AC Milan – Fiorentina 1 May 2010

AC Milan last 5 league matches:

AC Milan last 3 home matches:

Fiorentina last 5 league matches:

Fiorentina last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: AC Milan - 3, Fiorentina - 10

AC Milan home table position: 6

Fiorentina away table position: 9

with this week announcement that Leonardo will no longer be with AC Milan after this season it would be interesting to see how the team performs against Fiorentina this Saturday.

Milan is showing a very poor form with only one victory in the last 7 matches in the Serie A and with 2 losses in the last 2 played. The team is currently on the third spot, a position they will most likely keep until the end of the season as their major threat, Sampdoria sits 4 points behind.

Their home statistic is way to week for a tournament like the Serie A and especially for a team with their claims as Milan won 10 and ended 5 in draws in all 17 played, a good side to the story being the 33 goals scored but a weak defense as the 20 conceded shows.

Fiorentina is also struggling in the competition with only one victory in the last 6 matches played and falling dramatically in the charts to the current 10th spot with a total of just 46 points.

Their last away victory dates back to mid March with a 1-3 final score against Napoli, from that point on it’s all been down hill managing only one point in the last 3 played and bringing the away statistic to 4 victories and 5 draws in 17 played with a negative goal ratio of 20 scored and 24 conceded.

My pick: AC Milan to win

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Schalke 04 – Werder Bremen 1 May 2010

Schalke last 5 league matches:

Schalke last 3 home matches: 

Werder last 5 league matches:

Werder last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Schalke - 2, Werder - 3

Schalke home table position: 3

Werder away table position: 2

With all the matches taking place at the same time in the Bundesliga this one is the crucial one for the outcome of the table at the end as second Schalke 04 welcomes third in rank Werder Bremen.

Schalke 04 remains the only team that can rob Bayern Munchen of the championship title, with a total of 64 points they are behind the German giants only due to the goal ratio but with an equal amount of points they will finish second as they have inferior results in direct matches.

Their form is very good with 3 victories in the last 5 matches played buy Werder Bremen is in full force as well. Schalke’s home statistic reveals 11 victories and 2 draws in all 16 played with a good goal ratio of 29 vs 13.

Werder Bremen is showing great force in this season’s finale, climbing up to the third spot with 57 points, same amount as Bayern Leverkusen but with great results lately including 4 victories in the last 5 matches played in the competition.

Their statistic is very balanced with similar results both at home and away. They have 8 victories and 4 draws in 16 played whilst traveling and a vfery good offensive with 35 goal scored but some gaps in defense as they conceded 19.

My pick: Schalke 04 to win

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Bayern Munchen – Bochum 1 May 2010

Bayern last 5 league matches:

Bayern last 3 home matches: 

Bochum last 5 league matches:

Bochum last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Bayern - 1, Bochum - 16

Bayern home table position: 1

Bochum away table position: 12

Only 2 more round to go in the German Bundesliga and Bayern Munchen are on their road to make this an historical season with a spot in the Champions League final reserved and the first chance in getting the domestic league champions title.

They are clear favorites in this match against a struggling VfL Bochum especially as they will play on home field and the stadium will be packed of supporters welcoming them back after eliminating Olympique Lyon in the UCL.

The team has the best home record of all teams in the competition with no less than 11 victories and 4 draws in 16 played so far and a clear goal ratio of 36 scored and only 12 conceded.

VfL Bochum are on a dangerous 16th spot of the Bundesliga table and facing at least a knock-out to remain in the first league. With a total of just 28 points and no victories in the last 10 matches played they could prove as saviors for Hannover who are just one point behind.

Only 4 victories and 4 draws for them in all 16 away matches this season completed by a terrible goal ratio of 14 scored and 26 conceded.

My pick: Bayern Munchen to win (over 2.5 goals)

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With the big final of the 2009-2010 Champions league decided to be a duel between Bayern Munchen and Internazionale Milano, who do you see as champions?

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Barcelona – Inter 28 April 2010

*matches in all competitions

Barcelona last 5 matches:  

Barcelona last 3 home matches: 

Inter last 5 matches:

Inter last 3 away matches:

The return leg of the second semi-final in the Champions League and Barcelona looks like they have a mountain to climb as they need to overcome a 3-1 aggregate scoreline against Inter on Camp Now this Wednesday.

Barcelona lost the first round played in Italy and worst than that they had very few opportunities to make any difference with their star player Lionel Messi marked at all times by 2 of Inter’s defenders.  They manage to win last week against Deportivo Xerez but their game was not impressive especially in the first half when the team looked very fragile in defense.

They hope that the home ground advantage will make the difference as they have made Camp Nou a fortress this season and most certainly Guardiola has studied Inter in dept to find their weak spot.

Inter is heading into this match with a very good morale both from the victory against Barcelona and more recently by reclaiming the top spot in the Serie A with a very good chance of keeping it to the end of the season thanks to their close victory away to Fiorentina and AS Roma’s defeat at the hands of Sampdoria.

Although their away play was not at all impressive this season, with a 3-1 advantage they will do what they know best and that is defending in my opinion from the start of the match and clustering players in their half so Barcelona will not have much space to work with.

My tip:  Barcelona to win

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Lyon – Bayern Munchen 27 April 2010

*matches in all competitions

Lyon last 5 matches:  

Lyon last 3 home matches: 

Bayern last 5 matches:

Bayern last 3 away matches:

The return leg of this semi-final in the Champions League and Bayern Munchen is traveling to Olympique Lyon with an aggregate advantage of just one goal.

Lyon has taken dramatic plunge in results in all competitions in which they are involved, both the French Ligue 1 and the Champions League. They are now out of the race for the title of champions in the domestic league and even in danger of missing out on any European tournaments next season as they currently sit on the 5th spot with pressure from next in line Bordeaux.

