Although FC Inter continue leading the Serie A Standing, the Twenty Fourth Round starts with Inter having experienced a defeat in the UEFA Champions League. 

So, what is at stake in the Twenty Fourth Round?  Week 24 could be a turning point for the rest of the season. Main battles are for the second, third, and fourth position.  Second battle is right in the bottom of the Serie A to avoid relegation to the Serie B.

Which coaches will be sacked? Di Carlo, Guidolin, Walter Novellino, Renzo Ulivieri, Reja?  All of them?
 

Position	Team	Points
1	FC Inter	59
2	AS Roma	48
3	FC Juventus	47
4	Fiorentina	41
5	AC Milan	38
6	Udinese	36
7	Sampdoria	34
8	Palermo	31
9	Atalanta	30
10	Genoa	29
11	Napoli	27
12	Lazio	26
13	Torino	25
14	:Catania	23
15	AS Livorno	23
16	Empoli	22
17	AC Siena	21
18	Parma	21
19	Reggina	18
20	Cagliari	15

Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Serie A Week 24 Twenty Fourth Round


TORINO - PARMA
Serie A Standing:  Torino 13th position, 25 points
                               Parma 18th position, 21 points 

Although both teams are coming from a draw: Torino 0 - 0 Siena, and Parma 0 -0 Milan, the one risking the most is Parma Coach Domenico Di Carlo who went from the 17th  position down to the 18th position touching the relegation zone.  I still wonder until when is Parma going to change coach? I keep seeing the BIG WARNING SIGN written on the wall since last month!

Parma might have extended Di Carlo's contract for one more week after they were able to keep a 0-0 draw against the powerful AC Milan. Problem for Parma is that they need to beat Torino because next opponents will be a bloody battle with Udinese and a motivated Roma. So, it will be easier to beat a less technically speaking team, right? 

Torino Coach Walter Novellino seems to specialize in getting "draws" not victories. Torino has 13 draws so far. Don't you think it is time either to lose or start winning a match for heaven sake!

Point is that both teams should start playing for getting 3 points, period.

I might think that even Coach Walter Novellino risk losing his position if keep adding just draws because that does not guarantee staying in the Serie A, Torino might also face the relegation zone if keep specializing in "draws."  If they lose at home, and Catania and Livorno win their respective matches, Torino might go down to the 15th position!  

Problem for Parma is that they have not won away from home!!! Can they win this time? They might do it with his new Super Star striker Cristiano Lucarelli and Igor Budan.  A motivation for Parma is that they already beat Torino in Week 5, winning also 4  of their last five matches. 

Parma is not counting with defender Ferdinand Coly for injury and midfielder Dessena who is suspended. Advantage for Parma right now is the motivated goalkeeper Luca Bucci who had a superb match last week against AC Milan.

Now, it will be up to TORINO ex Parma players to show their worth like ex Palermo players Diana and Di Michele did when playing against their old team.  Ex  Torino players in Parma are Simone Barone, VIncenzo Grella and midfielder Alessandro Rosina. I think they might surprise Parma!  Wow, it will mean that Torino might win at home! Gee, so far, they have won only 3 times at home. What a moment for Rosina, I hope he gets inspired.

Problem for Torino is the absence of defender Marco Motta for a ban.  Injured players include Matteo Rubin and Paolo Dellafiore.

My prediction: TORINO


REGGINA - FC JUVENTUS
Serie A Standing:  Reggina 19th position, 15 points
                              FC Juventus 3rd position, 47 points

What do you expect of a motivated JUVENTUS, a reinvigorated VECCHIA SIGNORA after beating ROMA last week?  Here is a match for Juventus to win in grand style!  Juventus is only 1 point away from the second position. If Roma - Fiorentina ends with a draw and Juve beat Reggina, Juventus will reach the second post and Roma descend to the third position!!!

Moreover, my fsoccer fan riends,  if Inter starting losing or even drawing after their defeat on Tuesday in the Champions League against Liverpool, Juventus might become the sole contender of Inter!  Inter, Roma, and Milan all have pending international competitions, while Juventus only target is the Serie A.

Honestly, I will be surprised if Reggina beat Juventus. Not underestimating Reggina, but Coach Renzo Uliviera really need a miracle to beat  Juventus.  In Week 5, Juventus beat Reggina 4 -0!!!  I don't think Juventus want to risk losing the second position that will guarantee a much awaited and deserved spot in the next Champions League.

Juventus advantage right now is having the strong will of Captain Alessandro Del PIero and Saint Goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.  These two can motivate the team to reach their dream of glory, seeing the old lady back where it belongs: among the top three teams and competing in the International arena.

Coach Claudio Ranieri might opt for the duo TREZEGUET - DEL PIERO again.  Trezeguet needs to start scoring again, though he leads the Scorer list with 15 goals, Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu and Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic are after with 14 goals each.

Although midfielder Antonio Nocerino will miss this match for a ban. Positive point is the possible recovery of midfielder Mauro Camoranesi. 

