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Athletic Bilbao vs Barcelona Preview
Match analysis and pre-match quotes
There is so much at stake for both teams. The departure of Pep Guardiola has increased the hype ahead of the 2012 Copa del Rey final. It will be the 41-year-old’s last match in charge of Barcelona as coach. The public expects his players to play at their highest level since the motivation to dedicate the Copa del Rey title to Guardiola is there. However, the match comes at a rather bad time.
“We would have liked to play the match at an earlier date so that some of us could go on holiday, others could join their teams for Euro 2012 and others to prepare for their teams' World Cup qualifiers,” Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets explained during a pre-match press conference.
Coppa Italia: Juventus vs Napoli Match Preview
Team News
Juventus coach Antonio Conte will be unable to count with the services of both Giorgio Chiellini and Paolo De Ceglie, as both players are sidelined due to injury. Due to this Martin Caceres will join Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci in what is expected to be a three-man defence. Conte will most likely start Juve legend Alessandro Del Piero alongside...
Bayern München vs Chelsea Preview
Team News:
For Bayern, Daniel Van Buyten has returned from injury. He played for the Bayern reserves in a professional match. There are no other worries for Bayern at this point. Holger Badstuber, Luiz Gustavo and David Alaba are all suspended for the match.
For Chelsea, Gary Cahill and David Luiz are presumed to be fit. They did not feature...
Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao Match Preview
Team News
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone will be able to count with a close-to full-strength side to confront the final, as Colombian defender Luis Perea and captain Antonio Lopez have recovered from injury just in time for the game. However, Portuguese defender Tiago will miss the game due to suspension, while his compatriot Silvio has been ruled out until next season. Another player who won't feature is Fran Merida, who is cup-tied.
Like his counterpart, Marcelo Bielsa faces few significant absences, as while Xabier Castillo and Aitor Ocio had been discarded due to injury a while ago, Fernando Amorebieta faces a late fitness test and is expected to make his return. Strikers Iker Muniain and Fernando Llorente were rested for the weekend’s goalless draw with Getafe, and will reinforce the side.
Liverpool vs Chelsea Preview
The Reds currently sit in 9th place with the possibility of finishing in 8th or even 10th depending on how the rest of the season plays out. After a 6th place finish last season in the Barclays Premier League, Liverpool have managed to have yet another poor season. Although they have been poor in the Premier League, Liverpool have already added a Carling Cup to their trophy case this season. They missed the opportunity to add an FA Cup this past weekend, but fell to Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.
Chelsea vs Liverpool Preview
Team News
For Chelsea, both Gary Cahill and David Luiz continue to be side-lined. Luiz, despite his moments of madness provides fans with rare moments of unforgettable magic. Cahill has turned out to be a good buy for the Blues; he unfortunately lost his footing in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and is suffering from a hamstring injury as a consequence of that ill-fated fall.
Lucas Leiva, the Brazilian who had plenty of critics, had performed well last season but was ruled out with a serious injury this season. The former captain of Blackpool, Charlie Adam had joined Liverpool this season. He proved to be a good buy as he did a wonderful job for the Merseyside team until injury ruled him out for six months. Adam’s work ethic has been missed.
Barcelona vs Chelsea Preview
Team News
Midfield maestro Xavi Hernandez will have to play through the barrier of pain unless coach Guardiola decides to organize the team without the number 8. The Spaniard, who had to come off 20 minutes from time in Saturday’s Clasico, has played 90 minutes of football only once in Barcelona’s last 7 matches in all competitions.
Another bad news for the Blaugrana is that defenders Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano are a booking away from suspension. A yellow card against Chelsea would rule them out of the UEFA Champions League final should they make it.
Manchester United vs Everton Preview
A win for Everton would reduce the deficit between Man Utd and Man City to 2 points with the derby looming large.Sunday is round 35 in the EPL and both Manchester teams are involved. Manchester United hosts Everton while Manchester City will meet Wolves at the Molineux.
The champions are on quite a run. Its what they do best at this crucial time of the season. A lot of people were surprised by their recent loss to Wigan but Wigan have always been an attack minded side always up for a game. It was no fluke win, as they took down Arsenal in their following game to boost their survival chances.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Preview
Team News
The good news for neutrals is that there are no major absences. For Real Madrid, defender Ricardo Carvalho is a doubt. Meanwhile, Eric Abidal, David Villa and Andreu Fontas are the three men on Barcelona’s list of excluded players. Fresh reports indicate that Alexis Sanchez is doubtful but the former Udinese striker may shake off his injury worries in time to play in El Clasico.
Match analysis - What is at stake
Los Blancos and the Catalans will have their best players fit. However, we may not witness a game of high tension as both teams have scores to settle in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal vs Chelsea Preview
Team News:
Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere, Per Mertesacker and Abou Diaby are all out injured. The big blows for Arsenal are the absences of two players who were both playing some of the best football they have played this campaign: Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun. Arteta’s first season at Arsenal came to an end last week as Arsene Wenger...
