The Unidad Deportiva IV Centenario in Aguascalientes, Mexico, hosts another enticing evening of WSB action on Saturday as Mexico Guerreros take on Morocco Atlas Lions, with the home side looking to build on their semi-final surge in Season V. The Atlas Lions also looked strong during last year’s debut campaign, and will be eager to go one step further and qualify for the knockout phase.
Mexico’s U21 National silver medalist Elwin Soto will be hoping to utilise his small frame and aggressive style against Moroccan southpaw Imad Ahayoun in the opening light flyweight bout as both sides seek the early advantage. The AMBC Bantamweight silver medalist Sergio Chirino will have more of a physical advantage over the Lions’ Azzedine Madjoubi, who makes his WSB debut on Saturday night.
Mexico Guerreros’ third boxer, Raul Curiel, qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games following his unbeaten record in Season V, and as such can afford to take a patient approach against Morocco’s dangerous southpaw, the experienced AIBA African Olympic Qualification Tournament winner and London 2012 Olympian Abdelhak Aatakni.
Colombia’s AMBC American Confederation Champion Jorge Luis Vivas was drafted in to the Mexico squad in December to strengthen their middleweight category, and he will be the favourite against Said Harnouf who joined the Moroccan national team in 2013. Rounding off the night is a heavyweight southpaw battle between the former AMBC American Confederation Champion Julio Castillo and Abdeldjalil Abouhamada, with the home crowd sure to get right behind their man and make a tough task even harder for Abouhamada.
Saturday night sees last season’s World Series of Boxing champions Astana Arlans Kazakhstan begin their journey towards what would be an unprecedented title defence with a tough home tie against Azerbaijan Baku Fires. The two giants of WSB will go toe-to-toe in the Kazakh city of Karagandy in the first match of Group D.
The Arlans are again the team to beat after finishing Season V undefeated, but Baku Fires won’t shy away from the challenge following a strong campaign of their own that included ten wins in fourteen Group B matches.
Kazakhstan’s light flyweight star Temirtas Zhussupov was peerless last season, and the 2013 ASBC gold medallist will have the crowd behind him for the evening’s opening bout against Baku Fires’ upcoming 20 year-old talent Javid Dadashov. The Azeri put himself on the map last year defeating EUBC Champion Salman Alizada at the Great Silk Way Tournament in Baku, and will need to be at his very best once again to overcome Zhussupov.
Arlans’ bantamweight Meirbolat Toitov, heavily involved in both the home side’s championship-winning seasons, meets Iarash Magomedov, while Askhat Ualikhanov will have an added incentive to overcome Azerbaijan’s London 2012 Olympian Gaybatulla Gadzhialiyev following his defeat at his hands in Season V.
Astana Arlans Kazakhstan kick off WSB title defence against Azerbaijan Baku Fires in Karagandy
Kazakhstan National Champion Meirim Nursultanov faces Baku Fires’ Georgian boxer Badri Khardzhiani in the evening’s middleweight contest, before the super heavyweights take to the ring to round off the match. The home side won’t be able to count on the talismanic Vassiliy Levit, with last season’s hero replaced by 21 year-old WSB debutant Yerkin Mukhametzhan. The youngster will need to keep his cool against Baku Fires’ Russian-descent southpaw Haji Murtazaliyev in what could be the deciding bout of the match.
The two athletes distinguished themselves during the 2015 season for their unique performances and commitment, winning the votes of the members of the ISSF Coaches Advisory Committee and of the ISSF Athletes Committee, and of a panel of international media representatives.
Croatia’s Snjezana Pejcic (Rifle) and USA’s Vincent Hancock (Shotgun) have been named “2015 ISSF Shooters of the Year”.
The two athletes won the votes of the ISSF Coaches Advisory Committee and of the ISSF Athletes Committee members, and of a panel of international media representatives, who were invited by the International Shooting Sport Federation to select two “role models, who are successful through unique performances, behavior and character. Possibly not always the most successful winners of the season, but two athletes who represent the special values of the shooting sport with commitment.”
