Inter####onale are in top spot. Consistently winning; even whilst playing
poorly; is a feature of most of their campaign to date. The title is theirs to lose. The restart of European competition will have
a big impact on the UEFA Cup and Champions League places. Juventus, Udinese and Palermo don’t have any European football to
look forward to or provide a distraction.
Inter, Milan
and Roma have the Champions League and Fiorentina have the UEFA Cup as a
distraction.
SERIE A TRANSFERS
ATALANTA
Out: Zampagna (A, Vicenza)
CAGLIARI – some
strengthening of their goalkeeping and looking for goals in order to avoid
Serie B next season.
FIORENTINA – even more depth in attack to
maintain their UEFA Cup spot.
In: Cacia (A, Piacenza)
GENOA – help at the
back and in attack, to help push for a UEFA Cup place.
In: Criscito (D, Juventus), Masiero (A, Central
Espanol), Wilson (A, Corinthians)
INTER – bolstering the injury hit midfield
with creativity and experience.
In: Maniche (M, Atletico Madrid)
Out: Adriano (A, Sao Paulo)
JUVENTUS
Out: Criscito (D, Genoa),
Olivera (M, Penarol)
LAZIO
LIVORNO – strengthening the
defence to avoid relegation trouble.
In: Sidny (D, Nautico)
MILAN – bagging the
most talked about Brazilian eighteen year old in years to help them in Europe and take them to a Champions League place.
In: Pato (A, Internacional)
NAPOLI
Out: Gatti (M, Modena)
PALERMO
Out: Brienza (M, Reggina)
PARMA – last season he
bagged 20 goals for Livorno, he’ll help them
avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation battle.
In: Lucarelli (A, Shakhtar Donetsk)
Out: Cardone (D, Cesena), Paponi (A, Cesena)
REGGINA – defensive help and proven young
goalscorer in their battle to stay up.
In: Cirillo (D, Levante), Stuani (A, Danubio)
ROMA
SAMPDORIA
Out: Foti (A, Messina)
SIENA – two more
attacking options, to help balance their goal difference.
In: Porta (A, River Plate Montevideo),
Rigano' (A, Levante)
Out: Bucchi (A, Bologna)
TORINO
UDINESE
Out: Sivok (M, Sparta Prague)
FIXTURES
Fiorentina V Torino
A midweek cup trouncing might not get any better in Florence. La Viola is strong and coming of####ood win and
with Europe coming up and the European spots
up for grabs they have plenty to play for.
The manager also seems to be right back in the game. The Gigliati are at full strength and Granata
are struggling with injuries. Last week
Fiorentina won and Torino lost.
The Nerrazzurri scraped a win last week but expect a
different side at the Stadio Meazza.
Maniche is unlikely to get an outing as will Parma’s new signing Lucarelli. Expect a home win but don’t be surprised if
Lucarelli returns to Serie A with a ####.
Parma hasn’t
won away from home yet and a loss won’t help their slide into the relegation
quagmire. Both sides are at less than
full strength but Mancini’s charges have plenty of depth. Last week Inter won and Parma lost.
Genoa V Atalanta
Great result for Genoa
last week and they’ll need to play just as well to leapfrog Atalanta in the
race for a UEFA Cup place. Expect a home
win but this could be a cracking game. Genoa loses their top
Honduran and Doni is back for Atalanta.
Last week Genoa
won and Atalanta lost.
Juventus V Sampdoria
A draw for the Bianconeri; a lucky one at that; will need to
be erased by a home win. Juventus can’t
lose their position but they will not want to slip any further behind Roma or allow
Udinese and Fiorentina to catch up. Sampdoria
were on fire last week and will relish this tough away challenge despite having
a less than stellar form on the road.
Sampdoria don’t have a full compliment of strikers and Juventus are a
touch short in defence. Tiago may
start. Last week Juventus drew and
Sampdoria won.
Livorno V Empoli
Already a relegation six pointer and a local derby will make
this fixture shine (although last season it remained goalless). Livorno is
unbeaten in five and playing well under a new manager and Empoli are
struggling, with their last win coming in 2007.
Empoli are at less than full strength and poor on the road. Last week Livorno
won and Empoli drew.
Napoli V Lazio
Napoli needs to regain
their early season form if they are to mount a challenge on a European
place. The strikers and goalkeepers are
kept busy in Naples
so expect a few goals; from either team.