Reggina is coming to this match after losing last week against Udinese 3-1. So, I won't be surprised if losing this match too will be the bye bye of Reggina Coach Renzo Ulivieri.  Arrivederci Ulivieri!

My prediction:  FC JUVENTUS



Sunday, February 24  - Serie A Week 24 Twenty Fourth Round

ROMA - FIORENTINA
Serie A Standing:  AS ROMA 2nd position, 48 points
                                   Fiorentina 4th position, 41 points

Well, this is THE MATCH TO WATCH.  Roma's defeat will put Juventus in the second position, while Fiorentina's defeat can bring AC MILAN to the fourth position!  A draw will also benefit only Juventus because Roma will remain with 49 points while Juventus if beating Reggina will go to the 2nd position with 50 points!!!!

Sure, you might say that Roma lost against Juventuslast week and they might not beat Fiorentina. Yet, most likely, Roma will take a victory here.

Motivation is right at the top after Roma beat REAL MADRIDon Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League Last Sixteen First Leg.   Totti might not be in his top form, but, hello, he made the difference in the match and can be significant too against Fiorentina.

Roma coach Luciano Spalletti should use more striker Alberto Aquiliani instead of Mirko Vucinic.  Problem for Roma might be having some tired players after the match with Real Madrid. 

Problem for Roma might be not having recovered goalkeeper Gianluca Curci and not having striker Amantino Mancini for suspension.  Wonder whether Spalletti will use again French Ludovic Giuly in his place.

Talking about motivation, FIORENTINA won on Thursday (Feb. 21) in the UEFA CUP beating Roseborg 2-1 with goals from a well recovered Liverani.  Thus, Prandelli won't have problem  either to use Liverani or Kuzmanovic. He can use both! 

Point is that if Roma is motivated, so is Fiorentina who are winning four matches in a row.

My prediction: AS ROMA

SAMPDORIA - FC INTER
Serie A Standing:  Sampdoria 7th position 34 points
                              FC Inter 1st position, 59 points

Don't rule out Inter as favorite to win this match despite losing on Tuesday against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League.  Only way that Inter might be stopped or get a draw is a concentrated striker Antonio Cassano and Sampdoria goalkeeper to transmit to their teammates that Inter is not invincible. 

However, even if Inter lose this match or get a draw, they will still be number one. Inter has 11 points lead followed by Roma that might risk losing their 2nd position if losing against Fiorentina.

Problem will be if Inter start losing, I doubt it, unless Coach Roberto Mancini starts emphasizing on the Champions League like their rival AC Milan whose declared priority are International competitions. Inter had a day off after their lost against Liverpool. 

Doubtfully, Inter striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be out of focus as he was with Liverpool. Though, Coach Mancini might test Hernan Crespo or bring back Honduran striker David Suazo to allow resting time for Ibra. I will go for Suazo because he has scored 3 times in his last two performance with Inter.

Crespo still need to have more playing time. Maybe having Crespo first, and if not producing result, substituting him for Suazo. This might be possible.

Definitely, Inter is hurt right now and will want to prove they are still the rulers of the Serie A.  It won't be an easy match against Sampdoria. That's for sure.

Inter lost defender Ivan Cordoba who had surgery after injuring the ligament of his left knee during the Liverpool match. Inter might have a long list of injured players including Walter Samuel, Dacourt, Cesar, Luis Jimenez and now even Ivan Cordoba, but Inter has still top players to fill their positions.

So far, Inter players had the day off on Wednesday, there are only 1 training session on Thursday and Friday, instead of their usual double training session. Saturday another morning training session and then depart to Genoa.  This training schedule does not sound like "training to win in the Serie A." Yet, Inter is technically speaking superior to Sampdoria and that might be the reason for having a light training schedule.

Problems is for Sampdoria Coach Walter Mazzarri without his captain Sergio Volpi for suspension.  Advantage of Sampdoria is their big DERBY VICTORY last week against Genoa with an agonizing goal.  Hope for Sampdoria is that they have not conceded a goal at home in the last four matches. It's all on the magic of what Cassano can create to blast goalkeeper Julio Cesar!

Will Sampdoria profit from the psychological factor of Inter being beaten by Liverpool breaking their winning record? 

My prediction: Sampdoria

AC MILAN - PALERMO
Serie A Standing:  AS ROMA 2nd position, 48 points
                                   Fiorentina

Time for revenge!  When Milan lost at the Renzo Barbera Stadium with 2 goals from Aimo Diana, now playing for Torino, and Fabrizio Miccoli, things started to go bad for Milan seeing them going down and down the Serie A. 

It was like a curse!  A black cloud!

Milan can't seem to find the way of victory in their last 3 matches. In the Recovered 16th Round, result was Milan 1 -1 Livorno, last week Milan had a 0-0 draw with Parma, and on Wednesday another draw,  ARSENAL 0 - 0 AC MILAN for the UEFA Champions League. Can Milan finally start winning? t That's the challenge this Sunday in San Siro. Losing will be a disaster for Milan. 

