TFT Issue 378!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City – away win with -2 Asian Handicap at 11/10.
Today’s featured game is between rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers and title challengers Manchester City.
There’s a mass of points and places between these two sides in the Premier League and they’re merited, too. I’ve said previously that I’ll oppose Wolves for the rest of the season after their ludicrous decision to sack McCarthy because they look terrible and nothing has changed my mind on that front.
Wolves are mathematically able to escape the drop zone but it’s not happening, realistically speaking. Wolves’ attack is ineffectual and their defending is absolutely horrendous, particularly from set pieces. Wolves have lost goalkeeper Hennessey for the rest of the season and beyond through injury and that makes matters worse for an already uncertain Wolves defence. They’re just a horrible side right now with zero confidence and although they’ll work hard, they’re already a Championship side.
City have the perfect game to boost their goal difference here. I think their recent scorelines against WBA and Norwich have flattered them, although they unquestionably deserved the win in both games. However, what this does show is that City are finally doing what they should have started doing a few weeks ago – taking their chances. They have to score goals to win games and they weren’t doing that. Amusingly enough, the return of mercenary Tevez has inspired City and they’re scoring lots of goals at the moment. They’re playing with flair again, which helps, and the burden on poor Silva has finally been lifted. City with options up front makes them dangerous as it inspires the team and that’s what they’ve demonstrated perfectly of late. Someone alongside Aguero that is a good player actually helps Aguero showcase his ability and overall, City are playing inspired football at the moment. How long it will last is anyone’s guess because this side doesn’t have good cohesion in general. However, they’ve got some big players to score from set pieces and some terrific attacker so I expect them to tear Wolves a new one today.
For me, this should be an absolute demolition job. If City don’t score at least three goals here then I’ll be very surprised. For me, there’s heaps of value in taking City to beat the -2 Asian Handicap at 11/10.
Verdict: Manchester City to beat the -2 Asian Handicap at 11/10.
Additional games
Racing Genk vs Standard de Liege – home win at evens.
Three consecutive wins lead Genk into this game so momentum is strong and confidence is high for the hosts. Defensively, they’re still all over the place but they’re so good when they attack that it’s terrifying. With Genk, you often find that their problem is confidence. When they have it, they’re dynamite, but without it, they’re horrendous. Genk have a lot of talented attacking players and in front of their own fans, you have to fancy them upset an unravelling Standard de Liege today. The visitors also possess some good players but don’t play well on the road, or at least don’t play well enough to score enough goals to get a point here. Standard can cause problems with their defensive organisation as they’re one of the best in Belgium for keeping sides out. However, Genk are on fire right now and I think they’ll break through sooner or later and that should be enough for Genk to win the game. For me, Genk are worth a bet at evens.
Verdict: Racing Genk to win at evens.
Slavia Prague vs Slovacko – under 2 goals at 11/10.
I’m hoping that these two sides don’t just relax now that they’re realistically clear of relegation because that may present a more open game here. If both sides are playing in this game as they normally do then this tip will cruise home. Slavia have no attacking power any longer although they can keep sides out. Slovacko can be calamitous at the back but only when they attack, which they don’t do away from home. Slovacko’s tactics on the road are to sit back, soak up pressure, and counter-attack. Slavia Prague don’t attack with enough conviction to allow that to happen so for me, it’s well worth going under 2 goals at 11/10, perhaps even with a cheeky bet on the 0-0 scoreline.
Verdict: Under 2 goals at 11/10.
Manchester United vs Everton – under 3 goals at 4/5.
Everton are a side that United have always struggle to break down. There are some sides that United will demolish but Everton simply aren’t one of them. Everton do what United hate to play against by playing a very well-organised 4-5-1 and subsequently United don’t score many against Everton. United have been very efficient lately but they’ve not demolished anyone. I was at Old Trafford when United beat Villa 4-0 and although the win was deserved, it’s worth bearing in mind that Villa had lots of players out and United had some assistance with the goals. It’s also worth noting that Rooney was bloody awful in that game, even by his own admission after the game. Against his former club, you’d have to expect more from him but he tends to lose it against his former club more often than he impresses. United have got Nani back, which is a great boost as he’s a much-needed match-winner for United, which allows them to rest Valencia once in a while. United are looking very solid at the back and shouldn’t concede if they defend properly as goalscoring is a big bugbear of Everton’s. Everton threaten from set pieces and counter-attacks but little else if Pienaar is kept under wraps. Everton will damage United in this game because of their excellent physical shape at this stage of the season, their battling nature, and their brilliant form of late. However, I think United will edge the game in narrow fashion and claim a much needed three points. That said, I don’t see it being a walkover – far from it. I think this game going under 3 goals is well worth a bet at 4/5 as United will have to be outstanding to batter Everton today.
