Das Kapitel Borussia Dortmund wird für Sokratis nach fünf Jahren ein Ende nehmen. Zumindest berichtet die „Bild“, dass der Abwehrchef im Sommer seine Koffer packt und sich Richtung England verabschiedet. Der Grieche steht unmittelbar vor einem Wechsel zum FC Arsenal, mit denen sein Berater Konstantinos Farras dem Bericht zufolge im engen Kontakt steht. Als Ablöse für den 29-Jährigen stehen rund 20 Millionen Euro im Raum. Sokratis, der auch mit Manchester United, FC Chelsea, Juventus Turin und AC Mailand in Verbindung gebracht wurde, soll genau wie der BVB keine großen Ambitionen verspürt haben, den noch bis 2019 gültigen Vertrag vorzeitig zu verlängern, zumal der Innenverteidiger zuletzt auch nicht mehr unumstritten war.
Sokratis: Wiedersehen mit Aubameyang & Mkhitaryan?
Dortmund nutzt daher die Gelegenheit, in diesem Sommer noch einmal eine ordentliche Ablöse für Sokratis einzustreichen. Alle Parteien scheinen sich längst auf den Transfer verständigt zu haben. Die Westfalen wollen den Deal aber erst dann bekanntgeben, wenn man die direkte Qualifikation für die Champions League eingetütet hat.
Beim FC Arsenal, bei den im Sommer Trainerlegende Arsene Wenger nach 22 Jahren sein Amt niederlegen wird, würde Sokratis erneut mit seinen ehemaligen BVB-Kollegen Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang und Henrikh Mkhitaryan zusammenspielen, die beide erst im Winter bei den Gunners anheuerten.
Welche Rolle spielt Mislintat bei Sokratis-Deal?
Das Sokratis bei den Nord-Londonern landet, die für die neue Saison noch keinen Trainer haben, könnte auch ein Verdienst von Chefscout Sven Mislintat sein. Der frühere BVB-Scout soll auch schon 2013 beim Wechsel von Sokratis von Bremen nach Dortmund ein Wörtchen mitgeredet haben.
In Dortmund scheint man derweil für den sehr wahrscheinlichen Abgang des Abwehrchefs vorgesorgt zu haben. Als potentieller Sokratis-Nachfolger haben die Schwarz-Gelben Filip Benkovic von Dinamo Zagreb auserkoren. Der 20-jährige Kroate gilt als ein vielversprechendes Talent, wollte laut „Bild“ aber erstmal die Entwicklung im Kader der Borussen abwarten. Nun scheint der Weg nach Dortmund geebnet.
Uno scatto per la promozione diretta. Il Palermo cerca un successo per lanciare la volata per il secondo posto su un campo molto insidioso: il “Penzo” di Venezia. I veneti vogliono invece consolidarsi nella lotta playoff e possibilmente migliorare ulteriormente la propria posizione in classifica che garantisce vantaggi negli spareggi per la Serie A. La formazione di Bruno Tedino è a pari merito in classifica con il Parma alle spalle dell'Empoli capolista e gode di una sola lunghezza di vantaggio sul Frosinone quarto. Tutto è ancora possibile in uno dei tornei più equilibrati degli ultimi tempi. Gli arancioneroverdi di Pippo Inzaghi hanno perso una sola volta nelle ultime cinque partite - in casa contro il Brescia - pareggiando a Carpi e Perugia, espugnando il campo del Novara nell'ultimo turno e vincendo fra le mura amiche contro l'Entella. La squadra di Bruno Tedino ha perso una sola volta nelle ultime dieci partite, ma dopo la sconfitta in casa del Parma ha ottenuto sei punti nelle successive quattro, con ben tre pareggi consecutivi in casa contro Pescara e Cremonese e in trasferta a Cittadella. I siciliani però hanno ripreso la propria marcia vincendo in maniera convincente contro l'Avellino sabato scorso. Sfida fra reparti difensivi blindati quella di questa sera con i padroni di casa che sono la terza miglior difesa del torneo con 36 reti incassate. I palermitani hanno fatto meglio, guardando tutti dall'alto, con 33 gol subiti. La gara di andata giocatasi il 2 dicembre scorso si è conclusa 0-0 mentre l'ultima gara in Serie B disputatasi in terra veneta ha visto le due squadre dividersi ancora una volta la posta in palio per 1-1. L'incontro sarà diretto da Marco Piccinini della sezione arbitrale di Forlì.