The 2008 Olympic Bronze medallist Snjezana Pejcic of Croatia, 33, has been one of the main protagonists of the 2015 ISSF World Cup Series. The Rifle shooter won two World Cup Gold medals in Changwon, Korea, last year, as well as two Silver medals at the ISSF World Cup Stage in Fort Benning, USA, in both 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women events.
On her way to the 2015 ISSF World Cup Final in Munich – where she secured a Bronze medal – Pejcic also equalled the 50m Rifle 3 Positions Women world record, and set a new final world record.
“It’s the first time, and I hope it’s not the last one, that I win this prestigious award!” Pejcic said.
“The Shooter of the Year award is one of those titles I was missing, and I really wanted to win. It’s a real honor, especially because it’s cross-discipline, and there are so many good shooters out there. I really did not expect to win.”
“2015 has been my best season, so far. It started off in a great way, with four world cup medals, and it ended well with a world cup final podium. I am just sorry that I did not make it to the European Games’ podium.”
“The goal is now the Olympic Games – she added – I will be competing in all four ISSF World Cup Stages next year, and at the European Championships, trying to be prepared for Rio 2016.”
The 2015 ISSF Shooter of the Year Vincent Hancock – a 2008 and 2012 Skeet Men Olympic Champion from USA – also distinguished himself through great performances during the 2015 season.
The 26-year old American shooter wrote his name in the history book of shooting by winning his third World Championships title in career, at the ISSF Shotgun World Championships in Lonato, Italy, exactly ten years after his first victory.
Hancock also won two ISSF World Cup Stages – in Acapulco (Mexico) and Gabala (Azerbaijan) – equalling the world record and then pocketed a Silver medal at the 2015 ISSF World Cup Final in Nicosia, Cyprus.
He had already won the “Shooter of the Year” award in 2005, at the age of 16.
Snjezana Pejcic (CRO) and Vincent Hancock (USA) named “2015 ISSF Shooters of the Year”
“It’s an amazing honor for being selected as 2015 ISSF Shooter of the year for the second time in my career, ten years after winning the title the first time back in 2005. A lot of things changed in these years, and it’s nice to be honored again.” Hancock said.
“I had a good season again last year, and I fulfilled my goal to make it to the US Olympic team. 2015 has been an important stepping stone toward 2016.”
“I will continue to build up for the Olympics throughout the season. Rio 2016 is the ultimate goal: I want to win my third Olympic Gold medal there.”
Hancock and Pejcic will be officially awarded in occasion of one of the first 2016 ISSF World Cup Stages.
IAAF President Sebastian Coe is presently visiting the Middle East where he met and presented medals to the winners of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, organised by the UAE Athletics Federation.
Dominated by strong performances from Ethiopian athletes, the race holds the distinction of being the only event in the region which is a member of the IAAF Gold Label Road Race circuit.
The top mass-participation event in the region, there were a record 37,000 participants across the three races (marathon, 10km and 4km) and medals were awarded to everyone that crossed the finish line.
Tesfaye Abera won the men’s race in 2:04:24 and Tirfi Tsegaye won the women’s title in 2:19:41, while Britain’s John Smith won the wheelchair race with a qualifying time for the Rio Paralympic Games.
Sebastian Coe commented: “It was a real privilege for me to be invited to start the Dubai Marathon. It is a world-class road race gaining reputation every year with growing public participation and an international reputation for great organisation. Running is one of the few global sports where the general public can participate in the same event as the elite competitors, crossing the same finish line. It’s an important ingredient in road running’s enormous popularity.”
The IAAF President this afternoon then flew to UAE’s gulf neighbour Qatar. Elected last November as the Chairman of the Board of the Diamond League, Sebastian Coe was advised about preparations for the Doha 2016 Diamond League meeting on 6 May. In 2010, Doha became the first city to host an IAAF Diamond League meeting. Each season since then, it has continued to launch the top-tier invitational track and field circuit.
Spread across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the USA, the 14-meeting IAAF Diamond League series includes a competition programme of 32 events representing virtually the full spectrum of Olympic track and field disciplines, and offers a total of US$8million in prize money.
