By Anna Italia

Hey, let me tell you my friends, we will see REAL BATTLES in this Thirty Third Round.  Just take a look at the Serie A Week 33 Fixtures and Schedule:

Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Italian Football Serie A Week 33
FC Juventus - AC Milan 
Palermo - Catania

Sunday, April 13, 2008 - Italian Football Serie A Week 33

FC Inter - Fiorentina
Empoli - Parma
Genoa - Torino
Lazio - AC Siena
AS Livorno - Cagliari
Napoli - Atalanta
Reggina - Sampdoria
Udinese - AS Roma

After this weekend, there are only 5 more matches, coaches and team should keep focused to grasp the remaining 15 points. The matches not to miss are Juventus -  Milan, Inter - Fiorentina, Udiinese - Roma, and Livorno - Cagliari

Here is the Current Situation for the Serie A Week 33                6 more matches equal 6 x 3 = 18 points available!!!
Battle for the Scudetto FC Inter   72 points AS Roma 68 points FC Juventus 58 points (Juve still pending one match)	Battle for the 4th Position  4 Fiorentina 56 5 AC Milan 52 6 Sampdoria 52 7 Udinese 51	Battle for Salvation 16 Parma 30 17 AS Livorno 29 18 Empoli 29 19 Cagliari 29 20 Reggina 27

What are your PREDICTIONS? Are you expecting a major upset? Which teams will go down?

Complete Italian Soccer Results Serie A Standings/ Italian Football League Standings / Serie A Classifica /  Serie A Top Scorers / Serie A Table      


Here is my PREVIEW of the Serie A Week 33rd - Italian Soccer Serie A Thirty Third Round scheduled

FC JUVENTUS - AC MILAN
Olimpico di Torino Stadium
Serie A Standing:  FC Juventus 3rd position, 58 points
                           AC Milan 5th position, 52 points

Time to LIVE again the 2003 UEFA Champions League final but in the SERIE A!

This is a match not to miss at all.  Juventus and Milan, FACE TO FACE  to  see who really RULES.  In Week 14, result was AC Milan 0 - 0 FC Juventus.

Milan after suffering a terrible season seems  stronger with the return from injuries of  KAKA and Super Pippo Inzaghi. 

The rossoneri are facing this match after a victorious AC MILAN 3 - 1 CAGLIARI  with goals from Kaka and Super Pippo Inzaghi.

Juventus are coming from a terrible defeat at the Renzo Barbera Stadium  Palermo 3 - 2 FC Juventus.

Milan must win this match and hope for Inter to beat Fiorentina to shorten the distance for the 4th position with 1 point. 

However, if Sampdoria beat Reggina, Milan and Sampdoria will have the same 55 points.  Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti must decide carefully  between a 4-4-2 or 4-3-2-1 formation.  

Milan must play aggressive, the midfielder fast and strikers ready to profit from every opportunity. Here is why I rather go with 2 forwards instead of 1.   Maybe Kaka - Inzaghi and Seedorf as trequartista. It wont' be easy to blast Juventus Saint goalkeeper Gigi Buffon.


Juventus must win this match to hold the 3rd position and guarantee a spot to fight for the next season of the  UEFA Champions League.  Right now, Juve is 10 points away from Roma, but still a pending match after the suspension of Juventus -Parma. 

If Udinese beat Roma the difference between JUVE and ROMA will be 7, providing that Juventus win their pending match against Parma, then the difference will be 4 points to grasp the second position!!!!

Challenge for Milan will be to restore the confidence in goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac after his terrible mistake last week which resulted in the goal from Cagliari.  Kalac must be WAY ALERT when dealing with Juventus strikers Alessandro del Piero and David Trezeguet, both scoring big times!

Problems for Milan:  Two key defenders players suspended Kakha Kaladze and Alessandro Nesta.  Four players one booking away from suspension: midfielder Massimo Ambrosini, defender Giuseppe Favalli, midfielder Gennaro Gattuso and defender Massimo Oddo.   PATO still not fully recovered might miss this match. So, it will be again up to kAKA and INZAGHI to save Milan.

Milan's defense is key to get a victory because Juventus strikers far from being on "a goal diet," they are just blasting goalkeepers! 

Trezeguet has 17 goals, Del Piero has 13 and Iaquinta with 8 goals. Compared to "Milan forwards diet forwards," Kaka 11, Gilardino 7,  Pato 7, Inzaghi 3.

