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Phalanx Prophecy: Midweek Melee
Of Italy's four Champions League representatives, only Fiorentina had sewn up qualification for the knockout stages ahead of the final group stages matchday. Milan, Juventus, and Inter all provided drama midweek.
Dec 11, 2009 12:20:35 PM
By Zac Lee Rigg
Given PP's illness that confined it, whimpering, to a musty corner, hacking coughs and slinging snot into a crusty handkerchief, and that Italy's main story of the midweek was covered ad nauseam already, the column will take a brief, bullet point format this week.
Last week: 3 / 4 (75%)
For the season: 17/24 (70.8%)
Centurion – Roma @ Sampdoria
2:30 p.m. EST, Sunday, Dec. 13
Fox Soccer Channel
After last week's derby and title-implicating drama, this matchday takes a little breather. The penultimate week before the winter break, teams will scurry to scrounge points together and finish strong so that the table won't depress them over the holidays. With both Roma and Sampdoria tied on 24 points, good enough for the last UEFA Cup spot if the season ended today, neither will want to slide into the netherworld that is the Serie A midtable. These two teams come from opposite directions. Blazing out into the top of Serie A early on thanks to a win over Inter and some slick play, Doria have since racked up three straight losses, two of them by an embarrassing 3-0 scoreline. Rumors persist of some locker room troubles. How long Antonio Cassano can keep up the good boy act knowing he won't make it to South Africa one way or the other will tell heavily. Roma lost the opening two games, lost coach Spalletti, but then bullied its way back into mix under Claudio Ranieri. Three wins in a row provides a perfect counterpoint to Samp's recent form. Both Philippe Mexes and David Pizzaro will miss this one through suspension.
Key man: Mirko Vucinic (Roma) excels when Francesco Totti is around to take some of the marking pressure off him, as evidenced by the two goals and two assists the Serb has notched in the last three games. Ranieri is still tinkering with the shape of his attack, but whatever he lands on (rumored to be a midfield diamond for this one), Vucinic will carry much of the offensive burden.
Prediction: Roma win. Sampdoria is in quite the rut. Against talented opposition once again, it'll be another week before Cassano and Co. can shimmy out of it.
Optio – Juventus @ Bari
2:30 p.m. EST, Saturday, Dec. 12
Fox Soccer Channel
Glancing only through league form, Juventus ride into this one on the back of a huge win over Inter and could make it four wins out of five. However, there's that pesky midweek Champions League loss to Bayern that will dominate the team talk instead. Juve president Jean Claude-Blanc gave Ferrara the ole vote of confidence after the Munich loss; considering his upside and low wages, the club will likely stay true to Blanc's word by sticking with Ferrara regardless of the result against Bari. Not that Ferrara will be keen to test that theory out any time soon. A return to the three point column is the only tonic for a heavy loss. Any win will need to come without inspirational goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, who will miss the next two weeks thanks to some pre-planned surgery.
Key man: Christian Poulsen (Juventus) impresses whenever given the chance. With Momo Sissoko (injury) and Felipe Melo (suspension) out, he's sure to get the chance against Bari. He may form a tandem with Claudio Marchisio, the youngster yet to see much time in the position where he'll likely end up, central midfield. The two have the subtle creativity to help the underperforming Diego unlock the third stingiest defense in Serie A.
Prediction: Juventus win. If Ferrara can't motivate his players for this one, he's got some serious soul-searching to do.
Legionary – Inter @ Atalanta
9:00 a.m. EST, Sunday, Dec. 13
Fox Soccer Channel
Of the four losses Inter suffered last season, one came at the hands of a plucky Atalanta side. However, under Antonio Conte, Atalanta hasn't found the same form or compactness of last year. Inter will want domestic revenge for the Derby d'Italia loss to Juventus last week which kept the title race open that much longer. Perhaps most interesting to this match is how Mourinho will set out his team. The all-guns-blazing approach paid off in Europe, and the Special One may want to use it once more to obliterate Atalanta. However, he may resort back to the cautious 4-3-1-2 that has proved so effective domestically, especially with Wesley Sneijder fit again.
Key man: Wesley Sneijder (Inter) makes Inter work. It's that simple. With him in the lineup, the team has won eight of 11. Sans Sneijder, Inter is 4-1-3.
Prediction: Inter win. Four losses out of the most recent five games doesn't inspire much confidence in Atalanta's chances against the best team in Italy.
Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com
"If Bayern do well, it helps all German clubs." An exclusive interview with a Bayern Munich insider is in the DEC/JAN issue of Goal.com Magazine.
Given PP's illness that confined it, whimpering, to a musty corner, hacking coughs and slinging snot into a crusty handkerchief, and that Italy's main story of the midweek was covered ad nauseam already, the column will take a brief, bullet point format this week.
- That big story was, of course, Juventus' 1-4 shellacking at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League. All Ciro Ferrara and his team had to do in the final game of Group A was draw at home against the crumbling German giant and Juve could file Calciopoli firmly in the past and announce itself a rejuvenated threat. Ever since the Old Lady lost in the 2003 Champions League final, no Italian team aside from AC Milan has bothered showing up in Europe. A berth in the knockout rounds shone as Juve's chance to reverse that trend. Instead, the Bavarians advanced, leaving Ferrara to fell the scorn media criticism. (Read two excellent examples by Goal.com's Carlo Garganese and Kris Voakes.) Forever moderate, PP would like to point out that hiring an inexperienced coach comes with these risks. Any club that does so needs to stick with the youngster through the sticky patches to reap any rewards from such a hire. Much like last week's win over Internazionale didn't mean Juve would win the title, slipping down into the UEFA Cup doesn't mean Ferrara should be discarded just yet.
