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Champions League Preview: Milan v Barcelona, Weds 19:45

Milan have dropped just four points in their last six matches in all competitions and have not lost a Serie A game since before Christmas, but in Tito Vilanova's Barcelona, the Rossoneri come up against one of the most challenging sides in the competition

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Lionel Messi takes on the Milan defence in April's Champions League quarter final clash in which he scored a brace.

Team News:

Milan:

  • Stephan El Shaarawy’s fitness will need to be assessed ahead of this Champions League last-16 clash as he struggles with a knee injury
  • Ex-Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is cup-tied and Nigel de Jong (ankle) is sidelined but Giampaolo Pazzini who had been recovering from a hamstring problem is available.
  • Daniele Bonera (thigh) and Robinho (knee) are doubts, while French international Philippe Mexes returns after serving a one-game European ban for accruing three group stage cautions.

Barcelona:

  • Barcelona’s threat will strengthened by the return of the intricate playmaker Xavi, who has recovered from a hamstring problem.
  • However, Adriano (thigh), Eric Abidal and David Villa (both illness) have not made the trip to Italy.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5)

Milan: W-W-W-D-W     Barcelona: L-W-D-W-W

 

Head to Head (Last 10)

MILAN

BARCELONA

WINS

2

4

DRAWS

4

These two last came into contact with one another in the 2011/2012 version of the Champions League. Not only did they play each other twice in the group stage but they also met again in the quarter finals, where Barcelona emerged 3-1 victors over the two legs.

 

The Stats:

  • AC Milan are on a seven-game unbeaten run in Serie A and have won their last six matches at San Siro in all competitions.
  • The Rossoneri faced Barcelona four times in the Champions League last season, drawing two and losing two. Their overall home record against Spanish opposition is W11, D6, L6.
  • On-loan from Roma, striker Bojan Krkic could make his sixth Champions League appearance for Milan this week. The Spaniard made 163 appearances for Barca between 2007 and 2011, scoring 41 goals.
  • Barcelona have won eight of their last 11 away matches in the Champions League and are targeting a sixth straight quarter-final appearance.
  • The Catalan giants are on a seven-match unbeaten streak against Milan. Their overall record on Italian soil is W6, D7, L5.
  • Lionel Messi has scored 56 goals in the Champions League, level with Ruud van Nistelrooy and behind only Raul (71).

 

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Champions League Preview: Arsenal vs Bayern, Tues 19:45

The Gunners were dumped out of the cup by Championship side Blackburn on Saturday, and will have to be in better form if they are to deny last season's Champions League finalists

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Dangerman: Mario Gomez has scored 25 goals in 26 Champions League starts

Team News:

Arsenal:

  • With Nacho Monreal cup-tied, Kieran Gibbs (thigh) injured and Andre Santos loaned out to Gremio last week, Thomas Vermaelen is likely to be utilised at left-back by Arsene Wenger.
  • Mikel Arteta is still not fully fit after recovering from injury and Wenger is believed to be leaning towards a front trio of Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla and axing Olivier Giroud.

Bayern:

  • Javi Martinez (toe) missed Bayern’s last game against Wolfsburg, but should return for the runaway Bundesliga leaders.
  • Claudio Pizarro (illness) and Holger Badstuber (knee) will miss out for the visitors, while Jerome Boateng is suspended.

League Form Guide (Last 5)

Arsenal: L-W-D-W-W     Bayern: W-W-W-W-W

  Head to Head

ARSENAL

BAYERN

WINS

1

2

DRAWS

1

The last meeting between these two teams came in the 2004-05 season, also a Champions League last-16 game. Bayern won 3-2 on aggregate.   The Stats:

  • Olivier Giroud has four assists in the group stages of the Champions League this season; only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has more with five.
  • Lukas Podolski has scored three goals from three shots on target in the Champions League this term.
  • Bayern Munich had the most different goalscorers in the group stage, with nine.
  • The German side also conceded the fewest shots on target in the group stage, with just 17 against.
  • Bayern last won in England in April 2001, with a 1-0 quarter-final victory over Manchester United on course to winning the tournament.

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Preview: Oldham vs Everton, Sat 18:00

The managerless Latics knocked out Liverpool in round four and will be looking to upset another Premier League side when they host David Moyes’ team

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David Moyes has seen his team score seven goals in this season's competition, with all the strikes coming from different players.

