Arsenal vs Aston Villa

1/3- After a draw last week Arsenal would like to capitalise on the 3 point lead they currently hold over rivals Manchester United, while the second placed team travel to take on Fulham, the top spot team would be playing hosts to the visiting 6^th placed Aston Villa team. Arsenal have not lost a single match in the last 10 matches played, in fact they have lost just once this season that too playing away from home and hence it would be difficult for the visitors to challenge them in their own den. The Gunners have a good overall record against Aston Villa and also in the earlier tie during this current season they had defeated Villa 1-2, in an away tie. All these records along with the prominent crowd support might just help to tilt things in favour of the league leaders and a win could possible take them further away from the second placed team and hence give them some more space to relax and regroup.

While the home team get into this tie after a disappointing draw against Birmingham last week their focus would solely be on the upcoming home tie against Aston Villa. Also the form of Adebayor would be crucial to the side’s performance as the menacing striker has already scored 19 goals this season and is looking as threatening as ever but the side would surely miss the services of Van Persie and Rosicky, both out due to injuries. But the home side and the crowd would hope for a full three points of this tie.

Aston Villa on the other hand would want to make it three in a row after two wins in the last two matches and more over strengthen their position for the qualifying spot to next year’s European championships. However the missing Agbonlahor could well be the difference between the two sides.

Prediction: 1-0, Arsenal win

AC Milan vs Lazio

AC Milan host Lazio in their week 26 match at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza at San Siro. An injury plagued Milan were held to a frustrating draw on the road in their midweek match, while Lazio were able to pick up a big win that helps them move farther away from the relegation zone of Serie A.

The rossoneri were held to a 1-1 draw by Catania in their last match. Milan were missing important players such as Kaka’, Nesta, Ronaldo and Dida and were certainly not at their best. The result leaves Carlo Ancelotti’s club in 5^th place of the league table with 42 points. They now sit 2 points back of Fiorentina while holding a 6 point edge over 6^th place Udinese. With neither Kaka’ nor Pippo Inzaghi slated to start this week Milan look to go with a 4-3-1-2 featuring Seedorf playing just behind Pato and Gilardino. The injured list remains the same as it was for the last match with Favalli also missing out due to suspension. The Australian keeper Kalac will once again start for Dida while Bonera will cover in the back line for Nesta. AC Milan have posted 2 wins and 3 draws in their last 5 matches.

Lazio picked up victory from a match they absolutely had to win in week 25 when they defeated Reggina by a score of 1-0 at home. Reggina have been battling relegation all year long and Lazio were in no position to drop points at home to them. With the win the side managed by Delio Rossi are now in 12^th place of Serie A with 29 points for the season. They are 1 point behind 11^th place Napoli and 2 points up on 13^th place Torino. They have posted 3 wins at home and 2 losses on the road over their last 5 matches and will be looking to change that pattern this week away to Milan. There are 2 confirmed absences at this time and they involve Zauri and Mutarelli. Like Milan, Lazio will use a 4-3-1-2 with Mauri playing behind the big 2 of Rocchi and Goran Pandev.

The edge has to go to AC Milan this week. While it is true that they have not played consistently at home this season with just 4 wins from 12 matches, Lazio have won just 1 match on the road and their form as a whole drops immensely when they are away from the Stadio Olimpico. They will need to play a mistake free match at the back.

Prediction: AC Milan (1-0)

Roma vs Parma

Roma will face off at home to Parma at the Stadio Olimpico as week 26 gets underway in Serie A. The giallorossi will be hoping to clear their heads of the frustrating result they obtained in their midweek match away to league leaders Inter Milan, while Parma will be looking to repeat their performance.

The side managed by Nedo Spaletti were playing superbly at the San Siro. Through 90 minutes they had built a 0-1 lead against Inter and were on the verge of trimming their deficit to 6 points. Instead, Roma were punished for failing to convert on their many counter attack chances and wound up settling for a 1-1 draw which leaves them with 52 points, 9 back of first place Inter. They hold a 4 point advantage over 3^rd place Juventus. They had come agonizingly close to finally handing Inter their first loss of the season. Instead they will look to get back on track at home against Parma. Roma will be missing Curci, Panucci and Cassetti to injury while Mexes is out suspended. Look for Juan to spell Mexes while Mancini returns to the left win after sitting out suspended. He will replace the impressive Vucinic who slides over to the bench.

