UEFA cup: Bolton Wanderers vs. Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid go into this game after a morale boosting two nil away win at Racing de Santander at the weekend which put them back into fourth spot in La Liga and have regained their form just when they need it the most. Diego Forlan scored twice after an eight game goal draught, and Sergio Agüero made it through eighty minutes after his ankle injury threatened to keep him out for much longer. Atlético coach Javier Aguirre is having tremendous problems owing to players out through injury or suspension. Pablo Garcia and ex- Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia won’t be playing due to accumulating yellow cards, and the infirmary is practically full.  Leo Franco, Zé Castro, Valera and Seitaridis are all definitely out, while Thiago Motta and Fabiano Eller are still doubtful.

Bolton though have their own problems. They have won once in the last six games and are immersed in a relegation battle. They are currently fifteenth in the English Premier league and just three points from safety. Their biggest problem though would seem to be finding someone to fill the gap left by Anelka’s departure to Chelsea. Bolton have scored just five times in the last seven games and this doesn’t look like changing soon. This will be the first time Bolton’s Reebok Stadium sees a full house for a European match, and the fans will want to make a lot of noise to lift their team. Whether their help will be enough though is doubtful, as even with seven players missing from the line up Atlético Madrid are still the clear favorites to take this first leg. Bolton surprised many in the group stage of the UEFA cup by drawing two goals apiece against mighty Bayern Munich away so anything can happen. However, that was back in November, and since then they have won just six times in seventeen games in all competitions. I think Bolton will take the game to Atlético and give it their best, but in the end the Spanish side’s superior quality will win through.

Prediction: Away win (0-2)  

UEFA cup: AEK vs. Getafe

This will be a very hard game to predict, but I think AEK Athens will just nick the match. Playing in front of Greek fans is always a hard task, and Getafe will face them for the first time in the game. Michael Laudrup’s side is having a so-so season, and seems to be more interested in their cup competitions than the league. They have qualified for the semi final of the King’s cup and if they get to face Barcelona in the final will be assured of another UEFA cup place next season even if they lose as Barca will qualify for the Champions League, barring a complete disaster for the Catalan side. Getafe’s league form has been pretty irregular all season, and last weekend they could only draw at home to Deportivo de la Coruña. A week before they lost to Espanyol away and so have slumped to twelfth place, just four points off the relegation zone.

AEK Athens meanwhile are in third place in the Greek first division and four points from leaders Panathinaikos after twenty matches. They have lost their last two league games and the UEFA cup comes as a needed distraction. AEK’s Spanish coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer is no stranger to opposition from his home country but AEK haven’t had too much luck with Iberian sides. They lost at home to Villarreal in the group stage of the competition and twice to Sevilla in the Champions League group phase. In fact, the last time AEK beat a Spanish side was way back in the 1988/89 UEFA cup competition against Athletic Bilbao.

Although Getafe don’t have players with well known names, they form a solid group and defensively are very good. Their aim here will be to score at least once and take that advantage back with them to the Coliseum stadium where in my opinion the tie will be settled. The match in Greece will be very close and I doubt whether a definite favorite will be revealed. I’m going for a narrow home win and all set for the second leg showdown.

Prediction: Home win (2-1)

UEFA cup: Zenit vs. Villarreal

On paper Villarreal may seem clear favorites to win both legs of this draw, but it will be a lot harder for the Spanish outfit than most people think, especially this first leg. Modest Zenit have not lost a home match in a European competition since 1999, which means they have an impressive twenty one match unbeaten run. This could end though, as Zenit coach Dick Advocaat has a terrible record facing Spanish opposition.

Villarreal go into this game after a hard fought one nil away win in La Liga against second from bottom club Murcia, and have lost just twice in the last eight games; a one nil away defeat to Barcelona in the King’s cup and an entertaining three two loss to Real Madrid in the league at the Bernabeu stadium. They are currently third in the league and are looking to earn a Champions League spot next season.

Zenit meanwhile have won the Russian Vischaya league by two points ahead of Spartak Moscow. The problem for Zenit now is that they haven’t played a competitive game since losing away to Everton in the group stage of the UEFA cup back in December, and Villarreal will travel to the Russia fully fit and immersed in two competitions.

