23-01-2011 20:45 Milan - Cesena

Recovering Momentum

No one can doubt Milan's ability and propensity to entertain and thrill this campaign. The Rossoneri have been sensational at times with star striker and mercurial creative mind Zlatan Ibrahimovic weaving his sorcery from time to time, but since the beginning of the new year they appear to be struggling to get the points.

The hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cagliari was followed by a brilliant yet eventually disappointing 4-4 draw with Udinese, and last weekend things went worse as Milan failed to get anything more than a 1-1 draw in Lecce against a side set to suffer relegation at the end of the season.

Now four points clear at the top of the table in Serie A with 41 points from 20 matches, Milan need to start picking up wins. Massimiliano Allegri's side comfortably went through to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia on Thursday night as they destroyed Bari 3-0 at San Siro and will hope for a similar result against a similarly struggling side.

Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice, Does It?

Cesena were a revelation at the start of the 2010-11 campaign as they went on to reach the pole position in Serie A, albeit for short period of time. En route to that orgasmic moment was the 2-0 humiliation of Italian giants and former European champions Milan in what remains one of the most shocking results of the Serie A season.

Four months fast forward, and the Seahorses will hope for lightning to strike twice. The Rossoneri are not exactly in the best of form result-wise at the moment and this could be the time that Cesena resurrect their campaign by achieving a great result.

It's easier said than done, though, as Massimo Ficcadenti's side have an appalling record on the road, having won once and lost six times in nine away league encounters. With 19 points from 20 matches, Cesena are level on points with third-from-bottom Lecce - time as well as games is running out.

TEAM NEWS

Milan

Boateng, Zambrotta, Inzaghi, Amelia and Pirlo are out injured for the Rossoneri, who are expected to leave Cassano and Pato on the bench and start with Ibrahimovic and Robinho as the two forwards in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Cesena

Lauro and Nagatomo are out injured for the Seahorses while Giaccherini is suspended. Malonga and Jimenez will be the two attacking midfielders deployed behind striker Bogdani in a 4-3-2-1 system.

Prediction

A win for Milan appears to be the most likely outcome but given that the Rossoneri haven't always looked formidable in the league this month, the Seahorses could make it tough for them if they get an early goal.

Milan 3-0 Cesena

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23-01-2011 21:00 Villarreal - Real Sociedad

Out Of The Copa But Still Strong In La Liga

Villarreal were fighting on three fronts prior to Tuesday night’s elimination from the Copa del Rey by Sevilla. Coach Juan Carlos Garrido will feel that his side have been knocked out of the least important of their trio of objectives and will be happy to start focussing on the Primera Division encounter against Real Sociedad.

At El Madrigal this season, Villarreal have been irreproachable. Only Valencia have managed to avoid defeat at the venue, and even los Che only managed to earn a point. Off the back of this excellent record, the Yellow Submarine have installed themselves as La Liga’s third force, marginally ahead of their near neighbours.

Even with a depleted squad, Garrido managed to lead his side to a 4-2 success against Osasuna last weekend, though a weakened team crumbled 3-0 against los Nervionenses in midweek. Having fallen behind early in a match they realistically needed to win, Villarreal were sunk early in the second period, when their hosts scored twice from corner kicks.

After Tuesday’s game, Garrido was quick to congratulate Sevilla, though he also stressed that he felt the final result was a harsh reflection of his side’s performance. Having rotated his squad for the clash, it was made clear that the Copa was not his priority, so expect to see yellow-clad players frothing at the mouth eager to get their teeth back into the league campaign come the weekend.

Bad Streak Bust

Last weekend’s 4-0 success over Getafe was a cathartic result for Real Sociedad, whose poor run of form had threatened to undermine much of the good work they did earlier this season. Four successive losses over the Christmas period were certainly awkward for la Real, but a fantastic evening in the Spanish capital has helped to re-energise the squad, keeping them nine points clear of the red zone.

“We got more than we deserved,” coach Martin Lasarte admitted after the game, clearly aware that Mikel Aranburu’s unlikely late brace gave the full-time result a rather flattering complexion from the point of view of the Basques. “We've always talked about the goal, which is to ascend. There is room to grow. The result was a very good one with which to go into the second round of games, and we will try to stay in peace.”