COME ARRIVA IL VENEZIA - Pippo Inzaghi non avrà a disposizione l'infortunato Pinato. Il centrocampista sarà rimpiazzato da uno fra Falzerano e Suciu con il primo che sarebbe leggermente favorito. Gli altri due posti in mediana saranno occupati da Bentivoglio e Fabiano con Bruscagin confermato sulle destra e uno fra Del Grosso e Garofalo a sinistra. In difesa davanti alla porta di Audero ci saranno Domizzi e Modolo che potrebbero fare reparto con Andelkovic mentre in attacco Marsura, autore di una doppietta nell'ultima gara contro il Novara, e Geijo in vantaggio su Litteri.
COME ARRIVA IL PALERMO - Assenza pesante per il Palermo che non avrà a disposizione lo squalificato Coronado per la gara del “Penzo”. Il numero 10 rosanero sarà rimpiazzato con ogni probabilità da Jajalo in cabina di regia. Accardi potrebbe partire dal primo minuto al fianco di Rajkovic e Struna al posto dell'infortunato Bellusci. In porta ci sarà Pomini mentre sulle corsie laterali ci saranno Rispoli da una parte a Aleesami dall'altra. A formare la diga di mediana ci peneranno Murawski e Chochev e in attacco invece ci saranno La Gumina e Trajkovski con Moreo, ex della partita, che dovrebbe partire dalla panchina.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic is unlikely to make wholesale changes as he attempts to guide his side into second place in the Sky Bet Championship with victory over Sunderland on Friday night.
Jokanovic has named the same side for the last three games, which have yielded victories over Reading and Millwall and a home draw with Brentford to extend the club's unbeaten run to 22 league matches.
Striker Floyd Ayite has missed those three games with a hamstring injury, as has on-loan Liverpool frontman Sheyi Ojo with an unspecified knock. Fulham head into the fixture sitting in third place, but just a point behind Cardiff in second.
Sunderland will be without Republic of Ireland midfielder Aiden McGeady after he finally succumbed to a heel injury. Manager Chris Coleman has revealed McGeady has been having injections to manage the problem for six weeks, but with relegation confirmed, he will now sit out.
Full-back Bryan Oviedo will also be missing after undergoing treatment for hamstring and lower back injuries, although he is due to return to training next week. Central defender Lamine Kone and striker Josh Maja are expected to shake off knocks, but full-back Billy Jones is rated at only 50-50.
Opta stats
Fulham have lost their last three home matches against Sunderland in all competitions, conceding 10 goals across those matches.
The Black Cats have won three of their last four matches against the Cottagers in all competitions (D1), beating them 1-0 at the Stadium of Light earlier this season.
Fulham are currently on a run of 22 league matches unbeaten, last losing in the Championship on 16th December 2017, to Sunderland, 1-0 at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland are unbeaten in their last three away league matches in the league (W1 D2), and have not gone four in a row without losing on the road since May 2016 (five games).
Fulham have scored first in their last 15 league games, the longest run of any side in England's top four tiers this season.
If Sunderland lose, the Black Cats will become the first side since Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1983/84 and 1984/85 to finish rock bottom of the top two divisions of English Football in back-to-back seasons, and just the third side to ever achieve such a feat (also Fulham in 1967/68 and 1968/69).
Pruttons prediction
Fulham probably couldn't ask for a better game at this stage of the season, it's a massive chance to get themselves back above Cardiff and into pole position in the race for automatic promotion.
You wonder what mood Sunderland will arrive in after their relegation last weekend. It's a long journey down to London for Chris Coleman and his team and it's probably one they'd rather not make. This is an absolute home banker for me.
David Prutton predicts: 3-0 with Aleksandar Mitrovic to score first
Levante vs Sevilla Spain – La Liga Date: Friday, 27th April 2018 Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET Venue: Estadi Ciutat de Valencia.
An injury struck and relegation bound Levante face a mammoth task when they sit at home to Sevilla for the La Liga clash on Friday evening.
Despite missing 6 players through injuries and suspensions, Levante managed to pick up a surprise 3-1 away win at Bilbao last weekend. This summarize the memorable turnaround by the team since March and the credit goes to head-coach Paco Lopez who guided the team to 5 wins and a draw from 7 matches since taking over from Juan Muniz.
Still, they are only just outside the relegation zone and may need 4 points from the remaining 4 games to avoid the danger. Or with 1 point if Deportivo La Coruna lose 1 of their next 4 games.
Sevilla are under a serious trouble at the moment and their morale is shattered with the 5-0 defeat to Barcelona on midweek’s Copa del Rey final. The team haven’t won competitive games since the historic 2-1 win at Old Trafford and their current win-less streak stand at 8 games – 4 draws and 4 losses.
