TFT Issue 549!
FreeHowdy guys and girls!
Featured game
Valencia CF vs Atletico Madrid – over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Today’s featured game is the Primera Liga clash at the Mestalla between Valencia and Atletico Madrid. These two sides have played out some interesting games over the years and I expect this one to be exactly the same, especially with a number of players having switched clubs over the years and plenty of short tempers on the field!
I can’t really make my mind up about Valencia this season, to be honest. I thought they were amazing against Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively but I thought that they were so bloody casual against Deportivo and Celta this season that it’s actually quite scary. Unlike the Valencia teams of the past few years, this one simply cannot win away from home and that’s a real problem for them with Malaga, Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla all more than happy to take their place in the UEFA Champions League. For a financially troubled club, Valencia simply can’t afford that to happen so their home games take on even more significance whilst Pellegrino gets his feet under the table. They’re usually good for scoring a goal or two in their home games and with Soldado and Jonas looking very convincing this season, I think that we’ll see more of the same today, especially with a strong midfield supporting them. Quite how Valencia’s haphazard defence intends to cope with Falcao is beyond me, though – they don’t tend to cope well with clever movement!
I quite fancy Atletico to nick three points here, to be honest. However, there’s a number of players that will be doing their utmost to prevent that today for reasons mentioned in the opening of this preview and that coupled with the fact that Atletico are starting to buckle defensively under pressure makes me avoid that particular selection. However, having mentioned virtually the only negative aspect of a massively-improted Atletico Madrid side, I think we have to pay homage to the brilliant displays that they’ve produced this season. They’ve looked motivated, tenacious, lethal in the final third, and frankly impossible to handle. Falcao is in unbelievable form with his innate ability to score from any angle at any time. Falcao is not a one-mand band but boy does it make your task easier to have a forward in your ranks that will score the vast majority of chances that they’re given! The return of Arda Turan gives Simeone even more attacking options today and I think that they’ll cause Valencia substantial problems today because of it. This Atletico side is one of the best that I’ve ever see so I think that they can take three points today if their heads are in the right place.
However, the value bet of this game must surely be in taking over 2.5 goals at 4/5 as both sides are notorious for their ability to score goals, hence my selection.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Additional games
Perth Glory vs Newcastle Jets – over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Although there are doubts over whether New Zealand hitman Smeltz will make today’s game or not, I still fancy Perth Glory to upset Newcastle Jets. Billy Mehmet has put himself about well enough this season and the physical approach of Perth Glory should have Newcastle Jets worried as the Jets themselves tend to try to use their brawn where they can and I doubt that’ll be a viable option for them here.
Glory’s midfield may not be the most mobile but it’s amongst the most experienced in the A-League and they know how to make things happen. If they could defend properly then they’d be an immense home side but the fact is that the Glory do ship goals too easily and I expect that to be the case again today with Jets striker Heskey setting the league alight with his powerful displays.
Amusingly enough, his fellow strike partner Bridges recently commented that he believed that Heskey could still play for England. Suffice to say that I have my reservations over that particular comment but will happily concede that Heskey is the best striker in Australia right now. He fits perfectly into the Jets’ style of play and they’re now playing with more confidence because of him. He creates a permanent attacking threat and it’s one that no side has managed to quell yet this season. Glory may be the better side here but the Jets are a real handful at the current time and I think that makes this a very interesting game today.
As long as Perth Glory take their chances and Newcastle Jets don’t suddenly implode, I can’t help but feel that we’ll see over 2.5 goals today and 4/5 is a good set off odds to take it at.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Manchester United vs Arsenal – home win with -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5.
It’s really not a coincidence that United have beaten Arsenal on six out of their last seven meetings, nor that they’ve won six out of their last seven home games against Arsenal either. As much respect as I have for the managerial ability of Arsene Wenger, he’s as aware as anyone that it’s men vs boys today and it tends to show.
Despite having thoroughly enjoyed the 8-2 result here last season, it’s more than fair to say that Arsenal had real defensive issues at that point, which was made especially clear by the fact that Young was one of the best players on the park. Times have changed since then and Wenger’s side has developed more maturity, especially at the back where new assistant manager Bould has been giving out a few lessons. Arsenal aren’t conceding as many goals as they used to but they must surely be concerned that they’re conceding goals at key times. I saw their game with Chelsea this season and although there was very little in it, Chelsea won because they capitalised on Arsenal mistakes twice. That’s what Arsenal do in the big games, unfortunately – they choke.
