Socrates

Chiellini sees Juve advantage Nov 11, 2011 Giorgio Chiellini admits that a lack of European football this season will increase Juventus

Luciano Moggi: I will continue my fight for Calciopoli justice The former Bianconeri transfer chief insists he has not done anything wrong, despite being handed a suspended jail sentence as he gets ready to appeal the guilty verdict. Nov 11, 2011 Luciano Moggi has vowed to fight on in his battle to clear his name after being convicted of sporting fraud during his time as a Juventus director. The Tribunal of Naples sentenced Moggi to five years and four months in prison this week, though he will not yet spend time in a cell as he will appeal the verdict of the 'Calciopoli 2' trial. Moggi insists he has never committed any fraud or illegality and said he will continue his fight for justice. "I have never done any thing wrong or committed any sporting fraud," Moggi wrote in his Tuttomercatoweb.com column. "However, this sentence has pushed me to fight on. I am convinced I have been accused of something that I did not do. "I will have faith in justice and will pursue this in every form. "This is football, the road is hard and difficult, but I am not afraid." Following the trial, Juventus released a statement claiming the outcome had proved they were not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Not playing in the Champions League is a good thing for Juventus, says Giorgio Chiellini The Italy international assesses his club side's Scudetto credentials and believes that not being involved in the potential distractions of European competition is an advantage. Nov 11, 2011 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini believes a lack of Champions League football can help focus attention on the pursuit of the Serie A title. The Italy international, who is likely to feature in Friday night's friendly against Poland, reflected on the domestic situation his club find themselves in. Juventus are fourth in the standings, but with a game in hand after last Sunday's fixture against Napoli was postponed. It has been an impressive start for the Bianconeri, having already beaten AC Milan and Inter which has strengthened hopes of a title win. And Chiellini feels not playing in Europe gives them an advantage compared to those involved in continental action on a regular basis, but he is not getting carried away. "Not playing in Europe can be an advantage for Juventus for the Scudetto, but next year we want to be there," Chiellini is quoted as saying on Tuttosport. "However, it is still early to say that we are favourites for the title. "I think Milan are up there and Napoli also have a great project."

Luciano Moggi to appeal prison term Juventus statement causes stir Nov 10, 2011 Former Juventus general director Luciano Moggi has announced he will appeal against his sentence. Moggi was on Tuesday found guilty of criminal association aimed at committing sports fraud by a civil court in Naples. The 74-year-old was punished to five years and four months in prison for his role in the match-fixing scandal that rocked Italy five years ago.

Juventus distance themselves from Calciopoli Nov 9, 2011 Juventus states the civil trial surrounding Luciano Moggi and calciopoli confirms their non-involvement in matters relating to the scandal. Moggi was found guilty of sporting fraud and sentenced to five years jail by the tribunal but will appeal, while Juve claims it will continue in their bid to regain lost Scudetti after its appeal for damages was rejected. A statement on the club

Moggi gets jail sentence over match-fixing Nov 9, 2011 NAPLES, Italy - Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi was sentenced to five years and four months in jail on Tuesday for his role in the match-fixing case which led to the club being demoted and stripped of their 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles. Moggi, already banned from football for life, was found guilty of sporting fraud and conspiracy by an Italian court in the criminal trial linked to the affair. Fiorentina owners and brothers Andrea and Diego Della Valle and Lazio president Claudio Lotito were sentenced to 15 months and fined 25,000 euros ($34,600) each. Former referee selector Paolo Bergamo was sentenced to three years and eight months and his colleague Pierluigi Pairetto to one year and 11 months. Prosecutors in Naples, who had been investigating the case, had asked for five years and eight months for Moggi. His lawyer said he would appeal. Moggi, who was not in court, has already been convicted of trying to manipulate the transfer market via a management agency in a separate criminal trial but has never served his one-year term. The defendants are unlikely to spend time in jail due to Italy's lengthy appeals process and the reluctance of judges to imprison offenders for non-violent crimes. Juventus spent a season in Serie B after the scandal. They won promotion at the first attempt but have never since reached their former heights although they are unbeaten this season. The 2005 scudetto was not re-awarded and Inter Milan were declared champions for 2006. Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina were also docked points after being found guilty alongside Juventus of influencing the appointment of referees in the so-called Calciopoli scandal. Earlier this year, Juventus called for Inter's title to be revoked following allegations that they were also involved in the scandal. However, the Italian federation ruled it did not have the power to revoke the decision and Inter were confirmed as champions.

