Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Soccer picks and tips for February 23, 2016

Arsenal - Barcelona
Champions League - Round of 16
02/23/2016 21:45 CET
Image result for Arsenal - Barcelona
In the last decade, the two teams have met five times in different stages of the race and every time option goal / goal was met. I think now we will see goals in favor of each of the two clubs, as they are a good offensive form, although the "ball" is not shown, in the last match against Hull City, but the composition against Barcelona certainly will not be the same which came out against the "tigers".
Arsenal will necessarily looking for hits on its site before the expected heavy revenge on "Camp Nou", but Barca will do everything possible to razpishat as guests. Success!

Gunners recorded a disappointing zero draw against Hull at home on Saturday in the FA Cup.
For the hosts are out Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky and Gabriel Paulista is questionable.

Olivier Giroud is expected to be ostireto in the attack, but the offensive midfield will most likely act Mesut Özil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alexis Sanchez.

Barcelona is a great series of 32 matches unbeaten in all competitions.
Famed trio of Catalans - Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez - has seen a total of 81 goals in all competitions this season, which is 20 more than the hits of the team Arsenal in all four tournaments in which it participates.

Marc-Andre ter Buck returns among holders of goalkeeping and Ivan Rakitic will almost certainly start at the expense of Arda Turan.

Arsenal are up against Barcelona in the knockout phase of the Champions League for a third way in the last seven editions of the tournament, as in all three cases "Barcelona" were leaving the winner. "Gunners" were able to avoid this inconvenient rival if they had won the group, but it was another German giant Bayern Munich and it proved an impossible task for the team Arsene Wenger.
March outlined a busy month for hosts Arsenal, while disappointing draw with Hull City in the fifth round of the FA Cup added another game to their program. But now the focus should be shifted to the Champions League and this clash with Barcelona in which "Arsenal" will try to take a comfortable advance before the second leg and eventually qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010.
Second place in the group is almost always a bad joke Arsenal as the second round of the team often had to rival one of the top teams in Europe. This was not the case of last season when he was pulled out of Monaco. Unfortunately for fans of English was admitted losing 1: 3 in the first meeting, and victory in France with 2: 0 was not enough to continue forward. But there is hope after the "Gunners" managed to win 2: 0 Bayern Munich in the group stage of this year's race.

Overall Arsenal have won 5 of their last 8 games in the Champions League "Emirates Stadium", losing only Olympiakos this season. Alexis Sánchez and Mesut Özil will be part of the players who will return to composition after being rested in the meeting with Hull City.

Barcelona are another team that will try for the first time since 1990 to win the trophy in the Champions League two years in a row. "Catalans" pulled by eight points atop the standings in La Liga and calm can focus on their participation in the strongest tournament of the Old Continent.
Lionel Messi and company were drawn two of their three away games in the group stage, which means that the team has won only 1 of their last 4 away games. Before that, however, they were recorded four consecutive victories.
The team of Luis Enrique unbeaten 32 matches in all competitions, they have won 12 of the last 13 meetings. The only exception was 1: 1 draw with Valencia Cup, but before that "Barca" had already qualified after winning with 7: 0 in the first match of "Camp Nou". Arda Turan is suspended and will not play in London as outside the group remained more Rafinha Alcantara, Marc Bartra, Sandro Ramirez and Douglas Pereira.

As mentioned at the beginning of this post Arsenal and Barcelona have faced each other in the knockout phase of the Champions League three times in the last seven seasons. In 2006, "Barca" defeated by 2: 1 in the final, and in the 2009/2010 season Spaniards out winners in the quarterfinals after a 2: 2 in London and win 4: 1 at home. Next year, the two teams again face one another and then another second round where Barca loses first match 1: 2 in England, but won the game 3: 1 and again eliminate the "Gunners".
Arsenal certainly have nothing to return to Barcelona and this makes this first clash even more unpredictable. "Catalans" can be found in terrible shape and are unbeaten 30+ games, but that's match of the second round in the strongest tournaments in Europe and then against a rival who has gained them a lot. The odds of winning the guests simply not worth the risk. On the other hand, both teams can see the names of great players in attack who are able to take advantage of the slightest error rival. It should be mentioned that in all five matches between these two teams was 3 or more goals scored and 3 of these meetings have scored four or more goals.
Catalans are considered the strongest team at the moment. Hardly anyone specialist will be able to challenge this assertion. Their opponent is a team of tides, which will hardly stop the Catalan machine.

