RSSMilan vs Juventus Preview
AC Milan will be hoping to put an abrupt end to Juventus' impressive unbeaten run when the fierce rivals clash in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Wednesday.
Italy's two most in-form clubs face-off in what is expected to be a highly entertaining Coppa Italia semi-final clash at the San Siro stadium on Wednesday. AC Milan, the reigning Italian champions, will strive to inflict a first defeat of the season upon a high-flying Juventus outfit who appear to be on their way to returning to the elite of Italian soccer.
The fact that both teams have been neck-and-neck throughout great part of the Serie A this season, adds extra spice to the Coppa Italia encounter, because it will provide both sides with the opportunity to prove their supremacy.
Stuttgart vs Bayern München Preview
The German Cup has thrown up a mouthwatering fixture between two old rivals: Stuttgart and Bayern.
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The name of one semifinalist has already emerged. Borussia Dortmund booked their passage with a 0-4 win over amateur side Holstein Kiel. Bayern will look to emulate them as they travel to Stuttgart. In the previous round of the cup, both sides recorded narrow victories to progress: Stuttgart took out HSV 2-1 and Bayern took out Bochum 1-2. Both sides recorded almost identical results this weekend in the Bundesliga. Stuttgart drew 2-2 against Bayer Leverkusen while Bayern drew 1-1 against HSV. Bayern has not been on form since the restart of the Bundesliga. They succumbed too easily to Gladbach on Match-day 18 and were very unconvincing against Wolfsburg the following week despite recording a 2-0 victory.
Barcelona vs Valencia Preview
Barcelona drew 1-1 with Valencia last week in the first leg of their Copa del Rey match in the semi-finals, and so the second leg encounter on Wednesday evening will be more than a simple game.
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Pep Guardiola’s creativity will be put to the test as his list of absentees has expanded. Sergio Busquets is a doubt due to a knee injury and Pedro could also start on the bench or remain sidelined.
There are absolutely no chances of playing for Ibrahim Afellay, Andreu Fontas, Andres Iniesta and David Villa. Seydou Keita is also out for good, as he is currently on duty with the Malian national team in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
For Valencia, the presences of Hedwiges Maduro and Sergio Canales have been ruled out, but Bruno could add his contribution to his team’s efforts at the Camp Nou. Players who are set to return to action after a rest during the weekend are Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique, Alexis Sanchez, Ever Banega and Jonas.
Manchester United vs Liverpool open an exciting weekend of action in the EPL
Where else to kick off this weekend’s English Premier League drama but at Old Trafford where Manchester United and Liverpool are set to fire bombs?
Manchester United vs Liverpool
The Red Devils earned a point in controversial fashion last Sunday. Two crucial penalty decisions went in their favor as Chelsea dropped a 3-0 lead and thus two precious points at the Bridge.
Manchester United are now two points behind league leaders Manchester City. Ferguson’s men could temporarily claim the top spot but will Liverpool allow them to do so?
The Merseyside Reds have a pretty good record against Manchester United so they can confidently fancy their chances of winning. Liverpool should find pride, favor and hope in the following: their FA Cup triumph over Man United in January, Man City’s 6-1 humiliation of the Red Devils at Old Trafford and Blackburn Rovers’ 3-2 giant-killing at the same venue back in December.
2012 AFCON semis kick off with Ghana vs Cote d’Ivoire final in prospect
Zambia vs Ghana and Mali vs Cote d’Ivoire are two fixtures you cannot miss this Wednesday. Lovers of the game are anticipating a Ghana vs Cote d’Ivoire 2012 AFCON final. Will it really come on?
A quick recap of what happened in the 2012 AFCON's Last 8
The lineup for the semi-final stage at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is mouthwatering. Mali earned a spot in the semis after a dramatic penalty shootout saw them oust co-hosts Gabon in the quarter-finals.
Cote d’Ivoire also kicked out co-hosts Equatorial Guinea. The Elephants’ victory was straightforward, though: two powerful goals from Didier Drogba and an outrageous free-kick by Yaya Toure did the trick.