Lazio continue their poor form.
Gargano will be a loss to Napoli but
Lazio has plenty of injury worries. Last
week both teams lost.
Palermo V Siena
Palermo
come off an erratic run of form but are still riding high in Serie A, another
loss will dent their UEFA Cup ambitions and could see them drop places. Siena
are in deep trouble and really struggle on the road; one win in eight. This must be the start of the Bianconeri’s
relegation dogfight, particularly as they showed so well against Inter last
week. Expect goals with both teams
wanting the win. Last week Palermo and Siena
lost.
Reggina V Cagliari
Reggina are struggling but Cagliari is awful. A huge game for both teams. Another loss and Cagliari will be playing for pride, a Reggina
loss helps them not a jot. Amaruso will
be the difference maker and will want to shine so as to stake a place in another
Serie A side next season. History is
with the home side and the visitors have their share of injury woes. Last week Reggina grabbed a point and Cagliari lost;
again.
Roma V Catania
Second place needs defended and the visit of Catania is an almost certain three points, last season Catania got thrashed
7-0. Catania hasn’t won on the road this season
and nothing is likely to change here, Mancini is in a good run of form and
Spinesi is wearing his shooting boots.
The result against Juventus will give the Sicilians heart for this
fixture. Last week Roma won and Catania were robbed of
three points.
Udinese V Milan
Possibly the biggest game of the weekend. Milan is
certainly going to be tested by a very strong Udinese side that has only lost
once in Udine. Milan’s
away form is better than their play in the Stadio Meazza though. Pirlo’s absence will be a tough blow to
overcome; Gattuso is fiery but doesn’t have the ball skills that Pirlo
has. The three Brazilians will face a
tougher test against a tough Udinese back line than they did against Napoli. The Azzuri
have some injury and suspension problems but Quagliarella is in form, history
favours the Rossoneri. Last week both
these teams won and will be looking to continue the trend to solidify their
European aspirations for the home side and to climb the table for the
visitors.
A.C. Milan
has left the country but the Serie a fixture is packed with tasty games this
weekend.
Italian football's best player gets his hands on a golden ball.
Internaz ionale are still the form team, closely followed by
A.S. Roma, the top two have opened a gap on the other teams; albeit a small
one. With three games two go before the
Winter break the chasers will want to close the gap before it becomes a chasm.
Empoli (20th)
v Cagliari (18th)
A real relegation six pointer so early in the season. Empoli have been poor; home and away this
season; with the exception of a win over A. C. Milan at the San Siro.
Two weak defences and the worst Italian top flight attack
might suggest plenty of goals; I’d beg to differ; last season this fixture was
1-0 and Cagliari don’t travel to the Stadio Castellini very well.
Injuries to the Cagliari
‘keeper will be the focal point of Empoli’s attack; Foggia may be back to his best for this
game. A dourish and close home win.
Genoa (13th) v Siena (17th)
A win for Siena
would take them away from the crowd at the bottom of the table. With only a
victory against Empoli this season they are struggling for points, a full squad
to pick from will help but a less than stellar away record doesn’t favour the
Bianconeri.
Genoa are a mixed bag this
season, good wins against Udinese and Napoli
have been balanced with a thrashing by Internaz ionale. The home side scores freely at home but also
have defensive problems, having Bega out on a suspension won’t help.
Home advantage should mean a Genoa victory. Don’t hold your breath for a cracker unless Genoa regains their early
season form.
Internaz ionale (1st)
v Torino (12th)
The Nerazzurri welcome Torino
with open arms, despite their injury worries.
The Turin
team is winless on the road and Internaz ionale are dominant at home.
Six goals for the home side in the two fixtures last season
and a relatively bounteous selection of forwards to choose from would suggest a
home romp. The Turin
team are likely to favour a 4 4 2 and have done well against Milan and Juventus this season, the need to
win this; in the first of three tough games; is immense. Ventola may have a point to prove and the
midfield will be strengthened with the return of Grella and Barone (has anyone
seen DangerMouse?). Expect a home win.
Juventus (3rd)
v Atalanta (6th)
Atalanta are calmly going about making a Bergamo size dent
in Serie A this season, they have done it without the attention of a Napoli or
Palermo. The comfortable win last week
was a wake up call to many in the league. The Orobici will be feeling good with a solid
if unspectacular away record. Doni is
better at home than away but adds a touch of class to a more workmanlike team.