Team News:

Oldham:

Caretaker Oldham manager Tony Philliskirk may be without fourth round hero Matt Smith (shoulder), as the big striker is touch-and-go ahead of the clash with Everton at Boundary Park. He has not played since the win over Liverpool, and failed to even make the bench for Saturday’s 3-1 win over MK Dons.

Fellow frontman Robbie Simpson (hamstring) is in a race against time to be fit for the glamour tie, however, Connor Murray (knee), Cristian Montano (thigh) and Paul Murray (cup-tied) are all out.

Everton:

Everton boss David Moyes is without Tony Hibbert (calf) and Seamus Coleman (hip).

Victor Anichebe (calf) limped out of the defeat at Manchester United last time out, and may be rested in favour of out-of-sorts Nikica Jelavic.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5 Matches)

Oldham: L-L-L-L-W Everton: D-D-W-D-L

Head to Head

OLDHAM

EVERTON

WINS

3

3

DRAWS

4

Oldham won the last meeting between these two sides when Gary McDonald’s thunderbolt earned the Latics a surprise 1-0 win at Goodison Park in the FA Cup third round in 2008.

 

The Stats:

  • Oldham have just three wins in their last 12 games, however, two of those wins have come in the last three games.
  • The Boundary Park club are currently in the League One relegation zone, with 30 points from 31 games.
  • Everton have not beaten Oldham in the FA Cup since 1912. The two sides have met 40 times altogether, and have 14 victories each.
  • The Toffees are unbeaten in their last seven away ties in the FA Cup.

 

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Preview: Huddersfield vs Wigan, Sun 15:55

With the FA Cup now looking like the Premier League champions' best chance of silverware, the Premier League champions will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last weekend's upset

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Huddersfield Town's Adam Clayton, right, in action with Leicester City's Richie Wellens at the John Smith's stadium.

Team News:

Huddersfield:

New Huddersfield boss Mark Robins is unlikely to alter the team too much despite only playing in the FA Cup on Tuesday. Former Cardiff City man Anthony Gerrard is again poised to play in the heart of their defence.

Robins could opt to freshen it up in midfield and if he does so then ex-Manchester United youngster Olivier Norwood is in contention to start after coming off the bench in midweek. While further forward James Vaughan could also come in.

Wigan:

Roberto Martinez is likely to make changes some changes from the starting XI which lost 4-1 to Chelsea in their previous match. However the defence and midfield could remain unchanged.

The front three could all change with Jordi Gomez and on loan Manchester United forward Angelo Henriquez pushing for starting berths and Arouna Kone poised to come in.

Martinez’s options are still limited as a number of players are currently sidelined – with Antonio Alcaraz (groin), Albert Crusat (knee), Ryo Miyaichi (ankle), Ben Watson (shin) and Mike Pollitt (thigh) out. While Ivan Ramis will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5 Matches)

Huddersfield: D-L-W-L-D Wigan: D-L-D-D-L

Head to Head

HUDDERSFIELD

WIGAN

WINS

4

3

DRAWS

3

In the two previous meetings between both sides at Huddersfield, the game ended in a 0-0 draw. This occurred in both the 2001/02 and 2002/03 League Two seasons.

The Stats:

  • Huddersfield reached the fifth round of the competition after winning 2-1 away to fellow Championship side Leicester in a replay – with Adam Clayton and Sean Scannell netting their goals.
  • The Terriers currently sit 18th in the Championship – and have only won one of their last 15 league matches.
  • They have won the FA Cup once – back in 1922, and finished runners-up in 1920, 1928, 1930 and 1938.
  • Wigan have reached the fifth round by winning 1-0 firstly against Bournemouth and then Macclesfield.
  • Spaniard Jordi Gomez is the club’s top goalscorer with seven goals so far this season.
  • If Wigan win they will have equalled their best-ever result in the FA Cup, when they reached the quarter-finals back in 1987.

 

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Preview: Man City vs Leeds, Sun 14:00

With the FA Cup now looking like the Premier League champions' best chance of silverware, the Premier League champions will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last weekend's upset

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Can Manchester City pick themselves up after defeat to Southampton?

