Get your weekend started right with Serie A, as Week 29 begins early, the Friday match scheduled to accommodate next week’s Champions League fixtures. Absent catastrophic injuries or a meteor strike, the scudetto race is now down to just two contenders. With the two sides of Milan battling for the crown, this weekend is more about the competition for the European spots -- and, of course, the scramble to avoid the drop.
Serie A Preview: Week 29 Brings The Derby Della Capitale, With Both Lazio And Roma Seeking Champions League Spots
Friday
Brescia v Inter Milan
Rearrange the letters in “Internazionale” and you’ll get “inevitable.” Inter are five games back of AC Milan and determined to never lose a match again. Last week Genoa took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but at the final whistle the nerazzurri had claimed all three points in a 5-2 victory. Brescia, four points from safety, are likely to bring along the same bus they had parked last week at the San Paolo, when they held Napoli to a scoreless draw. If Inter elect to rest a few players before their midweek Champions League tie, Brescia might escape with a point, but with their desire to win the Serie A title, it seems unlikely we’ll see anything but the best.
Saturday
Cesena v Juventus
In the battle of the black-and-white stripes, it might seem absurd to favor Cesena, given that they’ve only reached safety by virtue of goal difference. However, Juventus, sitting just outside the European positions, have lost three straight matches and are five points behind sixth-place Roma. Unless The Old Lady can steady the ship right quick, Juventus will find themselves in mid-table mediocrity. The Seahorses, meanwhile, won against both Chievo and Sampdoria after drawing with Parma. They’ve scored six goals in their last three outings, which is infinitely more than Juventus have scored in their last three.
Sunday
Milan v Bari
If “Inevitable” can be spelled from “Inter,” then “There’s no need to actually play the match” can be spelled from “Milan.” Seriously, here. Bari are 12 points below the drop, haven’t won a game since January 6, and have collected two points since that date. Milan are...Milan. They may have been knocked out of the Champions League by Tottenham this week, but they’re unbeaten in their last 11 Serie A matches. This match is the early match so no one will be forced to view the carnage.
Lecce v Bologna
Bologna are climbing the table, but they’ve really no chance at Europe and face no possibility of relegation. Lecce, who lost out on points after a 90th minute penalty kick to Roma last week could pull themselves into safety with a win, but that’s not enough reason to subject yourself to this match.
Catania v Sampdoria
Catania. Another team not safe from Serie B. Surprisingly enough, neither are Sampdoria, which is rather shocking for a team that started the year in the Champions League. Just try to wrap your mind around this: wins for Catania, Cesena, Lecce and Parma could see Samp drop into the relegation zone. And these wins are not out of the realm of possibility. Lesson learned: try your gosh darn hardest to not let your two best players escape from your grasp.
Chievo Verona v Fiorentina
Yay, Fiorentina are back and they’ve brought the crazy man with them! Adrian Mutu scored twice last week in the 3-0 win over Catania, the first time he’s scored since his pouty temper tantrums. The Viola are finally looking a capable side, although they’re likely not a threat to the top six. As for Chievo, they’re useless, only good for stopping top sides from advancing up the table. No threat from the Flying Donkeys in this match.*
*I am bitter and shall remain bitter throughout the remainder of the season.
Genoa v Palermo
Watching Palermo these days is akin to watching someone dig a giant hole at the beach. You’re fairly confident that they know what they’re doing and they’ll be able to get themselves out before a sneaker wave comes along, but at the same time, you can’t help but think they’ve got themselves in way too deep and the water could pour in at any moment. Palermo may be only six points off Europe, but with four straight losses, they’re more of a crashing comet than a rising star. Genoa are still bitter about Inter having the nerve to score five goals against their normally tight defense. Expect revenge. In the form of a lock-down on the goal, not an attack by Genoa. This isn’t crazy imaginative predictions day.
Cagliari v Udinese
For goodness sake, Udinese, score a goal in open play this time. Seven goals in one match followed by a converted penalty kick in the next makes one feel as though she’s on a roller coaster. It’s time for the fun swooping feeling in the pit of my stomach again. Five from Alexis Sánchez should do nicely, thank you. A win for the Zebrette could put them into the Champions League positions. Cagliari’s form is nothing to write home about. They managed a win over Lazio at home, but the freely attacking Zebrette won’t give up the fight as easily.
AS Roma v Lazio
The Derby della Capitale pits a couple of slippy-sliding teams against one another at the Stadio Olimpico, with Roma holding the nominal rights to home field advantage. Lazio, the "visitors," easily saw off Palermo and Bari, but in between lost to Cagliari. They may have slipped from scudetto contenders to fourth place, but Lazio remain the favorites for this weekend. Despite a campaign of misinformation surrounding Roma's Champions League tie, one that talked up a Roma 'revitalization' under Vincenzo Montella, a last minute win over Lecce and a draw against Parma do not get you back into Europe. However, Roma do have a weapon up their sleeve: Daniele De Rossi's elbows. Somehow, referees seem to believe that flying elbows are a part of DDR's dance routines, and so when he plants one in the face of an opponent, they look at it as a cute personality quirk while handing a card to the injured player. It's a genius strategy, really, and should be incorporated if Roma want the win on Sunday.
Parma v Napoli
Whoever thought spitting would cost a club their chance at the scudetto? Since Napoli's match against Roma and the infamous spitting video, which revealed about as much as the JFK footage, the partenopei have picked up four points from three matches, sliding down to third place in the standings and showing the world just how much they need Ezequiel Lavezzi. Meanwhile, Parma have been taunting Juventus by showing them how Amauri can actually score, something no one thought was possible. Still, they've only managed three draws in a row, so clearly this week-ending match will be a 0-0 draw that puts everyone to sleep. Too bad Edinson Cavani ran out of magic pills.
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