Sebastian Coe will conclude his visit to the region on Saturday morning with a visit to Doha’s Khalifa Stadium which will be the venue for the 2019 IAAF World Championships.
Sebastian Coe commented: “The Doha Diamond League annually attracts a world-class field whose performances set the bench mark for quality each season. And, in an Olympic year, people will be looking for Games form and of course, qualifying marks ahead of Rio 2016.”
Mark Williams insists he is no longer at the same level as Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins as he looks ahead to his defence of snooker’s World Seniors Championship title.
O’Sullivan described the trio as the “OAPs of the sport” after winning the Masters last week, with all three having turned 40 within the past year. Higgins won three ranking events in 2015, while Williams also enjoyed a resurgence, taking the seniors crown on his debut in the event and climbing back into the world’s top 16 with consistent form.
But the Welshman maintains that his best years are well behind him. “We are the old men on the tour but it’s those two who are winning the tournaments,” said Williams. “Ronnie has still got good form and can play to a high standard, so can John.
“Unfortunately I can’t play to the standard that they play to at the moment even though they are not at their best. I just keep plugging along and just getting on with it.”
In fact two-time World Champion Williams is relieved just to be competing on the pro tour having recovered from a rotator cuff injury which threatened his career.
“It feels fine now, for the first time in about two years I can wipe my cue with a cloth and not have any pain,” said the winner of 18 ranking titles, who had surgery last July. “My doctor said I might have been out for 18 months. That would have been a nightmare, but luckily enough I was only out for two or three months.
“It was painful for a year or two, I couldn’t even wipe my cue because I would be in constant pain from my shoulder going down to my elbow, really bad pain and I had it for so long in the end I couldn’t stick it any more.”
Williams will join the likes of John Parrott, Jimmy White, Ken Doherty and Joe Johnson among the 16-man field for the World Seniors event at the Preston Guild Hall.
The tournament will run on the weekend of January 30-31 and the Williams has happy memories of the venue at which he defeated John Higgins to win his third Grand Prix title back in 2003.
“The Guild Hall is my favourite venue,” said Williams. “Even when we used to have the qualifiers there it is one of the best venues I have played in.”
Last year, Williams defeated Fergal O’Brien 2-1 in the final to capture the £18,000 top prize but expects a tougher challenge in 2016 with several main tour players in the draw.
Mark Williams
“It’s more difficult now with a lot of top pros in there who are still on the circuit,” he added. “Last year everyone expected me to win it because I was one of the main pros in it. It’s very open this time.”
Televised by Sky Sports, the World Seniors Championship brings together stars of the modern game and past eras.
Tickets are ON SALE NOW and start at just £10, but fans must book fast because they are selling out. For details visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
The full draw and format is:
January 30th
From 1pm
Peter Ebdon v Nigel Bond
Mark Williams v Anthony Hamilton
Tony Drago v Robert Milkins
Joe Johnson v Darren Morgan
From 7pm
Ken Doherty v Mark Davis
John Parrott v Dominic Dale
Rory McLeod v Fergal O’Brien
Jimmy White v Gary Lees
Thursday evening’s World Series of Boxing Season VI Group B curtain-raiser in Miami between two great boxing nations was always going to be an emotional affair, but at the final bell it was the British Lionhearts who took a morale-boosting first away win and left USA Knockouts reeling.
The Lionhearts got off to a strong start with European Confederation Championship silver medallist Harvey Horn managing to jab his way past US National Olympic Trials champion Nico Hernandez. Horn dominated the opening exchanges of their light flyweight bout and Hernandez’ late rally wasn’t enough to sway the judges, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
It wasn’t long before the Knockouts had drawn level on the night, their 2014 Youth Olympic Games winner Shakur Stevenson putting in an incredible display on his WSB debut to defeat rival Peter McGrail. Unbeaten at Youth and Junior level, the 20 year-old American bantamweight’s confidence was running high, landing a series of left hooks and uppercuts for which McGrail could find no answer.
The third contest of the night between another US Olympic Trial champion, the light welterweight Gary Russell, and Lionhearts’ Pat McCormack was a gripping affair, with Russell looking by far the more composed in the opening rounds. In a spectacular turnaround, McCormack was able to frustrate his opponent’s attacking instincts and took the final three rounds, lifting his team into a 2-1 lead.
