Bundesliga Game of the Week: SC Freiburg 0-0 Eintracht Frankfurt

The Bundesliga Game of the Week between SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt wasn't what it was built up to be, as it ended in a disappointing goalless draw. It was an even, but feisty affair, with the possession equally shared between the two sides, as neither could break the other down, as they looked to strengthen their position in the Champions League places.

Frankfurt remain 4th in Bundesliga with 38 points from their 23 games, 1 place ahead of SC Freiburg, who are on 35 points from the same amount of matches. Both Hamburg and Mainz 05 play in the Bundesliga tomorrow, and can overtake Freiburg with a victory.

Starting Line Ups: 

SC Freiburg: Baumann, Schmid, Ginter, Diagne (Krmas 54), Sorg, Schuster, Makiadi, Caligiuri, Guede (Flum 61), Kruse, Rosenthal (Terrazzino 86)

Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp, Jung, Zambrano, Anderson, Oczipka, Schwegler, Rode, Aigner (Lanig 88), Meier, Celozzi, Matmour (Occean 45)

Bundesliga Game of the Week: SC Freiburg Vs Eintracht Frankfurt 22/2/13

The game of the week in the Bundesliga for this weekend is between two Champions League chasing sides, SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt on Friday evening. The home side sit one position and 3 points behind their opposition in 5th place, but a win would take them above Frankfurt on goal difference.

Frankfurt head into the game confident after coming behind to beat Freiburg in the reverse fixture at the end of September 2012 2-1, thanks to a brace from Alexander Meier. However, they haven't won for 3 games since a 2-0 win at Hamburg at the beginning of the month, so will need to find some form against a Freiburg team who have won their last 2 in the Bundesliga, including a superb 3-2 win at Werder Bremen last time out.

Player to watch: With 6 goals and 6 assists in 22 Bundesliga games so far this season, Freiburg's Max Kruse is the player to watch in this fixture. The 24 year old scored Freiburg's goal in their defeat to Frankfurt in September, and opened the scoring against Werder Bremen last weekend, contributing to a steady start to his Freiburg career after moving from FC St. Pauli last summer.

Soccer_Xtra Prediction: SC Freiburg 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

La Liga Round Up 3/2/13

Malaga 1-1 Real Zaragoza

4th placed Malaga were held to a 1-1 draw at home to 15th placed Real Zaragoza. Without the now departed Nacho Monreal, the home side went a goal down inside a quarter of an hour, when Portugal striker Helder Postiga put Zaragoza into the lead. The lead lasted less than 10 minutes though, as Isco fired home a penalty to level for Malaga in the 23rd minute. However, Malaga couldn't find a winner in the remaining 70 minutes of the match, despite the away side having Jose Mari sent off late on.

Sevilla 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Sevilla moved up to 11th in La Liga with a 2-1 win over Champions League hopefuls Rayo Vallecano. The first half was goalless up until the final minute, where Ivan Rakitic put the home side into the lead. Alejandro Dominguez equalised for Rayo shortly after half time, but within 4 minutes of that goal, Alvaro Negredo restored Sevilla's lead. They held onto their advantage to move onto 29 points, with Vallecano staying 7th on  34.

Valencia 1-1 Barcelona 
Valencia have moved up to 7th in La Liga after holding leaders Barcelona to a 1-1 draw this evening. Despite turning up late to training on Thursday, in a rather unfit state should we say, Ever Banega was named in the Valencia starting line up, and opened the scoring midway through the first half. However, the lead didn't last long, as Pedro was fouled in the box, and Lionel Messi fired home the equaliser from the spot. Barca certainly weren't at their best and struggled to create any clear cut chances in the second half, with the game ending level after neither side could a winner.

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Betis
Diego Costa's goal gave Atletico a vital win to move 2 points closer to leader Barcelona. In a tight game it was Costa's strike on the hour mark that separated the sides and move the home side 7 points of local rivals Real.

Real Sociedad 3-0 Mallorca
Real Mallorca remained in trouble at the bottom of La Liga after a 3-0 defeat at mid table Sociedad. After a goalless first 25 minutes Mallorca were reduced to ten men when Marquez was shown a second yellow card. This opened the floodgates and three second half goals from Castro, Vela and Ifran gave the home side the 3 points.

