Heerenveen vs Ajax August 23, 2013

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Team news and match details team line ups:
an Basten made his name in Amsterdam, scoring nearly a goal a game in a prolific six-year spell which made him one of the most feared strikers in the history of the game.

He returned to Ajax as manager in 2008 but was in charge for just a single season as the club failed to make the UEFA Champions League and moved to Heerenveen in February last year.

His current charges are level with the champion in the embryonic Eredivisie table with both sides having two wins from the opening three games but Van Basten insists it is the size of the club, and not his personal history, which gives this clash some extra spice.

“These clubs make you a bit nervous,” he told Heerenveen offical website.

“Ajax is special. There is much media attention off the field. The competition is fierce for both the players and the fans.”

But Van Basten is refusing to be intimidated by the task at hand and believes his team can be better when it is on the back foot.

“We are stronger when the opponent has the initiative,” he said. “Our strength lies in the counter-attack.

“Ajax plays a dominant style and usually has the upper hand. Ajax are technically more skilled and tactically strong.

“It is a difficult job.”

On Saturday (Sunday AEST) PSV Eindhoven will look to maintain its 100 per cent start as it travels to Heracles.

PSV has won its previous two league matches 5-0 and 3-0 and comes into the match at the Polman Stadion on the back of an impressive 1-1 draw with AC Milan in the Champions League.

The only other club with a perfect record this season is also in action on Saturday (Sunday AEST) as PEC Zwolle takes on newly-promoted Cambuur.

PEC has surprised many with its bright start to the season but takes on a Cambuur side high in confidence following a 4-1 win over Groningen last weekend.

In Saturday’s (Sunday AEST) other games, NEC takes on RKC Waalwijk while Roda JC travels to ADO Den Haag.

Feyenoord boss Ronald Koeman will be hoping his side will not be travel weary as it takes on NAC Breda on Sunday (Monday AEST).

The Rotterdam side has just two days recovery from its trip to Russia to face Kuban Krasnodar in the Europa League as it looks for its first league win of the season.

But despite a pointless start to the campaign, Koeman believes he has seen enough progress to be optimistic.

“Last Sunday against Ajax I saw a lot of spirit in the team,” he told a press conference. “Although it’s clear that we can and have to play better.”

In Sunday’s (Monday AEST) remaining games, Go Ahead Eagles hosts Groningen, FC Twente travels to Vitesse Arnhem and Utrecht takes on AZ Alkmaar.

Monaco vs Toulouse August 23, 2013

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Toulouse travel to the Stade Louis II Stadium to play Monaco this Friday evening where Monaco will be aiming to make it 3 wins from 3 matches in France Ligue 1.

Monaco started their season away to Bordeaux where they managed to win 2:0 – they followed that victory up with an impressive 4:1 win at home against Montpellier.
Toulouse lost 3:0 to Valenciennes in their opening game and managed to draw 1:1 with Bordeaux last time out.

Monaco entered the season in a best possible way as they earned two victories at the start of the season and are coming from a great 4:1 victory over Montpellier last weekend, now trying to get another three pointer and take over the first position in the league after three rounds.
The last 5 meetings between these two sides finished 0:2, 0:0, 0:0, 1:0 and 3:2.

Although it is still very early in the season, Monaco are joint top while Toulouse are 19th.
Monaco were promoted from Ligue 2 last season where they managed to score 64 goals in 38 matches and conceded just 33.
Toulouse finished 10th in Ligue 1 last season – they scored 49 goals in 38 matches and conceded 47.
Monaco have spent over £100 million during the transfer window bringing in world class players such as João Moutinho and James Rodríguez from FC Porto and most notably Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid.

Toulouse spent less than £10 million during the transfer window and lost one of their most influential players, Étienne Capoue to Tottenham.
Ultimately Monaco should win this match comfortably given their much improved squad and their impressive defensive record from last season (conceded 33 goals in 38 matches).

Toulouse generally score as many as they concede and this will be their biggest problem when facing a Monaco side who pose a massive goal threat while maintaining a solid back line.
From a betting perspective over 2.5 goals at odds of 17/20 appears to offer value – French matches are generally low-scoring but Monaco do have Falcao, Moutinho and Rodríguez who are sure to have chances during the game.

However, their start of the season isn’t a surprising one, as their owner spent a lot of this Summer, trying to improve the squad and be one of the candidates for the title at the end of the season. Their biggest signing was Falcao who played well at the start of the season, but is still to show his best. However, it seems that their defensive lineup still needs time to start playing fluently, as Montpellier had a lot of goalscoring opportunities and made many troubles to their defense. However, they only struggled during the first half, while they showed great offensive superiority in the second adding two more goals, while the exclusion of visitors’ player in 65th minute helped them a lot. Offensive midfielder Dirar is injured from the start of the season, same as striker/winger Barazite, but neither of them is important absentee with so rich and deep roster.

Real Madrid vs Al Saad August 22, 2013

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This year's Santiago Bernabeu Trophy will be especially sweet for Real Madrid fans, as longtime forward and skipper Raul will return to Madrid with his team, Al Sadd.

While essentially just a friendly—and set smack dab in the middle of the week after Real Madrid's opening win against Betis, 2-1—this game will take on a different air of importance from most friendlies with Raul in the house. 

