Bochum – Stuttgart 23 April 2010

Bochum last 5 league matches:

Bochum last 3 home matches:

Stuttgart last 5 league matches:

Stuttgart last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Bochum - 15, Stuttgart - 6

Bochum home table position: 17

Stuttgart away table position: 7

The only match on Friday in day 32 of the German Bundesliga with VfL Stuttgart hoping to continue their winning streak against VfB Bochum and grab a last minute Europa League spot.

Bochum is falling slowly but sorely into the danger zone with only the goal ratio currently separating them from Freiburg and the emotions of a survival knock-out. The team has won only one match in the last 13 played with 6 losses in the past 7 played. If things continue this way their faith may be decided and the second division is close.

Their home statistic is at worst as they get with only 2 matches won and 4 draws in no less 15 played and a negative goal ratio of 18 scored and 30 conceded.

Stuttgart is currently on the 6th spot of the Bundesliga with only 3 points deficit from 4th Borussia Dortmund and one point above Hamburger SV. The team is going through a very good period with 5 victories in the last 5 matches of the competition thaws resulting in a very good morale.

Much improvement in their away play as well with 2 wins in the last 2 trips but the statistic still bares the marks of their poor start with 6 victories and 4 draws in 15 played and a fragile goal ratio of 20 scored and 19 conceded.

My pick: Stuttgart to win

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Bayern Munchen – Lyon 21 April 2010

*matches in all competitions

Bayern last 5 matches:  

Bayern last 3 home matches:

Lyon last 5 matches: 

Lyon last 3 away matches:

The second semi-final match of the Champions League 2009-1010 season and with Bayern Munchen welcoming Olympique Lyon we are guaranteed yet another night of spectacle in the competition.

No doubt the big favorite to win this match and even advance is Bayern Munchen as they eliminated one of the big favorites for the trophy in 2 dramatical games against Manchester United 2-1 on home ground and a 3-2 loss away.

The first part of this season when Bayern’s season seemed compromised is a total different story for what the team is achieving now, semi finalist in the Champions League so far and 2 points advantage in the Bundesliga table.

They certainly are a very strong team on home ground and their fantastic 7-0 victory over Hannover 96 this weekend speaks volumes about their offensive force, morale and current form.

Olympique Lyon, on the other side, seems to have taken a plunge with no victories in the last 3 matches played in all competitions, a loss against Bordeaux in the return leg of the Champions League and 2 consecutive draws in the French Ligue 1 championship.

Away matches have been a problem with their record showing only 1 victory in the last 6 played and without victory in the last 3 Champions League trips against Fiorentina, Real Madrid and Bordeaux.

My tip:  Bayern Munchen to win

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Inter – Barcelona 20 April 2010

*matches in all competitions

Inter last 5 matches:  

Inter last 3 home matches: 

Barcelona last 5 matches: 

Barcelona last 3 away matches:

First semi-final of the Champions League, a true match of champions as Internazionale Milan welcome Spanish giants Barcelona for the 3rd clush between them this season after the group confrontations.

Barcelona dominated in the group confrontations in the start of the season with a goalless draw on Inter’s pitch and a 2-0 victory on Camp Nou, but now the Italian squad seems to have the upper hand and the favorite status at least in this first leg.

Inter is heading into this match with a very good morale after maintaining themselves in the Serie A championship title chase last week with a victory over rivals Juventus and displaying a very good form in the process.

Home matches are their specialty with superb statistics both in the domestic league and the Champions League but the team needs to start in force against Barcelona and block all Catalan attempts to score if they are to stand a chance for the big final.

Barcelona will be heading into this match highly motivated after losing ground last week in the Spanish Primera Division with their goalless draw against local rivals Espanyol. A very though trip for them which saw Dani Alves leaving the pitch on the 62′ after receiving the second yellow card.

They don’t seem to have any complex against Inter or their coach but i expect a very close match with both teams striving to get a goal in whilst concentrating on the defense.

My tip:  Draw

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Mallorca – Osasuna 19 April 2010

Mallorca last 5 league matches:

Mallorca last 3 home matches:

Osasuna last 5 league matches:

Osasuna last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Mallorca - 4, Osasuna - 11

Mallorca home table position: 3

Osasuna away table position: 9

The only match on Monday in the Spanish Primera Division with Mallorca pressured to reclaim their 4th spot after the weekend matches when Sevilla won and have a 2 points advantage.