Zenit’s Nicolas Lombaerts misses this match due to suspension and his teammate Radek Sirl has to be careful as another yellow card will see him get a one match ban as well. Villarreal don’t have any suspension or injury worries and will travel to Russia with a full strength squad, another reason to suspect the Spanish outfit could take this match.

I’m going for a narrow Villarreal victory, principally because it is the off season in Russia the Zenit lack regular competitive games.  Villarreal’s goalkeeper, Diego López, is having a fantastic season so far and could be a big influence on the final score. He left Real Madrid in the summer because of lack of minutes and has really taken La Liga by storm.

Prediction: Away win (0-2)

UEFA Cup Group C: AEK Athens vs. Villarreal

Villarreal travel to Greece in this last group stage match of the UEFA cup to take on AEK Athens. Three points will make certain the Spanish side win the group and so avoid the more difficult teams in the next round, but this match won’t be as easy as their last UEFA outing when they beat Elfsborg. Group C is wide open going into this last week, with four of the five teams still in with a chance to qualify. Czech side M. Boleslav has the hardest task though, needing to beat Fiorentina away to grab a place in the last thirty two.  

AEK Athens are currently third in Group C and two points behind leaders Villarreal. In their domestic league they are heading the table with the same points as Olympiacos, who beat them at the weekend, ending AEK’s five match unbeaten run. Villarreal got a precious away win to fellow UEFA cup contenders Getafe by three goals to one and ended their run of three domestic games without a win. More good news for Villarreal came when Turkish striker scored twice in the game, proving that he is at his best level again after having problems with injuries. The ‘yellow submarine’ can also travel to Greece knowing that they don’t have any serious injury problems and after next weekend’s league game against Recreativo de Huelva, can look forward to some days off as there aren’t any matches during the Christmas period in Spain.

AEK Athens coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer knows a lot about Spanish football and Villarreal, having been in charge of Mallorca, Betis and Barcelona. When he became coach of AEK he took some Spanish players with him, most notably ex Villarreal defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena. The Spaniard now faces his old companions for the first time in this difficult game.

This match is going to be very hard to predict. Both sides are qualified, but both also know how important it is to finish top of the group. I’m going for a home win here; winning in Greece is never easy, especially against this Athens side who really deserve to win something for their fans and come out of the shadow of  Olympiacos.

Prediction: Home win (2-1)

UEFA Cup: Group B: Athletico Madrid vs. Panathinaikos

This is one game I am dying to see. Both sides are playing brilliant, attacking football at the moment and both would do anything to finish this group stage at the top and avoid some difficult opponents later on.

Athletico Madrid are on something of a roll at the moment and can’t really do anything wrong. They are third in the league for the first time in years (normally at this time of the year they are engrossed in a relegation battle) and have now gone eight games unbeaten, a run which includes six consecutive wins. At the weekend they dropped two points away to Recreativo, but still managed to keep a clean sheet. Their defense, which earlier on in the season was leaking goals all over the place, has seen a great improvement which has played an important role in their new found success. During their eight game unbeaten run they have also managed to keep the number of goals conceded down to four, and three of those came in the four-three home win over Villarreal. They now have to show Greek team Panathinaikos that they can transfer their league form to the UEFA competition. The 2004 Greek champions are also third in their current league (which is made up of sixteen teams as opposed to the twenty clubs in Spain), and have conceded just five goals all season (twelve games). Curiously, their ten match unbeaten run ended on Saturday with a one nil away defeat to modest Panionios, which might well effect their morale.

As both teams have already qualified for the next round of the competition, there will be fewer nerves on show and more room for some good football. I’m backing Athletico Madrid for this one. Playing at home gives them a great advantage and with the defense now playing as well as their superb strikers and can’t see the Greek outfit stopping them. I doubt though if there will be that many goals, as Panathinaikos have a very good back four.

