I want to wish you a “Merry Christmas” to all of you my readers. It’s a special day and I am ready to commemorate this day as the arrival of Jesus Christ to save us. May God Bless you all and your families. My blessings.
Note: Serie A will resume on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 January 2014 with Week 18.
Hello my friends. Here is the Serie A ROUNDUP for
the
Serie A Week 17, 2013 – 2014 Season on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December 2013, matchday 17. Serie A will resume on Sunday 5 – Monday 6 January 2014 with Round 18.
It’s the last Serie A round of 2013 and Juventus remaining as sole top leader followed by AS Roma. Four games this round with 4 goals result! Juventus defeating Atalanta with a 4-1 crowning themselves as number one. Roma also with a 4 – 0 defeating Catania and keeping up the race along Juventus for the Scudetto. Juventus winning their 9th consecutive win.
The Milan Derby and President Thohir will get his wish granted. Thohir asked Inter coach Walter Mazzarri to win the Milan Derby as a gift for him. Inter opening the score in the 86th minute with forward Rodrigo Palacio.
Napoli remaining in third position after the draw against Cagliari at the Sant’Elia Stadium. It’s the first away draw for Napoli and every time losing more points and overtaking Juventus becoming difficult.
Sad news for Livorno losing at the Armando Picchi Stadium against Udinese. Livorno not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Livorno ending 2013 in the relegation zone. Good news is for Bologna managing to leave the relegation zone after defeating Genoa and now in the 17th position. Still in relegation zone is Catania winning only 2 games this season.
Here is the situation. Juventus in the 1st position with 46 points and a positive goal difference of +28. AS Roma in the 2nd position with 41 points and a positive goal differene of +28. Napoli in the 3rd position with 36 points and a positive goal difference of +16. The Europa League zone. Fiorentina in the 4th position with 33 points and a positive goal difference of +13. Inter in the 5th position with 31 points and a positive goal difference of +16.
Relegation Zone: Sassuolo in the 18th position with 14 points and a negative goal difference of -19. Livorno in the 19th position with 13 points and a negative goal difference of -13. Catania in the 20th position with 10 points and a negative goal difference of -22.
Up to Round 17, Week 17 most scored goals in favor: Juventus scoring 39 goals
Up to Round 17, Week 17 most scored against: Sassuolo conceding 36 goals Top scorer up to Round 17: Fiorentina forward Giuseppe Rossi with 14 goals
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Here are the declarations of AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia after the Serie A Week 17 game, AS Roma 4 – 0 Catania on Sunday 22 December 2013.
Serie A Standing AFTER the game:
AS Roma, 2nd position with 41 points and a positive goal difference of +28
Catania, 20th position with 10 points and a negative goal difference of -18
“The
first half was ugly, but the second one was stellar. I always want to
see the team playing like that. The experiment with four forwards? We’ve
been working on it since the beginning of the season and I’ve also
fielded it in other games. There was more balance in the second half,
but a draw would have been a horrible result. I made the choice since we
needed a victory.
“A summary for 2013? That’s simple: we have 41 points after 17 games,
which is extraordinary. Normally with these kinds of stats we’d be in
first place, but Juve are winning all their games this year. We’ll think
about our clash in Turin after Christmas.
Photo asroma.it
“Castan and Benatia? They played a great match, and with two players
like that in the back we can also make more attacking choices from a
playing standpoint.
“Juventus? Their team is built to win the league and the Champions
League. They’re two teams in one. We’ll continue on the road we’re on.
It’s much easier to win certain games with the captain, Gervinho and
Destro.
“Gervinho’s goal? He made a great play to get to the goal, beating four
men along the way. And I really liked the final pass from Ljajic.
“The January transfer market? It opens on the first of the next month
and we’ll have time to reflect on things. We’ll have to wait and see how
our injury situation is. If we can improve the team then we’ll do it,
but the first thing I want to say is that I want to see all of the
players on the current squad staying here. Then we’ll see whether or not
we’ll sign someone; you need balance in the locker room. We want to
qualify for the Champions League.”
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
AS Roma, 2nd position with 41 points and a positive goal difference of +28
Catania, 20th position with 10 points and a negative goal difference of -18
Stats BEFORE the game: Top scorer for AS ROMA: Alessandro Florenzi and Kevin Strootman with 4 goals each
Top scorer for CATANIA: Pablo Barrientos and Lucas Castro with 3 goals each
Great victory for AS Roma crushing Catania at the Olimpico di Roma Stadium. A victory giving hope to the Roman gladiators to continue dreaming with the Scudetto. The gap with Juventus is 5 points, Juve with 46 and Roma 41 points. Problem is for Catania ending 2013 in the last position of the table. Catania winning only 2 games this season.
