Goal Zone

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Fernando Morientes: 'Real Madrid should keep Carlo Ancelotti'

Former Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes has urged the club to keep manager Carlo Ancelotti beyond the end of the season.

Ancelotti's future at the Santiago Bernabeu has come under the spotlight this season, despite the team challenging for honours on multiple fronts.

Los Blancos are currently just two points behind Barcelona in the La Liga table, while they remain on course to defend their Champions League crown.

While doubts still linger over whether the notoriously temperamental Madrid hierarchy will look to change the coaching staff in the summer, Morientes believes that Ancelotti is the right man to guide the team forward.

"Yes, at this moment he is the right man for Real Madrid, he has shown that," the Spaniard told Goal.com. "He has won titles in Italy, France, England and Spain. He is a special coach, at the highest level. Working with regular players is very different to coaching elite ones, like the players you find at Real Madrid. I think he knows how to balance that very well."

Madrid continue their Champions League campaign tonight when they host local rivals Atletico Madrid for the second leg of their quarter-final clash.

Top three contenders for Premier League Golden Boot

The Premier League is fast reaching its conclusion but, while Chelsea appear to be runaway leaders at the top of the table, there is still plenty to play for elsewhere.

Awards season is upon us, meaning that a selection of players will be vying it out for individual accolades as well as battling for success on a team level.

With that in mind, We take a look at the three leading contenders to land the Golden Boot - the honour awarded to the player who scores the most goals throughout the campaign.

1. Sergio Aguero

Club: Manchester City

Appearances: 28

Goals: 20

When it comes to making early-season predictions, Sergio Aguero will no doubt have topped the list of most to go on and finish at the summit of the scoring charts. Twenty-three goals in his first top-flight campaign on these shores, followed up by a combined total of 29 in the next two years, has made the South American one of the most feared forwards on the continent.

What makes the former Atletico Madrid man so deadly is his ability to find the net from any position, whether inside the box or out, from a couple of yards - such as that strike against Queens Park Rangers - or 25+ yards, he will often punish defences who fail to shut him out of the game.

Aguero, perhaps more so than any other player in that top band of elite forwards, will often go through barren spells in front of goal. Six games without a goal earlier this campaign in all competitions was followed up by four in his next three. Likewise, a recent six-goal streak of failing to find the net has been met with three strikes in his last two outings.

Having so often fallen short when it comes to finishing top of the scoring pile, Aguero is very much in pole position to push on this term to claim the accolade. If he is to do so, then his four-goal appearance against Spurs in October will be picked out as his finest afternoon.

Yet it was also his crucial strikes in games against Manchester United, Arsenal, QPR, and also a memorable treble against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, which has prevented City from enduring an even worse season than they have.

2. Harry Kane

Club: Tottenham Hotspur

Appearances: 29

Goals: 20

The fairytale rise of Harry Kane, from a player thrown out on loan to gain experience to the Premier League's deadliest hitman and a fully-fledged England international, has certainly been well documented. Yet his achievements in this breakthrough campaign, in which he has scored 20 league goals and a further 11 elsewhere, should not be played down.

His latest strike, a well-taken shot beyond Tim Krul to secure a 3-1 victory for Spurs at St James' Park last weekend, ensured that he has become the first Tottenham player to hit 30 in a single season since Gary Lineker back in 1991-92 - a year before Kane was even born.

In fact, Kane joins a four-man list of players to have hit 20 goals or more in a Premier League campaign for the club, alongside Gareth Bale, Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham. That is some going for a player who was not handed his first league start of the season until the start of November.

Mauricio Pochettino showed faith in the youngster from that point on, and it is fair to say that he has not looked back. Seven goals in league and cup during December and January has helped propel Kane from back-up option to the first name on the team sheet, but he will be eager to round off what has been a hugely impressive season in style by ousting Aguero - whom he is currently level on goals with - over the coming weeks.

It says a lot that his recent spell of two club games without a goal was considered somewhat of a mini drought, yet he proved the doubters wrong by racking up that record-equalling 30th goal against Newcastle United to ensure that equilibrium has very much been restored.

3. Diego Costa

Club: Chelsea

Appearances: 24

Goals: 19

He may have gone off the radar a little in recent months, struggling to control his high-profile injury problems which has seen him miss a number of key games, but this has been a highly successful first season in the Premier League for Diego Costa. Chelsea's shock 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace last year is widely considered to be the afternoon in which Jose Mourinho realised that he had a lot of work still to do in his second coming at Stamford Bridge.

The Brazilian-born Spaniard made a blistering start to his Blues career, scoring seven goals in his first four games, in a hot streak which also included a hat-trick against Swansea. His three assists compare weakly to his two direct rivals for the Golden Boot award, but Costa was plucked from Atletico Madrid for one thing and one thing only - to score goals.

Chelsea so often failed to take chances during the last campaign, most notably in that reverse at Selhurst Park which prompted Mourinho to claim that his players "lacked the balls" to go on and challenge for the title. That has certainly not been the case this campaign and, while Eden Hazard is rightly the strong contender to win the Player of the Year award, a huge slice of praise must also go to the fiery Costa.

Just two goals in his last 10 games since mid-January have blighted what has otherwise been a decent campaign, but Costa will no doubt be hoping to put his injury troubles behind him during a football-free summer in order to match his goalscoring heroics next year.

Before then, with a return to action against Arsenal next weekend likely, there is still time for the £32m maestro to usurp Aguero and Kane, as well as holding off the challenge of Charlie Austin who is charging down the outside, to join the likes of Luis Suarez, Robin van Persie, Carlos Tevez and teammate Didier Drogba in winning the much-coveted accolade.

Borussia Dortmund vs. SC Paderborn Preview

A hectic week off the field will end with Borussia Dortmund returning to action on Saturday when SC Paderborn visit Signal Iduna Park.

Just a few days after it was confirmed that Jurgen Klopp will leave the club at the end of the season, the pressure is on Dortmund to finish a disappointing campaign strongly, while SC Paderborn continue their bid to avoid relegation.