- Elsewhere in Europe, the rest of the Italian teams advanced in the CL. Fiorentina rubbed Liverpool's nose in an early Scouse exit by winning the final match 2-1 to seal top spot in Group E. When needed, Cesare Prandelli's team can find that extra gear and play ball with the big boys. It's the lack of consistency that will ultimately undermine Florence's season. The Viola join Lyon in advancing from Group E. Milan, as always, purr into form when international competition comes around. The Rossoneri, along with Real Madrid, topped Group C, on the strength of a 1-1 draw with Zurich. Jose Mourinho, according to reports, saved his job by guiding Inter to the knockout stages. Needing a result on the last day to join Barcelona out of the group, Mourinho deployed an adventurous 4-3-3 formation and even started the much-maligned Mario Balotelli, who responded with a scintillating performance and a goal in the 2-0 win over Rubin Kazan.
- News skied down from Russia this morning that Luciano Spalletti found new employment with Zenit St Petersburg. Spalletti is one of the good guys. As previously highlighted, coaches don't last long in Italy, so Spalletti's four years in charge of Roma during a difficult period underline his handiness. In a period of financial crumbling for the capital club, Spalletti's tactical nous and ability to eek the most out of a paper-thin squad helped him keep a job and the loyalty of supporters. Prior to re-imagining Francesco Totti as the center fulcrum of the attack in a progressive 4-7-0, Spalletti excelled at Udinese. One imagines Zenit finally coughed up the big bucks Spalletti's should have been earning all along. At the very least, he should make enough to invest in some warm hats to protect that glistening bald head of his against the harsh Russian cold.
Last week: 3 / 4 (75%)
For the season: 17/24 (70.8%)
Centurion – Roma @ Sampdoria
2:30 p.m. EST, Sunday, Dec. 13
Fox Soccer Channel
After last week's derby and title-implicating drama, this matchday takes a little breather. The penultimate week before the winter break, teams will scurry to scrounge points together and finish strong so that the table won't depress them over the holidays. With both Roma and Sampdoria tied on 24 points, good enough for the last UEFA Cup spot if the season ended today, neither will want to slide into the netherworld that is the Serie A midtable. These two teams come from opposite directions. Blazing out into the top of Serie A early on thanks to a win over Inter and some slick play, Doria have since racked up three straight losses, two of them by an embarrassing 3-0 scoreline. Rumors persist of some locker room troubles. How long Antonio Cassano can keep up the good boy act knowing he won't make it to South Africa one way or the other will tell heavily. Roma lost the opening two games, lost coach Spalletti, but then bullied its way back into mix under Claudio Ranieri. Three wins in a row provides a perfect counterpoint to Samp's recent form. Both Philippe Mexes and David Pizzaro will miss this one through suspension.
 |
Prediction: Roma win. Sampdoria is in quite the rut. Against talented opposition once again, it'll be another week before Cassano and Co. can shimmy out of it.
Optio – Juventus @ Bari
2:30 p.m. EST, Saturday, Dec. 12
Fox Soccer Channel
Glancing only through league form, Juventus ride into this one on the back of a huge win over Inter and could make it four wins out of five. However, there's that pesky midweek Champions League loss to Bayern that will dominate the team talk instead. Juve president Jean Claude-Blanc gave Ferrara the ole vote of confidence after the Munich loss; considering his upside and low wages, the club will likely stay true to Blanc's word by sticking with Ferrara regardless of the result against Bari. Not that Ferrara will be keen to test that theory out any time soon. A return to the three point column is the only tonic for a heavy loss. Any win will need to come without inspirational goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, who will miss the next two weeks thanks to some pre-planned surgery.
 |
Prediction: Juventus win. If Ferrara can't motivate his players for this one, he's got some serious soul-searching to do.
Legionary – Inter @ Atalanta
9:00 a.m. EST, Sunday, Dec. 13
Fox Soccer Channel
Of the four losses Inter suffered last season, one came at the hands of a plucky Atalanta side. However, under Antonio Conte, Atalanta hasn't found the same form or compactness of last year. Inter will want domestic revenge for the Derby d'Italia loss to Juventus last week which kept the title race open that much longer. Perhaps most interesting to this match is how Mourinho will set out his team. The all-guns-blazing approach paid off in Europe, and the Special One may want to use it once more to obliterate Atalanta. However, he may resort back to the cautious 4-3-1-2 that has proved so effective domestically, especially with Wesley Sneijder fit again.
Key man: Wesley Sneijder (Inter) makes Inter work. It's that simple. With him in the lineup, the team has won eight of 11. Sans Sneijder, Inter is 4-1-3.
Prediction: Inter win. Four losses out of the most recent five games doesn't inspire much confidence in Atalanta's chances against the best team in Italy.
Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com
"If Bayern do well, it helps all German clubs." An exclusive interview with a Bayern Munich insider is in the DEC/JAN issue of Goal.com Magazine.
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