Not only will an array of goals please the coach, but the fact his side managed to keep a clean sheet will have been equally satisfying. At times this term Real Sociedad have leaked goals at an alarming rate, so shutting the opposition out for the first time in five games must be deemed satisfying.

Though the San Sebastian club lose a lot of games – more than two of the sides in the bottom three – the fact they tend to win the others means that they are unlikely to be sucked into great danger. On the other hand, an ability to grind out a draw would be a useful attribute travelling to somewhere like El Madrigal, where the hosts are so dominant.


TEAM NEWS


Villarreal

Juan Carlos faces another month on the sidelines after picking up a problem in a Copa del Rey tie against Sevilla a fortnight ago. Marcos Senna and Nilmar continue to rehabilitate from surgery, while Carlos Marchena is nearly ready to return. Santi Cazorla should be fit after missing the last two matches.


Real Sociedad

Zurutuza is banned, and Mikel Gonzalez and Carlos Martinez are both doubtful. Carlos Martin could be back in the squad but is unlikely to play, while Vadim Demidov still waits for his debut. Diego Ifran has made an improvement but isn’t thought likely to feature either.

Prediction

Villarreal will prove that crashing out of the Copa del Rey was a mere blip. The Yellow Submarine will field all of their top players at the weekend and will continue to feel very much at home at El Madrigal by picking up three points against a Real Sociedad team who rarely travel well.

Villarreal 3-1 Real Sociedad

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23-01-2011 19:00 Real - Mallorca

More Derby Success

Mallorca were the first Primera Division opponents faced by Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, and they were also to prove the first opponents to frustrate the Castilian side, earning a scoreless draw back in August. A repeat of that result would be hugely damaging for los Blancos, who are aiming to get back to winning ways in the Primera Division after last weekend’s surprising slip against Almeria.

There were no problems for los Blancos in their midweek Copa del Rey quarter-final encounter against city-rivals Atletico Madrid. Leading 3-1 from the first leg, there was never any danger of a slip in the Vicente Calderon after Cristiano Ronaldo shot the title challengers ahead midway through the first half for what proved the only goal of a sometimes tetchy affair.

“The team played a good game. We did what we had to do to reach the next round and we earned a good result.” Mourinho affirmed after the match before discussing a change in his side’s tactical make-up.

“We reached the next round without exerting ourselves too much. I wanted to play differently tonight because we won the first leg 3-1. I knew we would go through if we kept a clean sheet. Two leg knockout stages are different to league games.”

There has been speculation that the Portuguese coach could take his leave from the Bernabeu sooner rather than later, though ‘Mou’ has already quashed rumours that he could depart before the end of the season. On the field, his side are discovering that even the slightest slip will be punished by Barcelona, so once again winning is imperative this weekend.

Paid The Penalty Last Week

In a season that was meant to be a real slog for Mallorca, the Balearic club are passing the exam impressively. With half of the campaign already played, els Barralets lie in the top half of the standings and are 11 points clear of the relegation zone, earning praise from celebrity shareholder Rafael Nadal in the process.

Of course, not everything’s gone smoothly for the Iberostar Estadi club. Last weekend they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 away to Atletico Madrid, and on their return to the capital less than a week later coach Michael Laudrup will be hoping for a more successful performance from his players.

The Islanders certainly had their chances against Atleti last weekend, but the best of those was squandered by Pierre Webo, who accepted responsibility for the defeat. “The key play was the penalty miss,” he lamented, considering his moment of infamy to the Diario de Mallorca. “If we score, I think that we could have won the game. I had no luck and the goalkeeper has done well.

“Mallorca had played a pretty nice game and didn’t deserve this beating. We had chances, and Atletico Madrid have received too much of a reward for their performance.”

Already this season Mallorca have proven to be stubborn opponents for Spain’s best. After holding los Blancos 0-0 on the opening day of the campaign they went to Camp Nou and came away with a 1-1 draw against Barcelona. Laudrup’s side will be no pushovers.

TEAM NEWS


Real Madrid

Pepe, Jerzy Dudek and Gonzalo Higuain will continue to miss out but no new problems have been reported in los Blancos' ranks.

