TODAY INFO 21.02.13
Rubin Kazan v A.Madrid
ODDS MOVE FOR RUBIN KAZAN,
A.Madrid miss Diego Costa, Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Arda Turan & Diego Godin
Genk v Stuttgart
ODDS MOVE FOR STUTTGART
Genk miss best player Vossen (top scorer), also Nadson, Ajub Masika, Limbombe, Walsh and Schrijvers.
Lazio v B.Mon'gladbach
ODDS MOVE FOR B.MON'GLADBACH
Lazio miss key players Klose, Mauri, Dias, Brocchi & Cavanda, also Diakite, Saha & Zarate.
Viktoria Plzen v Napoli
ODDS MOVE ON VIKTORIA PLZEN
Napoli miss Hamsík and Armero, also Cavani, Inler, Cannavaro & Campagnaro could be rested.
Rubin Kazan - Atletico Madrid 3.20 - 2.50
This match will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on the artificial pitch. Advantage Rubin, in my opinion.
The Atletico players did not show the right attitude in the first leg (0-2 loss) and I must believe they do not care much for the Europa League this season. Away to Valladolid at the weekend Atletico demonstrated what they are capable of, when the players are motivated (3-0 win). D Costa, Juanfran, F Luis, Gabi, Tiago, Koke, A Turan and Godin, all regulars, have not made the journey to Moscow.
The home side miss their suspended defender, their skipper Sharonov. I cannot say if M’Vila will be ready or not. My choice will be the home win.
Cluj - Inter 2.60 - 3.09
2-0 up from the first leg it is looking good for Inter, but their confidence took a real beating at the weekend, when Fiorentina toyed with Inter, winning the match 4-1. The way I see it the Inter coach must be under huge pressure and he has to pick up a positive result this weekend in the derby with Milan. Inter have to make a good impression in the derby and who cares about this cup game in Romania! The idea is to use several fringe players tomorrow, but they probably have to play Cassano and Palacio upfront.
Having sold their best offensive players Cluj may not be the most dangerous side around, but maybe they will do enough to win this fixture. Assessing the odds, the home win is the only alternative.
Dnipro - Basel 1.67 - 5.84
I was happy to see Basel dismissing of Dnipro 2-0 in the first leg. The match was played under wintery conditions. It is probably colder in Ukraine, but it cannot be snowing any more than it did in Basel last week. Dnipro won all their group games in Ukraine quite comfortably and I can understand why they have become clear favourites in this second leg. Still this 1.67 is way too short. Basel have to travel without their leading scorer M Streller. Home win, but quite useless odds.
Genk - Stuttgart 2.93 - 2.60
Last minute Genk equaliser in Stuttgart last week. Deserved or not, but Genk were always in with a chance. The important Vossen will be missing for the home side. He was replaced in the second half of the first leg and the man that replaced him , G Plet, equalised for Genk. Barda, an early doubt, should be fit to play. Stuttgart miss their injured midfielder T Torun.
It was an absolutely crucial win for Stuttgart at the weekend winning away to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and could be, Stuttgart and coach Labbadia are over their worst crisis. I prefer the away win alternative.
Lazio - Borussia Mönchengladbach 2.00 - 4.18
Much as I had expected Lazio lost to Siena earlier this week, but the way they lost? They were pathetic on the day. Away to Borussia Lazio played a strong game and if it was not for their wrestling defence they would have won the match. The Lazio defence gave away three penalties, two of them caused by Dias, who will be suspended tomorrow. Mauri and Ledesma did not play at Siena, but at least Ledesma will be available tomorrow.
Would you believe, as many as 10.000 Borussia fans will make the trip to Rome.
1X game.
Lyon - Tottenham 2.31 - 3.40
No game for Tottenham at the weekend, while Lyon travelled to Bordeaux for a very tricky away game. At least a very difficult task on paper, but Lyon returned home with an impressive 4-0 win in their bag. They counter attacked Bordeaux to death. Malbranque missed the Bordeaux fixture, but he will be available again.
