Real Madrid v Valencia (L- 1:0)             Espanyol v Atletico Madrid (W- 2:3)

Valencia v Espanyol (W- 2:1)                  Atletico Madrid v Real Betis (W- 2:0)

Barcelona v Valencia (L- 4:0)                Sporting Gijon v Atletico Madrid (W- 2:5)

Valencia goalkeeper Renan Brito has urged the fans to turn the Mestalla into a “fortress” as they look to see off Atletico Madrid. Victory would send fourth-placed Valencia into second place ahead of the bulk of the weekend’s fixtures on Sunday.

Los Che are behind third-spotted Atletico on goal difference alone but have dropped points against the rest of the top five – drawing against Sevilla and losing heavily to Barcelona, before suffering a narrow defeat at Real Madrid.

They trail runaway Primera Liga leaders Barcelona by 11 points and Brito has encouraged the supporters to be in full voice tomorrow as they aim to narrow the gap.

“The only thing we want is to win to reach second spot and reduce the points advantage that Barca have,” he said. “We want to have a great game and for the Mestalla to be a fortress. With the strength of the fans I am sure that we will play better. “La Liga is characterised by having great players in attack. Atletico Madrid have players like Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan and Simao. “We also have great players and they also have to worry about David Villa, Juan Mata, etc.

“It will be a great challenge for us to play against a club like this. I hope the fans see a good match.” Such is the importance of the match, Valencia were the only team to train in the morning on New Year’s Day – something Brito feels they were right to do.

“We had to train on January 1 because we have very important games,” said the young Brazilian. “We have to have the mentality that in our job we depend on being physically fit and it is normal that we train.”

Long-term absentees Pablo Hernandez, Edu and Miguel Angel Angulo all miss out again, while Nikola Zigic has rejoined Racing Santander.

Atletico are on an impressive run at the moment having won four league matches in a row and they are unbeaten in all competitions since losing at home to Real Madrid back in October. Midfielder Raul Garcia hopes they can continue their good form into the new year.

“Last year was a good year for the team,” he said. “When the season began we had a few difficult games, but we knew how to recover and began to climb up the table so we reached third spot.

“I believe you have to have patience with the technical staff and with the players. We are working well and this is having its results. “We have to continue in the same way as the last few games and do things as well as we can. “We have a difficult game now, against a direct rival in Valencia and we have to pick up the three points.”

Sergio Aguero has recovered from a knock and is back in the starting line-up, while Georgios Seitaridis could also feature following several weeks on the sidelines.

Maxi and Maniche will not make the trip to Valencia as they have slight injuries and coach Javier Aguirre does not want to risk them ahead of the cup clash against Barcelona. The pair will be replaced by Luis Garcia and Raul Garcia.

Nevertheless, we shouldn’t feel paranoid. When there’s up, there’s always down, as it’s true in the law of physics. Just watch out for Real Madrid, as they’ll bounce back, especially after the winter break. So, at the moment, don’t “touch” Real Madrid. Also, be careful of Chelsea’s poor away form in the Champions League. The lost of Arsenal to Aston Villa was another shock after their defeat to Hull City about a month ago. Arsenal’s title hope was OVER!!!  But, it’s worth supporting them in the Champions League.

I’ll share with all of you my weekly football match predictions on this coming weekend. Surely, there’ll be more dramas as we come to the end of the first half of 2008/09 season.

I made superb predictions tonight and won £1300. These are my predictions:

Single bet (accumulator) – Bayern Munich & Juventus & Lyon & Arsenal

Multiple bets (Super Yankee) – Bayern Munich or Draw, Arsenal or Draw, Juventus (Asian handicap 0, +0.5), Villarreal and Arsenal (Asian handicap +0.5)

I will be away on holiday. Thus, there’s no match predictions given on Champions League (matchday 3) and weekend’s football.

