Lazio v Juventus Preview and Betting Tips

Monday May 2nd 2011, 7.45pm GMT (live on ESPN)

Had Juventus not thrown away their comfortable 2-0 lead over Catania in dramatic fashion last week, this game would have had much more significance for the visitors. The story of that single game basically sums up the entire erratic season that Juve have had under Luigi Del Neri, who is unlikely to be in charge next term as a result.

The difference of seven points between the Bianconeri and hosts Lazio is too big a gap to bridge with only four games remaining, and the best Juve can realistically hope for next season is a place in the Europa League for the second year running. Lazio are still winning the fight for fourth place – a battle which has been more intriguing than the title race in recent weeks – while Udinese lie just a point behind them, and outsiders Roma lurk in sixth place.

Udinese face a tough trip to Fiorentina this weekend, while Roma should take all three points from their visit to already-relegated Bari on Sunday evening. Lazio may or may not still be in fourth place by the time they kick off against Juve, but they will be aiming for maximum points on Monday evening before making the crucial trip to Udinese next week. As coach Edy Reja has put it, “we can’t allow the Champions League to slip through our fingers.”

Fernando Muslera - a key figure in Lazio's quest for Champions League qualification

Midfielder Stefano Mauri is suspended for the Biancoceleste following his red card last week, while Stefan Radu is out for the remainder of the season.

Juventus haven’t lost in the capital since 2005, their most recent visit resulting in a 2-0 win over Roma a month ago. This was their only win from their last four away games however. Lazio’s away record against the bigger teams this season is not a good one – they lost thanks to a 95th-minute goal in Turin the last time these two met – but they have beaten Inter, Napoli and Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico. The home side’s motivation will be greater on Monday, so I expect them to do enough to win a tough contest.

Prediction – Lazio to win – 3pts

Match odds:    Lazio                             11/10

                     Draw                             21/10

                     Juventus                         5/2

Lazio: Last 5 Serie A Results

23.04.2011 – Inter           2-1    Lazio

17.04.2011 – Catania       1-4     Lazio

09.04.2011 – Inter           2-0    Chievo

02.04.2011 – AC Milan      3-0    Inter

20.03.2011 – Inter           1-0    Lecce

Juventus: Last 5 Serie A Results

23.04.2011 – Juventus      2-2     Catania

17.04.2011 – Fiorentina    0-0     Juventus

10.04.2011 – Juventus      3-2    Genoa

03.04.2011 – Roma          0-2    Juventus

20.03.2011 – Juventus      2-1    Brescia

Parma v Palermo Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday May 1st 2011, 2pm GMT

This is a meeting of two sides whose coaches were appointed at the beginning of April. Delio Rossi is back at Palermo after Serse Cosmi failed to inspire the Rosanero players, while Franco Colomba was handed Pasquale Marino’s job at Parma after they were beaten at home by Bari.

Columba saw his new team lose 2-0 at Lazio in his first game in charge, but he has recorded surprise wins over Inter and Udinese since then to ease Parma’s relegation worries somewhat. Former Palermo striker Amauri has been on top form of late, scoring three times in his last two games for Parma.

Amauri has settled well at Parma since joining on loan in January

Rossi has been enjoying his second spell at Palermo, and has yet to taste defeat since returning. League wins over Roma and Napoli, coupled with an impressive 2-2 draw at AC Milan in the first leg of the cup semi-final, have made Rossi’s re-appointment a popular one among Palermo supporters. His relationship with club owner Maurizio Zamparini has been strained however, following a public war of words which preceded Rossi’s sacking in late February. Zamparini may have plans to replace Rossi again in the summer, but he it seems unlikely that fans or players will support him in doing so. Javier Pastore –one of Palermo’s stars – has been quoted as saying “I owe (Rossi) a lot. Since he returned you have seen once again the true Pastore. If he leaves I will think about my future.”

