With the Easter celebrations this weekend the Serie A has been forced to move from its usual Sunday spot to Saturday with all 8 games kicking off at 2pm, one at 5.30 and one at 8.
We begin with struggerlers Leece hosting Roma. Leece were held to a 0-0 draw for the second consecutive game last weekend by bottom club Cesena. They are now without a win in 5 and remain 5 points from safety. Roma meanwhile are eyeing fourth spot after beating Novara 5-2 last weekend. Luis Enrique's team are certainly improving with 3 wins in their last five, only AC Milan and Lazio have beaten them in recent weeks. Leece have only ever beaten Roma once in Serie A and it is highly unlikely that will change here with their inability to score goals. Also their leaky defence is likely to come undone as the likes of Osvaldo, Borini, Bojan & Totti look to get on the score sheet. Away win, Roma move closer to European place with a comfortable away win.
A mid table clash sees 11th placed Atalanta face 13th placed Siena. Atalanta's 8 game unbeaten run came to an end last weekend as they lost 2-0 to Cagliari last weekend. Siena gained a great 1-0 win over Udinese last weekend but that was their first win in 5 and they have only won once away from home all season. Expect Stefano Colantuono's men to keep their good home record going here and Siena to fall short on the road once again. Home win, another home win for Atalanta, all be it a narrow one.
Bottom club Cesena will be hoping they can get a result over an out of sorts Bologna side when they host Stefano Pioli's side. Despite being rooted to the bottom of Serie A and being 14 points from safety Cesena have been holding their form of late, drawing their last two games including a 0-0 with Leece last weekend. The visitors are on a poor run losing their last 2 including a 3-1 defeat at home to Palermo last weekend. Bologna have now won just once in their last 5. There is little doubt who the superior team is (Bologna sit comfortably in 14th) but in their current form it wouldn't be a surprise to see Cesena take something from this. A draw is more than likely outcome. Draw - Bologna add to Cesena's woes but don't take all 3 points.
Andrea Stramaccioni will be looking to maintain his 100% percent win record as Inter manager when his side travel to Cagliari. His side were involved in an extraordinary game last weekend, eventually beating Genoa 5-4. The defencive frailties that marred Cladio Raneri's reign still look intact but Stramaccioni's appoint has rejuvenated his strike force and his decision to start with Diego Milito, a player his predorcer regularly left on the bench has been a very popular move with the Inter faithful. Milito repaid his new boss with a hat-trick against Genoa and expect him to get on the score sheet again here. Cagliari cemented their place in mid table with a 2-0 win over Atalanta last weekend but they remain inconsistent with just two wins in their last 5. Inter then are taken to give Stramaccioni his second win as Inter boss and look set to finish the season with a flourish under him. Away win - Inter's away form is poor but they remain in a 'honeymoon' period with their new manager and that should see them through here.
Second from bottom Novara host Genoa as both teams look to bounce back from defeats. Novara losing 5-2 to Roma as Genoa were beaten 5-4 by Inter last weekend. Novara are 9 points from safety despite having a decent run of form losing just 2 of their last 5. Genoa are just six points from the drop zone and haven't won in their last 9 league games. Both teams will be desperate for the points here but its not hard to side with Genoa for this one given that much like their opponents they let in plenty of goals, unlike Novara however they score plenty too. Also they have changed manager this week, reinstating Alberto Malesani who was sacked earlier in the season, his appointment is the 17th manager change in this Serie A season. Novara now what its like to receive a form boost by appointing a new boss after going 2 games unbeaten under Attilio Tesser but after being taken apart by Roma last weekend it seems the honeymoon is over. Away win - Genoa's new manager boost sees them regain some form at the expense of a Novara side low on confidence after that heavy Roma defeat.
10th faces 8th as Chievo host Catania at the Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi. Chievo gained their first win in 5 by beating Fiorentina 2-1 last weekend. Catania gained a great point against AC Milan, drawing 1-1. They are unbeaten in 9 games and could well earn a Europa League place with a late surge. These mid table battles are always hard to predict but Catania have been holding their form well against tougher opposition and Chievo's home form is poor, losing four of the last five. Vincenzo Montella's men could take all 3 points back to Sicily but the safer option is a draw. Draw - Catania could edge it but at this stage in the season mid table games are notoriously hard to predict.
Table toppers AC Milan host Fiorentina as they look to bounce back after their Champions League exit in mid week. Before being beaten by Barcelona on Tuesday Milan where held to a 1-1 draw by Catania ending a run of 4 consecutive victories. Fiorentina were beaten 2-1 by Chievo last weekend and remain on a dismal run that has seem them slide toward the relegation zone. They are without a win in 9 games. Milan are not in great form and have had another injury set back as Alessandro Pato is ruled out for the season after picking up another injury but they should have enough to take this. Ibramiovic remains the leagues top scorer on 22 goals and expect him to be riled up for this one after having no luck against his old side on Wednesday. Home win - Milan ensure Fiorentina have a nervy end to the season and boost their own confidence with a comfortable victory.
In the last of the afternoon games Udinese host Parma as they look to end their poor run of form. Udinese were beaten 1-0 by Siena last weekend meaning they haven't won in 5 league games. They remain in 5th but have Roma just a point behind. There is a possibility that the side tipped for the title early in the season might now not even achieve a European spot. Parma sprung a shock last weekend beating Lazio 3-1, their first win in 5 games and look to have secured Serie A football for next season. They look sure to test Udinese but at home is were Udinese are at their best and that could be key in this one. Parma are inconsistent and are poor away from home. Home win - Udinese return to form at the expense of a Parma side whos inconsistency will again be highlighted.
Juventus travel to Palermo in the early evening kick off looking to keep the heat on Milan at the top. Palermo managed a 3-1 victory in Bologna last weekend and are comfortable in 9th despite not winning in four games prior to that victory. Juventus remain in imperious form after cruising past Napoli, 3-0 last weekend. The Old Lady remain unbeaten this season, 30 games. With Juve finally recapturing their goal scoring form they are impossible to oppose here and should be able to score plenty again against a Palermo defence that rarely keeps clean sheets. Away win - Juve prove too much for Palermo and ensure the race towards the title continues.
The final match of this weekend sees an intriguing encounter between Lazio and Napoli. Lazio remain unpredictable after losing to 3-1 to Parma last weekend meaning they have won 2 but lost 3 of their last 5. Napoli meanwhile haven't won in the league in 3 games after being beaten 3-0 by Juventus. Lazio's main problem is their lack of goals, something Napoli have no problem with. That could be the key to this one with Napoli simply outscoring a Lazio side that struggles to score. To add to Lazio's problems they have won just once in their last 5 meetings against Napoli. This is set to be a tight affair but Napoli might just have enough attacking prowess to take all 3 points. Away win - Napoli get back on track with a good offencive display.
Selected Match Betting:
Roma, Atalanta, Bologna, Inter, Genoa, Milan, Juve, Napoli & Udinese: All To Win - 420/1
Milan V Fiorentina: Milan to win 5-0 - 20/1
Cagliari V Inter: Diego Milito To Score First: 100/30
Enjoy The Games!
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