Málaga look for calm as Zenit call

"Euphoria does not win matches," said Manuel Pellegrini as he looked for cool heads from his Málaga CF side in their tough Group C opener against Luciano Spalletti's FC Zenit St Petersburg.

 Manuel Pellegrini is looking to maintain calm at Málaga

Having famously led Villarreal CF to the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, Manuel Pellegrini is embarking on a new adventure with Málaga CF in Group C but warned that only with hard work will they prolong their flying start to the season. As for visitors FC Zenit St Petersburg, their coach Luciano Spalletti is in no doubt that they are in for a tough test in Spain.

Málaga 
Coach Manuel PellegriniZenit are the most dangerous rivals because they are our next opponents. They are here as champions of Russia and nobody has given them anything on a plate. They are here with the same objectives as us. We will look to go out and win the game and if we manage that then we will look to win our second game in the group and edge closer to qualification. It is OK for our fans to be excited right now but my squad knows well that euphoria does not win matches. We have to work hard if we want this good run we are on to continue.

We have to be very careful against our opponents in this group because all of them are difficult. It would be a mistake to think one of them will be an easier game than another. Every match is different. The most important thing is to keep doing what we have done up to now. If we want to be successful then we have to fight and play in the same way that we have been playing. When I was at Villarreal nobody expected us to reach the semi-finals of Champions League.

Weekend result
Saturday: Málaga 3-1 Levante UD (Saviola 27, Joaquín 59, Portillo 90; Míchel 46)Caballero; Sergio Sánchez, Demichelis, Weligton, Monreal; Camacho, Eliseu (Dudu 82), Portillo, Isco, Joaquín (Recio 74); Saviola (Santa Cruz 69)

• Despite being reduced to ten men following Sergio Sánchez's late dismissal, Málaga continued their best-ever start to a Liga campaign and moved up to second. Javier Saviola and Francisco Portillo scored their first goals for the club either side of Joaquín's second-half strike.

Team news
Jérémy Toulalan has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Pellegrini said: "Toulalan will be a big miss for us but we hope he is back for Sunday's league game."

Zenit 
Coach Luciano Spalletti
I like what Manuel Pellegrini is doing, he is doing a great job. Last season was fantastic and he has started this season very well. We will only be able to discover Málaga's weaknesses if we play our best for the entire game. They have good, experienced players like Isco, [Martín] Demichelis, [Nacho] Monreal, [Ignacio] Camacho, Toulalan and Saviola. This team always tries to control the game. Málaga have a great squad but we don't envy them – we are strong too. A coach has to instil a winning mentality, but the team has to win once the game starts.

I think AC Milan are the favourites to win this group, even though they have lost two important players. Zenit, Málaga and Anderlecht are teams that can cause problems for Milan. I know how I will motivate my players to reach the next stage.

Weekend result
Friday: Zenit 0-2 FC Terek Grozny (Aílton 85, Lebedenko 90)
Malafeev, Yanbaev, Bruno Alves, Lombaerts, Anyukov, Fayzulin (Hulk 46), Zyryanov (Witsel 69), Denisov, Shirokov (Semak 78), Bystrov, Kerzhakov

• Zenit suffered their second consecutive home league defeat.

• Three newcomers (Renat Yanbaev, Hulk and Axel Witsel) made their competitive debuts against Terek.

Team news
Witsel (hamstring) did not travel to Spain and nor did defender Domenico Criscito and midfielder Sergei Semak. Spalletti explained that the trio "were not in the best condition, so they stayed at home".

Match fact
This is only Málaga's second season of European football but they already have an impressive unbeaten home record. In 2002/03, they played eight fixtures from the third round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup through to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, recording five wins and three draws. Add this season's 2-0 play-off success against Panathinaikos FC and they have conceded only three goals in nine home outings.

article source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2013/matches/round=2000347/match=2009500/prematch/preview/index.html

FC Dila Gori (N) vs Maritimo Match Preview

FC Dila Gori (N) vs Maritimo Match Preview

Result, Goals and more Details for the Match Marítimo vs FC Dila Gori on 23/8/12 at 21:00.
The Team Marítimo won the Game against FC Dila Gori with Result 1 : 0 (0 : 0) (1 : 0) .
 
The Soccer Game was played on 23/08/2012, 21:00 o`clock within the Tournament European League Playoffs.
It was part of the serveral Games from the European League Playoffs Tournament.
Status of the Game Marítimo vs FC Dila Gori is finished, Full Time (FT).
The European League Playoffs Football Match was played over the full regular Time.
The Result of this Match was added or updated on 23/08 at 22:56 to the Soccer Result Service.
 

	Final Result	1. Halftime	2. Halftime
Marítimo	1	0	1
FC Dila Gori	0	0	0

Before this Match Rio Ave played against Marítimo within the League Liga Zon Sagres
and lost with the Result 0:1 (0 : 0) (0 : 1)  and FC Dila Gori played within the League
against FC Chikhura Sachkhere and lost with the final Result 2:3 (1 : 1) (1 : 2) 
More about the Soccer Teams Marítimo and FC Dila Gori can be found in the Team Statistics.

Celtic Vs Helsingborg Match Preview

 Celtic Vs Helsingborg Match Preview

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has to have been happy with his teams performance in Sweden. Georgio Samaras provided the perfect start by setting up Kris Commons for the opening goal of the game in the first two minutes and the Commons returned the favour providing Samaras with an assist in the 75th minute. Celtic look alot better this year than they have in previous years and a win at home will ensure passage to the next round of the Champions League which would be a great achievement as Celtic havent made the Group stages of the competition in a few years now.

Helsingborg come into this game with little to lose trailing 2-0 on aggregate. Unfortunately for the Swedish side though they were completely outplayed in the first leg with Celtic having 67% of possession and scoring two good goals. Coach Hareide will set his side up to go for it but with limited international experience in the side its hard to see how Helsingborg can get the win they need to go through. Alvaro Santos and Mahalunga will provide a threat for the swedes but I just cant see them getting anything from this game.

Celtic looked good in the last leg and had a rare away win. I think that at home with Celtic Park rocking and a great atmosphere that Celtic will get a win and push them one step closer to the Champions League proper. Follow me on twitter @antonpippo Take a look at our EUFA Champions League Round Up for a look at the other non featured games taking place on Wednesday night.

article source: http://sportschatplace.com/soccer/anthony/2012/august/29/celtic-helsingborg/

Fletcher submits transfer request

Wolves striker Steven Fletcher has asked to leave the club after Sunderland made a £12m offer for the player on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old

said on Twitter:

“Just handed in a transfer request just to let the fans know where I am at right now…. #headsgone.”

The Black Cats’ bid is thought to be close to Wolves’ valuation.

Fletcher’s former club Burnley will be due 15% of any profit Wolves make on a player they paid £7m for in 2010.

Wolves responded to the tweet with

a club statement:

“Wolves can confirm that Steven Fletcher has handed in an official transfer request.

“The player’s frustration stems from the fact that several bids have been rejected for his services, none of which meets the club’s valuation.

“As previously stated, no player will leave Wolves unless the club’s valuation is met.”

Sunderland are short of attacking options following the departures of Asamoah Gyan and Nicklas Bendtner.

Fletcher has two years remaining on his contract at Molineux, leaving Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey in a strong position to negotiate the best possible deal. O’Neill has made Fletcher, who scored 12 Premier League goals last season, his prime attacking target this summer.

No Sunderland player reached double figures in goals last season, with Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon the top-scorers with eight.

O’Neill believes Fletcher, who scored seven headers last season, will give Sunderland’s attack much-needed potency.

Fletcher has suffered Premier League relegations with Burnley and Wolves during the past three seasons, but his goals-to-games ratio is better than one in three.

Spain Looks Forward to Advance versus Republic of Ireland

SPAIN	Tournament Statistics (as of June 14, 2012)		REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
1	Goals Scored		1
9	Attempts On Target		5
9	Attempts Off Target		8
7	Corners		1
12	Fouls Committed		12
3	Yellow Cards		1
0	Red Cards		0
PREDICTED STARTING LINEUPS
Spain (4-2-3-1)		Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pique, Alba; Alonso, Busquets; Xavi, Iniesta, Silva; Torres
Ireland (4-4-2)		Given; Ward, Dunne, St Ledger, O’Shea; McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff; Walters, Keane

Spain (N) vs. Ireland Match Preview 

Date: June 15, 2012

Time: 2:45 AM (GMT +8:00)

GDANSK: The prospects of Group C teams have become more unpredictable after Republic of Ireland suffered a disappointing loss versus Croatia at 3-1. Spain and Italy stalled one another in a draw at 1-1, citing signals of stronger winning determination from both teams.

