MLS League

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Kansas looks like a trustable team despite being in bad period currently - lost last two games and draw once but everything is not so dark. Maybe there were unable to collect points but their game is still on high level. Against NYRB they had all three points in their pocket but somehow late penalty converted by Angel denied them. They were really amazing, showing all qualities of attacking formation, just fortuna let them down. Than against Columbus (another game on road) they showed pretty decent performance but that was not enough. Also Ohio's team is becoming more and more stabile lately so losing against them especially on their ground is not such a tradegy. Than another game on their own turf and Kansas failed again. That defeat was totally against run of play; Wizards were dominating team almost whole match but once again the ball didn't want to cross goalkeeper line. Still their performance was on pretty high level and if they will continue playing like this, results should come sooner and later and Toronto is actually perfect opponent.

Canadian team is impressive when they play on their ground while their style of playing (considering games away from Toronto) is a little bit different and latest away game against New England simply proved that. Even when they were goal down they were unable to bounce back. No pressing no nothing - this defenitely won't be seen on BMO stadium where their fanatic crowd push them foward. But away everything is different - hardly imagine different Toronto this time.

Kansas is having some troubles with scoring goals since Eddie Johnson left them (being part of USA team - Gold Cup, Copa America). But still they have enough attacking power and things simply cannot go against them all over again. I do respect Toronto but they still need a lot to learn when they play away from BMO Field while Kansas is simply a class above them and should prove that on the pitch.

Le Championnat

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In last two seasons this derby didn't offer many goals and i gladly hope this trend will continue. Actually there are some things which may point on that. Nice has two important missings when we are speaking about offence: Kone and Ederson. Kone is Nice's leading goalscorer (7 goals) while Ederson has scored only one goal less (6 goals). Well they still have other offensive opportunities like Laslandes, Vahirua, Bellion or Moussilou … just they are not so effective as couple Kone – Ederson are. Those two guys were missing against Rennes (they hardly produce something in attack) and also against Marseille – and result was zero shots directly on goal. So i doubt this gonna be a free scoring match from Nice's side if they won't change or improve something.

Also Monaco is not a team who will score goals like crazy, especially away from home. Nice is not a lucky place for them and IMO they will be lucky if they will take a point. I dont expect an open game from their side, also one important offensive factor will be missing – Yaya Toure – attacking midfielder who has scored 5 goals till not (only Koller with 6 goals is on higher position).

Le Championnat

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Lille's latest performances are not as bad as results are showing. Champions League games took some breath away but now i think they should be ready to make a final sprint in league. They want to be part of CL also next year and IMO they deserve it. Losing against Le Mans was defenitely not a good momentbut now they must recover those lost points somewhere. Currently they are having some problems with injuries and suspensions but despite everything, motivated Lille's squard has enough quality to beat their north neighbours. This should be additional motive to do well. They were dominated team back in November, despite having a midweek game in CL against AEK in Athens.

Valenciennes is a suprise package, very unpredictable - from good to bad. Simply they have two faces. I trust Lille here, losing against Le Mans in previous round and playing a derby ... just additional motives wich should fire them up.

Le Championnat

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Very important game for both teams. Losing this one will also mean losing some chances for staying in first league. So an early goal can change everything. I doubt Sedan will have a different tactic this time. They have attacking potencial and they always want to exploit it. No mather against whom they play, they always want to score goals and are doing pretty well recently from this point of view (last time when they were unable to score a goal was against Monaco at the end of januar). If they will be a goal down they will attack with all power as they did against Bordeaux and they were pretty unlucky not to score the second one and win the match. Besides having ability for scoring goals they also has a defence which is not solid enough and sometimes they conceded some uneccesary goals if you ask me. Sedan is a team who usually scores but also offering enough chances to opponent's teams.