Team News:

Man City:

For the first time in a number of weeks, Roberto Mancini is likely to have the vast majority of his players available for selection for Sunday’s meeting.

Crucially, the Italian could welcome back his captain Vincent Kompany (calf), who has been sidelined since City’s last FA Cup fixture in late January.

Micah Richards (knee) is the only player certain to be ruled out, with Kolo and Yaya Toure both having returned from the Africa Cup of Nations duty prior to the defeat to Southampton.

Leeds:

Neil Warnock is also hoping to have a fully-fit squad to pick from, while neither of his January acquisitions Stephen Warnock or Steve Morison cup-tied for the clash.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5 Matches)

Man City: W-W-D-D-L Leeds: L-W-L-D-L

Head to Head

MAN CITY

LEEDS

WINS

3

4

DRAWS

3

The two clubs have faced each other in the FA Cup five times before, with the Yorkshire club having advanced three times to Man City’s two.

 

The Stats:

  • Manchester City have conceded nine goals in the five cup games that they have played on home turf this season.
  • James Milner began his career at Leeds, and became the Premier League’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer during his time there – breaking the record held by Wayne Rooney by just five days at the age of 17.
  • Leeds have knocked three Premier League clubs out of domestic cup competitions already this season.
  • In January 2000, when both clubs were in English football’s top tier, Leeds thrashed Manchester City 5-2. Twelve years on, Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions, while Leeds finished 14th in the division beneath.
  • Likewise, Leeds skipper Michael Brown started out at Manchester City. He was sent off 10 minutes into his debut in August 1995.

 

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Preview: Chelsea vs Brentford, Sun 12:00

The Bees were denied a place in the fifth round by Fernando Torres' late goal at Griffin Park leaving the League One side with a tough task at Stamford Bridge in the replay

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Rescued: Fernando Torres scores the late equaliser at Griffin Park

Team News:

Chelsea:

John Terry (knee) could return for Sunday’s FA Cup replay against Brentford despite suffering a setback with his injury.

The Chelsea skipper travelled to Prague in the Europa League with the rest of the squad after missing the win over Wigan with inflammation on his knee, and was expected to figure against Sparta, only to be kept on the bench.

Ashley Cole also missed the midweek tie with a cold and is expected to replace Ryan Bertrand at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, while Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel could feature after returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Nigeria. Apart from that, Rafa Benitez has no fresh injury concerns.

Brentford:

Brentford boss Uwe Rosler is without Farid El Alagui (knee) and Kevin O’Connor (ankle) who remain on the sidelines with long-term injuries.

Excluding those two absentees, the Bees’ manager has a full-strength side to select from.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5 Matches)

Chelsea: D-W-D-L-W Brentford: L-D-L-D-W

Head to Head

CHELSEA

BRENTFORD

WINS

5

3

DRAWS

2

Before last month’s clash, the only previous FA Cup meeting between these two teams came in 1950. Chelsea won 1-0.

The Stats:

  • Frank Lampard has been involved in 23 goals (scoring 14 and assisting nine) in his last 24 appearances in the FA Cup.
  • Chelsea will have played their west London neighbours Fulham, QPR and Brentford in the same season for the first time ever following the tie at Griffin Park.
  • The Blues are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions against Brentford, winning three and drawing once.
  • In just nine FA Cup games for Chelsea, Juan Mata has played a part in 10 goals, scoring four and assisting six.
  • Brentford have only reached the fifth round of the FA Cup on six occasions since the Second World War.
  • Brentford and Chelsea are separated by just six miles but have not played each other competitively since meeting in this competition 63 years ago.

 

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Preview: MK Dons vs Barnsley, Sat 15:00

The hosts are enjoying their best-ever run in the national competition but will come up against an in-form Tykes side rejuvented by the appointment of David Flitcroft

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Well on their way: Ryan Harley scores from close range against QPR

Team News:

MK Dons:

Luke Chadwick is likely to start for MK Dons after making his first appearance since December as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Doncaster following a knee injury.

Stephen Gleeson (foot) remains sidelined so loanee Ryan Harley will continue alongside Darren Potter in central midfield, while Alan Smith is set to lead the line in the absence of Patrick Bamford (hamstring), Izale McLeod (cup-tied) and Ryan Lowe (suspended). Antony Kay is also serving a ban.

