As for Roma, has the white towel been thrown? The Romanista have but one avenue left if they hope to win any hardward on their own steam and that would be the Coppa Italia.
Finally, I believe Totti has injured himself again, perhaps it is time to look for an understudy during the summer window.
Who am I ?
Answer, Alessandro Del Piero, definitely the Ironman of Italian football. Del Piero netted a hat trick against hosts Atalanta on Sunday and the addition to the Juventus striker's tally has moved him to third on the season's top goalscorer table.
Of course it only confirms what I've been saying for weeks, as Del Piero is the most in form goalscorer in Serie A and possibly all Europe. The prolific Del Piero with 18 league goals is so hot right now he is having his best season in a decade and with four games to go could break his best ever season of 21 goals set in the 1997-98 season.
Serie A Top goalscorers
Saturday April 19th
20:30 Fiorentina vs. Palermo
Sunday April 20th
15:00 AC Milan vs. Reggina
15:00 Atalanta vs. Juventus
15:00 Cagliari vs. Empoli
15:00 Catania vs. Lazio
15:00 Parma vs. Napoli
15:00 Sampdoria vs. Udinese
15:00 Siena vs.Genoa
20:30 Torino vs. Inter Milan
Fans hear or read the word relegation and surely visualize three, yet looking at the current Serie A table that number should be ten.
Who has the toughest final schedule and what are their chances?
After reviewing all final head to head match ups this is my list of three most likely relegation victims,
- Catania (currently in 15th on 32 points)
- Reggina (currently in 18th on 30 points)
- Livorno (currently in 20th on 29 points)
Catania play their final home matches against Lazio, Reggina, Roma and must travel to Juventus and Udinese. They also play a mid-week game away to Roma in the Coppa Italia on May 7th days before the Juventus game, fitness will be a concern.
Reggina currently holding the final relegation spot play, away to AC Milan at the San Siro this weekend then faceoff against Parma, Catania, Empoli, Cagliari all battling to stay up this season.
Livorno dead last at the moment, have a difficult task as they must play the final five at home against AC Milan and Torino, and away to Roma, Atalanta and relegation candidates Empoli.
"To the players and the squad I just say that the points have only been taken away temporarily"
Cagliari Club President Massimo Cellino quoted in La Gazzetta dello Sport last month.
Parma defender Fernando Couto is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after punching Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini yesterday. The player has been suspended for an additional three games and will take little part in Parma’s relegation dogfight.
Juventus went on to win 3 - 0.
Ysabella Brave at ysabellabrave[dot]com
ragazza bella, we love you Ysabella!
comeback in general elections on Sunday and Monday.
The Old Lady (Juventus) did the number on AC Milan winning 3 - 2 and Del Piero as the most in form player in Serie A does seem to be the man of the moment indeed.
The following is a game review from a fellow blogger, Mehdi at soccer-europe.com, I regularly discuss Serie A news on the World Soccer Daily chatboard.
Juve took the lead with a wonderfully worked move. Salihamidzic hit a pass into Trezeguet and the Frenchman flicked the ball out wide to Camoranesi, he vaulted over Favalli's sliding tackle and angled a pass to Del Piero who ran between Maldini and Simic and from a poor angle slotted into the bottom left corner. Pirlo sent Kaka' clear down Juve's right flank, he ran into the box, teased Chiellini before accelerating away and centred for Inzaghi to tap-in. Juve blew two chances to clear a corner, Bonera played a one-two with Ambrosini on the edge of the box, running onto his vice-captain's delightful lobbed pass, Buffon advanced off his line to close him down but Bonera kept his composure and squared for an offside Inzaghi to put Milan 1-2 up. Del Piero caught Maldini napping on the left touchline, tackling him from behind, the ball broke to Camoranesi, he hung a cross upto the back post and Kalac could only parry Trezeguet's point blank header against Salihamidzic.
Grygera drew a great save from Kalac with a brilliant long range effort. Sissoko skipped over another despairing Favalli tackle and put in a great cross from the right but, with the goal at his mercy, Stendardo headed embarrassingly wide. Bonera was sent off for a criminal, leg breaking foul on Sissoko who miraculously wasn't hurt. An unmarked Salihamidzic headed in the winner from a Camoranesi free kick. Del Piero should have made it 4-2 but failed to punish a mistake by the wretched Simic, volleying straight at Kalac.