Again the US got back on level terms, with Troy Williamson winning his middleweight bout against Charles Conwell and setting up a nail-biting heavyweight decider between Knockouts’ top boxer Cam F. Awesome and Lionhearts’ newcomer Lawrence Okolie, who only put his gloves on for the first time in 2010.
Shakur Stevenson shines but British Lionhearts steal the show on WSB’s big night in Miami
Awesome looked to have adjusted well to his move down from super heavyweight and was too fast for WSB debutant Okolie in the first round but the young British talent grew in confidence as he stopped Awesome’s waves of attacks, and eventually his heavy-hitting style gave a sensational Technical Knockout win to the British Lionhearts.
The Vice President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Olatunji Fasimoye has announced that the federation will come up with its calendar for 2016 by next week.
According to him, the federation had to wait for its mother body which is Rugby Africa before coming out with its own for the sake of synergy.
IRB – Get Into Rugby
“Already as it is, we already have our internal plans and we just got the plans of Rugby Africa last week.”
Speaking further, he said “What we are trying to do is to integrate both plans, so that we can come up with our calendar.”
He assured that by early next week, “our calendar Would be revealed to the general public.”
Fasimoye also hinted that 2016 will see the federation focus more on grassroots development as they hope to spread the gospel of rugby in Nigeria.
Fasimoye Olatunji, Vice President, Nigeria Rugby Football Federation
“Our focus this year is actually on the development through our “Get into Rugby programme.
He hinted that the federation will start with 10 coaches who will handle at least 40 schools. “When you look at 40 schools, you have an average of 40 students., that will be a major achievement.
“Our focus this year is to see how we can further take the sports to the grassroots to start developing young athletes at a very tender age”
The sixth edition of GOtv Boxing Night will hold on 25 March, Good Friday. This was disclosed on Tuesday in Lagos by Mr. Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Sports, promoters of the event.
According to Alumona, the forthcoming edition is scheduled to provide top class boxing entertainment during the Easter celebrations, an occasion for the family.
“We have taken into consideration the fact that Easter is about the family, and families require entertainment during the celebrations. We assure boxing fans of top class entertainment, which has been the tradition of GOtv Boxing Night,” he said.
While the fight line-up has not been released, Alumona said boxers to be selected will be the best available. “We are widening our search for talents. Many amateur boxer are ready to turn professional. We will look at the most promising. The selection process will be rigorous. It is the least we can do,” he explained.
Boxing Fans at the 3rd GOtv Boxing Night held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.
The last edition, which took place on 26 December, saw Uganda’s Edward Kakembo beating Nigeria’s Waidi ‘Skoro’ Usman to win the African Boxing Union Featherweight title, while Stanley “Edo Boy” Eribo was named the best boxer of the event. He won the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and a cash prize of N1.5m.
Fan favourite, Olaide “Fijaborn” Fijabi also defeated Sadiq Ahmed to win the National Welterweight title.
President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi believes with more support from the National Sports Commission (NSC) coupled with the efforts being made by the federation, more stars like 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri can be groomed to become world beaters. Excerpts
What is your assessment of 2015?
I think 2015 for table tennis was quite good in terms of what the Federation and players achieved taking into consideration the financial constraints that we faced. The lack of funding generally meant we could not attend some important events like the African juniors in Mauritius and the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships in India. But overall Taking into consideration our performances at the events we attended we did quite well and we continue to move in the right direction.
Aruna Quadri recieving his Nigeria Sports Awards 2014 Award
What are the objectives in 2016?