Saturday’s game promises to be an exciting one, as both teams will be eager to continue their winning ways. Palermo are just six points off the Europa League qualifying places, while Parma sit three points above the relegation zone. The recent good form of both of these sides makes it a tough one to call, but considering the fact that the Palermo squad contains more quality overall, I think an away win is worth a small bet.

Prediction – Palermo to win – 2pts

Match odds:    Parma                           10/11

                     Draw                             21/10

                     Palermo                         16/5

Parma: Last 5 Serie A Results

23.04.2011 – Udinese      0-2     Parma

16.04.2011 – Parma        2-0     Inter

10.04.2011 – Lazio         2-0     Parma

03.04.2011 – Parma        1-2     Bari

20.03.2011 – Sampdoria  0-1     Parma

Palermo: Last 5 Serie A Results
23.04.2011 – Palermo      2-1     Napoli

16.04.2011 – Roma          2-3     Palermo

10.04.2011 – Palermo       2-2    Cesena

03.04.2011 – Catania        4-0    Palermo

19.03.2011 – Palermo       1-0    AC Milan

AC Milan v Bologna Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday May 1st 2011, 2pm GMT (live on ESPN)

Should Milan’s rivals Inter fail to manage the tough task of beating Cesena on their home turf on Saturday, the Rossoneri will take the field on Sunday in the knowledge that a win will seal their first Serie A title win in seven years. Even if they don't clinch the title on Sunday, a victory will leave them needing just a single point from the three league games which remain after this fixture.

Top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimović will miss out as this is the final game of his latest three-match ban. Alexandre Pato has made a quicker recovery from his thigh strain than expected, athough he is likely to start on the bench while Robinho and Cassano lead the line. Veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi is reported to be one more week away from a return following the knee injury which has kept him sidelined for most of the season, while Alessandro Nesta and Massimo Ambrosini are both expected to start for Milan.

Inzaghi - hoping for a return to action before the season's end

Bologna seem to have collectively opened their deck chairs and settled into the Summer mood since they ensured their survival in Italy’s top flight. Sitting comfortably in twelfth place, they have lost all of their last four games, and their last win was at Lecce on March 13th.

Such form doesn’t bode well for a team visiting the home of the league leaders. Milan boast the best defensive record in Serie A and they are joint top scorers with Inter. The champions elect have won five in a row, and it will be a huge surprise if they don’t make it six in comfortable fashion on Sunday. If the title party is on, we could see a comprehensive Milan victory at the San Siro.

Prediction – AC Milan -1 (handicap betting) – 5pts

Match odds:    AC Milan                        1/5

                     Draw                             5/1

                     Bologna                        11/1

                     AC Milan -1                    4/6

AC Milan: Last 5 Serie A Results

23.04.2011 – Brescia       0-1     AC Milan

16.04.2011 – AC Milan     3-0     Sampdoria

09.04.2011 – Fiorentina   1-2     AC Milan

02.04.2011 – AC Milan     3-0     Inter

19.03.2011 – Palermo      1-0     AC Milan

Bologna: Last 5 Serie A Results

23.04.2011 – Bologna       0-2    Cesena

17.04.2011 – Chievo         2-0    Bologna

10.04.2011 – Bologna       0-2    Napoli

02.04.2011 – Brescia        3-1    Bologna

20.03.2011 – Bologna       1-1    Genoa

Serie A – week 34 round-up

Another exciting round of Serie A action took place on Saturday, and for the second week in a row AC Milan were the major beneficiaries while three of the top five teams tasted defeat. An 82nd minute Robinho goal at Brescia ensured that Milan now have an eight-point cushion at the top of the table with just four games to play.

Massimiliano Allegri: closing in on the title in his first season as Milan coach

Milan’s rivals Inter moved into second place when they beat Lazio 2-1 at the San Siro – a win which looked unlikely after 22 minutes, when goalkeeper Júlio César was red-carded and Lazio took the lead via a Mauro Zarate penalty. Inter refused to wilt however, and goals from Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o moved them ahead of Napoli in the table.

