Football Update: Serie A Preview (Part 1)
Cesena vs. Lazio
Aquile will be looking to make amends for the 2-0 home defeat in the Derby Della Capitale against Roma when they take on lowly placed Cesena.
The Seahorses (Cesena) have no end to their troubles and are sinking to fathomless depths of the relegation zone. The 3-1 loss to Juventus was their fourth straight defeat in the Serie A and seventh in 8 games. Winning seems to be a myth for the Seahorses
as they lie in 19th with only 8 points from 10 games. The relegation’ contenders’ would be looking to get at least a point at home and manager Massimo Ficcadenti is still defiant and excepts that his team is probably destined to suffer throughout
the season but admits that the time has come for his team to start earning points.
Lazio on the other hand would be fuming after their 2-0 loss at home to bitter rivals Roma on Sunday. Lazio are currently on top of the Serie A standings but when their first test to assert their authority in Italy this season came, they failed to produce
an inspirational performance and deservingly lost to Roma raising serious questions over their Scudetto credentials.
Lazio are still top of the league even after the defeat and have 22 points from 10 games followed closely by Milan who are on 20 points. Aquile will be looking to inflict more damage on the sinking Seahorses in order to get over the 2-0 defeat.
Manager Edy Reja is still upbeat and wants his team to forget all about Sunday’s loss and put it together if his team is to stay at the top. He has asked his team to turn the page and look at what’s coming ahead in order to turn the anger of the defeat into
a positive factor when they take on Cesena.
Cesena team news
Budan and Caserta are unavailable due to injuries and Pellegrino is suspended. Bogdani might play as a lone striker and attacking midfielders Giaccherini and Jiminez will provide assistance to the striker.
Lazio team news
Lazio have rested playmaker Hernanes for this match, while Meghni and Quadri will be unavailable after picking up injuries in the match against Roma. Floccari will play as a lone striker and Foggia, Mauri and Zarate will assist the striker in the absence
of Hernanes.
Cagliari vs. Napoli
The Neapolitans would be aiming to carry on their great run of victories as they take on Cagliari away from home.
Cagliari were among the clubs who were destined for a relegation battle this season but the Sardinians have defied all odds and currently, the ‘Isolani’ are 12th in the Serie A with 11 points. But only three points divide Cagliari and the teams
in relegation zone in a tight bottom table. With such a tight table, Cagliari should be looking to get three points out of every game and avoid slipping up.
Isolani have a good record at home after winning 2, drawing one and losing one game. They defeated Bologna this Saturday 2-0 at home as well and are upbeat about their chances.
Napoli started this season with an aim to get a champions league spot come the end of the 2010-11 season and are definitely going the right way.
Napoli are currently 5th in the Serie A table with 18 points and are chasing Juventus who have the same number of points but have a better goal difference. Napoli are yet to lose so far this season and have won 3 of their 5 away fixtures. Striker
Edinson Cavani is in top form and has scored 8 goals this season and Napoli will be looking for three points.
Cagliari team news
Ragatzu, Pisano and Sivakov will be missing the game due to injuries and Nene and Matri will play together upfront.
Napoli team news
Lucarelli and Pazienza are missing due to injury and Cavani would be playing as a lone striker with Hamsik and Lavezzi providing the Uruguayan all the creativity. Hasan Yebda will replace Pazienza for this match.
Predictions
Napoli are in great form and with Cavani in great form, 2-0 win might not be a surprising result.
Tags: