The Serie A is really heating up, and this weekend is providing us with plenty of big matches between the top sides. Lazio are currently top of the table with AC Milan two points away from the leaders. Then comes Inter Milan which is two points away from AC Milan, but the nerazzurri have Chievo right behind them in fourth place, just two points away. So here's a preview of the upcoming action which will probably switch around teams's positions in the table.
It all starts on Friday Oct. 29th when Inter Milan travel to Genoa. This is a huge match, and since both sides haven't been doing very well recently, they'll be looking to get a win in this game to start a winning streak. Genoa spent big over the summer, and Giampiero Gasperini will have to get them Champions League football for next season after all the spending that his president Enrico Preziosi did over the summer.
But Inter's coach Rafa Benitez has big shoes to fill as well, there have been rumors circulating that if he doesn't manage to win the scudetto and the Champions League this season, then he'll be replaced with Pep Guardiola. Guardiola's contract with Barcelona is running out, and it ends at the end of this season. If Inter manage to bring the Spaniard over to coach them, then who knows, we might even see Lionel Messi come to Moratti's side.
The other big clash this weekend is AC Milan vs. Juventus. This is a massive match, and while AC Milan have been getting some good results lately, Delneri's side has been scoring plenty of goals this season. But there's an important absence which needs to be mentioned, and that's Juve's Serbian winger Milos Krasic. After his dive against Bologna which earned the bianconeri a penalty, he was banned for two matches once the match had been reviewed.
So what will Juventus do? It's probable that they'll start with Pepe and Martinez on the wings and stick with the rigid 4-4-2 system. The forwards will be Del Piero and Quagliarella, because Amauri isn't back to full fitness, and Iaquinta has a problem with his right knee. So can Juventus give this super-powered AC Milan side a challenge? We'll have to wait until Saturday to find out.
Another interesting match which will be taking place is Palermo against Lazio. Palermo have been playing some fantastic football recently, but Lazio have also been flying high with spectacular results. There's a big midfield clash, we'll be seeing players like Javier Pastore and Ilicic for Palermo, while Lazio has their captain Mauri who's been in great form, accompanied by the brilliant Hernanes. This is certainly a match to watch, and I expect a big result with plenty of attacking play.
My predictions for the matches are a 2-1 win for Inter Milan over Genoa, a 1-1 draw between Juventus and AC Milan, and a 3-2 win for Palermo against Lazio. But what are your predictions on this weekend's action? Please share your thoughts by commenting below!
3 comments… read them below or add one
Honestly, I’m not so sure the Juve/Milan game will be very close. Juve’s defense has been playing very well and Storari has been a pleasant surprise in goal but I don’t know if without Krasic we can manage much offensively. He creates so many chances and opens up opposing defenses so well and has basically been our offense this season. And with Amauri and Iaquinta not fit enough to start, that’ll hurt us as well. I’m none too excited about seeing a lot of Simone Pepe but Del Piero back on the pitch is a welcome change. When all is said and done, I could see Milan winning by a margin of 3-1.
Yes, this game has so many possible outcomes in my opinion. I think that the 3-1 win for Milan is very possible, because Juventus have been scoring goals, but AC Milan is just a better side.
A lot of those goals have come from the great opportunities Krasic makes for the team. With him absent for the next 2 matches, they’ll be hard pressed to find offense without him. The defense will have to step up in a major way against Milan. Chiellini has been pulling his weight but to stop an insanely talented Ibrahimovic who’s been having the season of his life and the rest of the Milan attack, it is a tough task indeed. If Juve can keep Milan under 3 goals or even play to a draw like they did against Inter, I’ll be very impressed.