Hamburg – Standard Liege 1 April 2010

*matches in all competitions

Hamburg last 5 matches:  

Hamburg last 3 home matches: 

Standard last 5 matches: 

Standard last 3 away matches: 

The quarter-finals of the Europa League will kick off on the 1st of April with quite some surprises between the teams as giants of the European football failed to qualify further. Hamburg will welcome Standard Liege and the German side with the advantage of eliminating another Belgian team, Anderlecht in the previous round.

Hamburg is not showing a good form in all competition in which they have played recently with no victories in the previous 4 matches from which they lost 3 of them and ended in draw against Schalke 04.

Their main problem seems to be the away form as at home they are performing quite well, nonetheless the recent results made the exit the championship title chase in the Bundesliga, and this tournament may be their only trophy objective for this season.

Standard Liege has a great morale after starting the Belgian Pro League playoff with a victory against Charleroi and with 2 victories against the surprising Greek side Panathinaikos in the previous round they have made it clear that they take this competition seriously.

This will be the toughest opponent they have encountered yet and it’s yet to see if they can profit from Hamburg’s poor form and obtain at least a draw.

My tip:  Hamburg to win

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Arsenal – Barcelona 31 March 2010

*matches in all competitions

Arsenal last 5 matches:  

Arsenal last 3 home matches: 

Barcelona last 5 matches: 

Barcelona last 3 away matches:

The Champions League is closing down to the big final with only top teams battling out in this stage as the case here where current champions Barcelona will travel to Arsenal for a match that announces itself as very spectacular.

Arsenal, with the third spot of the Premier League secured is trying the impossible in a championship battle against giants Chelsea and Manchester United, showing a great form with very good results lately in all competitions.

In the previous round of the competition they had a very though time in the first leg against FC Porto but recovered in time for the return to thrash the Portuguese side 5-0.

Only Birmingham managed last week to put an end to a superb 6 match winning streak with a one all draw but Champions League is a different matter and a match on home ground is very important for the overall outcome of the campaign.

Only on the second spot in the Spanish Primera Division due to Real’s better goal ratio, Barcelona is showing as well a fine form making me to believe that this match will be a real show especially as both teams have a great appetite for scoring goals and pushing on the offense.

A very similar situation for Barcelona in the previous phase of the tournament, after being held to a 1-1 draw by Stuttgart, the Catalan side got it’s revenge and marched over the Germans 4-0 at the final whistle.

My tip:  Barcelona to win (over 2.5 goals)

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Real Madrid – Atletico Madrid 28 March 2010

Real Madrid last 5 league matches:

Real Madrid last 3 home matches: 

Atletico Madrid last 5 league matches:

Atletico Madrid last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Real Madrid - 1, Atletico Madrid -8

Real Madrid home table position: 1

Atletico Madrid away table position: 14

Derby match in the city of Madrid as these 2 local rivals will meet on Sunday in a duel that over the years has produced many surprises and spectacular displays of football.

Real Madrid is starting off as the clear favorite for all 3 points in this match not only due to their better position in the table but also the home crowd support on Santiago Bernabeu and the outstanding results in the Primera Division produced lately.

With 14 victories in 14 matches played on home ground it looks like they have nothing to worry about but Atletico Madrid has always posed problems against them and the level of motivation will be great as 3 points from their greatest rivals mean more than anything.

Atletico Madrid is experiencing a very though season, only the 8th spot for them and with quite some distance from any spot that leads to an European Tournament for next season.

Lately the team has been alternating very good performances on home ground with poor displays whilst traveling a fact showed to well by their away statistic with only 2 victories and 4 draws in 14 played a a disastrous goal ratio of 15 scored and 25 conceded.

My pick:  Real Madrid to win

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Galatasaray – Fenerbahce 28 March 2010

Galatasaray last 5 league matches:

Galatasaray last 3 home matches: 

Fenerbahce last 5 league matches:

Fenerbahce last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Galatasaray - 2, Fenerbahce -3

Galatasaray home table position: 1

Fenerbahce away table position: 4

A very exciting derby match in the Turkish Super Lig with 2 legendary rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce going head to head for the top spot and a clear chance of getting the championship title.

This match may prove decisive for the race to the championship as the team who will win this has a good opportunity to gather momentum and separate in the lead.

Galatasaray is on the second spot of the charts with a total of 53 points, only 2 below leaders Bursaspor and with a narrow advantage over their rivals Fenerbahce, joust one point.

