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Weekend Soccer – By Chris.

Serie A

Inter   -  Livorno           1.23   -   16.00
Smart move by the Inter coach Mancini last week. After about an hour he replaced the ineffective Chivu with the speedy Suazo and within minutes Inter were 2-0 up against Catania. L Jimenez had to leave the match with an injury and he looks to be sidelined tomorrow, rested in the hope that he will be ready for the coming visit to Anfield. Maicon and Stankovic will also have to wait till next week but old timer Figo is back in tomorrow's squad. Ibrahimovic will not play and perhaps Cruz will be rested as well. That leaves Suazo and Crespo as front runners, if this should be the case.

Livorno welcome back their captain Balleri but lose their leading striker Tavano to an injury. Their coach is indicating that he will use Diamanti and Bogdani as strikers for this match. Livorno already paid a visit to Milano earlier this week for the postponed clash with Milan (1-1 draw). A well earned point no doubt, but Milan fielded an under strength side. Inter will probably do enough to win this match, but not much else (1.23). The match with Liverpool is what matters now.

Inter 2 Livorno 0

Juventus   -   Roma       2.40   -   3.40
Both sides will be able to field more or less their strongest line ups and I look forward to a cracking game. In my opinion Roma have played rather poorly lately but I will not rule out the possibility that coach Spalletti has a plan. Maybe Roma are about to hit some form with fixtures against Juventus and Real Madrid next. Totti for example definitely has more to offer. Perrotta is not in form either and he could be replaced by Giuly or Aquilani tomorrow.

Camoranesi was back for Juventus last week scoring one of their goals in the 2-1 win against Udinese. He does not play many matches these days, but he has picked up a most useful habit, that of scoring important goals. Will Ranieri play with two or three strikers? You never know with Ranieri. These sides so seldom lose and I my choice has to be the draw (3.00).

Juventus 1 Roma 0

Parma   -   Milan         4.50   -   2.00
My intention was to back the home win (4.50). Milan have played twice a week for some time now, including their match with Livorno in midweek (1-1), and they will face Arsenal next week. It would have been easier to oppose Milan this time if they had won against Livorno, that is how my betting brain works. Seedorf, Nesta, Kaka and Pato were not available in midweek. According to coach Ancelotti they will all be ready for the Arsenal match and for this match we can count on Kaka and Nesta to return. Ronaldo is out for the season.

Unfortunately Parma have worries of their own. Both Corradi and Parravicini are out suspended and C Lucarelli is on the injury list as well as Coly. I had hoped to see Lucarelli and Corradi in the Parma front line. Now it looks like Budan and Reginaldo will be their two strikers. It might work or it might not. OK, backing the home win after all (4.50).

Parma

Fiorentina   -   Catania        1.45   -   9.50
Last night Fiorentina visited Trondheim for a cup game with Rosenborg (1-0 win) and maybe this midweek engagement by the home side will give Catania some hopes ahead of this fixture. Catania are a good footballing side, trying mostly to be constructive home or away, but they have still to win their first away game (0-5-6). They are only four points from the relegation zone and no guarantee that their attractive football will prolong their stay in Serie A, but I hope so. Mascara should be OK on Sunday or else Colucci will replace him alongside Spinesi  and Martinez. Mutu is expected back for the home side but Vieri, Liverani and Ujfalusi will not be involved. I am not at all ready to use this price on the home win (1.45). 

Fiorentina 2 Catania 1

Genoa   -   Sampdoria        2.85   -   2.95
Hopefully the second Genoa derby of the season will be more interesting than the first one, a drab 0-0 game last autumn. If I remember it correct the match was devoid of scoring chances. Down to ten men Genoa deservedly found an equaliser at Livorno last week. Di Vaio scored at last and he could be rewarded with a starting role this time alongside the Italian international Borriello. That means Leon will start on the bench. Genoa will be without the suspended duo Sculli and Santos, while Milanetto also risks missing this derby.

In the table Sampdoria are two points ahead of Genoa and this writer holds Sampdoria as the stronger side but both teams are in good form. The important Volpi is a major doubt as well as Sammarco, and Gastaldello is suspended. This is just the kind of game that Cassano will have a big saying on, positive or negative. I like to think that it will positive. Away win for me (2.95).

Genoa 0 Sampdoria 1

Lazio   -   Atalanta       2.05   -   4.45
Not a happy season so far for Lazio. Their participation in the Champions League has proven costly, but that is the way it is for sides with limited squads. They defeated Sampdoria in their last home game and I guess that they are deserved favourites this time, but the odds on the home win are way too thin (2.05).