Chelsea vs Barcelona Preview
Titleholders Barcelona are aiming to reach their third European final in four years since the appointment of Pep Guardiola. 2009 Champions League beaten semi-finalists Chelsea are looking to reach their second final in the history of the club.The Blues have a perfect record at Stamford Bridge in Europe this season. In their last home win thus far, they narrowly defeated Benfica 2-1. Chelsea were on the brink of suffering an upset until Raul Meireles’ injury-time winner settled matters.
A rare triumph over Barcelona on Wednesday night will stretch the Blues’ run to 6 consecutive home wins.
Bayern München vs Real Madrid Preview
Analysis, statistics and facts
History puts Bayern Munchen on top of Real Madrid ahead of this 2011/12 UEFA Champions League first-leg semi-finals tie. These two elites have played against each other 4 times in European Cup semi-finals. Bayern triumphed on 3 occasions, in 1976, 1987 and 2001 respectively.
The Germans have never lost to the Merengues on home soil. The 9 meetings ended in 8 victories for Bayern and 1 draw. The head-to-head record also reveals that Bayern Munich have won 10 of their 18 matches against Madrid.
Champions League semi-finals: Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid preview in quotes
Real Madrid have a crucial game against Barcelona coming up later this week. Distraction could be an issue. Meanwhile, the tactical and physical approach against Bayern Munich may be affected as El Clasico will require Los Blancos to be in top form. Defender Sergio Ramos has called on his team mates to take it one match at a time to avoid blowing everything away during this important period in April.
“We must not think about Barcelona or the Spanish title. We are playing in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern,” Ramos told reporters on Monday.
“We are playing against a world-class team. They have a lot of quality in their team and players like [Arjen] Robben or [Mario] Gomez who can make the difference.”
Manchester United vs Aston Villa Preview
At the beginning of the week, Manchester United saw themselves eight points clear of their city rivals. As we now head into the weekend fixtures, United’s lead has been cut down to five points thanks to a surprising loss to Wigan mid-week.
Liverpool vs Arsenal Preview
Team News
It is very likely that Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson will not play the full 90 minutes. Both players suffered injuries during international duty with England in midweek. Daniel Agger’s exclusion from Kenny Dalglish’s roster is confirmed.
Medical reports explain that the Denmark player has a broken rib. The wound, picked up during last weekend’s Carling Cup final victory over Cardiff City, could take Agger out for up to four weeks. The pressure will be on Downing and Craig Bellamy to give out a great performance in the wings.
Benfica vs FC Porto Preview
Two weeks ago Benfica looked to be on course for the title. Unbeaten at the time in the Liga ZON Sagres, the Eagles enjoyed a five-point cushion over their fierce rivals from the north.But a defeat (against Vitoria Guimaraes) and a draw (against Académica), combined with two Porto wins wiped off that advantage, meaning that both sides are dead level on points going into the clash.
Indeed, Porto may feel a psychological advantage, having obtained two victories at the Estádio da Luz last season. Benfica coach Jorge Jesus does not see it that way.
England vs Netherlands Preview
Team news
Darren Bent has been ruled out and so have Tom Cleverley, Kyle Walker and Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney. Without these players, caretaker manager will be forced to give a bigger role to Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott in attack.
James Milner could start but 2012 Carling Cup winner Steven Gerrard will probably not play the full 90 minutes following last weekend’s exhausting encounter against Cardiff City. Liverpool’s Glen Johnson has also been replaced by Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott.
Germany vs France Preview
Team news
The situation is somewhat disastrous for German coach Joachim Löw as he’ll be without 4 key players. Striker Lukas Podolski, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and defenders Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker won’t face France due to injury. In addition to these big blows, Löw has lost Sven Bender. The player suffered a terrible bruise to his face last weekend.
Meanwhile, Lars Bender and Mario Gomez may play the entire match as Sami Khedira and Miroslav Klose are doubtful. Monchengladbach’s Marco Reus, who will be under the spotlight, could be used as a right winger.
Mexico vs Colombia Preview
Team News
Jose Pekerman, who replaced Leonel Alvarez as the new coach of Colombia in January, will keep the base of his predecessor's squad in his official debut. The only two modifications that he will make are the inclusions of Aldo Leao Ramirez and Bernardo Espinosa, who play for Morelia and Racing Santander, respectively.
Meanwhile, Jose Manuel...
Ecuador vs Honduras Preview
Team News
The biggest blow for Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda is that Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia will be unavailable after sustaining a hamstring injury during a recent Europa League outing against Ajax Amsterdam. While only two European-based players were called up by Rueda, seven players ply their trade in the Mexican First Division, with the...