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After last week, Milan got a little closer to its eternal rival. Most views will be focused on the week ending match, facing the two leaders on the Derby Della Madonnina, but another giant match will be played on Saturday, facing Juventus and Roma. Such matches will settle the future of the Serie A, which appeared before as an easy title for the Internazionale. With the relegation still undefined and seven teams knowing this week might take them to the bottom, both on the upper and lower half of the table there will be teams struggling for the glory.
Saturday January 23rd, 2010 - Serie A League Match Previews
Catania vs Parma - 12:00 PM EST
Last week begun with hope for the Catania, as the early goal against the Sampdoria provided a chance to escape from relegation, but they've been unable to sustain such a result, so a draw sank them again looking down on the league. After two weeks playing away, they'll play again in their own field in which they have obtained their best results in the tournament. With Maxi Lopez recent acquisition, the Catania will have to trust in the Argentinean blood if they want to escape from the bottom.
The Parma has been unable to obtain a victory in the last four matches, and so they're now on the tenth position. They still have chances to fight for something, as a victory might take them back to the fifth position. But things seem difficult for the Crociati, as they haven't yet found a striker in which they can trust, and so their offensive has been unable to retain victory. Things will have to change if Francesco Guidolin doesn't want to be fighting to keep the category by the end of the year.
Juventus vs Roma - 2:45 PM EST
This will be the first giant match of this round. Last week loss against the Chievo finally shattered Juventus' dreams of fighting for the title. Their manager, Ciro Ferrara, will have a hard time keeping his position, as he'll not only have to recover from the rocky patch his team is going through, but also has to overcome the enormous amounts of injuries his players are suffering, with Caceres joining Buffon, Camoranesi, Poulsen, Giovinco, Iaquinta and Trezeguet, as he has just been experiencing some quadriceps problems which will be keeping him out of the fields for a few weeks. So the Fidanzata d'Italia will have to start showing some beauty on the fields.
Its been five weeks the Roma has been unbeatable, and for this match they'll count with the return to the fields of Totti, team top striker and legend in its own land. Their last victories took them to the third position, and as Inter and Milan will be facing each other, no matter what happens it'll be the best chance for the Lobos to get a little bit closer to the top. They know they have to take advantage of their momentum, so we might see some fierce battle between two of Italia's most important teams.
Sunday January 24th, 2010 - Serie A League Match Previews
Genoa vs Atalanta - 9:00 AM EST
The Genoa has faced most of the major teams during the last weeks, and they've been unable to obtain good results. So this week against the Atalanta they have a chance to demonstrate they have not yet surrender to the lower half of the table. They're only six points away from the podium, so if the Grifoni are able to show they're still able to fight, some surprises may arise in the stadium Luigi Ferraris.
Last week the Atalanta had an opportunity to gaze what the league would be if they were not on the relegation zone, but they couldn't return home with anything but a draw, so now even with a victory will have to wait till Bologna, Lazio and Udinese decide their future. However, if they don't offer three points to their fans, then they'll be settled on the basement for who knows how long. As their coach has left a few weeks ago, they still have to find their way not to be relegated, and if such dreams are to be pursued, then they'll have to rely on its top scorer, Tiribocchi to break free from their dark omen.
Bologna vs Bari - 9:00 AM EST
The bari surprised everyone last week while obtaining a very important point against the Internazionale, undisputed leader of the league, and so entered the top ten of the tournament. Despite being an important point,its Bari's second draw in a row, so they'll need either a sharper offensive or a harder defense if they don't want to be relegated to the bottom. As long as Barreto keeps on fulfilling the hopes of the Galletti, they still can become a headache for the giants.
Absolutely different will be the situation for the Bologna, as last week draw left them at the doorsteps of the bottom, being forced to win this game if they don't want to depend on other results to escape from such a situation. They had their chance to bury the Atalanta and thus leave the Lazio in such a shaky spot. So this week they need to demonstrate they can finish the year with a smile upon their faces.
Siena vs Cagliari - 9:00 AM EST
Looking for their fifth week undefeated comes the Cagliari, who has managed to reach the seventh position last week and is only five points away from the podium. Under the wing of Matri and Nené they've proven they've become something every team looking for the Scudetto should fear.