Udinese failed to capitalise on Lazio’s defeat, so the two sides battling for the final Champions League place are still separated by just a single point. Parma followed their surprise victory over Inter with another upset at the Stadio Friuli. Amauri had already put Parma ahead when Udinese had midfielder Gökhan Inler sent off after 22 minutes. Another goal from Amauri sealed the win for Parma, who are now three points above the drop zone in fourteenth.

The re-appointment of coach Delio Rossi at Palermo continues to look like a wily move. Rossi’s charges fell behind thanks to an early penalty – which was converted by Napoli striker Edinson Cavani – but like Inter, they fought back and eventually won the game 2-1. Napoli drop to third in the standings after their second straight defeat.

A laboured 1-0 home win over Chievo in Saturday’s early game lifts Roma to within four points of a Champions League qualifying spot. Juventus look certain to miss out on Europe’s most prestigious club competition as they have simply shot themselves in the foot too many times this season. A first half brace from Alessandro Del Piero gave Juve a comfortable 2-0 lead, but Alejandro Gomez pulled one back for Catania in the 81st minute and Francesco Lodi then earned a point for the visitors in dramatic fashion with his excellent 95th minute free kick. You can watch Lodi's goal, and the delighted celebrations which followed it, on the Football Blog Page.

Genoa may have been reluctant to help their relegation-threatened rivals Sampdoria, but they did the Blucerchiati a favour by beating Lecce 4-2. This result, combined with Sampdoria’s 1-0 win over Bari, means that Sampdoria just about crawl out of the relegation zone on goal difference while Lecce fall to seventeenth, one place below them. Bari’s future in Serie B is now confirmed after their home defeat. Cesena find themselves two points above the relegation zone in sixteenth place following their 2-0 win at Bologna.

Elsewhere, Fiorentina won for the first time in six games thanks to two goals from Alessio Cerci. The 2-1 win at Cagliari lifts the Viola to ninth in the table, two points above their opponents.

Til next time…

Serie A: week 34 results

Bari           0-1     Sampdoria         

Bologna     0-2     Cesena      

Brescia      0-1     AC Milan    

Cagliari      1-2     Fiorentina  

Genoa       4-2     Lecce        

Inter         2-1     Lazio         

Juventus    2-2     Catania      

Palermo     2-1     Napoli        

Roma        1-0     Chievo       

Udinese     0-2     Parma     

Brescia v AC Milan Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday April 23rd 2011, 6pm GMT (live on Setanta Irl)

League leaders AC Milan will face Brescia on Saturday without the services of their two highest scorers. Zlatan Ibrahimović serves the second of his three-game ban, while Alexandre Pato picked up a thigh strain during Milan’s 3-0 win over Sampdoria last week. Robinho and Antonio Cassano are likely to lead the line for Milan at Brescia, while Kevin Prince Boateng and Clarence Seedorf also represent decent attacking options. Defender Alessandro Nesta will also be unavailable for Milan.

Can Robinho produce the goods for Milan on Saturday?

Brescia have struggled for form at this crucial stage of the season, and as a result they find themselves second from bottom in the table, four points from safety. The only win from their last nine games came against Bologna, who have suffered three straight defeats since they accumulated enough points to effectively ensure their survival in Serie A.

The one ray of hope for Brescia, and for Milan’s title rivals Napoli, will be the absence of Ibrahimović and Pato up front for Milan. The Rossoneri have shown focus in recent weeks however, and with their eye on a first title win in seven years, and just five league games remaining, I expect them to take all three points from this fixture.