Borussia Dortmund

When Dortmund fans look back on this season they will do so with disappointment, but perhaps the 2014-15 campaign will be most remembered for Klopp's departure after seven years at the club.

During his time with Dortmund, Klopp has won two Bundesliga titles, one DFB-Pokal and guided his side to the final of the Champions League in 2013. Quite simply, he made them European giants once again.

However, the magic was not there this season as injuries and poor form prevented the squad from achieving the success they have become used to, and it should not have come as a surprise to see Klopp call it a day as he bids for a fresh start elsewhere.

Finding a replacement is certain to be a tough task, with Thomas Tuchel and Markus Weinzierl already linked with the role, but the current group of players will only be focused on finishing the season well to ensure that the manager goes out in style.

Currently sitting in 10th spot, six points behind sixth-placed Augsburg, securing a spot in next season's Europa League is still not impossible, and a fine run of form in the closing stages of the campaign could see them break into the top six, which would be an impressive recovery after spending so much time in the relegation zone.

They will need to issue a response to back-to-back losses after defeats to Bayern Munich and Borussia Monchengladbach in the past couple of weeks, and the target will be successive wins over Paderborn and Hoffenheim as they look to build momentum ahead of the DFB-Pokal semi-final with Bayern Munich later this month.

Recent form: WDDWLL

Recent form (all competitions): DLWLWL

SC Paderborn

The spotlight is certain to be on Klopp and his Dortmund players on Saturday, but for Paderborn, it's just another vital game in their bid to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.

A promising run of results in the autumn feels like a lifetime ago for the promoted side, and they are now staring at a disappointing finish in the battle to remain in the top flight of German football, but there was a moment for hope for Andre Breitenreiter last weekend.

If they manage to stay in the league, plenty of fans will look back at the 2-1 victory over Augsburg last weekend as a crucial moment in their campaign, and the improvement at both ends of the pitch was clear in a promising win.

A run of six matches without a win before that triumph included five defeats, but the momentum gained from beating Augsburg should boost Paderborn, who have won just one away game since early October.

Building on the result is the test for Breitenreiter's side, and they will even have one eye on 13th-placed Mainz 05, who sit just four points ahead of them as the relegation fight continues.

Recent form: LLLDLW

Team News

If Dortmund are to get back to their best on Saturday afternoon they will have to do so without a number of their key men after Klopp confirmed that Marco Reus, Neven Subotic, Sven Bender and Nuri Sahin were among the players on a lengthy injury list.

There was also bad news this week for Sebastian Kehl, who broke a rib in training and is expected to be unavailable for two weeks, and his absence could hand an opportunity to Milos Jojic in the centre of midfield.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be moved into a wide position to make room for Ciro Immobile as Klopp considers alternative options in attack due to the injury crisis.

Paderborn have no new injury concerns, so Breitenreiter is likely to name an unchanged side from the win over Augsburg, which means that Elias Kachunga and Srdan Lakic are set to continue their partnership in attack.

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:

Weidenfeller, Ginter, Hummels, Sokratis, Schmelzer, Jojic, Gundogan, Kagawa, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Immobile

Paderborn possible starting lineup:

Kruse, Hunemeier, Rafa, Hartherz, Heinloth, Quali, Bakalorz, Vrancic, Koc, Kachunga, Lakic

Head To Head

These two sides met for the first time in a competitive game in the reverse fixture back in November, which tells the full story of Paderborn's impressive rise in the German game.

A thrilling 2-2 draw forced the teams to share the points as Paderborn came from two goals behind with goals from Lukas Rupp and Marvin Bakalorz after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus had handed Dortmund the lead.

Chelsea vs. Manchester United Preview

Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday knowing that victory would surely end the visitors' fading hopes of pipping them to the Premier League title.

However, it promises to be one of two significant tests left in the Blues' calendar, with United beating Manchester City 4-2 last week to establish a six-game winning streak.

Chelsea

Sunday's 1-0 win at Queens Park Rangers saw Chelsea clasp one hand on the trophy that has eluded them since 2010.

With a seven-point cushion over second-placed Arsenal - whom they face next week - and United a point further back in third, the Blues have done enough in recent weeks to reduce the billing of Saturday's visit.

It could have represented the mouth-watering title decider that it might have looked on paper when the fixtures were announced, but with an eight-point lead and a game in hand over the visitors - a trip to bottom-of-the-table Leicester City - even defeat for Chelsea would surely only delay the inevitable.

It has often been said that the capacity to grind out wins at this stage of the season is the hallmark of champions, and having won their last three by a one-goal margin, it is difficult to argue that Chelsea are not displaying a similar type of resilience that United were famous for during Sir Alex Ferguson's reign.

If there were any lingering doubts over the Londoners' title credentials when they lost 5-3 to Spurs on New Year's Day then Mourinho has emphatically set his team's doubters straight.

Since then, Chelsea have won eight and drawn three of the 11 outings that followed the defeat at White Hart Lane.

They have also had to contend with their rivals' stunning form, with United and the Gunners winning their last 14 league games between them, but the truth is that they are running out of games and Chelsea should move one step nearer this weekend.

Recent form: DWDWWW

Recent form (all competitions): WDDWWW

Manchester United

Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge represents a chance for United to show just how far they have come under Louis van Gaal this season - and how far they can go.

After picking up a paltry five points from a possible 15 at the start of the campaign - including an opening-day defeat to Swansea City at Old Trafford - it could be said that the Dutchman could have enjoyed better starts to life in England.

Despite welcoming a host of big-name talent to the club in a summer spending spree totalling roughly £150m, a top-four finish was always the priority for Van Gaal in his maiden season and, with six games to go, third-placed United will surely achieve that.

They come into this one with an eight-point cushion over Liverpool back in fifth and a six-game winning streak after beating bitter rivals Manchester City last weekend.

