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  • Friday 27 February 2009

    Serie A Round 26 Preview

    Lazio vs. Bologna
    Juventus vs. Napoli

    Palermo vs. Catania
    Atalanta vs. Chievo
    Reggina vs. Fiorentina
    Siena vs. Genoa
    Udinese vs. Lecce
    Sampdoria vs. Milan
    Cagliari vs. Torino
    Inter vs. Roma

    On Saturday, Juventus welcome Napoli to Turin with the visitors on a truly wretched run of form which has seen them collect just 2 points from the last 21 available and crash out of European reckoning – they sit 10th, 8 points off Roma in 6th. Juve were mediocre midweek at Stamford Bridge but will still fancy their chances here. Also on Saturday Lazio, whose season has well and truly petered out, host Bologna, who sit just a point above the drop zone despite Marco Di Vaio’s goals.

    On Sunday, Inter play Roma in what is the obvious candidate for the match of the weekend. Mourinho’s men are in great touch domestically but Roma’s form is also excellent and Luciano Spalleti should be able to call on the services of Cicinho and Juan – two players injured for the defeat at Arsenal. If results go their way this weekend the Nerazzuri could have a 12 point lead come Monday morning or Roma could jump into the top four.

    AC Milan, dumped out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday, visit Sampdoria who are finally starting to click into gear, unbeaten in five as they are. Much of this is to do with the burgeoning partnership of Antonio Cassano and new man Giampaolo Pazzini, who combined so beautifully last week against Chievo. The Rossoneri, by contrast, have picked up just one win in their last four matches.

    Fiorentina visit bottom club Reggina with strikers Mutu and Gilardino in excellent nick – 27 goals between them makes the former Hellas Verona stars the league’s best strike partnership – While Genoa, their rivals for that coveted fourth spot, visit Siena, without a win in five. Udinese, looking enviously up at the top half, host Lecce and there’s a Sicilian derby in the offing which is sure to be a fiery encounter – Palermo matches against Catania have provoked plenty of violence and debate in the past. Cagliari will look to keep hope of their unlikely European qualification alive by beating struggling Torino.

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