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Wednesdays Soccer – By Chris.

The Premiership 

Manchester Utd   -   Bolton         1.20   -   20.00
Maybe Bolton got what they deserved when they lost the six pointer affair against Wigan (0-1). Instead of making a whole hearted attempt in the UEFA Cup, they sent a reserve squad to Lisbon and lost 0-1. Their players looked rusty in the first half at Wigan and maybe they would have played a stronger game if they had played against Sporting. The question is, when will Bolton be playing in the UEFA Cup next time? When will they have a chance of reaching the last eight? Never again!

Al Habsi will continue in the Bolton goal instead of the injured Jaaskelainen, while B Foster (probably) or returning Kuszczak will stand between the sticks for United. Likely home win of course, (1.20) but United have to be more effective against Bolton than they were against Derby.

Man Utd 2 Bolton 0

Tottenham   -   Chelsea          3.74   -   2.20
Tottenham are one of the teams in the Premiership without any real incentive. By winning the Carling Cup they have already reached Europe and this lack of motivation could be noticed the other day when Tottenham lost to Manchester City. It was plain to see that City wanted the win more than Tottenham. Something for coach Ramos to work on, but for this London derby I take it for granted that the Spurs players will give their 100% again. Ledley King was rested against City but he could be back tomorrow. Robbie Keane will be among the starting eleven despite his outburst the other day.

It is about revenge for Chelsea of course, with Tottenham having defeated Chelsea in the Carling cup final. P Cech, the Chelsea first choice keeper, will probably be back for this match and coach Grant has a fit squad at his disposal. Which players to pick is his only dilemma. I do not expect Chelsea to lose this match. X2 then!

Tottenham 4 Chelsea 4

Serie A

Milan   -   Sampdoria         1.50  -   9.50
Unlucky Milan at the weekend. They took a 1-0 lead against Roma and looked to be in complete control, at least the way I saw it. Then the outstanding Seedorf had to withdraw after an hour or so and bang - bang, Roma found the Milan net twice in a three minute spell. Milan are now four points behind fourth placed Fiorentina and the race is on. Kaka and Seedorf have been major injury doubts since the Roma fixture, but they will be OK tomorrow. Also Nesta and Jankulowski are back in the equation again. Third choice keeper Fiori  will not start tomorrow according to coach Ancelotti. If Kalac should not recover Dida will be called upon.

Deserved 3-1 win by Sampdoria at home to Catania. Their striker Bellucci made his comeback as a late substitute, but a few minutes was all that he needed. He scored their third goal. More minutes tomorrow, but Cassano remains suspended. Also Franceschini is suspended tomorrow. With Kaka and Seedorf playing again for Milan I will definately back the home win (1.50).

Milan 1 Sampdoria 2

Cagliari   -   Atalanta          2.45   -   3.25
A lousy Torino side was outclassed by bottom of the table Cagliari at the weekend.  It was their third home win on the bounce and I will be on their side tomorrow (2.45). Their talented striker Aquafresca had a great game, the other offensive players, Jeda and Cossu as well. Cossu, by the way, is keeping Foggia on the bench. Expect Cagliari to be unchanged for this match, still missing the injured Bianco and  D Lopez.

Pellegrino and Carozzieri will be back for Atalanta, playing as central defenders but they lose Manfredini to a suspension. Doni, their ace, will probably be rested according to coach Del Neri. Muslimovic will deputise.  Atalanta are doing just fine, but no doubt ahead of this fixture, which side should be the more motivated one. Cagliari of course!(2.45). 

Cgaliari 1 Atalanta 0

Catania   -    Siena         2.20   -   4.15
Although Sampdoria were clearly the better side, Catania were very close to getting a 2-2 equaliser late in the game. At the end of the day Catania once again picked the shortest straw in an away game (0-5-10). They are much stronger at Sicily and they should not lose this match. It looks like their striker Martinez will be missing again.

Siena just did not show up at Reggina at the weekend. It was an inept display by the Tuscany club, losing 0-4. Leading striker Maccarone will return for this match, but missing are Loria, Codrea and Vergassola and maybe also Bertotto.. Siena can never be worse tomorrow than they were against Reggina, that is perfectly clear, but my choice will nevertheless be the home win (2.20).

Catania 0 Siena 0

Empoli  -   Juventus         5.75   -   1.75
An away win in my opinion (1.75). Empoli do not have enough fire power to break through the Juventus defence. It is as simple as that. Both their first choice strikers are not available at the moment. Saudati is suspended and Pozzi remains on their injury list. Empoli will also be without the suspended Pratali tomorrow. Volpato could be their lone striker for this match.

Juventus welcome back their previously suspended trio, Camoranesi, Legrottaglie and Zebina. It looks like Iaquinta will play from the start instead of Del Piero. There is something about Juventus. With some 15 minutes to go of the Juventus - Napoli fixture, I just felt that they would eventually score the winning goal. I love their mentality, their morale. Great collective, this version of Juventus. Away win! (1.75).