In truth, defeats to Swansea City and Southampton have been the only blemishes in an otherwise immensely encouraging 2015 thus far.

Still, there will be some lingering disappointment for the Red Devils that their visit to West London is not more pivotal to the title race, with their stuttering early-season form now looking costly.

However, if nothing else, the encounter will provide a barometer to measure just how close they are to Chelsea in terms of quality - and how much of a force they can be to the champions elect next season.

Recent form: WWWWWW

Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWW

Team News

Chelsea could be forced to field third-choice striker Didier Drogba once again, after Loic Remy joined Diego Costa on the missing list for the win at QPR.

Mourinho revealed that Remy will return to the squad, but it remains to be seen if he will be risked, with next week's trip to Arsenal likely to influence the Portuguese's decision.

Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic are expected to continue in midfield, despite both being one booking away from missing that visit to the Emirates Stadium.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has been boosted by the news that Robin van Persie and Luke Shaw both could shake off their respective injuries to participate after the duo trained with the first team this week.

Michael Carrick is expected to sit this one out with a calf problem following the Manchester derby, while Jonny Evans is still missing as he serves the last of a six-game ban for spitting at Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse.

Chelsea's possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Drogba

Manchester United's possible starting lineup:

De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Shaw; Blind; Herrera, Fellaini, Young, Mata; Rooney

Head To Head

Van Persie grabbed a last-minute equaliser when the sides drew 1-1 at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

The Blues take a seven-game unbeaten run against United into the Bridge on Saturday - three of which have been victories - as the Red Devils remain winless against their London counterparts since a 3-2 away victory back in October 2012.

Arsenal vs. Reading Preview

Holders Arsenal continue their so-far dominant defence of the FA Cup on Saturday when they meet Reading, the lowest-ranked team in the semi-finals.

At the same Wembley venue where the Gunners ended their nine-year silverware drought last season, Arsene Wenger's men are expected to take a step closer to making it two trophies in as many seasons.

Arsenal

The Londoners have been unstoppable ever since shaking off the damaging and highly-criticised Champions League defeat to AS Monaco at the end of February.

Last weekend's 1-0 victory at Burnley was their eighth successive win in all competitions and proved that they are capable of grinding out results as well as blowing teams away.

It was also the eighth time in a row that they had won in the Premier League – making them the first side to achieve such a feat this season – although leaders Chelsea remain seven points clear with a game in hand.

A Manchester United victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday would at least make the title race less of a foregone conclusion ahead of Arsenal's meeting with the Blues next weekend.

Regardless, the Gunners' best chance of a trophy this season remains in a competition that they will have won a joint-best 12 times should they retain it in May.

Before that, they must equal United's record of 18 appearances in a final. Reading present the third Championship opponent of a run to the last four in which only the Red Devils presented a genuine test in the quarter-finals.

Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW

Reading

Progressing to the FA Cup semi-finals represents the undoubted high of a season which has otherwise been a disappointment for many Reading supporters.

Nigel Adkins was sacked in December, for a man with Premier League experience as a player, manager and number two to some of England's best bosses.

However, Steve Clarke has done little to encourage Royals fans that he is the man to take them back to the top flight. Their current position of 18th in the table is two places lower than when Adkins was axed.

Eight points from safety with four games of the season left to play, Reading are not yet mathematically sure of their Championship status, but the cushion is big enough to allow Clarke to focus all of the squad's energy on reaching a first FA Cup final.

The Berkshire Blues have only previously appeared in the last four in 1927. They lost 3-0 to Cardiff City and the Welsh outfit beat Arsenal to win the trophy.

Recent form suggests that the Gunners will again make the final at Reading's expense. The Royals are winless in five matches since beating Bradford City in their quarter-final replay and lost 1-0 at home to Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Recent form (all competitions): WLDDDL

Team News

Jack Wilshere had targeted this match as the date to make his comeback from a five-month layoff, but the England midfielder is not thought to be in contention to start.

Both he and Mathieu Debuchy may make the travelling squad, but Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are unavailable to Wenger. Laurent Koscielny has now fully overcome a muscle strain and will play in defence.

Arsenal's changes are most likely to come in the back five, with full-backs Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal being rotated for Calum Chambers and Kieran Gibbs. Wojciech Szczesny should inherit the gloves from number one David Ospina.

Wenger may reward quarter-final match-winner Danny Welbeck with a start on the ground that he has performed so well for England. Santi Cazorla is the most likely to make way, with Aaron Ramsey dropping into a deeper midfield position.

Reading are without cup-tied defender Nathan Ake. Another Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah is also a major doubt, but physical Russian international Pavel Pogrebnyak is expected to be fit to lead the line.

Jordan Obita may be asked to fill in at left-back, with Oliver Norwood recalled in the centre of the park after a midweek rest. Yakubu, who missed Everton's 2009 Wembley appearance with injury, will be on the bench.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Coquelin, Ramsey; Welbeck, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud

Reading possible starting lineup:

Federici; Gunter, Hector, Pearce, Obita; McCleary; Norwood, Karacan, Robson-Kanu; Cox, Pogrebnyak

Head To Head

Arsenal have won all 12 competitive meetings between the sides – the most famous of which was arguably a remarkable 12-goal League Cup tie in 2012.

That encounter is reflective of how goal-friendly this fixture usually is. There have been 24 in their last three meetings – 16 scored by the Gunners.

Barcelona vs. Valencia Preview

One of Barcelona's toughest remaining La Liga assignments arrives on Saturday as Valencia visit Camp Nou.

Barca passed their Paris Saint-Germain test with flying colours in midweek and now will hope to keep Real Madrid at bay at the top of the Spanish top flight.

Barcelona

The Catalan giants made history in 2009 when they became the first Spanish team ever to win the La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble. History might just repeat itself this season.

Barca are already into May's Copa showdown with Athletic Bilbao, are two points clear at the league summit and made themselves Champions League favourites with their victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

During a set of quarter-finals in which fellow heavyweights Real and Bayern Munich stuttered, Luis Suarez scored twice as the Blaugrana won 3-1 at Parc des Princes to open up a commanding lead ahead of next week's return leg.