To make things worse, Sevilla are known as underperformers on the road and they are currently on a three match win-less run. They were at the relegation bound Deportivo last weekend and were lucky to get out with a goal-less draw, which would have made three road defeats on the trot.
With wins hard to come by, Sevilla are in danger of dropping out of the Europa League play-off zone. They are 7th on the log, the last of European qualification spot. But the likes of Getafe, Girona and Celta Vigo have them at a three points distance. So, this is a game they cannot afford to lose.
Levante vs Sevilla: Head-to-head
Sevilla are unbeaten in the last five matches against Levante, 2 wins and 3 draws.
Earlier this season, the teams settled for a goal-less draw at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
The five previous games saw both teams scoring.
But, only 3 of the last 11 produced more than 3 goals.
Levante are win-less in the last three home games against Sevilla, but this is not bad though, since 2 of them are draws. They won 2 games prior to that and the cumulative h2h from last 5 home games is a decent 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss.
Levante vs Sevilla: Predictions
We all know that there is enough quality in Sevilla camp to see through a side like Levante. But at the moment, they are low on confidence and the morale is shattered with the heavy defeat to Barcelona on the midweek.
For me, it is Levante who are playing like a team at the moment. And they have been such a revelation under the tutelage of Paco Lopez and are currently on a three match winning run at home. I don’t see them losing it against Sevilla on Friday.
Los de Paco López llegan al encuentro en plena forma, a un paso de la salvación. El conjunto hispalense no puede fallar si quiere seguir optando a la sexta plaza de la tabla
Crucial duelo el que se vivirá en el Ciudad de Valencia en esta trigésimo quinta jornada de Liga Santander. Levante y Sevilla se miden en un choque muy importante, sobre todo para los de Montella.
El conjunto ‘granota’ llega al partido en forma de ‘fiesta’. Encadena dos victorias seguidas que prácticamente certifican la salvación del club valenciano. Además, la última de ellas en un estadio muy complicado: San Mamés. La llegada de Paco López al banquillo del Levante ha sido clave para el equipo azulgrana.
Por su parte, el conjunto hispalense llega al encuentro en serios problemas. Viene de caer humillado en la Copa del Rey, frente al FC Barcelona, y no vence en Liga desde el tres de marzo. Las consecuencias de esta dinámica negativa han sido el despido de Óscar Arias, director deportivo, y una seria duda acerca de la continuidad de Montella, muy cuestionado por la afición.
Tremendo ‘efecto Paco López’
Si el Levante acaricia la salvación es gracias, en gran parte, a Paco López. El entrenador valenciano se hizo con las riendas del conjunto ‘granota’ cuando peor estaban las cosas para los de Orriols. Los levantinistas acumulaban casi cuatro meses sin lograr un triunfo en Liga.
Fue entonces cuando Paco decidió ponerse manos a la obra, y vaya que si lo hizo. En siete partidos que lleva como técnico del Levante, ha conseguido cinco victorias. Números que han disparado al equipo valenciano hasta la salvación, la cual podría ser matemática de ganar al Sevilla.
El caso de Montella es bien distinto. Llegó generando mucha ilusión, pero, en los aproximadamente cuatro meses que lleva en la capital andaluza, no ha conseguido encadenar cinco victorias seguidas en Liga, a diferencia de Paco López.
El italiano es consciente de que su trabajo ‘pende de un hilo’. Además, un nuevo tropiezo seguiría complicando y mucho la sexta plaza a la que optan los de Nervión.
Los jugadores del Levante celebran un tanto en San Mamés / LaLiga
‘El Comandante’ Morales llega en plena forma
Es uno de los ‘pilares’ del equipo. Si Morales está bien, el Levante también lo está. La actitud del madrileño ha sido indispensable para el resurgir ‘granota’. Si a su actitud se suma la gran calidad que atesora, el resultado es un gran jugador. Ya lo demostró en San Mamés con un auténtico golazo. Salió corriendo desde su ‘casa’, se marchó de varios rivales y no perdonó ante Kepa.
Otro que también llega en buena forma es Bardhi. Tras varios meses sin continuidad, el macedonio ha vuelto más fuerte que nunca. Le clavó dos goles de falta directa al Athletic de Bilbao, dejando claro que es una de sus especialidades.
En el Sevilla parece que todo flaquea más, pero la plantilla tiene mucha calidad. Jesús Navas y Sandro han sido de los pocos que han tirado de casta en este difícil tramo de temporada que atraviesa el conjunto hispalense.