They are the favorites going into this match with the home crowd support behind them guarantying a huge pressure but with 2 losses in the last 3 rounds of the competition the team needs to improve on it’s play. As far as the home record goes, Galata has the best of all teams with no less than 10 victories and 3 draws in all 13 played completed with a superb goal ratio of 32 scored and only 9 conceded.

Fenerbahce is close behind and with an upward stats in results lately as they managed to claim 7 points in the last 3 rounds. Their 3 point gap from the leaders is achievable but both them and Galatasaray need all 3 points as Besiktas is 4th with a total of 52 points and looking forward to a draw between them.

No victories for Fenerbahce in the last 3 matches played away with 2 draws and one defeat and a statistic that shows only 6 victories and 3 draws in 13 matches played whilst traveling. Their 3-1 victory at home over Galatasaray in the first part of the season will certainly give them a morale boost but it’s yet to prove that this will be enough.

My pick:  Galatasaray to win

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Roma - Inter 26 March 2010

Roma last 5 league matches:

Roma last 3 home matches: 

Inter last 5 league matches: 

Inter last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Roma - 3, Inter -1

Roma home table position: 2

Inter away table position: 1

A very good week so far for Inter as they managed to win over Livorno and Ac Milan stumbled away to Parma but the trip to Roma is certain to put up more problems.

As Roma is in a good shape after wining the last 2 matches of the competition and entering the championship total race as they are on the third spot with a total of 59 points, 4 from the leaders and current opposition, Inter Milan.

They are very strong on home ground with no less than 12 victories so far and 1 draw, losing only 2 in all 15 played and showing a very good goal ratio of 29 scored and 12 conceded, a great appetite for offensive football.

Inter thrashed Livorno this week 3-0 the final score but this match will most certainly cause more problems especially as they will travel to a packed stadium of hostile supporters.

The team still holds the best statistic for away matches in this competition with 7 victories and 5 draws in 15 matches played on other stadiums with a good goal ratio of 27 scored and 15 conceded.

With both teams playing on offense this match will probably be one with many goals and occasions at both posts.

My pick:  AS Roma to win

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Bayern Munchen – Stuttgart 26 March 2010

Bayern last 5 league matches:

Bayern last 3 home matches: 

Stuttgart last 5 league matches:

Stuttgart last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Bayern - 1, Stuttgart -7

Bayern home table position: 1

Stuttgart away table position: 10

There must be something about that first place in the German Bundesliga as all of the teams that until now have claimed it started having difficulties, this is the case with Bayern Munchen which after an incredible display of form and results has own only 2 of the past 5 played and have a very difficult match at hand against a rising VfB Stuttgart.

Bayern is heading into this match after a defeat in the last round away to Eintrach Frankfurt and with a total of 56 points they are only one point above Schalke and 3 from third Bayer Leverkusen.

The team’s home statistic would definitely recommend them as favorites for all 3 points as Bayern has won 10 and ended 4 draws, never tasting defeat this season and with a strong goal ratio of 28 scored and 10 conceded.

Stuttgart made an impressive recovery of their season and after starting off in the bottom of the table they have climbed up to the current 7th spot with 38 points but still with quite some distance from a place that will grant them access to next season’s Europa League.

Their statistic in away matches is still modest having ended in victory only 4 matches so far with another 4 draws in all 13 played and holding a negative goal ratio of 17 scored and no less than 18 conceded.

My pick:  Bayern Munchento win

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Barcelona – Osasuna 24 March 2010

Barcelona last 5 league matches:

Barcelona last 3 home matches: 

Osasuna last 5 league matches: 

Osasuna last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Barcelona - 2, Osasuna -13

Barcelona home table position: 2

Osasuna away table position: 8

With both the giants of Spanish football winning in the last round, Barcelona is still trailing Real Madrid due to an inferior goal ration and will push to profit from Osasuna’s poor form to claim all 3 points in the hope that Getafe will steal at least one point from their direct adversaries.

Barcelona is once again displaying a great form but things at the top of the Primera Division are complicated, 68 points for the, the same amount as Real but second due the goal ratio where their adversaries have 2 more scored.

The Catalan side has scored no less than 11 goal in the last 3 matches played both in the domestic league and the Champions League, with 4 of them in the last round away to Racing Santander and as far as the home record goes they have 12 victories and only one draw in all 13 played.