The former Liverpool forward made a pedestrian start to his Barca career, scoring five times in his first 18 appearances upon the conclusion of his FIFA suspension, but he has found the net 13 times in his last 15 games.

It is the importance of his goals that is as significant as the number. Suarez scored a double at Manchester City and then twice more in Paris, either side of bagging the match-winner in last month's pivotal El Clasico.

That result gave Barca a four-point cushion which was halved by Real following the 2-2 draw with Sevilla last weekend, in which Luis Enrique's side led through Lionel Messi and Neymar goals before conceding their advantage.

They dusted those cobwebs off in France and will be hoping to extend their unbeaten domestic run to eight matches when fourth-placed Valencia, one of only three top-half teams left on Barca's La Liga fixture list, come to visit.

Recent form: WWWWWD

Recent form (all competitions): WWWWDW

Valencia

Forget Barcelona's seven-match unbeaten run in La Liga, or Atletico Madrid's eight games without defeat. Valencia are the form team in Spain, having won seven and drawn three of their last 10 outings.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have managed to catch up with Atletico and are now applying pressure on the defending champions for third spot, just one point behind with seven games of the season left.

However, Sevilla too remain in the running for a top-four finish and so Los Che must strive to maintain their form until the season's end in order to ensure that a much-improved campaign gets its just rewards.

Monday's 3-0 victory over Levante was ideal preparation ahead of their trip to Catalonia. Paco Alcacer, Sofiane Feghouli and Man City loanee Alvaro Negredo were all on the scoresheet during a comfortable night's work.

It was a 13th home triumph of the season for Valencia - putting them level with all of Spain's other big boys. However, their six away wins is a poorer return than their rivals and they have only beaten one top-half team on the road this term.

Recent form: DWWDDW

Team News

Barca have doubts over the fitness of Andres Iniesta after he was stretchered off against PSG with a sore back. Xavi was his replacement off the bench and could feature against Valencia for the last time ahead of a likely summer exit.

Dani Alves is back from a European suspension and should usurp Martin Montoya at right-back despite huge uncertainty over his own future. Claudio Bravo will regain the gloves from Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Neymar, Messi and Suarez should all start.

The return of Nicholas Otamendi from a ban gives Valencia a huge boost ahead of their clash with the world's most formidable attack, who will provide the reported Manchester United target with a monumental test of his world-class credentials.

The visitors do remain without a couple of their key players, though, with striker Pablo Piatti and highly-rated young left-back Jose Luis Gaya both sidelined by hamstring strains and January signing Enzo Perez still out.

Negredo, who has a poor career record against Barcelona, having scored just once in seven games against them while at Sevilla, may have to settle for the bench as Perez's former Benfica teammate Rodrigo partners Paco Alcacer up front.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Xavi, Rakitic; Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Diego Alves; Cancelo, Mustafi, Otamendi, Vezo; Feghouli, Parejo, Fuego, Andre Gomes; Alcacer, Rodrigo

Head To Head

Enrique's men needed a stoppage-time Sergio Busquets winner at the Mestalla to prevail 1-0 in November's reverse fixture.

Valencia were victorious on their last trip to Camp Nou as Alcacer bagged the decisive strike of a five-goal thriller last season.

However, that was Los Che's first win at Barcelona in 11 attempts and the Catalonians boasted a 28-6 aggregate record during that run.

Real Madrid vs. Malaga Preview

Real Madrid host Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday looking for a win that would keep pressure on Barcelona in the race for La Liga glory.

With two points separating them, Carlo Ancelotti's side could potentially move top should the Catalans slip up against top-four hopefuls Valencia in the day's earlier clash.

Real Madrid

Losing 2-1 to Barcelona last month seems to have given Carlo Ancelotti's side a wake-up call at just the right time. That defeat - their sixth in the league this season - put them four points behind the Catalans in what many believed was the defining moment in the title race.

However, the Blancos have responded brilliantly to that setback, winning their subsequent three games in a run of form that has seen them cut the deficit to just two points ahead of the final seven games.

They took their El Clasico frustrations out on poor Granada in the next fixture, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting no fewer than five goals in a 9-1 win.

It was a message that would have been received loud and clear nearly 400 miles away in Catalunya and, by 9pm on Saturday, it is not inconceivable that Real could be top, with Barcelona hosting top-four hopefuls Valencia in the earlier kickoff.

Beating Malaga - who sit seventh in La Liga - could prove a little more tricky than it seems on paper, however, with Ancelotti's charges drawing 0-0 at Atletico Madrid in Tuesday's first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

That result will have dampened the mood in the camp, given how dominant they were for large spells, and there is always the risk of a knock-on effect when sides resume domestic duties after disappointing European outings.

Victory is essential, though, and with a first Liga title since 2012 up for grabs, there is simply no margin for error against Javi Gracia's side.

Recent form: LWLWWW

Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWD

Malaga

Having won just three of their last 10 league outings, you could say that Malaga have few reasons to be cheerful as they prepare to visit the home of the reigning European champions.

Given that one of those victories came at Barcelona, though, Gracia's men remain a side to be cautious of regardless of their struggles in recent months.

Los Boquerones come into this one without a win in three, with their Europa League qualification bid suffering as a result, but that win at Camp Nou on February 21 will have given the visitors hope that they can spring a similar upset at the Bernabeu.

Defeat could effectively end their hopes of qualifying for Europe, too, with five points separating them from Villarreal in the second and final Europa League spot.

It has been a testing last few months in a season that promised much better at one stage, with a five-game winning streak during October and November putting them in contention for Champions League qualification.

Still, they do not have an overly daunting run of fixtures after leaving Madrid, and a positive result in the capital may prove the foundations for what still can be a successful maiden season for Gracia.

Recent form: LWLDLD

Team News

Ancelotti will find himself with a selection dilemma on Saturday.

