Milan returns to the continental stage after finally breaking the blockade last Friday at home against Torino when they did just enough to walk away with a narrow 1:0 victory, which saw them taking the 5th spot in the Serie A standings, but even so, their European exit this season trough the domestic league still remains questionable.
The current title holders and seven-time European champions have had visible problems for some time now, and with the way things are now looking, everything but an easy fixture is ahead for the Italian outfit.
Central-back Tomori (19/1) and defensive midfielder Bennacer (19/1) are doubtful. Goalkeeper Maignan (7/0), right-backs Florenzi (2/0) and Dest (8/0) are injured.
The Spurs didn’t have a good time in their latest performance on the road to underestimated Leicester, as they failed to justify the role of a favorite and suffered a convincing 4:1 defeat.
They dropped out of the top four back in England, and are now sitting in the 5th spot, and will definitely seek redemption and adrenaline injection in the upcoming first leg in the round of sixteen.
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Verona vs Salernitana ❌
Verona appeared decently last time out against favored Lazio when they managed to beat the odds and took a point in a 1:1 game, playing in front of their own fans.
They conceded in the late phase of the first part but successfully responded over Ngonge already in the 51st, appearing dangerous on a couple of occasions before the match ended, and could potentially deliver a complete surprise in this one.
Verona is positioned at the 18th spot in the standings, five points in deficit compared to the safely-placed Spezia.
Midfielders Faraoni (8/0), Veloso (15/0) and Hrustic (6/0) miss out, as well as forward Henry (16/2).
Salernitana faced a more quality foe in their latest home appearance and come up with a convincing 0:3 loss to the giant from Turin.
As mentioned above, they conceded three times in this one, trying to be aggressive and possibly spice things up a bit, but simply lacked more ideas in the front in order to do so.
Salernitana occupies the 16th spot in the Serie A standings, struggling with their defense all season long.
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Leuven vs Cercle Brugge ❌
Leuven is facing some issues regarding their form, as they failed to record a positive result in their last four consecutive Jupiler League fixtures, making a setback last time out away to Seraing when they lost with a close 2:1 result.
Both sides managed to be effective once during the first part, and even though the guests were more dangerous in the continuation, finesse at the finishing prevented them from moving the match in a direction that suits them, and were punished with another one conceded late in the 85th minute.
Leuven occupies the 11th spot in the Jupiler League rankings, having three points less than their opponents in the upcoming encounter.
Offensive midfielder and team captain Maertens (19/4) continues to miss out.
Cercle Brugge narrowly avoided defeat in the last round at home against Standard when they managed to pull out a 1:1 draw, not appearing dangerous enough for a more concrete enclosure here.
A late goal action occurred in this one, as the guests took the lead from the penalty in the 81st, while the hosts remained determined and successfully bounced back with an equalizer over Ueda in the first minute of added time.
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Braga vs Benfica ❌
Braga did their part last Sunday at home against minors from Famalicao when they performed quite potent and come up with a convincing 4:1 victory.
They ignited their flame a bit late though, as both sides managed to be effective once after seventy-one minutes of play, however, the hosts were quite determined here and successfully scored on three more occasions before the match ended, two of which came late in the added time.
Braga is positioned at the 3rd spot in Liga Portugal standings, having two points less than second-placed Porto.
Winger Horta (16/8) should be out for this one.
Benfica continues to dominate this season, as they booked yet another victory last time out at home against underestimated Casa Pia when they routinely outplayed them with a 3:0 result.
They set the right course already in the first part, leaving on a break with a 2:0 lead, holding the initiative during the second as well, and crowned their better appearance with another in the 71st minute.
Benfica is a current leader in the standings, leaving their closest Porto with eight points less.
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Bochum vs Borussia Dortmund ✅
Bochum appeared quite satisfying in the last Bundesliga performance at home against Hoffenheim when they showed enviable creativity and recorded a convincing 5:2 victory.
The hosts were unstoppable during the first and went on a break with a pretty unreachable 3:0 lead, easing their rhythm a bit in the continuation, but even so, managed to score on two more occasions, allowing a more balanced play, as they conceded two times as well.
Bochum is currently at the 15th spot in the general standings, three points ahead of the relegation-worried Stuttgart.
Goalkeeper Grave and right-back Gamboa (15/0) are out injured.
The Millionaires had a similar appearance in the last round at home as their opponents in the upcoming DFB Pokal when they walked over Freiburg confidently with a convincing 5:1 victory.
Both sides score once during the first, but the hosts entered the second with a player more on the pitch, and used their numerical advantage in the best way possible, as they hammered their opposition with another four added to the scoreline.
