Thunderball

It's time to review German D2
1. Standings -- All teams played 31 games. Three rounds to go.
                             Pts
1. Kaiserslautern      65
2. St Pauli               58
   --- Direct Promotion line ---
3. Augsburg             57
   --- D1/D2 Play-Off line ---
4. Fortuna Dusseldorf  49
6. Bielefeld                45

14. Karlsruhe              39
15. FSV Frankfurt         35
   --- D2/D3 Play-Off line ---
16. Rostock                 32
   --- Relegation line ---
17. Koblenz                 29
18. Ahlen                    21  Relegated

3. Weekend Fixtures
4/23  (23 Apr)
Karlsruhe vs Ahlen
Kaiserslautern vs Rostock
St Pauli vs Koblenz

4/24 (24 Apr)
Aachen vs Greuther
Duisburg vs Paderborn

4/25 (25 Apr)
TSV 1860 vs Oberhausen
FSV vs Augsburg
Bielefeld vs Fortuna Dusseldorf

4/26 (26 Apr)  Cottbus vs Union Berlin

4. Comment
4.1 Kaiserslautern will be promoted if they beat Rostock.
   Rostock must win to edge closer to safety.
4.2 St Pauli must beat must beat Koblenz to consolidate
   their Runner-up position and also delay Kaiserlautern
  being crowned champion earlier. (See also 4.3)
4.3 Augsburg must beat FSV to keep their hope for
  Runner-up spot. (See also 4.2)

4. Relegation
4.1 Karlsruhe must beat Ahlen to lift themselves to
  safety.
4.2 FSV must beat Augsburg to give themselves
  more breathing space against Relegation.
4.3 Koblenz must beat St Pauli to give themselves hope.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Time to preview German D1 weekend fixtures
1. Weekend Fixtures
4/23 (Fri)  Bochum vs Stuttgart

4/24 (Sat)
Leverkusen vs Hannover
M'gladbach vs B.Munich
Hertha vs Schalke
Mainz vs Frankfurt
Nurnberg vs Dortmund
Bremen vs Cologne

4/25 (Sun)
Freiburg vs Wolfsburg
Hoffenheim vs Hamburg

2. Standings  -- All played 31 gmes.  Three rounds to go.
                               Pts
1. B.Munich               63
2. Schalke                 61
3. Bremen                 54
   --- Qualify for Champ Lg line ---
4. Leverkusen            54
5. Dortmund              53
6. Stuttgart               50   (See Note)
    --- Qualify for Europa Lg line ---
   
7. Hamburg                48
8. Wolfsburg              46
9. Frankfurt                45

13. Hoffenheim           35
14. Nurnbeerg             28   -22
15. Bochum                28    -24
  --- D1/D2 Play-Off line ---
16. Freiburg                28    -27
  --- Relegation line ---
17. Hannover              27    -29
18. Hertha                  23    -19
  Note -- Since German Cup Finalists (Bremen and B.Munich)
  are also qualify for Europe competitions. The Europa Lg
  spot for Cup Winners will go to the 6th-placed team.

3. Comment -- Most of the weekend matches are between
  upper half of table versus lower half of the table teams.
3.1 B.Munich must beat M'gladbach to strengthen their
  claim on the title.
3.2 Schalke must beat Hertha to keep pressure on B.Munich.
3.3 Bremen must keep their good form to beat Cologne
  and Leverkusen must beawt Hannover to stake their
  claim on the rd place.
3.4 Stuttgart must keep up with top 5 by beating Bochum.
3.5 Dortmund and Wolfsburg must beat their oppositions
  to stay in touch with the leaders.

3.5 Relegation battles
3.5.1 Hannover do have some chances of beating Leverkusen
  because Leverkusen are suffering a slump in form.
3.5.2 Freiburg have an outside chance of beating Wolfsburg.
  Wolfsburg have not kept their good form regularly.
3.5.3 So too for Stuttgart. Their good form has been on and off.
  Bochum can catch them by surprise.
   -- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Preview of this weekend Spanish Primera
1. Weekend Fixtures
4/24 (Sat)
Barcelona vs Xerez
Zaragoza vs R.Madrid
Valencia vs Deportivo

4/25 (Sun)
Almeria vs Espanyol
Atl Madrid vs Tenerife
Getafe vs Sevilla
Mallorca vs Malaga
Santander vs Villarreal
Sp Gijon vs Valladolid