With Wednesday's second leg with Atletico delicately poised, the Italian may be tempted to rest some of his star names as he looks to maintain the balance between domestic and European aspirations.

However, Karim Benzema is among the big names expected to return, with the Frenchman, along with Gareth Bale, sitting out last week's 3-0 win over Eibar.

The former Lyon hitman has netted eight times in 12 games against the Andalusians.

Meanwhile, Malaga defender Weligton Oliveira will sit out the trip to the capital after picking up his 10th yellow card of the campaign in the 2-2 draw with Atletico last time out.

Real Madrid's possible starting lineup:

Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Silva, Illarramendi, Isco; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale

Malaga's possible starting lineup:

Kameni; Rosales, Sanchez, Miguel Torres, Boka; Darder, Recio; Samuel, Amrabat, Castillejo; Juanmi

Head To Head

There is a relatively one-sided history to this fixture, with Real winning 20 of their last 23 meetings in all competitions. Malaga's last victory came in a 3-2 home win back in October 2012, but they have lost their last four.

Hoffenheim vs. Bayern Munich Preview

Bayern Munich switch their focus back to the Bundesliga on Saturday with a trip to Hoffenheim as they continue their seemingly inevitable stroll to a third successive title.

Hoffenheim still have plenty to play for as they look to move into the Europa League qualification spots, but Bayern will arrive at the Rhein-Neckar Arena expecting to protect their advantage at the top of the table.

Hoffenheim

It hass been a tough couple of weeks for Hoffenheim and Markus Gisdol, but there was good news on Thursday as the club confirmed that the head coach had extended his contract by another two years.

The new deal was a sign of the progress made under Gisdol, and he will be keen to celebrate renewing his contract by leading the team to a place in the Europa League.

With six games remaining in the season, Hoffenheim are just one point behind sixth-placed Augsburg, but with Eintracht Frankfurt, Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund following closely behind, the need for a run of good results is greater than ever.

Getting back to their best could be easier said than done for Hoffenheim, who suffered defeats to Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Koln either side of a DFB-Pokal exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund.

It will surely be the games against Dortmund, Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen which decide their season, but taking points off the champions could be the boost Hoffenheim need in the closing stages of the season.

Recent form: WLWDLL

Recent form (all competitions): LWDLLL

Bayern Munich

Bayern must surely be looking at Saturday's fixture as an opportunity to boost confidence and rest key men after slipping to a 3-1 defeat to Porto at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday.

It was a loss which leaves the club's Champions League hopes hanging by a thread, and the pressure is certainly on Pep Guardiola's shoulders ahead of the second leg of their quarter-final tie at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening.

Sitting 10 points clear at the top of the table with a DFB-Pokal semi-final against Borussia Dortmund to come later this month would be enough to please most sets of supporters, but Guardiola is fully aware that exiting Europe at the hands of Porto will be viewed as not good enough.

For that reason, a return to Bundesliga action arguably comes as an unwanted distraction for the Bayern squad, but the result could be more important than many fans would suggest.

Losing to Hoffenheim would hand another blow to a squad missing a number of key men due to injury, and it could be difficult for Guardiola to boost morale again ahead of the clash with Porto.

It would come as one of the biggest shocks in German football if Bayern opened the door to Wolfsburg in the closing stages of the campaign, but picking up a ninth win in 10 league games could be vital in their bid for the treble.

Recent form: WWWLWW

Recent form (all competitions): WLWWWL

Team News

There's no doubt that missing so many key players was important in the loss to Porto, and it appears unlikely that Guardiola will be able to welcome back his stars on Saturday.

In truth, the Bayern boss is likely to hand rests to some players ahead of the second leg, with the likes of Xabi Alonso, Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng all candidates for a spot on the bench against Hoffenheim.

Sebastian Rode and Mitchell Weiser are among the players who could be handed opportunities from the start as Guardiola considers freshening up his squad.

Anthony Modeste is pushing for a recall to the Hoffenheim lineup after coming off the bench to score against Koln last week, while Steven Zuber could replace Nadiem Amiri in midfield.

Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:

Neuer, Rafinha, Dante, Badstuber, Bernat, Lahm, Rode, Weiser, Gotze, Pizarro, Lewandowski

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann, Beck, Jin-Su Kim, Bicakcic, Polanski, Rudy, Strobl, Zuber, Firmino, Modeste, Volland

Head To Head

It was a routine win for Bayern in the reverse fixture back in November as they cruised to a 4-0 victory at the Allianz Arena, and the result came as no surprise when you look at other scorelines over the years.

Hoffenheim have avoided defeat in just four of 13 Bundesliga meetings with Bayern in a run which stretches back to 2008, and they are still searching for their first league win over the Bavarian club.

Juventus vs. Lazio Preview

The top two teams in Italy will meet in Turin this weekend as league leaders Juventus take on in-form Lazio.

With a 12-point lead at the top of Serie A the Bianconeri are unlikely to be caught, but a win for the visitors would help them to further strengthen their grip on a Champions League place.

Juventus

There are just eight games left to play in Serie A this season and for a long time Juventus have been in cruise control on their way to a fourth successive title.

However, their 20-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end last weekend, as they fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at bottom-of-the-league Parma.

Massimiliano Allegri did rest a number of key players for that match in preparation for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Monaco and with big names like Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez back, they secured a 1-0 victory.

The second leg of that tie will take place at the Stade Louis II next Wednesday, but against Lazio there will be no players left out as they face the only team with a slim chance of catching them at the top.

It would take a disastrous collapse for them to lose their commanding lead, but a second straight league defeat would certainly offer hope to Lazio and even third-placed Roma that the title is still up for grabs.

Recent form in Serie A: DWWWWL

Recent form (all competitions): WWWWLW

Lazio

At the start of the season, there were some who felt that Lazio could challenge for a place in Europe, but very few would have predicted the position that they are in now.

They have been in scintillating form in recent months and an eight-game winning run has lifted them up to second place in the table.