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Rennes vs Lille ✅
Rennes ended their mini-crisis in their latest home performance against minors from Strasbourg when they convincingly recorded a 3:0 victory.
The hosts were simply a more dangerous side since the kickoff and used their chances with obviously higher efficiency, scoring two times over Gouiri in the first, and confirming their victory with another one via Doue later in the 51st minute.
Rennes is sitting at the 5th spot in the general standings, having five points less than Champions League-placed Lens.
Midfielder Majer (17/1) is doubtful. Out are defenders Assignon (6/0), Traore (19/1), midfielder Xeka (8/0), and forward Terrier (16/9).
Lille, on the other hand, failed to justify the role of a strong favorite last time at home against Clermont when they took only a point in a 0:0 stalemate.
The hosts held the ball for most of the time in this clash and had several opportunities to score, but realistically, the guests were dangerous via counters, a thing that could easily change the direction of this encounter.
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West Brom vs Coventry ✅
West Brom is coming to this clash after suffering elimination from the FA Cup campaign last Saturday on the road to slightly underestimated Bristol City when they failed to be more creative and come up with a convincing 3:0 defeat.
Their latest Championship performance saw them also being beaten away to Burnley with a 2:1 result after a complete reversal, definitely putting upon themselves a certain dose of pressure before the upcoming encounter, as a mini two-match negative run should be, and must be, ended as soon as possible.
WBA is currently at the 10th spot in the standings, having two points less compared to the playoff-placed Blackburn.
Central defender Bartley (7/2) is out injured and could be their only absentee worry.
Coventry finally managed to end their poor momentum in the last round at home against underdogs from Huddersfield, as they recorded a 2:0 victory, showing more determination and desire compared to their opposition.
They scored both times during the second part, over Hamer and Palmer, facing some pressure along the way, but even so, successfully kept their goal intact in this one.
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Real Madrid vs Valencia ✅
Real Madrid failed to justify the role of a strong favorite last weekend at home against underdogs from Sociedad when they took only a point in a 0:0 stalemate.
The hosts were generally a better side, especially during the first part, but lacked a bit more finesses at the finishing to break their opponents in this clash, but realistically speaking, deserved a victory, at least in my eyes.
With this draw, Real Madrid is now five points in deficit compared to the leading Barcelona, having a nice opportunity to bounce back in the upcoming clash.
Right-back Vazquez (10/2) and left-back Mendy (14/0) continue to miss out. Doubtful are defensive midfielder Tchouameni (14/0), right-back Carvajal (13/0), and defender Alaba (16/1).
The Bats are facing serious problems, as they failed to record a positive LaLiga result since the end of the World Cup break, not being challenging enough in the last round away to Valladollid when they come with a misfortunate 1:0 defeat.
Even though they were not shining, the guests were close to a draw, however, probably a bit unlucky, conceded the only one in this clash late in the 90th minute over Larin.
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Lens vs Nice ❌
Lens had some difficulties along the way in the last round away to Troyes, but they were still successful in avoiding defeat and ended the clash with a 1:1 result.
After a goalless first part, the guests conceded at the begging of the second, however, grabbed the last train and managed to score an equalizer over Thomasson late in the 88th minute.
Lens is sitting at the 2nd spot in the overall rankings, having only three points less than the leaders from Paris.
Midfielder Cabot (11/0) and forward Buksa (4/0) are injured. Goalkeeper Farinez remains a long-term absentee.
Nice positively surprised in their latest home match against slightly favored Lille when they did just enough to record a close 1:0 victory.
The hosts took the lead over Laborde in the 34th, holding their ground firmly in the continuation, and deservedly preserved their lead in this match.
Nice is currently at the 10th spot on the table, safely established in the middle, however, not in a position to enter the race for Europe.
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Fatih Karagumruk vs Besiktas ❌
Karagumruk made a decent performance in the last round traveling to Alanyaspor when they took a point in a 2:2 draw despite being considered an underdog by the bookie’s side.
The guests went on a break having a 1:0 deficit, but put up with quite a fight in the continuation, as they turned the result over Borini, who was effective both times in the 60th and in the 79th, however, failed to preserve their lead, as they conceded an equalizer just several minutes later.
Karagumruk occupies the 10th spot in the Super Lig rankings, three points ahead of the relegation-placed Kasimpasa.
Defenders Tintis (1/0) and Mizrakci (1/0) are out injured, while offensive Ljajic lacks real match fitness.
Besiktas met the expectations in their latest home fixture against previously mentioned minors from Alanyaspor when they routinely recorded a convincing 3:0 victory.
The hosts held the upper hand since the kickoff, scoring once in the first, and on two more occasions during the second, not leaving much room for their opposition to making things a bit more interesting in this encounter.
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