Milan still with a long list of injured players and others barely recovering have the obligation to beat Palermo in San Siro if wanting to grasp the 4th position.  Pato injured himself during the match with Arsenal, Ronaldo is out, so, there are only two remaining strikers available Alberto Gilardino and Super Pippo Inzaghi.

                    

Palermo is not doing so good. In fact, Palermo coach Francesco Guidolin might be sacked if losing this match after Palermo President Zamparini blasted him and the team for their poor results.

Right now, Milan relies more in goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac and their defense.  

Palermo's immediate goal is to beat Milan and have been preparing the match carefully. Question is will it work? Technical - tactical touches are bein done at the "Tenente Onorato." Ciro Capuano took a day off after injuring his back on Tuesday.  Challenge will be for midfielder Simplicio who has been attacked not only by fans but by the press for his low performance.

Palermo hope are having back strikers Amauri and Fabrizio Miccoli, as well as Roberto Guana all coming from suspension.  Wonder whether Coch Guidolin will use again midfielder Bosko Jankovic after scoring last week.  Most of all, Palermo can rely on goalkeeper Alberto Fontana who seem a real protector.

My prediction: AC MILAN

AS LIVORNO - NAPOLI
Serie A Standing:  AS Livorno 15th position, 23 points
                                   Napoli 11th position, 27 points

Here is another coach facing a possible sack!  Napoli Coach Edy Reja might direct his last match if losing against Livorno.   A defeat will take Napoli from the 15th position to the 13th position depending on the results of Lazio and Torino.

Problem for Coach Reja is that his latest formation of using 3 forwards is not working. In the last 5 matches, Napoli got only 4 points!  Losing at home last week against Empoli was the last straw for Napoli fans. So, their hope to qualify for the UEFA Cup depend largely on starting to win from this match.  Yet, I don't think Livorno will be willing to help them because they also need to win the 3 points! 

Livorno Coach Giancarlo Camolese faces key injured players Francesco Tavano and Diego Tristan who might not be fit for this match. So, Coach Camolese must rely on Alessandro Diamanti and Erjon Bogdani. By the way, Diamanti might prove to be the revelation as he played an excellent match against Inter only missing a goal.

After losing against Inter  last week, Livorno would want to win at home to get back their fans confidence.

My prediction: AS LIVORNO

CAGLIARI - LAZIO
Serie A Standing:  Cagliari 20th position, 15 points
                               Lazio 12th position, 26 points

What could I say about the last team of the Serie A?  Only one thing: CAGLIARI START WINNING or else!!!

Here is a win win situation for Cagliari who is closer to the Serie B than remaining in the Serie A. Mathematically speaking, Cagliari can still save themselves but it will required them to win at least the next 5 matches.

I think Lazio Coach Delio Rossi is another one with the sign "possible sacking."  Sure, last week, Lazio beat Atalanta 3 -0!!
Though, this time Cagliari might resist a defeat. Challenge, then, will be for Cagliari coach Marco Storari to stop Lazio strikers Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi.  Livorno star pasquale Foggia must be at his top to help his team earn this much needed victory.

Cagliari  will not have Michele Ferri  for injury and Daniele Conti is suspended.  Talking about Portuguese players, maybe it will be the chance for Vitor Gomes to debut with Cagliari.


My Prediction: Cagliari

UDINESE - GENOA
Serie A Standing:  Udinese 6th position, 36 points
                              Genoa 10th position, 29 points

Besides Roma, Juventus, Fiorentina, and Milan, UDINESE also want a piece of the pie to be in the Champions League! Milan is in the 5th position with 38 points and Fiorentina in the 4th position with 41 points. A victory will take Udinese closer to this goal if Milan lose against Palermo and Fiorentina lose against Roma.

Udinese coach Pasquale Marino must play carefully his tactical strategy to grasp this victory at home.  Genoa just lost the DERBY last week against Sampdoria. Naturally, they will want to win.

Challenge is for strikers Antonio Di Natale and fellow Fabio Quagliarella to speak with goals.

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini does not have an easy match. Their hope for granting a spot in the UEFA CUP is shaky. If we based our analysis on statistics, then, we might say that GENOA will win because  they have beat UDINESE in the last 3 matches. Moreover, in this season GENOA beat Udinese  3-2 with a hat trick from ex Milan player Marco Borriello. 

Hope, then, are there for Genoa.  Plus, Udinese is not coming with all their players in top condition. Simone Peppe  is suspended. Omar Milanetto might replace Danilo also missing this match.  Problem will be in the midfield with the absence of Raffaele De Martino, Christian Obodo, and Giampiero Pinzi.

My Prediction:  Udinese

ATALANTA - AC SIENA
Serie A Standing:  Atalanta 9th position, 30 points
                              AC Siena 17th position, 21 points

My Prediction:  DRAW

EMPOLI - CATANIA
Serie A Standing:  Empli 16th positoin, 21 points
                              Catania  14th position, 23 points

My Prediction: Empoli