Third placed AEK and second placed Everton will meet in Athens in this important clash which will directly effect the advancing teams.
AEK have been disappointing recently but they managed to overcome a tough PAOK side in the domestic league on the last match day. That match was mentioned in the prediction here. This win had a positive effect on the team for sure but it didn’t wipe out all the problems the club have. The financial status is still causing a big unrest and it effects the players pretty much.
Everton on the other hand are having ups and downs lately and doing actually below the expectations in the English Premier League. Their home defeat in the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool hurt them indeed. They will be looking to recover with at least an acceptable score from this match.
Everton will have some injury problems for this match and they are mostly defensive players. The missing list includes ineligibe players Lucas Neill and John Heitinga and injured players Joseph Yobo, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin, James Vaughan, Leon Osman, Mikel Arteta and Victor Anichebe. That’s an important bunch of players. Sylvian Distin reported to be doubtful and might play which is up to manager’s decision. The team still has lots of quality players including the on form attacker Bilyaletdinov, Jo, Yakubu and the offensive strentgh will even rise with the returning of Saha but still the missings will effect the team play, for sure.
As for prediction; I think the quality is on Everton’s side despite the important missings. AEK will try to attack but their offensive strength has a limit. Everton here will decide how this game will be played and I think they will not be disappointed with a draw from Athens. Therefore, I expect a slow tempo game which will be under Everton’ s control. AEK should win inorder to qualify, thats right but it is not a reliable reasoning for a prediction if the team don’t have a consistent form. Going for Everton not to lose seems a wise option.
Prediction
Everton | X2 Double Chance
Extras
Draw at HT | Everton at FT
Goals | Under 2,5
Twente are flying high in the domestic league and staying on the top of the standings. They have been quite impressive and they are not only getting results but also performing some quality football lately. They have their tenth victory in a row in the domestic league.
Fenerbahce on the other hand are having some hard times despite staying on the top of the Turkish Super League. They lost a local derby before the last matchday, and lost to relegation zone team Kasimpasa on the last matchday. Kasimpasa match was mentioned in the prediction here.
In the first game of this clash, Twente beat Fenerbahce 1-2 in Istanbul, thanks to the two goals came in 10 minutes and that defeat was the only defeat Fenerbahce got in this group; they have won the all three games since then and staying at the top of the group.
Fenerbahce have important missings for this match. Their enthusiastic and talented midfielder Emre Belozoglu will be out due to injury. His absence effects them too much. Colin Kazim-Richards will miss the game due to injury as well. A defensive midfielder will replace Emre’s position and that will lower the creativity and balance in the midfield but give extra strength to the team defense.
Twente will be with full squad except Theo who was already out due to a long term injury.
Fenerbahce manager Daum said in his press conference that they will gain their momentum starting from this match. Players are also under heavy criticism and they know they will silence those only if they produce some positiveness on the pitch.
Twente manager McLaren seemed comfortable in the press conference and stated that they surprised Fenerbahce in the first match and gave them their only defeat in the group but he added that now Fenerbahce are aware of Twente’s strong sides plus the willingness of Fenerbahce players to produce a good result after a two weeks bad run in their domestic league will make things harder for Twente.
The extra fan support Fenerbahce will have in Netherlands have to be underlined as well.
As for prediction; I am expecting a tactical battle in this match. A loss would damage Twente a lot as they sit on the second place and they are still under danger. They won’t risk to lose and will probably choose a conservative approach to the game. Fenerbahce on the other hand will be more than OK with a draw as it will keep them at the top before the last matchday. I don’t think this clash will produce too many goals considering the facts mentioned above.
Prediction
Goals | Under 2,5
Extras
Draw at HT | Draw at FT
Bordeaux are staying on the top of the group. They are performing well over the expectations and enjoying their lead.
Juventus on the other hand have been in a good shape recently except the last matchday that they played Udinese. They struggled to open the lock and seemed ineffective, although Udinese’s tough defense has to be underlined here.
Bordeaux in this match will probably be without creative attacking midfielder Gourcuff and the attacker Chamakh as they are doubtful. Without this duo Bordeaux’ offensive power would suddenly down to a mediocre quality.
Juventus on the other hand are nearly full squad and Del Piero might find a place on the pitch for this game.
Both teams are looking to advance and they won’t risk to lose a game before the last matchday. Therefore I expect both teams to play a cautious style from the beginning. Bordeaux anyway will be OK with a draw in this match while their best players are named doubtful. Even if they manage to play it is hard to expect a top performance from them. As for the prediction; I’ll go for a double chance in favor of Juventus.
Prediction
Juventus | X2 Double Chance
Extras
Goals | Under 2,5
Draw at HT | Juventus at FT
Manchester United are on the top of the group and guaranteed to advance. Only question remaining is whether they will be the 1st placed or 2nd. Ferguson mentioned there might be some replacements in the team to rest some of the exhausted regular players. This can be taken in two ways; Replacements are not capable of being in the starting line-up as they are the substitutes or the replacements will give extra strength to the team as they will do anything to prove themselves. I think, in teams like Manchester the second option is the one to take into consideration.