To make things even sweeter for the club's fans, they are now above their city rivals Roma and they could be set to record their highest Serie A finish since they won the league 15 years ago.

A combination of brilliant attacking play and a number of fine defensive displays have been the key to their unbeaten streak and they have bagged 21 goals in those eight games, while conceding just twice.

The forward trio of Felipe Anderson, Antonio Candreva and Miroslav Klose have been scoring for fun and all three players found the back of the net last weekend as they romped to a 4-0 win over Empoli.

Recent form in Serie A: WWWWWW

Recent form (all competitions): WWWWWW

Team News

Angelo Ogbonna is suspended for Juventus after picking up a booking at Parma last weekend, while long-term absentees Paul Pogba, Kwadwo Asamoah and Martin Caceres are still missing.

There are reports that Fernando Llorente will start up front, while Allegri is expected to revert to a 3-5-2 formation.

Lazio have been dealt a double injury blow, as first-team regulars Stefan de Vrij and Marco Parolo have both been ruled out.

Luis Pedro Cavanda and Diego Novaretti are banned and will also miss the trip to Turin.

However, the Biancocelesti will be able to call upon the services of Dusan Basta and Mauricio, who were suspended last weekend.

Juventus possible starting lineup:

Buffon, Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Barzagli, Evra, Vidal, Pirlo, Pereyra, Tevez, Llorente

Lazio possible starting lineup:

Berisha, Basta, Cana, Mauricio, Lulic, Biglia, Cataldi, Mauri, Candreva, Anderson, Klose

Head To Head

In this season's reverse fixture, it was Juventus who claimed the points, as they cruised to a 3-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.

The Bianconeri have a wonderful recent record against Lazio and they have lost just once in their previous 15 meetings.

This is not the last time that these clubs will meet this season, as they will face off in the Coppa Italia final on June 7.

AS Monaco vs. Rennes Preview

AS Monaco will be looking to keep pace with the sides above them in the table when they host Rennes in Ligue 1 this weekend.

The Champions League quarter-finalists are just six points off top spot, but face a Rennes side trying to secure a top-half finish for the first time in three seasons.

AS Monaco

Monaco have been one of the strongest sides in Ligue 1 in recent weeks, having not lost in their last eight outings, and cruised to a 3-0 win over Caen in their last league match.

However, Leonardo Jardim's side come into the match fresh from a 1-0 defeat to Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, where they looked the stronger side at times.

That result means that the team will have one eye on the second leg of that tie, which takes place on Wednesday, when a place in the Champions League semi-finals will be a possibility.

Monaco have had a mixed season at Stade Louis II, losing just twice at their home stadium, but also being held to draws in eight of their 16 home fixtures.

The Monte Carlo-based side have the best defence in the division, keeping 17 clean sheets so far three more than league leaders Lyon - and conceding just 22 goals.

While Monaco's attack has blown hot and cold throughout the campaign, Anthony Martial's form in recent weeks has been key to keeping them in the title race, with the striker scoring six goals in as many games.

Recent form: WWWDDW

Recent form (all competitions): LWDDWL

Rennes

Rennes come into this match following back-to-back wins in the league, and have lost just once in their last six matches, leaving them ninth in the table.

This weekend's visitors know that a win on Saturday could lift them above Lille in the table, while defeat would dent their hopes of a top-half finish, with three teams within six points of them.

Despite their lofty position in the league, Rennes are not yet mathematically safe from relegation, as they are just 12 points clear of the bottom three with four fixtures still to play.

Rennes have been strong at the back all season, keeping 14 clean sheets, with only Monaco and St Etienne picking up more, while letting in just 37 goals.

Attacking has been less successful for the club though as they have averaged just a goal per match, finding the back of the net fewer times than relegation-threatened Toulouse.

Rennes have some tricky matches in the final weeks of the Ligue 1 season, with ties with Nice, Montpellier and league leaders Lyon still to come, so will be hoping to capitalise against a side that have just returned from a midweek trip to Turin.

Recent form: WWLDWW

Team News

Monaco will still be without Alain Traore, who is yet to feature for the club since joining on loan from Lorient, while Tiemoue Bakayoko is still struggling with a thigh injury.

Lacina Traore is also missing as he continues to recover from a broken leg sustained in the Africa Cup of Nations back in February.

The visitors also have a number of long-term absentees, with Gjoko Zajkob, Emir Lenjani and Vincent Pajot all out, while Philipp Hosiner is continuing his recovery from surgery to remove a tumour, recently revealing that he hopes to be ready to return over the summer.

However, neither side have reported any new injuries since their most recent fixtures, giving them the option to stick with the same starting lineups.

Monaco may make changes though, resting players for their crucial Champions League tie against Juventus just a couple of days after this fixture.

AS Monaco possible starting lineup:

Subasic, Abdennour, Fabinho, Carvalho, Echijile, Raggi, Moutinho, Silva, Kurzawa, Kondogbia, Martial

Rennes possible starting lineup: Costil, M'Bengue, Mexer, Armand, Danze, Fernandes, Ntep, Doucoure, Henrique, Andre, Toivonen

Head To Head

These sides last met in Monaco just a couple of months ago when the hosts knocked Rennes out of the Coupe de France with a 3-1 victory.

In the reverse of this fixture in the league though, it was Rennes who were victorious, securing a 2-0 win thanks to a goal from Ola Toivonen and an own goal.

Monaco have the edge overall in the history of this fixture, beating Rennes 20 times in 39 matches, with Rennes taking 14 wins, while just five meetings have ended in stalemates.

PSV fans attempt to bribe opposition with BEER in order to win Dutch title

PSV fans have taken attempted bribery to new levels as the Dutch giants close in on their first league title in seven years.

PSV fans attempted to bribe the opposition with 20 crates of beer

A win for Phillip Cocu's men against Heerenveen today would see them crowned Eredivsie champions ahead of fierce rivals Ajax.