Massimo Ambrosini sees Juventus as title rivals AC Milan's captain believes the Bianconeri have it easier compared to the rest because they are not spending vital energy on European competitions. Nov 10, 2011 AC Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini believes Juventus will be their main rivals for the Scudetto crown this season. Antonio Conte's men have been the early pace setters in Serie A and are currently fourth in the standings, but have a game in hand after last week's game against Napoli was postponed. Napoli have also been tipped as title candidates, but Ambrosini feels their Champions League run could hurt them domestically. "I think Juventus are impressive and they can be a rival for the Scudetto," Ambrosini told Sky Sport Italia. "They have a precise mentality. They are not involved in Europe and so they can be fastidious for the rest. "Napoli? Playing in the Champions League takes up lots of energy and this could hurt Napoli as they are not used to this." Milan are third in the league on 20 points, one more than Juventus.

Andrea Barzagli sent home due to calf strain The Juventus defender is not fit enough to continue as he drops out of the Azzurri team to face Poland and Uruguay in the upcoming friendly internationals. Nov 10, 2011 Italy centre-back Andrea Barzagli is the latest in a long list of injured players forced to withdraw from the squad. Tuttosport reports that tests performed Barzagli on Thursday afternoon revealed he has suffered a calf strain. That led to a consultation with coach Cesare Prandelli and it was decided the Juventus defender is not fit to continue. The news means Barzagli will miss the international friendlies against Poland on Friday and Uruguay next Tuesday. Barzagli joins Sebastian Giovinco, Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi who are all unavailable for Italy.

Chiellini goes on Italy defensive Nov 10, 2011 Giorgio Chiellini wants Italy to again underline their defensive strength under Cesare Prandelli in the game against Poland. Italy have conceded eight goals in 16 ties since Prandelli took charge after World Cup 2010, but only two of them came in their 10 Euro 2012 qualifying encounters.

Barzagli leaves Italy camp Nov 10, 2011 Andrea Barzagli is on his way back to Turin after he withdrew from the Italy squad because of injury. The defender strained a calf muscle in training earlier this week which did rule him out of Friday

Moggi: "I'm a scapegoat" Nov 9, 2011 Luciano Moggi claims he is

Ibrahimovic: Luciano Moggi cried in front of Juventus players due to Calciopoli The Swedish striker has stressed that Juventus won their titles because of hard work rather than by influencing referees, and revealed the former general director was devastated. Nov 9, 2011 AC Milan attacker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has revealed that former Juventus director Luciano Moggi cried in front of his players during a crisis meeting to discuss the Calciopoli scandal. Moggi is seen as one of the main culprits in the case and was found guilty of sporting fraud by the Tribunal of Naples on Tuesday, and was consequently sentenced to five years and four months in prison. Juventus were stripped of the 2004-05 and 2005-06 Serie A titles for their alleged involvement in Calciopoli and were also relegated to Serie B - a decision that came as huge blow to Moggi. "The first time I met Moggi it was immediately clear that he was a powerful person. The way he dressed and behaved. He was a different person during that meeting, though. He stood there and started crying in front of us. That's what's impressed me most," Ibrahimovic reveals in his autobiography. "It felt like a punch in the stomach. He had always looked strong and I had never seen him like that before. He had always radiated power and strength and seemed to be in control of what happened. I felt compassion for him when I saw him in that state." The Sweden international also voiced his frustration with the decision to take Juventus' Scudetti away from them as he feels they won the trophies because of their hard work rather than due to help from referees. "The Calciopoli scandal is all nonsense, in my opinion. At least the most of it is. We didn't win because referees did us favours. We won because we worked very hard and were the best. We always fought hard and didn't need any help. It's all bulls***." Ibrahimovic also looks back at his time at Inter and feels the reason they won trophies after Calciopoli was that the different cliques in the squad were broken down. "One of the first things I did after arriving at Inter was speak to [president] Massimo Moratti to say that the squad wasn't united. We had to break down the different clans. "Teams perform at their best when there's cohesion, but the opposite was the case at Inter. Breaking down the various cliques was the biggest challenge. It's impossible to win anything if the dressing room isn't united." The AC Milan striker's autobiography goes on sale on Friday, but the book has already made several headlines as a result of leaked excerpts.

