Serie A Power Rankings: Round 15

The 15th round of Serie A is behind us now and unfortunately, this coming week gives us the last matches before the Christmas break.

As always, Serie A provided us with some entertaining matches as the league continued to show why it is one of the most competitive and elite in the world.

The five clubs which qualified for knockout football in Europe—Inter, Napoli, Milan, Udinese and Lazio—will be able to focus on Serie A primarily for a while now as they have secured qualification and know who awaits them in the coming rounds.

With a little bit of movement in the rankings, where do Italy's best stand?

20. Lecce (20)

Round 15: Drew 3-3 vs. Parma (A)

David Di Michele's two second-half goals along with Juan Cuadrado's second of the season put Lecce up 3-1 with 13 minutes to play. Despite giving up the lead at the Ennio Tardini, it was still an impressive fight to gain a point for the visitors.

It's not the first time that Lecce have had a comfortable lead blown once before this season. While this time they were able to hold on for a draw, they still sit bottom of the table, though a point closer to Novara.

Running into one of the hottest teams in Serie A, it's likely that they will be heading into the break in last place.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Inter (A)

19. Novara (18)

Round 15: Lost 2-0 vs. Juventus (A)

No one has beaten Juventus yet this season and especially in Turin it is near impossible to stop them.

In reality, Juventus were unfortunate to only have two goals after 12 shots on goal. Samir Ujkani did well with 10 saves.

Novara have struggled truly this season and the field trip to Serie A may be over in a matter of months.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Palermo (H)

18. Siena (17)

Round 15: Lost 2-0 vs. Milan (A)

Siena can't have been expecting much else against one of the league's best.

They held Milan for nearly the first hour, but Milan struck twice within 10 minutes to put the champs up 2-0 with 37 minutes to play and they never looked back.

Siena saw the ball for about a third of the match and barely challenged Marco Amelia, who made three saves.

After the loss, Siena sit only two points above the drop zone. If Siena cannot grab a point from their next match, they could possibly head into the break in the relegation zone.

Round 16: 12/20 vs. Fiorentina (H)

17. Cesena (16)

Round 15: Lost 1-0 vs. Inter (H)

Cesena ran into a hot team this weekend. Inter Milan have been playing quality football in recent weeks.

Heading into the match, Cesena had won three out of four with the only loss coming to Juventus, but Cesena have proven to be far worse at home than on the road and having won four out of five, Inter were unlikely to drop any points here.

Despite having less of the ball, Cesena let off more shots, but were unable to challenge Julio Cesar on the four shots that went on goal. Francesco Antonioli was only able to stop one shot. The only other shot on goal was one that Antonioli was just beaten to by Andrea Ranocchia.

With the way they've been playing, Cesena have been able to climb out of 20th place, but remain in the drop zone. They have the opportunity to escape the bottom three before the Christmas break, but there is still work to do.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Atalanta (A)

16. Bologna (15)

Round 15: Lost 2-1 vs. Genoa (A)

Despite an equalizer early in the second half from star youngster Gaston Ramirez, Bologna were unable to stop Genoa from taking the three points at the Luigi Ferraris.

Genoa were up 1-0 after a half hour, but Ramirez struck shortly after halftime to level it.

Despite the equalizer, Bologna weren't all too impressive and allowed the hosts to put past the winner.

Bologna continue to drop and now sit only three points above the drop zone.

Bologna get a not-so-welcome early Christmas gift with a match against a very tough test at the Renato Della'Ara.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Roma (H)

15. Chievo Verona (19)

Round 15: Won 2-0 vs. Cagliari (H)

Chievo were impressive in their victory against Cagliari at the Bentegodi.

Cyril Thereau put in his second goal of the season with the second put in by Gennaro Sardo, who found the back of the net for the first time this season as Chievo turned around some bad form.

The victory was the first since November 20th. After some time in the top 10 of the standings, Chievo struggled in three matches since then and now have to climb back into the top half.

Chievo will have to impress against a tough Lazio squad if they want a chance at the top half before Christmas.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Lazio (A)

14. Cagliari (13)

Round 15: Lost 2-0 vs. Chievo Verona (A)

Cagliari continue to struggle, this time at the hands of Chievo Verona.

They had slightly more of the ball and failed to capitalize as they were outplayed at the Bentegodi by a back-on-track Flying Donkeys side.

Cagliari continue to fall after a fantastic start to the season. Now sitting in 12th place 15 matches in, Cagliari are starting to once again look like the mid-table side they truly are.

Can they redeem themselves before Christmas? They have a very tough test in the last match.

