After another hectic mid week round of games the Serie A continues over Saturday and Sunday. The usual format has returned with two games on Saturday and eight on Sunday.
We begin on Saturday evening with Leece hosting Fiorentina. Leece remain 3 points from safety after they put in a sterling display on Wednesday to draw 1-1 with Juventus. They must win if they are to have any chance of avoiding the drop. Leece's current form does not inspire much confidence with them not winning any of their last 4 games. Fiorentina drew 2-2 with Novara on Wednesday to all but ensure they will play Serie A football next season, they can now only go down on goal difference, which is an extremely unlike scenario. Fiorentina have won just one of their last 5. Fiorentina will also have to adjust to having a new man at the helm in Vincenzo Guerini after Delio Rosi was sacked for attacking midfielder Adem Ljajic during the 2-2 draw with Novara. Ljajic was substituted by Rosi after 22 minutes with Fiorentina 2-0 down. As he walked off Ljajic sarcastically applauded his manager's decision. Enraged Rosi attacked Ljajic as he sat down in the dug out, punches were thrown but the two were quickly separated. The result of the attack saw Rosi loose his job on Thursday morning. With Fiorentina clearly not the happiest of camps at the moment Leece are taken to record a victory in this one, after a great display against Juve they will be confident and knowing they need to win they should take this. Home Win - Leece do their part in the battle to avoid the drop against a Fiorentina side in disarray.
Also on Saturday Roma face Catania. Roma could only manage a goalless draw with Cheivo on Tuesday but they were forced to play in atrocious conditions with a waterlogged pitch and constant rain, officals later admitted the game should have been postponed. That draw sees Roma remain in 7th, 6 points off third spot and they need a miracle now to reach that coveted spot and earn Champions League football. Luis Enrique's men have now gone four games without a victory. Catania remain in 10th despite losing 1-0 to Bologna on Wednesday, they have now not won in 3. Two sides in need of a victory then and its Roma who look most likely to get it. At home Roma have been playing much better than they do away and with the Olimpio crowd behind them they should prove very hard to beat. Home win - Roma keep the European dream alive by beating a Catania team that have very little to play for.
Sunday's early game sees Siena face Parma with the away side still in the hunt for a Europa League spot. Siena drew 1-1 with Lazio in mid week and remain 13th after not picking up a win in 3 games. Parma continued their great run with a 3-1 win over Inter on Wednesday, their 5th straight victory which saw them move with 2 points of 7th placed Roma. Siena has not been a happy hunting ground for Parma in recent seasons, they have failed to win in their last 5 visits but Siena's home form has been poor of late. Parma enter this full of confidence and it seems somewhat irrelevant whether they play away or at home having won their last 2 away fixtures, they should take some stopping. Away Win - Parma's excellent run continues they beat Siena who's poor home form continues.
Lazio face a very tricky trip to Atalanta, who have won their last two at home. Edoardo Reja's Lazio side are win less in 5 games after their draw with Siena. They are a point off third placed Napoli and that all important 3rd Champions League spot. Atalanta were beaten 2-0 by AC Milan in the San Siro on Wednesday, that result aside Atalanta have won 3 of their last 4. Another plus for fans of Atalanta is Lazio haven't beaten their side in 5 attempts at The Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. Atalanta then are taken to win this, given their good home form and Lazio's awful away form this should be another victory for Atalanta. Home Win - Atalanta fuelled by home support beat a Lazio side low on confidence.
Udinese host Genoa in a game that is crucial for both sides. Udinese gained back to back wins by beating Cesena 1-0 on Wednesday, they are level on points with third placed Napoli and still have a real chance of Champions League qualification. Genoa ended their 14 match win less streak with a 2-1 win over Cagliari, they are now three points ahead of Leece who fill the final relegation spot. Genoa have a decent record at The Stadio Friuli but Udinese should win this as they look to continue their decent spell. Home Win - Udinese will be desperate for that third Champions League place and take a big step toward it with victory over a Genoa side that remain far from safe of relegation.
