Matchweek: "Manchester City" against "Newcastle", "Bayern" hosting "Bayer"

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MANChESTER CITY – NEWCASTLE (February 15, 20:00)

After Chelsea lost in Brighton yesterday, it can be said that a new opportunity has arisen for the contenders for the top four. With 41 points collected, these two rivals occupying the 4th and 5th places are likely to finish the round in 4th place if one of them wins. A draw could elevate Bournemouth into the top four.

It is natural that Manchester City will try to rectify the situation after the unfortunate game against Real. Although it seemed that Manchester City had finally come out of the crisis after the victories at the beginning of the year, this was likely due to an easier schedule, as old problems are becoming apparent in matches against stronger opponents. Both against Arsenal and Real, chances were given, and ahead, apart from Newcastle, there are also matches against Real in the return leg, as well as encounters with Liverpool and Tottenham in the next three days.

Another factor that increases the guests' chances is that Newcastle is not participating in European competitions this season, meaning they have more time to prepare for the matches, which is a significant factor for Eddie Howe's style. As mentioned above, Manchester City participated in a tough match against Real three days ago. The game took a toll on the players' physical strength, with players like Grealish and Akanji leaving the field early due to injuries, and they will miss the match against Real as well.

By the way, Akanji's injury could increase the chances of our compatriot Abduqodir Husanov to be in the starting lineup. The team has only four defenders, and Pep Guardiola is forced to think about the upcoming Champions League match next week. In this regard, there is a possibility that Husanov will be tested on the right side where Akanji played against Real. After all, Husanov has shown himself in this position at Lens. Additionally, a variant with three central defenders could be tried by placing Nunez on the right side – in that case, Husanov has significant experience as a right central defender.

As for Newcastle, the biggest loss for Eddie Howe's squad is Joalinton's inability to play. The player, who has a place in the center of the field, will not be able to assist his teammates for at least another month. It should also be noted that Newcastle has performed better away than at home this season. The team has only shown worse results than the top three in away matches. Interestingly, City performs better at home – Pep's disciples are only behind that trio in this regard.

The first round match ended in a 1:1 draw. However, the situation for the guests in matches at the Etihad is very poor – Newcastle last won in Manchester 25 years ago in Premier League matches. Considering that City was an average team before falling into the hands of the sheikhs, this is very interesting. The last draw was recorded in 2006. In the last 16 home matches, Manchester City has only won, and in the last 6 matches, the guests have not been able to score a single goal.

LAZIO – NAPOLI (February 15, 22:00)

Inter's defeat in the postponed match gave Napoli the opportunity to maintain their lead, but it is worth noting that Conte's disciples have also recorded draws in their last two matches. The European Cup matches are now coming to a peak, which will benefit the Neapolitans, as the team is not participating in any competition other than Serie A. Naturally, this serves as a key factor in gaining an advantage over Inter and Atalanta. For this, Napoli must first secure victories in their matches.

This will not be easy, as Lazio has become quite an uncomfortable opponent for Napoli in recent years. In the last five encounters, the Romans have won 4 times, and one match ended in a draw. In the first round match, Lazio became the owner of three points at home thanks to Isaksen's goal, while two months ago, in the country cup match, Lazio won 3:1 at home, eliminating their opponent from the competition.

Regarding injuries, the hosts will be without Evra and Vecino. Additionally, Hysaj, who once played for Napoli for five years, is also out until the end of this month. Antonio Conte will not be able to rely on the help of Leonardo Spinazzola, Matias Olivera, and David Neres. All three players are likely to fully recover by the beginning of next month.

If we talk about styles, we can be sure that the teams are somewhat opposite to each other. For example, Napoli's current leadership is more related to reliable defense. This is a characteristic feature of all the teams managed by Antonio Conte. The team has conceded the fewest goals in the league, and the number of matches finished without conceding is also the highest – 12. In contrast, the Romans can boast more of their attacking statistics. Lazio ranks among the top three in Serie A for created chances and dangerous situations. For example, in terms of accurate shots on goal, Lazio is only behind Atalanta, Inter, and Milan, while Napoli is not even in the top ten in this regard. Players like Lukaku and McTominay mainly create situations.

BAYER – BAYERN (February 15, 22:30)

Last February, the teams clashed in Leverkusen, and that match clarified the championship issue. However, the teams' conditions were the opposite of today. Back then, Bayer was leaving Bayern behind by a large margin, and after a 3:0 victory, the gap increased, and it became clear that the Munich side had almost no chance. Currently, Bayern is ahead by 8 points, and if they win this match, the gap will increase to 11 points, making it almost impossible for the hosts to catch up with their opponent. If Bayer wins and reduces the gap to 5 points, it can be assumed that the entire intrigue is still ahead.

We say Bayern will win, but it should be noted that defeating Bayer has become almost impossible in Germany. Alonso's team finished last season undefeated, and this season they have only lost once to Leipzig. Currently, the team's unbeaten streak consists of 19 matches. Indeed, the number of draws is also quite high, seven, and this factor has led to a significant gap with Bayern. Even in head-to-head matches, we can see a clear advantage for Leverkusen during Alonso's tenure – three victories and two draws in the last five matches. Both the first round and last season's matches in Munich ended in draws. Additionally, these teams also faced each other in the German Cup in December. This time, Bayer won 1:0 away. It should also be noted that the hosts played with one player less from the 17th minute. Manuel Neuer was sent off.

