Saturday, September 15, 2012

Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid CF ... La Liga week 4


Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid CF

La Liga, week #4

Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán @ 20:00 (GMT)


The Mourinho era, and Madrid's dominance:-
Since Jose Mourinho took control of Real Madrid in the 2010-11 season, the Blancos defeated Sevilla in every game (La Liga and Copa del Rey). Although Sevilla has 5 points and R. Madrid has 4, this doesn't mean they have the upper-hand. Madrid just solved the Ronaldo "issue", and we saw how he was laughing during training with Mourinho. I believe this game will interesting as always, but Sevilla don't stand a chance!


CR7 is angry, beware Sevilla:-
Okay, I mentioned that Ronaldo's issue's been solved with Madrid; but he will conquer and prove his worth to the Madrid management. He scored against Barça in the SuperCopa, and then did it twice against Granada in week #3.


Distractions, distractions! The UCL clash against Man. City + the Barça's 5 point deficit:-
This is, arguably, the best Real Madrid squad I've seen. I'm not underestimating the squads who won championships in the last 10-20 years, but this squad has, at least, 2 top-notch players in every position. And let's not forget Mourinho's factor! I know Man. City is a tough team, and they'll give us a good match against Real Madrid. But, there's a difference between Mourinho and Mancini. Mancini is the one who gets distracted, but Mourinho doesn't... Trust me! The one thing that'll distract all of Real Madrid is that if Barça defeated Getafe prior to their game!!!


Call-ups:-
Sevilla FC... Palop, Diego Lopez, Spahic, F. Navarro, Trochowski, Rakitic, J. Navas, Manu del Moral, Hervas, Kondogbia, Luna, Botia, Baba, Campaña, Medel, Cicinho, Cala, Maduro, Negredo.

Real Madrid CF... Casillas, Adan, Jesus; Ramos, Marcelo, Pepe, Arbeloa, Varane, Albiol; Khedira, Kaka', Özil, Xabi Alonso, Essien, Modric, Callejon, Di Maria; Ronaldo, Higuain, Benzema, Morata.


Prediction:-
Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Ronaldo! He'll be dominant in this match, a goal or two for him. As long as the bench is full, Madrid won't face problems event if they face Barça this Tuesday.
Sevilla FC 0-3 Real Madrid CF


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Serie A week 3


Serie A, week #3

Sat: 15-Sep, and Sun: 16-Sep


Saturday: 15-Sep-'12:-

Palermo vs Cagliari @ 16:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Cagliari


Sunday: 16-Sep-'12:-

Chievo vs Lazio @ 10:30 (GMT)
Prediction: Lazio

Roma vs Bologna @ 13:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Roma

Siena vs Udinese @ 13:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Draw

Napoli vs Parma @ 13:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Napoli

Pescara vs Sampdoria @ 13:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Sampdoria

Fiorentina vs Catania @ 13:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Draw



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AC Milan vs Atalanta BC ... Serie A week 3

AC Milan vs Atalanta BC

Serie A, week #3

Saturday: 15-Sep-'12

San Siro @ 18:45 (GMT)


It's the Red n' Black vs the Black n' Blue... Of Bergamo:-
The colours tell it all, Atalanta BC, the self-proclaimed "original nerazzurri", will face a team that loathes the black n' blue. This may be an indicator that AC Milan will dominate the match tonight!


The Pazzini factor, and the horrible Atalanta defence:-
"Il Pazzo" scored a hat-trick in Milan's week #2 game against a tough Bologna side, and I bet he'll be thirsty for more goals this week. The Atalanta defence hasn't been that good recently, but they have a brilliant GK (Consigli) who denied Cagliari 2 PKs. Add to the horrible defence part, Peluso won't play against Milan.


But... Can Milan's defence stop Denis?:-
Denis, a dangerous striker in Serie A. A player who can tremble most defences, and Milan's defence doesn't need more trembling! He will score against Milan, but can his teammates in defence manage to make his goal(s) count?


Call-ups:-
AC Milan...  Abbiati, Amelia, Gabriel; Abate, Acerbi, Antonini, Bonera, De Sciglio, Mesbah, Mexes, Yepes, Zapata; Ambrosini, Boateng, De Jong, Constant, Emanuelson, Flamini, Nocerino, Traorè; Bojan, El Shaarawy, Niang, Pazzini.

Atalanta BC... Bellini, Biondini, Bonaventura, Brivio, Cazzola, Cigarini, Consigli, De Luca, Denis, Ferri, Frezzolini, Lucchini, Manfredini, Matheu, Moralez, Parra, Polito, Raimondi, Scozzarella, Stendardo, Troisi.


Prediction:-
AC Milan has a good attacking line, with a "thirsty" Pazzini. But, can their defence manage to hold off Denis's threat? We'll have a good game in a 15 degree/c weather!
AC Milan 3-2 Atalanta BC


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Genoa CFC vs Juventus FC ... Serie A week 3

 Genoa CFC vs Juventus FC

Serie A week #3

Sunday: 16-Sep-'12

Stadio Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) @ 13:00 (GMT)


Marassi, not the best venue for Juve:-
Since the 2006-07 season, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris (Marassi) hasn't been so kind to Juve (when playing against Genoa in Serie A). Also, Genoa CFC didn't lose to Juve last season; whether in Torino or Genova. But, let's keep in mind that Genoa CFC sold Palacio, Veloso, and Constant in the summer; this means Juve has a big chance in upsetting "Il Grifone".