Jugadores como Banega, Lenglet o Sarabia son imprescindibles para los de Nervión. Es por ello por lo que deben reencontrarse con su mejor fútbol desde ya, para seguir peleando por la sexta posición de la tabla.
Los sevillistas celebran el tanto del empate ante el Villarreal / LaLiga
El Levante amenaza el sueño europeo
En la ida, lo más destacable fue que Jesús Navas se convirtió en el jugador con más partidos en la historia del Sevilla, pues el choque deparó un tedioso empate a cero.
Los de Paco López podrían certificar la salvación a costa de los de Montella. Las dinámicas son bastante distintas. De este modo, el Levante tratará de ahogar el sueño europeo de los andaluces.
FICHA TÉCNICA
Encuentro: Levante – Sevilla. Jornada 35 de Liga Santander.
Estadio: Ciudad de Valencia.
Fecha y hora: viernes, 27 de abril de 2018, a las 21:00 horas.
TV: BeIN LaLiga.
Árbitro: José Luis González González (comité castellanoleonés).
Posibles onces:
Levante: Oier; Pedro López, Chema, Postigo, Coke; Morales, Campaña, Lukic, Bardhi; Boateng y Roger.
Hoffenheim vs Hannover 96 Germany – Bundesliga Date: Friday, 27 April 2018 Kick-Off at 19:30 UK Venue: WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena (Sinsheim).
Hoffenheim came back in the contest of the Champions League spots in some style. They won five and drew two of last seven league ties, including some impressive attacking showings against direct rivals in the battle for the top six spots.
Ione such display came just last weekend when Julian Nagelsmann’s men bagged five goals in a demolishing away win over last term’s runners-up RB Leipzig. Serge Gnabry, Marc Uth and Andrej Kramaric inspired the rise in form and they will no doubts have plenty of room to keep their amazing spells of from going on Friday against Hannover 96.
The visitors practically have nothing to play for in the remaining three games of the season. They are generally dreadful travellers and they will come into this winless in last 11 league games on the road.
Hoffenheim vs Hannover 96: Head-to-head
The head to head stats reveal that Hoffenheim won six and drew two of eight home head to head clashes with Hannover 96 over the history.
They, however, did not score in last two defeats to the Reds, but both of these clashes were played at HDI-Arena.
Interestingly, none of last three H2H games offered the BTTS option.
Hoffenheim vs Hannover 96: Prediction
Everything points out to an easy straightforward affair for the hosts here. Hoffenheim are in a much better form, they need points to break into the top four in the league ladder, and they’ve been completely dominant in the history of H2H meetings with Hannover in Sinsheim. The home win is a banker at 1.33, but we will be brave enough to try with some handicap bets.
The attempt is based on Hoffenheim’s amazing attacking form in the most recent period. Nagelsmann has a deadly lineup of attackers led by Serge Gnabry who notched five goals in last four league ties. You can back Gnabry to score anytime at 1.80, while Hoffenheim to win by two or more goals is a bet priced up at the odds of 1.95.
1899 Hoffenheim ist seit acht Bundesliga-Spielen ungeschlagen (fünf Siege, drei Remis) – aktuell kein anderes Team so lange.
Die Hannoveraner holten in dieser Saison am Freitag sieben der neun möglichen Punkte (2:0 gegen den HSV, 1:1 gegen Stuttgart und 2:1 gegen Bremen).
1899 Hoffenheim feierte zuletzt erstmals in seiner Bundesliga-Historie drei Zu-Null-Heimsiege in Folge. Nun könnte die TSG einen Vereinsrekord einstellen, denn mehr als vier Zu-Null-Spiele in Serie gab es zu Hause noch nie.
Das sagen die Trainer
Julian Nagelsmann (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim): "Wir sind aktuell im Flow und wollen die anstehenden drei Partien auch so zu Ende bringen. Als Klub spielen wir erneut eine außergewöhnlich gute Saison. Hannover hat eine famose Hinrunde gespielt, weil sie in verschiedenen Grundordnungen sehr stabil waren. Andre Breitenreiter und sein Team haben die Mannschaft taktisch sehr flexibel gemacht."
Andre Breitenreiter (Hannover 96): "Wir haben eine charakterstarke Mannschaft, die immer alles auf den Platz bringt und sich total mit 96 identifiziert. Wir wollen es aus eigener Kraft schaffen und uns nicht darauf verlassen, dass mögliche Konkurrenten nicht mehr ausreichend punkten. Dafür haben wir drei Spiele Zeit."