Prediction: Home win (2-1)

UEFA CUP GROUP G: Getafe vs. Anderlecht

Getafe go into this last Group G match of the UEFA cup needing a single point to qualify for the next round. A defeat though, could see them eliminated so there will be plenty of nervous fans watching this game. The Spanish side lost again on Sunday in La Liga, which was their second consecutive defeat in their domestic league. They lost three goals to one at home to Villarreal in a very poor display. Certainly not one to inspire confidence before this game. If Anderlecht can take all three points they will finish top of the group and avoid a lot of difficult rivals, so they will be out in force to make sure they get the job done. Unfortunately, the Belgium club is also going through a difficult period, getting just one win from their last seven matches, and that victory was in the Belgium cup against a second division side. Neither side is high on confidence, which will result in a scrappy game where practically anything can happen, although Getafe do have the advantage of playing in front of their own crowd.

This game I think is going to be very difficult to predict, mostly because neither side is doing particularly well this season. This is Getafe’s first time in Europe after they were granted a UEFA place last year for reaching the King’s cup final (which they lost to Sevilla). Then coach Bernd Schuster decided to go to Real Madrid though, and Getafe brought in Michael Laudrup. His reign got off to a pretty bad start, but they have recently been playing better. However, they are still just one point above the relegation zone and should be looking to secure their place in La Liga next season rather than seek European glory. I’m going for an away win here, as Anderlecht have much more experience when it comes to crunch European games. Getafe though will still probably qualify in third place, which I am not sure will be a good thing for the club.

Prediction: Away win (1-3)

Champions league: Group E: BARCELONA vs. STUTTGART

Although the outcome of this group E match won’t change the final standings of the teams involved, it will still give the two coaches the opportunity to rest some of the players and at the same time try out new ideas. Barcelona goes into this game having already won the group, and coach Frank Rijkaard will want to give his midfield and forward regulars a break. So I don’t expect to see Leo Messi on the pitch or for that matter Xavi Hernandez or Andres Iniesta. Also out through injury will be Thierry Henry and it is doubtful whether Ivory Coast midfielder Touré Yaya will make the fitness test in time. It is more likely that he will be left out to concentrate on getting 100% for the next league match. Samuel Eto’o and Deco both managed to play some part in the two one home win over Deportivo de la Coruña at the weekend, and will probably be given some minutes in this game too. Their next league match is away to Valencia and then at home to Real Madrid in the classic, so the next two matches could really make or break Barca’s season.

Stuttgart are bottom of the group and can’t even hope for a UEFA cup place. In the Bundesliga they aren’t having much of a season either, being stuck in eighth position and nine points behind leaders Bayern Munich. They will probably be glad to get this match over and done with so they can concentrate on winning a UEFA cup spot in next year’s competition. They also have just one more domestic league match to play before the Bundesliga ends for the winter break, so this might be a good time for coach Armin Veh to try out some new ideas or give some of the players who haven’t figured much a run out.

You really have to fancy Barcelona for this game. Even without the ‘fantastic four’, they will still have enough talent to easily wipe Stuttgart out of the way with another triumph. Rijkaard would be very wise to rest his best players though, as the next two games in Barca’s fixture list are much more important than this one.

Prediction: Home win (3-0)

Champions league: Group C: REAL MADRID vs. LAZIO

Real Madrid are flying at the moment. They come into this final group C match at the Bernabeu stadium as confident La Liga leaders, and at the weekend notched up their eleventh league win in fifteen league games with a very complete performance away to Athletic Bilbao. At home their results have been even more impressive. They have won their last fifteen games in front of their own fans and I can’t see Lazio doing much to change this. The Italian side needs a win and hope the other group match between Olympiacos and Bremen ends in a draw.

I can’t see Madrid throwing away this opportunity to qualify for the next round of the Champions League. They should really have secured passage in the last game away to Bremen, but their away form in the year’s competition has been a bit frustrating where they have only earned two points from a possible nine, including a two-two draw against the Italians. However, I doubt if Lazio have the fear power to win this match, especially when Madrid have Iker Casillas in goal. His form this season has been a key factor in Real Madrid’s return to form, pulling off some breath taking saves and helping maintain the team’s conceded goals to a minimum. But it doesn’t stop with Casillas; practically the whole squad has responded and is in their best moment of form, especially Pepe, Van Nistelroy and the ever present Raul, who is La Liga’s top scorer at the moment.

