Serie A 2011, Week 11: 3-0 Win Over Palermo Takes Juventus Top Of Table

I realize that ESPN is an American company. I know they focus more on American sports, and when soccer gets any coverage, it’s mostly focused on England’s top division. Of course I’d like to see such a big name in sports giving more attention to Italian football, but really, I would prefer it if they posted nothing at all about calcio, rather than provide a steady stream of misinformation.

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Ninety minutes of utter frustration for Napoli fans, as Lazio turned up at the San Paolo looking like last season’s side, the one that played for the draw, the one content to sit back and simply defend. While that strategy often got the best of the biancocelesti last season, this year they’ve got Federico Marchetti in front of net. While Fernando Muslera was well known for his bumbling errors in Serie A, Marchetti didn’t put a finger wrong, earning Lazio a deserved point in Naples tonight.

While Napoli didn’t look their best in the first half, they came storming out in the second. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall in that dressing room, knowing what, exactly, Walter Mazzarri said to have the partenopei suddenly buzzing around the pitch, threatening from every angle. While the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and company managed to get behind the Lazio defense, they simply couldn’t catch Marchetti off-guard.

Milan are so depleted for their trip to Firenze that they’re stuck using Luca Antonini again in defense -- fortunately for the visitors, Fiorentina’s attack is hindered by the loss of Stevan Jovetic to an injury picked up while on international duty with Montenegro. The rossoneri are also without Kevin-Prince Boateng, who sits out the final match of his suspension. Alexandre Pato has returned from injury, but is not prepared to start. Perhaps we’ll see him against Barcelona midweek?

Despite injuries, the match against Milan will be a tough start for new Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi. Will he strive for a win, or be content with a point?

Wow, it seems like forever since we’ve been blessed with Serie A football -- and forever plus eternity if you’re a fan of Genoa, Inter, Juventus or Napoli, who haven’t played a league match in three weeks. Sure, we had internationals to hold us over, but when the majority of your time spent watching a friendly involves yelling at players not to hurt your babies, it’s almost more stressful than taking in a competitive match.

On to Sunday. I’m going to be blunt here -- there is really no reason to watch the first match of the day, with Cesena having yet to win and Bologna just being, well, Bologna. Roma gets the spotlight in the late match, but playing at home against Lecce...yeah, it’s best to concentrate on the midday cluster of games. While Catania under Vincenzo Montella are fairly fun to watch this season, they’ll be hosting the blue and yellow bus that is the F.Flying Donkeys, so feel free to pass. Novara have won but one match this season, while Genoa are undefeated at home, so go ahead and place your bets before ignoring that one as well. Finally, Siena and Atalanta seems a fairly even match-up, so if other streams fail, try your hand there -- it should at least have goals.