*matches in all competitions

Shakhtar last 5 matches:  

Shakhtar last 3 home matches:

Fulham last 5 matches:

Fulham last 3 away matches:

With only one goal advantage taken in the first leg of the knock-out of the Europa League, Fulham has a very though mission as they travel to a very strong Shakhtar Donetsk team.

Shakhtar Donetsk and their European claims suffered a setback last week as they where defeated by Fulham 2-1, the Ukrainian team has high ambitions for this tournament as they where last year’s winners of the Uefa Cup and any other performance will be considered inferior.

They where the favorites in the eyes of many as they traveled to England against a B rated Premier League squad but came empty handed. All is not lost as the away goal makes them strong favorites for this match and also the qualification in the next phase.

Fulham is clearly the less experienced team in European tournaments of the two but with a very good morale as they claimed 4 consecutive wins in all competition counting the first leg. Nonetheless besides Shakhtar their opposition was inferior so the victories may count only for their morale.

The English side great advantage into this dispute is that the Premier League is in full throttle whilst the Ukrainian league will start this week-end after about 3 months of winter break.

My tip:  Shakhtar Donetsk to win

 Loading ...

*matches in all competitions

Roma last 5 matches:  

Roma last 3 home matches: 

Panathinaikos last 5 matches:

Panathinaikos last 3 away matches: 

Very spectacular dispute in the first leg between the 2 in the Europa League as Panathinaikos managed to win in the ’89 minute 3-2 over a Roma team in a very good form.

So AS Roma is starting out with one goal deficit but this difference is within reach and the overall scoreline makes them favorites to go through as they have 2 away goals.

Nonetheless this was the first team to beat them from October on in all competitions so maybe a change in tactics will appear. The Italian squad will most likely start on offensive from the beginning in search of the goal pushed by their fanatic supporters.

Panathinaikos produced quite a surprise against AS Roma, even though they are a well built squad, their form compared to the opposition made one point from this match a positive result.

They lost their last match played, last week away to PAOK but still lead the Greek championship, 2 points advantage over second Olympiakos. Only one match won in the last 3 played whilst travelling and this dispute will be very hard. They will most likely adopt a defensive tactic and hope to strike on the counter-attack.

My tip:  AS Roma to win

 Loading ...

Wayne Rooney Is The Man To Help England To World Cup Glory

Who is England’s best player? At least nine out of ten people would surely answer Wayne Rooney and it is very hard to make a case for England at the World Cup 2010 without their star man. If any evidence was needed that Rooney has improved yet again this season it is his two headed goals against AC Milan as heading was previously his weakest point.

Wayne Rooney already has big tournament experience despite still being relatively young, he burst onto the International scene with a great performance at Euro 2004 but he got injured against Portugal and England ended up going out. At the 2006 World Cup things were looking good for England until, you guessed it, Wayne Rooney got sent off against old friends Portugal and England crashed it. It is simply as if England cannot win without the Man Utd striker.

No surprise really that so many people are backing Wayne Rooney to be the World Cup Golden Boot as a good tournament for Wayne Rooney means a good tournament for England yet the Wayne Rooney World Cup Golden Boot Odds are around three times as high as England’s World Cup Odds. Which bet would you make at this stage?

Of course England have plenty of other good players but they are very much the foundations that allow Wayne Rooney to express himself. The likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and even Aaron Lennon if he plays will all be expected to give the ball to Rooney as much as possible and so strong is Wayne Rooney’s influence that his striker partner, who remains unknown, will probably be picked on the basis of who brings out the best in Wayne Rooney.

*matches in all competitions

Inter last 5 matches:  

Inter last 3 home matches: 

Chelsea last 5 matches:

Chelsea last 3 away matches:

With both Inter and Chelsea leading in their domestic leagues, this looks like the match of the evening in the Champions League with the traditional Italian-English rivalry placing it’s mark.

Internazionale Milan has lost ground lately, with important points waisted against lower ranked teams and now only 5 points separate them from followers AS Roma in the Serie A.