Here is AS ROMA official starting lineup by coach Rudi Garcia:
AS ROMA (4-2-3-1):
De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Dodò; Pjanic, Bradley, Gervinho, Francesco Totti, Ljajic;
Mattia Destro
Here is CATANIA official starting lineup by coach De Canio:
Click the video to watch the highlights of the match, AS ROMA vs CATANIA,
Sunday 22 December 2013, Olimpico di Roma Stadium, Rome, Italy, Serie A
Week 17
Commentaries radio cronaca by Carlo Zampa
Photos courtesy of asroma.it
Italian Serie A Week 17
AS Roma 4 – 0 Catania
Sunday 22 December 2013
Olimpico di Roma Stadium
Rome, Italy
15:00
Referee: GERVASONI
Assistants: BARBIRATI – LA ROCCA
Fourth Official: GRILLI
ADD1: ORSATO
ADD2: DI PAOLO
Attendance: 40,599
Goals: 18 Mehdi Benatia, 56′ Mattia Destro, 60′ Mehdi Benatia, 80, Gervinho
Official formations – lineups:
AS ROMA (4-2-3-1):
De Sanctis; Maicon, Benatia, Castan, Dodò; Pjanic (81′
Florenzi), Bradley, Gervinho, Totti (87′ F. Ricci), Ljajic;
Destro (59′ Taddei)
Subs not used: (Skorupski, Lobont, Burdisso, Jedvaj,
Romagnoli, Torosidis, Marquinho, Mazzitelli, Di Mariano).
Coach: Rudi Garcia.
CATANIA (4-3-3):
Frison; Peruzzi (45′ Biraghi), Rolin, Legrottaglie, Alvarez;
Izco, Guarente, Plasil; Barrientos, Leto (67′ Monzon), Castro
(60′ Bergessio)
Subs not used: (Andujar, Ficara, Capuano, Freire, Boateng,
Keko).
Coach: De Canio.
Italian Serie A Week 17
AS Roma 4 – 0 Catania
Sunday 22 December 2013
Olimpico di Roma Stadium
Rome, Italy
15:00
Referee: GERVASONI
AS Roma
Match Stats
Catania
4
Goals
0
21(10)
Shots (on goal)
10(1)
11
Fouls
19
9
Corner kicks
3
3
Offsides
1
68%
Ball Possession
32%
1
Yellow Cards
4
0
Red Cards
0
1
Saves
6
What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why?
Hello my friends. Here is the Serie A PREVIEW for
the
Serie A Week 17, 2013 – 2014 Season on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December 2013, matchday 17.
This is the last Serie A games in 2013. Yep. Serie A will resume on January 5, 2014. One thing is clear. The absolute leaders in 2013 are Juventus whether they win, draw, or lose. Juventus have 43 points with a gap of +5 points with Roma holding the second position having 38 points. Challenge for the Roman gladiators will be to catch up and get back to the 1st position while Juventus have the duty to keep winning to secure the 1st position.
This week we have the awaited MILAN DERBY between Inter and AC Milan. Compared to previous years, Inter are commanding this season in Serie A over AC Milan. Inter who are under the new leadership of President Eric Thohir have a 9 points advantage. Inter with 28 points while AC Milan having just 19 points. The specific request from Thohir to coach Walter Mazzarri is to make him a present which is to win the Milan Derby.
The battle for survival in this round will see Livorno, Bologna, and Catania trying to revert their luck in 2014.
AC Milan and Parma will look to win in this Round to have a boost with their recent anniversary.
Here is the situation. Juventus in the 1st position with 40 points and a
positive goal difference of +21. AS Roma in the 2nd position with 37
points and a positive goal difference of +24. Napoli in the 3rd
position with 32 points and a positive goal difference of +14. The Europa League zone. Inter
in the 4th position with 28 points and a positive goal difference of
+17. Fiorentina in the 5th position with 27 points and a positive goal
difference of +9
Relegation Zone: Livorno in the 18th position with 13
point and a negative goal difference of -12. Bologna in the 19th
position with 12 points and a negative goal difference of -15. Catania
in the 20th position with 10 points and a negative goal difference of
-18.