Verdict: Under 3 goals at 4/5.
FC Honka Espoo vs JJK Jyvaskyla – away win with draw no bet at 8/5.
JJK were absolute annihlated at home by Haka last match, which left a lot of us scratching our heads as to how it happened. I mean, I know JJK can’t defend for shit but they were absolutely awful and deserved to lose the game. The sole absence of Manninen cannot be the reason for that scoreline; I just won’t buy that. JJK will have to play better today and I think that they will.
In a way, this is a perfect fixture for JJK. It’s perfect because they’re expected to lose so the pressure is minimal and it’s perfect because Honka are unrecognisable at the moment. Perhaps it was naive of me to expect more from Honka so far this season when you consider who they lost pre-season. However, I didn’t think I’d see them so ineffectual again but that’s where they’re at right now. They’re not scoring enough goals and their defending is laughable, as per usual. There’s no Savage and Schuller to bail them out now, though, so there’s a lot of inexperience in their squad and not many leaders. It’s going to take a while for Honka to get into the swing of things this season, based on what I’ve seen, and JJK are not a good side to play against unless you’re in good form.
For me, the tables have turned in Finland over the past twelve months. I rate JJK as a better side than Honka, especially when it comes to scoring goals. Honka lost their best two players pre-season but JJK kept all theirs. It speaks volumes for the aspirations of each club, in my view. JJK have one of the best midfields in the Veikkausliiga, with or without Manninen, and that’s enough to get them points here. Honka tend to play better on the road than they do in Espoo and in my eyes, this game is set up perfectly for a “shock” away win for a very strong JJK side. I think the away win with draw no bet cover screams value at 8/5 as there are only one or two sides in this league that JJK can’t outscore and neither of those sides are Honka.
Verdict: JJK Jyvaskyla to win with draw no bet at 8/5.
VPS Vaasavs FC Lahti – home win at evens.
VPS’ defeat against Inter Turku in the past few days was more about VPS capitulating rather than Inter Turku dominating. The visitors in that game were the better side but the lack of fight that VPS showed was unheard of. Vaasa has always been a tough place to play Veikkausliiga football and VPS will not lie down for anyone. The fact that they lost 0-2 against a side that is still trying to galvanise their attackers is a bit daft, really. I don’t expect VPS to lose much at home in any season and this one is no exception. VPS need to pick it up and I think that they’ll manage that today. Lahti have started the season well following promotion from the Ykkonen but they’re dealing with a lot of absentees and that isn’t easy for such a thin squad. This game in Vaasa really epitomises the whole “welcome back to the Veikkausliiga” in my view and it’s one challenge that I don’t think Lahti are good enough to survive. As is always the case with VPS, the challenge will be taking their chances but they’re good enough to do so against a mediocre Lahti defence so the home win interests me at evens.
Verdict: VPS Vaasa to win at evens.
KuPS Kuopio vs TPS Turku – away win with draw no bet at 9/10.
This was going to be the main bet of today until I saw the odds on City flattening Wolves. However, I still really like this bet!
KuPS are a pain to play in Kuopio, especially when they want to play well. KuPS can be devastating at home and I won’t lightly go against them but today seems to be the time to do so. KuPS don’t defend well; they never have and never will. KuPS are especially vulnerable from crosses and set pieces, which is a nightmare in a division that is full of big, strong players. KuPS also occasionally lack that mental grit and leadership that all sides need at some point. However, what KuPS do have is a very strong attack and thus they tend to score goals in most games that they play in. The core of their attack last season was Nwakaeme, Ilo, and Venelainen. Well, Nwakaeme has reportedly left the club and both Ilo and Venelainen were injured against IFK Mariehamn and are supposedly missing today, although admittedly I’m yet to have that confirmed. Additionally, new striker Zahovaiko was sent off in Aland and will miss this game through suspension. This leaves KuPS with no attack, basically. An attacking side with no attack = problems.