Juventus claim court decision proved they were not involved in Calciopoli scandal The Italian giants are unhappy that their appeal for damages has been turned down as they were allegedly deemed not-guilty of the events related to the football scandal. Nov 8, 2011 Juventus claim that the Tribunal of Naples has ruled they had no connection with the events related to the Calciopoli scandal. The Serie A side's former general director Luciano Moggi has been condemned to over five years in prison after being found guilty of sporting fraud. After being stripped of two Serie A titles as a result of the Calciopoli events, Juventus filed a request for damages, which was refused by the court on Tuesday. "Today's decision stated Juventus' non involvement with the matters charged," a club statement read. "The Club was taken to the court of Naples as civilly liable entity by way of objective liability according to Art. 2049 Italian Civil Code. "The decision emerged from the result of a thorough hearing and from the analysis of all evidence, clashed with the reality of an inaccurate sports law which severely penalized Juventus, the sole club damaged due to the removal of two titles - following the victories achieved on the pitch - with consequent relegation and related extensive losses. "Juventus will continue their legitimate campaigns in order to restore the equality of treatment."

Juventus 'not involved in Calciopoli' Nov 8, 2011 Juventus claim the civil trial confirmed the club

Luciano Moggi found guilty of sporting fraud in Calciopoli scandal Former Juventus director, as well the remaining leading troupe of the Calciopoli scandal, have all been condemned for their actions. Nov 8, 2011 The Tribunal of Naples has found Luciano Moggi guilty of sporting fraud and has sentenced the former Juventus general director to five years and four months in prison. Moggi will not spend any time in jail, though, due to the intricacies of Italian law. Since this is a first-degree sentence, there are several levels of appeal which Moggi can utilise. Former refereeing designators Paolo Bergamo and Pierluigi Pairetto have been sentenced to three years and eight months, and one year and 11 months respectively for their roles in the Calciopoli scandal, while Fiorentina owners Diego and Andrea Della Valle and Lazio president Claudio Lotito have all been condemned to one year and three months apiece. "I absolutely did not expect this sentence," said Maurilio Prioreschi, one of Moggi's attorneys. "We have only lost the first round, we will try to turn the situation around in appeal. "We will do everything until we have justice. Moggi is devastated, he does not understand how he has been given this sentence. "We now have 90 days to know the grounds for the decision and prepare our defence for the appeal." The 74-year-old Moggi had already been banned from football for life for his involvement in the organised action which involved a network of phone calls with former referees and designators as well as former FIGC (Italian Football Association) officials.

Gianluigi Buffon: Italy will miss Cassano & Rossi The Juventus shot stopper is hoping the two strikers recover in time for Euro 2012 as he analyses what their absence from international duty means for the rest of the team. Nov 8, 2011 Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has described the void left by injured forwards Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi. The Azzurri duo are out for the long term as Cassano is recovering from heart surgery, while Rossi is out with a knee injury. Buffon is expecting their absences to be visible when the Azzurri play against Poland and Uruguay in their upcoming international friendlies, but hopes the two highly-rated strikers are back in time for Euro 2012. "Rossi and Cassano will both be missed from a technical and personal point of view as they have always helped us greatly," Buffon told the press. "My hope is that they will be able to travel with us to the European Championships. "We will miss Cassano greatly as he always brings something to the team. He always wants to leave his mark and he makes the group happy with his polite exuberance which is always nice." Italy play Poland on Friday night with kick-off scheduled for 20.45CET.

Barzagli to miss Poland-Italy Nov 8, 2011 Andrea Barzagli picked up a muscular problem in training today and should miss Friday

Moggi guilty in Calciopoli civil trial Nov 8, 2011 The Naples Tribunal has ruled Luciano Moggi is guilty of sporting fraud and condemned to five years and four months. This evening the Calciopoli civil trial came to a head with Judge Teresa Casoria giving her verdict. Moggi had argued he was

Ibra on Calciopoli Nov 8, 2011 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Buffon on loss of Cassano and Rossi Nov 7, 2011 Gigi Buffon admits that Italy will miss Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi on and off the pitch over the next six months. Milan man Cassano is recovering from minor heart surgery, while the Villarreal forward recently damaged knee ligaments.