Of course, there will be a game to focus on as well, so let's break down this midseason match. 

The former Real Madrid captain and current Al Sadd player will play for each team, splitting his allegiances temporarily in this friendly. He'll spend one half with Real Madrid and one half with Al Sadd, an honor for a player who spent 16 seasons for Real Madrid and scored an incredible 228 La Liga goals.

The Spanish giants have made the Tottenham forward their number one transfer target and are expected to confirm his signing for a world record £85million before the end of the transfer window.

Raul was a Real regular when they previously broke transfer records in recruiting Luis Figo for £37m in 2000, Zinedine Zidane for £50m in 2001, Kaka for £56m in 2009 and Cristiano Ronaldo for £80m a week later, but for all that he admires Bale and recognises what it is he can potentially bring to his boyhood team, he is regardless concerned about the significant sums of money being discussed.

After a brief stay with Schalke, Raul joined Al Sadd in 2012, presumably where he will close out his career. A Real Madrid, La Liga, Champions League and Spanish legend, the forward still has a bit of magic left in his boots and probably will score a goal or two in this one. 


When: Thursday, August 22 at 4:30 p.m. ET

Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Fenerbahce vs Arsenal August 21, 2013

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Arsenal travel to Istanbul for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier with Fenerbahce. Arsene Wenger’s team suffered a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa on Saturday and pressure is on the Arsenal manager and his team to gain a positive result in Turkey before the return leg at the Emirates next Tuesday. If Arsenal do qualify it will be the sixteenth season in a row that Arsene Wenger has led his team into European football’s elite competition.

Unlike their opponents, Fenerbahce have been busy in the transfer market bringing in Emmanuel Emenike, Michal Kadlec and Bruno Alves. However, manager Ersun Yanal will be disappointed with his team’s 3-2 loss in their opening league fixture against Konyaspor having led the game 2-0. Behind the scenes The Super Lig club could yet be thrown out of the Champions League if they win their tie against Arsenal as they await a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding accusations from Uefa of match-fixing.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.45pm

The need for complete focus could hardly be more acute. With Champions League football generally worth around £25 million, Wenger agreed on Tuesday that this two-legged play-off was “the most important” game of Arsenal’s entire season.
“We fought very hard last season to be in the top four and the game has a vital importance,” the manager said. “To be part of the top level, for us, is the most important. All the rest are the consequences of it. It will be a very hot atmosphere as it always is in Turkey. You always have an opportunity to show your personality.”
The omens ahead of tonight are mixed. Arsenal are seeking to extend their participation in the group phase of the Champions League to 16 consecutive years and, in that time, they have previously come through five play-off matches at a combined aggregate score of 24-3.
It is arguable, though, whether they have previously faced such dangerous opponents amid such a backdrop of negativity back home. As well as the supporters’ anger over Arsenal’s inactivity in the transfer market, injuries and form are a major concern.

PAST MEETINGS

Arsenal 0 Fenerbahce 0, Champions League, November 2008

Fenerbahce 2 (Silvestre og, Guiza) Arsenal 5 (Adebayor, Walcott, Diaby, Song, Ramsey), Champions League, October 2008

STATS…

Arsenal have won all five of their Champions League qualifiers (2011, 2009, 2008 , 2007 and 2006) They have also won all ten legs in these five ties.

Fenerbahce have never beaten Arsenal having lost two and drawn two of their four matches. Their biggest loss coming the last time they played Arsenal at home, losing 5-2 in 2008.

Arsenal’s home loss to Aston Villa was their first opening day defeat in twenty years.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa August 21, 2013

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Chelsea got the second Jose Mourinho era underway with a victory on Sunday, and they'll look to make it six points from two fixtures when Paul Lambert's side comes to town tomorrow. The Blues will be heavy favorites at home, and here's everything you need to know in advance of the season's second game.

The opening performances earned standing ovations, so can either Chelsea or Aston Villa provide a fitting encore?
Chelsea's first-half dismantling of Hull prolonged the feelgood factor prompted by the return to the dugout of Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese praised the "fantastic quality" of the performance - although his continued pursuit of Wayne Rooney shows he will never rest on his laurels.
Chelsea inflicted a club record 8-0 defeat on Villa in the corresponding fixture last season, but Mourinho is wary of the visitors following their 3-1 win at Arsenal.
"It's not such a big surprise because Aston Villa can do that to any one of us," he said.
"They are a team with qualities to play away, to play the counter-attack game they played at the Emirates. They are a good team."

Villa head to Chelsea earlier than planned owing to the Blues' Uefa Super Cup commitments at the end of the month.
The date for the re-arranged fixture has annoyed Villa as it comes either side of games against Arsenal and Liverpool.
However, victory at the Emirates has left Paul Lambert's side confident they will give a far greater account of themselves than last December's meeting.
Captain Ron Vlaar said: "We all know what happened last year, so we want to put that to rest.
"We learnt a lot and we still have to learn a lot, but mentally we have become a stronger team."

Date/Time: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 19:45 BST, 2:45 pm EST, 11:45 am PST. Thursday August 22, 2013 at 00:15 IST. Use this time zone converter to figure out when the game is starting wherever you happen to be.

Venue/Location: Stamford Bridge, London, England