TPS are a counter-attacking side and nobody does it better than they do right now in the Veikkausliiga. They outplayed HJK last match and thoroughly deserved their 3-1 victory. They’ve got strong players in every position and a lot of leaders, which helps. Tanska has settled down their defence massively and we should see more clean sheets from TPS this season as a result. TPS have lots of offensive power and given that KuPS will be attacking them a lot here, I think the avenue of oppotunity is there for TPS to win this game. They’ve got more than enough ability and organisation to make it happen so my only real concern is the artificial turf at Kuopio.
Either way, odds of 9/10 on the away win with draw no bet cover interest me massively with the above in mind!
Verdict: TPS Turku to win with draw no bet at 9/10.
Inter Turku vs MyPa Anjalankoski – home win with -1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
MyPa have done well so far and as per usual, I have no explanation as to why they’re doing so well. I’m serious when I say that this side has no ability – they’re just battlers! MyPa are packed full of Ykkonen players so I cannot fathom how they can do so well. Still, the trip to Turku should be too much for them today, in my eyes. They won 0-1 at TPS Turku a week ago but that game suited them; they poached a goal and then sat back whilst watching TPS Turku struggle to create chances against two solid banks of four. Unlike their bitter rivals, Inter Turku don’t struggle in that area, which means MyPa have a problem. Inter Turku have a set piece specialist in Ojala and a lethal target man in Sirbiladze. The towering Georgian is a nightmare to play against and I don’t see anyone in MyPa’s side capable of dealing with him.
Inter Turku are as vulnerable as ever at the back but whilst Dragtsma remains at the helm, you have to favour Inter Turku to win games like these as they should have more than enough firepower to do so against vastly inferior sides. Take this tip with the Asian Handicap and not the European Handicap, though – Inter Turku can concede against anyone with their samba defending!
Verdict: Inter Turku to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Juventus vs AS Roma – over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Juventus are too short to win this game, in my eyes. Yes, they’re better than Roma and yes, they really should win the game. There’s plenty of pressure at this stage of the season, however, and it’s shown as Juve have had to call upon legendary forward Del Piero to bail them out on more than one occasion. Juventus are still haphazard defensively and Roma are good enough in attack to punish the hosts. However, Roma’s focus and organisation is a joke; they’re easily able to concede a few goals against almost any side in Serie A at any time. Juventus need the points and I’m reasonably confident that they’ll get them if they play properly. Juventus have much better organisation and better drive than Roma so it makes sense for that to happen. However, Juventus tend to make life hard for themselves in games like these by conceding daft goals and again, Roma are good enough to upset them here. I won’t enter the 1×2 market for the reasons listed above but I will take a stab at over 2.5 goals as I feel that it represents value whilst the odds are at 4/5 or longer.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
AZ Alkmaar vs VVV Venlo – away win with +2.5 handicap at 4/5.
AZ are by far the better team here and anyone that says otherwise is a moron. However, AZ are not playing to their full potential right now, which is largely due to tiredness, in my eyes. For example, they drew 2-2 at home with Twente despite dominating the game. That’s not AZ’s style at all, really – they tend to dominate and score lots of goals at home. No wins in four games for AZ means that confidence is beginning to ebb away slightly and that is a problem. AZ absolutely have the firepower to win this game convincingly but do they have the stamina? I don’t think they do, based on what I have seen lately. Giving the away side a +2.5 handicap would mean that AZ have lost every home game in 2012, which is interesting, given how their home form in the Eredivisie would suggest otherwise when looked at for the whole season. We also have to bear in mind that VVV are fighting for their lives so this game does mean a lot to them. Although VVV are truly horrendous when it comes to defending, they’re a goalscoring side and they do tend to score against just about everyone. Interestingly enough, giving VVV a +2.5 goal head start in their last six away games in the Eredivisie would have seen them win five games and lose once.
Don’t get me wrong here – there’s definitely risk as AZ are good enough to win this game 10-0. However, AZ look tired and VVV look better at the moment than their league placing and form chart would suggest. Therefore, in a game which should have a lot of goals, I’m going to boldly give VVV a +2.5 handicap at 4/5.
Verdict: VVV Venlo to win with a +2.5 handicap at 4/5.