And the PSV faithful are so desperate to finish off the season in style they have offered 240 bottles of beer to Heerenveen's players if they throw the vital match.

Heerenveen midfielder Joey van den Berg cracked wise earlier in the week suggesting that 10 crates of beer would be enough for his side to concede the game - and a group of PSV fans promptly turned up at the Abe Lenstra Stadion with no less than 20 boxes of boozy bribes.

Unfortunately for the dedicated supporters, Van den Berg delayed accepting the tempting offer, telling Heerenveen TV: "Actually, I am still waiting for a bid from Ajax, but that is not yet in!"

Nice vs. Paris Saint-Germain Preview

There will be no opportunity for Paris Saint-Germain to relax when they return to Ligue 1 action with a trip to Nice on Saturday afternoon.

As they look to juggle their commitments across two competitions, the pressure is on PSG to boost their title bid against a side with nothing to lose in the closing stages of the campaign.

Nice

The big challenge for Nice over the next six matches will be to secure a top-half finish at the end of a season which has had its fair share of highs and lows.

There has been a boost for the club's supporters in recent weeks thanks to a three-game unbeaten run, which included a surprise victory over title hopefuls Lyon last month.

Despite currently occupying 10th spot, Nice sit just five points clear of the bottom three and even if the threat of relegation is not in the thoughts of the supporters, Claude Puel will be keen to pull further away from their rivals in the bottom half of the table with a strong finish to the campaign.

A top-half finish seems more likely than a late-season flirt with the relegation zone, and Puel may consider Saturday's meeting with PSG an opportunity for his side to adopt a positive approach in the search for a shock win.

The win at Lyon was proof that Nice can match the bigger teams in Ligue 1, and if consistency had been easier to achieve, European qualification may not have been out of the question this season.

Recent form: LLLWDW

PSG

A hectic week has seen highs and lows for PSG, who saw their hopes of reaching the Champions League semi-finals take a hit with a 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the French capital on Wednesday evening.

Despite not being out of the tie, the chances of overturning the deficit at Camp Nou on Tuesday seem small and a slip-up in the Ligue 1 title race could make it one of the toughest weeks in recent memory.

The defeat to Barcelona came just a few days after Laurent Blanc's side claimed the first trophy of the season by beating Bastia 4-0 in the Coupe de la Ligue final.

Triumphing in that competition may have been an added bonus, but the club's supporters and owners will expect nothing less than success in the league after a dramatic title race which has seen PSG and Lyon pull away from their rivals in recent weeks.

Lyon's victory over Bastia on Wednesday night put them two points clear at the top of the table, but PSG still have a game in hand over their rivals with seven matches left in their campaign.

However, anything less than a win on Saturday will hand control to Lyon, who return to action at home to Saint-Etienne on Sunday evening.

Recent form: WDWLWW

Recent form (all competitions): LWWWWL

Team News

Blanc is faced with a number of difficult decisions as he looks to boost his side's title bid without waving the white flag ahead of a trip to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in the second leg of their quarter-final tie.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be unavailable as he begins his four-match ban for his rant about France and Ligue 1 officials, but Blanc is unlikely to consider resting many key men as he looks to put the pressure back on Lyon.

Edinson Cavani should lead the attack for the visitors, while Marco Verratti will also miss out for the visitors due to suspension.

Nice have no new injury concerns ahead of the meeting with the champions, and Puel may name an unchanged side with Alassane Plea leading the attack with support from Valentin Eysseric

Nice possible starting lineup:

Puoplin, Genevois, Puel, Amavi, Bodmer, Mendy, Rafetraniaina, Bautheac, Eysseric, Benrahma, Plea

PSG possible starting lineup:

Sirigu; Aurier, Marquinhos, Silva, Maxwell; Rabiot, Cabaye, Matuidi; Lucas, Cavani, Pastore

Head To Head

Ibrahimovic scored the only goal of the game from the spot as PSG triumphed in the reverse fixture back in November to give his side their fourth successive win over Nice.

PSG have lost just one of the last nine Ligue 1 games between the two sides, while the statistics suggest they will miss Ibrahimovic, who has scored six goals in his last five appearances against the opposition.

Jose Mourinho: Nobody likes Chelsea because we are BORING

Jose Mourinho has brushed aside the abuse that Chelsea receive on social media and the fact that his team are rated the worst behaved on the pitch.

He reckons the abuse is because people are bored with his team being top of the table for so long.

And he believes that the Premier League and Football Association match assessors are being too well fed and watered at Chelsea to get their reports right.

Chelsea, seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table as they go into tonight’s clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, are rated the club that gets most abuse on Twitter, Facebook and other social media internet sites.

But the Chelsea manager said: “Why do we get this? It’s because we are boring. We have been top of the league since day one. That’s something that in this country people don’t like.

“Everyone would love the Premier League to be like the Championship right now, with four teams separated by a couple of points, where nobody knows who is going to be promoted or in the play-offs.

“I know this would be the ideal scenario in the Premier League, but since day one we are there at the top. We are trying not to allow that scenario to happen. We have a big determination to be champions.” More seriously, Chelsea scored the lowest mark in the Premier League on ‘respect towards referees’ – with Liverpool having the best.

But the Chelsea manager, who expects to have striker Loic Remy back to lead his attack tonight, had a tongue in cheek response.

“These delegates are the same ones who do the evaluation of the referees’ performances, and I read those every week. Is someone going to take ten points off us because of this?,” said Mourinho.

“To me, it depends on the food and drink. We are going to have to change our catering because many times the delegates don’t see the games. Really. I think they stay eating and drinking.

“The only one I met was the phenomenal guy who made the report on the Nemanja Matic situation when we played Burnley. And that one, for sure, had sushi, lobster...everything. Champagne of high quality- Cristal. Everything.

“Maybe our food is too good. We have the best catering and the best drink. Maybe we should give them bread and water next season.” When Matic was dismissed against Burnley for retaliation, Chelsea were furious that PL match delegate Steve Greaves’ report backed referee Martin Atkinson’s decisions in the game on February 21.