Montpellier vs Saint-Etienne France – Ligue 1 Date: Friday 27th April 2018 Kick off at 19:45 UK/ 20:45 CET Venue: Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier).
Just when 5th place and a chance to play in the Europa League presented itself to Montpellier their form has taken a serious dip. They come into this game with back to back losses and have not won a game since beating Caen at the beginning of the month.
We have to go back to the beginning of February for the last time Montpellier won at Stade de la Mosson with a succession of their games here finishing in draws. It’s fair to say that the home side have been in poor form and are due a win.
St Etienne are in 6th place and are just one point behind Nice who are in the final Europa League spot. The club are in good form having won 13 of their last 15 points available and the club have gone the last 3 months undefeated in the league. St Etienne have not lost a game away from home in over five games and are on a mission to finish in the top five.
Montpellier vs Saint-Etienne: Head to Head
Montpellier has won the last 3 meetings between the two teams
From the last 5 games held at Montpellier St Etienne has won 2 times
The last 2 games played at Montpellier have had the correct score of 2-1
Montpellier vs Saint-Etienne: Prediction
St Etienne are the better side coming into this game on form but Montpellier have been very unlucky not to get a few wins in recent weeks. With being at home and still being in contention for 5th place we will choose to go with the home side.
Dans le dur en championnat et notamment à domicile, avec quatre matchs sans succès à la Mosson, Montpellier espère se relancer contre Saint-Etienne ce vendredi soir (20h45). Pas simple, contre un adversaire qui n'a plus perdu depuis douze matchs...
Les trois derniers matchs de Montpellier22/04/2018 : Nice - Montpellier (1-0)15/04/2018 : Montpellier - Bordeaux (1-3)08/04/2018 : Marseille - Montpellier (0-0)Les trois derniers matchs de Saint-Etienne22/04/2018 : Saint-Etienne - Troyes (2-1)14/04/2018 : Strasbourg - Saint-Etienne (0-1)06/04/2018 : Saint-Etienne - PSG (1-1)
Les stats à retenir (avec OPTA) Montpellier a remporté ses 2 derniers matches contre St Etienne en Ligue 1, c'est autant que lors des 17 précédents (2 nuls, 13 défaites). St Etienne a remporté 3 de ses 4 derniers déplacements à Montpellier en Ligue 1 (1 défaite), autant que lors de ses 14 précédents (3 nuls, 8 défaites). Montpellier n'a gagné qu'un seul de ses 9 derniers matches de Ligue 1 (6 nuls, 2 défaites), après avoir gagné 3 des 4 précédents (1 défaite). Montpellier reste sur 2 défaites consécutives en Ligue 1 (v Bordeaux & Nice), une 1ère depuis août-septembre 2017 (v Dijon & Nantes). Le MHSC n'a plus fait la passe de 3 depuis la saison passée, où il avait perdu ses 5 derniers matches. Montpellier n'a remporté aucune de ses 4 dernières réceptions en Ligue 1 (3 nuls suivis d'une défaite), une 1ère depuis mai-septembre 2015 (6). St Etienne est invaincu lors de ses 12 derniers matches en Ligue 1 (7 victoires, 5 nuls), sa meilleure série depuis octobre 2014-janvier 2015 (12). St Etienne est invaincu lors de ses 6 derniers déplacements en Ligue 1, meilleure série en cours à égalité avec Paris & Rennes. C'est la meilleure série des Verts loin de leurs bases dans l'élite depuis octobre 2014-janvier 2015 (7). Montpellier est resté muet lors de 2 de ses 3 derniers matches en L1 (v Marseille & Nice), soit autant que lors des 11 précédents. Seuls Paris (40) & Marseille (31) ont pris plus de points que St Etienne (29) en Ligue 1 sur la phase retour. St Etienne a trouvé le chemin des filets lors de chacun de ses 12 derniers matches de Ligue 1 (20 buts au total), après être resté muet lors de 5 de ses 8 précédents. Giovanni Sio est impliqué dans 4 des 5 derniers buts de Montpellier en Ligue 1 (3 buts, 1 passe décisive). Mathieu Debuchy est l'auteur de 4 des 9 derniers buts stéphanois en déplacement. Avec 4 buts marqués à l'extérieur, il est le meilleur buteur des Verts en déplacement en Ligue 1 cette saison. Kevin Monnet-Paquet a commis 26 fautes sans récolter le moindre carton en Ligue 1 cette saison, soit le joueur qui a commis le plus de faute sans récolter de carton en L1 2017/18.