Bundesliga Round Up 3/2/13

Nurnberg 2-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
FC Nurnberg held on to beat Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 this afternoon. The home side were awarded a penalty early, which was converted by experienced defender Timmy Simons. Tomas Pekhart doubled the lead on the half hour mark, as Nurnberg looked as if they would pick up a much needed victory. However, Patrick Herrmann clawed a goal back for Gladbach 15 minutes into the second half to give the home side a scare, but Nurnberg were strong enough to hold out for the victory, moving up to 14th.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
Despite a second half comeback from the home side, Borussia Dortmund have beaten 2nd placed Bayer Leverkusen to move above them in the table. The away side were quickly into their stride, going 2 to the good within 10 minutes, with goals from Marco Reus and Jakub "Kuba" Blaszczykowski, the latter from the penalty spot. It took until 15 minutes into the second half before Leverkusen could strike back, when Stefan Reinartz scored, and just 5 minutes later, the comeback was complete when defender Reinartz scored again. However, less than 60 seconds later, Robert Lewandowski put Dortmund back in front which seemed to the knock the wind out of the home side. Dortmund hanged on for the 3 points, despite a missed penalty by "Kuba".

Premier League Round Up 3/2/13

West Brom 0-1 Tottenham
Tottenham capitalised on Chelsea losing yesterday, by beating 10-man West Bromwich Albio to move within 1 point of their London rivals. The home side dominated the first half, but failed to open the scoring, with Shane Long spurring numerous chances. Straight after half time, West Brom defender Goran Popov appeared to spit at Tottenham's Kyle Walker, and was given a straight red card. Tottenham dominated the game from there on in, with the only goal of the game scored by Gareth Bale 20 minutes from time.

Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool
The Barclays Premier League Champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon. Edin Dzeko opened the scoring for Manchester City after 23 minutes, as they looked to reduce Manchester United's lead at the top of the league to 7 points with a win. However, just 6 minutes later, Daniel Sturridge fired home a superb equaliser against his old club to draw Liverpool level.

The away side started to dominate the game, and with less than 20 minutes remaining, captain Steven Gerrard fired home a superb trademark volley from 25 yards, leaving Joe Hart helpless. But almost immediately, City were level, as Pepe Reina came out to close down Sergio Aguero, but the Argentine took the ball around the Spaniard and produced an outstanding finish from a tight angle.

Serie A Round Up 3/2/13

Chievo 1-2 Juventus
Juventus restored their 3 point advantage over Napoli in the early kick off in Serie A today, with a 2-1 win away at Chievo. Alessandro Matri gave the league leaders the perfect start, when he scored inside 10 minutes. Stephan Lichsteiner made it 2 just before half time, as Juventus looked to have had the game won already. However, Chievo got a goal back through Cyril Thereau just after the break to scare the away side, but an equaliser wasn't to arrive, as Chievo remain 12th in Serie A on 28 points from their 23 games.

Fiorentina 2-0 Parma
Fiorentina eased to victory this afternoon against 10th placed Parma. Luca Toni gave the home side the lead half an hour into the game, and from there on in, they never looked like giving up all 3 points. Stevan Jovetic doubled Fiorentina's advantage just after half time, and even though they couldn't get the 3rd goal, Fiorentina won comfortably.

Genoa 3-2 Lazio
Lazio's second half comeback wasn't enough, as they lost 3-2 away at Genoa, but remain in 3rd place in Serie A. Marco Borriello gave the home side an early lead, which was quickly doubled by Andrea Bertolacci. Sergio Floccari got one back for Lazio just after half time, and with 12 minutes remaining, Stefano Mauri expertly slotted home a penalty to draw level. However, Marco Rigoni popped up in stoppage time with the winner for Genoa to move out of the relegation zone.

Palermo 1-2 Atalanta
Atalanta moved up to 13th with a 2-1 win away at struggling Palermo. The first half was a scrappy affair, with both sides failing to open the scoring, but the deadlock was broken not long after half time by Carlos Carmona. German Denis doubled Atalanta's lead with 20 minutes remaining, as they looked as if they would ease to victory. Nelson struck for the home side late on, but Atalanta held on for the victory, as Palermo slipped to bottom of Serie A.

