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9/11 17:00 Internazionale v Udinese Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto'o believes his team still has the quality to maintain their recent dominance of Serie A this season. The Nerazzurri host Udinese tomorrow on the back of a goalless result at Bologna in their season opener.
With the media attention centred on AC Milan following their impressive summer signings, Eto'o said: "Everybody is talking about Milan and Juventus, who have brought in many reinforcements, but Inter have the team to continue to win.
"Last season, no-one expected us to have such a great year and instead we won it all.''
The one major difference has been the departure of coach Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, and the arrival of Rafael Benitez as his replacement.
Mourinho underlined his status as one of the best coaches in the world by leading Inter last season to a historic treble of the Champions League, Coppa Italia and their fifth successive scudetto.
"They are two great coaches but very different,'' said Eto'o.
"Mourinho did really well at Inter and we hope we can repeat those achievements with Benitez.''
Udinese, meanwhile, also have a new manager in Francesco Guidolin.
The Friuli outfit lost 1-0 to Genoa in their first game of the season but Guidolin preferred to focus on the positives ahead of their trip to the San Siro.
"We played a good game against Genoa,'' he said. "We defended well and gave Genoa few chances.
"But we must put this defeat behind us and concentrate on our next game against Inter.''
Udinese's defence will be tested by Inter's star-studded attack which includes Goran Pandev, Wesley Sneijder, Eto'o and Diego Milito.
9/11 19:45 Cagliari v AS Roma Marco Borriello will make his Roma debut at Cagliari tomorrow. The Italy striker joined the Giallorossi on a season-long loan deal from AC Milan on the final day of the transfer window in what was seen as a clever piece of business by Claudio Ranieri.
Roma coach Ranieri landed Borriello after Milan bolstered their attacking ranks with the signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho.
"I'm delighted,'' said Ranieri. "We needed someone like him.''
With Roma's top summer signing Adriano still sidelined through injury, Ranieri will hand Borriello a place in the starting XI alongside captain Francesco Totti.
Roma were held to a goalless draw by promoted side Cesena in their Serie A opener and Ranieri expects an improved performance from his players.
"We put 20 balls into the area and no-one was on the receiving end,'' he said.
Roma will be without defender John Arne Riise, who suffered a knock on his head while on international duty with Norway last week.
Cagliari also go in search of their first win of the campaign this weekend after holding Palermo to a 0-0 draw in their first game of the season.
"We still have plenty of room for improvement,'' said Cagliari coach Pier Paolo Bisoli. "We have a lot of work to do.
"The good thing is that we4ve had another week of training behind us.''
Bisoli will have all of his players available for the encounter at the Sant' Elia.
Roma will not be taking Cagliari lightly after being held to a 2-2 draw at Cagliari on their last visit.
9/11 19:45 Cesena v AC Milan Newly-promoted Cesena have the unenviable task of facing AC Milan tomorrow evening. Milan were ruthless in their season opener, demolishing Lecce 4-0 without ever really stepping out of first gear.
Cesena, meanwhile, enjoyed a positive return to Italy's top flight after holding last season's Serie A runners-up Roma to a goalless draw in Rome.
Cesena coach Fabrizio Castori praised his players for their attitude in that game and believes the same approach will be required against Milan.
He said: "It was a difficult game against Roma, but this team has a great spirit of sacrifice and willingness to fight right now.
"The team gave a good account of themselves and have the right spirit.
"Now we have to produce a similar performance against Milan, a team that will compete for all titles this season.''
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri will have all his players available for Saturday's trip to Cesena.
Allegri is set to hand new signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic his debut while Robinho, who also joined the club last week, is set to be relegated to the bench.
Cesena defenders will have their work cut out with Ibrahimovic set to lead Milan's attacking line alongside Brazil pair Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho.
"We have the best striking force in Europe,'' said Ibrahimovic.
"I hope to score at least 25 goals this season although the most important thing is for the team to win.''
More than 23,000 season tickets have been sold and the Dino Manuzzi stadium will be sold out this weekend.
9/12 11:30 Brescia v Palermo Brescia host Palermo tomorrow hoping to claim their first points of the campaign. Serse Cosmi's men got a taste of how challenging their task of avoiding the drop will be after falling to a 2-0 defeat at Parma in their first match since returning to Italy's top flight.
