The second-last round of Serie A action will have celebrations and an intense relegation battle.
Milan will play their final home game of the season at the San Siro. The newly-crowned Italian champions will host Cagliari in a game that promises to be a celebration.
Inter travel to San Paolo to battle Napoli on Sunday for the big second-placed clash, while the relegation battle continues. Sampdoria are in real danger of playing their football in Serie B. If they drop points against Palermo, and Lecce beat already-relegated Bari, Sampdoria will be in Serie B next season--a distressing prospect for their fans.
Roma, Lazio and Udinese will continue the charge for Champions League spots. Udinese are two points ahead of the Roman clubs, but they still have to play Milan during the final round of play. Roma travel to Catania this weekend, and Lazio host Genoa.
Lazio have shown a masterclass in recent weeks of how to dismantle your own season.
At one stage it would have been laughable to suggest that Lazio's Champions League qualification was not going to materialize. However, with three consecutive defeats, the latest a Champions League playoff against Udinese, Lazio now look like they will not be playing in Europe's top competition.
Their opponents Genoa have nothing to play for, so Lazio can take all three points and hope results go their way. Zarate, who missed a penalty last weekend, will need to continue his excellent form if Lazio are to have a chance against Genoa.
Prediction: Lazio 1-0 Genoa
Milan against Cagliari will be a celebration of the Rossoneri's Scudetto success. Massimiliano Allegri's men have nothing left to play for other than increasing their points tally.
Their opponent Cagliari, Allegri's former team, will not be coming in with a fiercely competitive edge. Their safety is assured, so the San Siro is set up for a festive atmosphere.
Filippo Inzaghi returned to full training this week, but it still remains to be seen whether he will play. Andrea Pirlo, despite doubts over his future, will be starting in midfield.
Milan will be traveling to the game on an open-top bus, and they will be lifting the trophy after the game.
Prediction: Festivities, and a narrow Milan 1-0 win.
Cesena just need a draw against Brescia to ensure they can enjoy Serie A again next season. Brescia are already relegated, a crushing blow for a team that contains talents like Alessandro Diamanti and Andrea Carraciolo.
Cesena had shown promise in the early games of the season, but skeptics must have been waiting for their inevitable relegation. However, the win against Milan (2-0) in the first few weeks of the season may not have been the true measure of the team, but it was no fluke.
Coach Massimo Ficcadenti has built a functional team that rely on Jimenez, Igor Budan, and Giaccherini as their main attacking threat.
On Sunday, Cesena will go all out for the victory, as they don't want to risk leaving survival till the last day.
Prediction: Cesena 2-1 Brescia
Udinese displayed their Champions League credentials against Lazio last weekend with a 2-1 win. The result put them in fourth place and made them firm favourites for the last Champions League spot.
Chievo are guaranteed Serie A next season. They earned a point against Juventus on Monday, a point that was earned by coming back from two goals down.
On paper, Udinese should record a win against a side that has nothing to play for, but things are always tense at this stage of the season.
Prediction: Chievo 1-3 Udinese
Two games is all what Sampdoria have to salvage a season that has been disastrous.
Put simply, Sampdoria need to win against Palermo. A draw and a Lecce win would leave them relegated to Serie B. The only positive note for Sampdoria is that Palermo have absolutely nothing to play for, given that they have reached the Europa League by virtue of their Coppa Italia final appearance.
It has been a case of non-performances from players who were expected to help Sampdoria in a top six finish. Recently, Federico Macheda's agent conceded that his client has had a tough time handling the pressure of the media and a relegation battle. That is just one example, and apart from Nicola Pozzi, Sampdoria forwards are having little joy in front of goal.
The 2-1 last gasp defeat to Genoa last weekend was a summary of Sampdoria's miserable season.
Prediction: Somehow, they will pull off a victory in this one. 1-0 Sampdoria.
Ten points from the last fifteen is not a bad return for Roma, but they need to defeat Catania to maintain their chances of making it to the Champions League.
Catania already know that they are going to be in Serie A next season, so the game is there for Roma's taking.
Prediction: Catania 1-2 Roma
Juventus unbelievably gave up a two goal lead against Chievo on Monday. With Champions League football almost impossible now, and even Europa League looking difficult, Juve's season is all but over.
It has been a dismal campaign, but Juve will want to take revenge against a side that beat them 4-1 in the reverse fixture.
Parma are going to be in Serie A next season as their draw with Bologna was enough to guarantee that.
Prediction: 2-1 Juventus.
Bari have been relegated. Lecce need a win.
The scenario is simple, but Lecce know anything less than a win coupled with a possible Sampdoria victory would undo all the work the club put in last weekend. They defeated Napoli in a dramatic encounter, and they need to win again so they don't leave the last day as the decisive one in the relegation struggle. After all, they play Lazio then.
Prediction: Bari 1-1 Lecce
Napoli will be without Edinson Cavani as they battle Inter at home. The Uruguayan striker is serving a three-match ban for disrespecting the referee.
Second place is up for grabs in this key encounter. Both Inter and Napoli are virtually assured of Champions League football, but second place would be a huge achievement for Napoli, and even Inter whose season was spoiled earlier in the fall by Rafael Benitez.
At one stage it looked like both Napoli and Inter had a real chance of supplanting Milan at the top, but each of them lost the two head-to-head encounters with the Rossoneri.
Cavani would have been instrumental for Napoli in this game. In his absence, Ezequiel Lavezzi will be called on to do the damage in attack.
Inter will line up with Giampaolo Pazzini and Samuel Eto'o in attack. Wesley Sneijder is still recovering from injury, so a flatter midfield containing Javier Zanetti and Estebian Cambiasso, amongst others, will support the duo in attack.