New dates set for postponed ties Nov 7, 2011 The Lega Serie A have confirmed the new dates and kick-off times for the Week 11 Napoli-Juventus and Genoa-Inter ties. The two games were postponed over the weekend after heavy rain in Genoa and Naples forced the encounters to be cancelled. Napoli-Juventus will now take place on Tuesday 29 November at 20.45 local time. Genoa-Inter has been moved to Tuesday 13 December at 20.45. Napoli

Lega Serie A confirm new dates for Genoa v Inter & Napoli v Juventus matches Severe weather saw the two high-profile Italian games cancelled at the weekend, but they have been rearranged following a decision from the authorities. Nov 7, 2011 The Lega Serie A (Italian Football League) has confirmed new dates for the weekend's postponed games between Genoa and Inter, and Napoli against Juventus. Both matches were cancelled following flash floods around the cities of Genoa and Naples because of severe weather. The devastation led to six people being killed and the matches were called-off due to safety concerns. However, the Lega has now announced the new fixtures after a consultation with the clubs. Napoli against Juventus now takes place on November 29 at 20.45CET. Genoa against Inter is on December 13 with the kick-off taking place at 20.45CET.

Serie A - 11^ Giornata - Andata - 6/11/2011 (ore 20:45) - RINVIATA Stadio San Paolo - Napoli Arbitro: P. Tagliavento‎ Serie A - Maltempo, rinviata anche Napoli-Juve Violenti temporali stanno mettendo in ginocchio la Campania e la Prefettura ha deciso di non far disputare il posticipo dell'undicesima giornata di Serie A in programma al San Paolo. E' la seconda partita della giornata dopo Genoa-Inter a slittare causa meteo. Probabile recupero il 29 novembre. Eurosport - Domenica, 6 novembre 2011 Il maltempo che sta mettendo in ginocchio mezza Italia costringe al rinvio anche di Napoli-Juventus, posticipo dell'undicesima giornata di Serie A. Dopo Genoa-Inter, inizialmente programmata per le 12:30 e poi slittata, anche un'altra partita di campionato non si giocherà. La decisione è stata presa nella Prefettura del capoluogo campano alle 12:30, durante un breve vertice convocato d'urgenza per risolvere una situazione che con il passare dei minuti si fa sempre più complessa. Il rinvio, in sostanza, è parso inevitabile dopo una notte di angoscia per tutta Napoli. Il quadro è peggiorato intorno alle tre del mattino, con le prime chiamate ai vigili del fuoco provenienti dall'area Stabiese. Poi sono iniziati a esondare alcuni fiumiciattoli locali, sino a quando il sistema nuvoloso è risalito verso nord abbattendosi su Napoli dalle prime ore del mattino. I vigili del fuoco sono in azione costante, con il nucleo dei sommozzatori costretto a intervenire per salvare diverse persone rimaste imprigionate nelle proprie automobili. Sia fuori che nella città di Napoli. Condizioni talmente drammatiche da rendere inopportuna una partita di calcio. Slitta così anche Napoli-Juventus. Un match sul cui recupero si deciderà lunedì, ma che probabilmente verrà inserito in calendario per il 29 novembre, come anticipato dal direttore generale della Lega Calcio Marco Brunelli. MAROTTA DISPIACIUTO E NON SOLO - "Gli ordini delle autoritá prevalgono, come giusto, sull'interesse sportivo. Siamo dispiaciuti perché avevamo preparato a fondo questa partita e siamo in un buon momento di forma, reduci da una bella vittoria. Il Napoli, che ha partecipato al vertice, avrà certamente avuto qualche elemento in più per aiutare le autorità nell'analisi. Purtroppo i fatti di questi giorni prevalgono sul resto e il calcio non può e non deve vivere al di fuori della realtà", ha commentato l'amministratore delegato Giuseppe Marotta sulle pagine del sito web ufficiale della Juventus. BIGON "RINVIO GARA DECISIONE CONDIVISIBILE" - "Dal punto di vista del Napoli e' stata una decisione condivisibile. La data del recupero? Questo non ci aiuta, andiamo ad aggiungere una gara in uno dei cicli tremendi. Credo che ci sia spazio il 14 dicembre tra le gare contro Novara e Roma". Lo ha detto a Sky Sport il dg del Napoli, Riccardo Bigon "Prendiamo atto della decisione, la condividiamo con il sindaco e con il prefetto. Per la prossima data ci dovremo adeguare per forza". Ai microfoni di Sky Sport arriva anche il commento del sindaco di Napoli, Luigi De Magistris: "E' stato deciso il rinvio per una serie di motivi. E comunque per ragioni di viabilità, con 60mila persone previste e tanti tifosi che arrivano dalla provincia". Eurosport