Besiktas on the other hand had no chance to be in the top two but still have hopes for a Europa League seat. They performed below the Champions League quality up to now and willing to at least play in the European Cups by grabbing the third place.
As for the prediction; I ‘ll go for a Manchester United comfortable win. There are kind of matches that rotational players wait in the season and this one is one of that kinds.
Prediction
Manchester United | Win
Extras
Correct Score | 2-0
Manchester United to keep Clean Sheet
Arsenal top the Group H of Champions League and a point will book their place in the next round while a win will guarantee advancing as the 1st placed team.
Standard Liege on the other hand still have a hope to advance. They are placed 3rd behing second placed Olympiakos and will be looking to keep their hopes alive for the last match day.
Arsenal had a bitter matchday in the domestic league as they lost to Sunderland. They will be looking to replace the morale missing and this match is a perfect situation for that. Now, they will try to give more than expected.
Standard Liege will be without De Camardo and talented Defour, plus their strong attacker Jovanovis is doubtful after a slight injury.
As for the prediction; a goal-fest seems possible here. Standard Liege will try to stay in the game and will do their best to keep their hope alives for the last match day while Arsenal will try to guarantee advancing on top which will also help them to recover from the defeat they had in the domestic league.
Prediction
Goals | Over 2,5
Unirea found themselves in a good position to advance to the next round in the Champions League. Their direct and counter attack style of play produced impressive results up to now.
Sevilla on the other hand booked their place in the next round, the question remains is whether they will be first or second placed in the group to advance.
Sevilla will be a bit relaxed before this game and might look into field some rotational players to rest some exhausted ones. They are doing pretty well in their domestic league and they are looking to keep and improve their performance in the league. Therefore, it is doubtful that if they give all they got in this match after a travel to Romania in a group they already guaranteed to advance. Plus they have a chance of a make up in the last matchday as they are playing at their home pitch against struggling G. Rangers.
Unirea’s opponent for advancing is Stuttgart and Unirea will face them on the last matchday. Things are a bit complicated between these two. They had a 1-1 draw at the first match in Romania and Unirea had two points clearance in the standings at the moment. This means they have to win in the last matchday inorder to advance if they lose against Sevilla in this match. One would prefer to play for a win at home venue rather than doing it at an away game. Therefore, Unirea will be playing for a win here but not risking the defense too much. If they got a draw, and if Stuttgart wins over G.Rangers then both teams will go on the pitch at the last matchday with the same points. Unirea will at least try to keep that single point in hand and looking for a win in that mood.
As for the prediction; I will go for a double chance in favor of Unirea. They will give all they got here and will try to produce at least enough result to keep their hopes alive on the last match day.
Prediction
Unirea | 1X Double Chance
Rubin Kazan clinched the title in domestic league last week and they are flying high at the moment. This is their two domestic championships in a row.
Dynamo Kiev on the other hand are in a good shape domestically, they beat rivals Shaktar Donetsk on the last matchday with a convincing 3-0 and coming to this match with in a good shape.
In the first game Dynamo Kiev beat Rubin Kazan after a great come back in the second half. In that match they seemed like a more balanced and determined team at the end.
Group F is open to any team at the moment. Therefore, the remaining matches will be played in a final mood.
Rubin Kazan’s title celebrations and relief is a question mark here. Right, these players are professionals and they are definately aware of the serious Champions League tournement but anyway, if you have a champions league match three days after that celebration day, it could be tricky no matter what.
There is an other factor to be underlined; Rubin Kazan have some quality players and in the transfer market they will be targeted as their domestic league is over, for sure. Some rumours already have it. The performance these players will show is a key factor while they have transfer deals in mind. This can go to both ways; Players might double their efforts or will keep it in a relaxed mood and just give an acceptable performance to avoid any potential injuries. My vote would go to the second option considering the similiar situations in the past.
By the way, The weather or pitch conditions will not be a disadvantage for Dynamo Kiev like it was for many teams travelled to Russia.
As for prediction; I am not expecting too many goals here but I will go for a double chance prediction in favor of Dynamo Kiev.
Prediction
Dynamo Kiev | X2 Double Chance
Extras
Draw at HT | Dynamo Kiev at FT
Goals | Under 2,5
AEK is in a bad shape. They hardly score and team’s harmony is falled apart. Their strongest part is team defense, a typical Greek mentality of style; they keep waiting for an oportunity ot two, or a set-piece to score. They will have some suspended plaayers and their central centre back might be a player who is actually a side back, but still that won’t change the mentality. AEK ’s loyal fans are expecting at least a good run in the Europa League as they are definately out for domestic cup and probably in domestic league.
BATE is not less then AEK when it comes to struggle, they weren’t the team they used be in a couple of years back. They are mediocre at all and still they have a similiar game style mentality as AEK. No a goal machine but slightly above average defense.
Prediction
Goals | Under 2,5
Extras
Goals | Under 1,5
Draw
Draw at HT / Draw at FT
