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England, Coca - Cola Football League One

Both teams placed midtable currently with bad form.Hartlepool are under caretaker manager for the moment and are going into festive period with him in charge.

Hartlepool are hoping to have Joel Porter available for Friday night's home clash with Southend.
The Australian striker missed last weekend's trip to Hereford with a thigh injury sustained against Yeovil, but he has trained this week and should be in contention.
Midfielder Ritchie Jones returns after a one-game suspension, but goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett remains sidelined as he serves the second game of a three-match ban.
Jamie McCunnie will hope to play a bigger role after recovering from illness to make a late substitute appearance at Edgar Street.

The bug which swept through Victoria Park last week has now subsided.

Teenager Jonny Rowell impressed on his debut against the Bulls and could keep his starting place on the right of midfield.

Southend boss Steve Tilson has a major doubt over experienced striker Dougie Freedman.
The 34-year-old returned against Huddersfield last weekend after 10 weeks out with a thigh strain but is now struggling with a shoulder problem.
"Dougie picked up the injury at the weekend when he was fouled on the edge of the box and we're not sure if he will be able to play," Tilson told the club's official website.
"It's unbelievable really and of course it will be a blow if he doesn't play."

Fellow striker Lee Barnard continued his recovery from hamstring and calf problems by appearing as a late substitute in the defeat to the Terriers and is pushing for a start if Freedman is unable to make it.

I am leaning towards away win but Southends inconcistesy backs me off a bit,so i will play on the need for both to end the bad run and deside to attack eachother.

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UEFA Cup Group Stage, Matchday 5

Giorgios Karaiskaki Stadium, Piraeus

It’s a must win encounter for Lucien Favre’s Hertha Berlin in Piraeus this evening, whilst a draw will do for Ernesto Valverde’s Olympiakos (unless Benfica can beat Metalist Kharkiv by eight goals in Portugal), with both sides looking to qualify for the Round of 32 of the UEFA Cup.

Olympiakos

Olympiakos will be without the services of veteran midfielder Ieroklis Stoltidis, who has been ruled out of action for three months with a shin injury.

Brazilian full-back Leonardo returns to the sidelines for another 15 days, whilst former Greece centre-back Paraskevas Antzas serves a one-match ban.

Valverde has received a massive boost with the news that Argentine winger Luciano Galletti has recovered from injury in time for the match, whilst former Real Madrid full-back Raul Bravo is left out of his fellow Spaniard’s squad altogether.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Nikopolidis - Domi, Zewlakow, Papadopoulos, Torosidis – Galletti, Dudu, Patsatzoglou, Djordjevic – Belluschi – Diogo

Hertha Berlin

Mark Pantelic is a doubt with an illness despite having played a full game as his side thumped Karlsruhe 4-0 at the weekend.

Equal top-scorer Gojko Kacar has been left in Berlin, whilst on-loan Liverpool striker Andriy Voronin misses out through injury.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Drobny – Stein, Kaka, Friedrich, von Bergen – Nicu, Lustenberger, Dardai, Cicero – Rafael – Panelic

I really honestly think that Hertha has a good team this year and has fair chances in this afair,but Olympiakos home nowdays is POWER,so simple as that and my stakes are moderated because of my over confentence for the outcome.

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UEFA Cup, Matchday 5, Group E

Fratton Park, Portsmouth

With both sides already out of the competition there is only pride to play for on Wednesday night at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth’s defeat in Wolfsburg last time out coupled with Braga’s 2-1 victory over Heerenveen ensured the Portuguese club and Wolfsburg join AC Milan in the next round of the competition.

Indeed, the only position up for grabs is bottom spot - which Heerenveen will claim unless they can beat English opposition for the first time in their history.

Whilst Portsmouth will be disappointed to be exiting the tournament, they depart with fond memories, not least from the 2-2 draw with AC Milan which was so nearly a famous victory before Filippo Inzaghi struck with only seconds remaining to break hearts on England's south coast.

Yet an opening day humbling in Braga added to a rollercoaster game in Wolfsburg that eventually ended in defeat have cost Portsmouth dear, and they must now focus their attentions back on the domestic scene.

Wednesday’s meeting will be the first between the two sides in UEFA competition and also the first time Portsmouth have faced Dutch opposition.

Despite currently lying fifth in the Eredivisie, Heerenveen look to be underachieving this season - which has led to criticism from some quarters for manager Sollied.

Yet results have picked up since the low point of their season, a 6-0 mauling by FC Twente, and they have won their last two league games.

Yet their recent record in UEFA competition, particularly away from home, leaves much to be desired.

