Bolton vs Arsenal

29/3- Arsenal would be the most disappointed sides in the premier league as after leading the pact for nearly the entire part of this season they now find themselves in the third position and 6 points to cover in the last 7 matches of the season. This weekend the Gunners prepare to take on Bolton, currently placed on the 18th position on the points table. Both teams are in desperate search of points, while Arsenal want points to try and win the championship, Bolton would be happy to survive in the premiership at the end of the season. In the last match played between both the sides which was played earlier this season Arsenal were able to win 2-0 at home and also the overall record would show Arsenal to be the dominant side as they have managed to win 8 of the 17 matches played between the sides where as Bolton have only 4 victories to their name. However while playing at home Bolton have won their last 3 matches against Arsenal and they would be looking to repeat that result.
Arsenal have not been in the best of forms and come into this match after an away loss against Chelsea last week. In the last 10 matches played Arsenal have only managed to win 4 while lost a match and drawn 5 matches. Against Bolton they would like to get the full points and anything less would be a disappointment.
Bolton on the other hand would like to make the most of the home advantage and a win at this stage would help them immensely to move out of the danger zone. Bolton drew against a strong opponent like Manchester City last week and they would have to repeat such an effort.
Prediction: 0-1, Arsenal win

Birmingham City vs Manchester City

29/3- Manchester City are currently on the 8th position and are tied with two other teams on points and this week when they travel to take on the 17^th placed Birmingham City they would be hoping to make the most of the opportunity and get a victory with a good margin as that would help them improve the goal difference. Birmingham City on the other hand are just a point out of the relegation zone and while playing this match at home they would like to score some points and ensure that they can keep out of the danger zone. The last times both these teams faced each other was earlier this season and while playing at home Manchester City had won the match 1-0. The overall record also lies heavily in favour of Manchester City as out of the 11 matches between the sides they have been able to win 8 while Birmingham have only been able to register two victories. Playing at home Birmingham have not been the greatest team but the crowd will surely want to see a dedicated performance by their team.

Looking at the current form both teams cannot be differentiated greatly as both have been going through a torrid phase but since Manchester City had a good first half of the season they still feature in the top half of the table. In the last 10 matches played Manchester City have won a couple while lost 4 and drawn 4, while Birmingham City have only managed to get a single victory in the last 10 matches losing 4 and drawing 5 matches.

Manchester City come into this match after they were held for a draw by Bolton in an away match last week and their away form has also not been great. Birmingham on the other hand lost their match to Reading 2-1, in an away match and their confidence would be a little low.

Prediction: 0-0, draw

Chelsea vs Arsenal

23/3- After leading the premier league for the major period Arsenal have experienced a slump in the recent matches which has seen them drop to the second spot, three points behind the league leaders Manchester United. This weekend they travel to take on Chelsea, the third placed team, in a very crucial tie. Chelsea are currently just a couple of points behind Arsenal and a win this weekend would see them overtake Arsenal as the second placed team in the competition. If we go by current form the teams are pretty similar as of the last 10 matches played Chelsea has been able to win 6 while 4 have been draws while Arsenal on the other hand have 5 wins and 5 draws, which leaves for us to wonder which team would end on the losing side in this all important tie.

The last time both these teams clashed was earlier this season when Arsenal managed to get a 1-0 win in a home tie, also the head to head record between the teams for the past 15 years shows that Arsenal has dominated in matches against Chelsea as of the 29 matches played Arsenal has won 14 while Chelsea has managed only 4 victories. But the important thing here is that Chelsea have not lost a single match playing at home this season and with the form they are in they do not look like losing one either.

Chelsea come into this match after a 4-4 draw in an away tie against Tottenham and like the likes of Lampard and Cole to come good in this tie while Arsenal on the other hand also come into this match after they tied 1-1 against Middlesbrough last week in a home tie, Adebayor has been their best striker and he would have to deliver to help his team retain the spot.