"We have to forget about Serie B and the fact that we were considered one of the best teams in the second tier,'' said Brescia striker Andrea Caracciolo.
"It's a completely different music in Serie A and we have to go out on the pitch with humbleness if we are to get good results.''
Caracciolo is looking forward to playing against his former club.
The Italian striker spent two years at Palermo before joining Napoli in the summer of 2007.
"I have fond memories of my time there,'' he said.
"Palermo have a very strong team and high ambitions this season so we can expect a hard match.
"But it's our first game at home and we are really eager to do well.''
Palermo go into the encounter on the back of a goalless draw against Cagliari.
"It's not the result we had hoped for,'' said Palermo coach Delio Rossi.
"But we've had a week to prepare for the game at Brescia and I believe we will do better.''
Rossi is still without last season's top scorer Fabrizio Miccoli through injury.
New signing Massimo Maccarone and Abel Hernandez will lead Palermo's attack with both strikers hoping to score their first goals of the campaign on Sunday.
9/12 14:00 Lazio v Bologna Alberto Malesani will make his coaching debut with Bologna when his team travels to the Italian capital to meet Lazio tomorrow. Malesani replaced Franco Colomba, who was sacked on the eve of his team's opener against Inter Milan.
Former Siena manager Malesani has plenty of experience in Italy's top flight having coached the likes of Fiorentina, Parma, Udinese and Empoli.
"My aim is to make sure Bologna avoids the drop,'' said Malesani. "I think we have the players to achieve this.
"Colomba did a good job in pre-season and I'm satisfied with the form of my team.
"They showed great character against Inter and I want to see the same determination in Rome.''
The Rossoblu claimed their first point of the campaign in a goalless result against Inter.
Lazio got off to a poor start to the campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Sampdoria.
Biancoceleste coach Eddy Reja will be forced to make at least one change to the team with rspect to their Serie A opener.
Lazio striker Sergio Floccari has failed to recover from a muscular injury sustained in that game.
Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi will make his season debut playing alongside Mauro Zarate in attack.
"I want to continue to be crucial for Lazio,'' said Rocchi. "My aim is to surpass the 100th goal mark with the Biancoceleste team.''
Rocchi, 32, has scored 85 times since joining Lazio in 2004.
The good news for the hosts is that Cristian Ledesma has recovered from an ankle injury and will lead Lazio's midfield line against Bologna.
9/12 14:00 Genoa v Chievo Verona Genoa midfielder Domenico Criscito has warned his team-mates not to let their positive start to the season go to their heads. The Grifoni, who face Chievo tomorrow at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, enjoyed a 1-0 triumph at Udinese on the opening day of the campaign.
It was a welcome start, particularly given their poor form on the road last term, when they won just three of 19 away games.
Criscito is expecting better things this term from a squad which he believes has a useful blend of youth and experience, although he knows they must not get carried away.
"This year there is a good mix of youngsters and experienced players,'' said Criscito. "We have a good group which should be able to record some excellent results.
"But we must keep our feet firmly on the ground and continue to work hard because this is just the beginning.
"It's going to be a battle. I saw Chievo's game against Catania and they seemed a squad in good form.
"But this is the first game in front of our home fans this season and we hope to give them a good show.''
Chievo travel to Genoa inspired by their 2-1 victory over Catania in Verona.
However, coach Stefano Pioli knows his team are in for a testing time this weekend.
"A tricky opponent awaits us,'' he said. "But I think we can do well against any team.''
Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini is hoping forward Luca Toni, who suffered a muscle injury in his left thigh, will recover in time to play.
9/12 14:00 Lecce v Fiorentina Lecce midfielder Djamel Mesbah has warned Fiorentina he and his team-mates will be looking to redeem themselves when the two teams meet tomorrow. The promoted outfit lost 4-0 at AC Milan in the opening round of matches and Mesbah has stressed Lecce will be out for a result this weekend.
"The team wants to make up for the performance in Milan and to get our first points of the campaign,'' Mesbah said.
"The desire to do well is definitely there and we have trained a lot.
"We will need to be wary of the quality they (Fiorentina) have in certain players such as Alberto Gilardino. We must also be careful not to give much away whilst at the same time look to take our chances to score.
"Fiorentina is a very good team but we are not afraid of them.''
Lecce coach Luigi De Canio will be without midfielder Ruben Oliveira, who serves a one-match ban.
Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic will be looking for his first win since replacing Cesare Prandelli at the helm this summer.
The Viola had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Napoli in their opening match.
Fiorentina will be without defender Alessandro Gamberini and midfielder Juan Vargas, both serving a one-match ban.
The Viola, who have not won on the road since March 11, will be hoping Gilardino can open his season tally on Sunday.
Gilardino ended his 11-month goalscoring drought with Italy in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Faroe Islands in Florence.
9/12 14:00 Catania v Parma Parma go in search of their first ever win at the Angelo Massimino stadium when they take on Catania tomorrow. The Gialloblu have faced Catania 11 times in Sicily but have yet to come out triumphant.
Italian midfielder Antonio Candreva, who will make his debut with Parma after joining the club on loan from Udinese this summer, hopes they can end that run this weekend.
"It's going to be a very tough match,'' he said. "It's never easy to play at the Massimino stadium but my team already showed in its first game that it can play against anyone.''
Pasquale Marino's men will be eager to pick up where they left off in their 2-0 win to Brescia in their Serie A opener.
Catania coach Marco Giampaolo will be hoping for an improved performance from his players this weekend.
Giampaolo could not hide his disappointment after his team gave away a late penalty in their 2-1 loss to Chievo in their Serie A opener.
"To give away a penalty in the 84th minute is a big blow,'' he said. "We thought we had already secured a draw, a result that would have satisfied us considering how the game developed.
"But after Pellissier scored, we had little time to react.''
Giampaolo will have all of his players available for the encounter while Parma will have to overcome the absence of striker Alberto Paloschi.
Paloschi suffered a muscular injury while on international duty with Italy's under-21 team and will be sidelined for a week.
9/12 14:00 Juventus v Sampdoria The game at Juventus will have a special significance for Sampdoria players. The Blucerchiati will face their former coach Luigi Del Neri for the first time since he left the Genoa-based outfit this summer.
Del Neri led Samp to a fourth-place finish last season before accepting the Juve post.
"It's not going to be just another game for us,'' said Samp striker Giampaolo Pazzini.
"We will take on Del Neri and we know how tough this game will be in Turin.
"We will have to put our emotions to one side and concentrate on taking home three points.''
Samp beat Lazio 2-0 in their Serie A opener and will be looking to pile further misery on Juve.
Juve are looking to halt a poor run of form with their last league victory dating back to April 25.
Luigi Del Neri's men surprisingly lost 1-0 at Bari on day one of the campaign.
Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini is confident his team will bounce back.
The last time both sides met, it was Juve that had the upper hand with a 5-1 triumph in Turin.
"We need a win against Samp to get the season on the right track,'' said Chiellini.
"I still remember our game against them last season because it was our best game of the year.
"It would be wonderful if we could repeat that result on Sunday but the important thing is to get a win.''
Vincenzo Iaquinta is set to play alongside Fabio Quagliarella in the Bianconeri's attack with Alessandro Del Piero likely to be relegated to the bench.
9/12 19:45 Napoli v Bari Bari face Napoli tomorrow looking for their first win in Naples since 1959. After beating Chievo 1-0 on the opening day of the season, the Galletti are ready to spring their next surprise at Napoli.
But Bari midfielder Alessandro Parisi knows it is going to take something special to get a result at the San Paolo stadium this weekend.
Napoli twice came from behind to claim a 3-2 victory against Bari last season.
"We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground,'' said Parisi.
"We still remember last season's defeat at Napoli but it all depends on our approach to the game.
"It's going to be a very challenging match with Napoli having important objectives this season.
"But we must take advantage of the few opportunities we will get if we are to be successful.''
Walter Mazzarri's Napoli will be looking for their first success of the campaign after a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina in their opening match bebore the international break.
And Mazzarri knows his team are in for a testing time.
"A tricky opponent awaits us,'' he said. "They are a side which wants to improve on a good campaign season last year.
"They have got off to the best possible start.
"But my players are eager to do well in front of home fans.''
Napoli will be eager to pick up where they left off last season, where they lost just two league games at the San Paolo stadium.
The hosts will be without suspended midfielder Manuele Blasi.
Inter, Juve and Napoli all on Setanta this week.
I'll post up a stream of AC tomorrow, Ibra and Robi set to start.
Edited by Dotty, Sep 11 2010, 03:07 PM.
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