Saturday, 21 April 2012

Serie A Week 34 Preview

Saturday 21st April

Udinese v Chievo
Since their departure from the Europa League in early March, Francesco Guidolin's side have experienced a dip in form that has seen them lose their grip on the last Champions League spot. Only three points will do this weekend in Verona, but they will have to work hard for it.

Chievo have rose steadily up the table in recent weeks, and before their 1-0 home loss against AC Milan, the Mussi Volanti had taken an impressive eight points from twelve. The death of Piermario Morosini may serve to galvanise a stuttering Zebrette outfit. The late midfielder, who was on loan at Livorno, was contracted to Udinese.

Napoli v Novara
Another team suffering from a European exit is Walter Mazzarri's Napoli. The Azzurri are currently six points adrift of Lazio in third spot, and are on a miserable run of five games without a win. Defeat against 19th placed Novara would be their fourth in a row.

A win for last season's Serie B play-off winners does not look likely though. With just six games to go, relegation is a near-certainty for the Biancoazzurri. If Napoli can't win this weekend, they don't deserve to be in the Champions League next year.

Catania v Atalanta
On paper this looks like a nothing game, both teams are safe from relegation and unlikely to qualify for Europe. Battle of the over-achievers then? Maybe not. Catania believe their late push for Europe is still on, and if results go their way, they may just sneak a Europa League spot.

Vincenzo Montella's side have not won in four, so a win this weekend is essential if they hope to realise their seemingly impossible dream. History is on the Rossazzurri's side, in eleven Serie A meetings with Atalanta, Saturday's visitors have won only once. They will have to improve this abysmal record without star striker German Denis, who is still serving a suspension.

Parma v Cagliari
A huge game at the foot of the table here, one which neither side can really afford to lose. Both teams are on 38 points, four clear of Lecce in 18th spot. Three points would probably be enough to keep the victors in Serie A, whilst a defeat would see the losers dragged back into the mire. This game has draw written all over it then.

Cagliari's awful away record should ensure this doesn't happen, the Isolani have not won away since December and have lost their last four on the road. However they can take heart from their good record against Parma. Massimo Ficcadenti's side have not lost in six outings against the Crociati, and have won on their last two trips to the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Sunday 22nd April

AC Milan v Bologna
AC Milan bounced back from their shock loss to Fiorentina with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Chievo, but life for the defending champions should be easier this weekend. The Rossoneri host 12th placed Bologna, who before their win in week 32, had taken just two points from their previous four games.

Alessandro Diamanti's solitary strike gained the Rossoblu a narrow win over Cagliari, but the 28 year-old will have to work wonders if he expects his side to leave the San Siro with anything. The break will have revitalised a Milan side who know they cannot afford any more results like the Fiorentina one if they are to retain the Scudetto.

Mark van Bommel could make a return from injury but Milan's list of absentees is still lengthy with Kevin Prince-Boateng, Ignazio Abate and Thiago Silva just a few of those still on the sidelines.

Genoa v Siena
Mattia Destro will have mixed feelings about this one, the Siena striker on loan from Genoa could play a big part in his parent clubs bid to avoid relegation. The 21 year-old has hit eight goals this season for the Robur and has an outside chance of making Cesare Prandelli's Euro 2012 squad.

The Vecchio Balordo are on a miserable run of form having not won in their last 11 league games, and a defeat on Sunday could see them drop into the bottom three.

Juventus v Roma
Game of the weekend. Juventus will have their unbeaten record put firmly to the test in Sunday's late kick off by Jose Enrique's Champions League chasing Roma.

The league leaders will hope to extend their impressive run of five successive league wins, but with the 
Giallorossi still in the running for third spot, they will have to work hard for it.

Dependent on which Roma side turns up, it could either be glorious or embarrassing for their fans. A great game for the neutrals.

Lazio v Lecce
A very important game for two teams at opposite ends of the table. Lazio need a win in order to maintain their grip on third place, while Lecce's recent run of form has given them real hope of avoiding the drop.

Lecce have won their last two games, in which David Di Michele has scored three times, and they will need their star striker on top form if they want to remain in Italy's top flight.

Fiorentina v Inter
Fiorentina will be hoping to complete an April Milan double this weekend following their 2-1 win over AC at the San Siro earlier this month.

Inter boss Andrea Stramaccioni is unbeaten so far during his three games in charge of the Nerazzurri and a win this weekend could put his side back in contention for Champions League qualification.

Cesena v Palermo
With Palermo having nothing left to play for and Cesena essentially relegated, expect only the die-hard fans to make the trip to the Stadio Dino Manuzzi on Sunday afternoon.

Cesena are on a run of four straight draws whereas Palermo have only one win from their last five. Adrian Mutu scored in his side's 1-0 win over the Rosanero earlier this season, an unlikely double on the cards perhaps?

Tip of the weekend: Roma to beat Juventus, Osvaldo to score anytime.

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Matchday 29 Round Up (24-25 March)

Matchday 29 Round Up


Juventus 2 - 0 Inter


Juventus kept up the pace with league-leaders Milan with a win over their city-rivals Inter in an enthralling Derby d'Italia encounter on Sunday evening.