Prediction – AC Milan to win – 4pts

Match odds:    Brescia                           9/2

                     Draw                             23/10

                     AC Milan                         4/6

Brescia: Last 5 Serie A Results

17.04.2011 – Genoa        3-0     Brescia

10.04.2011 – Cagliari       1-1     Brescia

02.04.2011 – Brescia       3-1     Bologna

20.03.2011 – Juventus     2-1     Brescia

11.03.2011 – Brescia       1-1     Inter

AC Milan: Last 5 Serie A Results

16.04.2011 – AC Milan     3-0     Sampdoria

09.04.2011 – Fiorentina   1-2     AC Milan

02.04.2011 – AC Milan     3-0     Inter

19.03.2011 – Palermo      1-0     AC Milan

13.03.2011 – AC Milan     0-0     Bari

Inter v Lazio Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday April 23rd 2011, 2pm GMT

Inter managed to put two straight defeats (one in the legue and one in the Champions League) behind them by securing a welcome 1-0 first leg cup win at Roma on Tuesday. Their listless performance at Parma last Saturday had indicated that their players were already looking ahead to next season, and for some, possibly their next club.

Speculation was rife during the week that Leonardo’s job at Inter is in danger, and that he is set to be replaced in the Summer. Some even went as far as to suggest that Jose Mourinho might make a return to the helm, but this seems unlikely. Regardless of who will be managing the club next season, the Nerazzurri need to stop shooting themselves in the foot if they want to ensure a return to Champions League football next season. With Lazio and Udinese hot on their heels, nothing can be taken for granted.

Lazio have confirmed that coach Edy Reja will remain in charge next season

Lazio have had a recent run of inconsistent form, but they silenced the doubters – for a week at least – with a brutal second-half demolition of Catania last Sunday. Striker Mauro Zarate had been dropped before the game as a result of having turned up late for training. When Giuseppe Sculli was injured early on however, Zarate took the pitch and played a part in each of the Biancoceleste’s four goals – including an excellent strike from a free kick.

Giuseppe Sculli may not have recovered in time for Saturday’s game, and defender Stefan Radu will play no further part in Lazio’s season as he has suffered a serious back injury. Cristan Brocchi returns from injury to the Lazio midfield. Inter’s top scorer Samuel Eto’o missed their midweek cup game due to injury, and his fitness remains a slight doubt ahead of Saturday’s game.

Lazio scored a 3-1 win in their home game against Inter in December, and they will draw level on points with the Milan side if they win at the San Siro. They will be wary of losing fourth place to Udinese, who are just one point behind the Romans, and who host Parma on Saturday. Inter have suffered just one home defeat this season (to AC Milan), but Lazio will be the fresher of the two teams, having not played in midweek.

The Aquile produced one of their finest performances of the season last week at Cagliari, and if they can reproduce the same level of intensity I fancy their chances of picking up at least a point against Inter.

Prediction – Lazio +1 (handicap betting) – 3pts

Match odds:    Inter                             10/11

                     Draw                             11/5

                     Lazio                              3/1

                     Lazio +1                         5/6

Inter: Last 5 Serie A Results

16.04.2011 – Parma         2-0     Inter

09.04.2011 – Inter           2-0    Chievo

02.04.2011 – AC Milan      3-0    Inter

20.03.2011 – Inter           1-0    Lecce

11.03.2011 – Brescia        1-1    Inter

Lazio: Last 5 Serie A Results

17.04.2011 – Catania       1-4     Lazio

10.04.2011 – Lazio           2-0    Parma

03.04.2011 – Napoli         4-3    Lazio

19.03.2011 – Lazio           1-0    Cesena

13.03.2011 – Roma          2-0    Lazio

Palermo v Napoli Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday April 23rd 2011, 2pm GMT

It had been a long time since Udinese won at the Stadio San Paolo, and very few expected them to do so last Sunday. The visitors made the journey south without their two most potent attacking players, and on the back of two straight defeats. When they did produce a surprise win, the result all but ended second-placed Napoli’s title hopes for this season.