Juventus among the best in class, AC Milan improving after slow start, Inter must do better - Serie A report card after a quarter of the season With 10 rounds having been negotiated and the latest international break upon us, we take a look at all 20 top-flight clubs in Italy and grade them on their form in 2011-12. Nov 7, 2011 With a two-week break ahead for Serie A's clubs, the peninsula's 20 coaches will be analysing their sides' achievements so far in the 2011-12 campaign and where they are in relation to pre-season targets. For the likes of Juventus, Udinese and Lazio, the new term has been a huge success, with only the odd disappointment coming out of their opening clutch of games, while Inter lead the list of teams who will consider the first two months of the season to have been a huge disappointment. But with every letdown there has been a success story, and with a quarter of the season having now been completed, we take a look back at the first 10 rounds of action and grade each Serie A club on their performances so far whilst taking into account pre-season expectations. ATALANTA Having been hit by a six-point penalty in the summer, the Orobici have been almost flawless on the field, with form that would have seen them in the top five after 10 rounds were it not for their betting misdemeanours of last term. German Denis has taken most of the headlines with seven goals so far, though his missed penalty in the dying moments against Inter stopped them taking their biggest scalp of the campaign. Argentine Maxi Moralez has added two braces alongside the former Udinese man as Stefano Colantuono's side have hit the ground running. Their one setback came last week in a surprise defeat at Bologna, but they bounced back well to beat Cagliari on Sunday. BOLOGNA An abysmal start to the season was enough to see Pierpaolo Bisoli lose his post as coach, and replacement Stefano Pioli immediately brought about an upturn in fortunes. Taking over a side that collected only one point in five games - albeit a gutsy draw away to 10-man Juventus - the man fired by Palermo before the season had even begun presided over three wins in his first four fixtures in charge before suffering defeat on his return to Sicily at the weekend. One of the better pieces of news in recent weeks has come from the renewal of Gaston Ramirez's contract, though the Uruguayan's recent return to form could still see him leave before long. CAGLIARI Surprisingly, it is not their usually impressive home record which has been the basis of Cagliari's form so far this term, with only one win at the Sant'Elia to their credit - and that against Serie A new-boys Novara. With Massimo Ficcadenti having only taken the reins from Roberto Donadoni in mid-August, they shocked many by toppling Roma in the capital on opening day, but they have only one win to their name in the last eight games after going down to Atalanta at the weekend. The 3-0 home loss to Lazio in Round 10 will have been particularly difficult for notorious president Massimo Cellino to swallow. CATANIA The jury was out on Vincenzo Montella after his mixed spell with Roma last term, but the new season has been largely positive for 'L'Aeroplanino' since he was handed the coaching role at the Massimino. Home victories over Inter and Napoli have provided the stand-out results so far, along with a draw against Juventus, but heavy defeats on the road at Genoa in Round 4 and Milan on Sunday have undone some of the good work. Still, no longer are they reliant on the goals of Maxi Lopez, and their battling spirit has seen them earn creditable away points against Fiorentina and Lazio, and they also battled to secure a late draw in a thriller at Novara. CESENA The 2011-12 season has been a veritable disaster for the Seahorses so far, resulting in the dismissal last week of Marco Giampaolo. Three draws and six defeats in nine games unsurprisingly brought about a change in coach, but Daniele Arrigoni has a big job on to turn around the fortunes of a side in freefall. The addition of Adrian Mutu has simply not worked, and the north-east side have only three goals to their name, including just one in the last seven fixtures. While they showed a battling quality from day one last term, the new toothless outlook does not make for good viewing, and the safety mark is still 37 points away. CHIEVO The Flying Donkeys continue to demonstrate their innate ability to silence the doubters just when they seem to be struggling. Early victories over Napoli and Genoa were mixed in amongst an indifferent streak. Defeats against Parma and Bologna, and dropped points against Novara and Cesena, were added to creditable performances against Juventus and Inter. But their response to a hugely disappointing 4-1 thumping at Siena in Round 10 was swift, with Luca Rigoni's goal seeing off Fiorentina at the weekend. There is room for improvement in Verona, but few would dare back them to go down, especially with warhorses like Sergio Pellissier and Davide Moscardelli still around. FIORENTINA The Viola's season simply hasn't been good enough for a club who have