ADO Den Haag vs Feyenoord Rotterdam – home win with +1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
I can’t help but view this one as a good value bet despite Feyenoord being by far the better side. The thing is with Feyenoord is that they’re either superb or poor; they’re not mature nor experienced enough to grind out wins in games that they don’t play well in. They’re a young and exciting team but we see them falter when they play as favourites far too often for my liking. As underdogs, I’d take them to upset anyone in the Eredivisie because that’s where they excel. As favourites, though, they’re always too short and often fail to deliver. ADO Den Haag are not a good side this year but they’re a tough side to face on their own turf. They’re physically strong, well-organised, and will work hard throughout the game. They’ve been amongst the goals lately and I can’t help but feel that taking Smolarek as an anytime goalscorer against his former club may be a worthwhile fun bet. ADO are good enough on the counter-attack to score here and are defensively quite sound so they should be able to handle Feyenoord unless the visitors turn it on. For me, there’s value in giving the hosts a +1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Verdict: ADO Den Haag to win with a +1 Asian Handicap at 4/5.
Stromsgodset vs Viking Stavanger – over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
For those of you that are new to Eliteserien betting, this is a bet that should realistically be taken whilst the odds are good enough. Stromsgodset almost always go over 2.5 goals in their home games because that attack with conviction and talent and thus tend to score a lot of goals. They’re inept defensively, however, which is predominantly due to their youthful squad. The artificial turf at the Marienlyst makes this a nightmare away game for any side, not to mention the fact that the hosts never stop pressing throughout. However, you must treat each game in Drammen as if it’s already 1-1 because that’s what tends to happen, irrespective of who Stromsgodset face. The visitors have some good players, especially in attack where Nevland and Berisha patrol, so I expect them to at least score here. The Eliteserien hasn’t settled down enough for me to get involved on the 1×2 front, although I almost always favour ‘godset in their home games, but over 2.5 goals at 4/5 is well worth it to me.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
CD Nacional de Madeira vs Sporting Clube de Lisboa – home win with draw no bet at 6/5.
Madeira is a tough away game for any side and Sporting know that as well as any Liga Sagres club. Unlike their hosts, Sporting had a tough game a few days ago and another important game in a few days time so they may have to rest some players here. It’s no secret that Sporting are prioritising the UEFA Europa League this season and who can blame them? They’re in the Semi-Final and that means that they’re in the ballpark, as far as winning it goes. I don’t think that they will, for what it’s worth, but they believe they can and with a 2-1 lead heading into the return leg in Bilbao, they’ve definitely got a chance. Madeira sides press you from the start of the game, though, and I doubt Sporting have the stamina to cope with that. Sporting have more talented individual players in midfield than Nacional and may sneak a goal from somewhere with that in mind. I can’t see this game ending without Nacional scoring, though, and if they score then I don’t expect them to lose. Madeira clubs are very passionate and will work to the end of the game and again, I just don’t feel Sporting can handle that right now. Therefore, I see value on the home win with draw no bet cover at 6/5, especially with the possibility that Sporting are resting players.
Verdict: CD Nacional de Madeira to win with draw no bet at 6/5.
GAIS Goteborg vs IFK Norrkoping – over 2.5 goals at 6/5.
Considering that GAIS have been misfiring in the Allsvenskan this season, I can understand these odds on over 2.5 goals, although I don’t agree with them. We saw much more of the old GAIS Goteborg in their recent draw with Helsingborg and it could have been worse for the hosts had Helsingborg not had as secure a defence as they do. GAIS are gradually attacking better and taking their chances and in many ways, that makes today’s game with IFK Norrkoping ideal today. IFK Norrkoping drew a strangely good game with GIF Sundsvall last time out despite the fact that they probably should have lost the game because of how they started the game. IFK Norrkoping weren’t motivated in the first-half and it showed; they allowed GIF Sundsvall to dominate them. They worked harder in the second-half, however, and salvaged a point from the game against the odds. IFK Norrkoping had no problems in attack; they troubled GIF Sundsvall a lot, especially from set pieces. However, defensively, IFK were all over the places and could have and should have conceded at least three or four goals. IFK are going to be my favourite over 2.5 goals side this season, I feel. Their defence doesn’t deal with pace and their offside trap is a bit of a joke. If this game goes as I expect it to, it should go over 2.5 goals and the odds are generous enough to take a chance on.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 6/5.
AIK Solna vs GIF Sundsvall – under 2 goals at 7/5.