Everton vs. Newcastle United (D- 2:2)                              Man City vs. Liverpool (L- 2:3)

Newcastle United vs. Blackburn Rovers (L- 1:2)                Man City vs. Omonia Nicosia (W- 2:1)

Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur (L- 1:2)            Wigan vs. Manchester City (L- 2:1)

History: Win (Newcastle United 6x, Man City 3x), Draw (1x)

GET ALL THE WEEKLY FOOTBALL MATCH PREDICTIONS + FREE PREDICTIONS NOW

Newcastle will be without Michael Owen for Monday night’s Barclays Premier League home match against Manchester City at St James’ Park. The 28-year-old striker could be out for up to 10 days with a groin strain, although a scan has at least shown there is no tear.

Habib Beye (Achilles) and Jonas Gutierrez (fractured collarbone) could return from their injuries, while Obafemi Martins (groin) is rated at 50-50. Midfielder Joey Barton will complete his six-game FA ban, while Mark Viduka (Achilles) and Alan Smith (stress fracture) remain on the long-term casualty list. Forgotten man Shola Ameobi is desperate for a chance to prove he can be Newcastle’s saviour. The 27-year-old has enjoyed the one-to-one attentions of interim manager Joe Kinnear at times in the last week after he vowed to turn him into a modern-day John Fashanu.

Ameobi, who might have left the club during the summer as a succession of Championship suitors tested the water, is ready to remind people of the player he believes he can be.

He said: “Football is a funny game at times. A week is a long time in football and I just take every week as it comes. “The game is about moving on and certainly, I thought that was the case for me, but it wasn’t to be. “I have just got to make the most of where I am, I have always said that, and hopefully I can help this team climb up that table. “We have got a couple of important games coming up and I want to be as fit as possible to help us achieve maximum points in those two games.”

Ameobi has not scored a league goal for his home-town club – he arrived on Tyneside from Nigeria as a child – since his penalty in a 2-1 home defeat by Bolton on October 15, 2006, and his last from open play came against Everton three weeks earlier.

However, with Australian Mark Viduka sidelined indefinitely, his physical prowess could be an asset, and that has been the focus for Kinnear.

Ameobi said: “It’s playing my position, it’s getting me into the old habits again, the old routines I used to have and playing as a centre-forward, which is obviously where I want to play.

“It’s getting me playing up top and staying there and being a target man for the team. “I certainly enjoy playing that role and hopefully I will get a chance to play there a bit more.”

Manchester City will be without winger Martin Petrov after the Bulgarian sustained knee ligament damage on international duty. City will also be without defender Pablo Zabaleta as he begins a three-match suspension after being sent off in the defeat by Liverpool.

Manager Mark Hughes expects Robinho to be available despite the Brazilian being substituted after taking a knock in his country’s international against Colombia.

Hughes is looking for his side to build up a head of steam and climb the table. He said: “We are not there yet. On our day we can give anyone a game because of the attacking and technical ability we have in the side.

“But if we are to challenge the top four, we have to win on a consistent basis. That’s what the top four teams do.

“We do not have that capacity yet. We are working on that and trying to get better. We could do with winning five or six games on the trot as that would help our cause.”

Former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Hughes came up against Kinnear in the 1990s when he was manager of Wimbledon. He believes the 61-year-old has a different kind of job to perform now on Tyneside.

Hughes said: “Joe’s teams had a certain style of play you had to combat. You had to stand up to the fight.

“I think what he is trying to do now is instil a little bit more confidence into a very good group of players.

“What Newcastle lack is that confidence of winning games, week-in, week out.

“There is a lot of pressure on them from lots of outside influences and from themselves as well.

“They are good players who maybe have not performed as people would expect them to. It is a case of building their confidence.”

