Week Three Preview: Early top of the table clash

Its back to Serie A after the international break and some top games have presented themselves for week three. Livorno v Milan is up first tomorrow, and Milan will look to put three points on the board after their debacle in the Milan derby. Klass Jan Huntelaar is set to start and will look to give Milan fans something to cheer about. Livorno though will not role over on home turf. Away at Napoli in week two they should have drawn level in the second half, there are goals in Livorno's side. Perhaps though its all about the evening game on Saturday night, as Lazio face Juventus in a top of the table clash at the Stadio Olimpico. Mauro Zarate is set to start after an injury niggle and will have to play well to outshine Diego, who opened his Serie A account with a brace in week two in this very Stadium against Roma. A packed Stadio Olimpico awaits this one, as these clubs continue their rivalry from last season when Lazio knocked them out of the Coppa Italia in the Semi finals. However, Zarate is not shy to rise to the ocassion and already this season has further shown why 21 million euros represents a real steel for Lazio. Stunning goals against Elfsborg and Real Zaragoza and a wonderful assist against Chievo make him a dangerous and unpredictable player.

Sunday: Normal Status resumed
2pm UK time Kick offs are back as Serie A plays the bulk of its games are again on Sunday afternoon. Parma travel to the San Siro to take on Inter as the fifth and sixth place teams face off. Inter will start as favourites, but Parma have quality and Paoloshi, Boijinov, Galloppa and former Roma player Panucci look to impose themselves on Inter. Siena, surprise winners away to Cagliari, face Roma at home. Roma may not be looking forward to this one. There record away at Siena is not great and new manager Ranieri can't afford to allow Roma to continue their loosing streak. Sampdoria travel away to face Atalanta who currently remain winless. Samp will look to continue to maintain their fantastic start, but Atalanta must start picking up points some when and Acquafresca could be the inspiration.

Elsewhere Fiorentina host a win less Cagliari, but the visitors wont be too worried. They were slow to start last year and when the click into gear the wins will start to flow. Fiorentina though, can they finally mount a credible title challenge.? If they are to do so, games like this must be won. Wonder kid Stevan Jovetic is showing all the promise that he genuinely can become one of the best players in the world. Stunning performances have come so far from him, more must follow. Bologna face Chievo in a huge six pointer at the bottom of the table. A win for either side, Bologna especially, could pull them already away from trouble.

Catania face another long trip to the North of Italy, this time to Udine. Both need points to kick start their season and both will see this as a winnable game. Palermo host Bari. Bari, unbeaten, face an almighty test in Palermo against one of the best home sides in the division. Palermo, with Cavani and Pastore, will look to cement a top four challenge early on in the season by moving up to six points. I still don't buy their target of winning the title. Theres nothing wrong with ambition, but they are a level bellow Inter and Juventus. Still, the season is long and Pastore could be the revelation of it.

In the late kick off game on Sunday night we have a real classic. Napoli head to north to play Genoa. Genoa, still with a 100% record, are brimming with confidence. The new signings have settled well and already Zapater, Moretti and co have made a noticeable difference. Still, Napoli are looking, like five or six other sides in Italy this season with Genoa included, to break into the top four. Quagliarella has confirmed why Napoli shelled out so much money for him already, and Hamsik is starting to put in outrageous performances every week. The goal against Livorno was reminiscent of a young Ricky Kaka. But theres more to Napoli than that despite their opening day defeat to Palermo. Argentine Internationals Lavezzi and Datolo look good so far and they appear much more solid at the back with De Sanctis between the posts.