Pescara 2-3 Bologna
Bologna came out on top in a thriller this afternoon, winning away at Pescara 3-2. Former Manchester City winger Vladimir Weiss opened the scoring from the penalty spot for the home side, but 4 minutes later Alessandro Diamanti did the same to equalise for Bologna. However, Pescara were awarded another penalty just before half time, which Gaetano D'Agostino slotted home to restore the lead. Alberto Gilardino immediately brought Bologna level straight after half time, before Panagiotis Kone put them into the lead for the first time in the 65th minute. Bologna held out for the win, moving up to 14th, with Pescara falling into the relegation zone.

Siena 3-1 Inter Milan
Bottom side Siena produced the shock of the day, by beating Inter Milan 3-1. Innocent Emeghara gave Siena the lead in the 21st minute, before Antonio Cassano equalised less than 60 seconds later for Inter. However, Siena restored their lead just 3 minutes later, when Alessio Sestu scored. Inter defender Christian Chivu was sent off early into the second half, giving away a penalty, in which Alessandro Rosin coolly slotted home to double their advantage. Inter couldn't get back into the game, which meant they fell to 4th in Serie A, but Siena's 6th win of the season meant that they moved up to 19th.

AC Milan 2-1 Udinese
Mario Balotelli marked his Milan debut in dramatic fashion scoring a 93rd minute penalty to give his side the 3 points. The new signing opened his Milan account after 25 minutes with a fine finish but the scores were level just before the hour when Pizzi deflected shot found its way in the net. But it was Balotelli who kept his calm from the spot late on to earn the victory

Premier League Round Up 2/2/13

Newcastle United 3-2 Chelsea
Newcastle came from behind to win for the first time in 27 months when new signing Moussa Sissoko stole the show with two goals including a late winnner. Jonas Gutierrez put the home side ahead in the first half before 2 stunning goals, by Lampard and Mata put Chelsea in front before Sissoko scored twice to win the game late on.

Everton 3-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa were pegged back from 3-1 as Everton fought back to earn a share of the spoils. Christian Benteke opened the scoring in the 2 minute when he calmly finished across Howard when one on one from a tight angle. Everton were level after 20 minutes through Victor Anichebe who turned his defender before firing home. They were only level for 3 minutes when Agbonlahor restored the Villa lead with a fantastic header. It was 3-1 on the hour mark when Benteke headed home a great cross from Lowton. Everton hit back again 9 minutes later with a curling finish and grabbed a dramatic equaliser in added time to salvage a point.

Reading 2-1 Sunderland
Reading left it late again to take all 3 points and move out of the relegation zone. Jimmy Kebe put the home side 1 up after just 7 minutes but Craig Gardner levelled from the spot after Pogrebynyak fouled O'Shea. But Kebe stole the show with a header 5 minutes from time to send the home fans away happy.

Wigan Athletic 2-2 Southampton
Wigan left it late to earn a home point against fellow relegation rivals. The away side came into the game on the back of their good showing at Manchester United but found themselves behind after 25 minute through Gary Caldwell. A resurgent Southampton thought they had won it after the break with goals in the 64th and 85th minutes from top scorer Lambert and Schneiderlin. But Shaun Maloney knicked an equaliser in added time.

Arsenal 1-0 Stoke City
Arsenal kept up the pressure on fellow fourth place chasers in a deserved, hard fought victory. The home side had the lions share of possession and best chances which were all foiled by an inform Asmir Begovic. And it looked like the Stoke 'keeper would earn a clean sheet until 10 minutes from time when substitute Lukas Podolski's free kick deflected in.

Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
Manchester United stretched their lead at the top in a game where Wayne Rooney's clinical finish was the difference. Both sides had plenty of chances throughout the game, Fulham the better, but it was Rooney who stroke in the winner with 10 minute to play to win all three points.

West Ham United 1-0 Swansea City
West Ham's on loan striker Andy Carroll was the hero in his first start of the new year after recovering from injury. In a low key affair Carroll proved the difference with a goal with just under 15 minutes left on the clock.

QPR 0-0 Norwich City
Harry Redknapp's side could not find a win with a team packed with new deadline day signings. Both sides had chances to win the game and the best feel to Adel Taarabt who when presented with a chance to win the game from the spot saw his penalty saved fantastically by Mark Bunn.