Inter won in Serie A and lost in Europe, Milan drew twice last week, Fiorentina won
twice and Juventus won then had the middle of the week off.
Wins for Sampdoria, Lazio, Empoli, Palermo
and Udinese set smiles off in Genoa, Rome, Empoli, Palermo and Udine.
Losses for Genoa, Catania, Roma, Napoli, Atalanta, Cagliari
and Reggina means tears in Genoa, Catania, Rome, Naples, Bergamo, Cagliari and
Reggio Calabria.
Draws for Parma, Siena, Torino mean scratched heads in Parma,
Siena and Turin.
Shock of the week, Empoli handing it to Napoli in Naples.
Non shock of the week, Inter wins, again.
FIXTURES
Reggina V Juventus
A week without the hullabaloo of Europe
will be good for the Bianconeri, time to relax and plan for a second place
challenge. Reggina have had some soul
searching to do on the back of four losses, it looks bleak for the Amaranto.
Reggina were hammered by four in their last meeting.
The firepower at home is weak (if not AWOL) and Juventus
have an awful lot of talent.
Milan V Palermo
A tough trip to London
and a laundry list of injuries will be tough for the Rossoneri to overcome and
bring their all to the Stadio Meazza against tough but fragile opposition. Palermo may
have turned a corner but will be wary of the Milan side at home and be in a cautiously buoyant
mood.
Palermo
beat Milan Palermo earlier this season.
Inconsistent form is the bane of both clubs with a lot to
play for this could be a cracker or a tight and tense draw. Managers and players will decide the outcome;
fresher legs may play a part. Europe beckons.
Torino V Parma
Neither side scored in the last round of Serie A. The Toros are in more ebullient form than the
Gialloblu although neither side is yet free of relegation worries.
Parma beat Torino in Parma.
The forwards aren’t firing particularly well for either club
but expect the home side to be less cautious.
Has all the makings of a defensive draw so it’ll probably be hugely one
sided or something.
Atalanta V Sienna
Comfortably mid table versus uncomfortably close to the
bottom three. Sienna comes into the game
with one loss in their last three while Atalanta has one win in five.
The Zebrette and Nerrazzurri drew in Siena.
Siena
play well but struggle to finish and Atalanta are much too inconsistent
recently. Best possible game would ensue
if Sienna scored first and early.
Cagliari
V Lazio
Finally the Romans won whilst the Sardinian side looks
mournfully upwards at the other nineteen Serie A sides. Things aren’t all that bright in Rome though with poor
form amidst the ruins of high expectations.
The Rossoblu got well beaten by the Biancocelesti in Rome.
Neither side has it easy finding the net although Lazio do
better away than do Cagliari
at home. This could go either way but a
lot will depend on how much fight the Sardinians actually have; there are still
fourty five points to win.
Empoli V Catania
Wow and unexpected stuffing of the Azzurri leave the Azzurri
in grand fettle. Catania’s loss last week has them only a
point above Empoli but they generally play better football. This still has the makings of a relegation
six pointer.
Last time out the Elefanti beat Empoli.
Form is with Empoli on the back of two wins as opposed to
four losses. Neither side scores many
with Pozzi being the standout forward; an injury means though that neither side
really has any edge in that department.
Home form will probably tell but the points will be hard fought
for.
Livorno V Napoli
The loss to Inter is part of an Amaranto spiral downwards,
they want a few wins though to haul into themselves back into the mid table
melee. Two losses for the Azzurri is
uncreditable, given their weapons and defensive minded coach.
The home side lost in a tight one earlier this season.
Formation and personnel is crucial for Napoli,
stars are out and a choice between 352 and 443 is tough. Livorno will
look to take on a weakened team with verve and vim at home, the wrong result
will see them in the bottom three come Sunday night.
Roma V Fiorentina
Winning in Europe is
good. The legs don’t feel so tired and
the heart and mind are full of fire and confidence. The Giallorossi still have a task in the
second leg and La Viola contemplates the Blues.
Both sides have three domestic wins in the last five with Fiorentina
edging a point closer to Roma on the back of one loss less.
Florence
saw a combustible score draw last time the two sides met.
Roma have Juventus breathing fire from below and the smell
of old age liniment is wafting up from Milan. European football next year is a must, the
name of the Cup is more vital than life itself; if you were to believe the
media.
Should be a cracking game with two sides that have plenty of
weapons, decent stoppers and solid back lines.
Mutu has more goals than Totti, take away the penalties and it’s only
one more though, expect big things from both players.
Sampdoria V Inter
Licking his hand and combing it through his coiffure as
opposed to licking his wounds and criticizing referees. A Sampdoria starlet and a Scudetto winning
manager. Europe
and Anfield was a blow, the derby d’lanterna was also a blow but the goal and
the madman were magical.
Inter still seem to be unstoppable in the league and
vulnerable in Europe whilst a Cassano inspired
Sampdoria keep climbing the table.
The Blucerchiati were soundly thrashed in a one sided
Nerrazzurri mauling in Milan.
The midfield is getting out of it’s mess and now the defence
has just slipped into one, an abundance of strikers and goals is the key for
Inter. Cassano grows into the
inspiration for Sampdoria whilst Belluci keeps ban ging in the goals. Expect some fireworks, some histrionics and
possibly a cracking game and an Inter loss.
Of course Mancini might have kicked his players and himself so hard on
the flight back from England that Inter’ll be superkeen to stomp all over
Cassano and co.
Udinese V Genoa
The uns exy side in Serie A have started getting back to
winning ways now that the spotlight is turned elsewhere. The Grifani continue to stay in the middle of
the pack with some up and down play and results. The side from Udine boasts the only cappocannoniere in
waiting who does it without the spot.
Genoa
star Borriello bagged a hat trick earlier in the season.
