Serie A: 5 Games to Watch This Weekend

Serie A returned with a bang last weekend for the first round of games of the new year.

The league is becoming more competitive than ever, especially with the six-team race for the two Champions League places that will be available if you consider Juventus as being almost assured of one of them.

Maybe even seven or eight teams could be involved if you include Udinese and Parma, who are both in fine form.

The relegation battle is really heating up too, with the points becoming more and more vital at this time of year when the presidents are always happy to pull the trigger on a managerial change in order to save their club from the drop.

Try to check out one or more of these five games over the weekend to get a taste for the most exciting league in Europe.

Udinese vs. Fiorentina

Udinese host Fiorentina after pulling off a fine victory against Inter last weekend, winning emphatically 3-0 against the Nerazzurri.

The Viola fell to relegation candidates Pescara at the Artemio Franchi 2-0, despite dominating the Delfini.

Both sides have ambitions to claim a European spot this season and play the game in an entertaining fashion that will make this one of the games of the week.

Players to watch

Luis Muriel (Udinese): The Colombian is fast becoming a second source of goals for the Zebrette and releasing that burden Antonio Di Natale has felt for so long.

After a micro-fracture to his leg kept the former Lecce star out for three months, Francesco Guidolin has pushed Muriel straight into the starting lineup, and it has resulted in a five match unbeaten streak.

The 21-year-old is one of the stars of the future and should be one of the breakout players of 2013.

Juan Cuadrado (Fiorentina): Another Colombian—who also played at Lecce last season alongside Muriel—that offers pace and flair in abundance. Cuadrado is actually on loan from Udinese, so it will be fascinating to see whether he can impress against his parent club.

One of the best wide players in Europe already, capable of beating his man on the inside or outside, Cuadrado has a huge future.

Key to the game

The key to the game will be how Alberto Aquilani replaces the injured David Pizarro as the regista for the Viola.

The Chilean will be hugely missed, but the former Liverpool player will be keen to prove his worth in a role that will provide him the opportunity to have a greater influence on proceedings.

Cagliari vs. Genoa

Cagliari are in a spot of bother, and the Isolani are desperate for three points to haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

Genoa are currently hovering one place above the relegation zone and have gone three games unbeaten under Luigi Delneri.

Only a point separates these two teams, who will both feel that they should not be anywhere near the drop.

Players to watch

Marco Sau (Cagliari): With the absence of Mauricio Pinilla through injury, Cagliari have been dependent on Sau to deliver the goals to win them games.

The 25-year-old was playing in Serie B last season for Juve Stabia but has adapted magnificently to life in Serie A, ousting the likes of Victor Ibarbo, Nene, and Thiago Ribeiro to become the first choice striker.

A clinical finisher, who is always lively in the area, Sau is proving to be a real match winner.

Francelino Matuzalem (Genoa): Recently acquired from Lazio—who froze the Brazilian out for non-footballing reasons—Genoa are offering the player a lifeline in his Serie A career.

Capable of dictating the flow of the game from deep, where Juraj Kucka will partner him and carry out the dirty work, Matuzalem is just the sort of player to bond this team of individuals together.

Key to the game

With Andrea Cossu suspended after his red card in the last game, Cagliari will need to reshuffle their midfield, possibly fielding Radja Nainggolan as an unorthodox attacking midfielder.

If the Isolani can devise a way to provide Sau and Pinilla with some good service, then Cagliari will have a chance of winning this game.

Parma vs. Juventus

Parma are on a fine run of three consecutive victories and Roberto Donadoni appears to have settled on a 4-3-3 formation that could provide a fascinating tactical duel with Juventus this weekend.

Antonio Conte should line up with his tried and trusted 3-5-2 formation, which should allow plenty of space for a free-flowing open spectacle.

The Bianconeri suffered a shock defeat at home to Sampdoria, who played with 10 men for the majority of the match.

The gap at the top has been cut to five points now and a further slip-up here could lead to the title race reopening.

Players to watch:

 Ishak Belfodil (Parma): The French striker is now settled at the club and enjoying the most prolonged spell as a starter in his career.

Belfodil is relishing his role in the 4-3-3, which means that he can drift into the channels to link with the wide men; Jonathan Biabiany and Nicola Sansone.

With added goals to his game this season, Belfodil is proving what an exciting prospect he really is.

Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus): The Swiss star was suspended for the first game of the new year and returned to the lineup in the Coppa Italia midweek, so he should be fully up to speed now.

The 28-year-old will hope to get some joy down the right against Massimo Gobbi, who tends to venture forward at will.

Key to the game

Biabiany and Sansone can expose Juve's vulnerability in the full-back areas if Lichtsteiner and Paolo De Ceglie get too carried away in joining up the attack.

Raw speed and a directness should allow the wingers to really hurt the Bianconeri if they are on their game.

Napoli vs. Palermo

This is going to be a test for Napoli's ambitions of finishing in the top three places and claiming a Champions League place.

The Partenopei were excellent in sweeping aside Roma last weekend, but Napoli tend to always raise themselves for the big matches, so it will be games like Palermo that will decipher whether they are capable of returning to Europe's premier competition next season.

Palermo were very unfortunate to lose at Parma last weekend, controlling large parts of the game and only losing in stoppage time to a Francesco Benussi howler.

Players to watch

 Goran Pandev (Napoli): The Macedonian is a frustrating player who can be sensational—as was the case against Roma last weekend—or completely anonymous.

With added pressure from Lorenzo Insigne for a start alongside Edinson Cavani, Pandev simply must perform on a more regular basis.

Paulo Dybala (Palermo): This kid is a must-see and is beginning what should be a great career in Italian football.

The Argentine is a little bit hit and miss at the moment, but has shown glimpses of magic too. Close control and a top ability to dart in and out of defenders mean that Dybala can create his own chances in an instant.

Key to the match

Andrea Dossena has just joined Palermo from Napoli with a view to playing more regularly.

It is ironic that his first opportunity will come against his former club this weekend, and with Christian Maggio always likely to bomb forward, it will be a tough debut for the former Liverpool player.

If he can handle Maggio's relentless runs from deep and also provide an attacking threat of his own, Palermo will feel they have an area to expose the Partenopei.

Sampdoria vs. Milan

Milan have had a mixed start to 2013, beating Siena in the opening league match to kickstart their pursuit of a top three place and defeat to Juve in the Coppa Italia.

The Rossoneri will hope to continue their fine league form that has seen them win five of their last six matches at the Marassi against a buoyant Sampdoria side.

Samp were able to humble the champions last weekend, so the Rossoneri will provide them with no fear.

Players to watch

 Mauro Icardi (Sampdoria): Samp have a gem of a striker on their hands with the 19-year-old Argentine, who scored a brace at Juve last weekend to instantly become a hero at the club.

Alert and lively inside the penalty area, Milan could be a side that the former Barcelona youth product can cause real damage against when you consider that the Rossoneri centre-backs all tend to be slow.

Bojan Krkic (Milan): Just beginning to emerge from a squad player into a first team regular, the Spaniard can offer flair, creativity, and the ability to dribble past defenders at will.

When Stephan El Shaarawy is the only comparable player in the squad, it is no wonder than Massimiliano Allegri is increasing the former Barcelona star's game time.

Key to the game

 Daniele Gastaldello will operate on the right side of a three centre-back formation, which means he will be charged with dealing with the sensation that is El Shaarawy.

By playing centrally, Gastaldello could struggle to stifle Il Faraone early and provide the Rossoneri star the opportunity to carry the ball infield to devastating effect.