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

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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)

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*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

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*matches in all competitions

Liverpool last 5 matches:  

Liverpool last 3 home matches: 

Unirea last 5 matches:

Unirea last 3 away matches:

Being knocked out of the Champions League, Liverpool is automatically a candidate for the Europa League title with other giants such as Juventus, AS Roma and other and from the looks of it the English side has the most accessible adversary in this phase in the form of Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni.

Liverpool managed to improve their form recently in the Preamier League and are now on the 5th spot, one point from 4th Manchester City but facing though opposition from close y followers.

It’s clear that they look favorites but it remains to see how much they can motivate themselves against a totally unknown adversary on the European Tournaments stage. The home pitch will be a great advantage in a victory for this match but the trip to Romania may bring surprises as Sevilla found out when they played Unirea in the Champions League.

Although virtualy unknown on the world stage, this small team from a twon of fewer than 20.000 people tourned the Romanian football hierarchy upside down, 6 years ago in the third division they managed to climb up to Liga 1 in 2006 and last year won the title of champions.

The team strength lies in the group force as none of the players stand out. This winter marked a change in coaches and this may affect the team’s performances and stile of play. The main offensive strong point is striker Bilasco which is reputable in air battles and although not very tall he makes up with very good positioning.

My tip:  Liverpool to win

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*matches in all competitions

Porto last 5 matches:  

Porto last 3 home matches: 

Arsenal last 5 matches: 

Arsenal last 3 away matches:

The second match on Wednesday in the Champions League and Arsenal will have a very difficult task away to FC Porto as the team encountered a loss in form recently.

FC Porto may seem like a candidate to win this first leg but even with this the decisive match will be played in London and qualifying to the next phase will take all their concentration and determination.

Porto managed to improve on their situation recently in the Portuguese Super Liga with 3 victories in the last 5 matches played and are now on the third spot of the table, still a long way from the driver’s seat with a gap of 9 points from leaders Benfica and 8 from second Braga. They lost ground last week as they ended in a goalless draw their trip to Leixoes.

With their 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the weekend, Arsenal managed to put an end to 4 matches without victory, 3 of tows in the Premier League and one in the FA cup witch marked their exit from the competition.

Only theoretical chances for them in the fight for the Premier league title as they sit 6 points from leaders Chelsea and 5 from Manchester United. In this match they have a great handicap missing out important players as R. van Persie and A. Arshavin.

My tip:  FC Porto to win

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*matches in all competitions

Bayern last 5 matches:  

Bayern last 3 home matches: 

Fiorentina last 5 matches: 

Fiorentina last 3 away matches:

Second day of the Champions League and it seems like Bayern Munchen may have the easiest task of all teams still involved as they welcome a struggling Fiorentina to the Alianz Arena.

Bayern Munchen is flying high with a string of victories that seems endless both in the German Bundesliga and also in the DFB Pokal. Trailing leaders ayer Leverkusen in the domestic league only due to a poorer goal ratio, the team is set to win the championship title and please the crowds with performances in the Champions League.

No less than 12 consecutive victories for the German giants, the last time they lost any points was late November in a 1-1 draw against rivals Leverkusen. The same story in home matches where they reached 7 consecutive victories and look unbeatable on their pitch.

Fiorentina may be the weakest team to gain access to this phase of the competition, surrounded by European football giants, the small Italian team will consider this one of their greatest performances.

No victories for them in the last 5 matches played, 4 in the Serie A and one in the Cup with a very important loss to their side as striker Adrian Mutu, who impressed at the start of the year,  is suspended from all competitions. Nonetheless we have to remember that Fiorentina finished top of group E, 2 points in front of Lyon and leaving Liverpool in the Europa League.

My tip: Bayern Munchen

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*matches in all competitions

Lyon last 5 matches: 

Lyon last 3 home matches:

Real Madrid last 5 matches:

Real Madrid last 3 away matches:

The Champions League is back on and with it, this new phase of the competition will place head to head the best clubs on the continent as is this match in which french giants Lyon will welcome Real Madrid.

Although Lyon is not enjoying a great form, the team managed to hold on to the 4th spot in the Ligue 1 table, joust one point behind Lille and the third spot which will grant them another place in the UCL for next season.

