Serie A’s Week 4 features key match-ups involving the three undefeated teams so far namely Juventus, Napoli and Lazio. The Bianconeri will be hosting Chievo Verona at the Juventus Stadium in Torino. The Old Lady has not lost in 42 games stemming back to her undefeated season last year and it does not look like the streak will be broken anytime soon. Chievo has struggled up to now as the Flying Donkeys of Verona are finding it difficult to score goals so far this year. They are hoping that the tandem of Sergio Pellissier and David Di Michele can start pumping in some goals. Chievo has received some good news in that Alberto Paloschi might be ready to go for this one. Juventus on-loan striker Nicolas Bendtner is hoping to make his Serie A debut should the coach deem him fit enough to feature. However, Arturo Vidal will most likely sit this one out after he sustained a minor ankle injury in midweek against Chelsea. Chievo will be hoping for the upset here, but I believe Juventus is simply too strong for them. If the determined Juve shows up for duty, then the Bianconeri will most definitely dominate the whole park!
SS Lazio welcomes Genoa to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Genoa played very well for 60 minutes against the reigning Italian Champions last weekend. The Grifone continued their entertaining style of play against Juve, and they will be aiming to do the same against the Biancocelesti. Ciro Immobile and Marco Borriello seem to be developing quite a partnership. Genoa midfielder Jankovic’s task will be to slow down Lazio’s main playmaker Hernanes who is on fire as of late. He has become the leader that the Lazio faithful were hoping. This will be an entertaining match seeing that both teams play an attack-minded game. But, I give the edge to Lazio who I believe will win this encounter and stay in the running for top spot for another week. They have conceded only one goal so far this season.
Napoli will travel to Sicily to battle Catania at the Renzo Barbera. The Azzurri have played well enough to remain undefeated so far. Goran Pandev, Marek Hamsik, and Edinson Cavani have performed extremely well when featured together causing their opponents’ heads to spin. However, if one of these players were not able to feature, head coach Walter Mazzarri would call up promising talent such as Italian wonder-kid Lorenzo Insigne and Chilean Edu Vargas who scored a hat-trick against AIK Stockholm in the Europa League. Napoli’s midfield should be able to control this game against a Catania team that plays very well as a unit. This mentality is a reason for which visitors should not take Catania for granted. My pick, though, is Napoli to remain undefeated with a 100% record.
The Sunday evening match will be played in Udine where Udinese welcomes struggling AC Milan. These two teams are looking for a confidence booster. The Rossoneri’s style of play requires a playmaker to be present on the field which is something they are really missing at the moment seeing that the side lacks creativity when entering the 18-yard box. Massimiliano Allegri, whose head Berlusconi would love to have on a platter, is hoping that the return of Riccardo Montolivo can help with this problem. Udinese has not won a game this season and have struggled all over the field. Guidolin’s men are also missing some key components in the midfield such as Luis Muriel, Emmanuele Babu and Pablo Armero. This fixture will most likely end in a tie. Historically speaking, Milan has always struggled with Udinese no matter where they play. Udinese is due for a good performance, but it will still not be enough for the win.
| Week 4 | 23 Sep 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Atalanta | Palermo | |
| Bologna | Pescara | |
| Cagliari | Roma | |
| Catania | Napoli | |
| Inter | Siena | |
| Juventus | Chievo | |
| Lazio | Genoa | |
| Parma | Fiorentina | |
| Sampdoria | Torino | |
| Udinese | Milan |
| 2012-13 | Overall | Home | Away | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pts | P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | |
|
Juventus
|
9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
|
Napoli
|
9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
|
Lazio
|
9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
|
Sampdoria (-1)
|
8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
|
Inter
|
6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|
Fiorentina
|
6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
|
Roma
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
|
Catania
|
4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
|
Torino (-1)
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Milan
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
|
Genoa
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|
Chievo
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
|
Parma
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
|
Bologna
|
3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
|
Atalanta (-2)
|
2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
|
Cagliari
|
2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
Udinese
|
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
|
Palermo
|
1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
|
Pescara
|
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
|
Siena (-6)
|
-4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
