While the world battles an economic downturn and parts ofthe middle, east descend into civil war, the important task of evaluatingforthcoming football matches has to be still done. The Goan casts an objectiveeye on these matches and helps you gain an insight into the trends that areemerging and the possible ramifications for the leagues around Europe. Arsenal, Manchester City and United as wellas continental favorites like Barcelona and Real Madrid will battle it out tosustain or draw back competition in their respective leagues.
England
Arsenal v Chelsea
Saturday, September 29
Emirates Stadium, London
Arsenal and won four of their last five matches and drewone.
Chelsea lost their last match, drew two and won two.
Arsenal has won two of their last encounters with Chelsea,drown two and have lost two.
Chelsea and Arsenal are the only teams in the Premier Leagueyet to concede a second,half goal this season. The Blues have kept four cleansheets in the Premier League this season, more than any other side. The Gunnersare unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games but have drawn six ofthose. A tight match it will depend on which team keeps its nerve.
Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday, September 29
Old Trafford, Manchester
Manchester united have won their last five matches
Tottenham Hotspur have won three and drawn two of theirmatches
Tottenham hotspur has not beaten their opponents in the pastfive encounters
Tottenham has struggled to make against Manchester United.They have been reduced to considering a draw a victory or the scoring of a goalas a mark of pride. It should not be a proverbial walk in the park forManchester United but three points are there for the taking.
Fulham v ManchesterCity
Saturday, September 29
Craven Cottage, London
Fulham has lost three of their last five matches
Manchester City has won just one of their last five matcheswith two draws and two loses
Fulham has managed to draw just one of their last fiveencounters with the rest ending in defeats
The match should be yet another chance for the wealthy boysof City to boost their goal average. Fulham are hardy players but to think thatthey can match the sophistication of their opponents would require some flightof fancy. This match will be marked by some tight marking by Fulham but thegoals against them will come. The only question how many.
Spain
Sevilla v Barcelona
Saturday, September 29
Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Sevilla
Sevilla has won three of their last five matches with twodraws.
Barcelona has lost one of their five matches with four wins.
Sevilla has managed a draw with their opponents losing therest of their four encounters
Barcelona is in the process of finding their mojo again andSevilla will be the team to face it. Sevilla can only hope that Barcelona hasan off day cause in that remains their only chance of a respectable day out onthe field.
Real Madrid vDeportivo La Coruña
Sunday, September 30
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Real Madrid have won four of their five last matches withone defeat
Deportivo La Coruña have won one , lost one and drawn threematches
Real Madrid have won four of their five encounters and drawnone with their opponents
Real Madrid have set the mark in the La Liga this season andthey have scored goals with a flair and precision of their equally famous Catalanopponents. The encounter should be an equal match before the depth of Real Madrid stamps out theopposition.
Germany
Werder Bremen vBayern Munich
Saturday, September 29
Weserstadion, Bremen
Werder Bremen have lost two, drawn two and won one of theirlast five matches
Bayern Munich has won five of their last five matches
Bayern Munich has won four of their last five encountersagainst Bremen with one ending in a draw.
Bayern Munich is the big boys of German football and thismatch should be yet another confirmation of that fact. They have been very goodthis season and Werder Bremen will only hope that their dismal performanceagainst their opponents does not continue.
Borussia Dortmund vBorussia M’gladbach
Saturday, September 29
Signal, Iduna,Park, Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund has won two drawn two and lost one oftheir last five matches
Borussia M’gladbach has drawn four of their last fivematches with one loss.
Borussia Dortmund has won four of their last five encounters
Borussia Dortmund have had a mixed bag this season and theywill hope this match will provide them with some semblance of balance.Considering the fact that they have never lost to their opponents shouldprovide them with a degree of confidence.
Bayer Leverkusen vGreuther Fürth
Bay Arena, Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen have won two drew two and lost one of theirlast five matches
Greuther Furth have won one lost three and drew one of theirlast five matches
They have not faced each other earlier
Bayer Leverkusen should consider this as Christmas comingearly and make the most as they play against a team from the bottom half of thetable.
France
Paris Saint,Germain vFC Sochaux
Parc des Princes, Paris
Paris Saint Germain won last four and drew one
Sochaux won last three lost last two
PSG has won four of their last five encounters
The new big boys of French football with aspiration to rulethe world have made the right start to the season winning all but one and notexperiencing defeat. Their fire powershould be too strong for their opponents and should provide another steptowards winning the title next year.
*Please check yourlocal listings for match timings