Barnsley:

Barnsley are in fine form and the only change manager David Flitcroft has made in the last three matches is replacing right wing-back John Stones, who joined Everton, with loan signing Rory Delap.

He could be tempted, however, to hand Jason Scotland a start in attack over Marlon Harewood after the former Ipswich striker scored for the third time in three games from the bench against Middlesbrough.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5 Matches)

MK Dons: D-L-L-L-D Barnsley: W-D-W-W-W

Head to Head

MK DONS

BARNSLEY

WINS

1

1

DRAWS

3

The last time these teams met was a 2006 Carling Cup encounter in which MK Dons won 2-1. It is the only cup fixture to have been played between the two.

 

The Stats:

  • MK Dons have seen off Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday and Premier League club QPR to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history.
  • Karl Robinson’s team raced into a 4-0 lead against the latter before Harry Redknapp’s team narrowed the deficit with two late goals.
  • Their impressive cup run has come at a cost, however; the Dons have not won in League One since the 2-1 victory over Notts County on New Year’s Day and have slipped to 12th place as a result.
  • Dean Bowditch has been the most significant contributor to the Dons’ attack this season, scoring nine goals and assisting in another 11 in all competitions.
  • Barnsley manager David Flitcroft has turned the Tykes’ season around since he took over, originally in a caretaker capacity, following the sacking of Keith Hill at the end of December.
  • Flitcroft’s first match in charge was a 2-1 defeat against Peterborough but Barnsley have won six and drawn one in their seven games since.
  • They have lifted themselves off the foot of the Championship table to 22nd, and remain in the relegation zone only on goal difference.
  • Barnsley, who beat fellow Championship sides Burnley and Hull to book a date at Stadium MK, won the FA Cup in the 1911-12 season and knocked out Liverpool and Chelsea to reach the semi-finals in 2007-08.

 

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Preview: Arsenal vs Blackburn, Sat 15:00

With Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny ruled out and Wenger rotating ahead of their clash with Bayern Munich, the Championship outfit will hope to cause an FA Cup upset

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Olivier Giroud celebrates his goal against Brighton

Team News:

Arsenal:

Arsene Wenger looks set to rotate his squad from the team that overcame Sunderland in a 1-0 win last Saturday, as he appears intent upon resting some of his key players ahead of their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Ignasi Miquel, having come on as a late substitute in the win against the Black Cats, looks set to deputise at centre-back, as Thomas Vermaelen (ankle) and Laurent Koscielny (calf) continue to struggle with injury.

There are further repercussions from their exertions against Sunderland as Jack Wilshere’s dead leg in that tie rules him out of this FA Cup clash, while Carl Jenkinson is also ruled out with suspension after his red card in the same game.

Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Oliver Giroud are also likely to be rested from the team that started the Sunderland game, with Abou Diaby, Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky and Lukas Podolski coming in, as their manager clearly has one eye on their Champions League game in midweek.

Blackburn:

Blackburn, meanwhile, will look to play a full-strength side as manager Michael Appleton appears ready to keep faith in the team that earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Brighton last Saturday.

The one change that is likely to be made, however, comes in the form of the experienced Morten Gamst-Pedersen replacing DJ Campbell, with Colin Kazim-Richards assuming a role alongside the free-scoring Jordan Rhodes upfront.

Jake Kean, meanwhile, looks set to keep his place in goal as former England international Paul Robinson remains out-of-favour with new boss Appleton.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5 Matches)

Arsenal: L-W-D-W-W Blackburn: L-D-W-W-D

Head to Head

ARSENAL

BLACKBURN

WINS

7

2

DRAWS

1

Arsenal and Blackburn’s recent encounters have been full of goals; their two encounters last season contained 15 goals.

 

The Stats:

  • The last of those two games, with the Gunners at home, saw Arsenal romp to a 7-1 win, with Robin van Persie bagging a hat-trick.
  • Wenger’s side have also been impressive at home of late, having lost only one of the past seven games at the Emirates Stadium.
  • Theo Walcott, though unlikely to start here, has been in blistering form this season and has already equalled his highest amount of assists in a Premier League season – eight (the same as 2011-12).
  • Blackburn’s Jordan Rhodes is also in scintillating form, having scored seven goals in his last seven games for Rovers.
  • Blackburn remain unbeaten on their travels in 2013 conceding just two goals in their last five games.