Osasuna is falling rapidly in the overall charts with their last victory dating back to the 7th of February, that’s almost 2 months without the taste of victory and this can be revealed by the 13th spot they now hold with a total of just 31 points, 8 above the relegation line.

In spite of these facts, the team’s away statistic is rather decent for their position with 4 victories and 2 draws in 14 played but with defeats in all last 3 played whilst traveling.

My pick:  Barcelona to win

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Valencia – Almeria 21 March 2010

Valencia last 5 league matches:

Valencia last 3 home matches: 

Almeria last 5 league matches: 

Almeria last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Valencia -3, Almeria -11

Valencia home table position: 10

Almeria away table position: 10

Having lost to Barcelona in the last round 3-0, Valencia is in desperate need of points if they are to consolidate their third spot in the Primera Division but this match against Almeria will probably prove a difficult task considering the teams recent performances and results.

Valencia has won only one of the the past 5 matches played in the Spanish league against Getafe, from the followed a painful defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid and a goalless draw with Racing Santander coped with last week defeat at Barcelona. Valencia played a very good game in the first half of the confrontation with the Catalan side but made a terrible last part conceding all 3 goals.

Their statistic on home ground is very modest with only 6 victories in 12 played and a very high number of draws, no less than 5 as well as a modest goal ratio of 21 scored and 11 conceded.

Almeria is showing a very good form lately which allowed them to climb considerably up in the charts to their current 11th spot with a total of 33 points in all 26 matches played. No less than 3 victories for them in the last 4 matches and an important morale boosting 2-2 draw against champions Barcelona.

In away matches their record is very poor with only 2 victories so far and 4 draws in 13 played completed with a negative goal ratio of 14 scored and 21 conceded.

My pick:  Valencia to win

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Marseille – Lyon 21 March 2010

Marseille last 5 league matches:

Marseille last 3 home matches: 

Lyon last 5 league matches:

Lyon last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Marseille -6, Lyon -5

Marseille home table position: 11

Lyon away table position: 2

Derby match in the French Ligue 1 on Sunday with Olympique Marseille welcoming Lyon in a battle for advancing in the table and the top spots.

Marseille and Lyon are separated only by one point but with the home side in this match having played a game less than their competition and implicitly more chances of advancing.

With a total of 50 points in 27 matches played, Marseille trail leaders Bordeaux by joust one point and theoretically hold the chance to get the driver’s seat this week depending on the other results. No victory for them in the last 2 round of the Ligue 1 with 2 draws against Lorient and Toulouse, both matches started as favorites.

They hold evenly balanced statistic both at home and away with 7 victories, 3 draws and 2 defeats in front of the home crowd with a fairly good goal ratio of 23 scored and 11 conceded.

Lyon has a surprisingly similar show of results with their adversaries in this match, as Marseille they have not won any of the past 2 games with embarrassing draws against low ranked Boulogne and Saint Etienne.

Their away record is decent, having won 6 out of the 14 matches played and ending another 6 in draws. This match may seem more important for Lyon as they have a game more played as the opposition but i expect both teams to be highly motivated and determined in claiming all points.

My pick:  draw

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Real Madrid – Sporting Gijon 20 March 2010

Real last 5 league matches:

Real last 3 home matches: 

Gijon last 5 league matches:

Gijon last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Real -1, Gijon -12

Real home table position: 1

Gijon away table position: 15

No luck for Real Madrid last week as Barcelona trashed Valencia and managed to stick in the second spot only due to the inferior goal ratio. With this match against Sporting Gijon comes another great opportunity to claim all 3 points and hope their bitter rivals stumble.

As Real Madrid suffered a big blow when eliminated from the Champions League by Olympique Lyon, the Primera Division is the only competition left for them this year and a set back here would probably bring some important changes to the club.

They have managed to win the last 8 matches played in the competition and as far as home statistic goes, it’s a perfect one with 13 victories in 13 matches played and an impressing goal ratio of 44 scored and 10 conceded.

Sporting Gijon is looking like a certain victim when compared to Real Madrid but this small them from the middle of the table managed to produce some surprises this season and it’s known that they look highly motivated when dealing with giants of the competition.

No victories for them in the last 2 matches played with a loss away to Mallorca and a goalless draw at home against Athletic Bilbao but with only 2 victories and 3 draws in 13 matches played away their mission on Santiago Bernabeu is close to impossible.

My pick:  Real Madrid to win

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