But Mourinho insists that the charge against his players, that they repeatedly surround referees and officials, is not correct, despite the damning statistics.

He said: “It’s not true. I know that if a lie is repeated and repeated, there is a risk that it becomes true in people’s eyes. But I disagree. A lie is a lie. No problem.”

If they win, Chelsea will move 10 points clear of nearest challengers Arsenal, who meet Reading in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley also this evening

But he believes it would be just another step towards the 11 points his team needs to secure their third title under his leadership.

Mourinho said: “For me this season the Premier league is not boring – it is more difficult than ever.

“There are different kinds of domination. We have always been top, but we went to eight points difference, and then down to zero. Now we are 12 points ahead of Manchester City. It has been very difficult, every game. In the last nine matches, we have not won by more than one goal.

“I don’t care by how much we win it – I just want to be champion. One point is enough for me. At the end of the day, it’s a title.”

Louis van Gaal set to recall Angel Di Maria and Luke Shaw for Stamford Bridge clash

Louis van Gaal is set to hand reprieves to Luke Shaw, Tyler Blackett and Angel Di Maria - and will move Wayne Rooney into midfield - after the club's latest injury crisis.

United could be without five players for their title showdown at Chelsea tomorrow.

Michael Carrick (calf), Daley Blind (foot), Phil Jones (ankle)Marcos Rojo (groin) are all injured while Jonny Evans is still suspended.

Van Gaal said: "We have four players injured from the last match, so that is not so good.

"I hope that we can recover two of them (Blind and Jones) but Carrick and Rojo are out.

"That's the worst scenario. Evans is also suspended so I have a puzzle for tomorrow."

Despite the injury concerns, Van Gaal has ordered United to pile the pressure on the leaders.

The two clubs meet at Stamford Bridge tomorrow for what promises to be one of the biggest showdowns of the season.

A win for United would see them close the gap on Jose Mourinho's men to just five points.

The Blues still have a game in hand on their closest rivals, but Van Gaal knows this is a chance to turn up the heat on the league leaders.

Angel Di Maria is set to return to the United line up for the Chelsea clash

The United boss reckons his side can still become champions and he said:

"It's still possible. We are behind Chelsea but we have to play against them and so do Arsenal.

"So we can lay pressure on Chelsea's shoulders.

"You never know what can happen. We have seen things happen before in the Premier League."

United travel to London high on confidence following six straight league wins.

Premier League in numbers: Week 33 preview

Another weekend of Premier League action is upon us, and it could be a decisive one in terms of which direction the title will be heading come the end of the season.

Chelsea entertain the division's in-form side in Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening, while fallen champions Manchester City take on West Ham United hoping to keep afloat in the top four.

Due to FA Cup commitments, Arsenal will have even more catching up to do following the latest set of games, but Gunners supporters will no doubt be keeping a close eye on events as they unfold in West London.

Here, We take a look ahead to the 33rd round of fixtures, with a selection of statistics from all sevem games taking place to whet the appetite.

Crystal Palace vs. West Bromwich Albion

Palace have won both of their previous Premier League games against West Brom at Selhurst Park, scoring exactly three goals on both occasions.

West Brom have won just one of their previous five Premier League meetings with Palace (L2 D2).

Glenn Murray has scored six goals and assisted three more in his last six Premier League appearances.

Alan Pardew has now won 51 points in the top-flight this season; enough to put him eighth in the table had he been at one club all season.

Everton vs. Burnley

Everton have won more points in their last four Premier League games (10) than they had in their previous 12 (7).

Burnley have failed to score in five of their last six league matches, netting once against Man City in the other.

Everton have made only three errors leading to a goal in their last 12 Premier League games after making 11 in the 20 matches before that.

Burnley have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 13 Premier League away games.

Leicester City vs. Swansea City

Swansea are unbeaten in their last three PL games (W2 D1). They haven't gone four Prem games without a defeat in a single season since January 2013.

Leicester have scored 2+ goals in three successive Premier League games for the first time since November 2003. They have not done it in four consecutive top-flight games since May 2000.

The Foxes have won both of their games so far in April this season, after a run of 17 Premier League games in April without a win before that.

David Nugent needs one more goal to match his best total of six goals in a Premier League campaign, although four of his five goals in the Prem this season have come away from home.

Stoke City vs. Southampton

Four of the previous five Premier League meetings between these two clubs have ended in a draw.

Stoke have gone four games without a win (L3 D1); their longest run without one in the Premier League this season.

Only Tottenham (seven) have picked up more points courtesy of goals netted in the 90th minute or later than Stoke (four).

The Saints have conceded just two goals in their last five games and have not conceded more than once away from home since the opening weekend of the season.

Chelsea vs. Manchester United

Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League home games against the Red Devils (W7 D4 L1).

United have suffered more Prem defeats against Chelsea than versus any other side (15).

Jose Mourinho's men have scored 100 goals in 47 games this season (2.13 per game), while United have 68 in 38 matches (1.79).

Chelsea's last home league defeat came almost exactly one year ago (April 19, 2014 vs Sunderland).

Manchester City vs. West Ham United

Man City have lost two league matches in April this season already. They have not lost three PL games in a single month since November 2008.

Man City have already lost five league games in 2015 - one more than in the whole of 2014 (4).

West Ham have lost seven points from goals scored in the 90th minute (and injury time) this season, which is more than any other team.

If the season had started on Boxing Day, West Ham would be only one point clear of the relegation zone.

Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Newcastle have lost just one of their last eight PL home games against Spurs (W5 D2 L1), with that defeat coming last season.

Since defeating Arsenal in February, Tottenham have won just three of their eight Premier League matches (W3 D2 L3).

Inlucing only games since the start of last season, Newcastle have picked up 11 red cards in the top-flight; more than any other team in that period.

Newcastle have lost their last five games. If they lose this it will match their worst ever Premier League run of defeats, set last spring.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Saturday, April 18, 2015