With no European competition this mid week the Serie A runs a full fixture list over 3 days. With one game on Tuesday, eight on Wednesday and one on Thursday.
We begin in Verona on Tuesday night as Chievo host an out of sorts AC Milan. Chievo played out a great 3-2 win over Catania last Saturday and are now unbeaten in 4. Milan suffered another blip in their hunt for the Serie A title as they were beaten 2-1 by Fiorentina. Massimiliano Allegri's side are now a point behind Juventus and will be desperate to gain all 3 points here. Chievo may be on a good run but they have a dismal record against Milan, losing all of the last 10 meetings between the sides. Its unthinkable that the Champions will go 3 league games without a win and despite Chievo putting up a fight, Milan should prevail here. Away Win - Milan get back on track with a decent win.
Inter's revial under Andrea Stramaccioni came to a stuttering halt as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Cagliari last weekend. They will be hoping to pick up all 3 points against Siena on Wednesday evening. Siena's 2-1 victory over Atalanta last weekend saw the Tuscans cement a mid table spot. They are now unbeaten in 3 Serie A games, but they travel to the Serie A to face a side that they have never beaten in the league. Like Stramaccioni's two previous games in charge expect goals in this one but with Inter's record over Siena and home advantage they should pick up a second win for their new boss here. Home Win - Inter record a high scoring but narrow victory of Siena.
Fiorentina will be looking to build on their victory over Milan as they host Palermo at The Stadio Artemio Franchi. Fiorentina's surprise win saw them move 5 points clear of the relegation zone but they are far from safe and will be wanting to end the season with a flourish to secure Serie A football for next season. They face a Palermo side that were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Juventus on Sunday, their first defeat in 3. Palermo are inconsistent so it would be little surprise to see them bounce back, but a buoyed Fiorentina side with home advantage might just have enough to win this one. Home win - Fiorentina take another big step towards safety.
A relegation match up sees Parma face Novara as both sides look to secure top flight football for next season. Parma were beaten 3-1 by Udinese on Saturday and remain an enigma, with form figures of one win, 2 draws and 2 defeats in their last 5. They remain four points clear of the drop zone. Second from bottom Novara bounced back from their 5-2 defeat at the hands of Roma to draw 1-1 with Genoa. They are 6 points from safety. A very tricky fixture to call with Novara beating Parma 2-1 in reverse fixture but having the worse away record in the league. A draw seems a likely outcome. Draw - Low scoring affair with a result that satisfies no one.
Napoli go in search of their first win in 3 Serie A games as they face Atalanta, themselves looking to bounce back from defeat. Napoli's 3-1 defeat to Lazio saw them fall further behind in the race for Champions League spots and they really havn't looked the same side after falling out of that competition at the hands of Chelsea last month. Atalanta's 2-1 defeat to Siena sees them stuck in mid table and with just one win from their last six games. Napoli's form maybe poor but their record against Atalanta is good and they are always capable of scoring goals, that and home advantage might pay the way for a return to form. Home Win - Napoli re find their feet against a side with little to play for.
8th placed Catania will look to put the pressure back on Inter in 7th when they host Leece. The Sicilians 3-2 defeat to Chievo on Saturday was their first in 8 games and they will fancy themselves to bounce straight back against a Leece side that are 3rd from bottom in the league. However Leece pulled off the shock of last weekend by dismantling Roma 4-2, they had lead 4-0 until two late strikes saw the scoreline flatter the away side. Leece are now four points from safety, and unbeaten in 4. Catania have only suffered 2 home defeats this season but a resurgent Leece are sure to test them. A draw seems more than likely. Draw - Both teams frustrate one another.
Roma host Udinese looking to bounce back from that humiliation against Leece. After beating Novara 5-2 two weeks ago, Leece looked a straightforward task for Luis Enriques men but again defencive frailties resurfaced and they were comprehensively beaten. Roma have now won just two of their last 5 games, losing the other 3. Udinese regained the winning thread after 3 attempts by beating Parma 3-1, they remain fourth 3 points behind Lazio and 3 ahead of Napoli. Another very tricky to call given the inconsistencies of both sides but its Roma who narrowly get the vote, their home record is much better than their away record and Udinese have struggled on the road this season. Also it is rumoured that Francesco Totti may return for the home side, he maybe 35 but he still makes all the difference in an inexperienced Roma side. Home Win - Roma just have enough to see off Udinese with the help of The Olimpico crowd and their talisman.
New league leaders Juventus host 3rd placed Lazio in what is the match of Matchweek 32. Juve's 2-0 win over Parma saw them go a point clear of a faltering Milan side and continue their incredible unbeaten run. They have now also won 3 on the bounce. Lazio put in a sterling display to beat Napoli 3-1 on Saturday but they remain largely inconsistent particularly away from home. Juve look in imperious form at the moment and had a much easier assignment last weekend than their opponents. With Conte's men rediscovering their goalscoring form and having the best defence in the division all 3 points should stay in Turin. Home Win - Unbeaten Juventus remain unbeaten and continue their pursuit of the title.
Another relegation battle sees Genoa, 4th from bottom host Cesena who are bottom and 12 points from safety. Genoa's 1-1 draw with Novara last weekend meant that they are now without a win in 10 and are just 4 points above the drop zone. Cesena managed their third draw in a row with a 0-0 against Bologna, but they have still only won once in 2012 and look certain to go down. Genoa sport the worst attack in the league with Cesena having the worst attack. Genoa have put in some good performances in recent weeks, such as their 5-4 defeat to Inter and they really should take this one with strikers such as Palacio and Gilardino set to test the Cesena defence. Home win - Certainly not going to be a classic but Genoa, with home advantage and a potent striking threat should beat a seemingly doomed Cesena.
Thursday's only game sees Bologna host Cagliari. Bologna's 0-0 with Cesena on Saturday means that they are without a win in 4 games and will be desperate to not get involved in relegation battle by dropping more points. Cagliari's 2-2 draw with Inter sees them sitting comfortably in 12th despite winning just 2 of their last 5 games. The Sardinian's are unbeaten in the last seven meetings between the sides but with Bologna desperate for points, expect to see them put up a fight. Such is the inconsistencies of both sides this is very had game to call and draw is by far the most likely outcome. Draw - Another poor result for Bologna who could find themselves in real trouble come the end of the season.
Selected Match Betting:
Milan, Inter, Fiorentina, Napoli, Juve, Roma, Genoa - All To Win: 20/1
Chievo V Milan - Correct Score 3-0 Milan:
Juve V Lazio - Fabio Quagliarella To Score 1st - 5/1
Enjoy The Games!
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