Doni will be back for Atalanta and they have the capacity to disturb stronger sides than the present Lazio team. Muslimovic scored both the Atalanta goals against Fiorentina last week but with Doni available again, I should think that Muslimovic will return to the bench again. However it could be that Doni and Muslimovic will be the two Atalanta strikers in this match with Floccari on one of the flanks.

Lazio will be without the suspended defender Kolarov and several of their players have been troubled by injuries this week but according to reports they (including Pandev) will hopefully be fit to play come Sunday. Sorry, no bet!

Lazio 3 Atalanta 0

Napoli    -  Empoli        1.75   -   5.60
With time this season Napoli have become a typical home side. They have won just one away game, the remarkable 5-0 victory vs. Udinese, but they are 6-3-2 in Napoli. Cannavaro returns from his suspension for this match, Domizzi, Savini and Zalayeta are back in training again, but they lose Contini to a suspension.  Garics is considered an injury doubt.

Empoli picked up their fourth win of the season last week, at home to Lazio (1-0) and it was enough to bring the strugglers close to the safe Parma, with only one point separating the two. Vannucchi scored their winning goal against Lazio but unfortunately the Empoli key player is suspended for this match. Busce could be back. Likely home win, but the odds are not good enough (1.75).

Napoli 1 Empoli 3

Palermo   -    Cagliari         1.91   -   5,00
Both the Palermo strikers Miccoli and Amauri are suspended this weekend and the important Guana as well. So now you know why there is 1.91 on the home win. We will probably see Cavani as their lone striker, supported by Bresciano and Jankovic. I have not seen much of Bresciano and Jankovic this season.

Cagliari will pick from the same group of players that have recently managed draws with Juventus and Parma. Jeda and fit again Foggia supporting Larrivey up front. Palermo so often disappoint when they are at full strength and the odds are poor. Maybe they will succeed this time with a new set of forwards. Regardless of the look of the Palermo team Cagliari remain a poor side. Home win! (1.91).

Palermo 2 Cagliari 1

Reggina   -   Udinese         2.80   -   2.95
I like the look of the probable Reggina attacking formation for this game. It looks like Brienza, Amoruso and Makinwa will play together from the start and I very much approve of this daring attempt.

Felipe and Pepe return to the Udinese squad but one of their international strikers, Quagliarella, is suspended this weekend. Floro Flores will be his replacement. Still no Asamoah, Obodo, Mesto, Pinzi and De Martino. I will give close to bottom Reggina my support this time (2.80).

Reggina 1 Udinese 3

Siena   -   Torino       2.25   -   3.80
Two sides in form. Although Siena lost to Milan last week they once again offered a strong display and they can count themselves unlucky, losing the match 0-1. For this match they have to do without the suspended Vergassola and the injured Galloppa.

Torino have won their last two matches, vs Reggina and Palermo, both 3-1 wins , so now I have no right to call Torino a goal shy team any longer. Rosina playing again and Diana and Pisano (new Torino players) have turned the negative Torino trend. Last week however, Di Michele was their shining star. Diana is suspended this weekend and Comotto as well. Di Michele and Stellone will probably start up front, supported by among others Rosina. Recoba and Bjelanovic will be on the bench. Both teams will score, an over game is my suggestion, maybe a draw (2.90).

Siena 0 Torino 0

FA Cup

Manchester Utd   -   Arsenal        2.20   -   3.50

My choice has to be the home win (2.20). The way I see it, United or specifically coach Ferguson want this cup win more than their Arsenal colleagues. Why? Just a feeling. Arsenal traditionally field mixed sides in the domestic cup competitions and surely the Arsenal manager Wenger is already planning for the Milan encounter next week. United lost to their city rivals last week for the second time this season and the only way to get rid of that painful experience is probably to defeat their number one hate objects, Arsenal.
I have no doubt that the Arsenal players will be as motivated as the United ones but I should think that Wenger will rest one or two of his key players.

Arsenal will definitely be without Diaby, Van Persie, Rosicky, T Walcott and Almunia, but their Africans K Toure and E Eboue should be back. New withdrawals are the two defenders Sagna and Clichy and a third defender Senderos has not been able to practice this week and he is considered an injury doubt. For United W Rooney and Evra will make their returns. Maybe it is personal, but I want Arsenal to lose this match and then go on to defeat Milan on Wednesday. Home win (2.20).