United, on the other hand, have looked very strong lately. The firepower of van Persie and Rooney has been lauded enough over the past few weeks but one name that has slipped under the radar is that of Hernandez. I’ve been critical of him for the past six to twelve months because he looked lost, running offside far too often and basically hindering the team. Now that he’s got his confidence back, his movement and finishing has become top-drawer again and that gives Fergie a very welcome headache as he’s an extremely gifted finisher. That’s three strikers that Arsenal can’t handle here; I think that they’re in for a long day, to be blunt.
United rested almost all of the players that are expected to play here when they visited Chelsea earlier this week and although Arsenal did something similar, they don’t have the squad that United do so it was harder for them to deal with it, which is partially why I think that the 120 minutes that they played will take its toll on them today.
United are fresher, in-form, and scoring goals for fun. United are still conceding goals and Arsenal are good enough to take advantage of that today with their pace and passing. However, I can only see Arsenal conceding far more goals than they score here because of the difference in class between the two sides these days. For me, the value has to be in United beating the -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5.
Verdict: Manchester United to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 6/5.
Nomme Kalju vs Tammeka – home win with -1.5 handicap at 10/11.
Ok – I really do get it that Tammeka need the points desperately here and Nomme Kalju don’t. I’m in complete understanding of the Meistriliiga situation at the present time. However, are you fucking kidding me with these odds?! Nomme Kalju have been an awful lot better than Tammeka for the whole season and a slight switch in motivation is not going to convince me that it’s any different today.
Nomme Kalju have lost drunk forward Neemelo for a while through injury but they still have Viikmae, which keeps their attack dangerous. Indeed, it’s actually Viikmae’s last game so I can’t see Nomme Kalju letting this one simply slip away, you know? They’ve got a fabulous squad by Estonian standards and although their slight loss of motivation has been evident lately, I really don’t believe it takes much to beat Tammeka.
Indeed, Tammeka have to attack Nomme Kalju here – what a bad idea that is! Nomme Kalju will absolutely slaughter them on counter-attacks and even if they concede then they really should be bagging at least five goals against a side that they’re frankly a lot better than.
Nomme Kalju average scoring around 2.5 goals per home game and have won thirteen out of seventeen at home this season, drawing the other four games. Tammeka have lost fourteen out of seventeen on the road whilst letting in over two goals per away game. For once, the statistics do tell the whole story here, in my view. Nomme Kalju have beaten the -1.5 handicap in their last four home games against Tammeka and in four out of their last five Meistriliiga meetings with Tammeka in general.
I can’t help it, fellas – there’s very few sides in Estonia that I wouldn’t take Nomme Kalju to beat the -1.5 handicap against, especially not when it’s priced as generously as 10/11!
Verdict: Nomme Kalju to beat the -1.5 handicap at 10/11.
Sporting Braga vs Gil Vicente – over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
I used to have a bit of a dislike for Braga a couple of years ago because they weren’t a very Portuguese side. They were compact defensively, a pain to penetrate, and were a bit boring, in all honesty.
Nowadays, Braga have become more samba than most of their title rivals now that Peseiro is at the helm. I’ve seldom seen this side so cataclysmic at the back! Any side that can ship four at home against Olhanense has issues and it’s shown in their other games too, whether their results have reflected it or not. I think they’ve got a top-notch midfield with Viana, Amorim, and Micael holding things together. That midfield makes this Braga side tick and helps them ease along now that neither of their quality strikers are in the squad. Eder’s done well to bag six goals in five games, to his credit, and I think he’ll continue to find the net for as long as Braga give him the chances to do so. I’d be surprised to see anything but a Braga win today, in all honesty, but their defensive fragility is a real issue. All of their home games this season have gone over 2.5 goals due to lethal finishing and horrendous defending, a run which even includes hosting one of the most dour sides to have ever played football in Portugal – Beira-Mar! Braga are very much an over 2.5 goals side nowadays and that should be evident today as Gil Vicente are more than capable of counter-attacking with style. Paulo Alves’ team knows how to piss off their opponents and I don’t believe that Braga are good enough defensively to cope with Gil Vicente, in all honesty. Gil Vicente are not a big side, per se, but they’re notorious in Portugal for their unity and desire to play good football. Three of their last four games have gone over 2.5 goals because of their approach and although I respect it, it is going to cost them points sometimes and I believe that today is one of those occasions.