The Dutch side have failed to win on their last five away trips and have yet to pick up a single point in the group having been beaten 3-1 by Milan, 5-1 by Wolfsburg and 2-1 by Braga.

Portsmouth

Glen Johnson, Glen Little, Younes Kaboul, Lassana Diarra and John Utaka are all out injured and Tony Adams is likely to rest several other regulars, with the Premier League now his priority.

Therefore, Sol Campbell, David James, Peter Crouch, and Jermain Defoe are all likely to sit this game out whilst there may be starts for Herman Hreidarsson, Nwankwo Kanu, Marc Wilson, Jamie Ashdown and David Nugent.

Possible Starting XI: Ashdown, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Wilson, Belhadj, Mvuemba, Davis, Hughes, Kranjcar, Kanu, Nugent.

Herenveen

Danijel Pranjic, Bonaventure Kalou and Geert Arend Roorda all missed the weekend’s win and may not be risked. Mika Vayrynen and Gerald Sibon are also injury doubts.

Possible Starting XI: Steppe, Breuer, Nielsen, Dingsdag, Popov, Vayrynen, Svec, Grindheim, Beerens, Sibon, Smarason.

Herenveens presence means goals,goals to be scored and goals to be conceded,high stakes from me.

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Steve Watson is back in contention for Sheffield Wednesday's midweek home clash with QPR.

The veteran midfielder has been nursing a hip injury in recent weeks and missed Saturday's 1-1 draw at Southampton.

Owls manager Brian Laws has no new injury or suspension problems, but is still without long-term absentees Jermaine Johnson, who damaged medial knee ligaments last week, Akpo Sodje (knee) and Richard Hinds (broken leg).

Laws also faces a dilemma regarding defender Frank Simek, who came through unscathed at Southampton following his first 90 minutes in over a year after a serious ankle injury.

The Wednesday manager is concerned the American could struggle with two full games in the space of four days, so Tommy Spurr is on stand-by after shaking off a dead-leg.

Fitz Hall and Mikele Leigertwood return to the QPR squad for the trip to face Wednesday.

Hall has completed a three-match ban following his recent red card at Watford while Leigertwood sat out the weekend win over Wolves with a one-game suspension.

Boss Paulo Sousa will have a selection dilemma at Hillsborough with recalled centre-half Kaspars Gorkss performing well at the back alongside Damion Stewart in Hall's absence.

Striker Dexter Blackstock faces a late fitness test after coming off on Saturday with a back injury.

Lee Cook (knee) and Martin Rowlands (thigh) proved their fitness against Wolves - the latter hitting a superb winner to sink the leaders.

Matthew Connolly remains a doubt with a back injury while Rowan Vine (leg) and Akos Buzsaky (knee) are long-term absentees.

Queens Park Rangers last two results are a clear sighn of increase in form,i think they are not going to loose tonight.

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Nancy head into Thursday`s UEFA Cup Group H match against CSKA Moscow knowing a victory will guarantee them a spot in the competition's last 32.

The Lorraine club have picked up four points from their opening two pool matches and a win at the Stade Marcel-Picot would see them join CSKA in the knockout stages.

The unbeaten Russian outfit secured progression with a 2-1 triumph over Lech Poznan last week and a point in France would guarantee they finish top of the section.

Nancy's European displays have eclipsed their performances on the domestic front - they are languishing in the bottom half of the Ligue 1 table and lost 2-1 at home on Sunday to then-bottom side St Etienne.

CSKA have won all three of their group matches so far and having already advanced, they may choose to take this last pool encounter lightly.

A first-placed finish, however, would mean an easier tie in the last 32.

Nancy will be without Chris Malonga, the winger sustaining a thigh injury at the weekend.

But Michael Chretien and Geoffrey Adjet returned to training on Monday after recent injuries, while Frederic Biancalani and Basile Camerling did the same yesterday.

CSKA's Anton Grigoriev and Deividas Semberas are both within a booking of a one-match ban but Evgeni Aldonin is available again after serving a suspension.

CSKA is scoring FOR FUN now days,i've choosen the 2.25 line in case of a 1-1 draw.

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UEFA CUP

Metallist Stadium

An interesting much up at Ukraine for the 4th game day in Group B.Metallist are second with 4 points and Olympiakos are 3rd with one point less.

Last day Olympiakos will play Hertha and Metallist will travel to eliminated Benfica.

Form at European games doesn't exist at all for me as proven milion times in the past so i don't care what are both teams doing in domestic leagues.

Greek teams always when they travel east are having problems tradionally and this is the case here as well.

Conditions are not the best for Olympiakos with quite low temperature and their trip took over 8 hours with the plane beeing not able to land in Kharkiv because of the fog,lets not forget at this point that some major players from them are Southamericans.