4/26 (Mon)  Osasuna vs Bilbao

2. Standings -- All played 33 games
                                         Pts
1. Barcelona                  84
2. R.Madrid                    83
3. Valencia                     59
4. Mallorca                     55
   --- Qualify for Champ Lg line ---
5. Sevilla                         54
6. Villarreal                    49
   --- Qualify for Europa Lg ---
7. Bilbao                         49
8. Getafe                        47

15. Santander               36
16. Zaragoza                 34
17. Malaga                     33
   --- Relegation line ---
18. Tenerife                    32
19. Valladolid                 29
20. Xerez                         27

3. Comment
3.1 Barcelona may field a second-string team for their home
   match with Xerez because they may want to let first team
   have a rest.  It is up to you to believe the 2nd-string Barcelona
   will still be better than Xerez.
3.2 R.Madrid do have a chance to overtake Barcelona but they
  must beat Zaragoza first.
3.3 Valencia must beat Deportivo to consolidate their 3rd place.
3.4 The Europa Lg chasing packs -- Villarreal can easily beat
  Santander. Bilbao face a tough game with Osasuna.
  Same goes with Getafe. Sevilla can beat Getafe if they can
  keep their form.

3.5 Relegation battles --
3.5.1 Tenerife can beat (or draw with) Atl Madrid since Atl Madrid
  are focusing their attention on Europa Lg.
3.5.2 Valladolid do have a chance of getting points against
    lowly Sp Gijon.
3.5.3 Xerez -- See item 3.1
  --- End of Update --

Thunderball

It's time to review Italian Serie A
1. Weekend fixtures
4/24 (Sat)
Inter vs Atalanta
Palermo vs AC Milan

4/25 (Sun)
Bologna vs Parma
Fiorentina vs Chievo
Genoa vs Lazio
Juventus vs Bari
Livorno vs Catania
Napoli vs Cagliara
Roma vs Sampdoria
Udinese vs Siena

2. Standings -- All played 34 games. Four rounds to go.
                          Pts
1. Roma               71
2. Inter                70
3. AC Milan           64
4. Sampdoria         57
   --- Qualify for Champ Lg line ---
5. Palermo            55
6. Napoli              52
   --- Qualify for Europa Lg line ---
7. Juventus           51
8. Genoa              48

15. Udinese          39
16. Lazio              37
17. Bologna          36
   --- Relegation line ---
18. Atalanta         34
19. Siena             30
20. Livorno           26

3. Comment
3.1 Roma will have a tough game in top-of-table clash
  with Sampdoria.
3.2 Inter should beat Atalanta.
3.3 While AC Milan meet Palermo, this is also a tough game.
3.4 The southern derby between Napoli and Cagliari should
   be interesting. Napoli have an upper hand in this game.

3.5 Relegation battles
3.5.1 Livorno have to beat Catania to hang on.
  They will be relegated if they lose.
3.5.2 Siena must beat fellow struggler, Udinese, to give
  themsselves hope of survival.
3.5.3 Atalanta have a chance to take point off Inter.
  Inter may be resting the A-team, and sending their
  B-team for this game.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review England Premier Lg weekend fixtures
1. Weekend fixtures
4/24 (Sat)
Bolton vs Portsmouth
Arsenal vs Man C  --> Top of table clash
Hull vs Sunderland
Wolves vs Blackburn
West Ham vs Wigan

4/25 (Sun)
Aston V vs Birmingham --> Birmingham derby
Burnley vs Liverpool
Everton vs Fulham
Chelsea vs Stoke
Man Utd vs Spurs  --> Top of table clash

2. Standings
                                      P          Pts
1. Chelsea                   35        77
2. Man Utd                 35        76
3. Arsenal                    35        71
4. Spurs                        34       64
   --- Qualify for Champ Lg ---
5. Man C                      34        62
6. Aston V                    35        61
7. Liverpool                  35        59  (See Note)
   --- Qualify for Europa Lg ---
8. Everton                     35       54
9. Birmingham            35       47

14. Bolton                     35       35
15. Wigan                      35      35
16. Wolves                     35      34
17. West Ham               35      31
   --- Relegation line ---
18. Hull                           35      28
19. Burnley                    35      27
20. Portsmouth            35      15  --> Relegated
Note -- Premier Lg and England FA have rejected Portsmouth
  application to play in Europe next season because of its
  financial situations.  The next-ranked (7th) team in the
  League Table will take Portsmouth place.