Six out of the last seven meetings between these two sides have gone over 2.5 goals and I doubt we’ll have ever seen a game between these two that is more likely to go over 2.5 goals when you consider their managerial approaches, the players at their disposal, and the form charts. Therefore, my call is to take over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
Porto II vs Maritimo Funchal II – home win at evens.
I was surprised to see the odds on Porto II winning this one as long as they are. True enough, they’ve not had a great start to their Liga de Honra campaign but it’s hard to read too much into the form guide with players being summoned into their team at random due to their requirements of the senior team.
Quality-wise, though, Porto II are good enough to be a top six side in the Liga de Honra. They have the facility to call upon Liga Sagres regular Kleber up front, not to mention promising youngsters Kelvin and Atsu. Iturbe, Guilherme, Sergio Oliveira – they’re all very good players. Much like their first-team, defending isn’t a particular interest of theirs but goalscoring is. This side has been designed to score goals and that’s precisely what they’ll do with the right players, which is what they have at their disposal today.
Maritiamo Funchal II have started their Liga de Honra campaign strongly but they’re not a great side at this level. They’re efficient against certain sides but much like their senior team, this side does not play well away from Madeira! They’ve lost all but one of their away games this season, which was against out-of-sorts Trofense, so they’re very much Christians thrown to the lions today, in my view. All Madeira clubs breed their players to be technically good but also very tenacious and that aids Maritimo II a lot in the Liga de Honra. However, put them against quality and they’ll tend to be outdone, which is what I expect here.
It’ll be interesting to see who Porto II field here but either way, I fancy the home win a lot at evens, based on the quality and displays of the two sides.
Verdict: Porto II to win at evens.
Mordovia Saransk vs Rubin Kazan’ – under 2.5 goals at 10/11.
The worst side in the Russian Premier League is hosting one of the least adventurous sides in the division. Conclusion? I can only see under 2.5 goals.
This Mordovia Saransk side may have plenty of experience and cohesion but they’ve got nothing else, which is precisely why I’ll be astounded if they’re not relegated this season. They have zero firepower and have no “Plan B” if they fall behind, which tends to happen in most of their games. I’ll give them their due respect as they don’t tend to bottle games due to the likes of Aldonin and Dujmovic leading from the front. However, they’re simply not a threat in the final third and although they rarely get battered, they do tend to lose games rather easily because of a lack of firepower and therefore I anticipate a very hard game for them here.
Rubin are a side that loves to dominate games. They don’t care how they win as long as they do. Playing entertaining football is not and has never been the style of Berdyev and I very much doubt that’ll change today. They were astute enough to pick up Rondon pre-season to finally give them a proper striker again, which has aided them to no end this season. Their excellent midfield now has a focal point and that makes Rubin that bit more dangerous going forward. They’re still pretty clueless when they fall behind as their whole squad and tactical approach to their games is centred around them keeping the ball, taking the lead, and holding that lead. They’ve got some excellent passers of the ball and plenty of big targets from set pieces so they’re usually a threat in some fashion. Defensively, they’re pretty solid unless under a sustained period of pressure or playing against raw pace. The absence of Navas in the centre of defence would normally be a stumbling block but if Mordovia Saransk somehow manage to actually exploit that then I will be surprised! I’ve no doubt that Rubin could and should take the lead and win this game but at 4/7 it’s an absolute joke of a bet to get involved with! Rubin are not big goalscorers; it only tends to take one goal to completely ruin their plans and thus your bet(s) too.
However, Rubin play under 2.5 goals all the time if they control the game, which they realistically should. Rubin are not a great away side but they’re the better side here and they’re definitely good enough to dictate the tempo so for me, this one really should go under 2.5 goals at 10/11.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 10/11.
Krylya Sovetov Samara vs Spartak Moscow – over 2.5 goals at 5/6.
