Saturday, February 4, 2012

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05.02. (Sun) 15:00 Juventus - Siena

Chiellini in azione durante Siena-Juventus (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


JUVENTUS


Buffon
Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, De Ceglie
Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio
Pepe, Matri, Vucinic
SIENA



Pegolo

Vitiello, Rossettini, Terzi, Del Grosso

Angelo, Vergassola, Gazzi, Brienza

Destro, Calaio

Juventus coach Antonio Conte looks set to revert to his tried-and-tested 4-3-3 formation for the visit of Siena, with an arguably full-strength XI ready to be named despite his 3-5-2 experiment proving successful during the 2-1 win over Udinese last week.

As a result, Leonardo Bonucci, Marcelo Estigarribia, Emanuele Giaccherini and Fabio Quagliarella are to be ousted in favour of Paolo De Ceglie, Claudio Marchisio, Simone Pepe and Mirko Vucinic.

Meanwhile, for Siena, Giuseppe Sannino is likely to make just the two changes from the 2-1 reverse to arch-rivals Fiorentina, as midfield pair Angelo and Franco Brienza are expected to replace Gaetano D'Agostino and Emanuele Pesoli.

However, there will be no place in the squad for goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic and midfielder Francesco Bolzoni, both whom find themselves on the sidelines with injury.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Juventus still remain the only side unbeaten amongst the 'top five' European leagues this season.
  • The Bianconeri also boast the best defence in Serie A, conceding only 13 goals to date.
  • The Old Lady have also scored in each of their last 15 games on home soil.
  • Erstwhile, Siena have won just one of their last 11 league games.
  • Away from home, Sannino's men are on a run of five straight defeats and are without a win in their last 16.
  • Alessandro Del Piero has scored 12 goals against Siena; more than against any other Serie A opponent.
  • In 13 top-flight meetings between these sides, Juventus have won 11 of them, while Siena's only win came in May 2008 - a 1-0 victory.
Prediction
A comprehensive home win should be in the pipeline, as Juventus are expected to stroll past their Tuscan counterparts and make it an impressive 21 games unbeaten in Serie A, while piling further misery on the new boys.
Editor's Prediction
Juventus 3-0 Siena

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05.02. (Sun) 15:00 Fiorentina - Udinese

Stevan Jovetic - Fiorentina (Getty Images)
Getty Images

PROBABLE LINE-UPS


FIORENTINA

Boruc
 Gamberini, Nastasic, Natali
Cassani, Behrami, Montolivo, Salifu, Vargas
Amauri, Jovetic


UDINESE

Handanovic
Ferronetti, Danilo, Domizzi
Basta, Isla, Fernandes, Armero, Pasquale
Floro Flores
Di Natale

The hosts will tackle the Bianconeri without the services of Houssine Kharja, with the former Genoa midfielder representing Morocco at the Africa Cup Of Nations, while Per Kroldrup could make his first appearance of the season after the former Everton defender recovered from the knee problem that has seen him out of action since last April.
Francesco Guidolin's troops will go into Sunday's clash without Giampiero Pinzi, with the former Lazio youth still suffering from a calf complaint, while the Bianconeri will also be without Kwadwo Asamoah, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Mehdi Benatia, with the trio still on international duty at the Afcon.

However, the visitors will be boosted by the return of Pablo Armero after the Columbia international served his one-match suspension in the midweek victory over Lecce.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Fiorentina have only won two of their last seven league games. 
  • All but one of the Viola's seven Serie A victories this season have come on home soil.
  • The hosts have only lost two of their home games this season.
  • Stevan Jovetic leads the club's scoring charts with 10 strikes so far this season, all of them coming in Serie A.
  • Udinese have failed to win any of their last three away games in Serie A.
  • The visitors have lost two of their last four league games on any ground.
  • The Bianconeri have only won twice away from home all season in Serie A.
Prediction
With the Viola's impressive home form this season, along with the Bianconeri's missing several key personnel, a slender victory for the hosts seems a likely outcome.
Editor's Prediction
Fiorentina 2-1 Udinese

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05.02. (Sun) 15:00 Milan - Napoli

Ibrahimovic e Nocerino, Milan-Cagliari (Serie A)
Getty

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AC MILAN

Abbiati
Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta
Emanuelson, Ambrosini, Nocerino
Robinho
Ibrahimovic, El Shaarawy
NAPOLI

De Sanctis
Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica 
Maggio, Gargano, Dzemaili, Dossena
Lavezzi
Hamsik, Cavani

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri will be without a plethora of players for the crunch clash at San Siro on Sunday. The main concern is in midfield as Kevin-Prince Boateng, Alexander Merkel, Rodney Strasser, Gennaro Gattuso, Alberto Aquilani and Mathieu Flamini are all nursing injuries.