Spain’s duty as defending champion is to strengthen their defense in order to thwart any scoring attempt of Republic of Ireland – a feat which can determine La Roja’s defense of their championship title. Republic of Ireland, on the other hand, has to recoup from their fatal mistakes against Croatia which caused the Croat’s currently wide gap from the rest of Group C.

Previous Matches

The most recent match between Spain and Republic of Ireland was during the 2002 World Cup. The match was a closely-fought one at 1-1, only to be won by Spain via a penalty shootout.

Spain won all of their last 15 competitive games, including their 2010 World Cup championship title. They are also the champions of EURO 2008.

Republic of Ireland was unbeaten in 14 matches (both competitive and friendly). Their 3-1 loss to Croatia was their heaviest major tournament loss.

Pre-Match Developments

It is unsure whether Vicente Del Bosque will pit in Fernando Torres in Spain’s starting lineup after the striker failed to show competence during their match against Italy. Their six-man midfield against the Azzurri might be altered, although changes have yet to be announced.

Giovanni Trapattoni, on the other hand, is persistent with his current starting lineup. Despite his team’s poor performance versus Croatia, no changes have been announced on Republic of Ireland’s starters.

Spain-Republic of Ireland Predictions

Sports Statistics Information Centre

(as of June 14, 2012)

v  Disclaimer: All information above is provided free for members as a 12BET service. The prediction statistics are purely a view point and there is no guarantee on the returns. Hence all members or visitors are requested to apply their prudence before acting on any of the recommendations. Neither 12BET nor any of its promoters, members, or employees holds any responsibility of any losses incurred (if any) by acting on the recommendations.

Republic of Ireland is placed at a difficult time after their focus on strengthening their defensive and counterattacking techniques have been shattered by a solid Croatia. The Irish squad lacked strikers in their roster, thus they are faced with the challenge of how to shoot the ball inside the net.

Spain, on the other hand, has to return to playing formidable possession football, which helped them gain their 2008 EURO and 2010 World Cup championship titles. Their recent match against Italy was far from resembling their usual possessiveness of the ball, which became apparent when the Azzurri treaded comfortably on La Roja’s midfield.

Overall, Spain can expect a convenient win against the Republic of Ireland, especially if they choose to become more firm in their possessive playing approach. Spain can be countered with frustrations if Republic of Ireland strengthens their defensive play for this match. 

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Denmark meets up Portugal in 2012 European Championship

Portugal (N) vs. Denmark June 14, 2012 12:00am GMT+8

June 13, 2012 – for the fifth time after four years Denmark and Portugal will meet again I a competitive fight on Wednesday. This two teams have been drawn together and both qualify the 2010 world Cup and Euro 2012. Portugal was known for their qualifying through playoff while Denmark directly qualified for the finals from gaining more points.

This is the first of those five games that will be played at a neutral site, and based on the results of the last four games, this should add some serious unpredictability to the match. In World Cup qualifying, Denmark shockingly upset Portugal on the road, then drew them at home. In both of their Euro 2012 qualifying matches, the home side won.

Portugal played seventy odd minutes of defensive football against Germany, they set out their stall to be defensive and relied on Ronaldo creating something on his own up front but the one positive from the loss to Germany was once they went behind Portugal opened up and played football creating three guilt edged chances that should have been converted and should what they can do going forward. Hopefully the Portugese will be let off the leash from the start here against a dogged Denmark. In two games in qualifying for the tournament Portugal beat Denmark 4-1 at home but lost 2-1 away. This is an intriguing game and with the likes of Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo, Meireles, Pepe and Contreau there is plenty of talent here in this Portugal side and they know they must win.

Denmark pulled off the shock of the first round beating the Netherlands 1-0. While the Oranje dominated the game and created a heap of chances Denmark did defend well. Daniel agger the Danish captain is the rock at the back and will be the key player for Denmark in the marshalling of Cristiano Ronaldo who will play through the center. With Bendtner and Eriksen through the center this is a solid side built on hard work. Coach Olsen will look for more of the same agaisnt Portugal, play on the counter attack and hold a high solid defensive line. Ericksen wasnt great for me in the first game in the group but he is still young and it was hard for an attacking player as Denmark were defending for so long.

Possible Lineups

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Euro 2012 EUFA handicaps 12bet | Russia Vs Czech Match Preview

Euro 2012 EUFA handicaps 12bet

Group Stage Russia Vs Czech Match Preview


Russia will come into the go with as powerful favorites in many experts sight after their amazing displaying during determining. Dick Advocatt's men lead Team B with seven benefits from their ten trips.

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