Goals, goals, goals! They’ve had a barren spell of late, Krylya Sovetov Samara, but they have faced some compact defences, to be fair. Today, that really shouldn’t be an obstacle for them as few defences in Russia are more exposed than Spartak’s. I fail to see them handling Caballero and Zeballos, to be blunt! Krylya Sovetov Samara are a funny side to predict when it comes to deciding whether they’re going to win or not. However, as long as they play their usual game, you can usually bank on them to score and concede goals. They’re a bit haphazard defensively but they’re a lot better in front of goal than they have been for some years and sides are beginning to realise that, hence Zenit drawing 2-2 here and Anzhi only winning 1-2. If you can bring a solid defence to Krylya then you have a good chance of getting a result. If you don’t, then your strikers need to be in top form or Krylya will punish you.
Spartak do have some of the best attackers in Russia, though, that said. I think that they could and should win this game today, realistically speaking. The problem is that they’re a horrible side to bet on to win games like these because you never know if they’re going to keep eleven men on the pitch due to their lunatic South Americans and because you never know how they’ll react to falling behind, which happens more often than you might think. This side can be utterly brilliant with their passing and their pace, not to mention their finesse. However, I’ve rarely seen a side disappear so rapidly as I’ve seen Spartak disappear when they’ve fallen behind. Their players get all sulky and start doing stupid things despite them having the quality to get back into the game. However, this type of game tends to occur against physical opponents and Krylya Sovetov Samara aren’t really the same physical side that they used to be so Spartak have a window of opportunity open to them here. They still miss some important players but they’ve got more than enough going forward to outscore their hosts today.
Pick a winner if you dare but my call is over 2.5 goals at 5/6.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 5/6.
Hibernian vs St.Mirren – home win at 6/5.
Who would have thought it, eh? From the ashes rises a new Hibernian side, one that is not only capable of playing good football but also scoring goals and winning games! They’re second in the SPL right now and it’s not for no reason, either. They’ve already won three out of five at Easter Road this season and a 0-4 win at Fir Park in their last match brings them into today’s encounter with tremendous momentum. Doyle, and especially Griffiths, are in great form and SPL defences are struggling to contain them. There are plenty of grafters in this Hibernian team and the fact that Fenlon has gone them clicking together properly has made them into a pretty decent side, it has to be said.
St.Mirren are notorious in Scotland for being hard to beat away from home but it’s more due to their physical approach and organisation that that record is as it is. They’ve got some real brutes up front that will cause problems if they’re not handled correctly. However, their defence is conceding goals far too easily this season, which was emphasised with Celtic beating them 0-5 at home. Losing against Celtic is acceptable; a St.Mirren side being embarrassed by them because they didn’t work hard enough just isn’t good enough. I find it hard to envision them working too hard today, too, especially after a tough mid-week game against Aberdeen in the Cup, which took them to extra-time and then penalties. They’ve not got a deep squad, St.Mirren, so I do fear for them today.
If Hibs play as well here as they have done in the majority of their home games this season and St.Mirren are as tired and vulnerable as I expect them to be then the home win appeals to me at 6/5.
Verdict: Hibernian to win at 6/5.
Kilmarnock vs Inverness Caledonian Thistle – over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
A cold afternoon in Kilmarnock is hardly comparible to a warm evening in Madrid but the common factor between those two places today should be goals, in my view.
Kilmarnock have played some marvellous football lately, and I’m not just talking about their inspired win at Celtic Park. This side has been scoring goals for fun, especially Irish striker Sheridan. Shiels’ team are gritty and hard-working but they also know how to find the net, which should be very beneficial for them for obvious reasons. They bring in a lot of goals from midfield due to their constant support to their attack and other SPL sides find them very hard to face when they’re in this kind of form. You really have to work hard to stop Killie playing when they’re in this mindset, something that Celtic didn’t do in their last match. Although I can hardly believe that I am writing it, Kilmarnock are very much a good attacking side right now and it’ll take a braver person than I am to write them off from any game right now.
Still, if there’s one side that could piss on their parade today then it has to be Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Much like their hosts, Caley are in terrific form, scoring goals or fun. Foran may be missing for them today but the form of Draper and McKay should be enough to see them put in a good display here. Butcher’s side are working like there’s no tomorrow and there’s a sufficient amount of unknown quality and desire to prove themselves to allow Caley to spring surprises all over the place. Ok, Rangers’ defence has been decimated since they were demoted but Caley ran out 0-3 winners at Ibrox and that is no easy thing to do, I can assure you. Aside from that, they’ve managed to hump the hell out of Dundee United, defensive specialists Ross County, and rock-bottom Dundee. As foreign as it sounds to me as I write it, Caley are a goalscoring side right now and they’re not short of confidence either.