Antonio Cassano continues his recovery from heart surgery while Alexandre Pato is dealing with another muscle complaint and will not feature. Stephan El Shaarawy is likely to see some more playing time alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Meanwhile, Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri does not have any injury concerns ahead of the must-win match for the Partenopei. Captain Paolo Cannavaro has shrugged off an ankle injury that he picked up against Genoa and will be ready to feature from the opening whistle after missing Wednesday's goalless draw with Cesena.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • AC Milan have won six out of their last seven Serie A games at San Siro, outscoring their opponents 20-2 during that span. 
  • The Rossoneri lead the league in wins (13) and in goals scored (43).
  • The Serie A champions have kept five clean sheets in their past seven league encounters, conceding only 19 goals overall.
  • Napoli have picked up only one win in their last five games on the road in Serie A (W1 D2 L2).
  • The Partenopei have the most draws in Serie A this season (9).
  • Mazzarri's men beat Milan 3-1 earlier in the campaign at the Stadio San Paolo, with an Edinson Cavani hat-trick proving decisive on the day.
Prediction
Both teams are coming off disappointing results in midweek but the Rossoneri have been a tough nut to crack at home this season and should secure all three points at San Siro.
Editor's Prediction
Milan 2-1 Napoli

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05.02. (Sun) 12:30 Ajax - Utrecht

Daan Bovenberg bejubeld na treffer (FC Utrecht - Feyenoord)
PROSHOTS

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

AJAX

Vermeer
Ligeon, Van Rhijn, Blind, Anita
Enoh, Eriksen, Janssen
Sulejmani, De Jong, Ebecilio
UTRECHT


Fernandez

V.d. Maarel, V.d. Hoorn, Wuytens, Bulthuis

Kali, Asare

Duplan, Lilipaly, Takagi
Gerndt

Ajax boss Frank de Boer will still have to make do without the services of long-term injury concerns Kolbeinn Sigthorsson and Bruno Silva.

Additionally, defenders Gregory van der Wiel, Andre Ooijer, Toby Alderweireld and Nicolai Boilesen are all unavailable while on the treatment table, as well as winger Derk Boerrigter.

Finally, Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen is suspended following his yellow card against Feyenoord last week.

Utrecht coach Jan Wouters will be without the injured Rob van Dijk, Daan Bovenberg, Jacob Mulenga and Adam Sarota.

Furthermore, striker Leon de Kogel is unlikely to feature due to illness, while Cedric van der Gun lacks match rhythm.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Ajax, last season's league winners, are currently sitting joint-fourth in the Eredivisie table with 34 points from 19 matches.
  • Vurnon Anita, Kenneth Vermeer and Christian Eriksen are the only three Ajax players who have appeared in all 19 Eredivisie games so far.
  • Promising youngster Stefano Denswil could make his first-team debut on Sunday.
  • Utrecht are the league's 15th-placed side at the moment with 18 points from 19 games.
  • The visitors have won only one of their 10 away games so far this Eredivisie campaign.
  • The away side have not won a single game since their 6-4 victory over Ajax in November 2011.
Prediction
Games between the two regional rivals are traditionally full of spectacle and, although a repeat of the 10-goal thriller from November 2011 seems impossible, it's likely that there will be plenty of action on Sunday. Ajax are without their entire first-choice defence due to injury and suspension, while Utrecht also miss several first-team regulars at the back. The Amsterdam giants' class in midfield and attack will probably prove to be too much for the Domstedelingen, though.
Editor's Prediction
Ajax 3-2 FC Utrecht

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05.02. (Sun) 12:30 Genoa - Lazio

Hernanes (Lazio) - Getty Images
Getty

PROBABLE LINEUPS
GENOA

Frey
  Mesto, Granqvist, Kaladze, Moretti

Kucka, Biondini
Jankovic, Sculli

Gilardino, Palacio



LAZIO


Marchetti
Zauri, Dias, Biava, Radu
Gonzalez, Ledesma, Lulic
Hernanes
Rocchi, Klose


The hosts will go into Sunday's clash without Cesare Bovo, with the former Palermo defender still suffering from the knee problem that has seen him out of action since the 1-0 loss to Fiorentina back in October, while Luca Antonelli is also set to miss out.

On the plus side for the Rossoblu, Marco Rossi could return to the squad after recovering from a thigh strain. Although the captain is unlikely to start the tie, he may well feature from the bench.

Edy Reja's side have some problems of their own with Cristian Brocchi's broken toe keeping the midfielder on the sidelines for another week or two, while Lorik Cana will also miss out as the former Marseille skipper is still suffering from the back injury sustained in the shock 4-0 defeat to Siena last month.

However, the visitors should welcome back top scorer Miroslav Klose, after the former Bayern Munich striker sat out the midweek victory over Milan with a minor knock.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Genoa have only lost two of their home games all season.
  • The hosts have also won the last three in their backyard, which included impressive victories over Udinese and Napoli.
  • Along with Inter, the Rossoblu have drawn the fewest games in Serie A so far in 2011-12.
  • Lazio have lost two of their last three away games in Serie A.
  • However, the visitors have won three of their last four league matches overall.
  • The Biancazzurri have also scored five goals without reply in their previous two league encounters.
Prediction
With Edy Reja's troops full of confidence following the midweek victory over Milan, coupled with the likely return of Miroslav Klose, another victory for the visitors seems likely.
Editor's Prediction
Genoa 0-2 Lazio