Man Utd 4 Arsenal 0

Preston   -   Portsmouth         4.33   -   1.91
I am prepared to back Portsmouth, one of the strongest away sides in England. Pompey have won as many as eight of their fourteen away games in the Premiership. Preston are of course a Championship side and not a very good one at that, hovering just above the drop zone. J Defoe will not be able to play for Portsmouth this weekend and we will see two of M Baros, D Nugent and Kanu in the Pompey front line. D Nugent, the old Preston favourite, that would be interesting. Muntari has returned from Ghana and coach Redknapp is convinced that Distin will be ready to make his come back on Sunday. Hreidarsson or Aubey will play on the Pamarot position.

Preston will be without their central defender St. Ledger, due to a suspension. Preston knocked out a Premiership side in the previous round, but that was Derby. Still the way they did it away from home (winning 4-) was a bit impressive. Away win for Portsmouth (1.91).

Preston 0 Portsmouth 1

Sheffield Utd    -   Middlesbrough       3.00   -   2.45
In the previous round of the FA Cup S United probably played their best game of the season, when they knocked out Man City 2-1 Unfortunately for the club and for their boss B Robson, they were not able to hold on to their cup standard. They were soon back to mediocrity again and finally coach Robson had to go. K Blackwell (ex -Leeds and ex-Luton boss) is now managing United. Veteran G Speed risks missing this match and most likely another veteran Ehiogu as well. L Hendrie, C Armstrong, D Carney and J Stead are all ready to play some part in this cup game.

Middlesbrough are on a seven game unbeaten run. Their new striker A Alves will probably not play tomorrow and also Mido will rest for another week. T Sanli is training again but he is not yet match fit. In other words we can expect to see the same Boro side on Sunday as in their last league game, their 1-0 win vs Fulham.

This is a special game for S United. I fully understand that their supporters will be 100% behind their team now that Robson is gone, but can they lift their underachievers again? What can I say? I was wrong the last time, when I backed M City. Better odds this time on the away win (2.45), but sorry, no bet.

Sheffield Utd 0 Middlesbrough 0

Coventry   -   W B A        3.20   -   2.35
Away win for me (2.35). I could be a bit biased, I admit that. I watched WBA defeating Coventry 4-0 at the Ricoh Stadium earlier this season. Mifsud was red carded for Coventry and his dismissal made it so much easier for WBA, but nevertheless the 4-0 win made an impression on me. Both the Coventry defenders S Dann and Fox are ineligible for this match and S Hughes will probably stay in the treatment room.

WBA will miss the suspended J Greening, but R Koren, Z Gera and Bednar could all be back in contention. Time for WBA to score some goals again. This prolific goal scoring side has only managed one goal in their last two matches. I expect a relaxed game. Both teams have other priorities and this should mean an open game. At least I hope so. This would certainly favour the away side, WBA (2.35).

Coventry 0 WBA 5

La Liga

Almeria   -   Real Murcia           1.91   -  4.55
Newcomer meeting and my vote goes to Almeria (1.91). The Almeria keeper Alves has not conceded a single goal in 527 minutes and they are 4-1-0 in their last five games, including their last home win against Real Madrid. I know of no major worries in the Almeria squad ahead of this fixture.

Murcia will be without the suspended duo Meija and Pena as well as the injured Jofre. Ochoa is fit again and he will put Cuadrado out of work. One of Maranon or Piguol will come in for Pena. Their striker Baiano remains on the sidelines, meaning that Goitom and I Alonso will continue up front. Murcia have scoring problems and my feeling is that the Almeria keeper Alves will prolong his sequence this week end. Backing the home win (1.91).

Almeria 1 Real Murica 0

Real Zaragoza   -   Barcelona       3.75   -   2.20
Plenty of previously non available Barcelona players will be back tomorrow and my choice in this tricky game will be the away win (2.20). YaYa Toure is back from the African Cup and Bojan, Deco and Zambrotta have returned from the treatment room. No Eto'o however. So Barca will be stronger than last week when they drew their away game with Sevilla, 1-1.

Zaragoza will make a couple of changes. Zapater will come in for Celades and it looks like Oscar will replace R Oliveira in the front line. Sounds a bit defensive as Oscar is more of a midfielder. D Milito his partner up front. Seldom a goal fest when Barcelona are playing these days. Why not a 0-1 or a 0-2 result (2.20).

