Siena vs Palermo
Week 9 Serie A fixtures kick off with these two bottom of the table teams going head-to-head. Siena have fared slightly better then the Sicilians and are only below them in the table due to starting their campaign with a points deduction. Palermo have struggled to finish their numerous chances last weekend as they were held at home by a stubborn Torino side. Should Palermo struggle to score again this weekend then Siena could win this but a draw is a more realistic outcome.
Prediction 1-1
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Milan vs Genoa
Milan succumbed to their 5th defeat of the season in eight matches and are already 15 points off league leaders Juventus. Genoa are faring better so far this season with nine points to their name. This won’t be an easy game for Allegri’s men who also have a mid-week Champions League fixture to contend with but they should pip this in front of their home fans.
Prediction 2-1
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Catania vs Juventus
Catania performed relatively well against a confident Inter side and were denied a clear penalty when they were trailing 1-0 down with just 20 minutes to go. Juventus put on a confident display to brush aside title rivals Napoli in Torino, to extend their un-beaten run, which seems will not end anytime soon. While Catania will make things difficult for Juventus, who also have a mid-week European fixture to contend with, I think they will have too much for the Sicilians.
Prediction 1-2
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Bologna vs Inter
Bologna have had a poor start to their season and have only won two games. Inter are finally playing with confidence and Stramaccioni’s only problem now is to decide on who his strongest attacking trio, who were rather lacklustre at times last Sunday. Inter should prove too much for the hosts.
Prediction 0-2
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Fiorentina vs Lazio
Following an extremely positive start, La Viola have seemed to lost some of their momentum and were held in Chievo last Sunday. Lazio on the otherhand have kept up a series of very positive results with a convincing home win over Milan. This will be a close encounter and some pundits might even pip Lazio to snatch all three points, though I predict that a score draw is more likely.
Prediction 2-2
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Pescara vs Atalanta
Both these newly promoted sides sit at the bottom half of the table, with just one point separating them. This will be a close encounter but given Pescara’s good home performances against fellow minnows I am going for a home win here against an inconsistent Atalanta side who are particularly poor on their travels.
Prediction 2-1
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Sampdoria vs Cagliari
Sampdoria have not won a game in five straight Serie A fixtures and their form has slumped of late following 3 wins on the trot in their opening fixtures. Cagliari won three important points against Bologna and will do their utmost to leave with a point. Considering Sampdoria’s need to end their poor run I predict a close win here for them.
Prediction 2-1
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Torino vs Parma
Not much separates these two teams and while Torino will see this fixture as a chance to secure all three points I reckon that Parma will have other plans and hence a low scoring draw is most likely.
Prediction 1-1
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Napoli vs Chievo
Napoli lost their first game of the season against Juventus in a match in which they were soundly beaten. Chievo have seemed to have lost the resilience they had last year in grinding out important results and find themselves in 17th place. Napoli will see this fixture as a way of regaining their confidence and re-start their positive run.
Prediction 3-0
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Roma vs Udinese
Roma have finally seemed to find their feet under new coach Zeman and are playing some exciting, attacking football. Guidolin will be pleased that his new side are taking shape and La Zebrette will soon once again be a forced to be reckoned with. I can only see one winner in this fixture.
Prediction 3-1
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