With thirteen goals suffered in 3 matches , and four weeks without obtaining points, the Siena is at least going to be able to fight on their own playground, where they have not so much time ago obtained a victory against Udinese. For this match they'll be lacking the presence of Paolucci, as the young striker has just returned to his childhood team, from where he shone for the first time in the Serie A. It is, however, the first time the Siena will not have to play against a giant, as their three last matches were against Fiorentina, Internazionale and Milan, respectively. So their return home might give the Robur their inherent strength.
Lazio vs Chievo Verona - 9:00 AM EST
A wounded lazio, desperate to obtain points in a tournament that is becoming more and more challenging will be expecting to repeat their last two victories home against the Chievo. On the last five matches, the Lazio has always been defeated while playing away, but their lack home has been rather different. Their recent elimination for the Copa Italia has shattered their dreams of obtaining a title this year, so now they must focus their strength in the league.
Chievo Verona surprised everyone last week defeating the Juventus, providing a lethal strike to the Vecchia Signora. A victory may take them to the seventh position, as much as a loss could take the bottom much closer. Chievo has also suffered the Fiorentina in the Copa Italia, and both teams will have now to show who has learned its lesson.
Palermo vs Fiorentina - 9:00 AM EST
Not always is an elimination bad news in the Serie A. Despite the loss against the Lazio, that forced a goodbye for the Copa Italia, such a strike has proven worthy for the Palermo, who has not experienced a defeat in five weeks and has reached a position from where they can look the top and not get dizzy. They've even leapfrogged Florentina last week, so this match will decide the future of any of these teams.
Fiorentina is advancing smoothly in the Copa Italia, and in spite of being defeated last week by the Bologne, they're also going through a good moment of the league. The year has begun with much to offer to the Fiore, but they'll have strong tests on their future, facing Cagliari and Rome in the following weeks. Mutu seems to have recovered its level, so with such a striker back, things will become rather difficult for the Palermo.
Livorno vs Nápoli - 9:00 AM EST
The performance of the Livorno has had its ups and downs, but during their last matches home they can also achieve important victories. a defeat against the Napoli might take them just one point above the relegation zone.
Having just arrived to the Champions League Zone, the Napoli is showing a football level that is giving their fans something to dream for. As Inter and Milan will be facing each other just a few hours after this game, a triumph might take the Napoli just three points from the second position. The Azzurri will be looking for their fifth consecutive week without conceding goals, such a solid defense might take the Napoli to a new fight on the top.
Udinese vs Sampdoria - 9:00 AM EST
Just one match is what's separating the Udinese from the bottom, and their inability to scream for victory in five weeks is starting to worry Zebrette's fans, though their main concern for the moment is the Copa Italia Di Natale has been unable to score in the last matches, so he is now forced to convert if he wants to retain the throne.
Sampdoria fans are thirsty for victory, and such urge has relegated them on the lower side of the positions table. The recent addition of the young striker Stefan Scepovic, who will have on his back the burden of taking the Blucerchiati offensive to a new level. Below the Sampdoria there's a savage fight off the relegation zone, so they have to watch their backs while looking for the top, or they might get driven into the bottom fight.
Inter Milan vs AC Milan 2:45 PM EST
All the week matches will be played under the shadow of the derby of Milan, the Derby Della Madonnina which comes at the best moment, with both teams leading the tournament. The Milan has yet a pendant match against the Fiorentina, and a victory on Sunday will take them just three points below the top. So finally the Inter has something to fear, as the very bases of this tournament might shake after this match. With the absence of Pato, but with Ronaldinho at its best level, Leonardo team will have to teach the Inter what they have become capable of.
Much suffer have brought last victories for the Internazionale, who had to fight till the last moment to obtain its last points. Such a shaky play from the tournament leader filled the hopes of their rivals to leapfrog them, though it wouldn't be easy. Main Inter problem last week has been the effectiveness of their scorers, who are not going through their best moment. This match will not only face two eternal rivals, but also will decide whose manager deserves more respect, as such dispute has been going on since long and has now to be settled down. Watch Inter vs Milan Live