As mentioned above, Bayer's streak is impressive, but Bayern must also be acknowledged for being in good form in recent matches. The team has won its last five matches across all competitions, and in the Bundesliga, they have won five consecutive matches. However, it can be said that this time they may face physical problems compared to their opponent. Since Bayer qualified for the Champions League knockout stage, they avoided the playoffs, while Bayern had to play against Celtic. Although the Germans won in Scotland, it should be noted that the match was dominated by the hosts, and it was not easy for Kompany's disciples.

TOTTENHAM – MANCHESTER UNITED (February 16, 21:30)

This is a clash between two teams that belong to the top clubs in England but are currently closer to positions that could drop them into the Championship rather than the European Cup zone. However, it should be noted that the teams have arrived at this situation due to various reasons and factors.

Manchester United is suffering due to a mid-season coaching change, especially since Amorim has a completely opposite style compared to his predecessor. The players' adaptation to the new system is leading to painful results, and this could continue until the end of the season. Tottenham's problems are more related to injuries. There have been times when the entire defensive line, starting from the goalkeeper, was absent, and Tottenham even had to buy a goalkeeper mid-season and immediately put him on the field. In some ways, this season's Tottenham's problems remind us of last season's Manchester United, and it is highly likely that the Londoners will also struggle until the end of the season. The reason is that all the problems seem to be linked to losses in the squad, indeed they are, but even when everyone recovers and the squad reaches optimal shape, the game may not improve. Because players who have played without substitutions during the main part of the season and sometimes filled in positions that were not their own will tire by the end of the season, leading to more problems.

Tottenham and MU will meet for the third time this season. In the Premier League match at Old Trafford, the guests won convincingly with a score of 3:0. In November, the teams clashed in the quarter-finals of the League Cup. The match in London ended with the hosts winning 4:3. However, it should be noted that this time the Manchester side put up a much more worthy fight, but the score was shaped due to gross mistakes by both defenses, especially the goalkeepers. Overall, MU could not defeat Tottenham last season either – the hosts won 2:0 in London, while the match at Old Trafford ended in a draw.

Regarding injuries, Postecoglou announced that players like Vicario, Maddison, and Udogie have returned. However, it is questionable how ready these players are to take the field from the first minutes. From the guests, Lisandro Martinez's injury turned out to be serious, and he may not even return to the field until 2025. Additionally, Ruben Amorim mentioned in a press conference that some players picked up minor injuries during the week, and some others fell ill. However, it is not clear which players they are. According to the latest information, considering that 18-year-old player Chido Obi has also been training with the first team, it can be assumed that there is a problem with one of the attackers.

It is also interesting to watch Matyuz Tel, who is on loan from Bayern, in this match. The young striker may move to MU in January, and there were even reports that Tel himself chose Manchester over Tottenham. However, after the parties could not agree on financial matters, the player ended up wearing the Tottenham jersey. He has appeared in recent matches and even managed to score against Aston Villa. It will be interesting to see how Tel showcases himself to the MU leaders.

JUVENTUS – INTER (February 17, 00:45)

This season, it can be said without a doubt that one of the most memorable and interesting matches in Serie A was the first-round encounter between these teams in Milan. The score itself proves this – 4:4. Both teams took the lead at different times, both had the chance to secure a decisive victory, and both could have scored even more goals in this combative clash that ultimately ended in a draw. Of course, at that time, Juventus had not yet fallen victim to the draw epidemic, and the score in the match against Inter undoubtedly satisfied the fans.

Since then, the Turin team has continued their unbeaten streak, currently, Motta's disciples have only one defeat, but they also have 13 unnecessary draws, which currently keeps Juventus as a contender for the top four. This round is interesting in that two teams competing for the championship are also fighting for a place in the top four. In these two matches, the four main football cities of Italy – Turin, Naples, Rome, and Milan – will clash. From every angle, this is one of the most interesting rounds of the season.

Looking at the matches before the above draw, we can see Inter's dominance lately – 2 wins and 3 draws in the last 5 matches. The last two encounters in Turin ended in draws, both 1:1. If we look at Juventus's home match statistics this season, you will notice that the Turin team has not lost even once, while Inter has been unmatched in away matches – 8 wins and 1 loss in 12 matches.

Regarding injuries, the hosts have more losses. Douglas Luiz and Pierre Kalulu are expected to return around the beginning of March. Kabai and Bremer are out for the rest of the season. The guests have no losses at all. Among the additional intrigues, it is worth noting that Thiago Motta, who once won the Champions League as a player for Inter, will face his former team as a coach, and Kolo Muani should also be closely watched. The French striker has scored 5 goals in three Serie A matches since joining on loan from Paris.

Another aspect we should always pay special attention to is that Juventus played a tough Champions League playoff match against PSV in the middle of the week and expended a lot of energy. Meanwhile, Inter had the opportunity to rest and prepare for the Italian Clasico. By the way, if Juventus manages to eliminate the Dutch team and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the probability of facing Inter in that stage is fifty percent. It is certain that Juventus will face either Inter or Arsenal.

OTHER MATCHES

February 15. Leicester – ARSENAL (17:30), ATALANTA – Cagliari (19:00), Bochum – BORUSSIA D (19:30), ASTON VILLA – Ipswich (20:00), Osasuna – REAL (20:15), ATLETICO – Celta (22:30), MILAN – Verona (February 16, 00:45), Toulouse – PSG (February 16, 01:05)

February 16. LIVERPOOL – Wolverhampton (19:00), Parma – ROMA (22:00)

February 17. BARCELONA – Rayo Vallecano (February 18, 01:00).

Source: Kun.uz