Serie A round 19

Mr. Presentable

Where is kearnsr?


Atalanta v Internazionale: Preview

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is hopeful his league leaders can build on their midweek cup success and claim the spoils against Atalanta tomorrow.
Last weekend's 1-1 draw with Cagliari ended Inter's run of eight successive victories in Serie A.

But the defending champions responded on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Genoa to progress to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

The Nerazzurri will meet Roma in the last eight of the Cup at the end of January, but in the meantime Mourinho's men will turn their attention back to the league campaign.

With Inter still holding a four-point cushion over second-placed Juventus, coach Jose Mourinho shrugged off last weekend's disappointing draw.

"It's always better to win,'' he said. "But for me it's not a problem.

"It can happen in a game where we are supposed to win, we draw and hence, it's no drama. Every game is a challenge in Serie A.

"We had a six-point advantage and that has been cut to four. This weekend it could be one or seven.''

Mourinho is optimistic his side will end the first-half of the campaign on a positive note.

Inter have won 13 of their 18 league matches to date this season with just one defeat - a 1-0 loss at AC Milan on September 28.

Moreover, the Nerazzurri have the best strike force with 32 goals and the strongest defensive line with just 12 goals conceded.

"We are one game away from the half-way mark of the campaign and we are ahead by four points,'' said Mourinho.

"Should we finish the first half of the campaign like this, it will be very good for us.''

Mourinho nevertheless expects the race for the scudetto to be a long battle, with AC Milan and Juve as their main opponents.

"I believe Milan, who are nine points behind us, are still in the title race,'' said Mourinho.

"Juve are playing well and I believe it will be us three to fight for the scudetto.''

Mourinho will be forced to make some changes to his starting XI with Sulley Muntari serving a one-match ban and French midfielder Patrick Vieira still out of action with injury.

The good news for Mourinho is that Ivan Cordoba and Dejan Stankovic have recovered from minor knocks and will be available.

Mourinho is expected to play Adriano alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front, with the Brazilian forward having impressed in the Cup in midweek.

Opponents Atalanta face the daunting task of trying to contain an Inter side that has dropped just seven points this campaign.

The Bergamaschi do have a decent record at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri D'Italia this season with only two defeats, and they will be hoping to cause the visitors some problems.

Luigi Del Neri's men go into the game on the back of successive losses against Juventus and Palermo.

Last weekend's 3-2 reverse at Palermo saw the Bergamaschi drop to 11th in the standings.

The hosts will be without injured striker Alessio Cerci, but welcome back defender Thomas Manfredini and midfielder Diego de Ascentis from suspension

I quite fancy Atalanta to get a point in this one.

Other fixtures:
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
17:00 UK Siena v Reggina
19:30 UK AC Milan v Fiorentina

Sunday, January 18, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE

14:00 UK Cagliari v Udinese
14:00 UK Catania v Bologna
14:00 UK Chievo Verona v Napoli
14:00 UK Lecce v Genoa
14:00 UK Sampdoria v Palermo
14:00 UK Torino v AS Roma
19:30 UK Lazio v Juventus

source http://soccernet.espn.go.com/?cc=5739

Mr. Presentable

Ooops. So Atalanta get all the points.

Ata 3 - 1 Inter

Paparazzo

Supposidly they were all over inter too. Delighted for Jose!