 

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Preview: Luton vs Millwall, Sat 12:45

Should Luton win on Saturday afternoon, they will become the first non-league team to make the final eight in 99 years

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Into the Fifth: Luton celebrate their win against Norwich

Team News:

Luton:

Paul Buckle may name a starting XI close to the one that stunned Premier League side Norwich in the last round, with only defender Lathaniel Rowe-Turner missing due to suspension.

The Hatters’ goalscorer at Carrow Road, Scott Rendell, may have to make do with a place on the substitutes bench again.

Millwall:

As for Millwall, the game comes too soon for winger Chris Taylor and striker Nathan Tyson, although both should re-join training next week.

Elsewhere, Andy Keogh could come back into the side in place of on-loan Arsenal forward Benik Afobe.

 

League Form Guide (Last 5 Matches)

Luton: W-D-L-D-L Millwall: D-L-L-L-L

Head to Head

LUTON

MILLWALL

WINS

2

6

DRAWS

2

The last time these two teams met was in the 2007/2008 League One season when both fixtures ended in a draw. Millwall have emerged victorious in most FA Cup meetings between the two, winning four.

 

The Stats:

  • Luton are attempting to become the first non-league side to reach the sixth round of the FA Cup since QPR in 1914.
  • Luton’s best performance in the FA Cup came in the 1959, where they were runners up to Nottingham Forest.
  • This is the furthest Luton have been in the FA Cup since 1994, where they eventually were knocked out in the semi finals by Chelsea.
  • By beating Norwich in Carrow Road in the last round, Luton became the first non-league side to win away at a Premier League club since Altrincham defeated Birmingham in 1986.
  • Arnaud Mendy last came to public attention with a wonder-strike that almost secured Macclesfield a victory against Bolton in last year’s FA Cup.
  • Millwall have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for only the second time since losing in the 2004 final to Manchester United.
  • Millwall have won more games in the FA Cup (two) in 2013 than they have in the Championship (one).
  • Ireland international David Forde had a brief loan spell at Luton in 2007.
  • The last time these two sides met came in the 2007/08 season, when a 0-0 draw was played out at the New Den in League 1.

 

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United v Madrid Part II: An Open Book

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho expects second leg thriller and says they will go to Old Trafford "to score goals"

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (left) reflected positively upon last night’s 1-1 draw with Spanish champions Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, but admitted that the outcome of the return fixture would be down to “whoever scores the first goal”.

Giving particular praise to 22-year-old goalkeeper David De Gea, who was returning to his home city for the first time since joining the Premier League in 2011, Sir Alex said his under-fire shotstopper was “excellent” having made “three or four really top saves”

Conceding that a draw against Madrid in the Champions League last-16 was something he would have happily taken before the game had even kicked off, Ferguson was still critical of his side’s tentative first half performance.

“In the first half I was a little bit disappointed with how deep we defended,” he said.

“We kept making chances and hopefully we won’t regret that”.

In anticipation of the second leg at Old Trafford on 5 March, the 71-year-old remained focused on the job at hand:

“[The fixture] is not finished of course because we know Real Madrid are a fantastic counter attacking team,” he added.

Whilst refusing to criticise United’s performance, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho (right) mentioned that the Premier League leaders came to the Bearnabeu  “to defend well”.

“Even by playing the game they played they can create chances. They’ll be happy with the result but they know Real Madrid can do it [at Old Trafford],” he said.

“[The result] could have been better because we had chances but they had chances. So, we are looking forward to the second leg. It’s quite open.”

Much attention was drawn to the fact that it was the first meeting between Cristiano Ronaldo and his old club. Scoring the equaliser after Danny Welbeck’s first half opener, the Portuguese winger explained why he didn’t celebrate his goal despite its importance:

“I have a lot of affection for the club as everyone knows and I didn’t celebrate the goal out of respect for the people there.”

But ahead of his first trip to Old Trafford since leaving in 2009, his sentiments took a different perspective:

“We always take the initiative and we’ll go there to win.

“I think we have a good chance of scoring and going through to the next round”, he said.

 

Follow the next instalment of this epic Champions League clash via the PlayUp app – view live commentary, stats, photos, games and interact with other fans on your PC: CLICK HERE

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