Their last match saw 2 of their players sent off in a very tense matches, but the team managed to resist and claim a point i their goalless draw against Sampdoria. They are a team that is dominating adversaries on home ground from start to finish but Chelsea is a though nut to crack. It all depends on how well the players can be motivated in this crucial phase of the competition.

Chelsea is in a similar position in the English Premier League, with a 4 point advantage over Manchester United and feeling the pressure from their rivals. In the last 5 played they ended one in a draw against Hull City and lost against Everton, both matches away.

Only one victory for them in the last 3 matches played whilst traveling and important injuries like Deco, A. Cole, M. Essien and J. Bosingwa, all valuable players especially with such a busy schedule.

My tip:  Draw

 Loading ...

Real Madrid last 5 league matches:

Real Madrid last 3 home matches: 

Villarreal last 5 league matches:

Villarreal last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Real Madrid -2, Villarreal -10

Real Madrid home table position: 1

Villarreal away table position: 17

The Spanish Primera Division battle for the top spot seems to have restarted, after a domination by Barcelona, Real Madrid is now only 2 points from the leader with a very though match against Villarreal.

When looking at the statistic, Real Madrid will be a clear favorite for this won as they won all matches played on Santiago Bernabeu so far but even with a season like Villarreal had so far, motivation against a giant of the Spanish football is always important.

As I said earlier Real has 11 victories in 11 matches played at home with a crushing goal ratio of no less than 35 goals with only 6 conceded and a very good run lately with all last 4 games won.

Villarreal did not have the season they hoped for, with only the 10th spot now and a total of joust 29 point they look far from their aspiration in grabbing an European tournament place.

Whilst at home the team looks decent, in away matches their situation is awful with only one victory to their name in 10 played and 2 draws and a goal ratio to match 10 scored and no less than 18 conceded.

My pick:  Real Madrid to win

 Loading ...

Marseille last 5 league matches: 

Marseille last 3 home matches:

Nancy last 5 league matches:

Nancy last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Marseille -5, Nancy -12

Marseille home table position: 11

Nancy away table position: 5

With Olympique Marseille on the 5th spot of the French Ligue 1 and feeling pressure from Auxerre they will welcome Nancy on Sunday.

Marseille has won the last 2 matches played in the domestic league against Valenciennes and AS Monaco, especially with the latter a good achievement against a very though team.

On home ground Marseille looks strong with 6 victories and 2 draws in 10 matches played so far and a decent goal ratio of 17 scored and 9 conceded.

Nancy is middle of the table for now with not much room to move in, a comfortable 12 spot for them and a total of 32 points, no less than 15 over the danger zone making them feel no threat.

They won only one match in the last 6 played in the Ligue 1 and ended the last 2 in draws. Surprising for their status is the good run they have in away matches where they won no less than 5 with 3 draws in all 12 played but a modest goal ratio of 18 scored and 16 conceded.

My pick:  Marseille to win

 Loading ...

Inter last 5 league matches:

Inter last 3 home matches: 

Sampdoria last 5 league matches:

Sampdoria last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Inter -1, Sampdoria -5

Inter home table position: 1

Sampdoria away table position: 8

Leading the Serie A with a comfortable advantage over it’s followers, Internazionale Milan will encounter though competition on Saturday as they welcome Sampdoria.

With 24 matches played so far, Inter shows an overall of 54 points, no less than 7 over second AS Roma and 9 over rivals AC Milan. The team has won only 2 of the past 5 matches played ending the last with Parma and Napoli in draws, both away but showing a real lack in motivation and determination.

If the team does not come together and start treating every match seriously, the last part of the competition may bring big surprises especially as AS Roma is in an incredible form. On home ground the team look very solid with with 10 victories and 2 draws in all 12 matches played and a goal ratio to complete this performance with 27 scored and 11 conceded.

Sampdoria is on a very decent 5th spot of the Serie A table with 39 points, the same amount as 4th Napoli but an inferior goal ratio. They are showing a great form lately as they won the past 4 matches played in the competition although aside from Fiorentina the other 3 teams were ranked low in the table.