Lazio are having a scrappy season so far. They are twelfth in the Serie A league and seventeen points from leaders Inter after fourteen games, as well as being bottom of their Champions League group at the moment. I doubt very much whether Lazio has it in them to beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The Spanish club’s home form has been astounding and they should win with ease.

Prediction: Home win (3-1)

Champions league: Group B: CHELSEA vs. VALENCIA

There really isn’t much to play for in this group B match, except for Chelsea to add another home game to their unbeaten record, which they don’t want to lose. Valencia’s season is starting to fall to pieces very quickly; they were held to a boring goalless drew in La Liga on Saturday against Osasuna and are having one hell of a time trying to score goals. They have now gone four games without hitting the back of the net and you would have to go back to the tenth of November to see the last Valencia goal. They can still qualify for the UEFA cup by finishing in third spot in their group, but who would back them winning at Stamford Bridge when so many others have failed?

The most surprising of Valencia’s problems has to be in front of goal. It’s not as if they don’t have the players. David Villa, Fernando Morientes and Zigic have all proven themselves as adept goal scorers. Coach Ronald Koeman has decided to use players from Valencia’s inferior category instead of his usual choices, as he also has a lot of injury problems to deal with. So out is David Albelda, who got a red card in the last Champions match against Schalke 04, and Miguel Ángel Angulo, Joaquín Sánchez, Marco Caneira, Rubén Baraja Alexis Ruano have all been ruled out owing to various physical problems.

Chelsea, who struggled to beat Sunderland at home in the Premier league at the weekend, have their own injury worries, too. Didier Drogba has just had knee surgery and will be out for a while, and when he does get back to full fitness he will travel back home to take put in the African cup. That leaves Chelsea flop Andriy Shevchenko to fill his boots. But in this game I don’t think Chelsea needs to worry too much. They have only conceded one goal in the last seven matches and have scored twelve. Just don’t put all your money on a runaway victory for the home side, though. This is going to be a bitter fought, untidy game with very few chances for either team. I’m going for a one nil win for Chelsea, who will be thinking of the Premier league match against Arsenal the following weekend.

Prediction: Home win (1-0)

Champions league: Group A: MARSELLA vs. LIVERPOOL

If you were a club needing to win your last group stage match against Marseille to qualify for the next round of the Champions League, you wouldn’t want to lose your first domestic league game of the season. Oh bugger. Liverpool might have had a lot of confidence in beating the French outfit a couple of weeks ago when they bounced back into contention in group A by beating leaders Porto, but now after losing to modest club Reading by three goals to one at the weekend they may have lost some of it. The Merseyside club is now in fourth place in the Premier and three points behind third placed Chelsea, although they do have a game in hand. Off the pitch problems between Spanish coach Rafa Benitez and the American owners is also something which needs to be sorted out and quickly, too. Luckily for Liverpool, they don’t have to worry about injury problems and I can see this match being the scene where Fernando Torres becomes a man. His arrival in the summer provoked some to question whether he was worth the twenty four million pounds Liverpool paid Athletico Madrid for him, but since then he has shown what a great striker he is and also the potential he has for becoming one of the best in the world. He has adapted to life in the English Premier very well indeed and his eleven goals so far this season will easily be doubled by the end of it. He has scored some very important goals for the club in his short time with the club, most notably the opening goal against Chelsea in the league which was his first in an official game. I wouldn’t be too surprised if he scores the winner here in this game too.

Marseille must be wondering what they have done so wrong to be in such a position now in group A. A couple of games ago they were leading the group and after beating Liverpool at Anfield were sure of classification. But since then they have drawn against Porto and a surprise defeat to Turkish side Besiktas has meant they go in to their last group match needing to get at least a point to go through. Liverpool can also carry on if they draw on Tuesday night, but only if Besiktas do them the favor of beating the Portuguese champions.

In times like these you really have to go for Liverpool. Rafa Benitez’s job is said to be hanging by a thread and defeat will almost certainly end his Liverpool career. The players are behind him and will go all out to save their manager’s job. I’m going for a short Liverpool victory here, and watch out for the above mentioned Torres and heart of Liverpool Steven Gerrard to get on the score sheet, but they might have to come back from behind in classic Liverpool style.

Prediction: Away win (1-2)

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