Giornata 25 Preview

Disappointing week for Italian clubs in European competitions this week. We'll see if these results can be brushed off. Milan heads to Bari, who has been outstanding at home. Fiorentina hosts one of the Tuscan derbies by welcoming Livorno. Juve heads to Bologna and Roma plays host to Catania.


Match of the Week:
#1 Inter - #5 Sampdoria: SAT 2:45 EST Live on FSC and RAI
Round 6:
Parma and Napoli gave Inter all they had in order to hand them a rare loss and it might be Sampdoria to do the season double. No doubt a difficult task, especially at the San Siro. Inter, who were playing out of their minds after the derby, have lacked the scoring touch and a revitalized Sampdoria might be a handfull.
--My Prediction: 1-2 Sampdoria


#9 Genoa - #16 Udinese: SAT 12:00 EST Live on ESPN 360 and RAI, 5:00p on FSC
Round 6: 2-0 Udinese
Genoa still fighting for a European place while Udinese just trying to stay away from the relegation zone. Both teams on similar form with Genoa taking 8 from their last 5 and Udinese 7 from 5.
--My Prediction: 2-0 Genoa

#7 Palermo - #15 Lazio: SUN 9:00 EST
Round 6: 2-0 Lazio
Both teams headed in opposite directions as Lazio seems to be pulling away from the bottom of the table and Palermo slipping away from Champions League 4th spot. Both teams at this point are so inconsistent and unpredictable so it should make for a good match.
--My Prediction: 1-1

#20 Siena - #4 Napoli: SUN 9:00 EST
Round 6: 2-1 Napoli
With Napoli still in fourth, I was shocked to see they have only 1 win from their last 5 Serie A matches, which you would think would be a call for concern but I think if you watched the Inter match, it shows they've deserved more. I wrote Siena off harshly last week, saying they would get killed by Chievo, only for them to go on and win 1-0. I hold my tongue this week.
--My Prediction: 2-2

#19 Atalanta - #13 Chievo: SUN 9:00 EST
Round 6: 1-1
Not the most exciting week in Serie A and is Exhibit A. Chievo is glued to the middle of the table which Atalanta is relegation bound. Don't see much more than a draw this week.
--My Prediction: 1-1

#14 Bologna - #6 Juventus: SUN 9:00 EST Live on ESPN360
Round 6: 1-1
This is quietly one of the better matches this week. Bologna unbeaten in six while Juve finally regaining form both last week and against Ajax. The fact that it is at Bologna makes it even more even, should be great.
My Prediction: 3-2 Bologna

#2 Roma - #17 Catania: SUN 9:00 EST Live on ESPN360
Round 6: 1-0 Roma
Also a quietly good match, with another two teams on great domestic form. Catania slowly inching away from relegation while Roma will try to brush off their European heartbreak and stay second.
--My Prediction: 3-1 Roma

#8 Cagliari - #12 Parma: SUN 9:00 EST
Round 6: 0-2 Cagliari
Parma playing like they want to go back to Serie B while Cagliari have begun to fade back to normalcy. Considering how good these teams were earlier, there would have to be some potential for a great match.
--My Prediction: 1-2 Parma

#11 Fiorentina - #18 Livorno: Sun 9:00 EST
Round 6: 0-1 Fiorentina
Zero wins between these two teams over the last five rounds. Somebody has to win this one, right?
--My Prediction: 2-0 Fiorentina

#10 Bari - #3 Milan: Sun 2:45 EST Live on FSC and RAI
Round 6: 0-0
Milan disappointingly looking like the team from the first few weeks of the season. A loss here throws them into a bit of a crisis mode. At Bari is no joke so who knows what's in store for them if they don't get it done here.
--My Prediction: 3-1 Bari