Serie A, matchday 18 preview: Juventus vs. AS Roma, the mother of all games (2)

If the Premier League has 'Boxing Day', the Serie A has the 'Epiphany Day' as the 6th of January is the very last day of the Christmas holidays in the boot country.

The Serie A break is officially over as most of the clubs have already resumed working before the end of 2013. As the holyday day is celebrated on Monday, the matchday program is split between Sunday and the start of next week. However, the best dish,
Juventus-AS Roma, it will be served already on Sunday night at 21:45 EET

Juventus-AS Roma

Juventus 46 points, AS Roma 41. Table wise it is quite easy to understand 'for whom the bell tolls'. The best attack of the season (39 goals, Juventus) faces the best defence of the season (only 7 suffered). The team that has never lost a game at home (Juventus) challenges the team that has never lost a game at all (AS Roma).

The team with the longest streak of wins (10, AS Roma) visits the one that has been putting nine wins in a row in the last 10 games. Beyond the mere statistical data, 'Juve-Roma' (as is simply known among fans) is a challenge into the challenge. The last time it was worth a 'scudetto' fight, it was back in the '80's when the likes of Falcao and Platini populated the dreams of 'Giallorossi' and 'Bianconeri'.

It will not be an easy game to handle for the designated referee as many controversies have always stemmed out this game: ghost goals, offside goals, referees' performances etc. It is never a normal game, neither in Rome nor in Torino. It is not a derby, however the atmosphere makes this game very close to one.

Juventus have been extraordinary since their last false step (loss in Firenze): 9 games won out of 9 as opposed to Roma's schedule of 4 wins and 6 draws. Ten games ago very few thought Juventus would have welcomed the 'Giallorossi' at the Juventus stadium from the top of the table with a +5 advantage.

AS Roma's slowdown allowed the 'Bianconeri's takeover which what is making the challenge in Torino the crossroads of the entire season. If a draw would just keep the situation as it is, Juventus win would virtually mean the end of any claim of title fight from the Capitoline club, as simple as that.

Garcia knows the situation very well, his training sessions have been top secret as the French coach did not allow journalists and cameras at Trigoria training camp: in such crucial game, it is important not to concede any kind of advantage to the opposition. He will be able to count on Francesco Totti as 'Er Pupone' recovered fully from the injury during the holidays has already played some minutes before the break. Totti shall form a 'trident' forward line along with Gervinho and Destro as the latter scored another goal against Catania in the last fixture of 2013 (4-0).

Conte can count on Tevez back from Argentina (the striker was held in his home country by family issues) and on Pirlo, recovered from a muscle issue. Alarming news come from the defence as Andrea Barzagli picked up an injury during a friendly game against Cuneo (third tier of Italian football system) and it is quite likely he will miss the challenge.

uventus have never conceded a point this year within the Juventus stadium. There is no Juventus fan as such who would accept to concede half a point to Roma.

Juventus-Roma, Sunday the 5th of January at 21:45 EET

Lazio-Inter

Lazio and Inter end of 2013 was on the news more for else than for their sport achievements.

The 'Biancocelesti' have changed the coach during the break. Once the news that Vladimir 'Vlad' Petkovic was going to be the next Swiss national team coach broke (he will replace Ottmar Hitzfeld after the World Cup), it was certain that the Bosnian Croat would have not stayed in Rome one minute more as Claudio Lotito, Lazio patron, was already looking for a replacement.

The so-to-say 'new' coach of SS Lazio is Edoardo 'Edy' Reja, a 68-years-old former footballer in the 60's-70's with a long career as a coach (since 1979): he will be the most senior coach in the Serie A. Reja is not new at Lazio as he already coached the 'Biancocelesti' from 2010 to 2012.

His recall follows new trend in Serie A as recently other two clubs have recalled their coach from old times: Genoa brought back Gasperini and Chievo stepped back to Corini. However, legally, the situation is not as easy as it looks. Petkovic has not received any written communication from the club about his dismissal.

De facto, Reja has already been training SS Lazio before the New Year 's Eve and at the trainings resume in 2014. However, if a written communication will not be dispatched, Petkovic is still formally Lazio's coach as Reja cannot be registered as the new one.

A situation that might compel the 68-years-old coach born in the border city of Gorizia to follow the game from the stands while the assistant coach will guide the XI from the dugout, as clearly explained by the Italian coaches' union president, Renzo Ulivieri. Not an easy start of the year for the other Capitoline club that ended 2013 with a sound loss in Verona at Hellas (1-4).

On the other hand, Inter have been rumoured to sign this or that player. First, it was the case of Ezequiel 'El Pocho' Lavezzi from PSG. Mazzarri has been flirting over the media with the idea of having 'El Pocho' back under his guidance.

Few days ago 'El Pocho' declared the following to a French TV media ''It is pleasing to be of interest to great clubs like Inter but I will remain at PSG as I'm involved in the project and I don't want to leave. I don't think I've given my best in Paris yet, so I want to do better and change that situation'' concluded without apparently give any room for any talk.

However, he added "I realize the doors are open for me in Italy, but I am happy here. The day they tell me to leave, I probably will go''. Will the day come if Inter will match the price tag demand? In order to match that, Inter shall make some money by selling a player.

