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Dynamo Minsk - Viktoria Plzeň : Match Preview

Dynamo Minsk - Viktoria Plzeň : Match Preview

Preview: FC Krasnodar vs. Borussia Dortmund

FC Krasnodar   Getty Images For the Russian Premier League outfit the task is simple, a win will see them through to the last 32 of the Europa League. Even a draw could be good enough for Oleg Kononov's men, if PAOK fail to beat Azerbaijani team Qabala. However, this would be no fluke if Krasnodar reach the knockout phase, having been edged out by Everton and Wolfsburg at the same stage last season. Indeed, the Bulls had led in Dortmund earlier in this campaign and looked set for a point until Park Joo-Ho scored deep into stoppage time to give Borussia victory. Since that defeat on matchday one, Krasnodar have remained unbeaten and victory over PAOK has left the Black-Greens on the verge of qualification. Their defence has played a key part in keeping them in contention, conceding only three times, while Krasnodar have scored three more than both PAOK and Qabala. However, they prepared for this game by losing 3-2 against domestic rivals Spartak Moscow at the weekend.  It is plain to see why Tuchel was upset with the result and the display, given that Dortmund lost further ground on title rivals Bayern Munich. Nevertheless, that loss was only Die Borussien's second defeat of the season in all competitions, with the first being the infamous 5-1 reverse at the hands of Pep Guardiola's men in Der Klassiker. The Black and Yellows have also scored only four fewer than their Bavarian counterparts in the Bundesliga and are the joint third highest scorers in the group phase of the Europa League so far. Dortmund's potency in front of goal may be down in some part to the work of star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the Congolese forward has since caught the eye of some of the continent's biggest teams and could yet leave the club as early as January, if reports are to be believed. However, BVB also boasts one of the best defences in the Europa League. 
 
 
 
 
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Preview: FC Krasnodar vs. Borussia Dortmund

FC Krasnodar Getty Images For the Russian Premier League outfit the task is simple, a win will see them through to the last 32 of the Euro...

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Liverpool-Rubin Kazan Statistical Preview

Team News 
 
 Liverpool 
 
Jurgen Klopp will come into his first home match as Liverpool manager with huge injury concerns with Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino, Christian Benteke, Danny Ings and Joe Gomez among the first-team names absent from selection.
The Liverpool boss is also unlikely to risk Daniel Sturridge on Thursday, which should give Divock Origi another chance to impress up front.
Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure could be given their chance to stake a claim to be in Klopp's regular defence here. Jordan Ibe could also be given a run out with Philippe Coutinho expected to be rested ahead of the weekend's clash with Southampton. 
 
 Rubin 
 
Kazan
Rubin Kazan have a clean bill of health for the trip to Anfield and are expected to field their strongest side.
The fixture could see former Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov return to Merseyside to add spice to the fixture. 
 
 Prediction 
Liverpool have opened up their Europa League group stage campaign with two draws against Bordeaux and Sion, but could potentially top the group with a win here.
Rubin Kazan, on the other hand, only have one point to show for their two matches. They are also in a terrible run of form in the Russian Premier League having won just three of their opening 12 league matches.
There will be a special atmosphere for Klopp's first match at Anfield, which should give the players an added boost for this fixture. 
 
 
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Liverpool-Rubin Kazan Statistical Preview

Team News Liverpool Jurgen Klopp will come into his first home match as Liverpool manager with huge injury concerns with Jordan Henders...

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Sydney FC - Wellington Phoenix Preview

The Sky Blues are winless in their last three and coach Graham Arnold will demand his players put things right against a wounded Wellington who've remained in Sydney since last weekend's loss at Wanderland. 
 
