A relatively quiet week in Italian football this week with the Milan derby still dominating headlines on the eve of the next round of games. The game ended 1-1 with Milan rueing missed opportunities in a game they dominated but were unable to finish off. The game was no classic but the return of Mario Ballotelli to his first club Inter wearing the colours of their bitter rivals resulted in plenty of hype surrounding it. Ballotelli was not at his best but he stole the headlines due to abuse levelled at him by Inter's supporters. In another sad incident for football fans across the world and particularly Italian fans it was racial abuse Ballotelli had to suffer. Jeered each time he touched the ball and inflatable bananas thrown from the stands were just some of the completely unacceptable actions carried out by Inter fans. Inter have now been fined by The Italian F.A. but the incident has yet again highlighted Italy's racism problem. We will see it again but the question remains as to what punishment will prevent us seeing it once and for all.
Elsewhere last weekend and Palermo and Genoa got the action underway and played out a dire 0-0. Sampdoria moved further away from trouble with a 2-0 win over Chievo. Roma got a much needed away win as they overcame Atalanta 3-2. Leaders Juve extended their lead at the top to 6 points after beating Siena 3-0 and then seeing Napoli held to a 0-0 by Udinese. Cagliari and Torino played out the match of the weekend as Cagliari won a 4-3 thriller. Catania continued their good season by beating Parma 2-1. Lazio overcame their blip in form to beat Pescara 2-0 and Fiorentina's blip continues as they were beaten 2-1 by Bologna.
This weekends fixtures and previews:
Friday 1st March
Napoli V Juventus - Away Win
The first of two huge games running over Friday and Saturday sees second host first as Juve travel to Naples. Napoli have drawn all 3 of their last 3 games and more worryingly have scored just one goal in those 3 games. Juve have won 2 of their last 3 and their loss against Roma a fortnight ago hasn't seemed to bother them one jot. With Napoli struggling for goals you have to fancy Juve to take this one and extend their lead at the top.
Saturday 2nd March
AC Milan V Lazio - Home Win
Third travel to fourth in this one with just two points separating them. Lazio returned to form beating Pescara 2-0 last weekend but this represents a much sterner task and they may return to the form that has seen them fall 5 points behind second placed Napoli. Milan have been a revelation since Christmas and have clambered up the table throw in two inform strikers in El Shaarawy and Ballotelli and Milan now have a real chance of repeating last years second placed finish. Expect Milan to be too much for Lazio, particularly in attack.
Sunday 3rd March
Torino V Palermo - 11:30 - Home Win
Two sides in need of a win meet in this one. Mid table placed Torino have won just one of their last three but they continue to play some good stuff and score goals. Bottom club Palermo have drawn 4 of their last 5, losing the other. They are six points from safety and could be even further adrift by Sunday evening if Torino play to full capacity. The promoted side have shown enough already this season to suggest they can be a staple in the top division and they should cement that further with victory over a struggling Palermo.
Bologna V Cagliari - 14:00 - Draw
Thirteenth play host to fourteenth as Cagliari travel to Bologna. Both sides won last time out and are out of relegation danger. Cagliari have won 2 of their last three and Bologna have just one. Both teams remain difficult to predict however and their is little to choose between them. A tight draw is the most likely result.
Catania V Inter - 14:00 - Home Win
Catania could leapfrog Inter into fifth if they take all 3 points in this one. They continue to be a solid outfit, winning two of their last 3 and drawing the other. Another positive is their home form is good. Inter have won just one of their last three and do not travel well. However there is little doubt that on paper Inter should take this one, but football isn't played on paper and Catania may just edge this given their performances in recent weeks.
Fiorentina V Chievo - 14:00 - Home Win
Chievo have slipped back down the table after failing to win any of their last 3 games. Currently in fifteenth their season has been a disaster by their standards and it could get worse when they travel to Florence. Fiorentina have fallen into sixth after a string of inconsistent results but they should have enough class to beat a struggling Chievo in this one.
Pescara V Udinese - 14:00 - Draw
Both of these sides are in poor form and expect a cagey affair. Pescara are second bottom after taking just a point from their last 3 games. Udinese are having a dreadful season by their standards and currently lie in ninth after gaining their first point in 2 games after drawing with Napoli last weekend. Udinese do not travel well and that is a positive for Pescara but it is unlikely the home side will have enough to trouble Udinese and a low scoring draw seems most likely.
Sampdoria V Parma - 14:00 - Home Win
Tenth meets eleventh as Sampdoria host Parma. Sampdoria have won two of their last three whereas Parma have won none, losing both of their last two games. Given the form of the two its easy to side with Sampdoria who have looked resurgent in recent weeks. Parma will make life difficult for the hosts but they rarely keep clean sheets and the odd goal should see Sampdoria take all 3 points.
Siena V Atalana - 14:00 - Home Win
Third from bottom Siena would be in a much stronger position if they could get their away form sorted out, at home however they are imperious, beating the like of Lazio in recent weeks. They face an Atalanta side just two places above them and who haven't won any of their last 3 games. expect home advantage to be the key to this one.
Roma V Genoa - 19:45 - Home Win
Roma continue to leak goals but they have won 2 of their last three and will fancy themselves to make it 3 in a row against fourth bottom Genoa. Genoa have won just one of their last three, scoring a singular goal which will give Roma's shakey defence some encouragement. Roma are unpredictable and would be of little surprise to see them really pushed by Genoa but they should have enough to take this one.
Selected Match Betting:
Roma, Atalanta, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Catania, Torino, Milan & Juventus - All To Win : 170/1
Roma V Genoa - Osvaldo First Goal Scorer : 3/1
Milan V Lazio - Milan Win 3-1 : 11/1
Enjoy The Games!
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