Juventus are getting better as the season wears on, the lack
of European football is a huge help and the players that took them easily to
the top of Serie B are doing the same in Serie A. Goal scoring isn’t the Bianconeri’s issue at
home but their defence can be a touch shaky at times.
Doni will have to be on fire and the Juventus backline have
a clanger for an away win in the Stadio Olimpico. Home win.
Lazio (15th)
v Catania (10th)
Lazio are having a poor season, struggling in Italy and in Europe
they have all but imploded this season. Rossi
is under pressure and a loss here might be his last hurrah for the
Biancocelesti. They have a host of
injuries and are leaking goals at home.
Catania
will be buoyant after a stonking win against their Sicilian neighbours last
week. Martinez and Tedesco will be absent due to suspension
but they have plenty of quality in the side.
The Rossoazzurri front man Spinesi will be a threat but goals from
elsewhere may be harder to come by.
Not winning away this season may change this weekend, Lazio
will be shell shocked and tired from the Inter drubbing in midweek. Pride and safety can make excellent
motivators though. I’d go for an entertaining
draw.
Livorno (16th) v Roma (2nd)
Livorno is hovering above
the trouble zone this week but welcome an in form Roma to the Armando
Picchi. The Tuscan’s have been
marginally better away this season but took two points off Internaz ionale at
home. If Tavano has a good game they can
expect some goals from a sometimes error prone Roma defence.
The Giallorossi need to put away teams such as Livorno to keep Internaz ionale in their sights. Totti’s likely return will be a boost to
Spalletti, although it remains to be seen whether the Italian and Montenegrin
can operate in tandem; as they are likely to do at the weekend.
Unless Roma have a howler and Livorno; Amelia in particular;
have a blinder then an away win is on the cards, Roma are a stronger team than
last year when they came away from Tuscany
with a draw.
Napoli (9th)
v Parma (14th)
Tough game for Napoli after
last week’s defeat. They are much better
home than away so should be optimistic.
Reja is likely to field an unchanged side; one alteration due to
suspension aside; such is his confidence in his players. They have plenty of goals in them but the
Azzurri can be dodgy at the back.
Parma
has a chance to match them on points with a win. A recent run of good form has coincided with
a return to a 4 4 2, the Gialloblu will rely on Manchester misfit Corradi and Pisanu for
goals but have struggled late in games at times this season.
A tough one to call but I’ll go for the Azzurri on this one,
home form and their foreign strike force will give them all three points.
Palermo (11th) v Fiorentina (5th)
La Viola need a win to change their momentum and hasn’t lost
on their travels this season. Prandelli’s
loss will be professionally put aside in what is almost a must win game. Goals have been the recent problem, Mutu
hasn’t been on target since the Siena
win although Pazzini and Vieri have both found the net recently. Three games without a win isn’t Champions
League spot football.
Palermo had a tough loss last week and much will depend on
whether they go 4 5 1 or 4 4 2, they have been much better looking and more
dangerous in the latter formation, Amauri benefits from a little attacking
help. Last week they squandered a number
of half chances and will need to be better in front of goal this week. Caserta’s
suspension is a blow but the reintroduction of Miccoli and Cavani should help
things out up front.
The home crowd maybe a twelfth man but Fiorentina are a
strong side. I think you may see some
fireworks in the Renzo Barbera, most of them actually on the pitch. High scoring draw.
Udinese (4th)
v Sampdoria (7th)
The team from Udine
will want to bounce back after a loss to Roma.
Lack of a strong midfield will be the key for Udinese, if they can
manage without one they will win. Tough
to beat and obdurate they are good at home and their loss to Internaz ionale
was their first in nine games.
Sampdoria are a topsy turvy team, they can set a stadium
alight or bore the crowds with some turgid football; rarely do they attain a
middle ground. Cassano can set them on
fire but his ego is still a major problem.
A fit Bellucci will cause the Zebrette problems but their poor away
record in defence may be exploited.
Tense encounter given the importance of the game but Udinese
will sneak the points.
My games of the week this weekend are Juventus v Atalanta
and Palermo v
Fiorentina. Both sets of teams are close
in terms of their current standings and a good or bad result this weekend can
be a tough one to bounce back from or huge boost just before Christmas.
If you have FSC, the games from Turin,
Sicily and Milan will be broadcast. I’ll hope to do both my games of the week in
a summary.