If G Bale will play like a normal footballer tomorrow, then Lyon will have their revenge. I would not bet on Bale to have an off day, but making a choice here, I would still pick the home win. Why not a 2-1 home win and extra time needed.
Metalist - Newcastle 1.91 - 4.86
Far from harmless in the first leg I have to say that Metalist rode their luck a couple of times. Two Cisse goals were marginally offside and I have seen home teams not being punished under similar circumstances. Cisse, by the way, was very wasteful on the day.
Newcastle played their strongest side in the first leg, but I do not expect coach Pardew to be thinking along the same lines tomorrow. They had a match free weekend after the first leg, but this time they have an important home game against Southampton on Sunday.
My mistake! I have just seen the Newcastle nineteen man squad and they are all there, their best players, Ben Arfa, Santon, Debuchy and Gouffran aside.
Metalist, having played this highly competitive first leg, will be an improved side tomorrow.
I cannot imagine that this second leg will be goal less. Both sides on the score sheet and the winners? I rest my case.
Benfica - Bayer Leverkusen 2.00 -4.30
I saw Bayer missing quite a few open scoring chances in the first leg and consequently they lost the match 0-1. Cardozo had one chance in the game and he took it.
You know Benfica, leading the match 1-0 they did not offer much of an offensive threat in the second half and it was up to Bayer to open up the Benfica defence. This they managed a couple of times, but as I said, they were too wasteful in front of the Benfica goal.
There are not many sides in Europe than can hope for a positive result playing away to Benfica and I would not say that Bayer belong to that category. They have an honest chance of course, but I am leaning towards the home win.
Bordeaux - Dynamo Kiev 2.26 -3.66
In Kiev Bordeaux were ever so happy drawing the match. D Kiev dictated the game, they were rewarded a second half penalty, but they missed it. On another day D Kiev would have won the match 2-1 or 3-1.
It was a painful 0-4 home loss against Lyon for Bordeaux at the weekend and they lost two more players to injuries. Their injury situation, however, has eased up with both Planus and Sane included in their squad for this game. Not to forget, my favourite, the tall striker Diabate is back. Henrique, N’guemo and Mariano will not make it. D Kiev will go on with their lone striker Mehmedi. Tricky as hell. OK, the home win.
Chelsea - Sparta Prague 1.33 -12.08
One can probably say that Chelsea were quite content playing out a 0-0 draw in Prague in the first leg. It got even better with Oscar scoring a late winner for Chelsea. It was just another day at the office for Chelsea. Chelsea have more options for this second leg, as both V Moses and Mikel are available again. Demba Ba, F Lampard and Ivanovic will not play tomorrow. Another routine win for Chelsea, I guess, but do not forget, Chelsea will face Man City in a few days.
Steaua Bukarest - Ajax 2.76 - 2.70
I do not think the home side can stop Ajax from scoring a goal and in that case Steaua have to score four goals to reach the next round. It is certainly not likely to happen, but maybe Steaua will win this second leg by the odd goal. They missed a sitter in Amsterdam, or the Ajax keeper made a fantastic save and Steaua proved, they can be dangerous. Tanase will be back from a suspension, but both their regular midfielders Bourceanu and Pintili go the other way. Ajax have travelled with their strongest squad. Both sides to score.
Viktoria Plzen - Napoli 2.40 - 3.19
When teams more or less do not give a damn, like Napoli in the first leg, I get encouraged when they play poorly in their next game. It so often back fires, when you are not doing your best, much to my delight. Anyway Napoli were awful in the first leg and they were mediocre at home to Sampdoria at the weekend. Cavani, Inler and Hamsik will definitely not play tomorrow. Pandev and Insigne could play, but rotation will be the name of the game for coach Mazzari. Will the Napoli reserves work their socks off in this match, 0-3 down from the first leg? I do not think so and I prefer the home win alternative.
Fenerbahce - Bate Borisov 1.60 -6.96
Poor odds on the home win, as this fixture will be played without spectators.