Napoli had won four in a row before the Udinese game following the return of Ezequiel Lavezzi from a three-game suspension. Lavezzi and top scorer Edinson Cavani both laboured hard in last week’s game, but struggled to create chances. Saturday’s game will see Cavani return to the Stadio Renzo Barbera for the first time since he left Palermo last Summer. Lavezzi will miss the game due to suspension, as will defender and team captain Paolo Cannavaro. Palermo defender Dorin Goian is also suspended.

Which Uruguayan striker will shine on Saturday - Hernandez or Cavani?

Palermo halted a poor run of form last week when they beat Roma 3-2 in  a thrilling encounter at the Stadio Olimpico. Abel Hernandez scored two, and the young prospect’s pace could well be a worry for the Napoli defenders on Saturday. Javier Pastore has also shown signs of a return to form in his last couple of games. The win in the capital was coach Delio Rossi’s first game back in charge of Palermo, and he also secured a respectable 2-2 draw at AC Milan on Wednesday in the first leg of their cup semi-final.

Had this fixture taken place a couple of weeks ago, a routine win for Napoli would have been on the cards. Rossi’s return appears to have reinvigorated the Palermo players however, and they have enough talent in their squad to pose Napoli a few problems. Napoli may struggle without the creative influence of Lavezzi, but I am confident that this fixture will produce a few goals.

Prediction – over 2.5 goals – 3pts

Match odds:    Palermo                          9/4

                     Draw                              2/1

                     Napoli                             5/4

                     Over 2.5 goals                10/11

Palermo: Last 5 Serie A Results

16.04.2011 – Roma         2-3     Palermo

10.04.2011 – Palermo      2-2     Cesena

03.04.2011 – Catania       3-0     Palermo

19.03.2011 – Palermo      1-0     AC Milan

13.03.2011 – Genoa        1-0     Palermo

Napoli: Last 5 Serie A Results

17.04.2011 – Napoli         1-2     Udinese

10.04.2011 – Bologna      0-2     Napoli

03.04.2011 – Napoli         4-3     Lazio

20.03.2011 – Napoli         2-1     Cagliari

13.03.2011 – Parma         1-3     Napoli

Serie A – week 33 round-up

Was the destination of the 2010/11 Scudetto decided this weekend? Even if the trophy isn't decorated with red and black ribbons just yet, there will definitely have been a space cleared for it in AC Milan's cabinet.

Milan dispatched with the challenge of Sampdoria in comfortable fashion on Saturday evening. Their 3-0 win, combined with Napoli’s surprise 2-1 defeat by Udinese, ensured that Milan are now six points clear of Napoli at the top of Serie A with just five rounds of games remaining. Sampdoria, meanwhile, drop into the relegation zone after another fruitless weekend for the Genoa side.

Did Udinese deliver a fatal blow to Napoli's title hopes on Sunday?

The battle for Champions League football remains fierce – Udinese’s win at Napoli ensured that they remain just a single point behind Lazio, who beat Catania 4-1 on Sunday. Lazio trail third-placed Inter by three points, and these two will do battle at the San Siro on Saturday. Inter were surprisingly on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline at Parma on Saturday evening. This win could prove crucial in Parma’s fight to avoid relegation.

Delio Rossi secured the first win of his second spell as Palermo coach on Saturday. His team’s 3-2 victory over sixth-placed Roma at the Stadio Olimpico means that Roma are now seven points behind their rivals Lazio, who hold the final Champions League spot. Roma’s takeover by an American consortium – the first time a major Serie A club has been bought by foreign owners – was completed the evening before the Palermo defeat.

Juventus are also almost certain to be forced to settle for Europa League rather than Champions League football again next season. Their 0-0 draw at Fiorentina leaves them trailing Lazio by eight points.

At the other end of the table, Cesena secured three vital points by beating doomed Bari 1-0 on Sunday. This win lifts them out of the relegation zone. Brescia are still second from bottom, but they are now four points from safety following their 3-0 defeat at Genoa.