Parma were victorious in their last match as they were able to hold out for a 2-0 win over Udinese. With the victory the side managed by Di Carlo are now in 14^th place of the league table with 25 points on the campaign. This leaves the gialloblu 2 points back of 13^th place Torino and just ahead of Siena. The victory snapped an unbeaten run of 4 matches which had seen Parma draw 3 in a row. This week top scorer Bernardo Corradi will be benched as Parma go with a 4-4-1-1 featuring Gasbarroni- a player in sensational form at this time- and Lucarelli as the lone striker.

It is tough to make a case for Parma in this match. While they are unbeaten on the road in their last 2 matches their overall road record stands at 0 wins, 5 draws and 7 losses. Only Catania and Reggina have failed to win away this year along with Parma. Meanwhile, Roma have lost just 1 match at home to go with 9 wins and 2 draws and they will be extremely focused this week as they need to bounce back from the draw away to Inter. Look for the Roma to take care of business at home.

Prediction: Roma (2-0)

Weekly Comic 28/02/08

Lazio vs Reggina

Lazio and Reggina hook up at the Stadio Olimpico in a contest that features two sides in dire need of points given their relative positions in the Serie A league table. Lazio come into this contest off of a bad loss while Reggina have just pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season over the weekend.

Lazio lost a very tough match on the road in week 24 as they fell to last place Cagliari by a score of 1-0 at the Stadio Sant’Elia. The laziali were hoping to build off of an impressive 3-0 victory over Atalanta in their prior match and the lowly Cagliari appeared to be a squad on paper that Lazio could surprise on the road. The result drew the ire of the supporters who have been protesting at the club headquarters all week. The loss leaves Lazio in 13^th place with 26 points, just behind 12^th place Torino and 1 point ahead of 14^th place Empoli. There are 4 expected absences this week against Reggina with Firmani, Zauri, Mutarelli out injured and Behrami serving a one match suspension. Manager Delio Rossi will go with his standard 4-3-1-2 featuring Mauri and Ledesma playing behind Pandev and Rocchi.

Relegation battlers’ Reggina picked up some much needed oxygen with an improbable 2-1 victory over the mighty Juventus at the Oreste Granillo. It was a huge win for Reggina given that last place Cagliari also won their match. The result leaves Reggina in 19^th place of the league table with 21 points. They are 3 ahead of last place Cagliari, but just 1 point back of both Parma and Siena meaning that another victory could see them jump out of the relegation slots. Renzo Ulivieri’s side are now in much higher spirits following the impressive win but they must maintain and build off of this momentum if they are to achieve their goal. There are 3 injury concerns this week involving Garcia, Ceravolo and Modesto, while Amoruso and Lanzaro are out suspended. Look for Cirillo to replace Lanzaro at the back while the Nigerian Makinwa looks likely to start in place of Amoruso.

While momentum will certainly be on Reggina’s side in the lead up to this game there are a number of factors working against a repeat of their Juventus result. The injured list is now longer, Lazio will not underestimate them and perhaps the most important fact- Reggina have not won a match away from home all season. Catania and Parma are the only other sides yet to win on the road. The home side Lazio should be good enough for at least a draw at home.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Genoa vs Napoli

Genoa and Napoli both scored big victories over the week and will look to continue their respective positive runs in this midweek contest at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris at Marassi. This match represents an excellent chance for the visitors to leap-frog over Genoa in the league table.

Il Grifone return home after a huge performance away to Udinese in week 24 that saw them run out 3-5 winners at the Stadio Friuli. Borriello was the hero with a hat trick in the 2^nd half. The 3 points land Genoa in 8^th place of the league table with 32 points. They are 3 points back of 7^th place Sampdoria and 1 point up on 9^th place Atalanta. They have been extremely consistent in terms of even results as evidenced by their record of 8 wins, 8 draws and 8 losses in 24 games. There are two confirmed absences for the contest against Napoli with Wilson out injured and Rubinho serving suspension. The good news this week is that Rossi will be able to play and will start on the right side of midfield in a 3-4-3 with Sculli, Borriello and Leon in attack.