Round 16: 12/20 vs. AC Milan (H)

13. Genoa (14)

Round 15: Won 2-1 vs. Bologna (H)

Despite a second-half equalizer from their opponents, Genoa got a late goal to pick up the three points.

Marco Rossi scored just before halftime, but his goal was offset just after half. Looking to be heading towards a draw, Lucas Pratto saved the day at the Luigi Ferraris.

With the slip-ups around them, Genoa climb into eighth in the standings. Their recent form isn't enough to see them into the top 10 in the power rankings. If they keep it up, they will be back in no time.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Napoli (A)

12. Parma (11)

Round 15: Drew 3-3 vs. Lecce (H)

Down 3-1 late, Parma snatched a big point at the Ennio Tardini.

Sergio Floccari's penalty kick put the hosts up 18 minutes, but Lecce struck thrice in the second half and seemed to be on their way to a big win.

Parma had other ideas as Graziano Pelle scored in the 86th minute and was followed by a Daniele Galloppa strike in stoppage time to seal the draw.

Despite the struggles this season, this should have been three points for Parma and never should they have gone down like that at home. They will have to do better if they want to climb farther from the drop zone.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Catania (H)

11. Fiorentina (10)

Round 15: Drew 2-2 vs. Atalanta (H)

Atalanta stormed back late, but Stevan Jovetic's late equalizer earned a draw for the hosts at the Artemio Franchi.

Alberto Gilardino put the Viola up nine minutes in and Fiorentina held the lead for a long time. Unfortunately for them, the only two shots on goal for the visitors got past Artur Boruc in the 81st and 85th minutes.

Jovetic had to play hero after that and Houssine Kharja's cross fell to his foot for an 88th-minute strike.

Fiorentina have struggled recently and are now 15th in the league. While it isn't a far distance between 15th and the European spots, they will need to pick it up.

Round 16: 12/20 vs. Siena (A)

10. Catania (12)

Round 15: Won 2-0 vs. Palermo (H)

Francesco Lodi and Maxi Lopez saw Catania to an impressive home win over the Rosanero.

Catania haven't been playing the best of football, but they have gotten the right wins at the right time and now see themselves at ninth in the standings.

The defense was stellar at the weekend. Only seven shots were let off total and only three challenged Mariano Andujar, who made saves on all three.

It seems like Catania like to beat the tougher teams of Serie A, with two of their last three wins against Napoli and Palermo.

Parma aren't what anyone would call one of the tougher teams, but it should be a good contest at the Ennio Tardini.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Parma (A)

9. Palermo (7)

Round 15: Lost 2-0 vs. Catania (A)

Palermo were completely outdone on the road to a mediocre Catania side.

The only three shots on goal were unable to challenge Catania and they walked away with nothing as Francesco Benussi got beat twice.

Things just weren't going right for Palermo, who are now part of the difficult to climb out of mid-table. The competition in Serie A is quite tough in the middle and one point could be the difference between Europe and a relegation battle.

This may be a slight exaggeration but it still gets the point across. Palermo need to take all the points they can.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Novara (A)

8. Atalanta (9)

Round 15: Drew 2-2 vs. Fiorentina (A)

If not for a late Jovetic strike, Atalanta would have been taking three points from a fantastic comeback.

After Fiorentina went up 1-0 in the ninth minute, Atalanta could get nothing going.

With 10 minutes left, La Dea picked it up. Andrea Masiello's left-footer from outside the area leveled the game in the 81st and Germain Denis went to the top of the scoring list with his 11th goal in the 85th.

Andrea Consigli couldn't keep Jovetic from equalizing three minutes later, but still a solid point on the road for the Serie B champs.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Cesena (H)

7. Napoli (5)

Round 15: Lost 3-1 vs. Roma (H)

This obviously wasn't what the hosts had in mind in this match.

Morgan de Sanctis did his best Robert Green impersonation three minutes in on a cross that found its way through his hands.

Despite a poor foul call that brought a goal back against Napoli, the hosts should have done better. Marek Hamsik's 82nd-minute strike was for naught. While it put the Naples side in with a chance, Napoli were victim of a menacing deflection that caught de Sanctis off guard and lobbed into the back of the net.

In reality, Napoli were unfortunate, but you have to be able to fight on your home ground.

The loss knocks last year's third-place side out of a European spot.

So first on Friday they draw Chelsea in the last 16 of the Champions League and then this happens? Things could not have been more unlucky for Napoli.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Genoa (H)

6. Inter Milan (8)

Round 15: Won 1-0 vs. Cesena (A)

Inter have been tremendous lately and their hard work to climb out of the depths of despair has paid off.

