By Daily Sports on March 17, 2018

Leicester City play host to Chelsea in the quarter-final of the FA Cup with a place in the semis at stake. The Foxes may be stuttering a bit in the league, but have certainly been in their element in the oldest cup competition in the world. WILFRED NDIDI is unlikely to be rested by Claude Puel, while KELECHI IHEANACHO would hope to be selected against last year’s beaten finalists, given he’s enjoyed a good run in the competition with four goals so far. For Chelsea, following their elimination from the UEFA Champions League by Barcelona in midweek, this tourney represents their only chance of claiming silverware this season. They’ll certainly be up for it.

OLA AINA has starred in Hull City’s last couple of games as they’ve picked up two wins from two. Those six points have propelled them into 17th place with 39 points, a staggering nine points above the relegation places. They face Birmingham City (sat in 22nd, with 30 points) this weekend, and Nigel Adkins will back his side to pick up a positive result against the strugglers, who have lost their last eight league fixtures.

Following a plethora of unimpressive performances, SONE ALUKO has improved in recent games for Reading, and even though he still hasn’t ended his four-month goal drought, you sense he’ll find a goal soon as long as he keeps playing well. The Royals have picked up just four points from their last six fixtures and face a trip to mid-placed Norwich City this weekend. Jaap Stam’s side can take solace from the fact that their hosts haven’t fared much better lately, picking up six points from six games. The visitors will therefore fancy their chances of coming away with something.

JOEL OBI was left out of Torino’s 3-0 loss at Roma as a precaution, but is in line to return for the Maroons when they play host to ninth-placed Fiorentina. The visitors are only two points ahead of their opponents on the log, and the fact that Obi and co. have a chance of leapfrogging the Lillies should be enough motivation to win when both sides clash at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.

Deportivo La Coruna and Las Palmas face off at the Riazor and the tag ‘relegation six-pointer’ has never fit so perfectly. The duo are 19th and 18th respectively, with two and three points gained from their last six fixtures. OGHENEKARO ETEBO has a slight muscle problem, but Paco Jemez knows his quality and may ensure he features. The visitors are four points adrift of Levante in 17th place and know a win has never been more imperative. Will La Union Deportiva get the much needed result at Depor to keep their survival hopes alive?

BROWN IDEYE and ISAAC SUCCESS have found themselves on the fringes of the Malaga squad lately, albeit for separate reasons. The former hasn’t been at his best for the Albicelestes, while the latter has struggled with niggles that have seen him denied ample game time. Malaga make the trip to Balaidos to play Celta Vigo and will have at the back of their mind how difficult it’s been for them on that ground in recent years, with Celta winning this fixture for three successive years. The away side have lost 12 of their last 14 away matches in La Liga, which lays bare the task that awaits the White and Sky Blues.

Having come off the bench last time out to help Standard Liege close out a 3-2 lead against KV Oostende (a league game in which the Reds reversed a two-goal deficit to win), UCHE AGBO will hope he’s given more than a shut-up-shop role when Ricardo Sa Pinto’s side face Genk in the Beker Van Belgie final. It’ll be their eighth cup win if they come out victors and their second in three years as well (after winning the competition in 2016).

MIKEL AGU and ABDULLAHI SHEHU were unfortunate to be on the losing side, having played some top draw stuff in Bursaspor’s 2-1 loss at Osmanlispor FK in the preceding gameweek. The Green Crocodiles host a Sivasspor side that has secured eight points from a possible 15. Bursaspor, by contrast, have only picked up four points in that time and will have to accept the ‘underdog’ tag going into the game. William Troost-Ekong still misses out through suspension, as he serves the last of his three-match ban for a red card received against Galatasaray in late February.

Given MIKEL JOHN OBI’s imperious performance in Tianjin Teda’s 1-0 loss at Henan Jianye last time out, it’s safe to say he was unlucky to be on the losing side after such a magnificent individual display. The winless Tianjin Tigers play host to Tianjin Quanjian on Sunday afternoon, seeking to get a maiden win under their belt. Mikel is expected to feature in midfield for the hosts who would feel positive about the game having won the corresponding fixture last season 4-1.

•Photo shows Leicester City star Wilfred Ndidi

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 17, 2018

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