I trust Fenerbahce to do the business, advancing to the next round that is, but this 1.60 is pretty useless. R Meireles was red carded after only four minutes in the first leg (0-0) and he will be suspended for this second leg. Fenerbahce are on a very healthy run on the domestic scene and they won 3-0 away to Trabzonspor at the weekend. Home win for Fenerbahce.
Hannover - Anzhi 2.40 - 3.12
Impressive Anzhi display in the first leg. Although Eto’o missed a second half penalty they won the match 3-1. In the group phase Anzhi did not impress overly in their away fixtures, drawing at Udinese, losing 0-1 vs. Liverpool and going down 1-3 away to Young Boys. Maybe we can forget about the last match.
Hannover are of course not out of it, a 2-0 home will do and Hannover will be in the quarter final. Hannover rarely keep a clean sheet, Hannover, and it is a delicate task, close to impossible, for the Germans, trying to score goals and preventing Eto’o and his team mates from finding the Hannover net.
Liverpool - Zenit 1.75 - 5.60
It was a small wonder that L Suarez did not score a couple of goals in the first leg. Liverpool and Suarez had so many excellent scoring opportunities on the day and I can imagine that Liverpool are quite hopeful ahead of this second leg, more or less convinced they will score two, three even four goals. All these openings in Petersburg, why would it be different at Anfield? No D Sturridge for Liverpool.
The other side of the coin is that Hulk and his Zenit are also likely to be on the score sheet tomorrow. I do not trust the Zenit defence, but their offensive players have a deadly potential. Over game for sure and probably the home win.
Olympiakos - Levante 1.83 - 5.06
0-3 down, how do Olympiakos look upon this second leg? An early home goal and maybe they will find the necessary enthusiasm, but it is quite possible that this game will turn out to be a luke warm fixture with both teams just going through the motions. You never know these things, but 0-3 against a decent La Liga side looks like mission impossible for Olympiakos.
The home side will miss the suspended Abdoun and no C Lell for Levante. Levante have left for Greece with all their fit players included in their squad. Home win, I guess, but I will not be involved....see more
Rubin Kazan v A.Madrid
ODDS MOVE FOR RUBIN KAZAN,
A.Madrid miss Diego Costa, Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Tiago, Gabi, Koke, Arda Turan & Diego Godin
Genk v Stuttgart
ODDS MOVE FOR STUTTGART
Genk miss best player Vossen (top scorer), also Nadson, Ajub Masika, Limbombe, Walsh and Schrijvers.
Lazio v B.Mon'gladbach
ODDS MOVE FOR B.MON'GLADBACH
Lazio miss key players Klose, Mauri, Dias, Brocchi & Cavanda, also Diakite, Saha & Zarate.
Viktoria Plzen v Napoli
ODDS MOVE ON VIKTORIA PLZEN
Napoli miss Hamsík and Armero, also Cavani, Inler, Cannavaro & Campagnaro could be rested.
Rubin Kazan - Atletico Madrid 3.20 - 2.50
This match will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on the artificial pitch. Advantage Rubin, in my opinion.
The Atletico players did not show the right attitude in the first leg (0-2 loss) and I must believe they do not care much for the Europa League this season. Away to Valladolid at the weekend Atletico demonstrated what they are capable of, when the players are motivated (3-0 win). D Costa, Juanfran, F Luis, Gabi, Tiago, Koke, A Turan and Godin, all regulars, have not made the journey to Moscow.
The home side miss their suspended defender, their skipper Sharonov. I cannot say if M’Vila will be ready or not. My choice will be the home win.
Cluj - Inter 2.60 - 3.09
2-0 up from the first leg it is looking good for Inter, but their confidence took a real beating at the weekend, when Fiorentina toyed with Inter, winning the match 4-1. The way I see it the Inter coach must be under huge pressure and he has to pick up a positive result this weekend in the derby with Milan. Inter have to make a good impression in the derby and who cares about this cup game in Romania! The idea is to use several fringe players tomorrow, but they probably have to play Cassano and Palacio upfront.
Having sold their best offensive players Cluj may not be the most dangerous side around, but maybe they will do enough to win this fixture. Assessing the odds, the home win is the only alternative.
