Phalanx Prophecy: Draw Drama

There's another reunion in the last, biggest, tie. The Special One heads back to London, where Jose Mourinho did some of his best work. Now in charge of Internazionale, Mourinho still has loyal fans at Chelsea, though former Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti is helping Blues fans forget him. Ancelotti's sleek midfield diamond will likely crush Inter's, especially given the over reliance on Wesley Sneijder. That won't keep a tough physical battle from going all the way down to the wire.

Before all the excitement of the knockout rounds, a handful of rather telling games loom this weekend. Following that, the Serie A – and, mercifully, PP -- will take a brief winter break.

Last week: 0/3 (0%)
For the season: 17/27 (63%)

Centurion – AC Milan @ Fiorentina
11:30 a.m. EST, Saturday, Dec. 19
Fox Soccer Channel

Oh, this one's zesty. Viola, in the form of the purple suit-clad and suave Cesare Prandelli, boasts the better tactician; Milan the deeper squad. With injuries taking their toll on both rosters, that depth just may decide the match. Alessandro Gamberini, Cristiano Zanetti and Marco Marchionni will all miss out entirely for Florence, though marquee attacker Adrian Mutu may recover enough to feature off the bench. It's no surprise that Fiorentina's worst results have come with both creative hubs -- Mutu and young Montenegrin prodigy Stevan Jovetic -- out injured. The only starter Leonardo is missing is centerback Thiago Silva. Giuseppe Favalli, 87, filled in during the 0-2 loss to Palermo last week, though Kakha Kaladze should slot in this time around. Leonardo, suffering his first loss after five straight wins, hasn't taken the amount of criticism he should have for dropping Pato in the loss to Palermo. Another silly personnel decision like that and the Viola will exploit it, perhaps even derailing a title challenge.

Key man: Juan Manuel Vargas (Fiorentina) gives a consistent performance week in, week out. With the more gifted Mutu and Jovetic busy spending quality time with the team physio, the fullback-cum-winger has stepped up with the goals and delivery needed to keep a wheezing attack alive. Disarmingly direct and single-minded, the powerful Peruvian holds down the left flank with aplomb.

Prediction: Draw. Milan can't avoid public criticism unless the team returns from the visit to Florence with at least a share of the points.

Optio – Lazio @ Inter
11:30 a.m. EST, Sunday, Dec. 20
Fox Soccer Channel

For some unexplainable reason, Lazio management gave Davide Ballardini to the winter break to save his job. Even more inexplicably, against Genoa last weekend, the coach took advantage of the benevolent handful of days given him and led Lazio to its first victory since matchday two of the season. Recording the second worst offense and second best defense in the league, Lazio games aren't high-scoring affairs. With both teams' best attackers -- Wesley Sneijder for Inter and Mauro Zarate for Lazio -- suspended, don't expect to see either 'keeper put in a full shift in this one. The Duthman isn't the only starter missing for Mourinho, Walter Samuel again sits out due to injury. Colombian Ivan Cordoba isn't too much of a step down and should beat Marco Materazzi to the open berth.

Key man: Diego Milito (Inter) is one class act. Every composed, well-rounded, clinical performance he puts in only serves to rub it in for the series of top clubs that shirked from handing him a chance on the biggest stage before his 30th birthday.

Prediction: Inter. Lazio hasn't fared well in this fixture of late. No club took advantage of Inter's two dropped points last week, and the Nerazzurri aren't likely to give Juventus or Milan another chance so soon.

Legionary – Parma @ Roma
6:00 a.m. EST, Sunday, Dec. 20
Fox Soccer Channel

If the season had begun only five weeks ago, these two clubs would top the table. Both won three and drew two of the last handful, some seering form that gives this game quite the appeal. Not enough for you? Christian Panucci makes his return to the capital, where he spent eight years of his accomplished career. Now he helps anchor a disciplined and savvy Parma defense that has led the newly promoted club into fourth place in the table. With the halfway point in the season already passed, a European berth isn't out of the question. Francesco Totti sat out the midweek Europa League game for Roma and should be ready to torment Panucci as much as he can, though how zippy the rest of his squad which so recently returned from Bulgaria remains to be seen. Simone Perrotta sits out due to suspension in the match that will decide which club holds that last Champions League slot heading into the winter break.

Key man: Christian Panucci (Parma) boasts quite the resume. He held down starting roles at Milan, Real Madrid, Inter, Chelsea, and Roma before entering his latest chapter with Parma. At 36 the legs are starting to go, but that wily brain sure isn't. His departure from Rome was protracted and painful; don't expect him to pull any punches on the pitch.

Prediction: Draw. As You Were heading into the break in the race for a CL place.

Zac Lee Rigg is an associate editor of Goal.com