Elsewehere, Chievo inflicted a third straight defeat on Bologna while Lecce and Cagliari played out an exciting 3-3 draw on Sunday afternoon. Incidentally, the first legs of the Coppa Italia semi-finals take place this week - Roma will play Inter on Tuesday, while Palermo visit AC Milan on Wednesday.

Til next time…

 

Serie A: week 33 results

Catania      1-4      Lazio      

Cesena       1-0      Bari        

Chievo        2-0      Bologna  

Fiorentina   0-0      Juventus

Genoa        3-0      Brescia   

Lecce         3-3      Cagliari   

Napoli        1-2      Udinese  

AC Milan     3-0      Sampdoria      

Parma        2-0      Inter       

Roma         2-3      Palermo  

Catania v Lazio Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday April 17th 2011, 2pm GMT

Lazio moved back into the top four last weekend thanks to a 2-0 victory over Parma, and if they can maintain this position with just six games remaining they will be competing in the Champions League next season.

The first obstacle for the Biancoceleste is Sunday’s visit to Catania, and it won’t be an easy one. Catania are unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Lazio, and they have won their last four home games. Former Lazio player Diego Simeone took charge of the Sicilians in January, and he has established some consistency, though Catania are not yet safe from relegation. They are in 14th place in Serie A, five points above the relegation zone, but they have yet to face Inter, Juventus, Roma and Brescia before the season's end.

Will the eagle see Champions League football next season?

If Lazio are to win on Sunday, they will need to halt a recent trend which has seen them win at home and then lose away over their last seven games. Catania are a tough prospect at the Stadio Angelo Massimino, but Lazio are the superior side on paper. Their recent inconsistent form has come while many key players were either injured or suspended, and they are now back at full strength apart from the absence of midfielder Francesco Matuzalem, who sits out the final fixture of his three-match ban.

The Romans showed improved cohesion in their win over Parma last Sunday, and if they can finish in the top four their prize will be the aforementioned Champions League football and the accompanying €25 million boost it brings. This weekend provides them with a huge opportunity to strengthen their grip on fourth place, as their closest competitors Udinese face a tough trip to Napoli on Sunday evening. While a win at Catania is never a certainty for any visiting side, I favour Lazio to do the business on Sunday afternoon.

Prediction – Lazio to win – 2pts

Match odds:    Catania                            10/11

                     Draw                                2/1

                     Lazio                               13/8

Catania: Last 5 Serie A Results

10.04.2011 – Bari            1-1    Catania

03.04.2011 – Catania       4-0    Palermo

20.03.2011 – Udinese       2-0    Catania

13.03.2011 – Catania       1-0    Sampdoria

06.03.2011 – Fiorentina    3-0    Catania

Lazio: Last 5 Serie A Results

10.04.2011 – Lazio           2-0    Parma

03.04.2011 – Napoli          4-3    Lazio

19.03.2011 – Lazio           1-0    Cesena

13.03.2011 – Roma          2-0    Lazio

06.03.2011 – Lazio           2-0    Palermo

Parma v Inter Milan Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday April 16th 2011, 7.45pm GMT

Inter will look to put the humiliating nature of their Champions League exit behind them on Saturday when they travel to Parma to resume their Serie A campaign. The media in Italy have been unsympathetic in the aftermath of the Milan side’s European elimination at the hands of Schalke 04 – for example, La Repubblica said that they were "but a shadow of last season's Inter."

This game will be coach Franco Columba’s second in charge of Parma, and his first at the Stadio Ennio Tardini. His debut on the Parma bench resulted in a 2-0 defeat at Lazio last Sunday afternoon. His predecessor Pasquale Marino was dismissed following a string of disappointing results which have left Parma in a perilous position in the table, just above the relegation zone.

While Columba is hoping to ensure Serie A survival for his club, his opposite number Leonardo’s objectives will be very different with just six rounds of games remaining. Sitting in third place in the table, and with a Coppa Italia semi-final to look forward to, Inter are still in with a chance of silverware on both fronts.