The stadium "Emirates" in London Arsenal welcomes colossus and current holder of the trophy Barcelona.

Barca will pursue the ninth consecutive participation in the quarterfinals in the most prestigious European club tournament, while the "Gunners" will try to get to the next phase for the first time since 2010. Then the boys Arsene Wenger were removed precisely from brass, then draw 2 : 2 in London and loss of "Camp Nou" after four goals Leo Messi.
A year later, the two defense-again met in the second round and came out victorious Spaniards again after losing in London and another success at home.
Since then Arsenal conceded three home losses in their first matches of this stage of the tournament from Bayern Munich in 2013 and 2014 and Monaco last season.
At the moment Barcelona are unbeaten in all competitions involving more than four months. Team coach Luis Enrique took with him to London all the best at his disposal, with only Turkish international Arda Turan is suspended.
For the hosts battle certainly miss injured Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla.
Guests already imnat advance of eight points from their pursuers in La Liga, so surely will concentrate full attention in the removal of this difficult opponent in the Champions League.
Arsenal themselves are in a fierce battle for the title in the Premier League and in the weekend are about serious visit of Arsenal at Old Trafford.

For those looking for a more serious factor in an expected victory for Barca recommend option for Barcelona both teams to score.

The Spanish champion has made at least one goal in 12 of 17 away matches in the Champions League since the beginning of 2013. Meanwhile, Barca have scored at least two goals in their last four away matches in the Primera dvision.

Under the leadership of Luis Enrique Barca players have scored in nine of nine away games against teams from the top six of the Spanish championship and will hardly fail to do so in this game.
Luis Suarez has scored 41 goals in 37 games for the team this season. Since early January he has scored in seven consecutive games.

Arsene Wenger at the time of hiring of a shaman, so he conjured a toss play-off Champions League - for several years, "Gunners" humiliated 1/8 playoff Barcelona, ​​then handed the baton of Bavaria and a year later, after the embarrassment of Monaco, Catalans meet again with the London club.

At first glance, banal bad luck with the draw, some even say a disaster, but the "gunners" themselves to blame. They no one bothered to beat Zagreb and Olympiacos and try to somehow resist Bavaria. But Londoners passively succumbed to the Greeks and Croatians and only at the last gasp able to crawl out of the group. In nature, the balance is valued and therefore, if you're somewhere very lucky, somewhere, is completely luck will run out, and there was the draw.

Arsenal is in fairly good shape, they overcame a small crisis in January, the sores healed almost all leaders, except Cazorla, Wilshere and Paulista. Most of all, of course, will miss the Spanish midfielder, who viscous and quick game against the Catalans, would be very useful in the field. Whether on-site Wenger any other coach in the world, he would be released in its place Mathieu Flamini in a couple of Koklenu, but the Frenchman certainly put Ramsey and Wenger is unlikely to depart from its traditional football, which is almost equivalent to a death sentence. But to give up Olivier Giroud in favor of more high-speed and sharpened to counter-attack, Theo Walcott is a good and quite a Vengerovsky idea.