Rumours say Guarin will be sold to Chelsea as Mourinho is very interested in signing the Colombian striker who has never totally fallen in love with San Siro. However, if the Lavezzi affair will not happen, another return to Serie A could be Argentine Eric Lamela who is not happy of his stint at Tottenham Hotspurs. January will tell.

Putting aside non-sporting issues, Lazio and Inter have both the obligation to clinch three points. The 'Nerazzurri' have won only three times away from San Siro (the last time was on the 3rd of November at Udinese); the 'Biancocelesti' have collected just a win in the last 8 games.

Mazzarri does not want to lose track of the third place (Champions Leaugue play-off spot) as it will be already quite hard for Inter to hope in Napoli to lose points in Spring when the Europa League will kick off. As Napoli president declared some time ago ''Champions League brings money, Europa League makes you lose money''.

It is very unlikely he will accept his side to risk the Champions League spot (even though via the play-off) to win what he deems a worthless trophy. Mazzarri knows he has to fight a battle with his previous employer to try and reach a competition Inter has been missing for two seasons running. Any talk about something above the third place is simply unrealistic.

Lazio-Inter, Monday the 6th of January at 19:30 EET

The rest of the matchday

Matchday 18 does not offer anything else with the taste of 'classic' except for the '80ish Napoli-Sampdoria clash at San Paolo stadium (Sunday the 6th at 13:30). The Mihajlovic gang will visit Benitez&Co.

Under the Serbian, the 'Blucerchiati' have not failed a game: 2 wins and 5 draws helped Samp to rise from the dumps and get four points clear from the relegation zone. Benitez' side performances have been fluctuating allowing Napoli to lose ground with the top (10-point gap from Juve and 5 from Roma).

Hamsik might recover from the injury giving the Spanish coach an additional weapon of choice if he will not be sure to count further on Pandev. Sampdoria have been working steadily during the holidays and have the firm intention not to play the sparring partner role in Naples.

Massimiliano Allegri has spoken: this is last season at AC Milan. He confirmed to the Italian press what was probably no secret for anyone, adding that his target is to leave AC Milan in Europe.

He has been hinting at 'Europe' as 'Europa League' thought as he admitted that the third spot (Champions League play-offs) is too far to be reached and an hope could come from the Coppa Italia (the trophy winner gets a spot in the Europa League).

If Spezia Calcio (a Serie B side) should not (?) represent an awkward obstacle to overcome on the 15th of January, the quarter finals a week later might offer a Milano derby against Inter (provided the 'Nerazzurri' will get better than Udinese). Not really an easy task for his side.

In the meantime, they will receive Atalanta, a side that has proved to be a hard bite for any big club as Atalanta compelled Inter and Roma to a painful draw in Bergamo. Napoli got better than them only in the last 20 minutes of game at the San Paolo and Juventus had to give up to their 9th clean sheet in a row in Bergamo (though winning 1-4).

At AC Milan the market rumors say that Balotelli might leave, will this be one of his last games? Another piece of the AC Milan historic board left the club before the end of 2013: an official note by AC Milan website greeted and thanked former sporting director Ariedo Braida for his 28 years of work at the 'Rossoneri'.

They reminded Braida's key role in bringing Kaka' and Thiago Silva to the club, however he might pass to history for the woes given to Berlusconi when he scouted Dugarry at Bordeaux and overlooked a certain Zinedine Zidane.

Betting tips

Fiorentina might start 2014 at home as they closed 2013: scoring many goals. Bologna was the victim of the last home clash of the solar year, a minnow looking to stabilize in a safer zone away from the relegation. Their place exactly then (19th) has been taken by Livorno and we guess there will not be a different end of this story as 3-0 was then and 3-0 might as well be on Saturday.

If you do not wish to bet on the exact result (3-0 or 4-0 should be the option for the bravest of you) a safe and sound bet should be represented by the over 2,5 (over 3,5 if you feel to really risk further).
Fiorentina-Livorno, Sunday the 5th 19:00 EET.

Cagliari have built their table success with the home games whereas away from Sardinia they have been pretty poor (just 4 draws). In Verona, Chievo are the opposite of Hellas as out of 8 games they have managed to win only twice. The goals scored by the islanders away are the same as the ones collected by the 'Clivensi' at home: 11.

We bet Cagliari and Chievo will end up drawing this one just not to start 2014 in a bitter way. For those who feel to dare, 0-0 or 1-1 as the full time score.
Chievo-Cagliari, Monday the 5th 16:00 EET.

If Atalanta managed to score one to the unbeatable Juventus (Buffon clean sheet lasted for 744 minutes – 12 hours and 40 minutes) it shall not be a difficult task to put one past Abbiati. Goal, both to score, should be a safe option. If you feel to dare, you could opt for Atalanta to open the game.
AC Milan-Atalanta, Monday the 6th 16:00 EET.

When Hellas leave the 'Stadio Bentegodi', they turn into a normal side: one win and two losses for the 'Scaligeri' who lost all the other 5 challenges away. The only win was in Bologna (4-1) and it was exactly three months ago on the 6th of October. Time to break the spell? Udinese are nine point behind the 'Scaligeri', it might be the right time to do it indeed. Verona to win at Udinese.
Udinese-Verona, Monday the 6th 16:00 EET.

Sassuolo are in a negative streak: three losses in a row. The trip to Genova will not certainly help as Genoa have managed to lose just one game in the last six. We would safely bet on Genoa to win.
Genoa-Sassuolo, Monday the 6th 16:00 EET.