I think our focus in 2016 as in 2015 is that we must continue to develop the junior and cadet players. We must give our most talented young players the right atmosphere for them to grow. This of course means giving them the best coaching and affording them the opportunity to play in tournaments internationally so we can assess how well they are doing against the best young players in the world. We have done quite well in this regard in the last two years but there are a lot more gifted players all over the country and we must do our best to discover and harness them. We hope to be able to create new tournaments outside Lagos and Abuja. If we can find the right partnerships with the private sector this will assist greatly in boosting the spread of the game all over the country. It is also important to get the best of our senior players playing on the world tour and assist them to find the funding to ensure that they can train in the best academies in Europe and Asia with the top players in the world. We must continue to expose our coaches alongside the players. This is an area that is very critical. We must develop our Nigerian coaches but they must also be willing to accept that they need the knowledge. The sport of table tennis is one that is developing so quickly. The styles have moved on from what we know in Nigeria. It is faster and more physically demanding. Our coaches need to take this on board.
What has been the challenge of table tennis?
Lack of funding is the major problem we have. We have designed programmes for our junior and senior players but we just can’t find enough money to back up our plans. Where we can’t even get funding to attend many continental events we will naturally start to lag behind other countries. It is very difficult to operate in this conditions and gives one a lot to think about with regards to the way other sports bar football are being funded in this country. It is amusing when the sports loving public ask questions about how well we are doing. The question really should be how well are we being equipped to do well. I must continuously thank some of our board members and our friends in table tennis who personally support the players to buy equipment and attend tournaments. Without them table tennis would be dead in Nigeria. The Lagos State Government has also been quite supportive in terms of putting their infrastructure at our disposal and it is support like this that we need. We need good consistent funding to achieve our goals.
Wahid Enitan Oshodi Receiving his Award as Administrator of the year at the Nigerian Sports Award 2014
This is an Olympic year and what is going to be the preparation of the team for Brazil?
As we speak now two players (Aruna Quadri and Funke Oshonaike) have qualified for the Olympics and we expect Segun Toriola and Edem Offiong to qualify at the Qualifying tournament in Sudan. Only two male and two female players can qualify from each country. The players working with their Coaches have already sent in their proposed programmes but it will come down to money. The 2016 Olympic table tennis tournament is structured in such a way that we realistically can aspire for a medal because the gap between players like Aruna, Segun and the best Chinese players is quite marginal. Playing well on your day with the right preparation I am confident that we can beat anybody in a straight knockout competition. You have to remember that Aruna was the world player of the year in 2014. He has a big reputation and he is one of the strongest players in the world as we speak. With the right preparation which really means support from the NSC and Ministry of Sports we can do well. The Schlaeger academy (the foremost table tennis academy in the world) in Austria has offered us their facilities including Coaching at a heavily subsidised rate to assist our players and Coaches both at the senior and junior levels. This kind of training programme is what makes the difference between champions and also rans. I hope we will be able to fund it.
Edem Offiong
There seems to be falling standard of female players and what is the plan of NTTF to address this?
This is a problem that has been around for a long while. We have not been replacing our top players and not enough female players are coming through. Currently our junior and cadet programme is designed for boys and girls. I am sure in a few years we will see the fruits of this programme. If you take out our top eight to ten female players, the standard falls short of what we require for players to represent the country. Our strongholds for female table tennis are mainly Cross Rivers Lagos Oyo and Ogun. We need them to assist the federation by helping us discover more raw talents that we can then groom. But the truth is that these states themselves need more support in terms of equipment and funding. It is a problem but the Federation is doing its best to address it. Furthermore it was pleasant to see our number one player Edem Offiong returning to magnificent form at the All African Games alongside the old war horse Funke Oshonaike. They serve as inspiration to the younger ones coming. We also need to work with someone like Funke and other older players who have achieved so much in ensuring that they impart their knowledge to the younger ones coming up.
Funke Oshonaike
Funke is going for her sixth Olympics and that is such sterling effort which we hope we can use to galvanize and courage the younger ones. We also need to encourage people like Richard Edem our top female Coach from Cross Rivers state to continue to produce the much needed talent. People like this also need to be encouraged by the Federal Government when granting national honors and awards. These coaches and players who work hard at the grassroots and discover players who have brought honour to our country over and over again are the people who truly deserve these awards. When the National sports Commission and Mjnistry of Sports are forwarding names it would be good if they remember that there are other sports apart from football. These other sports are the ones that contribute to Nigeria’s success at major continental and world multi medal sporting events. It really is a sad commentary that so many great sportsmen and women have been overlooked in the award of Honours
What are the major tournaments in 2016?