Arsenal - Barcelona: projected compositions
Arsenal: Cech - bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Montreal - Coquelin, Ramsey - Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez - Walcott
Barcelona: Bravo - Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba - Iniesta, Busquets, Rakitic - Neymar, Suarez, Messi

Out of the game
Arsenal: Paulista, Coquelin, Wilshere
Barcelona: Turan, Rafinha

The Catalans are now in such a way that one never knows they will deify and put a monument. This powerful and elegant at the same time the game does not show any other club in the world. "Barça" - the first club that for the first time in a long time and can seriously deserves to win two consecutive Champions League Cup and other opinions can not be here. Barca coaching staff was able to do the main thing - to prevent the abundance of injuries and fatigue from the leaders of the club, and this despite the fact that the UEFA sanctions were imposed on the Catalans. The last two months of Luis Enrique and only engaged in that rotate up, but despite all the spiteful critics, the Catalans, in fact, did not lose a single point, and further strengthened its advantage in "La Liga".
Arsenal - Barcelona: readers Forecast Vote

 Arsenal (1) - 1.78
 Barcelona (-1) - 2.15

View results

The upcoming match is difficult to find the reason why the Catalans will leave at least a small chance of the London club, in addition to the nobility of the Spanish club. Just think: Suarez, Messi, Neymar against Mertesacker and Koscielny! They, of course, good defenders and markedly increased this year, but looking at the way they suffered the attack City and Chelsea, will be a success if they miss in London only once. I do not rule out that the "Gunners" can score, especially knowing the liberty wards Enrique, but anything more would be extremely difficult to calculate.

forecast: Both teams to score
              Over 2.5 goals
              Home win
             Suarez to score


Bristol City - Brighton
England - Championship
02/23/2016 21:45 CET
Image result for Bristol City - Brighton
Bristol City recently very pozasiliha and account for four consecutive victories and with very strong teams. Brighton was one of the most iron team with a series of more than ten games without a loss and zaposledno zagbiha Cardiff and it powerful, but it currently fourth. Them they are only three points from the first place and have the chance again to return to the top and factor pair is very good for them, but I have a mind to draw.

Forecast: Away win or draw

Burnley - Nottingham
England - Championship
02/23/2016 21:45 CET
Image result for Burnley - Nottingham
Burnley are team for example and always proven that fought to the end no matter which team stands on the field and I believe that household will greatly help them against Forest because visitors always been maligned team and its languish and stuck in one place and never forget the strong and fight matches of Burnley in the premier league even if they are experiencing a tie and with great teams of great rank.

Forecast: Home win

Juventus - Bayern Munich
Champions League - Round of 16
02/23/2016 21:45 CET
Image result for Juventus - Bayern Munich
Juventus will try at all costs to take advance of Bayern before heavy rematch in Munich.
On Friday, Juve broke an incredible series of 15 consecutive wins in Serie A with zero draw against Bologna.

Defender Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro and Kwadwo Asamoah are all out due to injuries.
In the group match but fell Croatian international Mario Mandzukic, who likely will partner with Paulo Dybala up front.

Bayern Munich won 6 of their last 7 games in the Champions League, and is currently in a series of 3 consecutive wins in all competitions, which scored 9 goals.
Bayern also are unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions.

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said he expected two difficult matches against Juve.
"In the second round is always difficult and complicated. Juventus started the season well, but now came in shape and I expect an interesting match. We will try to play well and to mention a few hits, but it will not be easy, "said Guardiola, quoted by the official website of UEFA.

German champion coach revealed that his biggest concerns are static situations where he says Juve is the most dangerous.

"We have problems with injured players, but what can we do? The members are Tashcha and Benatia, but they arrived just now. We have to attack intelligently and avoid static positions. Juventus is probably the best team in static positions, "said Bayern coach.

Defensive players Javi Martínez, Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber are out due to injuries.
Robert Lewandowski will almost certainly lead the attack of the guests, but the wings will probably start Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa.

Last year's finalist in the Champions League Juventus goes against German giant Bayern Munich in the second round of the tournament. "Old Lady" beat twice Manchester City in the group, but failed to win first place and now it ahead two heavy fight with "Bayern", while England will play with Dynamo Kiev.

