Serie A - Round 13 - The break is over

Bologna – Inter

The Menarini’s choice of opting for manager Colomba leading their team paid dividends as they can now boast a 100% record from their last two home games. Those six points were the total they collected from their past three games lifting them above the relegation zone. The third game was a trip to the Olimpico where they gave a hard time to home team Roma and would have deserved to travel back with a point.

Inter should not take this game lightly given Bologna’s recent improvements in front of their crowd. Mourinho already had to deal with another scare during the international break as jolly player Sneijder got injured. His fitness, as usual, is precarious and is keeping the Portuguese waiting before being able to decide on his starting eleven.

The thoughts were initially about applying some turn around in his roster ahead of the visit to the Nou Camp next Tuesday. However, Sneijder would have started anyway given his enormous impact on Inter’s efficacy in attack.

One who should start the game is Balotelli, giving some minutes of rest to either Eto’o or Milito, two men who will be sure starters in Spain. Mourinho’s mind might change though as the African Italian youngster was once again the main actor in a play which did not go down well with Inter. He expressed his sympathy for city rivals Milan whilst visiting some kids in an activity organized by the club. The incident was supposedly cleared but it will not be a surprise if the manager’s choices are affected by it.

The records say that Inter usually still do prevail when visiting Bologna, even though the wins are usually marginal. They have dropped only two points against them in the past eight Serie A encounters. The Nerazzurri are in fact, not surprisingly, much stronger this time as well but the difference will be down to the level of motivations after the break.

Juventus – Udinese

Captain Del Piero is finally back to help his side in the battles which have become quite delicate at this point. The Champions League struggles will continue next Wednesday when they visit Bordeaux with an eye cast on Bayern’s match against Maccabi Haifa.

Domestically, they will seek to at least prevent the five-point gap from widening further. Inter’s home draw with Roma helped ease the burden as the Nerazzurri squandered their chance of keeping the distance wide enough with a depressing display in the past round.

In order to keep up the pace the Old Lady will need to silence Udinese’s attempts on Sunday night. It will require that they do not get caught out cold in their own lair as happened three weeks ago against Napoli. Their defence has been giving away stupid goals and that is what Ferrara will emphasize for future reference.

Marchisio is back and can take a place in midfield again, probably replacing Poulsen. However, ahead of the Bordeaux trip it might be Melo who makes way.

Udinese’s past six matches have produced just four points. They were not in form after the break and Marino hopes his side have taken the opportunity to restart afresh. Nonetheless, their records away from home this season are not encouraging. The best they have done is a draw, twice.

Udinese have the right people to hurt a distracted Juventus backline… or so they would usually. For this game, many of the starters in the three-pronged attack they usually field will be absent. Floro Flores, Pepe and Sanchez are injured whilst star striker Di Natale is suspended.

In the past eight games there has always been a winner in the encounters between these two sides. On all occasions the wins where by just one goal. At this very delicate moment, if there is to be a winner I would pick Juventus. They need to keep Inter in sight and Udinese are very unlucky with their absentees. A toothless visiting team should not have enough to trouble Juventus much.

Napoli – Lazio

Napoli have not won once in the past four home meetings with Lazio, including a Coppa Italia game which finished 2-2. Mazzarri might not think much of this. After all he has already done the impossible with this team, managing an impressive series of victims which included Juventus and Fiorentina. Milan were restrained as well. However, they then could not go beyond a drab stalemate when they faced Catania in their last match.

Lazio have the real troubles though. It has been twenty years since they last presented themselves with such a shameful position in the standings. They have not won a match in the league for three months now. The season-opening triumph over Inter in the Italian Super Cup in China eluded many. It is time for Ballardini to produce results or else walk out. The problem here would also be financial as president Lotito would not welcome paying a manager who is actually just seeing his contract run out on the sidelines. The impression is that Lazio would have to stick with Ballardini for a longer time. Therefore there is need for a turnaround in performance.

The team seemed optimistically aware for 45 minutes in their loss against Milan. They just need to focus more on matters related to the pitch rather than those related to outside rumours.

Unfortunately Ballardini will not have Matuzalem, one of the few players who can be salvaged from this season so far. His injuries are not healed well yet.

Napoli will be counting on Hamsik and a recovered Lavezzi who has been doing very well in terms of performances, dispensing assists and helping the team’s forward maneuvers. However, he is still missing the goals.

Up against him will be another player, one who seems truly lost though, – Zarate. The fellow Argentine needs to recover his old self. Maybe this will be his game.