With dramatic fluctuations in results recently, on home ground Olympique Lyon is a force winning 4 out the past 5 matches played both in the domestic league and in the Cup.

Real Madrid finished top of Group C in the Champions League with a comfortable 4 points advantage over AC Milan. Spirits are sky high at the club after Barcelona’s defeat on Sunday which bough Real joust 2 points behind the leaders and relaunched the Primera Division fight.

They are in a good form but showing important signs of weakness whilst playing away, nonetheless with a match of this importance motivation will not be an issue.

My tip: Draw

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*matches in all competitions

AC Milan last 5 matches: 

AC Milan last 3 home matches:

Manchester last 5 matches:

Manchester last 3 away matches:

The match that will grab most of the attention from football lovers this Tuesday with a confrontation between AC Milan and Manchester United and old rivalry between Italy and England.

Milan’s results lately may not put them in the driver’s seat against a force such as Manchester United but the “rosso nerri” have showed time and time again that in derby matches they can overthrow any adversaries.

With only one victory in the past 5 matches played in the Serie A and Copa Italia the team managed to stay on the third spot of the league table joust 2 points from AS Roma and a match less than their adversaries.

Manchester United where stopped from achieving 5 consecutive victories last week by Aston Villa witch held them to a 1-1 draw. They are faced to similar problems that they encountered in the last matches of the group phase as Owen Hargreaves, N. Vidic, R. Giggs and j. O’Shea are injured.

Some trouble in matches played away lately for them with this draw against Aston Villa and a loss to rivals Manchester City, the team is trailing Chelsea by only one point in the Premier League.

My tip: AC Milan to win

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Xerez last 5 league matches: 

Xerez last 3 home matches: 

Real last 5 league matches: 

Real last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Xerez -20, Real -2

Xerez home table position: 20

Real away table position: 3

This is supposed to be a easy trip for giants Real Madrid i the Spanish Primera Division as they take on last in the charts Deportivo Xerez on Saturday.

Deportivo Xerez is last in the table with a total of joust 11 points in all 21 played and sure of relegation for some time now as salvation is 9 points from them with the team not showing any signs of drastic improvement.

Only one points from this match will probably be like a victory in the Champions League for them as they have managed only 2 wins and 2 draws in home matches this season, losing the rest of 7 with a goal statistic of 7 scored and 18 conceded.

Real Madrid still trailing leaders Barcelona by 5 points, with a total of 50 in 21 matches played. The team has won the past 3 matches played in the competition but apart from Deportivo la Coruna the other 2 adversaries Malaga and Espanyol are ranked very low.

With a perfect statistic at home of 11 victories and 11 played, Real has lost valuable points in away matches especially in the last period, winning joust one of the past 3 played and ending up with a very modest statistic of 5 victories, 2 draws and 3 losses with a goal ratio of 15 scored and 9 conceded.

My pick: Real Madrid to win

Bayern last 5 league matches: 

Bayern last 3 home matches: 

Dortmund last 5 league matches: 

Dortmund last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Bayern -2, Dortmund -5

Bayern home table position: 2

Dortmund away table position: 6

What an incredible form for Bayern Munchen with results that brought the team on the first spot with 45 points as Leverkusen but a difficult task against Borussia Dortmund this Saturday.

No less than 8 consecutive victories for Bayern Munchen to date and the team saw a considerable shift in the table from the 6th spot last year now joust behind Leverkusen due to a poorer goal ratio.

The Bundesliga giants have not tasted defeat yet on home ground with a statistic of 7 victories and 4 draws in all 11 played and a strong goal ratio of 22 scored and 8 conceded.

Borussia Dortmund is certainly highly motivated for this match after losing the last 2 played in the German league and with the painful defeat administered to them by Bayern Munchen in the start of the season, 5-1 the scoreline.

Their statistic in away matches is decent with 4 victories and 4 draws, losing only 2 in all 10 played but a negative goal ratio of 15 scored and 16 conceded. None the less in case of a positive result and depending on Hamburger SV performance this week, the team can advance to the 4th spot.

My pick: Bayern Munchen to win