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  • Saturday 24 January 2009

    Serie A Round 20 Preview

    Saturday 24 January
    Reggina v Chievo 17.00
    Juventus v Fiorentina 19.30

    Sunday 25 January
    Bologna v AC Milan 14.00
    Genoa v Catania 14.00
    Lazio v Cagliari 14.00
    Lecce v Torino 14.00
    Napoli v Roma 14.00
    Palermo v Udinese 14.00
    Siena v Atalanta 14.00
    Inter Milan v Sampdoria 19.30

    Kicking off the action this weekend is a real basement battle at the Stadio Oreste Granillo as Reggina host Chievo. Both sides are joint bottom on 13 points but the visitors will be buoyed following their surprise win over Napoli last weekend. The Amarento have the worst defence in the league with 37 goals conceded at the turn. Elsewhere, Juventus face Fiorentina in Turin with both sides struggling with injuries - Sissoko, Chiellini and Camoranesi missing for the Gobbini, Mutu and Comotto missing for the Viola. A victory for Juve will see them go top, albeit probably temporarily.

    On Sunday Carlo Ancelloti takes his AC Milan side to Bologna who are unbeaten in the league under new coach Sinisa Mihailovic. Kaka is staying and Pato is in hot form so this could most likely end that memorable run for the Serb, though Ancelloti's ageing defence will have to cope with Marco Di Vaio who is top of the scorers charts. Genoa will look to maintain their Champions League place at home to Catania and their attack is bolstered by the return of the brilliant Diego Milito. A terrific game in prospect down in Naples too, as Roma visit the San Paolo hoping Julio Baptista will be able to conjure up another piece of brilliance like last week's bicycle kick against Torino. They may also be boosted by the return of captain and talisman Francesco Totti. Napoli will be without the suspended Marek Hamsik.

    Round off the weekend is Inter against Sampdoria. Jose Mourinho reportedly berated his team after their performance in Bergamo last week but they have the perfect tonic to rectify the situation - a home tie against Sampdoria, who are just 5 points above the drop zone and have won only 1 of their last 7 matches. Two of the sides' most influential players could be missing though - Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended whilst Antonio Cassano is a doubt with a neck injury. With Juventus playing a big game against Fiorentina, this is a big opportunity for the Nerazzuri to re-establish a lead at the top.

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