3. Comment
3.1 Man C must beat Arsenal to raise their chance of taking
  4th place. Arsenal, in the other hand, may not let this slip again.
  They are not really safe for 3rd place. They need to consolidate
  their position.
3.2 Man Utd vs Spurs --Both sides cannot afford to lose.
  Man Utd's hope for title will take a blow if they do not win.
  Similiar story to Spurs, their chances of finishing 4th place
  will take a nosedive.
3.3 Birmingham derby -- Aston V are more superior in performance
  this season, in comparison with Birmingham.
3.4 Everton vs Fulham -- Fulham may be very tired after midweek
  Europa Lg game. I give my vote to Everton.

3.5 Relegation battles
3.5.1 West Ham vs Wigan -- West Ham must beat Wigan to give
  themselves survival hope. If Wigan win again, they will be safe.
3.5.2  Hull vs Sunderland -- Sunderland should be the better team.
3.5.3 Burnley vs Liverpool -- Liverpool should be sending out
  their B-team in order to give A-team a rest, chances are good
  for Burnley to upset Liverpool. Liverpool will have to play
  Leg 2 of Europa Lg midweek next week.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

It's time to review French D1
1. Weekend fixtures
4/24 (Sat)
Lorient vs Bordeaux
Sochaux vs Boulogne
Nice vs Grenoble
Le Mans vs Lille
Lyon vs Monaco  --> Game postponed to 5/12
Nancy vs Montpellier
PSG vs Rennes

4/25 (Sun)
Toulouse vs Auxerre
Marseille vs St Etienne
Lens vs Valenciennes

2. Standings
                           P       Pts
1. Marseille           33      68
2. Auxerre             33      63
3. Lyon                 33      59
   --- Qualify for Champ Lg line ---
4. Montpellier        32      59
   --- Qualify for Europa Lg line ---
5. Lille                  33      58
6. Bordeaux           32      57
7. Rennes              33      51

15. Sochaux            33      38
16. Nice                 33      37
17. St Etienne         33      36
   --- Relegation line ---
18. Le Mans            33      28
19. Boulogne           33      24
20. Grenoble           33      16  --> Relegated

3. Comment
3.1 Marseille can beat St Etienne and march to the title.
3.2 Auxerre are very consistent this season. Toulouse
  cannot trouble them.
3.3 Montpellier, like Auxerre, are also very consistent.
  They have no trouble beating Nancy.
3.4 Barring any disasters, Lille will beat Le Mans.

3.5 Relegation battles -- there is a 8-point gap in the
  safety line. Le Mans and Boulonge are almost no-hope
  now.
3.5.1 Bologne still have chances to upset Sochaux,
  who are very disappointing this season.
3.5.2 It is a miracle that Le Mans can get a draw against
  Lille.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of games played last night (4/23)
1. German D1
Bochum 0-2 Stuttgart
Comment -- Stuttgart are now on 53pts. They still have claims
  for 3rd place (the Champ Lg spot).

2. German D2
Karlsruhe 1-0 Ahlen
Kaiserslautern 0-1 Rostock
St Pauli 6-1 Koblenz
Comment -- Kaiserslautern promotion party will have to
  wait until next week. St Pauli are favourites to join
  Kaiserslautern  promotion to D1 next season.

3. Portugal
Rio Ave 0-0 Maritimo

4. Belgium Super League -- Championship Group
Kortrijk 2-0 Club Brugge
Comment -- Club Brugge are very disappointing this season.
  They cannot poise any threat to leader Anderlecht.

5. Austria D1
RB Salzburg 1-1 Rapid Vienna
Comment -- Salzburg are almost certain to win the championship
  this season.  Rapid Vienna must win this game to poise any
  threat.