Juve made a minor miracle last season when they reached the final, more so in the semifinals dealt with definitions for favorite Real Madrid. "Bianconeri" are in terrible form in the domestic championship, which managed to catch a big difference and are now leaders in the standings. The team has 8 wins from 10 home games in the Champions League, drew in two other meetings.
Overall team of Massimiliano Allegri was in a series of 13 consecutive success in all competitions, but it ended last Friday with the visit of Bologna, ended in a scoreless draw.

Bayern Munich take it in the Bundesliga under control and it seems that it will become champion once again. The team continues its participation in the German Cup, as the biggest issue facing Pep Guardiola will succeed if he can win the Champions League in his last season at the club.

Last season, "Bayern" dropped out of phase from Barcelona semifinals after two losses - 2: 3 at home and 0: 3 in Spain. In season 2013/2014 Bayern were again eliminated 1/2-finals, but another Spanish team - Real Madrid. Then again it was recorded two defeats, one of which humiliating 0: 4 own "Allianz Arena". The team of Pep Guardiola has 9 wins in their last 10 matches in all competitions and has won 5 of their last 6 away matches.

Juventus and Bayern Munich are in very good shape at the moment and it is not surprising that the bookmakers can not determine avowed favorite, although it gives a slight advantage to the Germans. During the 2013/2014 season the two teams played against each other in the quarterfinals in the tournament and then the Germans went ahead after two wins with 2: 0. The match on Tuesday night is crucial for both teams and I do not expect a very open game. Rather, we will see a lot of stalking and waiting error rival.

Experts define Bayern Munich as the better team, but Juventus are in such good shape that definitely have the strength to do at least equal to the Bavarians. More than equal to them is a bit difficult, so the X seems the most likely outcome of this match. Turin team have 13 wins in their last 14 games. Bayern are also in very good shape, so the equivalent match is guaranteed.

Over the weekend, "Bianconeri" ended the incredible run of 13 consecutive wins in Serie A after a draw against Bologna. However, they have not committed any loss in front of their own crowd of October, so that in Turin they are still in a series of 11 consecutive wins .

Coach "Old Lady" Massimiliano Allegri will not be able to rely on Martin Caceres, Kwadwo Asamoah, Alex Sandro, Giorgio Chiellini and former striker of Bayern Mario Mandzukic for this derby. Andrea Barzagli, Paul Pogba and Paulo Dybala however, are tuned for battle
.
In Germany, meanwhile, appeared on charges of Pep Guardiola address that since he knew that he would leave after the season is not motivated enough to work at the club. However, this does not affect the results after the Bavarians recorded three wins and one draw in their last four games.

Bayern are eight points clear atop the Bundesliga standings with 12 games remaining until the end of the championship. The team is in the semi-finals of the German Cup, but those two trophies Guardiola has already won them and his big goal before leaving the remaining Champions League.
Catalan specialist will not be able to rely on three central defenders after injuries Javi Martínez, Holger Badstuber and Jerome Boateng.

Juventus is an outsider in the game, but the fact that Bayern have little qualitative composition, household factor should not be underestimated because it can turn things in their favor.

From season 200,405 years, "Bianconeri" have played 36 matches in front of their own crowd in the Champions League, they have lost just two of them. Ironically, both lesions are the German champions. In the group stage in 2009/10 and the quarter-finals in 2013/14 year. The current composition is quite better quality and sophisticated.

Juve showed his great class last season, when on his way to the final they won as hosts Borussia Dortmund, Monaco and Real Madrid, has since recorded victories over Manchester City and Seville in front of their own crowd.

Bayern turn drew with Shakhtar and losses from Porto and Barcelona during their visits last season.
Despite the dominance in the Bundesliga boys Pep Guardiola lost points in three of their last seven visits.