Siena vs. AS Roma (L- 1:0)                                            Inter Milan vs. Bologna (W- 2:1)

Bordeaux vs. AS Roma (W- 1:3)                                     Inter Milan vs. Werder Bremen (D- 1:1)

AS Roma vs. Atalanta Bergamo (W- 2:0)                        AC Milan vs. Inter Milan (L- 1:0)

History: Win (AS Roma 6x, Inter Milan 5x), Draw (8x)

GET ALL THE WEEKLY FOOTBALL MATCH PREDICTIONS + FREE PREDICTIONS NOW

Roma will seek a new beginning when they host Internazionale on Sunday with captain Francesco Totti returning to the team.
Forgetting about the previous troubles and concentrating on the present appears to be Roma4s strategy heading into the game at the Stadio Olimpico which on paper should be a thriller.

A problematic knee injury has limited Totti, who was Roma4s top scorer last term, to just 13 minutes in Italy4s top flight this campaign, but the playmaker is expected to make his comeback on Sunday having joined his team-mates in training throughout the week.

Without Totti, last season4s runners-up have struggled in every department.

The Eternal City giants lie 14th in the standings, having won just two league games out of six this campaign.

Totti4s presence should give a psychological boost to Roma in their most important week of the season so far, with a Champions League fixture at Chelsea to follow on Wednesday.

Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who struck twice against Montenegro to hand Italy a 2-1 triumph in Wednesday4s World Cup qualifier, believes there is no better time to turn things around.

“We face three difficult days,” Aquilani said. “Inter and Chelsea are difficult opponents but perhaps this is the time for Roma to come out of a difficult situation.

“Inter are the strongest side in the tournament and perhaps Jose Mourinho4s side are even stronger than Chelsea but we are determined to get a win.”

Roma forward Mirko Vucinic is also desperate to add to his tally having struck just one goal this campaign for the Giallorossi.

“I missed a clear chance against Italy on Wednesday,” said the Montenegrin captain. “But I saved that goal for Sunday4s game.”

Roma will have extra motivation to beat the Nerazzurri as they lost to them on penalties in the Italian Supercup final back in August, with Totti missing the crucial spot-kick.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti will be wary of striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored in Inter’s 2-1 win over Bologna and is the Nerazzurri4s top scorer this season.

That result allowed the Italian champions to join Lazio and Udinese at the top of the standings, all level on 13 points.

The absence of key defender Christian Panucci and Philippe Mexes through suspension is a blow for Spalletti, who will field Juan and Simone Loria at the heart of Roma4s defence.

Although Inter are favourites to triumph, with Roma having failed to beat them at home since 2004, Nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti remains cautious.

“It4s true that lately at Roma we have played great games,” said Moratti, whose team beat Roma 4-1 last season.

“But this doesn4t take away the fact that Sunday4s game will be a difficult encounter.

“Mourinho hasn4t long been at our club and it4s necessary to give him time to earn experience of Serie A.

“But I4m nevertheless hopeful that we can put in a good performance in Rome.”

Inter will be without injured midfielders Luis Figo and Patrick Vieira.

Portsmouth vs. Stoke City (L- 2:1)                                     Tottenham vs. Hull City (L- 0:1)

Stoke City vs. Chelsea (L- 0:2)                                           Wisla Krakow vs. Tottenham (D- 1:1)

Liverpool vs. Stoke City (D- 0:0)                                        Portsmouth vs. Tottenham (L- 2:0)

GET ALL THE WEEKLY FOOTBALL MATCH PREDICTIONS + FREE PREDICTIONS NOW!

Stoke have been praised for some spirited displays this season but Tony Pulis will be disappointed with his team’s haul of four points. Since claiming a creditable draw against Liverpool, the Potters have lost to Chelsea and Portsmouth to slip down the table.

They will hope to match fellow promoted side Hull by springing a surprise against Spurs but Pulis faces a number of selection dilemmas. Liam Lawrence is unlikely to play after suffering a setback in his recovery from an ankle injury, while defender Andy Davies is also expected to be out. Abdoulaye Faye is also struggling to be fit after picking up a knock on international duty.

Ricardo Fuller will be a late arrival back after playing for Jamaica but the Sunday kick-off could convince Pulis to risk the striker.