Advantage for Juventus:  No suspended players. Ten players one booking away from suspension: strikers David Trezeguet and Raffaele Palladino, midfielders Antonio Nocerino, defenders Nicola Legrottaglie and Zdenek Grygera, and Hasan Salihamidzic. 

Midfielder Pavel Nedved seems to be fit to play against Milan after his terrible clash with Palermo goalkeeper Guana. Here is Nedved training on Wednesday and he said he will try to be fit for Saturday.

                         
A DRAW will be bad for Milan while for Juve will be ok  because they still are among the top 4 teams that can get a spot for the Champions League.  Challenge is for MILAN to grasp that spot.

Juventus-Milan, all previous encounters
 

	TOTAL GAMES	JUVENTUS WINS	DRAWS	MILAN WINS
League matches in Turin	72	32	21	19
League matches in Milan	73	17	31	25
Italian Cup	19	6	6	7
Italian Super Cup	1	..	1	--
Champios League	1	--	1	1
TOTAL	166	55	60	51

These stats include all matches played in the national Leagues (A, B, C), since the single-group tournament was set up (1929/30) and all Italian Cups since 1922.

The last League results in Turin between Juventus and Milan

Last Juventus victory
10.11.2002  Serie A 2002/03 – Day 9
JUVENTUS-MILAN 2-1
Goals: Di Vaio 8 mins, Thuram 21 mins, Pirlo (pen) 32 mins
Referee: Paparesta

Last draw
12.03.2006  Serie A 2005/06 – Day 29
JUVENTUS-MILAN 0-0
Referee: De Santis

Last Milan victory
14.03.2004  Serie A 2003/04 – Day 25
JUVENTUS-MILAN 1-3
Goals: Shevchenko 25 mins, Seedorf 63 and 74 mins, Ferrara 81 mins
Referee: Collina

MY Prediction:  AC MILAN

PALERMO - CATANIA
Renzo Barbera Stadium
Serie A Standing:  Palermo 12th position, 39 points
                              Catania 15th position, 32 points

After the great victory of Palermo Coach Stefano Colantuono  at the Renzo Barbera Palermo 3 - 2 FC Juventus, it's time for the SICILIAN DERBY.  Palermo and Catania are coming from victories.  So, the match promises to be an exciting one to see who are the SUPREME SICLIAN ruler.  Catania beat Napoli 3 goals to none!!!!   Can Colantuono get another victory? That's the question.

A victory might see Palermo jumping from the 12th position all the way to the 8th position depending on the results of Genoa, Atalanta, Napoli, and Lazio. It means their DREAM of going to the UEFA Cup next year might become a reality with 5 more matches.

If Palermo lose they can go down to the 14th position depending on the result of Siena and Torino winning their respective matches. A defeat  will be like  waving good bye to a spot for the Uefa Cup.

Advantage for Palermo is the superb form of BRAZILIAN STRIKER AMAURI!!!!    If I were Colantuono I will go for the same winning formation 4-2-3-1 with Amauri as the sole striker.  Though, I might change the formation depending on the results to a 4-4-2 with Miccoli and Amauri as forwards. 

Problem for Palermo is the absence for injury of midfielder Fabio Simplicio. 

Good news are the return from injuries of Fabrizio Miccoli, Roberto Guana, and possibly  Edison Cavani.

More optimistic is Catania Coach Walter Zenga with his GRAND DEBUT against Napoli! Hey, is not that every coach can debut by beating the opposite team with 3 goals to none!!!!  Napoli must still have a headache and not wanting to see the match again!!!

Good news for Catania is the return from injury of Captain Baiocco. Catania must win this match to avoid relegation, period.

If Catania lose this match and Livorno, Cagliari and Empoli win their respective matches they will all have 32 points and still in the RELEGATION ZONE!!!

In Week 14 the match ended Catania 3 - 1 Palermo.   Can Palermo get a victory now???  I think so.

My Prediction: Palermo



FC INTER - FIORENTINA
Giuseppe Meazza Stadium
Serie A Standing:  FC Inter 1st position, 72 points
                           Fiorentina 3th position, 56 points

      THE BIG CLASH TO CONFIRM BOTH TEAMS TO KEEP
Inter in the first position and Fiorentina in the 4th position.