Like Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia recorded a 3-0 win in the quarter-finals. Christopher Katongo was the star man as the Chipolopolo dismantled the brave Sudanese.
Ghana joined Zambia in the semis thanks to a hard-fought triumph over Tunisia. Dede Ayew scored the winning goal in extra-time to force the Tunisians to a 2-1 defeat.
Re-live the quarter-finals matches through video highlights from our 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Fixtures and Results page.
Copa Libertadores Preview: Feb 7
Defensor Sporting and Velez Sarsfield kick-off the group stage of the 2012 Copa Libertadores in what is expected to be a pulsating clash in Montevideo on Tuesday.
The group stage of the Copa Libertadores gets under-way on Tuesday with what are likely to be three mouthwatering Group 7 clashes.Defensor Sporting of Uruguay take on Velez Sarsfield of Argentina in the latest instalment of the River Plate rivalry.
Fluminense of Brazil clash with Arsenal de Sarandi of Argentina, in a battle between teams from South America's two most successful Copa Libertadores nations.
While Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara lock horns with Ecuadorian champions El Nacional.
Expect fireworks in the first round of arguably one of the most evenly balanced groups of the entire competition.
In this preview:
Dortmund Edges Ahead in the Bundesliga Title Race
Bayern has officially been dethroned from the top of the Bundesliga. The weekend was really a triumph for Borussia Dortmund as all their nearest contenders drew their matches.
The Bayern supporters knew as did the hierarchy- the team’s performances weren’t up to the mark. Meanwhile, in the Ruhr region, Dortmund decided to put the loss of Nuri Sahin completely behind them. The three performances that Dortmund has produced in the Bundesliga this year have been almost spotless.A 0-2 win over Nuremberg propelled them to the top of the table on Friday. On Saturday, the three other contenders had to match their result and all failed to do so. Bayern was held to a draw in Hamburg. The result caused some uproar in Bavaria- but this time the comments from the hierarchy weren’t directed towards the opposition. The comments were directed towards Jupp Heynckes.
Chelsea 3-3 United: Reflections on the Match
London clubs seemingly enjoy squandering leads- Arsenal has done it quite a few times in the past and Chelsea repeated the feat on Sunday.
Newcastle 0-4 Arsenal- this is a score-line that will give quite a few jitters to an Arsenal fan. This was the score at half-time of the match last season. The final score was 4-4. Chelsea produced a good performance against United for the most part. 57 minutes had gone by at Stamford Bridge- Chelsea led 3-0.Yet, Howard Webb offered United a life-line. Two soft spot-kicks later, Chelsea was staring at a point from a game where they surely had three points secured before the hour mark. There was almost a sense of cliché to the United comeback when Javier Hernandez equalized in the 84th minute.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: A Messiah for Arsenal
32 minutes into the match between Arsenal and Blackburn, Morten Gamst Pedersen scored a stunning goal. Arsenal had conceded an equalizer for what felt like the millionth time in living memory.
Arsenal’s poor form in recent matches ensured that everyone came into the match low on confidence. Four games had gone by with no wins. The match against Manchester United caused one of the most public humiliations of Arsene Wenger in recent years. The fans booed the coach they had stood by for many a barren season.Wenger had really not committed any crime for the treatment he received. He just took off Alex Oxlade Chamberlain when Arsenal seemed to be the side more likely to grab a match-winner against United. As Chamberlain walked off the pitch and Andrei Arshavin came on, the Emirates seemed to be simmering. Arsenal eventually lost the game.
Chelsea vs Manchester United: Five tips the Red Devils should follow to win at Stamford Bridge
Sir Alex Ferguson's men haven't won at Stamford Bridge in a decade. Here are some tips they should follow to reverse this statistic.
The Red Devils may have had the upper hand over their rivals at Stamford Bridge over the years, but this has changed dramatically over the last decade as since the 2002-03 Premier League season Sir Alex Ferguson's side haven't won a single game at the venue after nine attempts.Chelsea have been dominant at the Bridge, after having obtained six wins and three draws over United during this period in official Premier League games.
