The Serie A returns this weekend after the International break with all 20 teams in action over Saturday and Sunday. The International break seemed to have come at a good time for Italian football, with transfer talk dying down, Cagliari's farcical stadium saga finished and no new match fixing allegations the season appears to be settling down with action on the pitch being the main talking point for Italian football fans.
We are treated to two fantastic matches on Saturday with the top two meeting as Juventus host Napoli. Both teams come into the clash with 19 points a piece. Both undefeated and have won 6 of their 7 games. Juve beat Siena 2-1 last time out while Napoli beat Udinese 2-1. Close, would be the best prediction for this one but it is Juve who still have the edge. They remain very solid defensively and will be able to stifle Napoli's attacks better than most sides. Upfront their strikers continue in good form and against a Napoli defence that although improved does not look world class they could grab the decisive goal. Expect an entertaining, lively game but Juve will do what Champions do and win 1-0. Home Win - Juve remain top and inflict first defeat of the season on Napoli.
Saturday's second game sees AC Milan travel to capital to face Lazio. Lazio beat Pescara 3-0 a fortnight ago and have now won 5 of their 7 games and sit in third place. Milan's return to form was short lived as they lost the Milan derby 1-0. They have won just two of their opening seven and have lost four of them. The pressure on manager Allegri continues and reports in Italy suggest that he only remains in the job as a suitable replacement is not available. Like the previous game this one will be close but the disarray that Milan are in at the moment makes them hard to be confident about, Lazio meanwhile seem to go from strength to strength and they look set for an important victory. Home Win - Lazio heap more misery on Milan.
The first of eight games on Sunday see's Cagliari host Bologna. Despite their stadium dispute being resolved Cagliari remain in deep trouble just one place off the bottom of the table and just one win all season.That win was gained in their last game, a 1-0 win over Torino. Bologna have had a disappointing start to the season and were beaten 1-0 by Fiorentina last time out. They could well bounce back here though against a poor looking Cagliari side. Away Win - Bologna make it two out of two at the expense of Cagliari.
Chievo host Fiorentina as they look to overcome a difficult start to the season. Eugino Corini's men were tipped for a Europa league place this season but with just 2 wins and 5 loses this campaign they don't look the force they were last season. They did however manage to gain their second win of the season in their last game, a 2-1 victory over Sampdoria. Fiorentina also won last time out beating Bologna 1-0 to gain their third win of the season. Chievo have not had an easy start to the season given their fixture list and they face another difficult task against a Fiorentina side who will be challenging for a European place come May. Away Win - Fiorentina beat a stumbling Chievo.
Inter buoyant after their win in The Milan Derby now host Catania who themselves earned a good win a fortnight ago. Inter's 1-0 derby win saw them stay in fourth with five wins from their seven fixtures. They look to have completely shaken off the nightmare of last season and although they may not have the depth to make a title challenge they will certainly be in the running for a Champions League place. Catania have had an inconsistent start, winning three, drawing two and losing two. They did put on a good performance by beating Parma 2-0 last time out but this represents a different challenge against an Inter side full of confidence. Home Win - Inter continue their great form at the expense of Catania who are struggling to put a run of good results together.
Torino travel to Palermo looking to continue their surprisingly good start to the season. Despite losing 1-0 to Cagliari last time the newly promoted side have won two and drawn three of their opening 7 and sit in mid table. Palermo have had a poor start to the season and despite changing manager continue in indifferent form, a 1-1 draw with Genoa last time say them gain just their fifth point of the season after losing four of their opening games. Torino's bubble may have burst with that Cagliari defeat but Palermo are not on top form at the moment this looks set to be a cagey affair that will most likely end in a draw. Draw - Two wounded sides share the spoils.
Two teams will both look to avoid back to back defeats when Sampdoria travel to Parma. Sampdoria have fared the best of the newly promoted teams with 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 loses. Their one nil defeat at the hands of Chievo last team out may show that they will not be competing for a European place this season but they look a good solid outfit and expect them to be in the division next season. Parma too should stay in the division but are on a dreadful run with just the one win from their opening 7 games. They were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Catania a fortnight ago. That was an away game however and Parma are traditionally strong at home, that maybe enough for them to gain a point against a wobbling Sampdoria. Draw - A game neither team wants to lose ends in a stalemate.
Udinese are another team struggling for form. They have won just once this season and suffered another defeat last time out as they were beaten 2-1 by Napoli. The heights that the team from Udine reached last season look to becoming further away with each passing game. Their lack of goals seems to be becoming an increasing issue with Di Natale not firing on all cylinders Udinese do look a much weaker side. Defensively though they are solid and are certainly going to survive this season. The kick start they need may come this weekend as they host Pescara. Pescara have looked promising in spells during their short time in the Serie A but they were brought down to earth by Lazio two weeks ago as they were beaten 3-0. That was their fourth defeat of the season and they like the other promoted clubs look to have hit a blip. Udinese should win this one although it maybe by a much smaller margin than people may predict. Home Win - Udinese scrape a win with a good defensive performance.
Atalanta host Siena with both teams having been beaten last time out. Atalanta were beaten 2-0 by Roma, their second defeat in a row. They have now won just two games this season and look to be really struggling. Siena meanwhile were beaten 2-1 by Juventus in a tight affair and they will have taken confidence from that performance. They remain bottom of the table however, though the main reason for that is the points deduction they suffered at the start of the season. They like Atalanta have won just twice this season. With the form of both teams poor its a very tricky game to call, the safest stance is a draw. Draw - Two struggling sides share the spoils.
The final game of the weekend sees Genoa host Roma. Genoa's 1-1 draw with Palermo two weeks ago gained them their 10th point of the season and they now sit in eighth after losing just 2 of their opening seven fixtures. They have begun the season well after a disastrous end to the last campaign which nearly saw them relegated, they look sure to avoid that this time round. The enigma that is Roma managed to bounce back from their thrashing at the hands of Juventus to beat Atalanta 2-0 last time out. Zeman's men have won 3, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their 7 games. They remain a side full of talent and promise but at the same time remain a side that is always likely to concede. Genoa's lack of goals and lack of a goal threat this season may mean that Roma's defence is given an easy time on Sunday evening and with an attacking line up that is almost certain to score Roma could nick this one. Away Win - Roma just get past Genoa who don't challenge Roma's defence enough.
Selected Match Betting:
Roma, Udinese, Inter, Fiorentina, Bologna, Lazio & Juventus - All To Win : 152/1
Genoa V Roma - Correct Score : Roma 2-1 Genoa: 7/1
Lazio V Milan - Klose To Score 1st: 9/2
Enjoy The Games!
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