Prediction: 1-0, Chelsea win

Manchester United vs Liverpool

23/3- Manchester United get prepared this weekend to play one of the toughest matches of this season, the clash between Manchester United and Liverpool should be a blockbuster that would keep both the supporters on the edge of their seats. Manchester United would be playing at home and that would be an advantage but if we look at the form of both the teams in recent matches be it in EPL or the Champions League action both have performed exceedingly well consistently. While Man U are placed on the top of the charts, Liverpool currently occupy the fourth spot. In the last 10 matches played Liverpool have had 8 wins a single loss and a single draw while Man U have 7 wins, 2 draws and a single loss. Hence on current form both teams can said to be on par, the last time both these teams faced off was earlier this season when Man U had defeated Liverpool 0-1, in an away tie. Also the overall head to head record for the past 15 years falls in favour of the team from Old Trafford as they have won 16 of the 29 matches while Liverpool have managed to win 7 matches only. Manchester United will be highly confident about their chances as they come into the match after a 2-0 win against Bolton last week in a home tie, they are also 3 points clear of Arsenal already and a win here would be really helpful as the Gunners would be facing a tough opponent in Chelsea as well. Christiano Ronaldo has scored a record number of goals for the side this season and the fans would like to see him net a goal this weekend as well. Liverpool on the other hand would want to take revenge of the loss earlier this season at home and if they can do that, things at the top of the table become very interesting. Prediction: 0-1, Liverpool win

Real Madrid vs Valencia

23/3- Real Madrid are on top of the points table in La liga but their form is the worst it has ever been this season out of their 6 defeats in la liga this season 4 have come in the last 10 matches played by them and they have only been able to win 4 matches in the last 10 played which is a very bad statistics for a team of this calibre. This week they play hosts to another team that is performing pathetically in comparison to the way it performed in the beginning of the season, Valencia. Valencia are currently placed on the 10^th position on the points table and they have been able to manage 2 wins in their last 10 matches where as they have lost 5 and drawn the remaining three. The last time both these teams faced each other Real Madrid while playing away from home were able to register a 1-5 victory and they would hope to repeat the performance in front of their home crowd this time as well. A brief look at the head to head records would show that Real Madrid have been the dominant side and have won 16 of the 29 matches played between the sides in the last 15 years while Valencia have managed to win only 7 times. Also while playing at home real Madrid have only lost one match this season and they would not like that tally increase.

Both teams would be down on confidence as they faced defeats in their previous matches as Real Madrid lost to Deportivo in an away match while Valencia conceded 2 goals to Sevilla at home and lost with a 0-2 score line. Real would like to get the maximum points from this match and strengthen their hold on the title this year as well.

Prediction: 2-0, Real Win

Barcelona Valladolid

23/3- Barcelona have played good football throughout the season but the last few weeks have not gone as per their liking, in the last 5 matches they have played they have lost twice and won twice and drawn a single match which is something a top team like Barcelona would not appreciate. This week they get prepared to take on the 17^th placed Valladolid. While playing at home Barcelona have been very strong and in fact they have been the best team when it comes to home performances in La liga this season and they would like to win this convincingly and close down the gap on leaders Real Madrid. The last time both these sides played against each other, which was earlier this season when Barcelona had travelled to Valladolid, the match ended in a draw. However a look at the overall record between the two sides would clearly suggest that Barcelona would be the heavy favourites as they have won 15 times of the 23 matches played between the two sides in the past 15 years while Valladolid have only be able to manage 3 victories.

Looking at the current form as well Barcelona would be better as they have won 5 of their last 10 matches while they have lost only 2 and there have been three draws but Valladolid on the other hand have only 3 victories with 5 losses and a couple of draws. Playing at home in front of the home crowd would also be an added advantage for Barcelona and they would be hoping the most of it. Anything less than three points from this tie would be highly disappointing for the home team as they might not only fall back behind Real Madrid but their second spot might also come under serious threat.

Valladolid in all this would like to get a point and keep away from the relegation zone.

Prediction: 2-0, Barcelona win

Levante vs Villareal

23/3- Levante have showed some grit in their performances in the past few weeks but their chances of staying in the top league of La liga are as good as nonexistent. This weekend they would play hosts to the team placed on the third spot of the points table, Villareal. While Villareal has been one of the best performing teams and they also are in prime form, the home team is by far the worst team in terms of the performance this season and their form has not been that great that they moght pose a challenge to the better teams like Villareal. The last time both these teams had faced each other was earlier this season and villareal had managed an easy 3-0 home victory. Also while Villareal have won 6 of the last 10 matches with 3 draws and one loss, Levante have been able to manage only 3 victories with 5 losses and 2 draws. The home crowd may not be that big an advantage for the struggling Levante that would help them overcome Villareal.