Although this is hardly the Primera Liga, I think we’re in for a very good game of football here. I’d hate to call the 1×2 market but I do like over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals at 9/10.
Team news
Argentinian Primera Division:
Argentinos Juniors – Placente is absent.
San Martin de San Juan – Pocrnjic is absent.
Arsenal de Sarandi – Diego Torres is a doubt.
Velez Sarsfield – Bella, Cerro, and Copete are absent.
Boca Juniors – Somoza, P.Ledesma, and J.Sanchez are absent. Erviti is a doubt.
San Lorenzo de Almagro – Buffarini, Romagnoli, Voboril, and Piatti are absent. Luna is a doubt.
Union de Santa Fe – Bianchi and Avendano are absent.
Estudiantes De La Plata – Angeleri, R.Martinez, and G.Fernandez are absent.
Australian A-League:
Central Coast Mariners – James is absent. Cacares is a doubt.
Sydney FC – Chianese, Griffiths, Sherlock are absent. Del Piero, Fabio, Bosschaart, and Culina are doubts.
Perth Glory – Berger and Pantelidis are absent. Nagai and Smeltz are doubts.
Newcastle Jets – Taggert, Oxborrow, Duncan, Chapman, and Brillante are absent. Ritter, Kantarovski, Neville, and Brown are doubts.
Brazilian Serie A:
Cruzeiro – Thiago Carvalho, Borges, Alex Silva, Victorino, Tinga, and Leo are absent. Wallyson and Montillo return.
Santos – Henrique, Miralles, Leo, Fucile, Edu Dracena, Alison, and Ewerton Pascoa are absent. Bruno Peres returns.
Gremio – Fabio Aurelio, Bertoglio, and Gilberto Silva are absent. Kleber is a doubt. Ze Roberto returns.
Ponte Preta – Uendel, Edson Bastos, Wescley, and Cicinho are absent. Baraka and Rene return.
Flamengo – Maldonado, Muralha, Caceres, Airton, Felipe, Wellington Silva, and Ibson are absent.
Figueirense – Ricardo, Heber, Edson, Roni, Fernandes, Joao Paulo, Aloisio, and Caio are absent. Abreu is a doubt.
Croatian Prva Liga:
Cibalia Vinkovci – No news.
Hajduk Split – Jozinovic and Stojanovic are absent.
Inter Zapresic – No news.
NK Zagreb – New boss – Madunovic.
Split – Krizanac, Vidic, and Pehar are absent.
Rijeka – Caval is absent.
Slaven Koprivnica – Rak and Batarelo are absent.
Zadar – No news.
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Banik Ostrava – Vrto, Gregus, and Vomacka are absent. Zawada is a doubt. New boss – Pulpit.
Teplice – Matula is absent.
Mlada Boleslav – Chramosta, Rolko, Smejkal, Zahustel, Johana, and Dosoudil are absent.
Sparta Prague – Pavelka is absent. Matejovsky is a doubt.
Danish Superligaen:
SonderjyskE – Some players are doubtful but no names mentioned.
Nordsjaelland – No absentees.
French Ligue 1:
Paris Saint-Germain – Rabiot, Lugano, Motta, Lavezzi, Nene, Gameiro, and Armand are absent. Alex, Hoarau, Chantome, and Sissoko return.
Saint-Etienne – Zouma, Diomande, and Nicolita are absent.
Evian Thonon Gaillard – Dhaouadi, Rabiu, Khelifa, M’Madi, Cambon, and Kone are absent. M’Barki returns.
LOSC Lille – Ryan Mendes, Gueye, and Digne are absent. Bonnart and Mavuba return.
OGC Nice – Anin, Pentecote, Pejcinovic, M’Bow, Fofana, Dao Castellana, and Bahoken are absent.
AS Nancy-Lorraine – Louis, Muratori, Jeanvier, Dampha, and Rachid are absent. Bakar and Zenke return.
Stade Rennais – Montano and Catherine are absent. Mavinga, M’Vila, Apam, and Sane return.