Napoli are now in 11^th place of the league table with 30 points on the season. They are 1 point back of 10^th place Palermo and 4 points up on 12^th place Torino. They came up with a most important win at Livorno in week 24 by a score of 1-2 at the Stadio Armando Picchi. It was a huge win for the partenopei as it snapped a stretch that had seen them lose 3 of 4 contests. Manager Reja’s side will be limping into this 2^nd straight road match over the last 4 days as the potential exists for a number of absences. Marcelo Zalayeta, Santacroce and Cannavaro are all out suspended while Cupi, Garics, Iezzo and Pazienza while key player Ezequiel Lavezzi is listed as doubtful. Luckily for Napoli Roberto Sosa and Calaio are set to come into the attack. Calaio was the hero against Livorno when he started in place of Zalayeta.

Genoa must be seen as having the edge this week. Not only are they home but they will be taking on a Napoli outfit that will be playing their second straight road match and will be missing starting players both in attack and at the back. In addition, Napoli have won just 2 of 12 matches away from home this season.

Prediction: Genoa (1-0)

Fiorentina vs Livorno

Fiorentina are home in week 25 to host Livorno at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in a match up between clubs that are coming off of losing efforts in week 24. The results obtained last week costs both sides dearly in the Serie A league table.

With their loss away to AS Roma the side managed by Cesare Prandelli have now dropped out of the top 4 of the league table and now sit in 5^th place with 41 points. This leaves them just behind 4^th place AC Milan on goal difference and 5 points up on 6^th place Udinese. The viola are currently going through a very tough stretch of their fixture list which has seen them lose 2 of their last 4 matches with the other loss coming against AC Milan. There is some harsh news for Fiorentina this week on the injury front as their talented striker Adrian Mutu of Romania will be out of action for about 4 weeks after picking up a knock in the match against Roma. Out suspended for this match is Christian Vieri but Prandelli looks to maintain the 4-3-3 with Semioli, Pazzini and Santana in attack.

Livorno suffered a real setback at home in week 24 as they lost to a struggling Napoli outfit by a score of 1-2 at the Stadio Armando Picchi. It was a particularly stinging loss for Livorno given that Napoli’s match winner was scored late in the contest. They have just 2 points to show from their last 5 matches. The loss leaves Livorno in 16^th place of the Serie A league table with 23 points. They are just behind 15^th place Catania on goal difference but only 1 point ahead of 18^th place Parma who are in the relegation zone. The news is not much better in terms of injuries as top scorer Tavano as he has a muscle strain that will keep him out of this match. Manager Camolese is expected to go with a 3-5-1-1 with Diamanti playing right behind Tristan. Bergvold, Giannichedda, Volpe and Rossini round out the injured list.

Given Fiorentina’s recent struggles and the loss of Adrian Mutu, Livorno are exactly what the doctor order for the purple side. Livorno cannot buy a victory with the way things are going for them at this time and the loss of Tavano severely hampers them in attack. Fiorentina should bounce back this week with a positive result.

Prediction: Fiorentina (2-0)

Inter Milan vs Roma

Inter Milan return home in Round 25 hoping to extend their unbeaten run to 25 matches when they host AS Roma at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza at San Siro. As Roma were able to inch closer to Inter over the weekend and now come into this contest with a chance to move to within 6 points of the top spot with a victory.

The neroazzurri played to a 1-1 draw in their week 24 match away to Sampdoria at Marassi. The draw leaves Roberto Mancini’s side in 1^st place of Serie A with 60 points on the season which are the product of an impressive 18 wins and 6 draws for the year. They hold a 9 point edge over 2^nd place Roma and appear well on their way to a 3^rd straight league title. With the squad currently going through a steady stretch of matches that have seen them play a match every 3 days, it is expected that there will be some turnover in the starting eleven this week. Look for Julio Cruz to get another day off with Zlatan Ibrahimovic joining. Argentine Hernan Crespo is expected to join David Suazo of Honduras in the attack. Colombian international Ivan Ramiro Cordoba is not expected to start either.

This contest will be AS Roma’s best chance this season to crack into Inter Milan’s big lead. A victory hear will seen them climb to 54 points and within just 6 of the top spot. However, there is a reason why Inter have yet to lose a match this season and it will take a superb effort from the giallorossi to pull it off. Last week the side managed by Nedo Spaletti were able to hold serve at home and defeat Fiorentina by a score of 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. It was their 4^th victory over their last 6 matches and was a great way to bounce back from the tough lost against Juventus 7 days earlier. There are two confirmed absences at this time for Roma in Curci and Mancini, while Cicinho is out suspended. The loss of Mancini may not be as painful however as Vucinic was superb against Fiorentina.