Dario bloody Simic epitomises everything wrong with the clubs transfer policy in recent years. This useless, injury prone 32 year old midget (for a centre back), rarely plays, is rubbish when he does yet had his contract extended in 2006 because like Cafu, Serginho, Favalli and Brocchi he's become part of the furniture. Galliani you are crap.
Junventus 3 (Del Piero 12, Salihamidzic 45, Salihamidzic 80)
Milan 2 (Inzaghi 14, Inzaghi 30)
Attendance : 45,000
Assists : Camoranesi, Kaka', Bonera, n/a, Camoranesi (fk)
For highlights and all the goals see the video below:
Matchday 33 Results
Saturday April 12th
Palermo 1 - 0 Catania
Juventus 3 - 2 AC Milan
Sunday April 13th
Empoli 1 - 1 Parma
Genoa 3 - 0 Torino
Lazio 1 - 1 Siena
Livorno 1 - 2 Cagliari
Napoli 2 - 0 Atalanta
Reggina 1 - 0 Sampdoria
Udinese 1 - 3 AS Roma
Inter Milan 2 - 0 Fiorentina
There is a must win clash at the top of the table this weekend, when AC Milan travel to Juventus. Milan are desperate for the points to try and catch up the top four, while Juventus are attempting to catch up the top two. Can the Rossoneri get the win they need? Or will the Old Lady prove too strong?
Claudio Ranieri (pictured) is playing down the old rivalry by claiming his focus is on Juventus’ overall campaign, rather than the possibility of ruining Milan’s season.
Juventus are without Pavel Nedved for the visit of Milan and the Rossoneri are lacking Alessandro Nesta after his disciplinary appeal failed.
further updates later today, the Serie A Talk treble and match preview.
Matchday 33 Fixtures
Saturday April 12th
18:00 Palermo vs. Catania
20:30 Juventus vs. AC Milan
Sunday April 13th
15:00 Empoli vs. Parma
15:00 Genoa vs. Torino
15:00 Lazio vs. Siena
15:00 Livorno vs. Cagliari
15:00 Napoli vs. Atalanta
15:00 Reggina vs. Sampdoria
15:00 Udinese vs. AS Roma
20:30 Inter Milan vs. Fiorentina
Roma vs. ManUnited 0 - 2
After the midweek crash and burn by Roma at Stadio Olimpico I've lost desire to write any previews. Truly Manchester United have Ronaldo and Van der Sar to thank for their victory, as the performance of the rest of the squad was mediocre.
The Roman Gladiators definitely missed their playmaker and captain Franscesco Totti who was injured playing against Cagliari match day 31. The quarter final 2nd leg is next week and Totti should return to the lineup but most have already writing off the last Italian club in the competition so surely it's time for smack-talk, see the Rising Phoenix video below.
Serie A Action
Turning to this weeks Serie A fixtures, Roma before getting to their Champions League competitors welcome visitors Genoa to the capital and have to be sharp as all eyes now focus on top goalscorer Marco Borriello.
Will Giallorossi hopes of catching Inter finally come to an end? We shall see.
Serie A Topscorers
Matchday 32 Fixtures
Saturday April 5th
18:00 AS Roma vs. Genoa
20:30 AC Milan vs. Cagliari
Sunday April 6th
15:00 Atalanta vs. Inter Milan
15:00 Catania vs. Napoli
15:00 Fiorentina vs. Reggina
15:00 Parma vs. Lazio
15:00 Sampdoria vs. Livorno
15:00 Siena vs. Udinese
15:00 Torino vs. Empoli
20:30 Palermo vs. Juventus
In losing to Torino 2-1 on Sunday Catania have lost their manager Baldini and find themselves in the heart of a relegation battle.
The Silians are now third from bottom on 29 points, tied with Livorno, Parma and Cagliari. In their last 10 starts the southerners have only managed to win once against fellow relegation candidates Cagliari taking away a mere 6 points from a possible 30.
Remaining Catania Fixtures
Apr 06, 2021 Catania vs. Napoli
Apr 13, 2021 Palermo vs. Catania
May 07, 2021 Catania vs. Roma [Coppa Italia]
May 11, 2021 Junventus vs. Catania
May 18, 2021 Catania vs. Roma
Matchday 31 Results
Lazio 1 - 1 Inter Milan