Serie A betting returns on January 7th and 8th with the first round of fixtures in 2012. Inter Milan host Parma in an attempt to try and close the gap at the top. Elsewhere, Serie A leaders Milan travel to Atalanta and Juventus go on the road against bottom club Lecce. Find here a match by match betting preview and predictions for the all the Italian Serie A matchday 17 fixtures. 

SIENA-LAZIOSiena sit 16th in Serie A – they boast a steady home record with three wins, two draws and three defeats, scoring 11 and conceding just seven in the process. After 16 Rounds Lazio is on the 4th place and is the best team in away matches in the Serie A this season (W5 D2 L0). In Siena’s eight home games they are yet to be behind at half-time, in addition Lazio have only been ahead in two of their away victories. Only Juventus and Udinese have conceded fewer goals than Lazio this season but, on average, the hosts are conceding a goal a game in Serie A this term.

Probable Lineups
Siena (4-4-2): Pegolo; Angelo, Rossettini, Terzi, Del Grosso; Mannini, Gazzi, Bolzoni, Brienza; Calaiò, Destro.
Lazio (4-4-2): Bizzarri; Stankevicius, Biava, Diakitè, Radu; Sculli, Ledesma, Cana, Lulic; Klose, Cisse.

Siena vs Lazio predictions
Under 2,5 goals @ 1.70
The Draw (Halftime) @ 2.10

INTER MILAN vs PARMAInter have been impressive recently, but only if we look at results. They are currently in the 5th position in Serie A with 26 points from 16 matches while Parma stands in the 13th position with 19 points. The hosts aim to continue their four-match winning run that helped them return to the title race, whereas Parma probably wouldn’t mind recording the fifth straight draw in Serie A.
Inter will miss in this first match of the new year an important player like Wesley Sneijder that is still injured while another miss for them would be the striker Diego Forlan that stands also out with an injury. Coach Colomba has all the players at his disposal.

Probable Lineups
Inter Milan(4-4-2):Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo; Zanetti, T. Motta, Cambiasso, Alvarez; Milito, Pazzini.
Parma (4-4-1-1): Mirante; Zaccardo, Santacroce, Paletta, Gobbi; Biabiany, Galloppa, Morrone, Modesto; Giovinco; Floccari.

Inter Milan vs Parma Predictions
The Draw (Inter Handicap -1) @ 3.55
1:0 Risultato Esatto @ 7.50


UDINESE vs CESENAUdinese have the best home league record in Serie A, having lost their 100% record when drawing 0-0 with Juventus last time out.  Udinese also have the meanest defence in Serie A, who have shipped only nine goals since the start of the season. Samir Handanovic has managed 10 clean sheets this season, more than any other 'keeper in Serie A. Cesena sit one place off the bottom of the league having lost ten matches this season.  They are Serie A’s lowest scorers, currently averaging 0.5 goals per game. Cesena have not shared the points in their last eight games, and have lost their last two against Atalanta and Inter.

Probable Lineups
Udinese (3-5-1-1): Handanovic; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Isla, Pinzi, Asamoah, Armero; Floro Flores; Di Natale.
Cesena (4-2-3-1): Antonioli; Comotto, Von Bergen, Rodriguez, Lauro; Parolo, Guana; Ceccarelli, Mutu, Candreva; Eder.

Udinese vs Cesena predictions
Udinese -1 Handicap @ 2.45
Udinese clean sheet @ 1.95

ATALANTA vs AC MILANAtalanta’s 4-1 bashing of Cesena days before Christmas brought an end to a run of five consecutive Serie A draws which mean it’s seven games unbeaten for Stefano Colantuono’s side. Atalanta are the only team outside Serie A’s top three who have yet to lose a home game this season. AC Milan are unbeaten in their last six away league matches and appear to have tightened up in defence, keeping five clean sheets in their last six games. They haven’t been beaten in six on their travels since faltering 2-0 at Juventus in early October. In addition to Cassano, Yepes, and Flamini, who are all out with long-term issues, Ambrosini is suspended for card accumulation.

Probable Lineups
Atalanta (4-4-1-1): Consigli; Masiello, Ferri, Manfredini, Peluso; Schelotto, Cigarini, Padoin, Bonaventura; Marilungo; Denis.
AC Milan (4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Bonera, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Aquilani, Van Bommel, Nocerino; Boateng; Robinho, Ibrahimovic.

Atalanta vs AC Milan predictions
The Draw @ 3.60
1:1 Correct Score @ 7.50


BOLOGNA vs CATANIACurrently the hosts are in eighth place with 22 points in the ranking and the guests are in 17th place with 15 points. Bologna So far have 5 wins, 7 draws and 4 losses with a negative goal difference 20-23. However Catania haveonly 4 wins, 3 draws and 9 losses with a goal difference 14-24. In their last match as hosts Bologna lost to AS Roma with 0:2 and in this match they should make up for the lost points.

Probable Lineups
Bologna (3-5-2): Gillet; Raggi, Loria, Antonsson; Crespo, Perez, Krhin, Mudingayi, Rubin; Acquafresca, Di Vaio.
Catania (3-5-2): Campagnolo; Potenza, Legrottaglie, Bellusci; Izco, Almiron, Lodi, Sciacca, Marchese; Bergessio, Barrientos.

