Ok, let’s face it. After the Milan derby last week, which managed to be one of the most boring 3-0 victories every completed, it’s tough to get excited about Week 32 in Serie A. Add to that Nando Muslera’s land-wars-in-Asia strategy for dealing with Edinson Cavani (the Napoli striker is clearly immune to iocane powder, by the way) and the fact that Bari actually won a match, well, it might be impossible for this weekend to be as intriguing as last. Although Juventus finally have a chance to win three in a row, so that’s something.
Serie A, Week 32: Udinese Vs. Roma The Most Interesting Match Of The Week, While Juventus Try To Make Three Wins In A Row
Saturday
Saturday actually features the most interesting matches of Week 32, with three of the four teams desperate for wins. Inter are the most desperate of this desperate bunch. Beaten by Milan 3-0 last week, rather than coming back and resoundingly defeating a Schalke squad that most believed were more than beatable, Inter decided to simply roll over and let the Germans have their way with them. Inter are now determined to put the 5-2 loss behind them, but is it too late? Five points off the scudetto in third place, what are the nerazzuri playing for? Pride? Chievo, meanwhile, haven’t reached the magical 40 point mark, having lost to Fiorentina last week. They’re pretty much safe from the drop, though, so expect them to play for a draw.
The matchup of the weekend features the battle for the last Champions League position (even though Juventus still seem to think they have a shot). Udinese currently hold fourth, but after their first defeat of 2011 last weekend, 2-0 to Lecce, that hold is tenuous, with Roma hovering just four points behind. Of course, Roma managed to lose 2-0 themselves last week, to Juventus of all clubs, which is pretty amusing this season. A bit of the shine has worn off Vincenzo Montella’s time in charge, and it looks as though Roma might have to settle for the Europa League next season. The real question is, where will Udinese end up? Was last week an indication that the end of their season will mirror the zebrette start, and the slide will see them out of Europe? One thing’s for sure: the hosts must compensate for the lack of a certain Alexis Sánchez, without whom they have yet to win a match this year.
Sunday
So...Juventus haven't won three matches in a row all season. Can they break the bogey this time around? Genoa managed to beat Palermo, the team that nearly everyone freely scores against, with just one goal, drew with Bologna and lost to Cagliari. Your time is now, Old Lady. A win coupled with a Roma loss puts you into Europe. Get Alessandro Matri to bat his lashes toward the goal and this thing's yours.
Cagliari are safe. Brescia are not, and haven’t won in two months. Go watch Bologna - Napoli.
Last place, almost-certain-to-be-relegated Bari play host to a Catania side with nothing to play for after beating Palermo 4-0 last weekend. Go watch Bologna - Napoli.
Do Lazio have any players available, or are they all suspended? Go watch Bologna - Napoli.
16th v 17th. 32 v 31. Go watch Bologna - Napoli.
Palermo traded their baseball-cap wearing coach for the one they fired four weeks ago. Cesena are called the Seahorses. If you’re not watching Bologna - Napoli, this is an acceptable substitute.
Hey, you listened! Bologna haven't had the worst set of results recently, but they haven't been that great, either. They're not qualifying for Europe and they're not getting relegated. So what will they do against Napoli? Beg for mercy? The scudetto challengers aren't exactly the most consistent themselves, and without Cavani, Zona Napoli (the last five minutes of a match) doesn't really exist. Sure, Christian Maggio managed a last minute goal that one time, but take enough shots and anyone can. Napoli find it difficult to win if any one of Cavani, Marek Hamsik or Ezequiel Lavezzi go missing, so with Cavani suspended this weekend, closing the gap on Milan might be too much to ask.
Adrian Mutu is suspended for this match, making it infinitely less fun. The Viola have moved up to 9th place after not losing for the last three weeks, so there’s signs of progress there, but clubs need more than a few glimpses of hope to beat the league leaders. Especially since Zlatan Ibrahimović returns from suspension and will partner with Alexandre Pato up front. With Napoli just three points behind in the title race, Milan can’t afford to give even one tiny inch. And they won’t.
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