A positive factor for the French giants could be the fact that they have not played any matches last week in the championship and this could lead to a fresh display on the pitch but with no victories in the last 4 games played, morale is a real problem.

Bayern Munchen will be heading into this crucial match after a 1 all draw in the Bundesliga against Borussia Monchengladback in a very closed game with few opportunities on both sides. Even with this negative result, the team manages to keep their first spot of the table but only in front of Schalke 04 due to goal ratio.

They have the better chance in advancing with their one goal victory in the first round and especially the fact that they did not concede any. I expect them to play a very defensive match and base their offensive strategy on Robben and Ribery’s speed and tactical display.

My tip:  Draw

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Marseille – Saint-Etienne 25 April 2010

Marseille last 5 league matches:

Marseille last 3 home matches: 

Etienne last 5 league matches:

Etienne last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Marseille - 1, Etienne - 17

Marseille home table position: 3

Etienne away table position: 14

Leading the French Ligue 1 with a comfortable advantage, Olymique Marseille are very close to grab the title of champions and every match from now on is decisive including this one against relegation threaten Saint-Etienne.

With 33 round gone in the Ligue 1 and only 5 more matches to go, Marseille have a 5 point advantage over second and only opposition Auxerre with the team displaying a very good form with 6 straight victories in the competition.

Their home statistic is very strong with no less than 11 victories, 3 draws and 2 defeats in all 16 played completed with a superb goal ratio of 31 scored and 13 conceded.

Saint-Etienne is just above the relegation zone but with a total of 36 points they have a comfortable 8 point advantage over the first team under the line, an advantage which will probably see them survive this season in the first league.

The team form is good lately with 2 victories in the last 2 matches played in the tournament but their away statistic is terrible with 4 victories and 2 draws in all 16 played and a negative goal ratio showing 12 scored and no less than 27 conceded.

My pick: Barcelona to win

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Barcelona – Xerez 24 April 2010

Barcelona last 5 league matches:

Barcelona last 3 home matches: 

Xerez last 5 league matches:

Xerez last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Barcelona - 1, Xerez - 20

Barcelona home table position: 2

Xerez away table position: 14

This might prove to be the perfect opportunity for Barcelona to improve on their morale and start winning again against struggling Deportivo Xerez after 2 consecutive disappointing matches.

Barcelona is heading into this match from the top spot of the Primera Division but only with one point advantage over Real Madrid due to their draw in the last round against Espanyol.

They have suffered a painful defeat this week in the Champions League whilst traveling to Italian Champions Internazionale Milan with the final score showing a comfortable 3-1 for the opposition in a match in which Barcelona showed real problems in keeping the ball in the opposition’s pitch especially in the second half. Their home statistic with 15 victories and one draw in 16 played needs no comment and it will certainly recommend them to grab all 3 points here.

Deportivo Xerez is showing signs of improvement in the competition with 8 points gathered in the last 5 matches played but currently on the last spot with a total of just 27 points it might prove to late.

They sit 7 points from salvation but it’s hard to think that a team who spend almost all season on the last spot could achieve the impossible. Only 2 victories for them away and another 5 draws in 16 played with a terrible goal ratio of 15 scored and 30 conceded.

My pick: Barcelona to win

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Inter – Atalanta 24 April 2010

Inter last 5 league matches:

Inter last 3 home matches:

Atalanta last 5 league matches: 

Atalanta last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Inter - 2, Atalanta - 18

Inter home table position: 1

Atalanta away table position: 18

Just 2 matches are being played on Saturday in the Italian Serie A and between them this one in which current champions Inter welcome a struggling Atalanta.

Inter is in a fine form and with a good morale after 2 straight victories, bots against world class opponents, Juventus in the Serie a and Barcelona in the Champions league this week at the end of a superb display of football on Tuesday.

They still trail AS Roma by one point in the table as their direct opponents managed to come back after being led by Lazio in the Roma derby and won 1-2 with Vicinic scoring a double. Inter has the best home statistic of all teams in the competition with 13 victories and 4 draws in all 17 played showing a great goal ratio of 35 scored and 11 conceded.

Atalanta is still in the relegation zone with a total 34 points they sit just 2 under salvation and the team is showing important signs of recovery with 3 victories in the last 5 matches played making the battle at the bottom of the table a very disputed one.

Although they managed to grab important points lately, they all have been on home ground as in away things are terrible with no points in the last 4 trips and a total of just 2 victories and 3 draws in 17 played.

My pick: Inter to win

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Werder Bremen – Koln 24 April 2010

Werder last 5 league matches:

Werder last 3 home matches: 

Koln last 5 league matches:

Koln last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Werder - 3, Koln - 11

Werder home table position: 8

Koln away table position: 5

With Werder Bremen in a very good form and climbing consistently up the Bundesliga table they are to welcome FC Koln on Saturday in a match that might prove more difficult than at first glance.

Werder Bremen managed to climb up the third spot of the table with a very good chance now in getting a Champions League spot for the summer. The 2 teams at the top, Bayern Munchen and Schalke have quite some distance now and Werder will most probably aim to consolidate their spot as they face stiff opposition from Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and even Stuttgart.

They have won the last 3 matches played on home ground and showed a great appetite for offensive with no less than 11 goals scored in them but their statistic is still bearing the marks of the first part of the season with 7 victories and 5 draws in 15 played.

FC Koln is on the 11th spot of the table and in a very relaxed position as with a total of 37 points they have no worries for relegation but no hopes in claiming a spot in an European tournament as well.

Most of their points have come from away matches and this might be a danger to Werder Bremen, their statistic whilst traveling revealing 6 victories and 5 draws in 15 played.

My pick: Werder Bremen to win

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