During the best start to a La Liga campaign in their history they were at times exhilarating at the Mestalla. They racked up big wins against Numancia and Deportivo La Coruna and the title talk began in earnest. The added pressure has made them come unstuck however at home in recent fixtures. With four points from two matches in UEFA cup group G and only one more required to ensure qualification, coach Unai Emery could be forgiven for fielding a weakened side on Thursday evening with one eye on the Camp Nou. The much-maligned top three qualify format of the UEFA cup means it is tougher to be eliminated than make it through, so the second string at Los Che should be good enough to get through this section. They can however call on their excellent recent form which has seen them lose only one match in all competitions this season, and they have stormed to the top of the Belgian Jupiler League, despite strong adversaries Standard Liege and Anderlecht pushing them all the way.
Belgian international Wesley Sonck’s goals have been crucial in their excellent run and we will most likely be the biggest threat to the Valencia goal on the night.
Manchester City and Arsenal both who are trying to establish their spot in the table are clashing today. While all the other top flight teams have easier opponents it is Arsenal turn to win the match compulsorily for staying in the title race. Arsenal lost its momentum in the title race as it lost to smaller teams like Hull City, Stoke City, Aston Villa and so. The match turns out to be important for Manchester City too as they are trying to stabilize their results after the take over the new owners. They haven’t been able to win continuosly. Seeing the results of the last five games played by both the teams
Manchester City D-L-W-L-L
Arsenal L-W-W-D-L
it is Arsenal who is having the upper hand. But still their results too are not consistent and they will be without the services of Walcott, Eduardo, Rosicky, Eboue and Fabregas is under suspension for the red card he recieved a couple of weeks ago for butting on the goal keeper. Manchester City will be with its full team and will be expecting a win today. To add worries to Arsene Wenger their captain Gallas has gone public about the situation in the dressing room that lead to him being stripped from captaincy and his place in the first team. So Arsenal will also be not playing Gallas in today’s match.
Aston Villa are hosting champions Manchester United in what is going to be a crucial game in deciding the race for the title. Aston Villa are high after beating Arsenal at Emirates and moving up to the joint fourth position in the table. Manchetser United are backing in scoring form as they thrashed Stoke City by a score of 5-0 which included a goal from the debutant Welbeck who is only 19 years old. Seeing the results of the last five games played by both the teams the win record is
Manchester United W-W-L-D-W
Aston Villa W-W-W-L-W
Manchester United will be without its top players such as Berbatov, Brown, Hargreaves as they are out with injury. Scholes who was out of action for more than two months can be expected to return in this match and at the most in the next week. Aston Villa are in superb form and they are not going to leave their fight for the Champions League spot this time. The key player to watch in this team is Young. He did the highest number of assists in the last season and displayed a splendid effort in the match against Arsenal last week inspite of missing a penalty. Rooney is expected to be back in action after he missed the International clash against Germany that took place last week.
England and Germany are to face each other in what is said to be an international friendly and the teams are clashing with vengance in their mind. Germany are having the advantage of playign at home and England are without most of the players as the players are injured. England will be missing out Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard who are out with an injury and to the shock of much England fans David Beckham has been left out of the squad. Capello has said that David Beckham has been left out of the squad as he is out of normal football in the time as the league in America has ended. Also Walcott is out with injury. The 19-year-old was taken to hospital in agony after suffering the dislocation in a freak accident as he fell in the rain. With the midfielders absent there are chances for new lads to get the nod. It will be a big time for Michael Carrick who has been the star for Manchester United to prove something for the country as he is sure to get the nod today in the match. Seeing the Germany team they are way stronger than their opponents. There are absentees there too like the names Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings but still the team has a lot of experience within it. Bastian Schweinsteiger will be the key person to watch for them.
Manchester United and Stoke City are to clash today in the Premeier League and Stoke City manager Tony Pulis would be wanting his side to continue its nice form. Stoke City are in the 12th position in the table and they have qualified for the quater-finals of the Carling Cup for the first time in 30 years. They are having a tremendous time and in the last month they have denied Liverpool and Arsenal victories. The important fact is that they beat Arsenal in their home by a score of 2-1. The last time they suffered a loss was about a month ago when they lost to Manchester City. Manchester United will want to win this match and they will do nothing wrong that will ruin the chances of their title hopes. Manchester United will be without Hargreaves who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an operation. Scholes who has been out for more than two months can be expected to return back and Rooney who too is suffering from fever is expected to come back and start the game. The player to watch will be Ricardo Fuller who is Stoke City’s forward with five goals in the competition so far in the season, one more than the highest scorer in Manchester United which is none other than the contender for the Footballer of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo.