6. French D2
Laval 2-2 Ajaccio
Nimes 0-1 Angers
Metz 1-2 Arles
Istres 1-0 Brest
Guingamp 1-1 Chateauroux
Dijon 2-3 Clermont
Nantes 1-3 Sedan
Bastia 1-0 Strasbourg
Tours 1-1 Vannes
Comment -- Brest have to wait for next week to confirm promotion
  to D1. Bastia (last place) win gives themselves hope for survival.
  Bastia are on 34pts.  There are three teams on 37pts (Guingamp,
  Vannes, and Istres), and Chateauroux on 35pts.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of gasmes played yesterday (4/24)
1. Eng Premier Lg
Arsenal 0-0 Man C
Bolton 2-2 Portsmouth
Hull 0-1 Sunderland
Man Utd 3-1 Spurs
West Ham 3-2 Wigan
Wolves 1-1 Blackburn
Coomment -- Hull are relegated along with Portsmouth.
  If Burnley can only draw with Liverpool today, they will
  also be relegated. With 2 games remaining, they could
  only draw level with West ham on 34points.
  West Ham have a far superior Goal Differneces
  (-18 vs -41).

2. Spanish Primera (D1)
Barcelona 3-1 Xerez
Zaragoza 1-2 R.Madrid
Valencia 1-0 Deportivo
Comment -- The title may have to be decided at
  the last day of the season.

3. Italian Serie A
Inter 3-1 Atalanta
Pa;lermo 3-1 AC Milan
Comment -- If AC Milan llosing, they may finish 4th.
  with Sampdoria and Palermo winning.

4. German D1
Leverkusen 3-0 Hannover
M'galdbach 1-1 B.Munich
Hertha 0-1 Schalke
Mainz 3-3 Frankfurt
Bremen 1-0 Cologne
Comment -- It may take a photo-finish to decide the
  championship title.  B.Munich have a better Goal Difference
  than Schalke (+37 vs +24). There are 4 teams contending
  the 3rd place too.
   --- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of games yesterday (4/24)
1. Eng League Championship
Barnsley 0-1 QPR
Bristol C 2-1 Derby
Cardiff 3-2 Sheff Wed
Doncaster 4-3 Scunthorpe
Middlesboro 1-1 Coventry
Newcastle 2-2 Ipswich
Notts F 3-0 Plymouth
Peterboro 0-1 Blackpool
Preston 0-1 Leicester
Sheff Utd 2-0 Swansea
Watford 3-0 Reading

Comment -- Plymouth are relegated.
Play-Off Candidates -- It is certain Notts F, Cardiff and
  Leicester are in Play-Off. The last spot is between
  Blackpool and Swansea, with just one point separating them.

2. Eng League One
Brentford 1-1 Yeovil
Brighton 2-1 Bristol R
Colchester 1-1 Tranmere
Exeter 1-1 Charlton
Leeds 4-1 MK Dons
Millwall 2-1 Leyton
Norwich 2-0 gillingham
Olldham 2-2 Southend
Southampton 3-2 Carlisle
Stockport 0-6 Huddersfield
Walsall 3-1 Hartlepool
Wycombe 2-2 Swindon
Comment --Norwich are crowned champion.
  Lees, Millwal and maybe Swindon are fighting for
   the Runner-up spot.  Southend are relegated along
  with Stockport. Tranmere still have a glimmer of hope
  for survival.
   -- End of Update ---

Thunderball

Results of games played yesterday (4/25)
1. Eng Premier Lg
Aston V 1-0 Birmingham
Burnley 0-4 Liverpool
Chelsea 7-0 Stoke
Everton 2-1 Fulham
Comment -- Burnley are relegated along with Portsmouth
  and Hull.

2. German D1
Hoffenheim 5-1 Hamburg
Freiburg 1-0 Wolfsburg
Comment -- Freiburg get out of the relegation zone.
  Bochum dropped down to 16th place (D1/D2 Play-Off spot).

3. Italian Serie A
Bologna 2-1 Parma
Fiorentina 0-2 Chievo
Genoa 1-2 Lazio
Juve 3-0 Bari
Livorno 3-1 Catania
Napoli 0-0 Cagliari
Roma 1-2 Sampdoria
Udinese 4-1 Siena
Comment -- Roma slipped up and Inter lead the table.

4. Spanish D1
Almeria 0-1 Espanyol
Atl Madrid 3-1 Tenerife
Getafe 4-3 Sevilla
Santander 1-2 Villarreal
Sp Gijon 0-2 Valladolid

5. French D1
Toulouse 0-3 Auxerre
Marseille 1-0 St Etienne
Lens 1-1 Valenciennes
Comment -- Marseille are the clear leader now.
   --- End of Update ---