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Atalanta (0-0-0) vs. Siena (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 9:00 am ET Last Season: Atalanta 2-2 Siena Form: Atalanta: n/a, Siena: n/a Summary: Siena will test their luck on the road when they travel to Bergamo on Sunday. Atalanta made headlines in the summer with the return of Christian Vieri, while Siena’s has has had to deal with the loss of some talented players, including goalkeeper Alex Manninger. Vieri has been sidelined due to a thigh injury and is not ready to return yet. The injury concerns don’t end there for Atalanta, as Azzurrini starlet Luca Cigarini is in great doubt despite being listed in the group of 18. Both sides are coming off of Coppa Italia wins, including Siena’s 4-0 rout of Albinoleffe. Atalanta (Probable): (4-4-1-1) Coppola; Bellini, Manfredini, Talamonti, Garics; Padoin, Guarente, Cigarini, Ferreira Pinto; Doni; Floccari Siena (Probable): (4-3-1-2) Curci; Rossi, Portanova, Ficagna, Rossettini; Galloppa, Codrea, Vergassola; Kharja; Maccarone, Calaio Player to Watch: Emauele Calaio (Siena). The former Napoli hitman helped lead the Tuscan club in their recent Coppa win. He will bring some creativity to a generally weak Siena side. Prediction: Home win. |
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Cagliari (0-0-0) vs. Lazio (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 9:00 am ET Last Season: Cagliari 1-0 Lazio Form: Cagliari: n/a, Lazio: n/a Summary: Serie A minnows Cagliari are a leading contender in the relegation race this year. Can the Isolani pull off another suprising survival? New manager Max Allegri is confident of his side as they start the new season, but faces a tough task in welcoming Lazio to the Sant’Elia. The Roman side has a whole new look to their squad, with 21-year-old Argentine Mauro Zarate making his Lazio debut alongside captain Goran Pandev. Lazio failed to qualify for the UEFA Cup last year and will be eager to start a new season with Europe being a realistic goal. Lazio dominated Benevento in their recent Coppa Italia match by a score of 5-1. Cagliari (Probable): (4-3-2-1) Marchetti; Agostini, Canini, Lopez, Pisano; Parola, Conti, Biondini; Jeda, Cossu; Larrivey Lazio (Probable): (4-4-2) Carrizo; Kolarov, Rozenhal, Siviglia, Lichtsteiner; Mauri, Matuzalem, Ledesma, Brocchi; Zarate, Pandev Player to Watch: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari) The U-21 international is the key to Cagliari this year. He’ll after to score plenty of goals in order to keep Cagliari afloat. Prediction: Draw. |
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Catania (0-0-0) vs. Genoa (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 9:00 am ET Last Season: Catania 0-0 Genoa Form: Catania: n/a, Genoa: n/a Summary: Genoa take a trip down to Sicily as their 2008-09 season begins on the road at Catania. We should see plenty of goals with both teams playing an attacking style of football. Catania coach Walter Zenga took over the club late last season the pressure will be on him if he wants to stay away from the ever-present Serie A sack race. Genoa have lost their main offensive threat in Marco Borriello and will now look to new signing Ruben Olivera to fill this role. Genoa have enough talent to be one of the top competitors in Serie A. Can they return to the dominant Genoa of old? Catania (Probable): (4-3-3) Bizzarri; Sabato. Stovini, Terlizzi, Silvestri; Tedesco, Ledesma, Biagianti; Martinez, Paolucci, Mascara Genoa (Probable): (3-4-3) Rubinho; Criscito, Ferrari, Potenza; Modesto, Juric, Vanden Borre; Rossi; Gasbarroni, Olivera; Palladino Player to Watch: Raffaele Palladino (Genoa). The young forward, co-owned by Juventus, will be eager to prove himself and possbily earn a recall to the national side. Prediction: Draw. |
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Chievo (0-0-0) vs. Reggina (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 9:00 am ET Last Season: n/a Form: Chievo: n/a, Reggina: n/a Summary: Chievo battles against Reggina in what should be a tense affair in Verona. The Flying Donkeys were relgated from Serie A two seasons ago when Reggina edged out Milan on the last matchday. Reggina continued to suprise everyone by pulling off another unexpected survival last season. The Amaranto are better than the experts think. However, they will be missing Franco Brienza and Francesco Cozza in this one, so goals might be hard to come by. Chievo (Probable): (4-3-3) Squizzi; Mantovani, Cesar, Mandelli, Malago; Marcoloini, Italiano, Bentivoglio; Iunco, Pellissier, Luciano Reggina (Probable): (4-4-2) Campagnolo; Aronica, Cirillo, Valdez, Lanzaro; Hallfredsson, Tognozzi, Barreto, Vigiani; Ceravolo, Corradi Player to Watch: Emil Hallfredsson (Reggina). The Icelandic international adapted well to the Seire A game last year, but injury troubles ruined a promising start. He is healthy now and hoping to score his first goal in Italy. Prediction: Draw. |