Up to Round 16, Week 16 most scored goals in favor: Inter scoring 36 goals
Up to Round 16, Week 16 most scored against: Sassuolo conceding 31 Top scorer up to Round 16: Fiorentina forward Giuseppe Rossi with 13 goals
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Livorno, 18th position with 13 points and a negative goal difference of -12
Udinese, 15th position with 17 points and a negative goal difference of -6
Disciplinary Situation. 2 suspended players for LIVORNO: De Lucia (until 27 December 2013), Duncan
Here is the probable formation for LIVORNO 3-5-2:
1 BARDI,
85 CODA,
23 EMERSON,
17 CECCHERINI,
28 SCHIATTARELLA,
10 LUCI,
27 BIAGIANTI,
19 GRECO,
15 MBAYE,
20 EMEGHARA,
9 PAULINHO
Here is the probable formation for UDINESE 3-4-2-1:
1 BRKIC,
11 DOMIZZI,
5 DANILO,
75 HEURTAUX,
8 BASTA,
3 ALLAN,
21 LAZZARI,
34 GABRIEL SILVA,
37 PEREYRA,
32 BRUNO FERNANDES,
10 DI NATALE
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Cagliari, 12th position with 19 points and a negative goal difference of -6
Napoli, 3rd position with 35 points and a positive goal difference of +16
Stats BEFORE the game: Top scorer for CAGLIARI: Marco Sau and Daniele Conti with 4 goals each
Top scorer for NAPOLI: Forward Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Maria Callejon with 8 goals each
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Bologna, 19th position with 12 points and a negative goal difference of -15
Genoa, 8th position with 20 points and a negative goal difference of -2
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Atalanta, 13th position with 18 points and a negative goal difference of -4
Juventus, 1st position with 43 points and a positive goal difference of +25
Here is the probable formation for ATALANTA 4-4-1-1:
47 CONSIGLI,
4 SCALONI,
13 CANINI,
3 LUCCHINI,
28 BRIVIO,
23 BRIENZA,
17 CARMONA,
21 CIGARINI,
90 KONE,
11 MORALEZ,
19 DENIS
Here is the probable formation for JUVENTUS 3-5-2:
1BUFFON
15BARZAGLI
19BONUCCI
3CHIELLINI
26LICHTSTEINER
23VIDAL
6POGBA
8MARCHISIO
22ASAMOAH
10TEVEZ
14LLORENTE
Juventus will look to end 2013 with a victory.
TORINO – CHIEVO
Referee: DE MARCO
Assistants: LONGO – PADOVAN
Fourth Official: CRISPO
ADD1: CERVELLERA
ADD2: PASQUA
15:00
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Torino, 7th position with 22 points and a positive goal difference of +3
Chievo Verona, 16th position with 15 points and a negative goal difference of -7
Stats BEFORE the game: Top scorer for TORINO: Forward Alessio Cerci with 8 goals
Top scorer for CHIEVO VERONA: Forward Alberto Paloschi and Cyril Thereau with 3 goals each
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Sassuolo, 17th position with 14 points and a negative goal difference of -18
Fiorentina, 4th position with 30 points and a positive goal difference of +12
Disciplinary Situation. 2 suspended players for SASSUOLO: 4 Magnanelli, 15 Acerbi (suspended for doping)
1 suspended player for FIORENTINA: Cuadrado
Here is the probable formation for SASSUOLO 3-4-3:
79 PEGOLO,
5 ANTEI,
20 BIANCO,
24 MARZORATI,
23 GAZZOLA,
27 KURTIC,
8 MARRONE,
3 LONGHI,
25 BERARDI,
10 ZAZA,
83 FLORO FLORES
Here is the probable formation for FIORENTINA 4-3-3:
1 NETO,
40 TOMOVIC,
2 GONZALO RODRIGUEZ,
15 SAVIC,
23 PASQUAL,
10 AQUILANI,
21 AMBROSINI,
20 BORJA VALERO,
17 JOAQUIN,
49 ROSSI,
66 VARGAS
SAMPDORIA – PARMA
Referee: DI BELLO
Assistants: STALLONE – VIVENZI
Fourth Official: DOBOSZ
ADD1: IRRATI
ADD2: MANGANIELLO
15:00
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Sampdoria, 14th position with 17 points and a negative goal difference of -6
Parma, 10th position with 19 points and a negative goal difference of -2
Stats BEFORE the game: Top scorer for SAMPDORIA: Citadin Eder with 6 goals
Top scorer for PARMA: Forward Antonio Cassano and Marco Parolo with 6 goals each
Disciplinary Situation. 1 suspended player for SAMPDORIA: Gabbiadini
