Serie A round 33 preview

Make no mistake, this is a decisive week of Serie A action. Everywhere you turn people are saying the Scudetto race is over. But picture this, an Inter defeat this weekend and Milan and Juve wins would reduce the gap to seven points and with Inter still having some very tricky games left, Lazio at home and Cagliari and Chievo away. Anyway, enough of my ramblings, on with the preview.

Napoli v Inter
The game of the weekend in my view. Expect the San Paolo to be packed for this one as Inter travel to a ground in which they were defeated last season. Napoli need a win, to be honest off hand I can remember the last time they picked up three points. A great start to the season has culminated in a dismal run, but this game does give the Napoli team a chance to redeem themselves on home turf, and for Donadoni to pick up his first win in the Southern hot seat.

Fiorentina v Roma
Two teams who have been just slightly off the boil this season has a significant weight to it, as it will surely decide who pushes on to challenge Genoa for fourth place on Saturday night. Silly defeats have cost both these teams the chance to challenge for the title. Roma, so close last season, look a tired side while Fiorentina, who have a youth full and quality squad, have looked immature at times. Both have lost games that a title challenger simply should not have, but neither can afford not to make the Champions League. This game will go a long way to deciding who does, although Roma may already be at a disadvantage as they may play without Totti. Fiorentina are still without Mutu, but Jovetic will get the chance to continue to shine.

Milan v Palermo
Both teams are in fine form and are two of the best home sides in Serie A. Palermo however have been poor away from home, although two weeks back they did hold Inter at this very stadium. Hopefully Ronaldinho will get a chance to shine alongside Kaka in the midfield, with pato and the evergreen Inzaghi up front. Simplicio is back for Palermo, although perhaps he was not missed after the 4-1 rout of Bologna last week. The excellent Cavani is likely to start as Palermo hope to continue their transition into a top Serie A side.

Reggina v Juventus
Somehow, I don't think either team is looking forward to this one. Reggina, fresh from beating Atalanta last week, hardly want to face third place Juve now. But they may not get a better chance of three points as the morale in the Juve camp must be close to rock bottom after seeing their Scudetto hopes damages badly last week and their Coppa Italia dreams ended by Lazio midweek. Expect Juve to pull through though, they have shown grit on numerous occasion's this season and Reggina are hardly watertight at the back.

Lazio v Atalanta
After loosing to Reggina last week Atalanta will be looking to respond at the Olimpico. Lazio however are on cloud nine, having beaten Roma, Genoa away and Juve away in the cup to reach their first final for five years our season has been turned around. This, however, feels like groundhog day for us Lazio fans. We have won three games in a row this season and lost three in a row. This cannot happen here. Lazio have to show consistency and composure here, and not simply expect to win the match. Mauro Zarate is in stunning form, as is Alexander Kolarov so Atalanta will have to watch them both carefully. Atalanta star striker Floccari has gone off the boil in recent weeks, but he is likely looking for a summer move so where better to impress than in a high profile stadium like the Olimpico. As a Lazio fan, I hope he waits till round 34.

Elsewhere in Serie A
Fourth place side Genoa face a difficult trip to Bologna, a side in deep trouble but desperate times call for desperate football and Marco Di Vaio will have to keep scoring if his side has any chance. Chievo host Udinese at 5pm UK time Saturday, and the flying donkeys look to wrap up their Serie A status for another season with a win against an Udinese side who have pulled back some credibility after beating Fiorentina last week. Lecce host Catania in a Southern battle in a game the hosts must win, and after their decent display against Roma last week perhaps are favourites to do so against a Catania side that does not travel well. Sampdoria will be looking to build up confidence before the Coppa Italia final, but find in wait the excellent Cagliari side who are still going about their business without any fuss at all. Finally, last weeks decimated Torino host Siena in a must win game for the hosts. The Granata will look to build on their last home game win against Catania, rather than the 5-1 decimation in Milan. Check back here Monday for a full Serie A report.