This contest is literally a final for Roma. If they win away to Inter they remove the air of invincibility from the squad currently in first place and reopen the title chance. If they draw or even lose, the contest might be over. Given how strong and disciplined Inter have looked this season, they appear to be good enough for a draw.

Prediction: Draw (1-1)

Catania vs AC Milan

Catania face off against the red hot AC Milan looking to recover from their loss away to Empoli over the week that sends them farther down the Serie A league table. The rossoneri come into this contest after having secured a dramatic last minute victory over Palermo that lands them in the top 4 of the league.

The home side were beaten on the road in week 24 when they fell by a score of 2-0 to Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani. The result leaves Catania in 15^th place of the Serie A league table with 25 points. They are now 2 points back of 14^th place Empoli, but only 3 ahead of Parma and the side fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. They are losers of 4 of their last 4 games and have been able to produce just 2 goals scored over that 5 game stretch. They are easily going through their worst part of the season and now face a daunting task when they host AC Milan. Manager Baldini will need to make due without the services of both Tedesco and Morimoto this week.

The rossoneri are at the other end of the spectrum in terms of current form. Their latest victory at home over Palermo by a score of 2-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza featured late game heroics from Pippo Inzaghi to secure the 3 points. With the victory Carlo Ancelotti’s club are now in 4^th place of the league table with 41 points, 6 back of Juventus and just ahead of 5^th place Fiorentina on goal difference. With this match coming just 3 days after the contest against Palermo it’s getting a bit difficult for Ancelotti to come up with a starting eleven as there are a number of injury concerns. In addition to Nesta, Dida, and Ronaldo who missed the contest against Palermo- it has now been confirmed that both Seedorf and Kaka’ are expected to sit this one out. Bonera, Gourcuff and Gilardino are among those expected to come into the starting eleven.

This will be a very tough contest for Catania. They just haven’t shown any life of late and they will be taking on an AC Milan outfit that have been absolutely superb of late. It is true that Milan have a number of injury concerns this week but the likes of Pato, Ambrosini and Gilardino should have enough to carry the day for the rossoneri.

Prediction: AC Milan (1-2)

Atalanta vs Sampdoria

9^th place Atalanta are home in week 25 to take on Sampdoria at the Stadio Atleti Azzuri D’Italia. The contest will feature two sides that will be trying to get back on track after having been held to draws in their matches at home over the weekend.

The bergamaschi come into this contest after playing Siena to a 2-2 draw at home. This will be their 2^nd consecutive home match. The draw leaves Atalanta in 9^th place of the Serie A league table with 31 points. They are one point back of 8^th place Genoa and just ahead of 10^th place Palermo. Manager Gigi del Neri’s side are now winless over their last 3 matches and this includes an oddity in that they have now played to 3 consecutive 2-2 draws at home with Reggina and Fiorentina have come before Siena. There are no suspended players at this time though Forsyth, Carrozzieri and Simone Inzhaghi are all expected to miss out due to injury. The important thing for Atalanta is that Doni will start.

Sampdoria were also held to a draw at home when they played against league leaders Inter Milan in a match that ended 1-1 at the Luigi Ferraris. The point leaves i doriani in 7^th place of the league table with 35 points, just 1 behind Udinese and 3 ahead of 8^th place Genoa. There is bad news this week on the injury front for manager Mazzari as one of the club’s top strikers- Bellucci- has been ruled out due to a partial meniscus tear. The club will try all the rehab that is possible before decided on possible season ending surgery. Look for Sammarco and Delvecchio to team up behind Antonio Cassano as the lone striker. The draw to Inter extended Sampdoria’s unbeaten run to 3 matches.

While wins have proven to be very hard for Atalanta to come by of late they have shown to have a propensity for scoring goal and have scored at least 2 over their last 4 games. Sampdoria’s back line will certainly be challenged and it will be interesting to see how they fare with Cassano alone in attack. Samp have won only 3 of 12 matches away form home with 8 losses, while Atalanta have lost just 2 of 10. Look for Atalanta to finally break through at home.

Prediction: Atalanta (2-1)

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