come to expect more in recent times. After an encouraging second half of 2010-11, many in Tuscany would have wanted to see Sinisa Mihajlovic's men hit the ground running. Instead they have seen their captain Riccardo Montolivo flirting with other clubs to such an extent that he lost the armband, and their coach has shown an inability to get the best out of the players at his disposal. Alessio Cerci has blown hot and cold, Stevan Jovetic is still searching for full fitness, while Alberto Gilardino has missed much of the early stages. But behind them is a very suspect midfield, and failures against Cesena, Catania and Chievo in recent weeks make the next four clashes with Milan, Palermo, Roma and Inter crucial for Mihajlovic's future. GENOA It has been a typically mixed beginning to 2011-12 for Il Grifone, with victories over Lazio, Roma and Catania being offset by losses to Chievo, Parma and Fiorentina. If they are to break free from mid-table, they will need to garner consistency from the likes of Kevin Constant, Andrea Caracciolo and Bosko Jankovic, who have all performed in fits and starts so far. Rodrigo Palacio's five goals have been one of the bright points, while Alexander Merkel's recent return from injury has also boosted Alberto Malesani's side. One downside is the likely loss of Juraj Kucka to Inter in the January transfer window. INTER The Nerazzurri's 2011-12 season cannot end quick enough, even now. Currently 12 points off the Champions League pace, there will need to be a huge turnaround in fortunes for them to be in the top three come May. Gian Piero Gasperini's calamitous campaign came to a very swift end, but the issues running through the club have largely remained, even if Claudio Ranieri has managed to steady the ship somewhat in Europe. Defeats at Palermo, Novara and Catania were all embarrassing to various degrees, while they've also suffered two losses at home after a run of one home reverse in 42 months. With ageing midfielders, misfiring forwards and doddering defenders, it has not been the start many Inter fans envisaged two months ago. JUVENTUS Antonio Conte's impact has made the Bianconeri one of the favourites for the Scudetto, and they remain the side to have dropped the fewest points going into the hiatus. Andrea Pirlo's addition in midfield has been pinpointed as the main reason for the club's upturn after consecutive seventh-placed finishes, but there has also been a more dynamic approach about their play. Their new pressing nature has been behind many of their early wins, but the inability to convert the multitude of chances they have created so far has seen a lot of unnecessary points dropped despite their unbeaten record. Free of injuries to key players so far, they have had luck on their side, though Conte's insistence that his men be more adaptable from game to game has deserved some fortune. LAZIO After dropping an early two-goal lead on opening night at Milan and then seeing Genoa take three points from the Olimpico, Lazio were under significant pressure just two games in, with Edy Reja being petitioned to leave his job by many fans. However, the Biancocelesti's response has been magnificent, and they sit in second at the quarter mark following eight games without a loss, with six goals for summer signing Miroslav Klose at the heart of their upturn in fortunes. They have come from behind to win three times so far, including in the Rome derby, and on all three occasions it is the German hitman who has snatched the winner. LECCE Eusebio Di Francesco has been clutching on for dear life in recent weeks as a result of his side's dreadful home form which has seen them collect only one point from five games. Their fortunes at the Via del Mare were never better summed up than in their hosting of Milan, as they led 3-0 at half-time only to throw away all three points. However, a Round 3 win at Bologna and this weekend's priceless victory at bottom club Cesena mean they are still in with a fighting chance for now, though they will need consistent performances from the likes of Juan Cuadrado and skipper Guillermo Giacomazzi if they are to breathe more easily as the season progresses. MILAN Lacking mobility, creativity and vibrancy, the champions started the season in very sluggish fashion, collecting only five points from their opening five games. But since their late, late defeat at Juventus Stadium, they have responded with five straight wins and now sit just a point off the top. Alberto Aquilani has proven an excellent addition as time has progressed, while hat-tricks for Antonio Nocerino and - most memorably - Kevin-Prince Boateng have had a hand in their renaissance. Antonio Cassano's health shock will no doubt deal them a blow, but having scored 18 goals in five games, they have already proven to have the firepower to overcome his loss, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic crucial as ever. NAPOLI After an explosive start which brought back memories of great nights at the San Paolo in the late 80s, the Vesuviani have hit a significant dip in form which has seen them fall well adrift of