Samuel may make his long-awaited return on Saturday

The Nerazzurri have looked fragile at the back recently while Brazilian Lúcio was absent due to suspension, but they turned in a far more assured performance last week upon his return against Chievo. Lúcio’s fellow centre-back Walter Samuel is also expected to be available for the Parma game, though he will be severely lacking in match fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury. In addition, Cristian Chivu returns from suspension.

Parma showed encouraging signs last week against Lazio, and the likes of Amauri and Sebastian Giovinco are likely to test any defence. With Lúcio back in their line-up however, the defending league champions should be able to soak up the pressure and eventually make their overall superiority count.

Prediction – Inter to win – 4pts

Match odds:    Parma                           7/2

                     Draw                             5/2

                     Inter                             3/4

Parma: Last 5 Serie A Results

10.04.2011 – Lazio           2-0    Parma

03.04.2011 – Parma         1-2    Bari

20.03.2011 – Sampdoria   0-1    Parma

13.03.2011 – Parma         1-3    Napoli

06.03.2011 – Chievo         0-0    Parma

Inter: Last 5 Serie A Results

09.04.2011 – Inter           2-0    Chievo

02.04.2011 – AC Milan      3-0    Inter

20.03.2011 – Inter           1-0    Lecce

11.03.2011 – Brescia        1-1    Inter

06.03.2011 – Inter           5-2    Genoa

AC Milan v Sampdoria Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday April 16th 2011, 7.45pm GMT (live on ESPN)

As has been the case for two of their last three games, AC Milan must prepare for this weekend’s game without the services of their top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimović after the Swede was shown another red card last week at Fiorentina. Fresh from a three-match ban which was reduced to two on appeal, Ibrahimović now begins a new three-match ban amid surprising rumours of a Summer swap deal with Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko.

Zlatan is becoming too fond of having the showers all to himself

Luckily for Milan, their opponents on Saturday are unlikely to prove much of an obstacle to their quest for this year’s Scudetto. Sampdoria have been on a terrible run of form lately, and the sacking of coach Domenico Di Carlo in early March has done little to improve matters.

His replacement, Alberto Cavasin, has produced one draw and three defeats from his four games in charge. Sampdoria’s last win was against Roma on January 9th, and their record of 12 defeats, 3 draws and 1 victory in 2011 has seen the Genoa side fall to within a point of the relegation zone in 17th place. Considering these statistics, Sampdoria’s decision in January to sell strikers Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini to Milan and Inter respectively appears foolish in the extreme.

All of the above doesn’t bode well for the task which Sampdoria are faced with on Saturday. They must visit the side who have led Serie A for most of the season, and the absence of Ibrahimović will merely provide an opportunity for in-form Alexandre Pato to take the spotlight once again. Cassano, who incidentally became a father on Thursday, may well feature against his former club for his second time in Milan colours. 

Expect the Rossoneri to heap further misery upon Sampdoria on Saturday via a comfortable win at the San Siro.

Prediction – AC Milan -1 (handicap betting) – 4pts

Match odds:    AC Milan                         1/4

                     Draw                              4/1

                     Sampdoria                      11/1

                     AC Milan -1                     5/6         

AC Milan: Last 5 Serie A Results

09.04.2011 – Fiorentina   1-2     AC Milan

02.04.2011 – AC Milan     3-0     Inter

19.03.2011 – Palermo      1-0     AC Milan

13.03.2011 – AC Milan     0-0     Bari

05.03.2011 – Juventus     0-1     AC Milan

Sampdoria: Last 5 Serie A Results

10.04.2011 – Sampdoria  1-2     Lecce

03.04.2011 – Chievo       0-0     Sampdoria

20.03.2011 – Sampdoria  0-1     Parma

13.03.2011 – Catania      1-0     Sampdoria

06.03.2011 – Sampdoria  2-3     Cesena