SQUADS 
 
Sydney FC squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 3.Alex GERSBACH, 5.Matt JURMAN, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 13.Brandon O'NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.Jacques FATY, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 27.Mickael TAVARES 
 
**two to be omitted** 
 
Ins: 11.Christopher NAUMOFF (promoted), 19.Jacques FATY (promoted), 24.George BLACKWOOD (promoted) 
 
Outs: 4.Zac ANDERSON (omitted) 
 
Unavailable: 22.Ali ABBAS (knee – indefinite) 
 
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Glen MOSS (GK), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 3.Justin GULLEY, 4.Roly BONEVACIA, 7.Jeffrey SARPONG, 8.Alex RODRIGUEZ, 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 11.Kwabena APPIAH, 12.Blake Powell, 13.Albert RIERA, 14.Alex RUFER, 16.Louis FENTON, 17.Vince LIA, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21, Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON 
 
**two to be omitted** 
 
Ins: 17.Vince LIA (returns from injury), 12.Blake POWELL (returns from injury), 19.Tom DOYLE (promoted) 
 
Outs: 18.Ben SIGMUND (Head Injury – 1 week) 
 
Unavailable: Nil 
 
BLUFFER'S GUIDE 
 
In a quirk of fate, the visitors from New Zealand are likely to be fresher than the home side on Thursday night.  
 
Ernie Merrick has kept the Phoenix in Sydney this week to prepare after they played Western Sydney Wanderers at home on Saturday. 
 
The Sky Blues, fresh from a long flight and the scorching Perth heat, where they were unable to penetrate a stubborn Glory defence, have dropped to fourth on the ladder.  
 
Their cracking start to the new season has hit a speed bump in recent weeks with just two points from their last three games. 
 
Now back on home soil, and with a shorter week to recover and prepare, last season's grand finalists face a sixth-placed Wellington side still hurting from their late collapse against the Wanderers. 
 
Arnold has promised changes with Jacques Faty back, while youngsters like Andrew Hoole, Brandon O'Neill and Chris Naumoff are all pushing for a start. 
 
In a blow for the Phoenix, defender Ben Sigmund will miss the clash through injury, forcing a reshuffle at the back with Manny Muscat potentially moving central and Tom Doyle a chance to play left-back. 
 
Vince Lia and Blake Powell, who will come up against his former club, return from injury for the visitors.  
 
OPTA DATA 
 
Sydney have won six of their last eight matches against Wellington Phoenix (L2), including each of the last two. 
 
Phoenix face the prospect of stringing four away fixtures together without victory. Their club record is 11 straight from December 2008 to January 2011. 
 
Sydney have outscored Wellington 20-8 in their last eight clashes, though they have kept a clean sheet against the Phoenix only once in that period. 
 
The Sky Blues have made more passes into the final third (510) than any other team so far this season.  
 
ROUTE TO GOAL 
 
Sydney FC drew a blank for the second time in three games last weekend. 
 
Despite sitting fourth, goals have been hard to come by for the Sky Blues with only bottom two Adelaide and Perth finding the net on few occasions than Arnold's side. 
 
But their last outing on home soil was undoubtedly their most fluent attacking showing of the campaign in the 4-2 defeat to Melbourne Victory. 
 
Now two months into the season, imports Milos Ninkovic and Filip Holosko should be finding their groove, while striker Shane Smeltz will be keen to end his drought in front of goal against his former club. 
 
 
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Sydney FC - Wellington Phoenix Preview

The Sky Blues are winless in their last three and coach Graham Arnold will demand his players put things right against a wounded Wellington ...

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Borussia M.Gladbach-Sevilla Statistical Preview

Team News
 Borussia M.Gladbach
Alvaro Dominguez, who is one booking away from a suspension, requires back surgery and will miss out here. Julian Korb and Tony Jantschke returned to the first-team squad at the weekend after absences through injury.
André Schubert can welcome Granit Xhaka back to the starting XI after he missed their weekend win over Hannover through suspension.
Lars Stindl is also a booking away from a suspension.
 Sevilla
Sevilla should promote Yevhen Konoplyanka to the starting XI after came off from the bench in their defeat to managerless Real Sociedad at the weekend.
They will, however, be missing Beto, Gael Kakuta, Daniel Carrico and Nico Pareja.
Match Facts
Sevilla have been drawing at half time and winning at full time in their last 3 matches against Borussia M.Gladbach in all competitions. Sevilla draw/win 6.50
Sevilla have lost 6 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Sevilla lose 2.45
Sevilla have won their last 3 matches against Borussia M.Gladbach in all competitions. Sevilla win 2.88
Sevilla have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Over 2.5 goals 1.57
* Odds from 
 
Prediction
The home side are unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions since losing to Manchester City in matchday two of the competition. André Schubert became the first Gladbach manager to go unbeaten in his first eight league games in charge since Udo Lattek in 1975/76 at the weekend.
Sevilla have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions and are really struggling to find the right formula following a summer of transfer upheaval. They could find it hard to buck the trend against a Gladbach side roaring with confidence. Neither team are likely to finish in the top two, but they battling for the third place and Gladbach look good for their first win of the campaign here. 
 