Mallorca

Michael Laudrup’s squad is depleted by suspensions to Jonathan De Guzman and Pau Cendros.

Injury problems in the Islanders’ team are not rife, but in-form striker Victor Casadesus sits out. Jose Luis Marti is their other absentee. Ratinho, Sergio Tejera and Gonzalo Castro will be checked before the game.

Prediction

This is a dangerous fixture for los Blancos. Though they have been dominant at the Bernabeu this season, Mallorca have often managed to raise their games for the really big challenges. It could turn out to be a grind, but Jose Mourinho’s men will pick up the three points.

Real Madrid 2-0 Mallorca

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23-01-2011 17:00 Zaragoza - Dep. La Coruna

Moving Towards Safety

A welcome dose of hope was injected into Zaragoza’s season last weekend. Bottom of the table almost exclusively since Round 4 of action, los Manos boosted their survival hopes with a crucial 1-0 victory over struggling Levante. Javier Aguirre will hope that win can spark new life into his side, and the weekend’s fixture against Deportivo La Coruna will certainly be targeted for more points.

What little success the Aragon side have enjoyed this season – three league wins in total – has come solely at home. La Romareda may have seen its team lose on five occasions, but the 11 points Zaragoza have won at the venue comprise the vast majority of their present tally.

Last weekend, the bowl of a stadium witnessed an all-too-infrequent success this season, though it did come against a direct rival, doubling the value of the victory. Levante didn’t put up a great fight, and Gabi’s goal on the stroke of half-time could prove a priceless strike for the struggling northerners.

“We failed to kill the game with few chances we had and from there we suffered,” Aguirre said, expressing his concern at his side’s lack of goal scoring instinct. “We are still a little short on time, so we cannot afford to be average.”

Though Depor are uninspiring, they are unlikely to gift three points to los Manos, who will have to be on their mettle if they are to earn three points.

Starting To Flounder Again

Copa del Rey elimination on Wednesday night against Almeria wasn’t particularly sore for Deportivo La Coruna to take, as coach Miguel Angel Lotina had explained from the outset of the tie that his side were primarily focussing their efforts on their league campaign. So far, the Primera Division isn’t going especially smoothly for the Galicians.

Defeat against Valencia last weekend left Depor languishing firmly in the bottom half of the table, though after a dreadful start to the term little more could be expected by this stage. Indeed, a five point gap to the relegation places may even seem pretty healthy for the north easterners.

Their defensive face was firmly on view at the Mestalla in the 2-0 defeat, but Lotina’s side were somewhat more enterprising in midweek. After losing the opening leg 1-0, there was little prospect of a comeback for the goal-shy side after the Andalucians took a 19th minute lead. Pablo Alvarez and Adrian briefly offered hope of a resurrection, but this was short-lived as Lotina’s men went down 3-2.

A difficult run of fixtures has seen only four points from the last five games return to Galicia, but a match against the league’s bottom club will make for an appetising fixture for Depor, who need their season to come back to life before they slip into further difficulties.

TEAM NEWS

Zaragoza

Once again, coach Javier Aguirre is playing his cards close to his chest, not revealing much about his squad’s state before the weekend game. Jiri Jarosik overcame slight muscular problems to play last weekend, and no fresh worries have been named in the press over the course of the last week.

Deportivo

Riki and Andres Guardado are back training with the main squad, but Claudio Morel and Saul are yet to overcome their injury problems. Rested in midweek, Knut Olav Rindaroy, Alberto Lopo and Juan Rodriguez will all be involved.

Prediction

Goals should certainly not be expected in this match; Deportivo remain grimly defensive, while Zaragoza are not an exhilarating offensive force by any means. The guests will try to operate on the break but will find life tough if los Manos score the first goal... if there is even a goal in what’s likely to be a tight, tense battle.

Zaragoza 1-0 Deportivo

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23-01-2011 17:00 Real Sporting - Atletico Madrid

Remembering How To Win

Sporting de Gijon were a side languishing badly last weekend, but a 2-0 victory over Hercules has certainly increased morale in the Asturians’ ranks. Prior to that encounter, the El Molinon side had gone an alarming 11 matches in the Primera Division without a win, and now Manuel Preciado will attempt to maintain his side’s positive run against Atletico Madrid.