Real Zaragoza 1 Barcelona 2

Real Betis   -   Real Madrid       5.50   -  1.75
Betis are not one my favourite sides, I have to admit as much and I will be opposing the home side (1.75). Key players come and go for R Madrid. Van Nistelrooy will be back to play but Robinho joins their injury list. Also Sneijder and Heinze should be back for the league leaders. Some doubts concerning S Ramos, but he is the kind of player that seldom is injured or allows himself a rest. Betis will have both Pavone and Melli back for this match and also M Gonzalez has an outside chance of being available again. Away win, but maybe not the most attractive odds around (1.75).

Real Betis 2 Real Madrid 1

Levante  -  Osasuna        3.00   -  2.45
I have seen Osasuna a couple of times this season and their overall football is better than their league position indicates. They have some great youngsters in their side and are quite simply a promising side. Unfortunately the nature of things is that Dady, Carlos Vela and the others will probably be playing somewhere else next season. Anyway Delporte is back in contention for Osasuna, but still out injured are Corrales, M Flano and Nekounam.

Juanma, midfielder, returns for Levante, but they lose their defender Descarga to a suspension. Lack of funds, meaning no salary for the players, and hopelessly positioned some 10 points behind second from bottom Murcia, that is reality for Levante. The players keep on trying however and they have drawn their last two home games. Still, I will be backing the away win (2.45).

Levante 2 Osasuna 1

Getafe   -   Valencia       2.60  -  2.80
Are we watching a Valencia resurrection? I think so, but I cannot say for sure. Anyway I will give Valencia my support this weekend (2.80). Getafe played a big game against AEK Atens in midweek (1-1). Some five regulars started on the bench but most of them, including goal scorer De La Red, came on as substitutes. The Getafe midfielder Gavilan is out injured this weekend but P Hernandez should be back.

The Valencia coach Koeman will probably give Banega a starting role in this match instead of Mata. The other ten will be the same players that started against Betis last week (3-1 win). David Villa is on his way back to 100% form again. In form he is the best striker in Spain. I like Getafe. They play some nice football and it will not be easy for Valencia on Sunday. Still no game for Valencia in midweek and I get the feeling that the last part of the season will be most fruitful for Koeman and the club. Away win (2.80).

Getafe 0 Valencia 0

French League

Le Mans   -  Lyon         4.20   -   2.12
I cannot overlook the odds on the home win (4.20). You know which side Lyon welcome to their place in a few days time, Man United of course. You do not have to be a professor to realise where the Lyon focus is at the moment. Juninho was back in the Lyon squad last week and he will play some part tomorrow. K Keita has just returned from the African Cup. Between the lines you can read that the Lyon coach will probably rest one or two of his troopers.

Le Mans welcome back both Romaric and Gervinho from the African Cup and both De Melo and Basa are back in training again. A month ago Le Mans won 1-0 against Lyon in the cup with all the punters backing Lyon. Right or wrong, Le Mans will be my choice (4.20).

Le Mans 1 Lyon 0

Sochaux   -   Caen        2.20   -   4.00
Opposing Caen! (2.20). All of a sudden the newcomers are leaking in goals like never before. As a matter of fact they have conceded 10 goals in their last two matches, vs Marseille and Lens. They have no big problems squad wise only missing the injured Lemaitre and Mazure. OK, Gouffran is an injury doubt, but Deroin will be back.

Sochaux lost 1-4 to Lyon last week but do not be deceived by the score line. It was a pretty close encounter with Lyon scoring three very late goals. Sochaux will be without the suspended duo Erding and K Traore, but their defender Jokic has been cleared to play. Pancrate and Grax will do the offensive job. Pancrate scored the Sochaux goal against Lyon. Sochaux to win (2.20).

Sochaux 1 Caen 1

Lens  -  Nice        2.15   -   4.25
Lens are probably one of the strongest sides in the league at the moment. Papin's team are 4-1-0 in their last five games and they have scored fourteen goals in these matches. Their leading forward Dindane has come back from Ghana, but no guarantee that he will find a starting role tomorrow. Both Maoulida and Remy are doing just fine with both on the score sheet last week when Lens won at Caen, 4-1.

Nice will once again be without Laslandes but another striker, Kone, is back in their squad. Nice recently lost to Angers in the cup and last week they lost the prestigious derby with Marseille. Maybe this up-to-now overachieving side is facing a more a realistic spell from now on. Lens to win (2.15).

Lens 0 Nice 0

Chris.