The Scuddetto race is only a quarter complete and certain
issues are becoming clearer. Favourites
are emerging, train wrecks are happening before our eyes and the usual suspects
are scrapping for the crumbs
A general overview:-
Internaz ionale remain strong despite some early
faltering. Juventus are for real. Lazio and Milan are in trouble already. Fiorentina aren’t a one season wonder and Napoli is making their mark on the top Italian
division. Palermo,
Udinese, Atalanta and Catania
are a pleasant surprise and Sampdoria a dissapointment. Genoa is
struggling and the usual mess of Siena, Cagliari, Empoli, Livorno
and Reggina are already mired in a relegation battle.
Team by team:-
Internaz ionale:-
Mancini has put together a strong squad; their bench is full
of internationals. Injuries to Figo and
Stankovic will hamper the current champions, but a run out for Dacourt in
midweek and the versatility of Cambiaso and Zanetti will ease the manager’s worries. Chivu is starting to find his feet and is a
dangerous set piece expert. Ibrahimovic
remains the main striker and the most difficult of Mancini’s decisions
surrounds who partners him up front with Adriano, Suazo, Crespo and Cruz all
netting recently.
A schedule which has seen them play some top and bottom
sides; with mixed results but still on top and unbeaten; will continue to be a
mixed bag with no really tough stretches, the next big game for the league
leaders is away to Fiorentina on matchday 14.
Fiorentina:-
Prandelli is building on the UEFA Cup spot from last season;
despite starting the season with a 19 point deficit. Mutu is hitting a rich vein of form. Vieri is helping to fill the Luca Toni shaped
hole in their front line. Gamberini and
Dainelli have helped La Viola remain unbeaten.
Frey is pushing for a place as a starter for France and his keeping has been
solid, last week his world class save against Lazio gave La Viola the three
points ensuring they go second.
A schedule which has seen them take points from Roma, Milan, and Juventus and beat the upstarts of Naples sees them unbeaten but unable to turn draws into
wins at Genoa
or Atalanta. The upcoming games for the Florence team include tough trips to Palermo and Sampdoria with two tough home
games against Internaz ionale and Udinese.
The Reggina game should be a relatively easy three points.
Roma:-
Having finished one of the toughest opening schedules in
Serie A in years the Giallorossi are still third. Despite an injury to talismanic Captain Totti
Roma has played well. Mancini is still
adjusting to Serie A and can blow hot or cold, Vucinic is stepping up to the
lone striker role well. Giuly has
adapted well and is becoming more consistent.
Mexes and Juan still remain a touch green but are generally solid. Doni would be the only real weak link in the
side, his performance against Sporting was less than stellar.
The schedule for the Roman team gets easier for the next few
weeks with no game against the top four before the winter break.
Juventus:-
Fresh from a season in the dungeon of Serie B the Bianconeri
are back in Serie A with a vengance. Raineri
has moulded a good side and with Trezeguet firing on all cylinders the goals
are flowing freely. Contract worries
over Del Piero have rightly been quashed and Nedved is finding a rich vein of
form. Buffon; still reputedly the
world’s best; is solid as ever but they have still shipped goals and lost games
this season.
A schedule that has seen the Old Lady take points from
Internaz ionale and Roma with late goals has also seen them drop points against
Udinese and Napoli. This has been interspersed with emphatic wins
against Livorno and Reggina and a tough Derby
win against Torino.
Tough upcoming games for Juventus include the visit of Palermo and a trip to Milan.
Udinese, Atalanta, Napoli and Palermo are fighting for the UEFA Cup places
in Serie A. Each team has started the
season well but with only nine points separating Udinese; in fifth place and
Lazio in fithteenth place a slip up can drop a team down several places.
This is the Serie A dogfight. Teams don’t have the resources to buy in big
name players or have large squads; they have to rely on younger players coming
through and older stars refinding their past form. These teams should be endeavoring to beat the
teams below them and take points of the teams above them. Any one of these teams could face mid table
mediocrity at the season’s end or find themselves in a Champions league spot.
Udinese have Asamoah and Di Natale finding the net and
manager Marino has shown his flair for an attacking team that doesn’t forget
how to defend.
Atalanta has Doni in form and Zampagna and Langella finding
the net. Del Neri has shown what he can
do with some Flying Donkeys but has yet to find the right club since leaving
Cheivo back in Serie B.
Napoli has been a pleasant
surprise upon their Serie A return.