Villareal have reached a stage where they are just a couple of points behind second placed Barcelona and the fluctuating form Barca has showed over the last few weeks could also lead to Villareal taking over the second spot on the table. Villareal come fresh from a 2-0 home win against Real Zaragoza and that would have lifted their confidence further as well and a chance to reach the top two in the league is a good enough incentive for the team to get inspired and perform. They would like to score the entire three points and anything less would be a disappointment.

Levante on the other hand can just hope and try to stretch Villareal to an extent and hold them for a draw but even that does not look realistic.

Prediction: 0-3, Villareal win

Osasuna vs Real Betis

23/3- Osasuna and Real Betis are among the 8 teams fighting it out to keep away from the relegation zone and in an attempt to keep their selves safe from the relegation zone, Osasuna play hosts to the visiting Real Betis team. While Osasuna are a couple of points away from the relegation zone, Real Betis are out of the danger zone only on a better goal difference. However the notable fact is that Real Betis have played a match less than most of the other teams and hence they also have a good chance to move away from the relegation zone. In terms of the current form both the teams can be said to be at par as both teams have registered 4 wins, 4 losses and a couple of draws in the last 10 matches. In the last match between the sides that was played earlier this season ended in favour of Osasuna, who won 0-3, away from home. Even the overall record is in favour of Osasuna by a very small difference as of the 13 matches played Osasuna have won 6 while Real Betis have managed to win 5 only.

Osasuna would be quite confident as they managed to hold a good team like Valladolid for a tie in an away match last week and also a fact that they have performed well while playing at home would add to that when they take on Real Betis this weekend. Gomes Dady has been the best striker for Osasuna this season and has already scored 6 goals and he would be expected to score once again.

Real Betis have also performed well to get out of the relegation zone but they have quite a few injury worries and they would have to put a good performance to ensure that they can stay out of the relegation zone.

Prediction: 1-2, Real Betis win

Murcia vs Espanyol

23/3- Other than Levante, who are placed at the bottom of the table Murcia is the other tam which is almost sure for being relegated at the end of this season. In case they need to survive in the top division only winning all matches now onwards can help them to an extent but practically this does not look possible. This weekend they get ready to play hosts to the 6^th placed Espanyol, a team that is trying to reach the 4^th position on the points table. Murcia have been a side that has lost 9 of its last 10 matches and they have been able to draw the remaining one match. While Espanyol have managed to win three of the last 10 matches but they have lost the remaining 7. The last match played between the two sides was earlier this season and Espanyol had been held to a draw while playing at home. In the last 15 years there have been 3 matches between the sides and Espanyol have won 2 while one has been a draw. Espanyol have been performing well away from home this season and they would like to get a full 3 points of this one in order to enhance their chance of ending the season in the top 5.

Espanyol come into this match after they defeated Mallorca in a home match last week and they would be confident playing a weaker team like Murcia. With an injury free squad the team should look for a win with a big margin.

Murcia on the other hand would be really low on confidence as they have not been able to score a single point in the last 6 matches. Their last week’s loss against Recreativo Huelva would have further hampered their confidence and against a team like Espanyol not much can be expected form this team.

Prediction: 1-3, Espanyol win

Sevilla vs Athletico Madrid

22/3- In a battle for the fourth place on the points table Sevilla get ready this week to play hosts to Athletico Madrid who are currently the occupants of the fourth spot on the points table and are a couple of points ahead of Sevilla. Both teams are in tremendous form but Sevilla are performing better looking at the last 10 matches played by both sides this season. In the last 10 matches played Sevilla have managed to win 7 while lost 2 and drawn one match on the other hand their opponents have managed just 4 victories while have lost 5 times and also have a single drawn match.  The last time both the teams clashed was earlier this season and playing at home Athletico Madrid were able to beat Sevilla with a 4-3 score line. But looking at the head to head record between the sides it can be clearly seen that Sevilla have been dominant as they have won 8 of the 21 matches played between the sides while Athletico have managed to win just 5.

Sevilla have been a great team while playing at home and beating them at home would not be easy for Athletico and hence the visitors might play for a draw but the home team would want to win this all important match. Sevilla would be pretty confident getting into the match as they managed to beat Valencia in an away tie last week. Fabiano is in ominous form and has already scored 22 goals this season and the home crowd would expect some more from his this weekend.

Athletico on the other hand would not want to concede their position to Sevilla they also come into this match after a win which was at home against Levante. A point from the match would be a good performance.

Prediction: 1-0, Sevilla win

« Previous Page — Next Page »