Serie A - round 20 results

AC Milan        3-0       Cagliari       

Cesena          0-1       Atalanta     

Chievo           0-3       Lazio

Fiorentina      2-1       Siena

Genoa           3-2       Napoli        

Lecce            1-0       Inter

Palermo         2-0       Novara       

Roma            1-0       Bologna                

Catania         1-1       Parma        

Juventus       2-1       Udinese

Serie A - round 19 results

Bologna         0-0           Parma

Cagliari          0-0           Fiorentina     

Inter             2-1           Lazio  

Lecce            2-2           Chievo

Novara          0-3           AC Milan       

Palermo         5-3           Genoa

Siena            1-1           Napoli 

Udinese         2-1           Catania        

Atalanta        0-2           Juventus       

Roma            5-1           Cesena

Cagliari v Fiorentina Match Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday 22nd January 2012, 2pm GMT

Appointed in November as Sinisa Mihajlovic’s replacement, Delio Rossi is already starting to feel some of the pressure which forced Mihajlovic out of the hot seat. Unhappy “ultra” supporters blocked the team’s exit from the dressing rooms last Sunday (after Fiorentina had lost at home to bottom-of-the-table Lecce), and demanded to be allowed to give the players a piece of their minds.

It’s likely that the Viola would have preferred an easier challenge this week than a journey to face Cagliari at the Stadio Sant'Elia. The Sardinians earned an impressive 1-1 draw at Juventus on Sunday, and their last home game was a 3-0 win over Genoa. Captain Daniele Conti returns to the Cagliari midfield for this game, although Portugese striker Nene and midfielder Sebastian Eriksson will be unavailable due to injury. Striker Khouma Babacar and midfielder Houssaine Kharja have been ruled out of the Fiorentina line-up.

Bruno's son Daniele Conte returns from injury tomorrow

Goals could be a problem for Fiorentina here – one of the factors which has angered their supporters is the fact that striker Alberto Gilardino, who scored 48 goals for Fiorentina over three years, has just been sold to Genoa. Santiago Silva, who was signed during the summer, has returned to Velez Sarsfield of Argentina following an unsuccessful and brief Fiorentina career.  The Viola have agreed to sign Amauri from Juventus, and while the Brazilian may help to fill the gap left by Gilardino, he won’t be available for Sunday’s game.

Cagliari have struggled to find the net themselves at times this season – their win over Genoa ended a goalless three-match run – although four goals in two games since the winter break will have coach Davide Ballardini hoping that the Rossoblu’s problems in front of goal are a thing of the past. This game looks very likely to be a low-scoring affair, but there is no value in backing under 2.5 goals at the odds on offer. Considering the pressure Fiorentina are under however, I think a small bet on a home win here is worth a shot.

Prediction – Cagliari to win – 3pts

Match odds:            Cagliari                   11/8

                             Draw                      2/1

                             Fiorentina                2/1

Serie A - round 18 results

AC Milan        0-1       Inter

Cesena          3-1       Novara       

Chievo          1-0       Palermo     

Fiorentina      0-1       Lecce         

Genoa           3-2       Udinese      

Juventus       1-1       Cagliari       

Lazio             2-0       Atalanta     

Parma           3-1       Siena

Catania         A-A       Roma   (match abandoned)

Napoli           1-1       Bologna

Chievo v Palermo Match Preview and Betting Tips

Sunday 15th January 2012, 2pm GMT

Chievo’s first home game in almost a month comes on the back of a spirited and unexpected cup win at Udinese on Wednesday. This result gives the Verona side a chance to face Siena in the quarter final stages at the end of the month, and will surely boost confidence ahead of Sunday’s league game.

Substitute Cyril Thereau celebrates his injury-time winner at Udinese on Wednesday

Confidence is a commodity which is not in plentiful supply at Palermo. The Sicilians’ away form has been terrible all season – a fact which led to the dismissal of coach Devis Mangia late last year – but consistent wins at home gave some comfort to fans of the Rosanero for a couple of months. This solid home form has now deserted them however, and they have suffered two recent home defeats including a 3-1 loss to Napoli last Sunday. In fact Mangia’s replacement Bortolo Mutti has yet to manage a win as coach of Palermo.

While Chievo have been defeated just once at home this season, Palermo have yet to record a win on their travels. Domenico Di Carlo’s men are always well-organised, and they will be keen to leap-frog their opponents in the table with a win on Sunday.

Chievo is not a team which often stands out when one looks at the weekend’s Serie A fixtures, and despite the fact that the ‘flying donkeys’ have the most hilarious nickname in football I think there is value in backing them to win on Sunday.

Prediction – Chievo to win – 4pts

Match odds:            Chievo          11/10

                             Draw            11/5   

                             Palermo        12/5

Serie A - round 17 results

Atalanta         0-2       AC Milan       

Bologna         2-0       Catania        

Cagliari          3-0       Genoa          

Lecce            0-1       Juventus       

Novara          0-3       Fiorentina     

Palermo         1-3       Napoli          

Roma            2-0       Chievo         

Udinese         4-1       Cesena         

Inter             5-0       Parma          

Siena            4-0       Lazio

Siena v Lazio Match Preview and Betting Tips

Saturday 7th January 2012, 5pm GMT

Although they occupy fourth place in the table and are unbeaten in their last four games, Lazio looked tired as they limped into the winter break via a 0-0 home draw with Chievo. Injuries, coupled with the constant demands that come with participation in both European and domestic competition, had taken their toll on Edy Reja’s squad.

The Biancoceleste travel to Siena tomorrow on the back of some good news – goalkeeper Federico Marchetti has recovered from the muscular injury he picked up at Lecce about a month ago and is available to start. Key defender Stefan Radu is also fit again, while full-back Abdoulay Konko and midfielder Francelino Matuzalem are close to a return. Cristian Brocchi and Stefano Mauri remain sidelined however, and Brazilian midfielder Hernanes may start on the bench as he has just recovered from a groin strain. Tomasso Rocchi and Miroslav Klose are likely to spearhead the Lazio attack as rumours surround the future of Djibril Cisse.

Hernanez: "My injury was a pain in the b******"

Siena also have some good and bad squad news, as defender Nicola Belmonte has recovered from injury, and midfielder Simone Vergassola is also expected to return. Goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic is out due to injury however, while defender Roberto Vitiello and midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino are suspended for this game. Siena began their return to Serie A in solid fashion, but the Tuscans have failed to maintain that momentum in recent weeks. Having failed to score in their last five games, they sit fourth from bottom in the table and coach Giuseppe Sannino will be keen to put some distance between his side and the bottom three.

Lazio’s form on the road has been solid so far this season, and they have yet to lose away from home. Reja’s goal is to qualify for European football once again, while Siena will be happy with the more humble objective of Serie A survival. I expect the Romans to make their superior quality show and to move into third place with a win.

Prediction – Lazio to win – 5pts

Match odds:            Siena             2/1    

                             Draw            21/10

                             Lazio             11/8

Serie A - round 16 results

Atalanta         4-1       Cesena       

Bologna         0-2       Roma         

Inter              4-1       Lecce         

Lazio             0-0       Chievo       

Napoli            6-1       Genoa        

Novara           2-2       Palermo     

Parma            3-3       Catania      

Udinese          0-0       Juventus               

Cagliari           0-2       AC Milan     

Siena              0-0       Fiorentina