This could be an historic season for Mallorca as they hold high chances of claiming a spot in the Champions League, currently sitting between giants and consecrated names of the competition like Valencia and Sevilla.

They are one of the strongest teams on home ground in the tournament showing a superb record of 13 victories and 2 defeats in all 15 played so far with a crushing goal ratio of 36 scored and only 10 conceded.

Osasuna is currently sitting mid table with no hopes of further significant advancement but with no worries regarding relegation either. They have won only 2 of the past 5 matches played and ended in a 2-2 draw their match against Malaga in the last round.

There is nothing really in their away statistic that would recommend Osasuna to grab any points from this dispute as they have only 4 and ended 2 in draws in all 16 played with the remark that they have yet to claim any points in the past 5 matches played on other stadiums.

My pick: Mallorca to win

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Real Madrid – Valencia 18 April 2010

Real last 5 league matches:

Real last 3 home matches:

Valencia last 5 league matches: 

Valencia last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Real - 2, Valencia - 3

Real home table position: 2

Valencia away table position: 3

A very important match for Real Madrid in the Spanish Primera Division against third spot holders Valencia as the team from Madrid trails Barcelona by 3 points after losing in the El Clasico.

Both Real Madrid and Valencia claimed all points in their matches from the league this week against Almeria and respectively Athletic Bilbao and both compensating for last week’s losses.

What other team could have spoiled Real’s perfect record at home than Barcelona in the biggest derby of the football world, leaving them with 15 victories in 16 played and a goal ratio of 50 scored and 15 conceded.

Valencia is third in the table and with a total of 59 points they sit 7 points in front of 4th Mallorca but with no hopes of advancing in rank due to Barcelona and Real’s insurmountable advantage at the top.

Although in home matches they look very solid, whilst playing away the team is experiencing real problems losing the last 4 played and ending up with embarrassing 7 straight matches without victory leading to a negative goal ratio of 23 scored and 24 conceded.

My pick: Real Madrid to win

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Lazio – Roma 18 April 2010

Lazio last 5 league matches:

Lazio last 3 home matches:

Roma last 5 league matches:

Roma last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Lazio - 16, Roma - 1

Lazio home table position: 19

Roma away table position: 3

Derby match in the city of Rome this Sunday with always a lot of tension surrounding the clashes between Lazio and AS Roma in the Italian Serie A championship.

This may be one of the most unbalanced disputes in years between the 2 teams as AS Roma is pushing through and held the top spot until Inter’s match on Friday against Juventus and a Lazio team struggling through out the season and now only on the 16th spot of the table.

The home team has won 3 out of the past 5 matches played with the remaining 2 ended in draws which led them to rise up above the relegation zone and keep a somewhat comfortable 7 points advantage over the line.

Roma are clear favorites to win this match but with Lazio in a upward spiral and a stadium packed of hostile supporters will make their mission very difficult. Five straight victories lead Roma to the top spot and made them go head to head with Inter for the championship title.

Their away statistic is not that great with only 6 victories and no less than 7 draws in 16 matches played and a goal ratio showing 26 scored with a worrying 22 conceded,  most of their points coming from home matches.

My pick: Draw

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Borussia Dortmund – Hoffenheim 18 April 2010

Dortmund last 5 league matches:

Dortmund last 3 home matches: 

Hoffenheim last 5 league matches:

Hoffenheim last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Dortmund - 4, Hoffenheim - 12

Dortmund home table position: 3

Hoffenheim away table position: 11

Only 2 matches taking place on Sunday in the German Bundesliga and between them this interesting clash between Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim.

Currently on the 4th spot of the Bundesliga table, Borussia Dortmund sits just 2 points from third spot holders Bayern Leverkusen and a Champions League spot for the summer. Nonetheless their current position is being threaten by next in line Werder Bremen and Hamburger SV.

The team looks very solid whilst playing in front of the home crowd with a record showing 10 victories and 2 draws in 15 matches played completed by a very good goal ratio of 27 scored and 12 conceded.

Hoffenheim had a very disappointing season so far and with a total of just 34 points they are now on a low rated 12 spot in the Bundesliga table and with little hope of improvement as they have not been able to win any of the past 6 matches in the tournament.