Their record in away matches so far is very modest, winning 4 matches and ending one in a draw leaving no less than 7 losses and a awful goal statistic of joust 11 scored and no less than 24 conceded.

My pick:  Inter to win

 Loading ...

Hamburg last 5 league matches:

Hamburg last 3 home matches: 

Eintracht last 5 league matches: 

Eintracht last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Hamburg -4, Eintracht -7

Hamburg home table position: 5

Eintracht away table position: 8

Still in the books for a place in next season’s Champions League, Hamburger SV has a though task on it’s hands as they welcome Eintracht Frankfurt counting for day 23 in the German Bundesliga.

Hamburg managed to put an end to 3 matches without victory, a loss to Borussia Dortmund and 2 draws with Wolfsburg and FC Koln, by winning away to Stuttgart and adding another victory this week in the Europa League, by the slightest of margins in front of dutch side PSV.

The team looks solid on home ground but it’s statistic is not one to frighten their adversaries as they won 6 and ended 3 in draws in all 11 played with a decent goal ratio of 18 scored and 9 conceded.

Eintracht Frankfurt is in a very good position in the German Bundesliga table for the team’s aspirations, 7th spot with a total of 34 points and if all goes to plan a chance to grab a place in next edition of the Europa League.

They may be helped by Hamburg’s participation in other events as Eintracht is left to focus only on the Bundesliga. Their away statistic is decent showing 4 victories and 3 draws in 10 played but the goal ratio is negative as they scored 14 and conceded 15.

My pick:  Hamburger SV to win

 Loading ...

Boulogne last 5 league matches:

Boulogne last 3 home matches:

Le Mans last 5 league matches:

Le Mans last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Boulogne -19, Le Mans -18

Boulogne home table position: 20

Le Mans away table position: 20

With both of these teams destined for the Ligue 2 in France this seems like a match for 6 points if one of them manages a victory as Boulogne welcomes Le Mans on Saturday.

Only 16 points for Boulogne so far in the championship with no less than 23 matches played and salvation from the relegation zone lies 7 points away. A though mission to accomplish given the team’s overall performances and results.

No victory for them in the last 9 matches played in the Ligue 1, the last one dating back early December against Lens and only 4 points gathered since.Their home statistic is terrible with only 2 victories to date and 2 points in 2 draws losing the rest of 7 with a goal ratio of 10 scored and 21 conceded.

Le Mans does not look better, only one point above their adversaries and a string of 7 matches without victory in the domestic league, managing to gather only 2 points in tows, the last one against Sochaux last week.

They have the worst statistic of all in away matches with 11 defeats in as many games played and an embarrassing goal ratio that reveals only 5 scored and 22 conceded.

My pick: Draw (under 2.5 goals)

 Loading ...

*matches in all competitions

Villarreal last 5 matches:  

Villarreal last 3 home matches: 

Wolfsburg last 5 matches: 

Wolfsburg last 3 away matches: 

After the round in the Champions League ended, it’s time for Europa League to begin the first knock-out round and very interesting matches like this one in witch Villarreal will welcome German champions Wolfsburg.

With neither of these teams living up to last season’s level, this competition may be their chance to shine and leave all the trouble from their respective leagues behind.

Villarreal is only on the 9th spot of the Primera Division table and facing though opposition in their quest for another European tournament spot as both Athletic Bilbao and Getafe look stronger.

The team alternates important victories with painful defeats against lower ranked opponents. Their situation in home matches is not different at all and with a modest statistic so far they don’t look strong at all. Motivation will probably be the key to this match and qualification and villarreal is used to these tournaments.

Wolfsburg is in even worst situation than their adversaries, only the 12 spot in the German Bundesliga and very far form the leading teams.

Even worst for the champions is their current form, no victories in the last 12 matches payed in all competitions, the last one dating back early November. There’s no salvation for them this season and it looks like their main objective is to stay in the middle of the domestic league table and build for the future.

One thing we should remember though, Werder Bremen was in a similar situation last year and managed to reach the final of the Uefa Cup.

My tip:  Villarreal to win

 Loading ...