Udinese have some potent weapons and a mean defence, Genoa’s are less potent
and mean though not without merit. The
home side would be favoured although Derby
results can be misleading. Could be
anyone’s a Genoa
goal early would be a nice start.
My Games of the Week.
Sampdoria V Inter is trumped (just) by Roma V Fiorentina
(keep your eye on a bounceback thrashing from Napoli)
What’s On FSC?
Reggina V Juventus (Sat)
Roma V Fiorentina (Sun)
Milan V Palermo (Sun)
Expect at least one Game Summary and another episode of
SERIE A IN BRIEF IN PICTURES.
Internaz ionale are still in top spot. Milan
won and lost. Fiorentina and Roma kept
up with the leaders and Juventus slipped up.
Siena climbed out of trouble whilst Palermo stuttered
(again). Lazio may have kick started
their season whereas Napoli dropped points on
the leaders. Reggina did their
relegation dogfight chances no harm whereas Cagliari is looking at Serie B. Atalanta won and lost. Genoa
climbed whilst Empoli lost ground. Parma slipped up as did
Udinese. Livorno
climbed whilst Empoli fell.
FIXTURES
Livorno V Juventus
A home draw in Turin
meant an end to the Bianconeri Scuddetto hopes.
Whilst a win for Livorno took them out
of the relegation dogfight a tad.
Juventus aren’t as good on the road as they are in Turin
but should have enough to beat a midtable Livorno.
Both sides will be at less than full strength but look out
for Trezeguet, Iaqunita or Tavano to score.
Much will depend on who scores first.
Draw.
Roma V Palermo
Roma continue to look good for second place with another win
whilst Palermo dropped points at Siena. Winless in three the Rosaneri are stumbling
and will need to be at their best to beat Roma in Rome.
Look to see who copes best between the sticks with both Doni
and Fontana
equally capable of stunning saves or comedy errors. Roma are almost at full strength whilst Palermo will tweak things
a little to try to turn things around.
Home Win.
Sampdoria V Siena
A good draw for the Blucherati and a good win for the
Robur. A good middle of the table clash
with both clubs looking at the teams around them. The home game will benefit Sampdoria more as their
form in Tuscany is good, Siena don’t travel as well but will be buoyed by last
weeks away win.
Both sides miss key players but have ample threat up front,
Forestieri for the visitors and Bellucci for Sampdoria.
Draw.
Atalanta V Reggina
Both teams coming off wins will be looking to consolidate
with another three points. Atalanta are
handy at home whilst Reggina remain winless on the road.
Both sides will be full of confidence but the quick
succession of games could hinder the home side with the Calabrian side
fresher.
Brienza; Reggina’s new additions scored on his debut and
Doni back and playing well for the home side.
Home Win.
Cagliari V Napoli
Neither side got a helpful result last week and a turnaround
will be expected from the fans. The
Azzurri started brightly but have tailed off as the season wears on, the
Rossoblu are just bad this season, Serie B looms large.
Manager and one very naughty player are suspended for the
trip to the Stadio Sant’Elia, the Rossoblu are awash with injury problems.
Jeda and Matri must find the net for Cagliari and expect some South American
inspired flair in front of goal from the Azzurri.
Away Win
Empoli V Fiorentina
Empoli are embroiled in the relegation battle already and a
win is needed with the struggling Lazio in their sights. Fiorentina could match Juventus for points
with a win. One corner of Tuscany haven’t won in
four although are unbeaten at home in five, another corner is on a run of three
wins.
The Gigliati are at full strength, whilst the home side may
struggle to field a full set of strikers.
Mutu is in fine form and Vieri is weighing in with his share. It’ll be a tough afternoon for Balli.
Away win.
Milan V Genoa
Milan come off a tough win
and a tough defeat whilst Genoa
are climbing the table with two consecutive Serie A wins. Genoa have
trouble scoring away from home whilst Milan
are terrible at the San Siro this season.
Milan will be looking for the same UEFA
Cup spot that Genoa
is after.
SuperPippo is the only injury for the Rossoneri so selection
will be key for Ancellotti. Injury,
suspensions and unfit players hamper the Rossoblu who are still confident.
Which of the Brazilians will partner Kaka and will Seedorf
play further forward? Can Milan owned Borriello
score against his owners?
Draw.
Torino V Lazio
Both sides hover just above the relegation zone in a
precarious manner; two grand old clubs in trouble. Torino’s
recent form is worse than Lazio’s, although only just. Rolando Bianchi has just moved to Rome from Manchester,
although a move to Turin
was thought more likely. This will add
####e if the Italian U21 hitman gets a start or is on the bench for the
Biancocelesti.
Neither side is at full strength whilst not being as
depleted as some teams.
Goals are the problems so no matter whom starts expect the
experience of record breaking Ballotta and Sereni to be vital to the
outcome.
Last season Lazio mounted a 4-0 smash and grab in Turin.
Draw.
Udinese V Inter
Internaz ionale should be reeling with some dubious
performances in 2008, they are still unbeaten though. Susceptible but resilient; in no small part
thanks to the goals of Ibrahimovic and Cruz the Nerazzurri still top Serie
A. Last week saw Udinese lose late on to
Milan and drop
a place behind Fiorentina and back into the UEFA Cup places.
Udine
is a tough place to visit with only two losses this season. Inter are escapologists supreme; particularly
after the last two weeks.
Neither side is at full strength; Mancini has more problems
than Marino but does have some stars returning.
This game will be all about goals and in Cruz, Ibrahimovic
and Quagliarella; one of the better Italian marksmen from open play; will all
want to get some action.
Inter’s amazing streak of not losing will be severely tested
by the Zebretta and to be lucky four times on the bounce would be unfeasibly
spawny.
