by Egypt.

So only one victory for United States in the Confederations Cup so far, in the only match in with they played from start to finish with 11 players and a reason for Spain to threat them very seriously as Egypt emerged victoriously over Brazil.

My pick: Spain to win

Rosenborg last 5 league matches: 

Rosenborg last 3 home matches:

Stabaek last 5 league matches: 

Stabaek last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Rosenborg -1, Stabaek -6

Rosenborg home table position: 2

Stabaek away table position: 6

In their attempt to consolidate the first spot of the Norway Tippeligaen table, Rosenborg will come across a difficult opponent, 6th spot Stabaek, in this mid-week leg. With both of the teams achieving good results in the past matches played in the domestic competition, this game should be very interesting and although Rosenborg are favorites it’s hard to predict the outcome.

Rosenborg has won the last 4 matches played in the tournament, scoring in all 11 goals and managing to not concede any. It’s true that all of their opponents where from the middle or bottom of the table, but still it’s clear that they gave the team a lot of confidence and a boost in morale, more so as they stand in the top of the standings with a comfortable 7 points advantage over second Molde.

They played half of the total of 14 games in the league at home and has not lost any so far with 4 victories and 3 draws, ranking second only to Odd Grenland.

Stabaek is in a very good form, with victories in the last 3 legs and against very difficult opponents like Valerenga away and a 5-0 thrashing of Start at home in the last round played, with 8 goals scored and none conceded. This are certainly the teams that are in the best of form in Norway at the moment and a clash between them should produce spectacle.

In away games so far they managed only 2 victories, including the one against Valerenga, the rest where 2 draws and 3 defeats.

My pick: Rosengborg to win

Friendly match

Mexico last 5 matches: 

Venezuela last 5 matches: 

World FIFA ranking:

Mexico : 26

Venezuela : 56

A friendly match between these 2 teams from the American continents in a moment in with neither of them are in good position for qualifying to the 2010 South Africa World Cup. This game is not of great importance for any of the teams as the next official disputes will take place in September.

Mexico is 4th in the last preliminary group, trailing third Honduras, holders of the last spot that grants a place in the World Cup, by one point. With 6 points earned so far and 5 more matches to go, they still have a good chance to improve on their game and get some positive results.

They lost 2 of the past 3 games played against opponents like Honduras and El Salvador, matches in witch they started like favorites and both away.

Venezuela’s position in the South American qualifying group is worst than their opponents here, currently on the 8th place they struggle for the 5th spot that take to a knock out. In that fight, 3 other teams are involved and Venezuela is the worst ranked of them all.

With only 2 victories in the past 5 matches and a draw against Uruguay in the last one played their current form is rather poor, but so is Mexico’s.

My pick: Mexico to win

Boca last 5 league matches: 

Boca last 3 home matches:

Gimnasia last 5 league matches: 

Gimnasia last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Boca -16, Gimnasia -10

Boca home points: 14

Gimnasia away points: 10

With 17 matches played by both Boca Juniors and Gimnasia la Plata in Argentina Primera division, the teams are far from their objectives and supporter’s aspirations ranking in the lower half of the table with a considerable gap from the top teams.

What was thought to be joust a bad phase for Boca Juniors turned into a a trend as they have not been able to find their form and are sliding down the table. with only 19 points gained so far and with a record of 5 victories, 4 draws and no less than 8 games lost, the team sits on the 16th spot.

The home pitch is their strong point, if we can call it that, with no less than 14 points earned from the total of  19, in the 8 game played here. They won 4 matches, ended 2 in draws and lost 2 against CA Banfield in May and Newell s Old Boys early in February, and an important fact, they managed to win the last 2 played in front of the home crowd.

Gimnasia la Plata is only 3 points above Boca in the table with 5 victories, 7 draws and 5 games lost so far. They have a poor record in away matches, managing to win joust 2 of the 9 played.

This is Boca Juniors chance to move consistently up the standings depending on the other team’s performances and are favorites to win by their fair football showed at home.

My pick: Boca Juniors to win

get the link code: <a href=”http://www.soccerace.com/other-leagues/boca-juniors-gimnasia-la-plata-21062009/”>Boca Juniors - Gimnasia la Plata 21.06.2009</a>

FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa

World FIFA ranking:

Italy : 4

Brazil : 5

The match the all have been waiting for in the Group B of the Confederations Cup, a clash between the current and former World Cup champions as Italy, in a desperate need of points, will face Brazil for the last game of the stage.

Italy remain on the second spot of the group with the 3 points earned in their 3-1 victory over United States, having lost surprisingly to Egypt with the slightest of margins in the second game played.

If in the game against USA they managed, due to some inspired changes and the eliminations of an US player, to regain control over the match and dominate it to the end, in the match against Egypt they could joust not find the goal, a fact due in large proportion by the outstanding form of the “Pharaohs” goalkeeper.

Any other result in this game than victory and a win, even a draw in case they lose, for Egypt will mean that one of the favorites will go home before even entering the semi-finals.

Brazil has won against Egypt with a penalty kick in the last minute after conceding 3 goals from them but as expected they showed a different face and attitude against the USA. With 2 defenders replaced they managed to keep a clean sheet and with the top players they have in the offensive department managed to score 3 goals and win comfortably.

The stake of the semi-finals is large but not the determining factor in this match as both teams will want to prove their game against a top adversary and this match should be very interesting from that point of view, with Italy known for their defense and Brazil for their attack.

My pick: Brazil to win

get the link code: <a href=”http://www.soccerace.com/international/italy-brazil-21062009/”>Italy - Brazil 21.06.2009</a>