Udinese's leage rivals Napoli face a difficult trip to Bologna as they look to cement third place. Napoli beat Palermo 2-0 on Tuesday and look to have hit form just at the right time, losing none of their last 4. Bologna too are on a good run, unbeaten in their last 6, including a 1-0 win over Catania on Wednesday. They remain 9th with no real chance of European football next season. Bologna's record against Napoli is poor in recent years with just one win in seven meetings. Again it looks like the team with the most to play for will come out on top and that is Napoli. They have looked back to their old free flowing attacking selves in recent weeks and they should prove to much for Bologna. Away Win - Napoli cement third with a good victory over Bologna.
Palermo host Cheivo as they look to bounce back from that Napoli defeat. Palermo have failed to win any of their last 5 games, but have only lost two of them. They are six points above the relegation zone and could easily be dragged into a last game relegation battle if results go against them. Cheivo's soaked 0-0 draw with Roma on Tuesday saw them move to 12th in the table. They have the exact same record as Palermo in recent weeks with 3 draws and 2 losses in their last 5 games. This fixture screams draw given the form of both sides and the fact that Palermo would happily take a point now as it would ensure their Serie A status for next season. Draw - A low scoring affair in which both teams leave with a satisfactory point.
The two relegated sides meet as Novara host Cesena. The form of both teams is dreadful which is why they have both been releagated, Novara's 2-2 draw with Fiorentina means they have won just one of their last 8 league games, winning only 6 games all season. Bottom of the table Cesena are win less in 18 games after their 1-0 defeat to Udinese. They are now on an 11 game losing run. Novara might take this given they have home advantage but they were beaten 3-1 by Cesena in the reverse fixture and given the poor run of both sides a draw may be the safest option. Draw - The leagues too worse sides play out a poor draw.
The game of the weekend sees the Milan derby take place as Inter play AC Milan. Inter's 3-1 defeat to Parma was the first defeat of Andrea Stramaccioni's reign and leaves his side in 6th, 3 points behind third placed Napoli. Prior to that defeat Inter had won 3 of their last 4. AC Milan's 2-0 victory over Atalanta saw them move to within a point of leaders Juventus and they will be desperate to keep piling the pressure on the leaders with victory here. Their win over Atalanta means Milan have won 4 of their last 5 outings. This promises to be a tight, bad tempered affair given that the stakes are so high but their is no doubt here that AC Milan are the better side and should win this. Inter may have been revitalised in some areas by Stramaccioni but they continue to leak goals and that is something that Milan should be able to capitalise on given they have the best attack in the league, and the league's top goal scorer. Away Win - Milan continue their pursuit of the title with a good win over their city rivals.
The final game of this weekend sees Cagliari host unbeaten league leaders Juventus. Cagliari's 2-1 defeat to Genoa means they are just six points above the relegation zone and looking over their shoulder. They have won just one of their last five. Juve's relentless pursuit of the title suffered a blip on Wednesday as they were held to a 1-1 draw with Leece, after keeper Buffon made a very uncharacteristic mistake, spilling a shot into his own net. This could be a sign that The Old Lady are starting to bow under the pressure of being league leaders and favourites to lift the trophy. They will know that they could clinch the league title if Inter beat Milan in the derby. Antonio Conte's side have been unstoppable this season and its hard to see them getting beat here, Cagliari will put up a fight but they are on a poor run and Juve could and should bounce back to winning ways here. Away Win - Juve avoid chocking as they continue their pursuit for their first league title in 4 years.
Selected Match Betting:
Juve, Milan, Napoli, Udinese, Atalanta, Parma, Roma & Leece: All To Win - 222/1
Milan V Inter - Ibrahimovic To Score A Brace - 7/2
Roma V Catania - Correct Score: Roma win 3-1 - 10/1
Enjoy The Games!
No comments:
Post a Comment