Prediction: Napoli 1-3 Inter
Inter travel to San Paolo to battle Napoli on Sunday for the big second-placed clash, while the relegation battle continues. Sampdoria are in real danger of playing their football in Serie B. If they drop points against Palermo, and Lecce beat already-relegated Bari, Sampdoria will be in Serie B next season--a distressing prospect for their fans.
Roma, Lazio and Udinese will continue the charge for Champions League spots. Udinese are two points ahead of the Roman clubs, but they still have to play Milan during the final round of play. Roma travel to Catania this weekend, and Lazio host Genoa.
Lazio have shown a masterclass in recent weeks of how to dismantle your own season.
At one stage it would have been laughable to suggest that Lazio's Champions League qualification was not going to materialize. However, with three consecutive defeats, the latest a Champions League playoff against Udinese, Lazio now look like they will not be playing in Europe's top competition.
Their opponents Genoa have nothing to play for, so Lazio can take all three points and hope results go their way. Zarate, who missed a penalty last weekend, will need to continue his excellent form if Lazio are to have a chance against Genoa.
Prediction: Lazio 1-0 Genoa
Milan against Cagliari will be a celebration of the Rossoneri's Scudetto success. Massimiliano Allegri's men have nothing left to play for other than increasing their points tally.
Their opponent Cagliari, Allegri's former team, will not be coming in with a fiercely competitive edge. Their safety is assured, so the San Siro is set up for a festive atmosphere.
Filippo Inzaghi returned to full training this week, but it still remains to be seen whether he will play. Andrea Pirlo, despite doubts over his future, will be starting in midfield.
Milan will be traveling to the game on an open-top bus, and they will be lifting the trophy after the game.
Prediction: Festivities, and a narrow Milan 1-0 win.
Cesena just need a draw against Brescia to ensure they can enjoy Serie A again next season. Brescia are already relegated, a crushing blow for a team that contains talents like Alessandro Diamanti and Andrea Carraciolo.
Cesena had shown promise in the early games of the season, but skeptics must have been waiting for their inevitable relegation. However, the win against Milan (2-0) in the first few weeks of the season may not have been the true measure of the team, but it was no fluke.
Coach Massimo Ficcadenti has built a functional team that rely on Jimenez, Igor Budan, and Giaccherini as their main attacking threat.
On Sunday, Cesena will go all out for the victory, as they don't want to risk leaving survival till the last day.
Prediction: Cesena 2-1 Brescia
Udinese displayed their Champions League credentials against Lazio last weekend with a 2-1 win. The result put them in fourth place and made them firm favourites for the last Champions League spot.
Chievo are guaranteed Serie A next season. They earned a point against Juventus on Monday, a point that was earned by coming back from two goals down.
On paper, Udinese should record a win against a side that has nothing to play for, but things are always tense at this stage of the season.
Prediction: Chievo 1-3 Udinese
Two games is all what Sampdoria have to salvage a season that has been disastrous.
Put simply, Sampdoria need to win against Palermo. A draw and a Lecce win would leave them relegated to Serie B. The only positive note for Sampdoria is that Palermo have absolutely nothing to play for, given that they have reached the Europa League by virtue of their Coppa Italia final appearance.
It has been a case of non-performances from players who were expected to help Sampdoria in a top six finish. Recently, Federico Macheda's agent conceded that his client has had a tough time handling the pressure of the media and a relegation battle. That is just one example, and apart from Nicola Pozzi, Sampdoria forwards are having little joy in front of goal.
The 2-1 last gasp defeat to Genoa last weekend was a summary of Sampdoria's miserable season.
Prediction: Somehow, they will pull off a victory in this one. 1-0 Sampdoria.
Ten points from the last fifteen is not a bad return for Roma, but they need to defeat Catania to maintain their chances of making it to the Champions League.
Catania already know that they are going to be in Serie A next season, so the game is there for Roma's taking.
Prediction: Catania 1-2 Roma
Juventus unbelievably gave up a two goal lead against Chievo on Monday. With Champions League football almost impossible now, and even Europa League looking difficult, Juve's season is all but over.
It has been a dismal campaign, but Juve will want to take revenge against a side that beat them 4-1 in the reverse fixture.
Parma are going to be in Serie A next season as their draw with Bologna was enough to guarantee that.
Prediction: 2-1 Juventus.
Bari have been relegated. Lecce need a win.
The scenario is simple, but Lecce know anything less than a win coupled with a possible Sampdoria victory would undo all the work the club put in last weekend. They defeated Napoli in a dramatic encounter, and they need to win again so they don't leave the last day as the decisive one in the relegation struggle. After all, they play Lazio then.
Prediction: Bari 1-1 Lecce
Napoli will be without Edinson Cavani as they battle Inter at home. The Uruguayan striker is serving a three-match ban for disrespecting the referee.
Second place is up for grabs in this key encounter. Both Inter and Napoli are virtually assured of Champions League football, but second place would be a huge achievement for Napoli, and even Inter whose season was spoiled earlier in the fall by Rafael Benitez.
At one stage it looked like both Napoli and Inter had a real chance of supplanting Milan at the top, but each of them lost the two head-to-head encounters with the Rossoneri.
Cavani would have been instrumental for Napoli in this game. In his absence, Ezequiel Lavezzi will be called on to do the damage in attack.
Inter will line up with Giampaolo Pazzini and Samuel Eto'o in attack. Wesley Sneijder is still recovering from injury, so a flatter midfield containing Javier Zanetti and Estebian Cambiasso, amongst others, will support the duo in attack.
Prediction: Napoli 1-3 Inter