There were chances aplenty in the first half, and despite Juventus dominating possession it was Inter who had the clearest sight on goal. Argentine striker Diego Milito missed a couple of gilt-edged chances to put his side ahead and it remained all square at the break.


Andrea Pirlo's corner in the 57th minute found the head of Martin Caceres to open the scoring, the Uruguayan defender showing again he has an eye for a goal.


14 minutes later and it was game over when Alessandro Del Piero finished expertly after receiving a brilliant through ball from Mirko Vucinic.


This was Inter's sixth loss in ten games and proved to be the last of Claudio Ranieri's ill-fated stint at the San Siro.


Alessandro Del Piero rolled back the years with a fine goal against
Inter on Sunday, this was Del Piero's first league goal this season.


AC Milan 2 - 1 Roma


Zlatan Ibrahimovic proved once again to be the deciding factor in the Milan's latest win over the the Giallorossi. Pablo Osvaldo got on the end of a Daniele De Rossi shot to give the visitors the lead before the Swede took over.


Ibra was surprisngly poor in the first-half but was there when it mattered in the second period. Six minutes after the break Milan were awarded a penalty for a handball, Ibra was on hand to coolly dispatch his eighth spot-kick in the league this season.


Both sides had chances to win the game before Zlatan decided to in the 83rd minute, the 30 year-old got on the end of a long ball, chipped it over Roma keeper Maarten Stekelenburg before holding off Simon Kjaer and heading into an empty net.


Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been outstanding this season
for Milan.

Novara 0 - 0 Lecce

One of the two relegation six-pointers this weekend ended goalless at the Stadio Silvio Piola, a result not really good enough for either team with just nine games remaining.

Novara had won their two previous games under reinstated manager Attilio Tesser, but it was Lecce who came closest to opening the scoring in the first-half. David Di Michele's speculative long-range effort hit the outside of the post with Samir Ujkani beaten.

Giuseppe Mascara had the best chance for the hosts, but was denied by a superb save from Massimiliano Benassi. Taka Morimoto nearly grabbed the winner for the Biancoazzurri in second-half stoppage time, but it was the woodwork that ensured things ended in stalemate.

Colombian striker Luis Muriel could be on his way out of Lecce
this summer, after AC Milan director Ariedo Braida was spotted observing
the youngster last weekend (TuttermercatoWeb).

Cesena 2 - 2 Parma

Cesena really needed a win here if they harboured any serious hopes of avoiding relegation this season, but it looks certain the Cavalluci Marini will be playing their football in Serie B next season after this result.

Mario Santana pounced on an Antonio Mirante error a minute into the second half to cancel out Sergio Floccari's 40th minute opener. Simone Del Nero then put the hosts ahead in the 57th minute with a low, driven effort from around 23 yards out.

Four minutes later however and things were level again when Gabriel Paletta bagged his third goal of the season with a tidy finish inside the penalty area.

Parma are five points clear of the drop zone as it stands, but I Crociati know they need a good run of form going into the final straight if they are to retain their Serie A status.

Gabriel Paletta's equaliser against Cesena could prove
vital come the 13th May.

Napoli 2 - 2 Catania

Napoli's hopes for Champions League qualification were dealt a blow as they threw away a 2-0 lead against Catania to lose ground on third-placed Lazio.

Blerim Dzemaili opened the scoring in 61st minute, his stunning effort from well outside the penalty area found the top right hand corner of Juan Pablo Carrizo's goal.

Napoli doubled their lead six minutes later when Edinson Cavani got it right at the second time of asking, the Uruguayan hit the post after a fantastic through ball from Ezequiel Lavezzi, but made no mistake when it fell to him again six yards from goal.

Goran Pandev nearly made it three after an excellent run, but his left-footed shot across goal could only find the post. Moments alter Nicolas Spolli headed in a Cristian Llama corner to put Catania back in the game heading into the final quarter of an hour.

The comeback was complete five minutes from time, another Llama corner found Davide Lanzafame who smashed the ball high into Napoli's goal after his initial header was blocked.

Catania's Mariolo Julio Izco and Napoli's Marek Hamsik
in action.


Other results:
Palermo 1 - 1 Udinese (Miccoli 31, Torje 84)
Atalanta 2 - 0 Bologna (Gabbiadini 50, Tirribocchi 90)
Chievo 1 - 1 Siena (Acerbi 9, Destro 51)
Lazio 1 - 0 Cagliari (Diakite 88)
Genoa 2 - 2 Fiorentina (Belluschi 20, Montolivo 31, Natali 69, Palacio 89)

As it stands...

Home
Away
TeamPWDLFAWDLFAGDPTS
1AC Milan29941297102330163663
2Juventus299502796901982959
3Lazio2984320127252322951
4Napoli29762321856322142248
5Udinese29104125935615181348
6Roma2983326135281622744
7Catania298422092851828142
8Inter Milan2964523196171519041
9Atalanta2976219113741418437
10Bologna2954616194551516-436
11Palermo2910143221059925-536
12Chievo2964412123571324-1136
13Cagliari2956316123481324-734
14Genoa29753231822101433-1434
15Fiorentina297342118168817-633
16Siena297352412167919233
17Parma2955422182671328-1132
18Lecce2925717224471423-1427
19Novara29375142122101025-2224
20Cesena2925711172112730-2918