the top of the table. Edinson Cavani's hat-trick against Milan looked set to be a catalyst for something big, but the Uruguayan took until Round 10 to score again, while victories over 10-man Inter and weakened leaders Udinese have been interspersed with some real letdowns. Losses to Chievo, Parma and Catania have dealt a real blow to hopes of them taking the extra step up from last year's third-placed finish, with Ezequiel Lavezzi, Marek Hamsik et al so far showing an inability to double up at home and in the Champions League. NOVARA Their magnificent victory over Inter at the Silvio Piola was memorable not only because they had beaten the reigning world champions, but also because it remains their only Serie A win since 1956. The double step up from the Lega Pro to the top flight in two seasons has proven difficult for Attilio Tesser's side, though they have made teams work hard for points on their synthetic home surface. Marco Rigoni's form in midfield and Riccardo Meggiorini's work-rate up front have deserved better results so far, but the Azzurri are going to have to become a tougher proposition away from home if they are to have any chance of staying up come May. PALERMO Another season, same old Palermo. After president Maurizio Zamparini lived up to his billing by sacking Stefano Pioli before the season had even begun, the Rosanero have gone about their normal business of being near-unbeatable at home but the exact opposite on their travels. A full 15 points have been earned at La Favorita, but just one away from Sicily as young coach Devis Mangia has failed to buck the trend of the Rosanero struggling on their travels. If they're an A+ at home, they're F- away. While they have not had one single outstanding player so far, the contributions of Federico Balzaretti, Giulio Migliaccio and Abel Hernandez have been too much for visitors to the Barbera. PARMA Sebastian Giovinco continues to revel in the responsibility placed upon his shoulders by the Ducali, and their four victories so far have been due in no small part to the contribution of the Italy forward. Braces in home wins against Chievo and Genoa were impressive enough, but he and Sergio Floccari played key roles as the Emilia-Romagna side took three points from their trip to Napoli. Many of their defeats have come against decent calibre opposition, with only a reverse at home to Atalanta being of significant distress, though the three-goal margins of their losses at Juventus, Fiorentina and Milan will have come as a disappointment. ROMA Clubs should never expect an immediate return on big investment, but the Giallorossi have undoubtedly left many underwhelmed in terms of their results so far. While they have been able to pass many teams out of the game, they have too often let opponents off the hook with the inability to provide a killer edge around the penalty area. That said, Pablo Osvaldo's five goals have shown they do have some weaponry to make more of, while Bojan Krkic has recently begun to find the net after a difficult start. Luis Enrique will need to continue his delicate tweaking of his side if they are to regain the ground they have lost on the leading pack in the opening 10 rounds. SIENA Three straight home wins - each in convincing fashion - have been the feature of Siena's season thus far as Giuseppe Sannino has continued the good work of Antonio Conte during their promotion campaign in 2010-11. The Robur remain a durable outfit with an emphasis on flair when they attack, and with Emanuele Calaio, Mattia Destro and Pablo Andres Gonzalez among their forward options, they hold a threat which has stung many a side so far. In picking up four away draws in six games they have proven they have the hard edge that other sides tipped for a relegation fight have failed to demonstrate in the opening rounds, and their return of 13 points from 10 games is a healthy first step to avoiding the drop. UDINESE Shorn of Alexis Sanchez, Gokhan Inler and Cristian Zapata, the Zebrette were tipped by many to plummet without a trace in 2011-12, but Francesco Guidolin continues to work wonders at the Stadio Friuli. Armed with one of the best scouting systems in the world, the wily coach has injected just the right replacements for his departed stars and has reaped the benefits. And they have played with flair still too, not least thanks to the energy of the likes of Mauricio Isla, Pablo Armero, Kwadwo Asamoah and Emmanuel Badu. Striker Antonio Di Natale continues to score goals too, and his eight goals so far have him well on course to finish as the capocannoniere of Serie A for the third season running, a feat last recorded by Juventus' Michel Platini between 1982 and 1985.

Buffon awaits Cassano return Nov 7, 2011 Captain Gigi Buffon thinks Antonio Cassano could still make the difference for Italy at the 2012 European Championship. The Milan man is currently recovering from minor heart surgery which could see him out of action for up to six months. Cassano has been a key player for his country since the arrival of Cesare Prandelli as Coach, but his place at Euro 2012 is now in doubt.