Dnipro - Basel 1.67 - 5.84
I was happy to see Basel dismissing of Dnipro 2-0 in the first leg. The match was played under wintery conditions. It is probably colder in Ukraine, but it cannot be snowing any more than it did in Basel last week. Dnipro won all their group games in Ukraine quite comfortably and I can understand why they have become clear favourites in this second leg. Still this 1.67 is way too short. Basel have to travel without their leading scorer M Streller. Home win, but quite useless odds.
Genk - Stuttgart 2.93 - 2.60
Last minute Genk equaliser in Stuttgart last week. Deserved or not, but Genk were always in with a chance. The important Vossen will be missing for the home side. He was replaced in the second half of the first leg and the man that replaced him , G Plet, equalised for Genk. Barda, an early doubt, should be fit to play. Stuttgart miss their injured midfielder T Torun.
It was an absolutely crucial win for Stuttgart at the weekend winning away to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and could be, Stuttgart and coach Labbadia are over their worst crisis. I prefer the away win alternative.
Lazio - Borussia Mönchengladbach 2.00 - 4.18
Much as I had expected Lazio lost to Siena earlier this week, but the way they lost? They were pathetic on the day. Away to Borussia Lazio played a strong game and if it was not for their wrestling defence they would have won the match. The Lazio defence gave away three penalties, two of them caused by Dias, who will be suspended tomorrow. Mauri and Ledesma did not play at Siena, but at least Ledesma will be available tomorrow.
Would you believe, as many as 10.000 Borussia fans will make the trip to Rome.
1X game.
Lyon - Tottenham 2.31 - 3.40
No game for Tottenham at the weekend, while Lyon travelled to Bordeaux for a very tricky away game. At least a very difficult task on paper, but Lyon returned home with an impressive 4-0 win in their bag. They counter attacked Bordeaux to death. Malbranque missed the Bordeaux fixture, but he will be available again.
If G Bale will play like a normal footballer tomorrow, then Lyon will have their revenge. I would not bet on Bale to have an off day, but making a choice here, I would still pick the home win. Why not a 2-1 home win and extra time needed.
Metalist - Newcastle 1.91 - 4.86
Far from harmless in the first leg I have to say that Metalist rode their luck a couple of times. Two Cisse goals were marginally offside and I have seen home teams not being punished under similar circumstances. Cisse, by the way, was very wasteful on the day.
Newcastle played their strongest side in the first leg, but I do not expect coach Pardew to be thinking along the same lines tomorrow. They had a match free weekend after the first leg, but this time they have an important home game against Southampton on Sunday.
My mistake! I have just seen the Newcastle nineteen man squad and they are all there, their best players, Ben Arfa, Santon, Debuchy and Gouffran aside.
Metalist, having played this highly competitive first leg, will be an improved side tomorrow.
I cannot imagine that this second leg will be goal less. Both sides on the score sheet and the winners? I rest my case.
Benfica - Bayer Leverkusen 2.00 -4.30
I saw Bayer missing quite a few open scoring chances in the first leg and consequently they lost the match 0-1. Cardozo had one chance in the game and he took it.
You know Benfica, leading the match 1-0 they did not offer much of an offensive threat in the second half and it was up to Bayer to open up the Benfica defence. This they managed a couple of times, but as I said, they were too wasteful in front of the Benfica goal.
There are not many sides in Europe than can hope for a positive result playing away to Benfica and I would not say that Bayer belong to that category. They have an honest chance of course, but I am leaning towards the home win.
Bordeaux - Dynamo Kiev 2.26 -3.66
In Kiev Bordeaux were ever so happy drawing the match. D Kiev dictated the game, they were rewarded a second half penalty, but they missed it. On another day D Kiev would have won the match 2-1 or 3-1.
It was a painful 0-4 home loss against Lyon for Bordeaux at the weekend and they lost two more players to injuries. Their injury situation, however, has eased up with both Planus and Sane included in their squad for this game. Not to forget, my favourite, the tall striker Diabate is back. Henrique, N’guemo and Mariano will not make it. D Kiev will go on with their lone striker Mehmedi. Tricky as hell. OK, the home win.