Stade de Reims – Ghisolfi, Sekkat, Courtet, and Odair Fortes are absent.
Troyes – M.Camara, Yattara, Brechet, Faussurier, Drouin, Grax, and Darbion are absent. Yamissi, Colin, and Thiago return.
Montpellier HSC – Estrada, Jeunechamp, Ait-Fana, Stambouli, and Yanga-Mbiwa are absent.
Valenciennes – Traore, Massampu, Djuric, and Le Tallec are absent. Mater returns.
Sochaux – Dias, Mikari, Daf, Cros, Peybernes, Lopy, Duplus, Butin, Prcic, and Doubai are absent.
German Bundesliga:
Borussia Moenchengladbach – De Jong and Younes are absent. Jantschke returns.
SC Freiburg – Hoehn and Rosental are absent. Guenter and Sorg are doubts.
Bv09 Borussia Dortmund – Bender and Blaszczykowski are absent.
VfB Stuttgart – No absentees.
Hannover 96 – Pinto, Felipe, and Andreasen are absent. Huszti, Abdellaoue, and Nikci are doubts.
Augsburg – Sio, Philip, Moelders, Verhaegh, and Reinhardt are absent. Werner is a doubt. Oehrl returns.
Hoffenheim – Thesker, Chris, and Salilhovic are absent. Delpierre is a doubt.
Schalke 04 – Metzelder is absent. Hoeger is a doubt.
Nurnberg – Cohen, Mendler, Hlousek, Pinola, and Schaefer are absent. Antonio returns.
VfL Wolfsburg – Madlung, Vieirinha, Knoche, and Joensson are absent.
Hamburger SV – Jiracek, Ilicevic, and Norgaard are absent.
Bayern Munich – Gomez, van Buyten, and Badstuber are absent.
Hungarian Soproni Liga:
MTK Budapest – No news.
Ferencvaros – No news.
Debreceni VSC – Bouadle and Czvitkovics are doubts. Szucs and Meszaros return.
Paksi SE – Fiola, Simon, Balo, Hahn, Kiss, and Zsok are absent.
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Vered and Zizov are absent. Atar is a doubt. Gohouri and Tibi return.
Hapoel Ramat Gan – Zaguri and Onanga return.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva – Eksbard is absent. Davidzada is a doubt.
MS Ashdod – Rosh is a doubt.
Bnei Sakhnin – Abbas is absent. Jus.Embamba return.
Hapoel Haifa – No absentees.
Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona – Gabai is absent. Hasarma returns.
Hapoel Acre – Ben-Dayan is absent. Mishaelof and Shabtai are doubts. Abu-Ria returns.
Beitar Jerusalem – Dassa is absent.
Ironi Ramat Hasharon – Ostwynd is absent.
Italian Serie A:
Juventus – Marchisio is a doubt.
Internazionale – Stankovic, Sneijder, Mariga, Chivu, and Coutinho are absent. Obi is a doubt.
AC Milan – Antonini, Bonera, Strasser, Traore, and Diac Vila are absent. Pato, Robinho, Mesbah, Boateng, and De Sciglio are doubts.
Chievo Verona – Bentivoglio, Cesar, Paloschi, and Squizzi are absent. Sardo is a doubt.
Lithuanian A Lyga:
Tauras Taurage – No news.
Banga Gargzdai – Tatiefang, Staponka, Boguzas, Grikaitis, and Banys are absent.
Siauliai – No news.
Dainava – Kliukoit returns.
Dutch Eredivisie:
AFC Ajax Amsterdam – Moisander, Klaassen, Lukoki, Serero, Sigthorsson, and Boilesen are absent.
Vitesse Arnhem – Chanturia, Ibarra, van der Struijk are absent.
ADO Den Haag – No news.
Willem II – van der Reijt, Haemhouts, Joachim, and Jumu are absent.
FC Utrecht – Ayoub, Nilsson, and Duplan are absent.
PSV Eindhoven – Pieters, Toivonen, van Bommel, and Depay are absent.
Heracles Almelo – Veldmate is absent.
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Tromso – Yndestad, Kristiansen, and Sahlman are absent.
Molde FK – Hovland is absent. Hoseth, Angan, and Pettersen are doubts.