Well for us the major tournaments are the AFRICA Top 16 which serves as Africa’s qualifier for the World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers in February in Sudan. The World team Championships in Malaysia in February will take on greater importance this year because the highest ranked African team would likely take Africa’s only slot in the Olympic team event. We are currently neck and neck with Egypt so we need to play very well there. Of course the 4th edition of the Lagos (Nigeria) International Open holds in May before the players go into their final phase of training for the Olympics. There is also the African Championships later in the year. Also in line with our focus we intend to host the National Senior Junior and Cadet Championship at the end of the first quarter of the year so the best players in this tournaments can earn slots in the Lagos International Open.
Nigeria’s Abayomi Animasahun (second left) during the medal presentation at the 2015 ITTF Hopes Challenge in Shanghai, China at the weekend.
There are also quite a number of junior and cadet tournaments in Africa and the Middle East which I feel we must take our best young players to so we can further their development. It is a busy year. On the home front we have to find the funds to continue with our much needed developmental programmes and the National League. It is through this events that we can find the talent that our sport needs. We must also find a way to support the states in the areas of development especially at the school level.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick has reiterated that the country’s football group is one big family, following Wednesday’s meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung and a group led by Ambassador Chris Giwa.
Pinnick also commended moves by the Minister to solidify the unity of the football family, and called on every member of the family to work assiduously in support of the present NFF administration to take the nation’s football to new heights.
“We want to say a big ‘Thank You’ to the Honourable Minister, the Permanent Secretary and the Director General for their wonderful efforts in trying to solidify the unity among the football family.
“Wednesday’s meeting was another of such efforts and we praise the attitude of the Minister, Permanent Secretary and Director General all through the meeting.
“The NFF wishes to reiterate that we remain focused as ever on the several programs that we have this year. On Friday, the Super Eagles have an important match against Tunisia at the African Nations Championship.
“In two months, we have a crucial double–header against Egypt in the race for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.”
Pinnick appealed to persons in the football family with one grouse or the other to elevate national interest above personal aspiration, and to eschew bickering, as crisis was responsible for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations held in Equatorial Guinea.
“We are calling on everyone to work with the present administration to consolidate on the glorious run of the various National Teams. This is a very, very important year for Nigeria football: the Super Eagles will conclude the qualification series for the 2017 Cup of Nations and start the qualification series for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. There is the Olympics football tournament in Rio. We also have age-grade women World Cup competitions and the African Women Championship, and qualifying campaigns for the U-20 and U-17 teams”
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“The NFF is happy that the whole family remains united and committed to the attainment of more successes.”
Finally our 10-game accumulator series returns this week for the first time since December when most Leagues observed the winter break. This weekend will be the first time all top five leagues in Europe will be playing concurrently in 2016 and football fans will be treated to some scintillating displays in the various matches played. Punters alike have various options of matches and outcomes to select from this time.
We at Newfanzone have done our best to select 10 possible outcomes in our accumulators.
Good luck with your bets.
Tobi Olubiyi’s (@tobipreety) predictions:
English Premier league
Arsenal Vs Chelsea – Arsenal win or draw : The gooners have had an impressive campaign so far and going into this match in week 22 as league leaders, they will undoubtedly be the favourites. Though the Arsene Wenger led side have failed to get a Premier League win against the Blues since 29th October 2011 which was a 3-5 away win at Stamford Bridge. 14th placed Chelsea have already got one over Arsenal this season when they won the reverse fixture earlier in the season under former Manager Jose Mourinho. I believe this is an in form arsenal and going against an uninspired Chelsea who have been shown no respect by the smaller teams this season, Arsenal should get at least a point from this game.
Arsenal Vs Chelsea photo credit: CFC Unofficial (Debs) https///creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
Everton Vs Swansea – Everton win : Everton Manager Roberto Martinez would still have the 3-3 draw of last match on his mind after what looked like a win against the defending Champions Chelsea ended in a draw after a last minute equaliser. The toffees must build on such a wonderful performance and this is the best time to face a relegation threatened Swansea who are bereft of ideas lately. A new head coach has since been brought in from Italy to assist the manager and this match will be his first time in the Dug out. The swans will have an uphill task travelling to Goodison Park on the back of just 1 win in their last 5 games. Everton will get a win to complement their fine form as they are unbeaten in their last 5 matches.
