Serie A Preview: Reggina - Juventus
What: Serie A Week 24
Who: Reggina - Juventus
When: Saturday February 22, 20:00CET
Where: Stadio Oreste Granillo, Reggio Calabria
Juventus looking for second place
The Bianconeri are right back in the hunt for the remaining automatic Champions League place and the possibility of Claudio Ranieri’s side taking it is quite high following their 1-0 win over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin last Saturday.
A shaky start to 2008 seemed to all but end Juve’s hopes of taking the all important second place but back to back wins against Udinese and the Giallorossi as well as a blip in Roma’s recent league form has opened the door wide open.
Several Juve stars including Alessandro Del Piero and Mauro Camoranesi have come out this week and they have insisted that the Bianconeri will not settle for anything less than second place. Del Piero has been on fire for Juventus this season and he is playing some of his best football this side of 30. David Trezeguet will also be looking to extend his lead in the top scorers chart against a Reggina side who,for most part of the season, have been struggling at the bottom.
The Bianconeri have always faired well against the minnows from Reggio Calabria. The Old Lady crushed the Amaranto 4-0 in the reverse in Turin earlier this season and they will be looking to do the same when they travel south on Saturday night.
Roma host Fiorentina on Sunday which is bound to be a difficult game for the Giallorossi given the Viola’s lightening form. So Juventus know that this is the perfect chance pip Roma into second and set themselves up for one final sprint towards reaching their objective come the end of the season.
Reggina desperate for points
They say that points make prizes and at Reggina the prize demanded by club President Lilo Foti is Serie A survival. The club have been languishing in the relegation mire for almost the whole season and it seems as if this will not change for the visit of Juventus.
Foti is running out of patience with his coach Renzo Ulivieri. Once upon a time Ulivieri was a successful tactician envied by many, especially during his Cagliari and Bologna years. But it seems that not even he can wave his magic wand and stop the Amaranto from playing Serie B football next season.
Reggina have not picked up a point since January and it looks as if they will not improve that record. If anything they will probably end up picking up the pieces of a so far broken and uninspiring season.
Three points against Juventus will seem like gold dust to the Calabrian’s and this might just be their chance to turn their season around other wise their Serie A status will be hostage to fortune.
The problem for Reggina has been up front. They have only scored 19 goals this season which is woeful for a side which, at the start of the campaign, had hopes of playing in Europe come September. They have conceded 37 at the back which is not that bad considering Atalanta have conceded 35 and they are in the hunt for Europe.
Foti was moaning this week about how Chelsea had allegedly taken one of their players without consent, but someone needs to let Mr Foti know that there are more important priorities which need to be dealt with first and none more so than escaping the drop.
Form Guide
Reggina
17/02 (Serie A): Reggina-Udinese 1-3
09/02 (Serie A): Roma-Reggina 2-0
03/02 (Serie A): Reggina-Torino 1-3
30/01 (Serie A): Reggina-Milan 0-1
27/01 (Serie A): Atalanta-Reggina 2-2
Juventus
16/02 (Serie A): Juventus-Roma 1-0
10/02 (Serie A): Udinese-Juventus 1-2
03/02 (Serie A): Juventus-Cagliari 1-1
30/01 (Coppa Italia): Juventus-Inter 2-3
27/01 (Serie A): Livorno-Juventus 1-3
Team News
Reggina: Angelo Garcia and Inacio Joelson remain out through injury otherwise Ulivieri has a full squad to choose from. He will have to ensure he picks the right XI against Juventus.
Juventus: The Bianconeri have a numer of stars missing but this should not be a problem for Ranieri as he has a squad bursting with talent. Vincenzo Iaquinta (Back), Marco Marchionni(Thigh) and Jorge Andrade(Knee) are out of the clash.
Players to watch
Reggina: Nicola Amoruso. The former Juventus striker is excellent in front of goal and he will be hoping to pull one over his former employee’s.
Juventus: Alessandro Del Piero. The Number 10 has been in stunning form all season and he will be the one who can drag his side to steal all three points.
Probable Starting XI
Reggina(4-3-2-1): Campagnolo; Lanzaro, Valdez, Aronica, Modesto; Missiroli, Barreto, Cozza; Vigiani, Amoruso; Makinwa
Juventus(4-4-2): Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Camoranesi, Sissoko, Zanetti, Nedved; Trezeguet, Del Piero
Prediction:
Juventus will prove to strong for Reggina in this one. It will not be easy for the Bianconeri as the Amaranto are sure to put up a fight but Juve will come away with a win.
Reggina 0-2 Juventus