As expected their away statistic is also modest with 5 victories and 2 draws in all 15 played accompanied by a negative goal ratio of 15 scored and no less than20 conceded.

My pick: Borussia Dortmund to win

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Espanyol – Barcelona 17 April 2010

Espanyol last 5 league matches:

Espanyol last 3 home matches: 

Barcelona last 5 league matches: 

Barcelona last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Espanyol - 14, Barcelona - 1

Espanyol home table position: 10

Barcelona away table position: 1

A match eagerly expected by both Espanyol and Barcelona on Saturday a local derby proven over the years to be very spectacular and unpredictable.

Espanyol has had a though season so far and now stand only on the 14th spot of the Primera Division table and with a total of 37 points just 8 over the relegation zone. The team has won only one match in the past 5 played with a superb display of force on home ground against Atletico Madrid 3-0 but failed grab any points from their trip to Racing Santander in the last round.

They have a decent statistic on home ground when comparing to their disastrous display in away matches with 8 victories and 5 draws in 16 matches played in front of their supporters.

Barcelona flying high in both competition in which they are still involved and now top the Primera Division standings with 6 points advantage over Real Madrid as they have a game more played than their bitter rivals.

They are clear favorites in getting all the points from this one and adding another victory to their current record of 7 straight especially as they have the best statistic in away matches of all teams in the competitions with no less than 11 victories and 4 draws in 16 played accompanied by a superb goal ratio of 34 scored and 10 conceded.

My pick: Barcelona to win

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Auxerre – Lorient 17 April 2010

Auxerre last 5 league matches:

Auxerre last 3 home matches: 

Lorient last 5 league matches: 

Lorient last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Auxerre - 2, Lorient - 8

Auxerre home table position: 6

Lorient away table position: 8

Interesting development at the top of the French Ligue 1 with no less than 5 teams still in the books for claiming the championship title and with encouraging recent performances Auxerre have made their bid.

Auxerre has now become Olympique Marseille’s greatest competitor for the top spot, trailing the leaders by 5 point and ahead of teams like Lyon and Bordeaux, Auxerre is yet another surprise team that popped up in the top of the table as Montpellier previously.

The team has only won 2 out of the past 5 matches played but their last loss in the Ligue 1 dates back to early February and with only this competition on their mind this stage of the season they have to take every game seriously if they are to grab a Champions League spot for the summer. Their statistic looks very strong on home ground with 10 victories and 3 draws in 16 played but the goal ratio is not impressive with only 20 scored and 13 conceded.

Lorient is on a surprising 8th spot of the table with a total of 50 points, only 10 gap from their current adversaries and with slim chances of grabbing a Europa League spot.

Their current form is good with 3 victories and one draw in the last 5 played but their away play needs improvement as they show 6 victories, 2 draws and no less than 8 defeats when traveling completed with a negative goal ratio of 16 scored and 17 conceded.

My pick: Auxerre to win

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Bayern Munchen – Hannover 17 April 2010

Bayern last 5 league matches:

Bayern last 3 home matches:

Hannover last 5 league matches:

Hannover last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Bayern - 1, Hannover - 16

Bayern home table position: 2

Hannover away table position: 16

With only a slight advantage over Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga table, Bayern Munchen has a great opportunity on home ground to build on their lead as they welcome a struggling Hannover.

Only 2 victories for Bayern Munchen in the last 4 matches played in the competition but good results in the last 2, both played away first a victory over their closest competitors Schalke and a draw in the last round away to third Bayer Leverkusen.

They have the best statistic so far on home ground with no less than 10 victories and 4 draws in 15 matches played, losing only against Stuttgart but maintaining a good goal ratio of 26 scored and 12 conceded.

Hannover is on the 16th spot of the Bundesliga table, a spot that leads to a knock-out for them to remain in the first league but with a total of 27 points they are just one point short of salvation. Their recent performances might give them some hope in achieving their objective as they claimed 7 point out of the past 5 matches and pose a real threat to Bayern as they are highly motivated to take advantage of any opportunity.

Their away record is disastrous with only 3 victories and 2 draws in 14 played as it’s the goal ratio they now have, 13 scored and no less than 24 conceded showing the worst defense in the league.

My pick: Bayern Munchen to win

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