Moment of truth for both teams.  Inter has not having a great time in the last 6 matches.

Today, Thursday,  Fiorentina has the UEFA CUP Quarterfinals Second leg match PSV EINDHOVEN - FIORENTINA.  Players  night be tired and hopefully no injured okayers!

Inter either barely win or get a little help from the referees. Just in December, it was almost granted that Inter was the sole competitor for the Scudetto, slowly, Inter has been beating by itself with their internal divisions and lack of Coach Roberto Mancini to control the dressing room. 

Last week both teams ended with victories.  ATALANTA 0- 2 FC INTER and FIORENTINA 2 - 0 REGGINA.

If Inter lose this match and Roma beat Udinese, the difference for the RACE OF THE SCUDETTO will be only 1 point.  Fiorentina will be doing a HUGE favor to Roma if beating Inter. Though Milan fans are cheering for Inter to shorten the distance with Fiorentina to 1 point for the 4th position.

As you see my friends, this MATCH IS NOT TO MISS.   Lot of things going on.  A draw will not help any. So, is either a victory, or a victory, period.  Inter coach Roberto Mancini is not taking this match lightly.   Mancini is having intense training, checking last minute detail to guarantee Inter's victory. 

Problem for Fiorentina is that they cannot lose because they will risk their 4th position as Milan, Sampdoria and Udinese are fighting with their teeth to grasp this post. If Fiorentina lose, they will still hold their spot without problems if Juventus beat Milan and Roma beat Udinese.

There are no suspended players for Inter while for Fiorentina only 1 Marco Donadel is suspended.

Cautioned players for Inter : Esteban Cambiasso, Cordoba, Luis Figo, Luis Jimenez, Julio Cesar, Maicon, Patrick Vieira.

Cautioned players for Fiorentina: Dainelli, Riccardo Montolivo, Giampaolo Pazzini, Pasqual, Santana.

Fiorentina has great chance to beat Inter, as the team seems to be plagued by injured players: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Suazo and Christian Chivu not considering Ivan Cordoba, Walter Samuel and Olivier Dacourt who are already out of the season for their respective injuries.  Midfielders Dejan Stankovic and Patrick Vieira are barely struggling to be fit.

It means that Coach Roberto Mancini once again will rely on Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo.  Challenge for Crespo will be to beat Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey who seems to be super fit and making great saves.

Next optoin is Striker Julio Cruz who has been training with the team seeing no problems.

Advantage for Fiorentina is that striker Giampaolo Pazzini have found the way to score again. Will it be possible that Fiorentina beat Inter?  Yes, only if striker Adrian Mutu is fit enough and with that drive to be the protagonist. 

Here is MUTU celebrating a goal. Photo ANSA

As a Milan fan, I wish Inter to beat Fiorentina to shorten the distance, though, based on the state of both teams, I am afraid that Fiorentina seems the best. I wish to be wrong.

My bet is ADRIAN MUTU.  If Mut is without injuries after the match against PSV Eindhoven,  he will BE THE LETHAL WEAPON for Fiorentina.

My Prediction: DRAW


UDINESE - AS ROMA
Friuli Stadium
Serie A Standing:  Udinese 7th position, 51 points
                           AS Roma 2nd position, 68 points

After their defeat in the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals Second Leg  Manchester United 1 - 0 AS ROMA,  the giallorossi has no other option than close that chapter and keep the race for the Serie A Scudetto and la Coppa Italia. 

Challenge will be for Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi and striker Mirko Vucinic to redeem themselves after failing in the match against Manchester United.  De Rossi missed a penalty and Vucinic wasted a chance to score.

Roma must beat Udinese and hope for Fiorentina to beat Inter so the distance between Inter and Roma will be only 1 point!!!!

Is either a  HAPPY TIME for ROMA or a SAD TIME suffering 2 defeats in one week .

If Roma lose and Inter beat Fiorentina, the distance will be 7 points!  With only 5 more matches, it will be almost impossible to reach Inter. 

Can Roma make it?  YES.

In Week 14, Roma beat Udinese 2 -1.  Last week,the giallorossi beat Genoa AS ROMA  3 -2 GENOA  while Udinese get a 1-1 draw with AC SIENA.

Udinese also has a lot to earn from this match.  You don't think Coach Pasquale Marino will be willing to lose or get a draw. Udinese already lost 2 points and if they want to increase their chances for the 4th position, they must win.