The landscape of los Sportinguistas’ results in La Liga has been dominated by draws over the course of the last year. Already they have tied seven times this season, and towards the end of last term they were recognised as 1-1 specialists – a tag they have done little to shake since.

Victory over Hercules, which came courtesy of goals from David Barral and Nucho Cases, was enough to push Sporting temporarily out of the drop zone, but wins must be accrued on a more regular basis if they are to stay out of the bottom three.

“The team has always worked and shown a great attitude but it seems that poor results led to a kind of mental block,” Preciado said after last weekend’s success. “[The team] had almost forgotten how to win.”

With an unwelcome monkey off their backs, the Gijon club are looking forward to Sunday’s clash with great optimism, though it promises to be a difficult affair.

Mentally Strong

There was more derby disappointment for Atletico Madrid on Thursday evening, when they were ousted from the Copa del Rey by city-rivals Real Madrid. A solitary Cristiano Ronaldo goal was all it took to down los Colchoneros on the night, but the overall result was comfortable; Jose Mourinho’s men moving through 4-1.

Coach Quique Sanchez Flores was, nevertheless, impressed with his side’s attitude in midweek, of the opinion that they showed the correct desire, despite being placed in an almost impossible position but the Portuguese star’s strike.

“We pushed hard and tried to play football against a team that made things hard for us,” he commented. “I have full confidence in the group. The team is smart; it works well daily and prepares for each match with a lot of intensity. In recent years, we have been more successes than failures.”

The Primera Division campaign is not necessarily going smoothly for los Rojiblancos. At the start of the campaign they were heavily tipped to be a side competing for the top four, but they have failed thus far to show the kind of consistency required to move into that bracket. A seven point gap to Valencia is not unbridgeable, but in the second half of the campaign, the men from the Vicente Calderon will have to show greater consistency, starting on Sunday.

TEAM NEWS

Sporting

Andre Castro has indicated his willingness to make his debut on Sunday, but on the other hand Jose Angel has told the club of his desire to leave.

No new injury problems have been registered. Alberto Botia is poised to miss out again, but Luis Moran should be back involved.

Atletico

Jose Antonio Reyes isn’t expected to be fit after being withdrawn after only 25 minutes on Thursday evening with a sprained ankle. Sergio Aguero, Mario Suarez and Jorge Pulido all missed out in midweek and will struggle for this encounter, but Antonio Lopez returns.

Prediction

Atletico Madrid are horribly unpredictable beasts, but Sporting Gijon tend to play relatively well at home. This match is unlikely to be a walkover for los Colchoneros, who simply cannot string a run of positive results together. The hosts will be battling for every point they can get, and this is a match they will not want to lose.

Sporting de Gijon 1-1 Atletico Madrid

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23-01-2011 17:00 Getafe - Espanyol

Poor Start To The Year

Getafe finished 2010 in fine style, picking up four successive Primera Division victories, but January is not proving to be a hospitable month for los Azulones, who have suffered three setbacks already since the turn of the year. High-flying Espanyol will not necessarily be welcome visitors to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

After losing narrowly to Real Madrid and then being held to a scoreless draw by Osasuna, the odds were in el Geta’s favour to record their first win of the year last weekend against Real Sociedad. The Basques, however, proved to be rather more obstinate opposition than previously considered, racing to a 4-0 victory, which represents Getafe’s biggest reverse of the campaign.

“The team has given a lot of sweat but were very nervous and have not found the formula,” coach Michel lamented after the match. “The defeat is just, but excessive. I don’t think that our rivals should have won by the difference that was on the scoreboard.”

Not a great deal was expected of los Azulones this season, but they’ve lifted themselves into a position from which challenging for Europe could be considered a realistic goal. Results like last weekend’s will seriously undermine any continental hopes they still possess, so the team must be rallied to quickly bounce back.

Still Charging Up The Table

If Espanyol’s away form replicated that of their home performances, los Periquitos would be onto a winner. At the Cornella-Et Prat, the Barcelona club have picked up 24 points from 27 – slipping up only against Barcelona. Away from home, it’s been a different story, with only three wins and a draw gleamed from 10 trips.