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Milan (0-0-0) vs. Bologna (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 9:00 am ET Last Meeting: n/a Form: Milan: n/a, Bologna: n/a Summary: Milan welcome Bologna without Kaka but with several of their new signings, including Ronaldinho, Gianluca Zambrotta, and Mathieu Flamini. The pressure is on Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti after Milan’s disappointing 5th place finish last season. They are now competing in the UEFA Cup, but have their sights set on a Serie A title before anything else. Look for Ancelotti to use a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation with Pippo Inzaghi starting up front over youngster Pato. Milan (Probable): (4-3-2-1) Abbiati; Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Zambrotta; Ambrosini, Prilo, Flamini; Ronaldinho, Seedorf; Inzaghi Bologna (Probable): (4-2-3-1) Antonioli; Bombardini, Moras, Terzi, Zenoni; Volpi, Mingazzini; Valliani, Amoroso, Adailton; Di Vaio Player to Watch: Ronaldinho (Milan). The Brazilian is fully fit after the Olympics and believes the new environment can allow him to return to his best. We’ll have to wait and see. Prediction: Home win. |
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Roma (0-0-0) vs. Napoli (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 9:00 am ET Last Meeting: Roma 4-4 Napoli Form: Roma: n/a, Napoli: n/a Summary: It will be an entertaining clash when two of Italy’s most popular clubs square off in the Derby del Sole. Last season the two sides battled to a historic 4-4 draw. Roma captain Francesco Totti will not be fit for the match, with Mirko Vucinic tipped to start in his place. Roma new-boys John Arne Riise and Julio Baptista are confirmed for the starting 11. Napoli recently destroyed Vllaznia Shkoder 5-0 (8-0 ag.) on Thursday in the UEFA Cup qualifying round, but should have no fitness worries for Sunday’s fixture. Roma (Probable): (4-2-3-1) Doni; Riise, Juan, Mexes, Cassetti; Pizarro, De Rossi; Baptista, Aquilani, Cicinho, Vucinic Napoli (Probable): (3-5-2) Iezzo; Contini, Cannavaro, Santacroce; Vitale, Hamsik, Garano, Blasi, Maggio; Lavezzi, Denis Player to Watch: Julio Baptista (Roma). The Beast has been unleashed in Serie A. Can he produce for a Totti-less Roma side? Prediction: Home win. |
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Torino (0-0-0) vs. Lecce (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 11:00 am ET Last Meeting: n/a Form: Torino: n/a, Lecce: n/a Summary: Newly promoted Lecce start their new season off against Torino at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Lecce are a favorite for relegation back to Serie B, but have the chance to grab an early season road win today. Torino have underachieved in recent memory and are also expected to struggle again this year. They hope to turn their fortunes around after signing Rolando Bianchi from Manchester City. Bianchi rejoins with former Reggina temmate Nicola Amoruso in the Torino attack. The two combined for 35 goals while at the Calabrian club. Can they repeat this feat and take Torino to the next level? Torino (Probable): (4-3-2-1) Sereni; Rubin, Pratali, Di Loreto, Diana; Saumel, Corino, Zanetti; Amoruso, Rosina; Bianchi Lecce (Probable): (4-4-2) Benussi; Giulatto, Esposito, Diamoutene, Angelo; Ariatti, Caserta, Giacomazzi, Feltscher; Tribocchi, Cacia Player to Watch: Daniele Cacia (Lecce). The former Piacenza striker had success in Serie B, but lacked playing time with Fiorentina last year. He is ready to prove himself at the next level by leading the Lecce attack. Prediction: Draw. |
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Fioretina (0-0-0) vs. Juventus (0-0-0) Sunday, August 31, 2:30 pm ET Last Meeting: Fiorentina 1-1 Juventus Form: Fiorentina: n/a, Juventus: n/a Summary: In the match of the week, two Scudetto hopefuls square off when Fiorentina hosts Juventus in Florence. The question has been whether or not Adrian Mutu would recover in time for this huge affair. An elbow injury has held Mutu out of action and he will not be dressing for tonights match. The Viola still have Gilardino in attack, but are greatly disadvantaged without their Romanian hitman. Juventus finished a disappointing 3rd place last year and the pressure will be on head coach Claudio Ranieri to win a Scudetto for the Old Lady this season. Both of these teams have qualified for the Champions League group stage. Don’t miss this one. Fiorentina (Probable): (4-3-3) Frey; Vargas, Dainelli, Gamberini, Zauri; Donadel, Felipe Melo, Kuzmanovic; Osvaldo, Gilardino, Santana Juventus (Probable): (4-4-2) Buffon; Molinaro, Mellberg, Legrottaglie, Grygera; Nedved, Poulsen, Marchisio, Camoranesi; Del Piero, Amauri Player to Watch: Sebastian Frey (Fiorentina). The Viola shot-stopper is quietly one of the best in Serie A. Prediction: Draw. |
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Veteran striker Christian Vieri is no longer a free agent after he agreed to a one year deal with Atalanta. It will be the third time Vieri has played for the northern club. During his tenure with Fiorentina last season, he netted 6 goals in 26 matches.