It’s the same old, same old approach with AIK Solna as far as I am concerned. They’re a dour, uninteresting sides but they’re efficient. The only way they tend to score goals is via fortune (e.g. bad goalkeeping, bad defending) but they keep sides out, to their credit. AIK are terrific at nullifying their opponents and dominating possession. You have to play very well to score against AIK, from what I have seen. AIK have bags of experience and they have enough ability to scrape a goal in most of their games, which generally means that we’ll see them involved in 1-0 or 0-0 games for the majority of the time. GIF Sundsvall are bad enough defensively to allow AIK the lead but lack the firepower to damage AIK, in my view. GIF try to dominate like AIK do in their games but AIK are simply a lot better at it. For me, this game should produce an uninspired and uninteresting 1-0 win for the hosts so my call is under 2 goals at 7/5.
Verdict: Under 2 goals at 7/5.
Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce – home win at 11/10.
This game means more to Fenerbahce at the moment, given how far they are behind Galatasaray in the title race. However, Fenerbahce having disappointed all season long when they’ve needed to win and despite this being a fierce local derby, I see nothing to change my mind on Fenerbahce’s shortcomings. They lack the belief in their squad to do well and you can tell that the players are unsure of their future as the Turkish FA are likely to relegate Fenerbahce for their role in the match-fixing scandal in Turkey. Fenerbahce simply aren’t a very convincing unit nowadays, especially without Niang, whom they parted with a while ago now. Galatasaray are far from my favourite side but they’re playing very efficiently this season, especially at home. The trouble with Riera and Melo is behind them now and whilst Elmander and Baros are playing as well as they are, I have to favour the hosts to pile further misery upon Fenerbahce’s season. For me, there’s value on the home win at 11/10 although approach with caution as this is a big derby.
Verdict: Galatasaray to win at 11/10.
Team news
Australian A-League:
Brisbane Roar – Berisha is a doubt.
Central Coast Mariners – Berger, Coyne are absent. Andrezinho is a doubt.
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Racing Genk – No news.
Standard de Liege – No news.
Bulgarian A PFG:
CSKA Sofia – Stoyanov is absent. Priso returns.
Cherno More Varna – Yanev, Kolev, Manolov, Palominho, and Atanasov are absent.
Vidma-Rakovski – Ignatov and Shtarkov are absent.
Montana – Trifonov and Eduardo are doubts. Michev and Gadzhev are absent.
Beroe – Angelov is absent.
Svetkavitsa – Kostadinov is absent.
Ludogorets – No absentees.
Litex Lovech – Yanev, Bodurov, and Milanov are absent.
Chernomorets Burgas – Kishishev is absent.
Botev Vratsa – Kostadinov is absent.
Croatian Prva Liga:
Istra 1961 – Stranatic, Pamic, and Barbarc are absent.
Split – No absentees.
Cypriot Division 1:
APOEL Nicosia – Solomou is absent.
AEL Limassol – Dede, Airosa, and Monteiro are absent.
Ethnikos Achnas – Kissi and Simov are absent. Rumoured to be a fixed home win but very dodgy game to bet on.
Olympiakos Nicosia – Mersio, Paulinho, Genmogne, and Bajic are absent.
Enosis Neon Paralimni – No absentees.
Aris Limassol – Pulpo and Markou are absent.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Hradec Kralove – Fischer, Rezek, and Klapka are absent. Fukal is a doubt.
Viktoria Plzen – Prochazka and Pilar are absent.
Teplice – Ljevakovic, Volek, Sraga, and Ceslak are absent. Mahmutovic and Zoubele are doubts.
Jablonec – Vanek and Vukovic are absent. Pitak and Zabojnik are absent.
Slavia Prague – Latka, Nitriansky, Conka, Simecek, Hurka, and Kores are absent. Blazek has left.
Slovacko – Fujerik is absent.
Mlada Boleslav – Zahustel, Kalina, Opiela, and Fabian are absent.
Sparta Prague – Holek and Kadlec are absent.
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
FC Honka Espoo – Rexhepi is absent.
JJK Jyvaskyla – Manninen, Korte, and Latikka are absent. Gruborovics is a doubt.
Inter Turku – Diallo and Gnaboyou is a doubt.
MyPa Anjalankoski – Kaipio and Gela are doubts.
Haka Valkeakoski – Pesonen is absent.
IFK Mariehamn – Wiklof and Kangaskolkka are doubts.
KuPS Kuopio – Hynynen, Joenmaki, Tabe, and Zahovaiko are absent. Ilo and Venelainen are doubts. No work permit for Purje yet.
