All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Man Utd vs Benfica – Champions League Group A Preview

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Man Utd vs Benfica – Champions League Preview – Manchester United can qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League with two games to spare against an out-of-sorts Benfica on Tuesday night.

If Jose Mourinho’s side better CSKA Moscow’s result against FC Basel in matchday four – A United win and CSKA failing to win or a United draw and CSKA losing – then passage through Group A into the next phase of the competition will be guaranteed.

The Red Devils have a perfect record in the Champions League this season, with 3-0, 4-1 and 1-0 wins over Basel, CSKA and Benfica respectively in the first half of the fixtures.

Conversely, Benfica – who were heavily fancied to also get out of this group – have surprisingly lost every game so far, including a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Basel in Switzerland.

Rashford scored in Portugal giving Utd the 1-0 win Photo Credit: skysports.com

United and Mourinho had been slated in the media for their own recent shocking defeat to Premier League new-boys Huddersfield Town, but a solid 1-0 victory over title rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday has put the 20-time English champions back on course.

Anything other than a Manchester United victory would be a surprise. Currently, United are on a massive 19-game unbeaten streak at Old Trafford in European competition (15 wins and four draws), stretching back to a defeat against Real Madrid in March 2013

Additionally, Benfica have only ever beaten The Red Devils once in the ten times the sides have met (2005/06 Champions’ League group stage) – with United never failing to score against the Portuguese outfit in those fixtures.

Jonas can be a threat to the Utd defence Photo Credit: skysports.com

Benfica are in a desperate scramble to survive elimination at this point, as no team in Champions League history (since the inception of the current format in 2003/04) has ever lost their opening three fixtures and qualified from the group.

This game does not look like the type to defy statistics, and United would expect to manoeuvre the obstacle of under-pressure manager Rui Vitoria’s team with limited difficulty.

In fact, after a slightly sluggish period, this could be just the game to reignite the momentum which saw Mourinho’s side favoured by so many to challenge Pep Guardiola’s outstanding Manchester City right until the death this season.

Team News

There are no new injury concerns for Manchester United, albeit with long-term absentees Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini, Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic still out. For Benfica, Luisao and Andre Almedia are ruled out through suspension and Jardel is unavailable through injury.

 

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Leicester City vs Everton – Match Preview

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Leicester City vs Everton – Match Preview – Claude Puel returns to English football as Leicester City manager and his first match will be against manager-less Everton, as both surprise Premier League strugglers will be itching for victory to distance themselves from the relegation zone.

2015/16 Premier League winners Leicester sacked Craig Shakespeare this week after a poor start to the campaign, with just nine points after as many matches – with just the two victories.

Some may say the decision is harsh; an excellent consolidation job last season, guiding The Foxes to the Champions League quarter-final and only losing to Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United. The feeling must emanate that the board did not fully support Shakespeare in what was the English coach’s first managerial role.

Everton also experienced a change at the helm this week as they sacked Ronald Koeman. After spending nearly £150m in the summer, much loftier ambitions than the current 18th place were expected, and after an equally disastrous beginning to the Europa League campaign the Everton hierarchy deemed it to be a step too far.

The Toffees have placed David Unsworth in temporary charge, and a much stronger showing in midweek against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup (despite losing 2-1) shows signs of a step in the right direction. The ex-Premier League defender has also stated his intentions for the job full-time so has an additional personal stake in the outcome of this match.

Vardy enjoys playing against Everton Photo Credit: skysports.com

Everton will be looking to continue their excellent recent form against The Foxes, seeking three consecutive Premier League victories against Leicester for the first time.
It would be a particularly impressive feat, given that Leicester had only lost to Everton twice in the previous fifteen meetings between the two sides.

Jamie Vardy, however, enjoys facing the blue of Merseyside – the England international has scored twice and set up two more in his previous four appearances against The Toffees so will be one to look out for.

Can Rooney help Everton find their form? Photo Credit: skysports.com

Everton’s main threat could once again come from the legendary Wayne Rooney, a wonderful strike in the otherwise devastating 5-2 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday was the 32-year-old’s fifth of the season and second in as many games – if he scores against Leicester he will have found the net in three league games in a row for the first time since January 2016.

 

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Bournemouth vs Chelsea – Match Preview

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Bournemouth vs Chelsea – Match Preview – Defending Premier League Champions Chelsea are seeking their first consecutive victories in the league since August against a Bournemouth side desperate to win and get out of the relegation zone.

Antonio Conte’s team lay in 4th on 16 points from nine games, already a massive nine points away from early runaway leaders Manchester City.

This season’s indifferent form, including surprise defeats to Crystal Palace and Burnley, have created a negative atmosphere at Stamford Bridge where Conte and the team are seemingly always one game away from a ‘crisis’.

A 4-2 victory over a very good Watford team last week and a 2-1 win midweek against manager-less Everton have once again steadied the ship, after losses against Palace, City and a draw from a winning position against Roma.

Whilst many fancied Bournemouth to repeat their achievements of last season and replicate a top-half finish, it has been a woeful start to the season for Eddie Howe’s men.

Similarly, to Chelsea, however, two wins in the last week – 2-1 away at Stoke in the league and a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough on Tuesday – have instilled some optimism back into The Cherries.

Currently in 19th, the four sides directly above Bournemouth only have one more point and such as the tightness in the division a victory over the Champions with other results going their way could see Eddie Howe’s team reach as high as 13th.

Drinkwater could start for Chelsea this weekend Photo Credit: skysports.com

Chelsea should have more than enough quality to stave off any resurgent form from Bournemouth, but an exciting game from two entertaining teams is in store regardless.

Eddie Howe has already emerged victorious once against Chelsea in his relatively short Premier League managerial career (a magnificent 1-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s defending Champions at Stamford Bridge in December 2015) so who’s to say it couldn’t happen again?

Team News

With Champions League commitments this season (a welcome problem many may say) Antonio Conte has repeatedly insisted his squad is thin. So, the long-awaited debut of Danny Drinkwater midweek will be a welcome bonus, especially as the key N’Golo Kante is still ruled out. Chelsea made wholesale changes for the League Cup against Everton, so the squad should be refreshed and raring to go.

Callum Wilson returned from injury midweek in the Carabao Cup Photo Credit: skysports.com

Eddie Howe will be ecstatic that fan favourite Callum Wilson enjoyed a goal-scoring return from injury, the striker featured in his first match since January and scored a penalty to help send The Cherries into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup. Wilson will be in contention again on Saturday. Last season’s revelation Josh King will also look to return from illness to be available for selection. Jermain Defoe, Brad Smith and Tyrone Mings are all likely to miss out, however.

 

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