 
 
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Borussia M.Gladbach-Sevilla Statistical Preview

Team News Borussia M.Gladbach Alvaro Dominguez, who is one booking away from a suspension, requires back surgery and will miss out here. Ju...

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Atletico Madrid-Galatasaray Statistical Preview

Team News 
 
 Atletico Madrid 
 
Jackson Martinez is sidelined for Atletico for this one. 
He, though, is Diego Simeone's only absentee for the welcome of Galatasaray. 
 Galatasaray 
Burak Yilmaz and Selcuk Inan are both suspended for the Turkish side. 
Hamit Altintop and Lionel Carole both miss out through injury, with Olcan Adin expected to feature at left-back once more. 
Mustafa Denizli was appointed head coach this week, but will not take charge for this one. 
Match Facts 
Galatasaray have conceded at least 2 goals in 8 of their last 9 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Over 2.5 goals 1.70 
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Galatasaray's last 3 games in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Over 2.5 goals 1.70 
Galatasaray have failed to win 11 of their last 12 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Galatasaray lose or draw 1.04 
 
* Odds from 
 
Prediction 
 
Atletico Madrid need only a draw to secure their place in the next round of the Champions League and will be confident of attaining at least that having secured a 2-0 win in Turkey in gameweek 1. 
Galatasaray sit just three points behind the Spanish side and a win would set up a tense finale in Group C. However, the Turkish giants have just one point to their name from their two away games in the Champions League this term. 
This should be a routine win for Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. 
 
 
 
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Atletico Madrid-Galatasaray Statistical Preview

Team News Atletico Madrid Jackson Martinez is sidelined for Atletico for this one. He, though, is Diego Simeone's only absentee fo...

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Juventus-Manchester City Statistical Preview

Team News 
 Juventus 
Juventus are unlikely to have Martin Caceres available as he nurses a knocks, while Sami Khedira has been training away from the main group over the last week and Hernanes is suspended having been sent off in their last Champions League outing. 
Patrice Evra has recovered from a knock and is included in the squad. 
Juan Cuadrado may miss out on a starting berth for the second game in succession with Stephan Lichtsteiner likely to get the nod. Juventus could revert to a 3-5-2 formation here. 
 Manchester City 
Manchester City will be without Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri for the trip to Italy and Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Pablo Zabaleta will also not travelled. 
This means that Martin Demichelis will continue at the heart of their defence and Bacary Sagna at right-back, despite admitting he was still troubled by the events in Paris. 
Match Facts 
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Man City's last 4 games in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Over 2.5 goals 2.10 
Man City have won their last 3 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Man City win 3.60 
Juventus are undefeated in 13 of their last 14 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Juventus win or draw 1.29 
There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Juventus's last 3 games in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Under 2.5 goals 1.70 
Man City have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers). Over 2.5 goals 2.10 
* Odds from 
 
Prediction 
Manuel Pellegrini will be looking for a response from his side after they were thrashed 4-1 by Liverpool at the weekend, but the City boss would have been hoping for kinder opposition to do so. Juventus are still looking to find a solution to their indifferent form, but are still an incredibly difficult to beat in Europe. They've drawn their last two Champions League matches but know a win over City will all but confirm their status as group winners. 
Juventus are unbeaten in 15 home matches in the Champions League and look good to preserve that run when they encounter Pellegrini's stuttering City side. 
 
 
 
 
 
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Juventus-Manchester City Statistical Preview

Team News Juventus Juventus are unlikely to have Martin Caceres available as he nurses a knocks, while Sami Khedira has been training awa...

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