VPS Vaasa – Bjork, Koskimaa, and Henriksson are absent. Fowler is a doubt.
FC Lahti – Makitalo, Mero, Grossohmichen, Rafael, Kemppinen, and Heinonen are absent. Lepola is a doubt.
German Bundesliga:
Augsburg – Gogia, de Jong, Bah, Hain are absent. Moelders and Werner are doubts.
Schalke 04 – Fuchs, Papadopoulos, Hildebrand, and Faehrmann are absent.
Hannover 96 – Diouf, Andreasen, and Pinto are absent. Abdellaoue and Strindl return.
SC Freiburg – Barth, Mujdza, Schuster, and Flum are absent.
Greek Super League:
Xanthi – Valas and Fiskas return. No absentees.
Ergotelis – Athanasiou, Dermitzakis, Halkiadakis, Jovanovic, Romano, Karelis, Budimir, and Gialousis are absent. Hiblinger returns.
Aris Salonika – Faty, Neto, Sankare, Kasnaferis, Dico, Gianniotas, and Papastergianos are absent.
Kerkyra – Gustavo is absent.
Asteras Tripolis – Juanito, Perrone, and Tsabouris are absent. Kourbelis and Bagkasetas are doubts.
Panionios – Rovas returns.
Atromitos – Skondras, Itanje, and Giannoulis are absent.
Olympiakos Piraeus – No absentees.
Doxa Dramas – Aravidis, Capel, Soiledis, and Sikalias are absent.
AEK Athens – Dellas, Sialmas, Kontoes, Rikka, Makos, and Kafes are absent.
Levadiakos – Viana, Ioannou, Soubinho, Tomas, Favalli, and Kyriakidis are absent.
PAOK Salonika – Salpingidis, Stafilidis, Eto, Cresic, and Robert are absent.
OFI Crete – Bourbos is absent. Pitsos and Veron return.
PAS Giannina – Dasios, Bessera, Andralas, Kotsios, Bakayoko, and Zabrela are absent.
Panathinaikos – Katsouranis, Simao, Leto, Ioannidis, Bjarsmyr, Kapino, Karnezis, Clayton, and Marinos are absent. Zeka, Owusu-Abeyie, Vyntra, and Rudolf return.
Panaitolikos – Mitropoulos, Golias, Charisteas, Akale, and Koutroumanos are absent. Rocha and Andy are doubts.
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
Debreceni VSC – Coulibaly is absent. Rezes and Meszaros are doubts.
Kaposvari Rakoczi – Bebeto, Haruna, and T.Horvath are absent.
Gyori ETO FC – Kamber and Szabo are absent.
Diosgyori VTK – Seydi and Abdouramanra are absent.
Italian Serie A:
Bologna – Casarini, Crespo, Gillet, and Krhin are absent.
Cesena – Martinez, Martinho, and Pudil are absent. Iaquinta, Colucci, and Calderoni are doubts.
Fiorentina – Amauri, Jovetic, Kroldrup, and Vargas are absent.
Genoa – Moretti is absent. Kaladze is a doubt.
Internazionale – Castaignos and Samuel are absent.
Lazio – Brocchi, Klose, Konko, Kozak, Lulic, Makinwa, Mauri, Radu, and Stankevicius are absent.
Lecce – Blasi, Julio Sergio are absent. Miglionico Leonardo Martin is absent.
AC Milan – Thiago Silva, Roma, Pato, Inzaghi, Boateng, and Ambrosini are absent. Merkel is a doubt.
Palermo – Aguirregaray, Balzetti, Barreto, Ilicic, and Migliaccio is absent. Pisano is a doubt.
AS Roma – Burdisso, Cassetti, Juan, Lobont are absent. Stekelenburg and Borini are doubts.
Siena – Angelo, Calaio, Contini, and Pegolo are absent. Larrondo is a doubt.
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Dainava – No news.
Siauliai – Rimkevicius is absent.
Banga Gargzdai – Joskas and Dos Santos are absent.
Tauras Taurage – No news.
Dutch Eredivisie:
ADO Den Haag – N’Toko, Kum, Leeuwin, and van Duinen are absent.
Feyenoord Rotterdam – Swerts and Ramsteijn are absent.
AZ Alkmaar – Ortiz is absent.
VVV Venlo – Molhoek is absent.