Last weekend’s fine victory in Sevilla will have helped increase confidence in los Periquitos’ camp ahead of an equally testing trip to the southern suburbs of Madrid. A second half double from Jose Callejon was sufficient for the Catalans to fend off their Andalucian hosts, keeping them in stride with Valencia, who are only three points better off in the race for fourth spot.

“We won’t change our philosophy of going step by step, from game to game,” coach Mauricio Pochettino explained. “The next match will be the most important.”

Few critics would have tipped los Periquitos to be going so healthily in the league at this stage of the campaign, though it was recognised that they did have the potential to break out of their run of mid-table finishes. Espanyol are presently a side flourishing, and even if they are not consistent away from home, they have shown that they have the potential to make things click on the day.

TEAM NEWS

Getafe

A training ground collision between Miguel Torres and Miku has given Michel something of a scare, but both men should be fit to start on Sunday. Dani Parejo, Derek Boateng and Ibrahim Kas have all been restricted to training alone, while a muscular problem means that Manu del Moral is a real doubt.

Pedro Rios is back at peak fitness, but Mario remains a long-term casualty.

Espanyol

Pablo Osvaldo has undergone his operation and is expected to be sidelined for a couple of months. Baena will need 10 days off to recover from a muscle issue, but Jesus Datolo and Ivan Alonso have both overcome tonsillitis and are expected to be named in the squad.

Ivan de la Pena, Ernesto Galan and Felipe Mattioni continue to miss out, but David Garcia, Javi Lopez and David Lopez are all nearing action.

Prediction

Although Espanyol’s away record isn’t particularly good, they will have taken a lot of confidence from last weekend’s performance and will be hopeful of repeating the feat in Madrid. Getafe, however, will be desperate to show they are better than last week’s mauling and should be favoured to bounce back in front of their home fans.

Getafe 2-1 Espanyol

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23-01-2011 17:00 Almeria - Osasuna

Copa Inspired

Almeria have endured a difficult campaign in the Primera Division, but there may yet be unlikely glory ahead for the side who currently reside bottom of the standings. Having dispatched Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday evening, the Andalucians have progressed to the Copa del Rey semi-finals, though there is arguably a more pressing engagement waiting for them at the weekend against Osasuna.

The wind is in the sails of Jose Luis Oltra’s unit. Even looking up at all the elite Spanish teams, they can do so with renewed optimism after the events of the last 10 days. Not only have Deportivo La Coruna been beaten twice, mighty Real Madrid were held at the Estadio del Mediterraneo.

Though Oltra said in his post-match interviews that his side will “fight to the death” to defeat Barcelona in the forthcoming Copa encounters, he has also acknowledged that Almeria’s first “priority” has to be securing their top flight status.

If the southerners are to enjoy another season amongst Spain’s best then they simply have to improve their form at home. Almeria are the only side not to have chalked up a solitary victory on home soil this term, with a catalogue of draws failing to lift them above their lowly standing. Wins have to start coming, ideally on Sunday.

Too Loose

Jose Antonio Camacho’s Osasuna have, over the course of the mid-winter months, transformed from being a tenacious mid-table outfit into a unit who look destined to spend the rest of the season flirting with relegation. Los Rojillos have failed to win in seven attempts, and the only solace they could draw from last weekend’s 4-2 reverse against injury-hit Villarreal was that they found the net for the first time in three games.

Under Camacho, the Pamplona club have generally boasted a solid defensive unit, but the coach’s comments after the loss at El Madrigal help to explain why there has been such a recent slump in their fortunes.

“I’m getting used to conceding goals,” the former Spain boss groaned. “The team is very bad at stopping the ball, and [Saturday] was a clear example of this. We played, we created danger, but we can’t be so loose with the defensive aspects of our game.

“We need to win more. And above all we need to keep working on our defence.”

Only on three occasions this season have Osasuna lost a goal and gone on to pick up points, highlighting just how paramount their defensive concentration is if even a draw is to be claimed.