A victory will give UDINESE 54 points, providing that Inter beat Fiorentina and Milan and Sampdoria lose their respective matches, Udinese will be in 5th position with 54 points, only 2 points away from Fiorentina.

Though, not everything looks bright for Udinese, Giandomenico Mesto is suspended and midfielder Christian Obodo is out, Cristian Zapata and Dias Felipe are injured while goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti and youngster Raffaele De Martino are out too.

Advantage for Udinese are their strikers Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale.

It will be up to Roma's defense, especially Philippe Mexes and Christian Panucci to mark the Udinese strikers.

My Prediction: AS ROMA

AS LIVORNO - CAGLIARI
Armando Picchi Stadium
Serie A Standing:  AS Livorno 17th position, 29 points
                           Cagliari 19th position, 29 points

This is the battle for SALVATION as both teams have 29 points.  A victory is a must for both.  Winning will increase their  points to 32 which still won't guarantee SALVATION, but it will help.  A draw will not be helpful because they will have 30 points. 

If Reggina beat Sampdoria, Reggina will have 30 points.  If Empoli beat Parma, Empoli will have 32 points.  Simply put, a draw will only condemn Cagliari and Livorno to remain in the relegation zone.

Livorno and Cagliari are coming from defeats.  AC MILAN 3 - 1 CAGLIARI , and Sampdoria 2 - 0 Livorno.

Problem for Livorno is inconsistency.  They were doing better during the first matches of Coach Giancarlo Camolese, later, they started losing. 
So, they better train hard.

Cagliari, is the opposite, their last minute revival has motivated goalkeeper Marco Storari to believe in the dream of salvation.

Here is  chance for Livorno striker Tavano to start scoring and for goalkeeper Amelia to block Cagliari's forwards. Livorno President Aldo Spinelli must motivate his team instead of blaming everybody for their misery. 

Cagliari has better chance to beat Livorno.  They managed to stop Roma from beating them at the Sant'Elia stadium and only succumbed to Milan in San Siro.  Challenge is for Cagliari coach Davide Ballardini to implement a winner strategy to grasp the 3 points at the Armando Picchi.

               
Main player for Cagliari is goalkeeper Marco Storari followed by midfielder Pasquale Foggia.

I don't even want to imagine the reaction of Livorno Pres. Aldo Spinelli if they loose again.  Will he continue blaming the referee????

My Prediction: CAGLIARI

NAPOLI - ATALANTA
San Paolo Stadium
Serie A Standing:  Napoli 10th position, 40  points
                          Atalanta 9th position, 41 points

Here is another interesting match.  There is only 1 point difference between the two.  Napoli is coming from a terrible defeat at home Catania 3 - 0 Napoli.  It is no secret that Napoli coach Edy Reja wants to redeem not only himself but the team.  Though, it won't be easy.

Atalanta is also coming from a defeat Atalanta 0 - 2 FC INTER.

Challenge is for Atalanta coach Gigi Del Neri to show his boss his gratitude for renewing his contract until next year.  So, a victory will be the perfect way to say THANK YOU. 

Del Neri will have Moris Carrozzieri back from suspension, though missing midfielder Cristiano Doni for suspension.  Antonio Langella and Sergio Floccari can make the difference for Atalanta.

It might be the time for Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi to shine at the San Paolo again.

For Napoli, Fabiano Santacroce is suspended.

My Prediction:  DRAW

EMPOLI - PARMA
 Stadium
Serie A Standing:  Empoli 18th position, 29 points
                           Parma 16th position 30  points

MY Prediction: Parma

GENOA - TORINO
Luigi Ferraris Stadium
Serie A Standing:  Genoa 8th position, 42  points
                           Torino 14th position, 34 points

Time for Genoa to keep winning and for striker Marco Borriello to increase his goals.  Borriello is the Serie A top scorer with 18 goals followed by Juventus striker David Trezeguet with 17 goals.

My Prediction: GENOA


REGGINA - SAMPDORIA
Stadium
Serie A Standing:  Reggina 20th position, 27 points
                           Sampdoria

Reggina is not joking at all about the match against Sampdoria. They might be at the bottom of the Serie A Standing but it's all war for now.


Striker Antonio Cassano might take Sampdoria to victory and send Reggina packing for their almost confirmed relegation to the Serie B.

My Prediction: SAMPDORIA