PSV Eindhoven – Isaksson, Pieters, Strootman, and Toivonen are absent.
NEC Nijmegen – Goossens, Wellenberg, and Nijland are absent.
AFC Ajax Amsterdam – El Hamdaoui, Sulejmani, and Boilesen are absent.
Groningen – Johansson, Kwakman, and van Dijk are absent.
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Honefoss – Olsen and Gjermundstad are absent. Groven is a doubt.
Aalesund FK – Sellin, Skiri, and James are absent.
Odd Grenland Skien – Lekven and Semb are absent.
Fredrikstad – Horn, Ramberg, and Rafn are absent.
Sandnes Ulf – Frejd and Homvik are absent.
Stabaek – Hedenstad is a doubt.
Stromsgodset – Hamoud and Konradsen are absent.
Viking Stavanger – Bjordal, Cardozo, Landu Landu, Ingelsten, and Andersson are absent.
Rosenborg BK – Jamtfall is absent.
Tromso – Cisse, Mbodji, and Kristiansen are absent.
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Zaglebie Lubin – Traore, Nharmoinesu, and Bilek are doubts. Hodur and Rachwal may return. Rumours are abroad that this game will end as a “friendly draw”.
GKS Belchatow – Bozok, Lacic, and Kosowski are absent.
Lechia Gdansk – Malkowski and Wisniewski are absent. Bak, Kosecki, and Machaj are doubts.
Slask Wroclaw – Mila is absent.
Polish Liga 1:
Nieciecza – Biskup is absent.
Gornik Polkowice – No news.
Warta Poznan – Magdziarz is absent.
Ruch Radzionkow – No news.
Piast Gliwice – Urban, Krzycki, Lisowski, and Zganiacz are absent. Kedziora is a doubt.
Olimpia Grudziadz – BIalek is absent.
Polonia Bytom – No news.
Dolcan Zabki – Plesio returns.
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Gil Vicente – Roberto, Pedro Moreira, Sandro, Peixoto, Yero, and Manuel are absent.
Rio Ave – Eder Monteiro, Tarantini, Braga, Pateiro, Rafa, and Wires are absent.
Feirense – Stenio is absent. Stopira returns.
Vitoria Setubal – Meyong, Goncalves, and Amaro are absent. Reyes and Hugo Leal return.
CD Nacional de Madeira – Mihelic is absent. Skolnik returns.
Sporting Clube de Lisboa – Rinaudo, Elias, Joao Pereira, Capel, Matias, Insua, Polga, and Rui Patricio are absent.
Romanian Liga:
Vointa Sibiu – Majer and Tanc are absent.
Petrolul Ploiesti – Gritti, Zimmerman, Voican, V.Negru, and Maxim are absent.
Scottish Premier League:
Motherwell – Craigan, Page, and Lasley are absent.
Celtic – Forrest is absent. Matthews, Wilson, and Loovens are doubts.
Hibernian – Stack is absent.
Kilmarnock – Heffernan, van Tournhout, Hay, Buijs, O’Leary, and Pascali are absent.
Spanish Primera Liga:
Granada – Roberto, Fran Rico, Yebda, and Diakhate are absent. Jaime and David Cortes return.
Getafe – Pedro Leon, Ustari, Lopo, and Rafa are absent.
Real Sociedad – Gonzalez, Cadamuro, Inigo Martinez, and Markel are absent. Zubikarai, Aranburu, Demidov, and Ifran return.
Villarreal CF – Rossi and Oriol are absent. Ruben returns.
Racing Santander – Picon, Tono, and Mario are absent.
Athletic Club de Bilbao – Castillo, Ocio, and Gurpegi are absent.
Atletico Madrid – Antonio Lopez and Silvio are absent.
Espanyol – Weiss, Albin, and Mattioni are absent. Coutinho and Forlin return.
Valencia CF – Banegas, Aduriz, Mathieu, Pablo Hernandez, and Tino Costa are absent.
Real Betis Balompie – Ustaritz and Sergio Rodriguez are absent.
Swedish Allsvenskan:
GAIS Goteborg – Khalilil returns.
IFK Norrkoping – No news.
AIK Solna – Tjernstrom and Quaison are absent.
GIF Sundsvall – Engstrom returns.
Turkish Super Lig:
Galatasaray – No absentees.
Fenerbahce – Emre and Serzer are absent. Serdar is a doubt.