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

 Loading ...

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

 Loading ...

Inter – Juventus 16 April 2010

Inter last 5 league matches:

Inter last 3 home matches: 

Juventus last 5 league matches:

Juventus last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Inter - 2, Juventus - 6

Inter home table position: 3

Juventus away table position: 4

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza will host an important venue on Friday as Internazionale Milano welcomes Juventus for this traditional derby of the Serie A.

After a long domination in the competition, Inter lost it’s first spot of the Serie A to AS Roma and now trail them by only 1 point making this a very important match for them as one mistake could see them out of the race and their adversaries building a comfortable position.

The team is going through a though phase with only 2 victories in the last 7 matches of the tournament and showing real problems in morale and motivation as in the Champions League their game is much improved over what they have showed in the championship. They still look solid on home ground with 12 victories and 4 draws in all 16 played and a very good goal ratio of 33 scored and only 11 conceded.

Juventus has taken a huge plunge in the standings and ended up on the 6th spot with real pressure from next in line Napoli but still prospects of claiming a Champions League spot for next season as 4th Palermo are just 3 points away.

Two victories for them in the last 3 matches played but both obtained with lower ranked teams of the competition Atalanta and Cagliari and showing real problems in away games failing to grab any points from the last 3 bringing the record to 7 victories, 2 draws and no less than 7 defeats.

My pick: Inter to win

 Loading ...

Real Madrid – Barcelona 10 April 2010

Real Madrid last 5 league matches:

Real Madrid last 3 home matches:

Barcelona last 5 league matches: 

Barcelona last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Real Madrid - 1, Barcelona - 2

Real Madrid home table position: 1

Barcelona away table position: 1

El Clasico as this derby match is known around the world and all eyes on Spain Saturday night with this legendary rivals go head to head with both Ream Madrid and Barcelona aiming for the title of champions and both displaying impressive force and football skill.

Real Madrid is the favorite here with this match on home ground and in front of 80.000 eager supporters. They currently to the Primera Division table but with 77 point they are in front of Barcelona due only to their better goal ratio making this direct match between the two a very important and maybe decisive for the overall look at the end of the season.

Real lost their trip to Barcelona 0-1 in the start of the season and in case both teams finish with the same amount of points, the Catalan giants have the upper hand putting pressure on Real Madrid before this match kicks off but also motivating them even further.

A perfect record at home this season, a truly unbelievable performance in such a powerful football championship with 15 victories in 15 played and a goal ratio to match this as they scored no less than 50 goal and conceded only 13. Having been kicked out of the Champions League by Olympique Lyon with the big final on Santiago Bernabeu and existing Copa del Rey very early this remains their only objective and failure to grab it would mean disaster.

Barcelona has a sky high morale after this week of Champions League as they eliminated Arsenal with a superb display of football and Lionel Messi in an exceptional form. Continuing their journey both in the UCL and Primera Division, fatigue may become a factor in their overall performance but the motivation and pressure such a derby match brings will probably make them tackle their limits.

As Real Madrid are the best team when it comes to home ground statistic, Barcelona tops the charts with their away record showing 10 victories and 4 draws whilst losing only against Atletico Madrid and a very good goal ratio of 33 scored and only 10 conceded. Although they are characterized mainly by their offensive force, this season they proved to have the best defensive of them all in the competition.

My pick:  Real Madrid to win (over 2.5 goals)

 Loading ...

Schalke 04 – Bayern Munchen 3 April 2010

Schalke last 5 league matches:

Schalke last 3 home matches: 

Bayern last 5 league matches: 

Bayern last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Schalke - 1, Bayern -2

Schalke home table position: 3

Bayern away table position: 4

On Saturday all eyes on this derby match between the first 2 spots of the Bundesliga table with Schalke having a slight advantage due to their better performances in the last few games.

Schalke 04 got a 2 point advantage over Bayern Munchen and lead the Bundesliga with one of their best chances in the last few years to win the champions title, making this match a crucial one as they could get a comfortable lead in case of a victory.

