Viktoria Plzen VS Fenerbahce Prediction 07/03/2013

Viktoria Plzen - Fenerbahce 2.25 - 3.75

What more can Plzen do? They outclassed Napoli over the two legs winning 5-0 on aggregate. If the Napoli players had the right attitude or not, it can be argued, but I do not think they liked getting spanked. Do not forget, Plzen won their group ahead of the former Europa League champions Atletico Madrid. Plzen are a force in Europe in other words.
Fenerbahce did not impress defeating Bate 1-0 over the two legs, but they have some pretty strong players in their squad. One of them, R Meireles, will be back from his suspension for this game, but Emre will not play. At the weekend Fenerbahce went down to Besiktas 2-3.
The strong home collective against a Fenerbahce side filled with big names. Old habits never die and I will back the home side.

Benfica Vs Bordeaux Prediction 07/03/2013

Benfica - Bordeaux 1.66 - 7.15

In my opinion Benfica were a bit lucky knocking out Bayer in the previous round. OK, it is not the fault of Benfica that Bayer squandered numerous scoring chances, but no denying the Germans were given many scoring opportunities. Aimar is fit again for Benfica. He was placed on the bench at the weekend together with other usual starters like Gaitan, C Martins and Almeida.
I saw Bordeaux playing a really strong first half against Lille and they should have scored more than the one goal they managed. In the second half it was another story, but Bordeaux on the whole played better than I had expected. It was just that Diabate missed a couple of good chances this time. Diabate, by the way, will not play tomorrow, but Mariano and Rolan will be available again. Depressing odds on the home win, that is for sure.

Anzhi Vs Newcastle Prediction 07/03/2013

Anzhi - Newcastle 1.73 - 5.75

I do not like the odds on the home win, but I cannot really oppose Hiddink’s team. They have won all their seven home games in Europe and they gave Hannover no chance in their last home fixture. Away from home it is another question, but we can skip that for now.
Eto’o, Willian, Lass Diarra, Bousouffa and the rest of the Anzhi players have prepared for this game in Dubai. The Russian domestic season starts this weekend. E Spahic, the Sevilla defender, has joined Anzhi on loan. He is thought to replace C Samba. I do not know if he will play tomorrow. The match will be played on a plastic pitch.
Newcastle defeated Metalist in Ukraine and this writer was impressed. OK, Metalist sold their best player to Shaktar and their domestic season had not started, but at the same time Newcastle so often struggle away from home. Keeper Krul and captain Coloccini will once again be missing for Newcastle. Gouffran and Debuchy are ineligible for this game, but Ben Arfa could be back.
Looking at the present Newcastle squad I give them a chance in any given game, but in general their away displays are disappointing. Home win, I guess, but I would never touch the odds on the home win.

Basel - Zenit Prediction 07/03/2013

Basel - Zenit 2.92 - 2.60

Quite good Basel form and still unbeaten in 2013. Without both their front men Streller and A Frei they managed an away draw at Dnipro and one has to say that Basel knocked out Dnipro comfortably over the two legs. Alex Frei is playing again, Streller could be available, but F Frei will be suspended for this game. Defence man Schar will return from his suspension.
Zenit are still waiting for their domestic league to start, but they defeated Siena in a friendly game last week. Criscito and Zyrianov are on their injury list. Zenit had no chance against Liverpool and they should thank J Carragher. Without his big mistake Zenit would be out of the Europa League. Zenit have so far not impressed me but I am well aware of all the famous names in their squad. If I had to make a choice, I would support the home team.

Stuttgart - Lazio Prediction 07/03/2013

Stuttgart - Lazio 2.25 - 3.73

Lazio knocked out Borussia Mönchengladbach in the previous round and Stuttgart are behind Borussia in the league table. Are we to believe that Lazio will be too strong for Stuttgart? Well, Lazio have complicated matters, as the return leg has to be played in an empty home stadium.
Stuttgart have woken up from their 2013 slumber, although two very late Bayer goals destroyed their day at the weekend, with Stuttgart leading 1-0 away to Bayer Leverkusen. Stuttgart have to manage without their suspended top forward Ibisevic. T Torun and Cacau remain sidelined.
Lazio will have their skipper Mauri back for this cup game. Definitely missing will be Klose again, but no doubt, Lazio have travelled with their strongest possible squad. The Lazio defenders caused three penalties away to Borussia, Dias was shown the red card, then Candreva was red carded at the weekend and how is it with the Lazio discipline? That is my main worry, but I prefer the away win alternative.

Tottenham Vs Inter Prediction 07/03/2013

Tottenham - Inter 1.83 - 5.00

Looks about right that the bookies have lowered the odds on the home win. Although Inter came back from 0-2 down away to Catania they are not looking strong enough to match this Tottenham side. The Inter starting line up at Catania surprised me and everybody else I guess, but 0-2 down their coach sent on Palacio and he was able to make the difference for Inter. Cassano and Milito were not part of the Inter squad, but Cassano will be back tomorrow joining Palacio in their front line. Guarin has been cleared to play. Best possible Inter squad, in other words, but I am not prepared to trust their defence, including Chivu.
It is going almost too perfect for Tottenham at the moment and you just wait for some kind of set back. OK, they will have big problems in their next league game, at Anfield against Liverpool. Adebayor risks missing tomorrow’s game and C Dempsey will not play. Without Adebayor we can expect to see J Defoe upfront, so no problem there. Tomorrow Tottenham will most likely be on the winning side again.

Levante Vs Rubin Kazan Prediction 07/03/2013

Levante - Rubin Kazan 2.40 - 3.40

What a great point for Levante in the derby with Valencia! They basically had no chance in the match, but managed a very unlikely 2-2 equaliser late on in the game. Just the result they needed to feel good about this cup game against Rubin.
Levante gave Olympiakos no chance in the previous round of the Europa League and Rubin, in some weird way, found a way of knocking out the title holders Atletico Madrid. The mistake from the Atletico coach Simeone in the first leg came back to haunt Atletico.
I am not overly impressed by Rubin and for this game they will miss their suspended defender Cesar Navas. Rubin have prepared in Turkey for this game.
Toda la plantilla is available for the home side. A fully fit Levante squad, in other words. Backing Levante.

Steaua Bucuresti Vs Chelsea Prediction 07/03/2013

Steaua Bukarest - Chelsea 4.33 - 2.00

Down 0-2 after the first leg in Amsterdam Steaua demonstrated what they are capable of on home turf defeating Ajax 2-0 and Steaua the winners after the penalty shoot out. I saw Chelsea winning 1-0 away to Sparta Prague, and there was nothing between the two sides. Chelsea were not ambitious at all and it was just individual brilliance that decided the game in favour of Chelsea. I suggest Chelsea have to play much better tomorrow, or they will lose this first leg. In a few days Chelsea will be up against Man United in the cup and it makes you wonder which players coach Benitez will opt for tomorrow.
What I do know is that the Steaua midfielder Pintili will return from his suspension for this game. My choice will be the home win.