1 suspended player for PARMA: Antonio Cassano
Here is the probable formation for SAMPDORIA 4-2-3-1
1 DA COSTA,
6 RODRIGUEZ,
8 MUSTAFI,
28 GASTALDELLO,
3 COSTA,
17 PALOMBO,
14 OBIANG,
12 SANSONE,
10 KRSTICIC,
21 SORIANO,
9 POZZI
Here is the probable formation for PARMA 4-3-3:
83 MIRANTE,
2 CASSANI,
23 MENDES,
6 LUCARELLI,
18 GOBBI,
30 ACQUAH,
32 MARCHIONNI,
16 PAROLO,
7 BIABIANY,
11 AMAURI,
21 N. SANSONE
Photo sampdoria.it
AS ROMA – CATANIA
Referee: GERVASONI
Assistants: BARBIRATI – LA ROCCA
Fourth Official: GRILLI
ADD1: ORSATO
ADD2: DI PAOLO
15:00
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
AS Roma, 2nd position with 38 points and a positive goal difference of +24
Catania, 20th position with 10 points and a negative goal difference of -18
Stats BEFORE the game: Top scorer for AS ROMA: Alessandro Florenzi and Kevin Strootman with 4 goals each
Top scorer for CATANIA: Pablo Barrientos and Lucas Castro with 3 goals each
Disciplinary Situation. 2 suspended players for AS ROMA: Daniele De Rossi, Strootman
1 suspended player for CATANIA: Spolli
Here is the probable formation for AS ROMA 4-3-3:
26 DE SANCTIS,
13 MAICON,
17 BENATIA,
5 CASTAN,
3 DODÒ,
24 FLORENZI,
4 BRADLEY,
15 PJANIC,
27 GERVINHO,
10 TOTTI,
8 LJAJIC
Here is the probable formation for CATANIA 4-3-3:
1 FRISON,
2 PERUZZI,
6 LEGROTTAGLIE,
5 ROLIN,
34 BIRAGHI,
13 IZCO,
27 GUARENTE,
8 PLASIL,
19 CASTRO,
9 BERGESSIO,
28 BARRIENTOS
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Hellas Verona, 6th position with 26 points and a positive goal difference of +2
Lazio, 9th position with 20 points and a negative goal difference of -1
Stats BEFORE the game: Top scorer for HELLAS VERONA: Jorginho with 7 goals
Top scorer for LAZIO: Forward Miroslav Klose and Antonio Candreva with 4 goals each
Disciplinary Situation. No suspended players for HELLAS VERONA
2 suspended players for LAZIO: Hernanes, Mauri (until 2 May 2014)
Here is the probable formation for HELLAS VERONA 4-3-3
1 RAFAEL,
22 CACCIATORE,
23 GONZALEZ,
22 MAIETTA,
33 AGOSTINI,
2 ROMULO,
19 JORGINHO,
10 HALLFREDSSON,
15 ITURBE,
9 TONI,
21 GOMEZ
Here is the probable formation for LAZIO 4-3-3:
22 MARCHETTI,
29 KONKO,
3 DIAS,
27 CANA,
26 RADU,
23 ONAZI,
5 BIGLIA,
10 EDERSON,
87 CANDREVA,
11 KLOSE,
19 LULIC
INTER – AC MILAN
Referee: MAZZOLENI
Assistants: DI FIORE – BIANCHI
Fourth Official: NICOLETTI
ADD1: BANTI
ADD2: DAMATO
20:45
Serie A Standing BEFORE the game:
Inter, 5th position with 28 points and a positive goal difference of +15
AC Milan, 11th position with 19 points and “0” goal difference
Disciplinary Situation. 1 suspended player for INTER: Ricardo Alvarez
1 suspended player for AC MILAN: Riccardo Montolivo
Here is the probable formation for 3-5-1-1;
1 HANDANOVIC,
14 CAMPAGNARO,
23 RANOCCHIA,
5 JUAN JESUS,
2 JONATHAN,
21 TAIDER,
19 CAMBIASSO,
10 KOVACIC,
55 NAGATOMO,
13 GUARIN,
8 PALACIO
Here is the probable formation for AC MILAN 4-3-1-2:
32 ABBIATI,
2 DE SCIGLIO,
25 BONERA,
17 ZAPATA,
21 CONSTANT,
16 POLI,
34 DE JONG,
4 MUNTARI,
22 KAKÀ,
45 BALOTELLI,
9 MATRI
Photo acmilan.com
What are your predictions? Take a guess and POST THEM NOW…
Let’s get the ball rolling and talk about the games, grab your snacks…
Your Predictions??? Make your calculations and
changes… get your dancing pencil..
Livorno – Udinese
Cagliari – Napoli
Bologna – Genoa
Atalanta – Juventus
Torino – Chievo Verona
Sassuolo – Fiorentina
Sampdoria – Parma
AS Roma – Catania
Hellas Verona – Lazio
Inter – AC Milan
NOTE: Copy and paste in the comment box the predictions adding your own choices.
Anna Italia Predictions.
Livorno – Udinese = LIVORNO
Cagliari – Napoli = DRAW
Bologna – Genoa = BOLOGNA
Atalanta – Juventus = DRAW
Torino – Chievo Verona = TORINO
Sassuolo – Fiorentina = FIORENTINA
Sampdoria – Parma = SAMPDORIA
AS Roma – Catania = AS ROMA
Hellas Verona – Lazio = LAZIO
Inter – AC Milan = AC MILAN