Empoli 0 Juventus 0

Genoa   -   Inter        5.60   -   1.75
Do not be misled by their 1-3 loss away to Fiorentina. Genoa played a strong match and you should know that the Fiorentina keeper Frey was man of the match. La Gazzetta gave him eight out of ten and that summed up the match pretty well. Genoa will be without one of their strikers, Leon, with Fabiano (or Di Vaio) his likely replacement. Borriello, Sculli and  Fabiano will be threatening the Inter defence.

The Inter defender Materazzi is for once suspended. Stankovic will not be involved. Two important absentees in other words. Ibrahimovic was not a happy man when he was substituted against Palermo in the second half. According to lip reading specialists he said something about coach Mancini when he left the field. Hopefully he will leave or something like that. Ibrahimovic, by the way, may be rested for this match with an eye on the coming fixture with Juventus. There is no harmony within the Inter squad at the moment, but they keep on picking points and that is impressive. Personally I prefer Juventus away to Empoli. This one then? Why not the draw! (3.10).

Genoa 1 Inter 1

Lazio   -   Roma         4.05   -   2.10
Can one talk about a more motivated side in this hot derby game? Probably not, but I still insist that the Lazio players want this win tomorrow more than their Roma colleagues. It is about saving face, saving a disappointing season. It all went wrong when Lazio qualified  for the Champions League. You need stronger, bigger squads for the big league. Pandev was rested at the weekend but tomorrow he will be joining Rocchi and Bianchi in the Lazío front line again.

Roma were no threat to Milan for an hour or so, but I guess it is correct to say that the two substitutes Vucinic and Giuly changed things for the better late in the game and the fact that the Milan ace Seedorf left the match. I do not think that Roma played a strong match. They had the lucky breaks, that is all. Mexes will be back in contention for this match. Lazio are no Milan, I am well aware of this, but I will nevertheless support Lazio tomorrow (4.05).

Lazio 3 Roma 2

Livorno   -   Reggina        2.30   -   3.80
Amelia, the Livorno keeper and their best player, will be out injured for this match and De Lucia will play in goal. Their injury list looks the same, but Grandoni and De Vezze return from suspensions. Livorno took the lead at home to Parma the other day. Parma came back in the second half and they finished the match the stronger side (1-1).

Reggina have played two matches under their new regime. First they played a very strong game against Inter in Milan and then they outclassed Siena 4-0. Evidently coach Orlandi has found some recipe for success. Several of their players, Brienza, Amoruso, Cascione and  Modesto were brilliant against Siena. Same squad tomorrow, minus the suspended Cirillo. I look upon Livorno as definite relegation candidates. OK, just recently I thought the same about Reggina. I like improved teams and Reggina are one of those. Away win! (3.80).

Livorno 1 Reggina 1 

Napoli     -   Fiorentina        3.00   -   2.70
The score line was still 0-0 with some five minutes to go, but then the Juventus striker Iaquinta destroyed the day for Napoli, scoring the decisive goal. Napoli once again demonstrated that they can match any Serie A side, if we did not already know that. I mean, they just defeated Inter deservedly, did they not? Both their regular midfielders Blasi and Mannini will be back for this match. Calaio or Sosa up front, with Lavezzi.

Mutu made his come back for his Fiorentina at the weekend and what a come back! He was in top form from the start. Together with their keeper Frey he dominated the Fiorentina - Genoa encounter (3-1).
Tomorrow Fiorentina will be without the suspended Gobbi and the injured M Jorgensen, Gamberini, Santana and Semioli.  Gobbi and Gamberini, both defenders, playing from the start against Genoa. and the other three very useful forwards. Their squad will be strong despite these missing players but I do not think that Fiorentina will be winners here. 1X then!

Napoli 2 Fiorentina 0

Parma   -   Palermo         2.30   -   3.60
H Cuper and his new team picked up a strong point at Livorno. Knowing Cuper, I am sure that he was happy with an away point. Tomorrow he will be looking for all the three points and I think that Parma could manage this (2.30). They have all their offensive aces at their disposal, Lucarelli, Reginaldo, Gasbarroni, Budan and Corradi, but missing are their defenders Couto and Coly plus Morfeo.  Another defender Falcone will be back in the team. Favourites to start up front are C Lucarelli and Budan.

Guana will not be available for Palermo tomorrow. Caserta or Tedesco will replace the midfielder. Barzagli will be back in defence and Cavani probably from the start up front. There is always a chance that Palermo will offer a disappointing performance and I will back the highly motivated home side (2.30). 

Parma 2 Palermo 1

Torino   -   Udinese         2.50   -   3.25
Did they give up or what? Torino were rubbish at Cagliari and you have to wonder why? Their president was crazy afterwards. “Worst ever Torino display” he said. Anyway a meeting between the players and the president has taken place and expect a more focused Torino side tomorrow. Hopefully, but probably not, Torino will have Grella, Pisano and Recoba back for this match The Udinese coach is likely to make some changes. Floro Flores will probably replace Quagliarellla up front and Mesto, Isla and Coda should start this match. 1X, I guess!

Torino 0 Udinese 1

Chris.