If we discard the conductive outstanding season Barcelona, ​​Juventus is the most difficult opponent for the Munich club. The main difference between the Italians - is the ability to play defense and iron discipline. In such a manner, can not play any Superclub Europe, except that Atletico Madrid, but also the "mattress", do not have the performers in the back line. In addition to the thoroughbred game "Bianconeri" in the defense, Juve demonstrated equally impressive action in the attack, but rather the realization of a crazy moments. Suffice it to recall the last match against Napoli, when turintsy, realized his only polushans and were able to bring the meeting to a victorious end.

Home gaps "zebra" - is injured Chiellini, Caceres and Sandro, who essentially do no alternative placement and team tactics. Allegri can no longer use one of his favorite circuits, with three or five defenders, as it was last season, when Juventus resisted Real Madrid. In addition, Giorgio Chiellini, is objectively the best team defender and fighter, which still have to search. Availability Caceres could afford to play three central defenders, and Sandro could go, or instead of Evra initially or during the meeting. Given the intensity with which to turintsev will crush Bayern, flank problem, which will be the Frenchman looks a serious threat for the defense of "the Bianconeri." Referring to the recent clash against Napoli, as a result of a small injury, replaced Bonucci came out swearing, and I must say, he has shown himself quite well. Therefore, it is possible that the Italian coach, still play in the scheme with five defenders.

Juventus - Bayern: projected compositions
Juventus: Buffon - Lihshtayner, Bonucci, Barzagli, swearing, Evra - Marchisio, Pogba, Khedira -Morata, Diba
Bayern: Neuer - Lahm, Kimmy, Benat, Alaba - Alonso Vidal - Costa, Muller, Robben - Lewandowski

Out of the game
Juventus: Asamoah, Caceres, Chiellini, Sandro
Bayern: Martinez, Boateng, Badstuber

The German club is also faced with serious problems in their defense. Almost until the end of the season dropped Jerome Boateng, he will not play Javi Martinez and Holger Badstuber, and on the eve of this meeting, recovered Medhi Benatia. I will not mind, Josep Guardiola had to enter the transfer market and buy a central defender, although the choice was very specific - Serdar Tasci. I think Spartak will play with Juventus, but in the case of a general catastrophe.

Despite having a serious shortage of personnel in defense - it's not such a serious problem, both for the same Juventus. Firstly, Bayern are playing totally different football and in their understanding, the defender - a man who begins to attack and only a few exceptions, he interrupts them. And, secondly, the same Benat and Kimmy, can easily play in central defense, the only problem in this situation is practically zero teamwork, but again, the gate still need to be reached.

It will be interesting to see to Arturo Vidal, who seemed to be specially bought for this confrontation. Almost no doubt that despite some discontent on the part of Chilean Guardiola, he will still be released in the start, for two reasons. The first - is the fear in the face of the former partners, who know what a South American, and the second - an excellent knowledge of the manners of the game all the players Juve. In addition, if the plan of Bavaria, suddenly cease to work or vice versa, you need to be even more pressure on the Italians, one does not exclude the option, when tired "Juve" advocates will more fresh and inventive Alcantara.

If personnel losses have not touched or turintsev team Massimiliano Allegri faced with Bavaria, a little later stage, when there is an underestimation of the opponent Munich, one might think about the success of "zebras". But under the circumstances, I'm afraid, as if we have not witnessed the beating Juventus, as it was a few years ago, in the era of Jupp Heynckes.

forecast: Both teams will score
              Under 2.5 goals
              Home win or draw
              Away win (draw no bet)
              Bayern to score over 1 gola

Dundee FC - Dumbarton
Scotland - Scottish Cup
02/23/2016 21:45 CET
Image result for Dundee FC - Dumbarton
The hosts are a much better team and expect to win with a difference. Two weeks ago the two teams ended in a scoreless draw, but then hosted the game was Dumbarton and Dundee are much stronger at home while guests are present awful away from home. Dundee are the elite of Scotland, while Dumbarton are the second echelon, so normal to expect an easy home win.

Forecast: Home win( Handicap -1 goal)



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