Chelsea - Sparta Prague 1.33 -12.08
One can probably say that Chelsea were quite content playing out a 0-0 draw in Prague in the first leg. It got even better with Oscar scoring a late winner for Chelsea. It was just another day at the office for Chelsea. Chelsea have more options for this second leg, as both V Moses and Mikel are available again. Demba Ba, F Lampard and Ivanovic will not play tomorrow. Another routine win for Chelsea, I guess, but do not forget, Chelsea will face Man City in a few days.
Steaua Bukarest - Ajax 2.76 - 2.70
I do not think the home side can stop Ajax from scoring a goal and in that case Steaua have to score four goals to reach the next round. It is certainly not likely to happen, but maybe Steaua will win this second leg by the odd goal. They missed a sitter in Amsterdam, or the Ajax keeper made a fantastic save and Steaua proved, they can be dangerous. Tanase will be back from a suspension, but both their regular midfielders Bourceanu and Pintili go the other way. Ajax have travelled with their strongest squad. Both sides to score.
Viktoria Plzen - Napoli 2.40 - 3.19
When teams more or less do not give a damn, like Napoli in the first leg, I get encouraged when they play poorly in their next game. It so often back fires, when you are not doing your best, much to my delight. Anyway Napoli were awful in the first leg and they were mediocre at home to Sampdoria at the weekend. Cavani, Inler and Hamsik will definitely not play tomorrow. Pandev and Insigne could play, but rotation will be the name of the game for coach Mazzari. Will the Napoli reserves work their socks off in this match, 0-3 down from the first leg? I do not think so and I prefer the home win alternative.
Fenerbahce - Bate Borisov 1.60 -6.96
Poor odds on the home win, as this fixture will be played without spectators.
I trust Fenerbahce to do the business, advancing to the next round that is, but this 1.60 is pretty useless. R Meireles was red carded after only four minutes in the first leg (0-0) and he will be suspended for this second leg. Fenerbahce are on a very healthy run on the domestic scene and they won 3-0 away to Trabzonspor at the weekend. Home win for Fenerbahce.
Hannover - Anzhi 2.40 - 3.12
Impressive Anzhi display in the first leg. Although Eto’o missed a second half penalty they won the match 3-1. In the group phase Anzhi did not impress overly in their away fixtures, drawing at Udinese, losing 0-1 vs. Liverpool and going down 1-3 away to Young Boys. Maybe we can forget about the last match.
Hannover are of course not out of it, a 2-0 home will do and Hannover will be in the quarter final. Hannover rarely keep a clean sheet, Hannover, and it is a delicate task, close to impossible, for the Germans, trying to score goals and preventing Eto’o and his team mates from finding the Hannover net.
Liverpool - Zenit 1.75 - 5.60
It was a small wonder that L Suarez did not score a couple of goals in the first leg. Liverpool and Suarez had so many excellent scoring opportunities on the day and I can imagine that Liverpool are quite hopeful ahead of this second leg, more or less convinced they will score two, three even four goals. All these openings in Petersburg, why would it be different at Anfield? No D Sturridge for Liverpool.
The other side of the coin is that Hulk and his Zenit are also likely to be on the score sheet tomorrow. I do not trust the Zenit defence, but their offensive players have a deadly potential. Over game for sure and probably the home win.
Olympiakos - Levante 1.83 - 5.06
0-3 down, how do Olympiakos look upon this second leg? An early home goal and maybe they will find the necessary enthusiasm, but it is quite possible that this game will turn out to be a luke warm fixture with both teams just going through the motions. You never know these things, but 0-3 against a decent La Liga side looks like mission impossible for Olympiakos.
The home side will miss the suspended Abdoun and no C Lell for Levante. Levante have left for Greece with all their fit players included in their squad. Home win, I guess, but I will not be involved....see more
Feb 21 aP 17:04-Share-Comment-Like