TEAM NEWS

Almeria

Hernan Pellerano wasn’t expected to take the field in midweek, but he shrugged off a knock and carried on regardless. Santiago Acasiete is another man to recently come back into contention having overcome a calf problem. Miguel Angel Nieto is still toiling.

Modeste M’Bami is suspended.

Osasuna

Coro and Alvaro Cejudo have both joined the club this week, though the latter has an injury and won’t be able to debut immediately. It may be a month before the ex-Las Palmas man can feature.

There is little fresh news to report on the injury front; Nacho Monreal, Ruper, Walter Pandiani and Medina are missing.

Prediction

Six of Almeria’s nine home games have ended level, and though Osasuna are on the slide, the Pamplona outfit will fancy their chances of picking up a point on Sunday. Few teams are grittier than los Rojillos, and though Almeria do have some players capable of unpicking awkward locks, their record in front of goal is uninspiring.

Almeria 1-1 Osasuna

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23-01-2011 15:00 Sampdoria - Juventus

Inconsistency Reigns Supreme

Loss, win, loss, win - Sampdoria are fast becoming an exhibition of inconsistency. The 3-0 hammering by Palermo in Sicily in their opening game of 2011 was followed by a narrow but important 2-1 defeat of Roma in Genoa.

Then came the 1-0 loss to Lazio in Rome that saw Domenico Di Carlo's side stay stagnant in mid-table with 26 points from 19 matches, a considerable eight points off a Europa League slot, the game in hand notwithstanding.

In midweek, though, the Blucerchiati were back winning, as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia by defeating Udinese 5-4 on penalties in Genoa. After dominating for most of the match, Sampdoria were forced to play extra-time after conceding a 90th minute equaliser and even went behind in the 30-minute session.

Hopes of securing a place in Europe next season is fast evaporating and one suspects that between now and the end of the campaign, it's going to be a case of consolidating a respectable mid-table position. Samp have a formidable home form, though, and will hope to have the crowd on their back as they take on fellow top-six challengers Juventus.


Winning Again But Still Shaky

Juventus' season collapsed at the turn of the year as they were destroyed by Parma and Napoli in back-to-back matches. Criticisms and doubts, so long buried under heaps of praise and optimism, began to raise their ugly heads and suddenly the Old Lady were old again. And dilapidated.

Only, they have something left in them still. Juve bounced back from their defeat in Naples with a 2-0 victory over Catania in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 tie and backed that up with a 2-1 win against relegation-threatened Bari. Those three points saw the Bianconeri remain sixth with 34 points from 20 matches, a point off a Champions League berth.

Yet the suspicion is that Juventus will continue to struggle for the remainder of the season. With their long unbeaten run broken at the start of the new year, their bubble is said to have burst and against Sampdoria in Genoa, Luigi Del Neri's team could be exposed.

TEAM NEWS

Sampdoria

Semioli, Padalino, Zauri and Gastaldello are injured and are unavailable for the clash. Pazzini and Macheda will start as the two centre-forwards in a 4-4-2 formation.

Juventus

Rinaudo, De Ceglie, Iaquinta, Quagliarella, Toni and Grosso are injured and will miss the trip to Genoa. Felipe Melo is suspended.

Prediction

Sampdoria will be buoyed after their win in midweek and will make it immensely difficult for Juventus at home. The Bianconeri have started to win again but haven't looked entirely convincing; Samp could eventually collect a victory.

Sampdoria 2-1 Juventus

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23-01-2011 15:00 Fiorentina - Lecce

Gaining Ground

Fiorentina appear to have turned the corner as the Viola have looked impressive so far in the new year. Ending 2010 on a losing note, Sinisa Mihajlovic's side have collected five points out of a possible nine so far this month, having yet to lose in 2011.

Last weekend's encouraging goalless draw with Napoli in Naples saw Fiorentina climb the table up to 11th spot and perch on 24 points. Worries of relegation still hang over their head like the Sword of Damocles but a five-point gap, morale-boosting form, a game in hand and desperate run of results of several of the teams below them mean that the Gigliati have a very good chance of not suffering relegation from Serie A at the end of the season.

Fiorentina also have a very strong record at the Artemio Franchi as they have registered six league victories in Florence this season, losing two. The Viola have conceded just eight goals in nine league encounters and will aspire to defeat Lecce.

