Round twenty two of this season’s Serie A provides some interesting encounters as Napoli travel to the Ennio Tardini, where Roberto Donadoni’s Parma remain unbeaten since March of last year.
In addition, fifteenth placed Sampdoria host seventeenth place Pescara, as both clubs look to avoid relegation. Also, eight placed Catania will be aiming for their third straight victory as they welcome Vincenzo Montella’s ailing Fiorentina side, who have managed to pick only one point in their last three games.
With reigning champions Juventus looking to once again break away at the top of the table, the pressure is on the chasing pack of Lazio, Napoli and Inter.
Lazio and Chievo kick start this weekend’s round of fixtures on Saturday evening at the Stadio Olimpico. Vladimir Petkovic has had a remarkable first season, and will be determined to get back into winning ways, following last weekend’s hard fought 2-2 draw against Palermo at the Renzo Barbera.
Having beaten the Biancocelesti’s city rivals Roma two weeks ago, the flying donkeys will be equally focused to pick up all three points on Saturday evening, especially after slipping down the table to the twelfth slot.
Despite missing some of their star names through injury, Juventus will be confident of beating eighteenth placed Genoa at home on Saturday night. The Rossoblu have recently sacked their manager Luigi Del Neri with the hope of overturning the fortunes of their disappointing season, and will be determined to at least pick a point as they did against then second placed Inter in December.
The lunch time kick off on Sunday sees Zdenek Zeman’s Roma, who come off from a 2-1 victory against Inter on Wednesday night’s Coppa Italia semi final, travel to the Renato Dall’Ara where Bologna lie awaiting. The Giallorossi have picked up only one point in their last three games, and have fallen to the seventh place, one behind AC Milan, which has piled pressure on the shoulders of the Czech tactician.
Bologna on the other hand will be looking to please their fans once again, as they did in their last home game by thrashing Catania by four goals.
In a fitting tribute to the memory of their late President Riccardo Garrone, who passed away last week, Sampdoria will be determined to bag all three points against fellow relegation contenders Pescara at the Luigi Ferraris on Sunday afternoon.
Palermo coach Gian Piero Gasperini has had a tragic few weeks, as both his parents have passed away, but will be hoping to have better fortunes on the field as his nineteenth placed Rosanero side will be locking horns against sixteenth placed Cagliari at the Renzo Barbera.
Following the four goal drubbing by the hands of Juventus last weekend, Francesco Guidolin’s men will be hoping to get back in to winning ways on Sunday afternoon, as Udinese host Giuseppe Iachini’s twentieth placed Siena.
After a dreamlike start to their season, Stefano Colantuono’s Atalanta have fallen down the standings to the thirteenth place, but will be hoping to beat Massimiliano Allegri’s improving Milan side at home on Sunday afternoon.
In the final game of this weekend, Andrea Strammacioni’s inconsistent Inter will host Torino at the San Siro on late Sunday evening, as they aim to qualify for next season’s Champions league, amidst a transfer window chaos.
Fixtures – Kickoff times in CET
26/01/2012 (Saturday) – Lazio v Chievo (18:00), Juventus v Genoa (20:45)
27/01/2012 (Sunday) – Bologna v Roma (12:30), Sampdoria vs Pescara (15:00), Cagliari vs Palermo (15:00), Udinese vs Siena (15:00), Atalanta vs Milan (15:00), Parma vs Napoli (15:00), Catania vs Fiorentina (15:00), Inter vs Torino (20:45)