Nantes is improved since new coach arrival and are finally able to score more than one goal per meeting. They are finally playing as they should. Maybe they were a little bit unlucky against Monaco but now they have chance tio fix that. This is probably the 'less difficult' match till the end of league so they will want to win it badly. So if they want to win they need to score goals and IMO they won't just sitting around and waiting for perfect chance coz Sedan might suprise them with their display.

This year those two teams met twice, once it was 1:1 while in cup after overtime result was 1:2.

Le Championnat

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... ''Who will have the last laugh ?'' ... don't know how good you remeber their latest H2h game from the end of last season. It finished with 1:1. Rennes (their players were obvious tired) was fighting for CL place while Paris hasn't have any ambitions left after they clinched cup trophy. Price was simillar to today's ones (around 2.00, this time it is even higher). everything was looking good (Rennes was leading 1:0) till injury time ... and than ... bum ... goal for 1:1 ... i got blackout Evil or Very Mad

This time Rennes can pay their debts and put PSG in bigger troubles. Rennes's latest results are so-so but IMO their game is pretty good. Last two defeats are coming form Auxerre (away) where they showed pretty good performance IMO. Same was against Sedan, just things were running against them. Overall i am satisfited with them. Comparing to PSG they have two advantages: they are fresher and they don't have to be nervous so much coz they are more than less safe which doesn't count for Paris.

PSG lost against Benfica, overall they were good. Comparing to that match there will be one change --> Rothen is suspended and this is a blow IMO. From others, little more know players Rodriguez, Yepes and E.Cissé are out. They simply need to bring something out of Brittany coz otherwise it will be a big shit. Schedule is not easy and probably the most important match will be at Parc des Princes against Nantes.

Marveaux is available once again while E.Didot, Jeunechamp, G.Bourillon, Moreira and Esteban are out. Looking at possible line-up, it seems it will be a 4-3-3 tactic which serves well their previous coach who achived some remarkable results, especially at home. IMO right handi should be -0.5 and not -0.25.

Le Championnat

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Lille want to keep pace with 2nd position as long as possible. Since they've been out of Champions League, they can totally concetrate on domestic league. Maybe their latest performance against Lorient was not at their best which is totally understandable coz they had midweek game in Manchester. For Le Mans they had one week for decent preparation which should be enough. Two good news for Lille - Cabaye and Bodmer are back and should take place in midfield once again .... while they will have to do it without Plestan and Audel who is suspended.

Le Mans is a tricky and difficult team but I rather bet on determinated Lille, than on somebody (Le Mans) who will soon go to Tunisia on short preparations.

Le Championnat

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Marseille got important point against Lyon previous week and is still in a race for 3rd position. Should be good moral boost for upcoming matches and Nice is one of them. They were beating their south coast rivals in previous years so i am expecting same stuff also this time. Current form is on Nice's side but i am not worried about that. Marseille will still be without Ribery, but still i believe Nasri's performances are pretty good lately so shoudn't be such a problem. Also i think Pagis is suspended. Nice also with problems: Traore, Ederson and Apam should be out of this game. Also Kone is questionable and if he is out, than Nice's firepower will be limited (was seen against Rennes). Ederson and Kone have scored 13 goals till now (more than half than whole team). With or without Kone, i am going against them ...

UEFA

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PSG has big domestic problems coz they are currenty in relegation zone and have tough match on schedule this Sunday (Rennes). UEFA Cup is their only brighlight this season and QF is pretty close but IMO it will be tough to keep one goal difference, knowing Benfica scored away goal and playing good football. Nevertheless i believe they will do everything in their power to make into next round but IMO this should not be enough. Won't be a big deal if they will be out of this cup, coz they really need to concentrate completly on league (having two following away games against strong opponents - Rennes and Lens) Well schedule was pretty tough towards them those latest weeks, playing in UEFA, domestic league and cup. Got feeling some guys are getting tired. Also those two latest domestic performances (against Sedan and Auxerre) where not at their best.

Benfica is experienced European team and should know what to do in this current situation. Despite being a goal down i believe result is still good. IMO they are stronger than Paris at the moment and should prevail.