Spurs have made progress in the Uefa Cup and Carling Cup but in the Premier League they have not been able to find any form in their opening seven matches. They are bottom of the table with just two points and have not scored in their last three matches.

The pressure has been gradually building on manager Juande Ramos all season and speculation suggests that time could be running out for him to turn the club’s fortunes around following the shock defeat at home to Hull last time out.

Many of the players have been away with their countries over the past fortnight and will hope Spurs can make a fresh start after the international break. Ramos must wait to assess everyone’s fitness before settling on his side but one man who is definitely out is Roman Pavlyuchenko.

The Russian striker had to be replaced by Darren Bent in the first half against Hull after suffering an ankle injury and remains sidelined. Bent is likely to start alongside Fraizer Campbell if Ramos opts for a 4-4-2 formation but more changes can be expected after another disappointing display. David Bentley will hope to earn a recall, while Giovani Dos Santos could also be given a chance and Ledley King may come back into the defence.

Possible starting:

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Amdy Faye, Delap, Olofinjana, Tonge, Kitson, Fuller.

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Bale, Bentley, Zokora, Jenas, Modric, Bent, Campbell.

Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid (L: 6-1)                              Real Madrid vs. Espanyol (D: 2-2)

Atlético Madrid vs. Sevilla FC (L: 0-1)                              Real Betis vs. Real Madrid (W:1-2)

Getafe vs. Atlético Madrid (W: 1-2)                                 Real Madrid vs. Sporting Gijon (W: 7-1)

History: Win (Atlético Madrid 1x, Real Madrid 8x), Draw (4x)

GET ALL MY WEEKLY FOOTBALL MATCH PREDICTIONS NOW

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has warned his team-mates to beware wounded Atletico this weekend as the two local rivals clash at the Vicente Calderon. Atletico have enjoyed a reasonable start to their domestic and European campaigns but again have been plagued by the inconsistencies that affected them last season – of their last 14 competitive fixtures, nine of ended in victory and the other five in defeat.

The most recent loss is the one that is concerning Van Nistelrooy though, with Atletico having been hammered 6-1 by Barcelona just before the international break. “After the 6-1 at the Nou Camp it’s the worst time to play against Atletico. They will be motivated and their fans will be as well. They will be looking for revenge,” said the Dutchman in AS.

“But also there are teams who after a good result against Barca have grown in confidence (for matches against Real). What we have to do is play and win.”

The thrashing at Barca is not the only thing that has caused a great deal of recent consternation down at the Vicente Calderon though, with this week’s much-publicised UEFA punishment even managing to push Saturday’s crunch derby encounter out of the media spotlight.

Atletico on Thursday had a three-match European stadium ban overturned by UEFA pending an appeal, bringing a temporary reprieve to the club after days of uncertainty over where next week’s Champions League game with Liverpool would be played.

The ban – together with a 150,000 euro fine – were handed out following incidents during their Champions League match against Marseille at the Vicente Calderon on October 1. Thursday’s announcement will come as a boost to Atletico, although they will still need to break from recent tradition if they are to cap a turbulent week by beating Real.

Not only do Real boast an impressive start to their current campaign with six wins and a draw since an opening-day defeat to Deportivo La Coruna, but they have had not lost at the Vicente Calderon in nine years.

“We’ll try to keep it that way,” added Van Nistelrooy, who unsurprisingly singled out Atletico’s in-form hitman Sergio Aguero as the big threat to his side this weekend. “He is very surprising for his age. He plays at such a high level and he is so young…Just like (Lionel) Messi. I’m sure they will both win the Ballon d’Or in the future. They will be absolutely brilliant when they hit 24 or 25 years of age.”

Aguero, who has struck six goals already this season in all competitions, played for Argentina in midweek and although he admits he is tired, the 20-year-old is eager to play this weekend.

“This is the issue of tiredness, but it’s the same as if you play on Wednesday and Sunday,” he said in Marca.

“More than anything I have to rest as much as I can for the derby.”