The weather appears to be improving in Italy with only one fixture last weekend forced to postpone. Postponements do however mean rearranged games and we have a situation this week when the Serie A will run from Wednesday night through to Monday night.
We begin with the rearranged fixture of Catania V Roma. The match was abandoned 3 weeks ago after torrential rain hit Catanaia. The score at the hour mark was 1-1 before the rain forced the postponement. It is likely we will see an equally cagey encounter again with both teams showing themselves as inconsistent. Catania drew 1-1 with Parma last weekend their first point in 3 games. Roma gained their first win in three games beating Inter 4-0 with in form striker Borini grabbing two of the goals in a suprising result. If Roma can take that performance into this game, they will beat Catania but Catania's home form is good and they were holding Roma the last time the two met. Close, but a narrow away win.
Staying with these two teams that play again on Sunday and Monday respectively. Catania face another tricky home game against Genoa. Genoa continue to upset the odds beating Lazio 3-2 last weekend after the weekend before beating Napoli by the same score line. The policy of "Were going to score one more than you" seems to be working for Genoa however both of those results were at Stadio Angelo Massimino, away from home Genoa have not won since early December. Genoa did beat Catania 3-0 earlier in the season and will be full of confidence, this seems to hinge on how low Catania's confidence is come Sunday and if Genoa can transfer their home into away games. Away win, Genoa continue their impressive form.
Roma too face a difficult task when they travel to Siena on Monday night. Despite their lowly league position of 17th Siena have shown in recent weeks that they are a difficult team to play against holding Juventus to a 0-0 result last Sunday. They may be adept at keeping teams out but Siena still have not won in 5 games something that is likely to be extended on Monday night. That is of course if the Roma that beat Inter 4-0 turn up as opposed to the Roma who got beat 4-2 by Cagliari 2 weeks ago. Luis Enrique will be boosted by Daniel De Rossi who returned for the 4-0 Inter win and showed how integral he is to any Roma success. Osvaldo remains sidelined. Hard fought away win, or draw if Enrique's men take the day off.
Moving onto the remaining fixtures of this extended weekend of games and Lazio face Cesena in the Thursday night game that really should see the home side return to winning games. Lazio were beaten 3-2 by Genoa last weekend and can ill afford another slip up if they are to push for the title. Before that surprising result Lazio had comfortably beaten AC Milan and were looking a force to be reckoned with. Cesena on the other hand remain deep in trouble, second bottom of the league and without a win in three. Although they did manage a 0-0 draw with Napoli last weekend. The likes of Klose and Rocchi should prove to much for the Cesena defence and with neither scoring in the last game they will both be keen to get on the score sheet. Comfortable home win, Lazio get their title challenge back on track.
Saturday evening sees two games beginning with Cagliari V Palermo. Cagliari were unable to build on their great win over Roma as they were held to a 0-0 by bottom team Novara last weekend. That win over Roma is their only in five games as they continue to struggle to score goals. No such problems for Palermo who have scored 13 goals in their last 5 matches including 2 in a 2-1 victory of Atlanta last weekend. Palermo now sit in 8th and are serious contenders for a Europa League spot if continuing in their current vein. The last time the two met was in September resulting in a 3-2 win for Palermo. Its unlikely that score line will be repeated but Palermo are taken to win this one. Narrow away win as Palermo continue their march up the league.
The match of the weekend is played at the same time as Udinese host AC Milan in a second versus third clash. Both teams dare not lose this one such would be the implications for their title hopes with Milan a point behind Juventus and three ahead of Udinese. At this moment in time Udinese can't string two wins together winning 2 of their last 5 and losing the three in between. A 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina last weekend compounding their fans misery as they saw their title hopes slipping away. That was of course until Napoli managed to hold AC Milan to a 0-0 draw meaning the Rossoneri havn't won in two games, poor by their standards. To make matters worse top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off in that game for slapping an opponent, the Swede now faces 3 games on the sidelines. Milan's blip could well continue in Udine particularly now they have both of their top scores out (Pato remains injured). A very tough game to call but a Udinese victory looks a distinct possibility against a weakened Milan. Home win, Udinese to make the title a three horse race.
Sunday sees a host of matches beginning with Inter host Novara. It could be argued that Inter could not have picked a better opportunity to bounce back to form by hosting bottom club Novara, but things might not be so simple. Inter are on a poor run unable to win any of their last four and were humiliated by Roma in a 4-0 defeat last weekend. Novara managed a good point against Cagliari last weekend drawing 0-0 but they still have only won 2 games all season. In a team that includes names like Milito, Zanetti & Sneijder in their side Inter really should be taking this. If they don't a crisis will be confirmed and the knives will be out on Raneri once more. Home win, Inter back on track.
Atlanta will be looking for just their second win in 6 matches when they host third bottom Leece. Atlanta were beaten 2-1 away at Palermo last weekend whereas their opponents managed a hard fought 0-0 at home to Bologna. Atlanta managed to beat Leece 2-1 earlier in the season and expect an equally close affair this time around. Leece are capable of beating the big boys with victories over Fiorentina and Inter in recent weeks but it is against the teams in and around them that they frequently slip up. Both teams will be desperate to win to move away from the relegation zone but Atlanta might just have enough to take this. Narrow away win, Atlanta move out of trouble.
A mid table clash sees Parma host Fiorentina in what is set to be another close game. Parma are now unbeaten in four after beating Chievo 2-1 last weekend. Fiorentina are unbeaten in 3 after getting over their dreadful run of form by beating Siena and then Napoli 3-2 last weekend. The third match of the season saw Fiorentina run out 3-0 over Parma but things have changed since then with Parma becoming a better team and Fiorentina inexplicably getting worse. Fiorentina have not won away in the league since the start of the year and that might be the key here, though it promises to be close. Draw, two teams back to form cancel each other out.
Bologna host Juventus on Sunday evening in an interesting match with both teams in good form. Bologna are unbeaten in 5, although they have drawn their last four including a 0-0 against Leece last weekend. Juventus remain unbeaten but were disappointingly held by Siena last weekend, 0-0. Bologna held Juventus to a 1-1 draw earlier in the season and their is little doubt that they are a solid defencive unit. However they simply don't score enough goals and it is more than likely that this will be their downfall as they are set to concede against the likes of Matri and Vucinic. Juventus will know they must win games like this if they are to win the league, and that could well make the difference. Away win, The Old Lady's climb towards the title continues.
The final game of this long weekend is along side Roma V Siena and concerns Napoli and Chievo. Chievo travel to Naples in poor form, one win in their last 5 including a 2-1 home defeat to Parma last weekend. Their hosts too are struggling, though more suprisingly. Napoli havn't won in 5 games, although a 0-0 draw with AC Milan earned last weekend is nothing to be ashamed of. Chievo sprung a shock by beating Napoli 1-0 last time the teams met and another close encounter is set up. Napoli are capable, their attacking line is one of the best in the division and if they arrive on top of their game Napoli will win comfortably, sooner or later a team is going to feel the full force of that attack again. Home win, Napoli regain some confidence with a well earned win.
Selected Match Betting
*all bets are for the games after Wednesday*
Lazio, Atlanta, Roma, Palermo, Inter, Juventus, Genoa, Napoli - All To Win - 192/1
Udinese To Beat AC Milan - 2-1 : Odds not yet available
Napoli V Chievo - Cavani To Score First - Odds not yet available
Enjoy The Games!
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