However, with three defeats in eleven home games this season, beating Chelsea at the Bridge may not be impossible any more. United have barely lost a single away game this season, and if they manage to find gaps in the leaky Chelsea defence they are more than capable of returning to Old Trafford with the three points.
Chelsea vs Manchester United Live on Fox Network in USA
FOX kicks off with live Barclays Premier League coverage of Chelsea hosting Manchester United at Stamford Bridge Sunday, Feb. 5 at 10:30 AM ET on FOX.
FOX is expecting big returns on broadcasting a major EPL clash on the FOX Network which is widely available throughout the US on Terrestrial, Satellite and Cable Television. This is the second match in as many weeks that FOX airs a live Barclays Premier League match. The first was on January 22nd which drew record television audiences in the US with apx 1.3 million US viewers as American soccer fans watched Arsenal lose to Manchester United 1-2 at home.The live coverage of Chelsea-Man United will be presented by Rob Stone, former U.S. Men’s National Team player Eric Wynalda and CNN's Piers Morgan. Repeat airings of this match will be available at 7:00PM and 11:00PM (EST) on Fox Soccer Channel.
Milan vs Napoli Preview
AC Milan will strive to close the gap on league leaders Juventus when they entertain giant killers Napoli at the San Siro stadium on Sunday.
The Rossoneri will have no choice but to obtain maximum points against a difficult Napoli outfit in order to remain hot on the heels of high-flying Juventus.Milan's San Siro stadium will be a fitting venue for what is expected to be a fascinating encounter, which is incidentally between the two highest scoring teams of the Serie A.
The contest will also bring together two of the league's most prolific strikers in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani. Due to the attacking flair of both players neutrals could possibly be in for one of the most entertaining games of the season.
Juventus vs Siena Preview
Serie A league leaders Juventus have an ideal opportunity to further distance themselves from their closest rivals when they entertain lowly Siena at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday.
La Vecchia Signora are the odds on favourites to extend their impressive 20-game unbeaten run when they clash with relegation candidates Siena at the Juventus stadium on Sunday.Juventus, who had their midweek game with Parma postponed due to extreme weather conditions, will be hoping to get back into the swing of things against a vulnerable Siena outfit who have yet to win an away game in ten attempts this season.
Although the Tuscan outfit will do their utmost to change this negative statistic it is likely to be an almost impossible ordeal, not only because Giuseppe Sannino's troops have suffered five straight defeats, but because their rivals boast the best defence in the league, after having conceded a mere 13 goals.
Roma vs Internazionale Preview
The out of form duo of Roma and Inter Milan will be desperate to return to winning ways when they lock horns in a clash that could go either way.
Both teams will be hoping to put an end to a negative patch with a boosting result in what is expected to be an intriguing encounter at Rome's Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. After struggling to find their respective identities in recent outings, Roma and Inter alike will be looking to return to winning ways, as anything less than the three points could put an end to the title aspirations of either side.
Inter, who fought out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Palermo at the San Siro on Wednesday, have lost the plot in recent outings because prior to their 1-0 defeat away to lowly Lecce last Sunday they had won an impressive seven games on the trot.
Roma vs Inter Milan: Five reasons why the Nerazzurri will triumph in the Italian capital
Much is at stake at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. But here are five reasons why Inter will return to Milan with the three points.
Inter Milan will be hoping to shrug off a series of poor results when they travel to the Stadio Olimpico to do battle with Roma on Sunday. The Nerazzurri come into the match with the desperation to claim maximum points, as if they fail to manage this their title aspirations could break into pieces. Here are five reasons why Inter will beat Roma in ascending order.
5. Inter unbeaten against Roma in 2011.
Roma may hold a historical advantage over Inter at the Stadio Olimpico, however, 2011 was Inter's year, as they were unbeaten in all four games between the sides irrespective of the venue. With two wins and two draws and a favourable 7-4 goal difference the Nerazzurri were thoroughly superior when compared to their rivals.
