Serie A Weekend Preview: Round 24

Atalanta – Siena

Atalanta will be looking to re-ignite their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup following last week’s comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Lazio. The Nerazzurri are down to ninth after that loss and will certainly ned to improve their defensive record, having conceded 14 goals in their last seven games.Siena have been in good form in 2008 and have performed commendably against some of Serie A’s giants. They fell to a narrow and controversial 3-2 defeat to Inter, defeated Roma 3-0, and were unlucky in their 1-0 reverse at Milan. Last week they drew 0-0 at home to Torino, a result that keeps them one place above the relegation zone.

Cagliari – Lazio

Cagliari lost 2-1 at Palermo last Sunday, which ended their recent spell of improved form.A win and two draws prior to this game had given them hope in their uphill battle against relegation. This setback leaves them six points adrift of safety at the bottom of the league.Lazio picked up a much-needed three points by seeing off Atalanta 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.This sees them rise up to 12th in the table, and although they are only five points off the relegation zone, a good run of results could soon see them move even higher up the standings.

Empoli – Catania

Empoli moved out of the bottom three last week with a wonderful 3-1 win at San Paolo against Napoli.The Tuscans have now won two on the trot in Serie A, and they will be confident of continuing this positive sequence.Catania are in freefall after yet another loss last weekend; 2-1 at Fiorentina.Having been comfortable for most of the season the Sicilians are down to 14th, just two points above the relegation zone.

Livorno – Napoli

Livorno have faced both teams from Milan in their last two Serie A games, with mixed fortunes.First they picked up a hugely impressive 1-1 draw at San Siro against the Rossoneri, before being comprehensively beaten 2-0 by Inter in the same stadium three days later. The Tuscans are in 15th, two points above the drop zone.Napoli’s terrible form continues, as they crashed to a 3-1 home defeat against struggling Empoli.The Partenopei have picked up just one win in their last seven matches in Serie A, and have seen their UEFA Cup hopes virtually disappear.

Milan – Palermo

Milan need to get back to winning ways as their two consecutive draws in the league have seen them fall three points behind Fiorentina in the race for fourth place.In midweek however they picked up an excellent 0-0 draw at Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.Palermo reacted to their 3-1 defeat at Torino in week 22 by turning over Cagliari 2-1 at the Stadio Barbera.The Rosanero, currently in eighth, will be hoping for a repeat scoreline of the first fixture between them and Milan earlier in the season when they won 2-1.

Reggina – Juventus

Reggina are on a real negative streak as their 3-1 loss at home to Udinese was their fourth defeat in succession. The Amaranti are second-from-bottom in the table and are looking more-and-more likely to drop down to Serie B.Juventus have had two excellent results in as many weeks, as they followed up their 2-1 win at Udinese with a 1-0 victory over Roma.The Bianconeri are now just one point adrift of the second-placed Giallorossi, and could possibly overtake them this Sunday with victory in Reggio Calabria.

Roma – Fiorentina

Roma’s chances of the Scudetto were all but ended after they went down 1-0 to Juventus in Turin.The Giallorossi have now lost two of their last three games in Serie A and are 11 points adrift of leaders Inter.Fiorentina had not won in two in Serie A following a loss to Milan and a 2-2 draw at Atalanta.However they got back to winning ways by overcoming Catania 2-1, and followed this up with a win over Rosenborg in the UEFA Cup which saw them progress to the last 16 of the competition.

Sampdoria – Inter

Sampdoria are one of the most in-form teams in Serie A currently, and if there is anyone to put to an end Inter’s unbeaten domestic campaign it could be them.The Blucerchiati snatched a late 1-0 win in the Genoa derby last week. Walter Mazzarri’s men's record at the Stadio Ferraris is simply superb with seven wins, three draws, and a defeat from their 11 league games played there.Inter may be racing towards another Scudetto success, however the past few days have been tough for them.A 2-0 loss to Liverpool has left them on the verge of another early Champions League exit, and this has been followed by internal wranglings, including a reported falling-out between Marco Materazzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Torino – Parma

Torino have been much more consistent of late and last week they followed up two successive wins with a 0-0 draw at Siena.The Granata have moved away from the relegation places and are currently in 13th place in the table.Parma are now in the drop zone after an alarming run of results that has seen them not win in seven.However they will have been boosted by their ability to hold Milan to a 0-0 draw at the Stadio Tardini last Saturday evening.

Udinese - Genoa

Udinese got back to winning ways last time out after going four games without a win. The Zebrette’s 3-1 win at Reggina has boosted their hopes of catching Fiorentina, who are five points adrift in the fourth and final Champions League position. Genoa had been in fine form ahead of last week’s derby with four wins, a draw and a defeat from their previous six games. However the Rossoblu fell to a morale-sapping 1-0 loss to their fierce rivals Sampdoria courtesy of a late Christian Maggio goal. (Source: Carlo Garganese, Goal)