Following this 1-0 victory over Cesena, the Nerazzurri are now in the second Europa League spot, sitting in fifth place overall.

Cesena fought well, but Andrea Ranocchia barely beat the keeper to the ball in the air and the Italian headed home what proved to be the winner in the 63rd minute.

I still don't buy into Claudio Ranieri calling this a Scudetto-winning team, but they will be tough for any title contender to cope with.

That chance at a big team doesn't come until the long-awaited Milan Derby on January 15th. Until then, Inter have a couple matches where they should take the points.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Lecce (H)

5. Roma (7)

Round 15: Won 3-1 vs. Napoli (A)

This was a big win for Roma.

The Giallorossi have finally caught fire and are making a lot of noise in the league.

Following a Morgan de Sanctis own goal off a cross from Erik Lamela made it 1-0 Roma early on, they kept pressing the Naples side and were unlucky to go up 2-0 on 18 minutes, but Pablo Osvaldo made up for that mistake. The 25-year-old continues to enjoy an incredible breakout season and has now netted six goals after his strike in the 59th minute.

After Napoli got one back, Fabio Simplicio shot a one off the foot of a defender that found its way into the goal in stoppage time to guarantee the win.

Breaking the top five in the standings will be difficult, but if anyone can it's Roma.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Bologna (A)

4. Lazio (4)

Round 15: Drew 2-2 vs. Udinese (H)

Both Lazio and Udinese recently celebrated progression to the Round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League, but Lazio were lucky to grab even a point at home in this 2-2 draw.

Senad Lulic brought Lazio back on terms after Udinese went up earlier in the first half.

They were then handed a 2-1 lead when Miroslav Klose's cross was deflected in by Udinese's Damiano Ferronetti in the 51st. The lead lasted only about 15 minutes before Udinese made it 2-2.

The way things were going, it seemed to be the three main contenders: Juventus, Milan, and Udinese, then Lazio, then everybody else. However, Inter, Roma and Napoli are starting to make a case for the Europa League spots and could make the six-point lead Lazio have over Inter very difficult to keep.

Lazio need to realize the threat that is Chievo Verona when they host them at the Olimpico on Wednesday or else they could start to sweat a bit when they look at the table.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Chievo (H)

3. Udinese (3)

Round 15: Drew 2-2 vs. Lazio (A)

If not for a second-half own goal, the points would have been all Udinese's. Instead, they have to settle for the draw.

Antonio Floro Flores made it 1-0 after 27 minutes, finally scoring his first goal after a strong 13-goal season last year.

Lazio leveled before halftime and then Damiano Ferronetti was unlucky to deflect a Miroslav Klose cross into the goal. However, Giampiero Pinzi also picked up his first goal of the match, saving a point on the road for the Udin club.

The draw allows Milan to take second place, but the top three, the three I continue to call the only three contenders for the title as of right now, are all separated by two points. There's a long way to go after Christmas so the fun is only just getting started.

Speaking of fun, we head into the break with an incredible matchup on Wednesday night. Two of the top three go head to head at the Friuli.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Juventus (H)

2. AC Milan (2)

Round 15: Won 2-0 vs. Siena (H)

Milan handled Siena without much trouble.

The champions were dealing with injuries at the back. Marco Amelia continued to play in goal while Taye Taiwo was given a chance to prove himself in only his third match and fellow newcomer Philippe Mexes made only his second appearance.

The defense played well, allowing only three shots on goal, two corner kicks and forced nine offsides.

The attack took a little time to get going, but Antonio Nocerino notched goal No. 6 on the season and Zlatan Ibrahimovic converted a penalty for his 10th nine minutes later.

Milan continue their great season as they've really picked it up since the end of September and haven't lost since losing to Juventus on October 2nd. Their 33 goals is the best in the league.

They have a chance to go top heading into the break as Juventus and Udinese square off on Wednesday. A win and an Udinese win or draw will put them at the summit heading into Christmas.

Round 16: 12/20 vs. Cagliari (A)

1. Juventus (1)

Round 15: Won 2-0 vs. Novara (H)

Juventus continue to roll.

They have clearly been the best team in the league so far though Milan continue to put the pressure on as well as Udinese.

Simone Pepe scored four minutes in and Fabio Quagliarella sealed the deal 15 minutes from time as Juventus continued their domination at home.

Juventus are undefeated overall with nine wins and six draws, but their home record is best with six wins and two draws.

They head on the road to the Friuli on Wednesday to deal with Udinese. They will have to be at their best for sure if they want to keep in first place heading into Christmas.

Round 16: 12/21 vs. Udinese (A)