Normal service resumes in the Serie A this week with the usual Friday through till Sunday fixtures. The weather appears to be improving in Italy so there should be no postponements this weekend.
Friday night sees two crucial games for those near the top of Serie A as Inter face Bologna in the San Siro and Napoli travel to Florence to face Fiorentina. Inter were the victim of the biggest shock of the season last Sunday as they were beaten 1-0 by bottom club Novara. Inter now havn't won in four games and are nine points off the top. Its not necessarily the results that are bothering Inter supporters but those who are inflicting them, loses to lowly Leece and Novara and a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Roma are simply unacceptable results for a club of Inter's stature. Claudio Raneri remains a man under pressure, despite their great run in the middle of the season, Inter started poorly and are now back in another slump.With Fabio Capello now waiting in the wings for the next big Serie A vacancy Raneri must turn things round fast. Bologna however will be no walk over, unbeaten in 5 (albeit 4 of them were draws) including a 0-0 draw at Leece last weekend Bologna have secured their reputation of a team not easy to break down. Bologna are up to the task when it comes to stopping the 'big' teams with draws against Roma and Napoli in recent weeks. They are taken to do the same here and keep Inter's miserable run continuing. Draw - Bologna frustrate Raneri's men.
At the same time Fiorentina host Napoli in a game where both teams appear to be coming back to some form. Fiorentina enter the game off the back of two straight wins, including a 3-2 win over high flying Udinese last weekend. Napoli were able to gain their first win in 6 on Monday night when they beat Chievo 2-0. The teams played out a goalless draw when they met in Naples earlier in the season and expect an equally cagey game here. Napoli will be determined to take all 3 points here as they look to securing a Champions League place and Walter Mazzarri has one of the best attacks in the league. But they are not firing at the moment and Fiorentina will fancy their chances especially with home advantage. Another very tricky game to call, away win just. Away win - Napoli's front men find their form again.
The only game on Saturday sees unbeaten Juventus face 13th place Catania. Juventus may be unbeaten but they are wobbling at the moment, drawing their last two games 0-0, against Siena and then Parma on Wednesday. They face a Catania side unbeaten in three and full of confidence after thrashing an inform Genoa side 4-0 last weekend. Catania held Juventus to a 1-1 draw earlier in the season but they will do well to repeat that even with Juventus' current form. Juventus will be keen to return to the top of the table and put pressure on AC Milan and they are taken to do just that. Home win - The Old Lady remains unbeaten and Conte's men get a much needed win.
Sunday sees 7 games in all, beginning with Leece hosting Siena. Leece are in trouble, despite a decent run they remain in the bottom 3 and four points from safety. Their latest result a 0-0 draw away to Atlanta has strengthened the belief that although they are sufficient defensively they simply don't score enough goals. Siena remain in a precarious position two places above the relegation zone. However they did beat Roma 1-0 on Monday and that if nothing else will boost morale. Both teams will be desperate for the points but its likely that the little bit of quality Siena have going forward will be enough to see them through against a blunt Leece attack. Away win - Siena move away from danger, just.
Second from bottom Cesena take on table toppers AC Milan in what looks like a nailed on away win. Cesena scared Lazio last Friday night by being 2-0 up at half time only to throw it away in the second half and lose 3-2. Milan meanwhile achieved their first win in three beating Udinese 2-1 then on Wednesday the Rossoneri put on a scintillating display to beat Arsenal 4-0 in The Champions League. Milan will be without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic but are boosted by the return of Alessandro Pato from injury. Cesena lack the class that Milan possess at both ends of the pitch and look set for defeat here. Away win - Milan march on.
Bottom side Novara host Atlanta in an intriguing tie that sees both teams come off the back of good wins. Novara beat Inter 1-0 and Atlanta recorded the same scoreline against Genoa on Wednesday. Despite their great win over Inter Novara remain rock bottom with just three wins all season. Atlanta meanwhile are sat in mid table and are unbeaten in two. Atlanta overcame Novara 2-1 in the reverse fixture and a similar scoreline could well happen here. Novara maybe high on confidence but consistency certainly is not their strong point. Away win - A proffesional display from Atlanta will be enough here.
Roma host Parma in what looks a very difficult match for Luis Enrique's team. Roma slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Siena on Monday night meaning they have won just once in 5 games. Enrique is another manager who may be looking over his shoulder for signs of Capello. Parma meanwhile are a model of consistency, unbeaten in 5 including a 0-0 draw with Juventus last weekend Roberto Donadoni's men look a match for anyone. Roma are capable but Parma are too, a draw seems likely. Unless the Roma that beat Inter 4-0 turn up. Draw - More frustration for Roma fans.
Genoa host Chievo as both teams look to bounce back from consecutive defeats. Genoa beaten 1-0 by Atlanta on Wednesday while Chievo were beaten 1-0 by Napoli on Monday. Earlier in the season the home side ran out 2-1 winners in Verona. Again another very close match seems likely. Genoa though are taken to bounce back from their poor run, after beating both Lazio and Napoli in recent weeks at home Genoa have shown that at home in particular they are a force. Home win - Home advantage pays dividends as Genoa solidify their mid table position.
Udinese host Cagliari as the hosts look to get their league title challenge back on track. The team from Udine are now 6 points behind AC Milan after losing to them 2-1 last weekend and are now looking for their first win in three. Their opponents are unbeaten in 3 after beating Palermo 2-1 and look set to be a test for the title contenders. Again home advantage could be the key here and with the striking power Udinese possess they should albeit narrowly beat Cagliari. Home win - Udinese back on track.
Palermo suffered their first defeat in 5 at the hands of Cagliari last weekend and could be set for another when they face third placed Lazio. Lazio overcame a scare to beat Cesena 3-2 last Friday and have beaten AC Milan in recent weeks. At home Palermo are enjoying a good spell and they did hold Lazio to a 0-0 draw in Rome earlier in the season. Lazio though have come on since then particulary on an attacking front. Again this is set to be tight but Lazio should have enough. Away win - Lazio far from out of the title race.
Selected Match Betting:
Napoli, Juventus, Siena, AC Milan, Atalanta, Genoa, Udinese & Lazio all to Win - 458/1
AC Milan V Cesena - Robiniho Score 1st - Odds unavailable at present
Juventus V Catania - Juventus win 3-0 - Odds unavailable at present
Enjoy The Games!
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