This week in The Serie A saw its first managerial sacking of the season after Palermo fired Giuseppe Sannino just three games into the season. Palermo are notorious for firing coaches, with not a single manager lasting the season since the 2004-2005 campaign. Palermo sit third from the bottom of the table after picking up just one point from their 3 games, they should have won last weekend against Cagliari but were prevented by a last minute equaliser. Even by the Serie A's and Palermo's standards this has to be seen as a knee jerk reaction with Sannino having such little time to make an impact, he has been replaced by former Genoa coach, Gian Piero Gasperini.
Another manager who's job is coming increasingly under threat is Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri. He saw his team slump to their second defeat of the season last weekend losing 1-0 to Atalanta which was followed by a bitterly disappointing 0-0 draw with Anderlecht in the Champions League on Wednesday night. That night saw the two major players Milan sold in the summer, Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva both score for PSG. Milan's faithful have been at odds with those running the club for sometime but many feel that with the players retained Allegri should be beating teams like Atalanta comfortably, its hard to disagree with them. A strong rumour coming out of Italy at the moment is that former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is being lined up as a replacement for Allegri if the results fail to improve.
Looking forward to this weekends action on the pitch and the fixtures have a familiar look to them with two matches on Saturday and eight on Sunday. The first game of the weekend sees Parma host Fiorentina on Saturday evening. Parma suffered their second defeat of the season last weekend losing 3-1 to Napoli. They may only have 3 points from their first 3 games but have had a tough start to the campaign facing both Napoli and Jueventus, they will improve and expect them to be filling a mid table spot soon. They may continue to struggle this weekend though with the visit of a resurgent looking Fiorentina who have won two of their first three games, only coming unstuck in Naples. The Viola beat Catania 2-0 at home last weekend and look set to avoid the relegation battle they were drawn into last season. Expect Parma to make life hard for Fiorentina but Fiorentina should have enough to take this one. Away Win - Fiorentina continue their great start to the new campaign.
Champions Juventus look to continue their staggering 42 game unbeaten run when they host Chievo in Saturday's other game. Juventus suffered a scare to their record last weekend after having to come from behind to beat Genoa 3-1. Despite that scare they have made a great start to the season scoring 9 goals and conceding just 2 in 3 games, they remain were they finished last season at the top of the table and fully expect them to stay there. Chievo suffered their second defeat in a row after losing 3-1 at home to Lazio. Chievo are another side that should be be sat in a mid table position as the season progresses but for now they are set for their third defeat on the bounce as Juve remain impossible to oppose. Home Win - 43 games unbeaten for the mighty Old Lady.
The first of Sundays games sees two of the promoted sides meet as Torino travel to Sampdoria. Torino have suffered a inconsistent start to the season, drawing, winning then losing their opening fixtures. They were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Inter last weekend and are certain to struggle this season given their limit resources. Sampdoria however have had a tremendous start to the new season, unbeaten in three, beating AC Milan, Siena and last weekend fellow promotion side Pescara. Although it is early days Sampdoria certainly look the strongest of the 3 promoted sides and they are taken to prove it here. Home Win - Sampdoria again show that they are not relegation fodder with a good win over Torino.
Catania host Napoli as they look to make it back to back wins. A hard fought 3-2 win over Genoa last weekend saw them gain their first win of the season and they look set for a solid campaign again under Montella, though this poses a tough task against an unbeaten Napoli side. Napoli's 3-1 win in Parma last weekend showed again that despite losing some key men they remain a force to be reckoned with. Napoli have scored eight goals in their opening games and it is their forward line that will be the key to this one with Catania capable of scoring goals but they also concede too many. Napoli may just edge this one in a high scoring affair. Away Win - Napoli again show their attacking prowess against Catania.
Atalanta host Palermo in Gian Piero Gasperini's first game in charge of Palermo. Atalanta caused the upset of last weekend beating AC Milan 1-0 to gain their first win of the season. They remain a solid outfit and will be confident of making it back to back wins against a Palermo side in crisis after just changing their manager. Palermo have just one point to their name after a 1-1 draw with Cagliari last weekend, they have lost some key men in the close season and look set for a struggle particularly with their notoriously trigger happy chairman. Its Atalanta then who get the vote in this one given their current confidence and Palermo's lack of it. Home Win - Atalanta add to Palermo's woes with a comfortable home win.
Bologna host newly promoted Pescara as they look to gain back to back victories. Bologna looked set for defeat in Rome last weekend before 3 goals in the last 20 minutes saw them beat Roma 3-2, giving them their first points of the season. Pescara remain searching for their first points of the new campaign after being beaten 3-2 by Sampdoria. Bologna will be no doubt high on confidence after last weekends great victory and let set for another victory here against a Pescara side that already look set for relegation. Home Win - Bologna cruise past Pescara.
Cagliari host Roma as they search for their first win of the season. In their last two games Cagliari have gained draws with last minute equalisers against Atalanta and last weekend, Palermo. Such luck cannot last forever and they must improve if they hope to avoid a relegation battle this season. It won't be easy to begin improvement against a Roma side wounded after throwing away a 2-0 lead against Bologna last weekend that eventually saw them lose 3-2. Roma had looked a force to be reckoned with, a 3-1 win over Inter a fortnight ago a terrific performance. It is they then who are taken to win this one given Cagliari's weakness at the back and Roma's great attacking play under the guidance of Zeman. Away Win - Roma bounce back as Cagliari's luck finally runs out.
Inter host Siena in The San Siro with the visitors still looking for their first win of the season. Inter bounced back from their defeat in Rome by beating Torino 2-0. Their front line of Snijeder, Milito and Cassano looks like one of the strongest in the division, expect them to be challenging for the Champions League places this season despite their Rome set back. Siena gained a good point last weekend drawing 2-2 with Udinese though they remain win less and have conceded 4 goals in their opening three games, their clean sheet coming against Torino. It is hard then to envisage anything but an Inter win in this one, home advantage and their attacking force should seem them take all 3 points. Home Win - Inter breeze past Siena who are in danger of being involved in a relegation fight this season.
The game of the weekend sees two sides desperate for a win as Milan head to Udinese. Udinese remain win less after their 2-2 draw with Siena last time out and they must improve if they have any chance of reaching the giddy heights of last season. Milan have had arguably a worse start to the campaign, losing to Sampdoria on opening day, followed by victory over Bologna and then last weekend losing 1-0 to Atalanta. Unacceptable is what Milan fans are calling their teams start. So a game both teams will feel they must win to kick start their seasons, however given the inconsistency of both sides a draw looks the most likely result in this one. Draw - A frustrating result for all involved.
The final game of the weekend sees Lazio host Genoa. Lazio have had a great start to the season, 3 wins, 7 goals scored, one conceded including a 3-1 victory over Chievo last weekend. In contrast Genoa's only points of the new season so far came on opening day in a 2-0 victory over Cagliari. They were soundly beaten 3-1 by Juventus last weekend and expect a similar scoreline this weekend given Lazio's current form. Lazio look set to be challenging for a Champions League spot this season whereas Genoa look likely to be caught in a relegation scrap. The difference in the two sides will be reflected in the result on Sunday. Home Win - Lazio win easily against Genoa.
Selected Match Odds:
Lazio, Inter, Roma, Bologna, Atalanta, Napoli, Sampdoria, Juve and Fiorentina - All to win : 228/1
Udinese V AC Milan - Correct Score 2-2 : 5/1
Cagliari V Roma - Florenzi To Score First : 7/1
Enjoy The Games!
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