Bologna vs Catania predictions
X2 Double Chance @ 1.60
Both teams to score @ 1.97

CAGLIARI vs GENOA Genoa are currently in 10th place with 21 points and if they win in this game they can surpass Calcio Catania. While Cagliari are in 15 th place, with 18 points and have the opportunity to overtake Parma FC. In their last match as a visiting team Genoa lost from Napoli with 6:1. Cagliari have won only 1 game at home: against poor newcomers from Novara. Before the game against Genoa coach Davide Ballardini has some serious squad troubles: Nene, Conti, Agostini are out while Astori has been recovered but will not take part in this game. Genoa have completed the signing of World Cup-winning striker Alberto Gilardino from Serie A rivals Fiorentina.

Probable Lineups
Cagliari (4-3-1-2): Agazzi; Pisano, Canini, Ariaudo, Agostini; Dessena, Nainggolan, Ekdal; Cossu; Larrivey, Ibarbo.
Genoa (4-3-3): Frey; Mesto, Dainelli, Kaladze, Antonelli; M. Rossi, Veloso, Merkel; Zè Eduardo, Gilardino, Jankovic.

Cagliari vs Genoa Predictions
Under 2,5 goals @ 1.65
The Draw @ 3.50


LECCE vs JUVENTUSLecce’s attacking philosophy can sneak up on Juventus, which have always manifested a weakness against sides that do attack them fearlessly.  They nearly took a win in Parma but could not maintain a 2 goal lead at Tardini, while Lazio left Via Del Mare with 3 points but was dominated by Lecce players. Whilst Lecce haven’t won a single home game this season, Juventus have won three of their eight away fixtures to date and are yet to taste defeat on their travels. Juventus have the second best defense in the league, only conceding 11 goals this season and has yet  to lose this season. Neither team will be missing any players so it should be both at full strength.

Probable Lineups
Lecce (3-5-2): Benassi; Oddo, Carrozzieri, Tomovic; Cuadrado, Obodo, Giacomazzi, Bertolacci, Olivera; Muriel, Di Michele.
Juventus (4-3-3): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio; Pepe, Matri, Vucinic.

Lecce vs Juventus Predictions
Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.94
Draw/Juventus HT/FT @ 4.80

NOVARA-FIORENTINANovara earned 5 point from the last 3 home matches but their pour defence conceded at least one gol in all eight home games so far. As for Fiorentina, even since Delio Rossi’s arrival as a replacement for Mihajlovic things have not yet changed for the better. They only had one Serie A victory from six in his tenure. The calendar was always going to be Rossi’s enemy though. He had home games with Milan, Roma and in-form Atalanta and away games to Palermo and Inter, rounding off with the derby at Siena. Considering they only lost two of those it was not such a bad run of results after all. Novara acquired Caracciolo from Genoa while Fiorentina sold Gilardino to Genoa.

Probable Lineups
Novara (4-3-1-2): Ujkani; Morganella, Paci, Ludi, Gemiti; Marianini, Radovanovic, Rigoni; Mazzarani; Rubino, Meggiorini.
Fiorentina (4-3-3): Boruc; Cassani, Gamberini, Natali, Nastasic; Behrami, Montolivo, Lazzari; Cerci, Jovetic, Vargas.

Novara vs Fiorentina Predictions
1X Double Chance @ 1.55
The draw (Halftime) @ 2.05

ROMA-CHIEVO The hosts are in eighth place with 24 points in the standings after 7 wins, 3 draws and 6 losses since the beginning of the championship. The guests are in 12th place in the standings with 20 points, achieved after 5 wins,5 draws and 6 losses this season. In his visits the team has 8 games so far, which ended with 1 win, 2 draws and 5 losses. Chievo always manage to keep themselves out of trouble, and after a bad moment in the middle of the first half of the season, they seem to have found a balance again. The new formula, with Thereau as trequartista and Paloschi partnering Pellissier, is working and will be confirmed. Roma beat Napoli and Bologna in their last two games before the Christmas break; they have never won three in a row under Luis Enrique. Roma's striker Osvaldo got injured during the winter break, so Totti is going to play as a "false nine" in a 4-3-3 formation. He is yet to score his first goal in this campaign, and is the player with the most shots attempted (23) amongst those without goals scored.

Probable Lineups
AS Roma (4-3-3): Stekelenburg; Rosi, Juan, Heinze, Taddei; Gago, De Rossi, Pjanic; Lamela, Totti, Bojan. A disp.: Curci, Kjaer, Josè Angel, Greco, Perrotta, Viviani, Simplicio.
Chievo (4-3-1-2): Sorrentino; Sardo, Andreolli, Cesar, Jokic; Sammarco, Bradley, Hetemaj; Thereau; Pellissier, Paloschi.

AS Roma - Chievo Predictions
AS Roma @ 1.67
2:1 Correct Score @ 8.50

PALERMO vs NAPOLIPalermo comes into this match sitting in 9 th place and before the winter break were winless in their last four matches. This teams performances to date at home versus away are night and day, away from the Renzo Barbara the club is winless with a 0-3-6 record and a -11 goal difference compared to their 6-0-1 home record and a +9 goal difference. As for Napoli, they are currently sitting in 6th place and they have already signed Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas from Universidad de Chile. Lavezzi is injured but Vargas won't be on the pitch for this clash. The Azzurri finished the 2011 with an explosive win against Genoa: 6-2 at S.Paolo stadium. Hosts are without their most talented men, Ilicic and Hernandez.

Probable Lineups
Palermo (4-4-2): Benussi; Munoz, Silvestre, Migliaccio, Balzaretti; Alvarez, Barreto, Bacinovic, Bertolo; Miccoli, Budan.
Napoli (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Zuniga; Hamsik, Pandev; Cavani.

Palermo vs Napoli Predictions
Napoli @ 2.40
Both teams to score @ 1.80

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