Resuscitated And Alive

At the end of December Lecce's season appeared to be over. Well, almost. Then came the 1-0 defeat to fellow relegation candidates Bari at home in their opening game of the new year, and a long, awful second half of the 2010-11 campaign loomed.

But every cloud has a silver lining. A fantastic and hugely significant 2-1 defeat of Lazio in Rome reawakened hopes of survival and then last weekend Milan failed to win in Lecce, going back home with a 1-1 draw. Two massive results against two Scudetto challengers, and Lecce have been resuscitated.

However, Lecce must heed caution. Luigi De Canio's side have an woeful away form as the victory over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico was their first league win on the road this season. Defensively Lecce are the worst away team in the Italian first division, having shipped 24 goals, and have scored just six goals in 10 away Serie A games.

TEAM NEWS

Fiorentina

Vargas, Avramov, Natali, Cerci, Jovetic and Frey are injured for the Viola.

Lecce

Giuliatto and Ofere are out through injuries and Mesbah is suspended.

Prediction

This is a relegation six-pointer that both sides will aim to win. But given that the game is in Florence, Fiorentina will start as favourites and are likely to collect all three points.

Fiorentina 2-1 Lecce

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23-01-2011 15:00 Bologna - Lazio

Looking Over Their Shoulders

Bologna's struggle with the relegation demon is an eternal exercise in suspense - in one round the demon gets the stronghold, in the very next round the Felsinei begin to get the upperhand. Last weekend it was Bologna who lost ground as they were hammered 4-1 by Italian and European champions Inter at San Siro.

The loss followed a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over fellow relegation candidates Bari on the road but was followed by a 2-1 defeat to Napoli in the Round of 16 in the Coppa Italia. Not that the Cup exit was entirely an disappointment - it allows the Rossoblu to maintain more focus on the championship.

Bologna start Week 21 two places and three points above the relegation zone but having lost just once at home in the league all season, they will be confident of conjuring up an upset against a stuttering Lazio side.

Bologna have won four of their nine league encounters at the Renato Dall'Ara and although they have scored nine goals in those matches, Alberto Malesani's side have conceded only seven.

New Year, Disappointing Beginning

Lazio's start to the new year has been slow, sluggish and uninspiring and despite the fact that the Aquile are still flying high in the Serie A table, they are dangerously losing momentum and could be shot down to the ground if things don't improve.

Midweek's Coppa Italia defeat to eternal adversaries Roma in the Derby della Capitale came as much as a humiliation as a stark reminder that Lazio need to start improving immediately. Last weekend's narrow 1-0 win against Sampdoria kept the Biancocelesti in third place, level on points with Napoli and four behind leaders Milan, but was - and still is - their first and only win of 2011.

Lazio haven't looked particularly bright in their away games this campaign and given Bologna's strong form at home the former Italian champions could be made to sweat and struggle.

Furthermore, with Inter now just two points behind them in fourth with a game in hand and Juventus, Roma and Palermo all challenging for a top-four place, the pressure is on Edy Reja's side to improve and improve immediately.

TEAM NEWS

Bologna

There are no injury or suspension worries for Bologna, who will line up in a 4-3-1-2 system that will have Ekdal behind Di Vaio and Ramirez as the playmaker.

Lazio

Meghni, Garrido, Matuzalem, Rocchi and Sculli are unavailable for the trip to Bologna with injuries while Lichtsteiner is suspended.

Prediction

Lazio have struggled all this month and they could stump up once more in Bologna. It is hard to see the Roman side actually losing this fixture but they could well be forced to drop two points.

Bologna 1-1 Lazio

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23-01-2011 15:00 Bari - Napoli

If It Could All End Now...

Just three league wins all season. Just one Serie A victory since late September. 30 goals conceded in 20 matches and just 13 scored.

These are just some of the appalling statistics that Bari have to endure as they remain stuck to the foot of the table in Serie A. Having managed to garner just 14 points from 20 matches, the Galletti look set to finish first in the race to drop down the yawning trapdoor into the Italian second division.