The team is showing a very good form with 4 victories in the last 5 matches and only one draw, 2-2 away to Hamburger SV. They look very strong on home ground this season with 10 victories and 2 draws in 14 matches played with a good goal ratio of 25 scored and 10 conceded.

Of the 2 teams, Bayern seems to have an easier schedule in the last 6 rounds left of the Bundesliga with only Schalke and Leverkusen as strong opposition but with 2 defeats in the last 2 rounds of the competition they made it very easy for their adversaries to overpower them and take the lead.

Bayern Munchen has not won any of the previous 3 away matches, ending 2 in draws against struggling bottom sides Nurnberg and Koln and losing against to Frankfurt displaying a poor form in all 3 and struggling especially in the offense. Tows results completed a modest away statistic with only 6 victories and 4 draws in 13 played.

My pick:  Schalke 04 to win

 Loading ...

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

 Loading ...

Sporting last 5 league matches:

Sporting last 3 home matches: 

Porto last 5 league matches:

Porto last 3 away matches: 

Table positions: Sporting -4, Porto -3

Sporting home table position: 8

Porto away table position: 4

Derby match in the Portuguese Superliga as Sporting Lisbon welcome rivals FC Porto in a match that is certain to draw huge crouds to Estadio Jose De Alavalade on Sunday.

Neither of the 2 teams living up to expectations this season and the statement is more true for Sporting Lisbon as the team sits on the 4th spot of the table and with little chance of advancing this year. They have a total of just 29 points in 20 matches played in the competition and the current form does not give much hope for improvement any time soon. Only one reason for joy, their qualification in the next phase of the Europa League as they eliminated Everton this week.

Their home ground statistic is very poor with only 4 victories and 3 draws in 10 matches played and a similar goal ratio of 11 scored and 10 conceded which is totally unacceptable for a team playing in front of the home crowd.

Although FC Porto is joust one step above Sporting Lisbon in the table the gap between the 2 teams is great. Porto has a total of 43 points, no less than 14 above their adversaries in this game and with some hopes for the top spot as they are 6 points from leaders Benfica.

Their run lately has been good with 3 victories in the last4 played and a big plus in morale as they eliminated Arsenal in the Champions League and head on to the next round. They are one of the strongest teams on home ground but the away play is rather modest with a record of 4 victories and 2 draws in 9 played but a good defense as they conceded only 6 goals whilst scoring 15.

My pick:  FC Porto to win

 Loading ...

Bayern last 5 league matches:

Bayern last 3 home matches: 

Hamburg last 5 league matches:

Hamburg last 3 away matches:

Table positions: Bayern -2, Hamburg -4

Bayern home table position: 2

Hamburg away table position: 5

The derby match of this leg in the German Bundesliga and one of only 2 to be played this Sunday in the competition as Bayern Munchen welcomes Hamburger SV.

After a 9 game winning streak in the domestic league, Bayern Munchen got just one point from their trip to Nurnberg last week as it finished 1-1. When looking at the team’s performance and results lately, Nurnberg looked like an unlikely candidate to stop Bayern and the team lost yet another chance to overcome Leverkusen in the overall table.

Bayern Munchen has yet to lose any matches at home this season but with 8 victories and 4 draws their statistic is not really that impressive, their goal ratio on the other hand is another matter with 25 scored and 9 conceded looking very strong on offense.

Hamburg is on the 4th spot of the BUndesliga table with a current total of 40 points, 9 behind their current adversaries and with little room to work with his week as third Schalke sits 5 points from them. Their main threat is Borussia Dortmund which trail them by only one point.

They have a very modest statistic in away matches as they won 4, ended no less than 6 in draws and lost 1 to Dortmund showing a goal record of 25 scored and 16 conceded revealing an emphasis on attach which leaves gaps in defense.

My pick:  Bayern Munchen to win

 Loading ...