06-02-2011 15:00 Lazio - Chievo Verona

Back On Course

Lazio's 2010-11 campaign threatened to go off track in January as they struggled for points, for wins and for goals. Prior to last weekend's encounter with Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, the former Italian champions had won just one in four league encounters in the new year and had also been knocked out of the Coppa Italia by eternal rivals Roma.

However, things have taken a turn for the better since last weekend when they defeated Fiorentina 2-0 in Rome. That was followed by an encouraging goalless draw with league leaders Milan at San Siro on Tuesday evening and kept Lazio in the race for the Scudetto with 41 points from 23 matches, seven points off the pace.

Coach Edy Reja, though, has forever insisted that they are not fighting for the title but for a spot in the top-six to qualify for Europe next season. In this respect the Biancocelesti are well on course to fulfilling their objective. However, they will need to defeat Chievo in Rome this weekend given Inter's return to winning ways and Palermo's chase for the Europa League.

Flying Donkeys Flying Again

Until last weekend Chievo's form could have been described as wretched. Winless in the league since November, the Flying Donkeys were heading for a crash and plummeting into the relegation quagmire.

However, the situation has now taken a launch towards the sky as back-to-back victories in Serie A have increased the gap between them and the dropzone to a robust nine points. Midweek's massively significant and morale-enhancing 2-0 triumph over Scudetto-challengers Napoli in Verona followed a 3-0 demolition of Brescia last weekend, propelling Stefano Pioli's side to 10th in the table on 30 points from 23 games.

Chievo are unbeaten in their last five league encounters and have collected four points from their last two matches on the road. In the reverse fixture in September, Chievo lost 1-0 to Lazio at home and will be aiming for a revenge in Rome on Sunday afternoon.

TEAM NEWS

Lazio

Del Nero, Meghni, Garrido, Rocchi, Diakite and Floccari are injured and will miss the visit of Chievo.

Chievo

Luciano, Marcolini and Andreolli are injured and will not travel to Rome.

Prediction

Chievo are on a high after getting the better of Napoli in midweek and will travel to Rome basking in hope and expectation. However, Lazio have proved themselves to be strong at home and should eventually collect the points.

Lazio 2-1 Chievo

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06-02-2011 15:00 Genoa - Milan

Haunting Relegation Worries

Some would suggest that Genoa have a squad that is too good to go down, and indeed with the kind of teams that are below them in the table relegation isn't really much of a fear. But a wretched run of form has unearth worries that continued to haunt the Grifoni in midweek.

Last weekend Davide Ballardini's side defeated Parma 3-1 in what was their first win in the year and first victory in seven competitive fixtures. However, in midweek Genoa slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Fiorentina, which has dragged them to just six points above the relegation zone with 27 points from 22 matches.

Genoa's record at the Luigi Ferraris this campaign is hardly inspiring either as they have won just four of the 11 league encounters in front of their own supporters, although their last home game did end in triumph for them.

In this reverse fixture in Serie A earlier in September, the Rossoblu went down 1-0 to Milan at San Siro and they will be looking to avenge that loss on Sunday.

Looking Over Their Shoulders

The goalless draw with Lazio at San Siro on Tuesday evening wasn't really a disappointing result for Milan given that the Aquile do possess a good and competitive side and are fighting for a place in the top-four. Indeed, with second-place Napoli losing to Chievo in Verona on Wednesday, Juventus collapsing once again and Roma failing to win, the Rossoneri must have heaved a sigh of relief.

However, Inter's 3-0 victory over Bari on Thursday evening made Week 23 a foul one for Massimiliano Allegri's side, who remain in pole position with 48 points from 23 matches and are five points clear of Napoli. The gap between them and eternal rivals Inter is now seven points; and Inter have a game in hand.

Which means that on Sunday in Genoa the Diavolo will be seeking nothing but a victory. Milan have a formidable record on the road as they have won seven out of 11 league fixtures away from home. Having registered victories in four of their last five away competitive fixtures, they will be confident of garnering maximum points at the Marassi.

TEAM NEWS

Genoa

Antonelli and Boselli are injured for the Grifoni.

Milan

Boateng, Zambrotta, Inzaghi, Amelia, Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf, Strasser, Ambrosini, Abate and Legrottaglie are injured for the Rossoneri and are unavailable for the trip to Genoa.

Prediction

Genoa will make it tough for Milan at home and could well spring a surprise. However, the Rossoneri have looked confident and assured even on the road and they should eventually carve out a victory against the Grifoni.

Genoa 0-2 Milan

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06-02-2011 15:00 Brescia - Bari

Fighting Against The Drop

Brescia are currently second from bottom in Serie A, having garnered just 19 points from 23 matches. One of the top contenders for a place in the bottom-three, the Rondinelle look doomed for the drop.

In midweek Brescia held Roma to a 1-1 draw in Rome and that should inspire them for a positive result against Bari at home this weekend. Last weekend, though, they had gone down 3-0 to Chievo at the Mario Rigamonti.

Brescia are in a wretched run of form too as they have won just one of their last seven Serie A fixtures. Even at home Giuseppe Iachini's side have lost more matches than they have won and have conceded a staggering 31 goals in the league so far this season.

Rooted To The Bottom

Bari are set for relegation from Serie A at the end of the season and with every passing round of matches the eventuality is drawing closer. The Galletti are currently stationed at the foot of the table with just 14 points from 23 matches and have lost their last six competitive fixtures.