French Ligue 1
Olympique Lyon Vs Olympique Marsielle -Both Teams To Score: This battle is between the 8th placed and 9th placed on the table with both teams on 29points after 21 matches. In their last 6 matches against each other there has been 3 draws with 16 goals scored by both teams and both teams scored in 4 of those matches. It promises to be an interesting encounter as both teams are expected to be chasing runaway league leaders PSG who are currently leading both teams with 28 points although they are both 7 points behind 2nd place.
It is difficult to tilt towards a winner but I believe both teams would get on the score sheet
Monaco Vs Toulouse : MONACO win – Monaco have recently hit form and are unbeaten in their last 5 matches winning 3 of them. This form has shot them straight into 2nd place while Toulouse have lost their last 2 matches. Although both were against PSG with one being the French Cup. Toulouse face a difficult trip to the Stade Louis on the back of 2 straight defeats when their next 2 matches are against Monaco and PSG for another cup game. Monaco will tear apart 19th placed Toulouse who have won only 4 games all season.
Italian Serie A
Inter Milan Vs Carpi : Inter Milan Win – Both teams have already met twice this season one in the Cup and the other in the league and Inter won on both occasion. Inter Milan will be hosting Serie A new comers Carpi who are sitting at 18th spot. Mancini’s Nerrazurri are hungry for success and also desperate to bring back the glory days to the San Siro and with just 4 points behing 1st place they will keep up the pressure if the get a win at home in this match.
I expect 3rd placed Inter who are overwhelming favourites to do enough to get maximum points. Coming into this game on the back of an impressive 2-0 away win over Napoli in the Coppa Italia.
Juventus Vs Roma : Juventus win or Draw – Defending Champions and Serie A Favourites Juventus will be involved in a tricky tie against arch rivals AS Roma. Though Roma have been on the decline lately ,languishing in 5th place after a poor run of results which led to the sack of Rudi Garcia , we have learnt over time that in games like this form is thrown out of the window. Juventus have only lost once in the last 15 matches as their form has seen them the most inform team in Europe’s top 5 leagues . Roma’s new gaffer Luciano Spaletti is familiar with the Serie A and matches of this nature so this could be a potential banana skin for Juventus. This also promises to be a fiercy clash as usual, there has been 7 red cards in the last 6 matches between these two teams. It could be tough but Juventus will get something out of this game.
German Bundesliga
Borussia Monchengladbach Vs Borussia Dortmund : Both teams to score : Dortmund have been deadly infront of goal this season scoring 47 goals in as little as 17 matches which is more than league leaders Bayern Munich. Dortmund attack is led by African Player of the year Aubumeyang who has scored 18 goals so far which is more than the number of goals Bundesliga clubs Ingolstadt ,Darmstadt , Werder bremen and hoffenheim have scored this season. His goal scoring prowess makes him the deadliest attacker in Europe’s top 5 league on basis of conversion rate and goal/game Ratio. Fourth placed Monchengladbach are also an attacking side having scored 34 goals this season making them the 3rd highest scoring side in the Bundesliga so far. There will be goals in this game as both teams are known to attack, I expect both teams to get at least a goal each.
Schalke 04 Vs Werder Bremen – Schalke 04 win : In the last 6 matches between the two, Bremen are yet to win while Schalke has won 4 drawing the other 2. Schalke are favourites and playing at the Veltings Arena infront of their home fans , it will be an added advantage against the visitors who have not won in their last 5 Bundesliga matches and are currently 16th on the league table.
I expect Schalke to get a win with their attacking trio of Choupo Moting, Huntelaar and Franco Di Santo.