Borriello, Immobile, and Vargas... A handfull for the Bianconeri:-
The first two players know Juve in some way, because they had a spell with the Italian giants. But can they come back an haunt Juve? Not THIS Juve! They'll be a threat, but threats don't always win. Because Juve is STRONG!!!

Conte, "con te" or without you... Juve is fearsome:-
The Bianconeri, 28 league titles... Last season they won the league unbeaten. This is all thanks to Antonio Conte, a legend as a player, and definitely he'll become a coaching legend. But, the charismatic coach is side-lined for the rest of the season; will it affect Juve negatively? No!

The "distracting" Champions League... Chelsea on Wednesday:-
Whoa! Didn't see that coming. In my opinion, Juve won't give much attention to the Chelsea game until they defeat Genoa. Although it's a bit distracting to some Juve faithful, but the players' mentality is bigger than getting distracted.

Prediction:-
Easy win for the Bianconeri, they have a great squad and they'll have the determination to continue their unbeaten streak in the Serie A.
Genoa CFC 0-3 Juventus FC


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Torino FC vs FC Internazionale ... Serie A week 3

 Torino FC vs FC Internazionale

Serie A, week #3

Sunday: 16-Sep-'12

Stadio Olimpico di Torino @ 18:45 (GMT)


History is in Inter's side... In Torino:-
Since the 2001-02 season till our day, Inter haven't lost or drawn against Torino at the Olimpico (in Serie A of course). The last time Inter played against Torino at the Olimpico, Mourinho's side won 3-1 with definite ease. History will stand by Inter's side this time, only if Andrea Stramaccioni used the correct formation with the suitable players.

New line-ups?:-
Rumours spreading in Italy that "Strama" will play with Juan Jesus and Pereira from the beginning, well this means Strama will take a huge risk in keeping his sheet clean. Also, Torino will start in an attacking formation... A 4-2-4 to be exact. This will give the Inter midfield a huge test, don't know if they're going to pass!

Milito, Cassano, and Sneijder ... Or playing Coutinho?:-
Milito, Cassano, and Sneijder are dangerous to any defence in Italy, but playing them against a team who'll enter with a 4-2-4 formation is risky. The reason is that none of these 3 does his defensive duties, while Coutinho in the other hand will do such thing in order to get himself more starting call-ups.

Torino has excellent players in every position:-
From Gillet in GK to Bianchi in attack, Torino has good names in every position. Ogbonna is a good defender who'm will prove his value during this match; also, Torino's midfield is something to fear. Stevanovic and Cerci are young and talented, they can trouble the Nerazzurri! And let's not forget Meggiorini who played the match of his career last season against Inter when he was with Novara.

Prediction:-
As I said, if Strama entered with a reasonable formation and the players showed maturity Inter will win. If otherwise, Torino will emerge victorious... Easily!
Torino FC 2-2 FC Internazionale


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EPL week 4

English Premier League

Week #4 (Sat: 15-Sep, Sun: 16-Sep, and Mon:17-Sep)


Saturday: 15-Sep-'12:-

Norwich City vs West Ham United @ 11:45 (GMT)
Prediction: West Ham United

Aston Villa vs Swansea City @ 14:00 (GMT) 
Prediction: Swansea City

Fulham vs West Bromwich Albion @ 14:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Draw

Stoke City vs Manchester City @ 14:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Stoke City

QPR vs Chelsea @ 14:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Draw

Sunderland vs Liverpool @ 16:30 (GMT)
Prediction: Sunderland


Sunday: 16-Sep-'12:-

Reading vs Tottenham Hotspur @ 15:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Tottenham


Monday: 17-Sep-'12:-

Everton vs Newcastle United @ 19:00 (GMT)
Prediction: Everton


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Man. United vs Wigan Ath. .. Week # 4 EPL

Manchester United FC vs Wigan Athletic FC

English Premier League

Saturday, September 15th 2012

Old Trafford @ 14:00 (GMT)


United have history upper hand:-
Manchester United and Wigan, a match that the Red Devils dominated since the 2005-06 season whether it was at Old Trafford or the DW; but last season Wigan were responsible of holding Man. United during the last meters in title race.

Injury scares for United... I don't think so:-
RvP is ruled fit to face Wigan, along with Kagawa. RvP's injury during international duty scared the United faithful, since Rooney isn't fit enough... But "he (Rooney) is showing good signs" as Sir Alex claims!

Ali AlHabsi: How long can you survive the United threat at Old Trafford this time?:-
AlHabsi, arguably one of the best GK's in the EPL nowadays... But is he good enough to deny Man. United an easy win? I don't think so, RvP will show everyone that Sir Alex didn't make a mistake when he brought him to the Theatre of Dreams. He will do what he does best... SCORE WHEN HE WANTS!!!

Starting line-up, and Sir Alex's choices:-
In my opinion, Sir Alex is somewhat controversial regarding the starting line-up(s). And throughout my research about this match, it is rumoured that Welbeck and Chicharito will start against Wigan. Controversial? Yes, Sir... ALEX!

United... Intimidating attack, but a vulnerable defence:-
Although United scored 6 goals in 3 matches, let's not forget that they conceded 5. Man. United's defence may improve in the upcoming weeks, hence I believe they'll concede this time; al least once!

Prediction:-
Since we're in week #4, I think Man. United will ease past Wigan. Ali AlHabsi won't stand achance against RvP and co.
Man. United FC 3-1 Wigan Athletic

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