All in all i sence that the mission for Olympiakos to walk away from Ukraine with a win is not very easy at all.

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High-flying Championship side Burnley host Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup

Owen Coyle's side have already claimed memorable Premier League scalps against Chelsea and Fulham, and will be eyeing another upset on a chilly Tuesday evening.

The Clarets, who defeated the Blues in round four on penalties, are currently fourth in England's second tier as they aim for promotion this season.

Burnley have a slight concern over Wade Elliott, who has had a groin problem in recent weeks, ahead of the home tie.


Christian Kalvenes and Remco van der Schaaf are also doubts for the Clarets.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stood by his policy of blooding young talent in the League Cup and is poised to do the same at Turf Moor.

Wenger's young charges, who reached the semi-finals of the competition last term, have already impressed with victories over Wigan Athletic and Sheffield United this time around.

Experienced French defender Mikael Silvestre, Mexican forward Carlos Vela - impressive in the competition so far - and Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner are all likely to start.

It won't be easy at all i think for the youngsters to completely out play Burnley,draw and penalty kicks is my call.

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Chelsea are currently top of the division on goal difference from Liverpool, and victory against Arsenal would put them 13 points clear of their opponents and effectively end their title ambitions for another season.

"It is a must-win game for us,'' said Scolari. "What I said to my players one month ago is that we need to arrive between November 15 and until the last day in December in a very good situation, with all players in good fitness.

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole could miss Sunday's crunch London derby against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

Cole suffered an ankle injury in the Champions League draw with Bordeaux on Wednesday night.

Juliano Belletti (ankle), Michael Essien (knee), Ricardo Carvalho (knee) and Franco di Santo (hamstring) are all out.

Defender Alex has recovered from his groin strain and is included in the squad but striker Didier Drogba misses out through suspension.

"We want to get back into it and the only way to get back into it is to win the game on Sunday,'' admitted manager Arsene Wenger.

"I believe seeing the other teams play, we know we can beat them and that is the only way to get back into it.''

Arsenal expect to have Samir Nasri (knee), Emmanuel Adebayor and Bacary Sagna (both ankle) available.

However, midfielder Abou Diaby (abdominal strain) misses out along with Kolo Toure (calf), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee).

Striker Eduardo is closing in on a return from his broken leg, but Tomas Rosicky (knee) remains sidelined until the new year.

Its very clear that we will see and end to end game from both teams as i can read.

Greece, Beta Ethniki

Zozimades Stadium

Pas Giannina for those not aware with our football status is considered one of the biggest country clubs in our country.

Club was at first division for years but due to financial problems went down even to 3rd division for quite some time and they have maybe the most hot fans appart the big teams in Greece.

Always supported well from people who admire and demand good football from their beloved club.

Enough with the history, now time PAS is canditat for promotion in a race appears to be maybe the most close in resent years.

Five games at home so far and PAS has 5 convising wins with 17-5 golas scored and on paper the 6th win is not far.

Kalamata from the south part of Pelloponesos are doing almost fine home and horible away and they will fight until the end for saving their lifes in division.

Pas Giannina enorchistrated from their Argetinian coach always try to win in convising way and i believe this is going to happen once more.

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Netherlands, Eredivisie

Polman Stadium,Almelo

Heracles history in Eredivisie continues as usually and find them placed somewhere in the lower middle of the table with them beeing weak away and strong home using the advantage of their artificial pich.

Some could say that Willem II is the surprise pack of the season,solid team,scoring and conceding at about same numbers and are placed more close to the top than the relegation.

Willem II at tonights game have a major problem to face at the like of their FIRST SCORER abcence Frank Demouse(12/11) which can be considered as a big blow for this team and the way they play.

Heracles has an almost MUST win game after resent bad results and i thik they are not going to sleep farther.

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Turkey, Turkcell Super Lig

KAYSERY ATATURK STADIUM

Kayserispor are really facing huge problems with scoring late,four out of the five first choise attacker are not available for the moment.

Franco Cangele the Argetinian is the only half fit attacker left and he will be pared with the 2nd choise winger Mehmet Eren,top scorers Julius Aghahowa(10/4) and Turgay Bahadir(10/3)plus replacement Purovits and Kose also remain sidelined.

Kayserispor have scored only 11 goals so far in the campain in 12 games.


Trabzonspor high flying for the moment and away are really impressive with 5 wins so far.

Almost full team available for the Black Sea pround.

Kayserispor are racing the level of their game against top teams and it isn't easy at all to win in there so a close dog fight is not out of sight here.