Spanish La Liga
Atletico Madrid Vs Sevilla – Atletico Madrid win : League Leaders Atletico Madrid are clear favourites going into this clash. They have only lost one of their last 23 matches in all competitions. After 6 Previous meetings with Sevilla, Athletico Madrid have won 4 and drawn 2. Diego Simeone’s men will look to extend that fantastic record when Sevilla come visiting on sunday. Sevilla have also picked form as they have won their last 4 matches but a trip to the Vicente Calderón will be too much ask for Unai Emery and his team. I see Atletico extending their lead at the summit with a victory against Sevilla
Real Betis Vs Real Madrid – Real Madrid win : Spanish power house Real Madrid have experienced a resurgence since club Legend Zidane has been brought in to replace Rafa Benitez. Madrid have not lost to Real Betis in the last 6 meetings against each other. With just 3 points between 3rd placed Real Madrid and 1st place Atletico Madrid, a win against Betis will be the least result expected to put pressure on the leaders. Poor Real Betis are currently 15th on the table and are yet to win in 15 matches in all competitions.
I expect nothing less than a Real Madrid win against minnows Real Betis as they look to push for the La Liga title this season.
Arsenal Vs Chelsea photo credit: CFC Unofficial (Debs) https///creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
Paul Ayorinde’s (@el_pauleta) predictions:
Italian Serie A
Hellas Verona V Genoa- Double chance on Genoa:
Hellas Verona are one of the few sides in Europe without a win to their name and don’t expect that to change against an in-form Genoa side. I tip Gasperini’s men to get at least a point away from home on Sunday.
Sassuolo V Bologna- Double chance on Sassuolo:
Sassuolo were held to 1-1 draw against Torino on Wednesday night while Bologna played a 2-2 draw against Lazio last weekend. I expect Sassuolo to get at least a point at home on Sunday.
Jonjo Shelvey
English Premier League
Everton V Swansea- Both team to score (BTTS):
Everton played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon while Swansea got a rare win when they defeated Watford on Monday night. The match promises to be entertaining with a couple of goals. So i am tipping both teams to score at Goodison park on Sunday afternoon.
Crystal Palace V Tottenham- Double chance on Tottenham:
Crystal Palace were defeated 4-0 when
they visited Manchester City on last weekend while Tottenham “hammered” Sunderland 4-1 at White Hart Lane. Alan Pardew’s men are without a win in five Premier League matches and have lost
three straight fixtures, so i tip Tottenham to get at least a draw at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Leicester City V Stoke City- Double chance on Leicester:
Leicester played a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa last weekend while Stoke City played an entertaining goalless draw with league leaders Arsenal. This match should be a cracker between two teams on a good run of form. I tip Leicester City to get at least a point at home.
Spanish Liga BBVA
Real Betis V Real Madrid- Real Madrid win and Over 2.5 goals:
Real Betis played a goalless draw against Villarreal last weekend while Real Madrid mauled Sporting Gijon 5-1 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Betis are without a win in their last five matches and I don’t expect that to change against Zinedine Zidane’s men on Sunday. I tip Real Madrid to win in an high scoring match at the Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.
Deportivo La Coruna V Valencia- Double chance on Valencia:
Deportivo played a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad last weekend while Gary Neville’s men continued their poor league form playing a 2-2 draw at Rayo Vallecano at the Mestalla. Both teams have not won in their last four league matches. I tip Valencia to get a draw away from home on Sunday.
French Ligue 1
AS Monaco V Toulouse- Double chance on Monaco:
Monaco defeated Lorient 2-0 away from home last weekend while Toulouse lost 0-1 at home to league champions PSG. I tip Monaco to get at least a point at home on Sunday.
German Bundesliga
Cologne V Stuttgart- Double chance on Cologne:
Cologne will be looking to improve on their form as the second round of matches kick off this weekend while Stuttgart will be hoping they can continue from where they stopped last year when they defeated Wolfsburg 3-1 at home. I tip Cologne to get a least a point at home on Saturday.
Borussia Monchengladbach V Borussia Dortmund- Both teams to score (BTTS):
This is definitely the match of the week in the Bundesliga and it promises to be an entertaining match between second and fourth on the league standing. I tip both teams to score in a thrilling encounter at Borussia-Park on Saturday evening.
newfanzone 