Bari's misery was increased on Thursday night as Giampiero Ventura's side were battered 3-0 by Milan in the Coppa Italia Round of 16. It followed a narrow 2-1 defeat to Italian giants Juventus in Turin, and having not won a competitive game at the San Nicola since December 1, it promises to be a tough 90 minutes against Napoli.

Breathing Down Milan's Neck

Napoli's goalless draw with Fiorentina last weekend could have pushed them further behind league leaders Milan in the table but with the Rossoneri also failing to win, Walter Mazzarri's side remain second with 37 points from 20 matches, just four points off the pace.

In midweek, though, the Partenopei returned to winning ways as they got the better of Bologna in their Coppa Italia tie, winning 2-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals. It was their third successive competitive fixture without a loss, meaning that they have suffered defeat just once in their last nine matches in all competitions.

The Azzurri will travel to Bari this weekend with the confidence of returning to Naples with maximum points. Having won five league encounters out of ten on the road in 2010-11, Napoli will aspire to win and not only maintain their stance to qualify for next season's Champions League but also sustain lofty hopes of a Scudetto triumph.

TEAM NEWS

Bari

Ghezzal, Salvatore Masiello, Barreto, D'Alessandro and Rivas are out injured. Donati is suspended. Kutuzov and Rudolf will be the two strikers upfront in a 4-4-2 formation.

Napoli

Grava and Vitale are unavailable because of injuries. Cavani is expected to be lone striker upfront in 3-4-2-1 system with Hamsik and Lavezzi deployed behind him.

Prediction

A win for Napoli seems to be the most logical outcome. However, playing at home will give Bari some confidence and they could well hurt the Azzurri if they are slack at the back.

Bari 1-2 Napoli

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23-01-2011 12:30 Udinese - Inter

Entertainment Guaranteed

Udinese had created precious little in the first-half of their Coppa Italia Round of 16 tie against Sampdoria in Genoa in midweek and even in the second session didn't exactly look that they were going to emerge with a victory.

Then came the 90th minute equaliser and a couple of minutes into extra-time period, the Bianconeri went 2-1 ahead, only to concede a spot-kick later on and to lose the tie 5-4 on penalties. It was just the continuation of unalloyed thrill and entertainment that Francesco Guidolin's side have been providing since the inception of the new year.

Udinese have not only just been enthralling, they have been effective and have collected the wins too. The Zebrette started 2011 with a 2-0 win against Chievo, then held league leaders Milan to a 4-4 draw at San Siro and last weekend hammered Genoa 4-2 away to place themselves eighth in the league table, a tangible four points off a Europa League slot.

Winning against Inter will not be easy for Udinese but the Udine-based team have a strong record at the Friuli, having won six out of nine league games there this season. In the reverse fixture earlier this campaign, Udinese suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Inter at San Siro and will be looking for revenge this weekend.

Unbeaten Record Under Threat

Italian and European champions Inter have turned the corner and are back in the race for the Scudetto. Midweek's dramatic and nervy 3-2 victory over Cesena at San Siro was the Beneamata's fifth successive competitive win under coach Leonardo and fourth in a row in the league.

The gap between Inter and their city-rivals and league leaders Milan has now been trimmed to just six points with the Nerazzurri also having a game in hand. Currently fourth in the league standings, Inter have now collected 35 points from 19 matches and Milan are under real threat.

And so is Inter's winning run under Leonardo as Udinese do have the quality and form to register a victory over them in Udine. Inter have scored goals but they have conceded too, and given that they looked shaky at the back against Cesena in midweek and shipped two quick goals, the Serpente could be in for a tricky time this weekend.

TEAM NEWS

Udinese

Basta and Ferronetti are injured and will miss the visit of Inter to Udine. Di Natale and Alexis Sanchez will line up as the front-two with five men across the midfield.

Inter

Sneijder, Coutinho, Samuel, Julio Cesar and Milito are unavailable as they are suffering from injuries. Pandev seems set to replace Milito in attack alongside Eto'o.

Prediction

This will be a stern test for Inter as Udinese are strong at home and have also run into some very good form. The Nerazzurri themselves have won five games on the trot in the new year and are unlikely to lose in Udine, but they could well be forced to drop two points.

Udinese 2-2 Inter Milan

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