Ghana, Gabon & Cote d’Ivoire’s presence electrifies 2012 AFCON quarter-finals
Watch out for more thrills in Gabon-Equatorial Guinea this weekend. See where to watch the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final matches live.
Zambia vs Sudan, Cote d’Ivoire vs Equatorial Guinea, Gabon vs Mali and Ghana vs Tunisia complete the quarter-final phase’s fixtures list. The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations doesn’t need the weight of continental giants Nigeria, Egypt and Cameroon to be fantastic!
So-called minnows like co-hosts Equatorial Guinea have performed against the odds to give the tournament a special electrifying touch. Sudan have also provided a shock by reaching the quarter-final stage at the expense of Angola. Meanwhile, Seydou Keita’s Mali had to wait until the very last minute to know their fate.
Ghana haven’t hit top form yet and this is why curiosity comes in. How will the Black Stars fare in the knock-out stage against the struggling Tunisians? Do the Ghanaians possess enough fire in their belly to reach the final at the expectations of the public?
Atlético Madrid vs Valencia Preview
Third-placed Valencia will face Atletico Madrid in a crucial encounter on Sunday night. What’s next for the prospective Copa del Rey finalists in La Liga?
Atletico Madrid have the advantage. They know that Los Che will be playing with the Spanish cup tie against Barcelona in their mind. They also know that European football is within their reach. Atletico are 7th in the standings ahead of Matchday 21. Beating Los Che will boost their confidence.
Three of both teams’ last 6 meetings ended in a draw. Valencia have the upper hand in terms of head-to-head following their 1-0 victory at the Mestalla in the first half of La Liga. However, the differences between Atletico Madrid and Valencia are tight.
John Terry at the center of bad news ahead of Chelsea vs Manchester United
Claims that John Terry racially abused Anton Ferdinand have led to intense distraction at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea and Manchester United prepare to lock horns.
The issue of racism continues to rage in English football as a man has been charged for making racist comments during Tuesday night’s Manchester United vs Stoke City match against some of the away players. The fan, identified as 57-year-old Howard Hobson, is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Hobson will go to court on Wednesday.News related to John Terry, however, is making more noise across the globe. The Chelsea skipper has been stripped from his England captaincy following David Bernstein’s decision to do so. According to the media in England, the FA chairman communicated the news to Terry via a phone call. A statement by the FA explained:
Getafe vs Real Madrid Preview
With Real Madrid being 7 points clear Barcelona in La Liga, the Madrid derby couldn’t be more exciting. Getafe vs Real Madrid will certainly provide viewers with fireworks.
Real Madrid have not kept a clean sheet since their 3-0 defeat of Sporting Gijon on December 3. However, the Spanish giants have reliable forwards as this records suggests: Madrid have netted 20 goals in their last 5 games in La Liga to hit an average of 4 goals per match. Their perfect record stretches to more than 450 minutes in La Liga. Impressive.
Meanwhile, Getafe can also be proud of their current form. In the first place, they are on a run of 6 matches without defeat. Their last loss in La Liga dates from December 11 when Sevilla triumphed 3-0. Since then, Getafe have grabbed decent results which include their recent 2-1 win away to Levante.
Barcelona vs Real Sociedad Preview
Barcelona host Real Sociedad on Saturday at the Estadio Camp Nou with much load on their shoulders.
Unlike their opponents, Barcelona’s recent Liga record isn’t negative at all. Having won four of their last games and lost none, they could feel confident to beat the twelfth-placed side. Three consecutive draws though lately, emphasized by a 7-point gap in the league standings, makes their situation somewhat stressful.Real Sociedad have only won two of their last six games, having drawn thrice and lost once. The sit four points above the relegation zone, and thus, a defeat against the Catalans could be cruelly costly.
Barcelona have appeared to make the best passes this season in La Liga; they presently average an 89.1% rate for passing accuracy, and 70% for ball possession. But, Sociedad are not too far behind. Although they can only manage 45.8% for ball possession at the moment, their passing has been acceptable at 74.9%.