Lavezzi has been wonderful up front and Zalayeta, Domizzi and Sosa have
been finding the net. Despite tough
losses; their defeat to Inter#### onale they have continued to commit
themselves to a brand of attacking football that is pleasing to watch. Reja is proving to be a good choice as
manager.
Palermo
have Amauri in good form and paired with Miccoli provides the Rosanero with a
useful strikeforce. Too many draws have
put pressure on Colantuono for a home win.
Week 12 fixtures:-
Atalanta v Milan:-
Sixth versus ninth.
Ancelotti has all but Jankulovski fit.
Del Neri has Talamonti, Costinha, Bellini injured and Zampagna and De Ascentis
suspended. Unbeaten at home faces a Milan team with a better
away record then home record. History
suggests a home win but what does she know.
Fiorentina v Udinese:-
Second versus fifth.
Gamberini is injured for Prandelli.
Marino has Pinzi and Ferronetti as doubts but sees the likely return of
Asamoah up front. An unbeaten home side
in fine form against a team with a patchy away record. The result should see three points for La
Viola.
Internaz ionale v Lazio:-
First versus fifthteenth.
Mancini has his team on fire and full of confidence following the four
goal turnaround in midweek. Figo,
Stankovic, Viera, Materazzi and Toldo are all injured. Rossi is without Zauri, Mauri, Diakhite, Siviglia, Del
Nero, all injured but Pandev could return.
The midweek win will boost their confidence.
Probably an easy three points for Inter but Lazio can always
spring a surprise in the big games.
Palermo v Napoli:-
Eighth versus seventh.
Blassi is injured for Reja.
Amauri is suspended and Miccoli doubtful for Colantuono. Tough to call. Figure on an away win with the home teams
best strikers both out.
Parma
v Juventus:-
Fourteenth versus fourth.
Di Carlo has Cardone, Budan injured and Couto suspended. Ranieri has Boumsong out along with Andrade
and Nedved suspended.
History doesn’t bode well for Parma
and a Bianconeri side that have scored eight outside Turin
against a Parma
side that has shipped ten goals at home seems to suggest an away win and the
possible firing of Di Carlo.
Reggina v Genoa:-
Bottom versus eleventh.
Uliveri has Garcia and Tognozzi out injured. Gasperini has Waigo and Santos injured with Borriello suspended. Who can really tell how this game will
end. Anything from a dull goalless
snorefest to a rampaging seven goal thriller is possible.
Roma v Cagliari:-
Third versus seventeenth.
Spalletti will be without Aquilani but Totti may return. Pisano, Lopez are out for Giampaolo. Even the rigours of a 2-2 draw against
Sporting should see the Giallorossi with enough legs left to see off a
trembling Rossoblu.
Sampdoria v Empoli:-
Twelfth versus eighteenth.
Mazzarri is without Cassano, Delvecchio, Lucchini, Accardi and Pieri is
suspended. Cagni deals with injuries to
Balli and Volpato with Saudati suspended.
A must win for either team who both came back in week eleven from poor
week ten result. Anybodies guess but I’d
go for a home win.
Siena v Livorno:-
Sixteenth versus nineteenth.
Mandorlini is without the injured ####ssola and Forestieri. Suspended De Vezze and injures Giannichedda
and Vidigal are absentees for Camolese.
Several bore draws have been the results in frequent Tuscan
derbies. So a repeat of the 6-3 Siena victory in the
2004/05 season seems unlikely. Snore
Draw!
Torino v Catania:-
Thirteenth versus tenth.
High flying Catania
manager Baldini has Silvestri injured.
Novellino will miss Bjelanovic and Vailatti through suspension and
Recoba, Barone and Grella through injury.
Could be a spine tingler, Catania will look to bounce back after being beaten
at home to Atalanta and Torino look to build on a hard fought San Siro
draw. Possibly a high scoring draw.
Game of the week:-
At first glance it appears to be Palermo
v Napoli but with Amauri out I’d actually go
for Fiorentina v Udinese. The vagaries
of FSC’s scheduling means I don’t yet know which game(s) I’ll be doing a
wonderfully crafted game summary for.
Milan,
Roma, Lazio and Internaz ionale played in midweek so perhaps they will suffer
from post Champions League fatigue.
Fiorentina played in the UEFA Cup Thursday but they didn’t have to
travel so might not feel as groggy as some.