Bari went down 3-0 to Italian and European champions Inter in midweek and prior to that they had fallen down 2-1 in Cagliari. Giampiero Ventura's side have failed to pick up any point from their last five league encounters and given their terrible away form that run could be extended to six matches.

In the reverse fixture in September Bari defeated Brescia 2-1 at home and will hope to draw some inspiration from that encounter.

TEAM NEWS

Brescia

Dallamano and Cordova are injured.

Bari

Salvatore Masiello, Belmonte and Barreto are unavailable for the trip to Brescia as they are suffering from injuries.

Prediction

Bari are very much unlikely to win and this means that Brescia will either win or draw. Given that they are at home, Brescia could just about eke out a narrow win.

Brescia 2-1 Bari

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06-02-2011 14:30 West Ham United - Birmingham City

Hammers Keep Impressive Record Going

Following their fine 3-1 win over Blackpool on Wednesday, West Ham kept up their impressive record against teams in the lower half of the table and will be hoping for another positive display against Birmingham City.

The Hammers have only lost one game in 13 against sides around them this season and will know that a win on Sunday can lift them out of the relegation zone.

Furthermore, Grant will be buoyed by the fact that the East London club have only lost once in nine home encounters against The Blues - a 2-1 defeat in October 2002; but the Hammers are yet to manage back-to-back wins in the league this campaign.

Blues Sliding Down

Alex McLeish’s side also find themselves locked in a battle at the foot of the table to avoid relegation after only picking up a single victory in their last nine league matches and failing to keep a clean sheet.

However, a hard fought 2-2 draw with Manchester City will have boosted Blues' confidence as they travel to London to face the Hammers, in what is a crucial game for both sides.

Birmingham though will find the going tough at Upton Park, having picked up the fewest wins in the league this season along with Wigan Athletic (four) and having only beaten the Hammers once in eight league meetings – a 1-0 victory at St Andrew's in December 2009.

TEAM NEWS

West Ham United

Manager Avram Grant is likely to keep faith with the same side that beat Blackpool in midweek so Robbie Keane is expected to make his home debut for the Hammers.

There could also be a home debut for midfielder Gary O’Neil but there are doubts over Welsh defender Daniel Gabbidon, who picked up a knock at Bloomfield Road, and Manuel Da Costa, who is still suffering from an ankle injury.

The Hammers though continue to be without Jack Collinson, Peter Kurucz (both knee), Kieron Dyer and Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), as well as Junior Stanislas who has a hernia.

Possible starting XI: Green; Jacobsen, Tomkins, Reid, Bridge; Parker, Noble, O'Neil; Piquionne, Keane, Obinna

Birmingham City

On-loan Nigerian striker Obafemi Martins could go straight into boss Alex McLeish’s squad if his visa comes through in time for the trip to Upton Park.

However, following their draw with Manchester City, the Blues have concerns over the fitness of striker Cameron Jerome, midfielder Barry Ferguson and defender Roger Johnson, so new signing Curtis Davies could deputise in defence.

Scott Dann (hamstring), James McFadden (knee) and Enric Valles (foot) are still on the treatment table at St Andrew's.

Possible starting XI: Foster; Carr, Jiranek, Johnson, Ridgewell; Bentley, Gardner, Bowyer, Ferguson; Zigic, Jerome 

Prediction

This game is sure to be a tight affair with both teams fighting for survival at the bottom of the table. However, with their recent good form in all competitions and their quality up-front with the addition of Robbie Keane, I see the Hammers just pipping Birmingham City to the three points and lifting themselves further towards safety.

West Ham 1-0 Birmingham

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06-02-2011 12:30 Bologna - Catania

Looking Towards The Sun

Bologna commenced the 2010-11 campaign as one of the potential relegation candidates and as the season has progressed they have not disappointed in that aspect. However, the Felsinei have improved and have begun to pull themselves out of the vicinity of the bottom-three.

Heading into Week 24 Bologna find themselves in 14th place with 26 points from 22 matches, a considerable five points above the relegation zone. The Rossoblu have had a decent run of results so far in the new year as they have got the better of Bari and Lazio and have also drawn with Fiorentina and Udinese.

Last weekend Alberto Malesani's side destroyed Lazio 3-1 at home and held high-flying Udinese to a 1-1 draw in Udine in midweek. Bologna will be hopeful of picking up maximum points against Catania as they have lost just once at home in the league all season and the Sicilians are terrible on the road.

Struggling Against The Drop

Heading into Week 24 Catania find themselves just a place and two points above the relegation zone. With 23 points from as many games, the Sicilians are seriously threatened with relegation and need to gather as many points as they can between now and the end of the season to survive another season of top flight football.

In midweek Catania were involved in a relegation six-pointer against Cesena away from home and picked up a point. Prior to that the Etnei lost 2-0 to Milan at home. As a matter of fact Diego Simeone's side have not won a single match in any competition since December 19.

To add to their woe, Catania are also one of only two sides in the Italian first division not to have won on the road all season, having picked up just four points out of a possible 33 away from home, conceding 19 goals in the process.

TEAM NEWS

Bologna

Ramirez is injured for the hosts.

Catania

Biagianti, Izco, Capuano, Carboni and Potenza are out injured for the Sicilians.

Prediction

Catania are poor travelers and Bologna have looked formidable at home. A win for the hosts looks the most likely outcome.

Bologna 2-0 Catania

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