Polish Ekstraklasa:
Piast Gliwice – Zbozien, Lisowski, Jurado, Urban, and Swierczok are absent.
Ruch Chorzow – Piech and Janoszka are absent. Niedzielan is a doubt.
Zaglebie Lubin – Lira, Hanzel, and Nhamoinesu are absent.
Podbeskidzie Bielsko-Biala – New boss – Sasal.
Jagiellonia Bialystok – No absentees.
Widzew Lodz – Bruno and Lebedev are absent.
Polish Liga 1:
Bogdanka Leczna – Hermann and Zukowski are absent. Ropiejko and Pielach are doubts.
Polonia Bytom – No news.
Dolcan Zabki – No news.
Brzesko – Ceglinski is absent.
Katowice – Napierala is absent.
Olimpia Grudziadz – No news.
Cracovia Krakow – Zejdler and Jarabica are absent. Dudzic is a doubt.
Sandecja Nowy Sacz – Kosiorowski is absent. Kowalski and Petran are doubts. Makuch, Szeliga, and Mroz return.
Zawisza Bydgoszcz – Maka and Hrymowicz are absent. Wojciki is a doubt.
Nieciecza – Biskup is absent.
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
SL Benfica – Luisao and Aimar are absent. Salvio, Gaitan, and Martins return.
Vitoria Guimaraes – Dinias, Amorim, and Soudani are absent. Laljkovic and Freire return.
Sporting Braga – Carlao, Djamal, Paulo Cesar, Ismaily, and Paulo Vinicus are absent. Douglao is a doubt.
Gil Vicente – Cesar Peixoto returns.
Romanian Liga:
CFR Cluj – Ronny, Sougou, Ganea, Vass, Sare, Martinez are absent. New boss – Paulo Sergio.
FC Brasov – D.Dragan is absent.
Vaslui – No absentees.
Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt – Lucas Garcia is absent.
Russian Premier League:
Amkar Perm’ – Popov, Rebko, Belorukov, Novakovic, Grishin, and Jakubko are absent.
Kuban’ Krasnodar – No absentees.
Krylya Sovetov Samara – Balyaykin, Joseph-Renette, Nemov, and Petrov are absent.
Spartak Moscow – Yakovlev, Romulo, McGeady, Bilyaletdinov, Gatagov, Pesyakov, and Parshivlyuk are absent.
Mordovia Saransk – Volas and Kuznetsov are absent.
Rubin Kazan’ – Navas and Ryzantsev are absent.
Scottish Premier League:
Dundee – Easton, Grassi, O’Donnell, Stewart, Finnigan, McCluskey, and Kerr are absent.
Hearts – Carrick, Stevenson, and Ridgers are absent.
Hibernian – Deegan is absent. Clancy is a doubt.
St.Mirren – McGowan and Adam McGregor are absent.
Kilmarnock – Gros, Hay, and Racchi are absent. Sheridan is a doubt.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Foran, King, Hogg, and Ross are absent.
Ross County – Corcoran, Lawson, and Duncan are absent.
Aberdeen – Milson, Masson, Fallon, Jack, and Considine are absent.
St.Johnstone – Pawlett, Beattie, Adams, and Cregg are absent.
Motherwell – Saunders and Hutchinson are absent.
Spanish Primera Liga:
Malaga – Toulalan, Baptista, Monreal, and Fabrice are absent.
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid – Arana and Amat are absent.
Barcelona – Pique, Muniesa, Cuenca, Thiago Alcantara, Abidal, and Puyol are absent.
Celta de Vigo – Insa and Cabral are absent.
Real Madrid – Coentrao, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Khedira, and Alonso are absent.
Real Zaragoza – Obradovic, Pinter, and Lanzaro are absent.
Valencia CF – Piatti, Mathieu, and Canales are absent.
Atletico Madrid – No absentees.
Turkish Super Lig:
Kayserispor – Bildirici and Mouche are absent.
Karabukspor – Unal, Ucar, Yildiz, and Shelton are absent.
Akhisar Belediye – Yuce, Bikoko, and Yalcin are absent.
Fenerbahce – Topuz, Senturk, Meireles, Korkmaz, Krasic, and Yobo are absent.
Eskisehirspor – Coskun and Akaminko are absent.
Gaziantepspor – No absentees.