FIORENTINA

Fiorentina have played some tremendous attacking football thanks to the
outstanding partnership of Batistuta and Edmundo. The defence are greatly
improved over recent seasons thanks to the additions of Repka and Torricelli. It's
in midfield where Fiorentina remain lightweight and vulnerable. Lazio and Parma
may have given them a head start but both teams are now hot on their heals and
Batistuta must stop his traditional second half season slump if Fiorentina are to
remain top.
 

PARMA

Scored a pathetic 7 goals in their first 8 league games but have made a dramatic
improvement in recent weeks with the midfield finally helping out the attack with
some much needed goals. The best defence in Europe sits behind a formidable
midfield but it's in attack where Parma fall down. Chiesa and Crespo score in
bunches then fade. For all their industry the team lacks a player capable of
opening up defences with a moment of magic.  Currently lie in 3rd place but
crucially have to face all the big teams away from home - Juventus, Fiorentina,
Milan, Roma, Inter and Lazio for this reason I don't think their prospects of an
elusive first title look good.


LAZIO

Like Parma made a poor start. This expensively assembled side was also crippled
with injuries.  Mihajlovic's long balls (ooerr!) and free kicks are largely responsible
for Lazio's current 3rd place in the league. Salas has blossomed after a slow start
and Mancini is also weighing in with his fair share of goals. Nesta, Favalli and Vieri
have returned recently and Vieri's partnership with Salas is beginning to look
devastating. Lazio may grace the Olympic stadium with the type of football
you see at Selhurst Park (home of Wimbledon) but no one can deny they are
effective. It may not be pretty but with Nedved and Boksic still to return Lazio
are well and truly in the driving seat.

MILAN

After 2 dire seasons Zac's 3-4-3 system has Milan back on track. Despite a few
teething troubles Milan's 3 man attack has paid dividends although the forwards
are still guilty of missing vast amounts of chances. Bierhoff has been Milan's most
productive player despite a dip in form. Injury plagued Leonardo has weighed in
with some crucial goals and Ambrosini and Sala continue to shine in an otherwise
poor,  unproductive midfield and average defence. Milan remain an alarmingly
inconsistent team and have a miserable record away from home. A top four finish
is the best they can hope for this season.

ROMA

A devastating attack led by the genius of Totti and goals of Delvecchio. Roma
continually play the best attacking football in Serie A. In midfield  Di Biaggio has
yet to recover from a traumatic World Cup but Tomassi and Di Francesco have
been outstanding. For the undoubted quality in midfield and attack Roma have a
Sunday league standard defence and while the signing of Fabio Junior will add to
an already potent attack (Paulo Sergio excepted) the defence will prove Roma's
downfall. A back four stops Roma from being genuine title contenders.

INTER

The dream attack of Baggio, Ronaldo and Zamorano have rarely played due to
injuries. Early league form was disastrous despite some outstanding individual
performances from the likes of Ventola, Baggio, Ronaldo and perennial miracle
worker Pagliuca. Simoni paid the price for Inter's start and confused, defensive
tactics. Lucescu has delivered on his promise of  attacking fooball but the
fashionable three man attack are not being helped by a static midfield. Ronaldo
is still suffering from a knee injury and despite the arrival of Simic the defence
still remains a liability. Like last season, a squad of highly talented individuals
that remain unable to function as a team. The more things change, the more
they stay the same.

BOLOGNA

An abysmal start saw Bologna as low as 15th place in the league. The turning
point arrived in week 9 when a Signori hat-trick gave Bologna and 4-0 away win
over Vicenza and they haven't looked back since. Signori and Andersson form a
great little and large attack, Binotti and Fontolan provide the flair, Ingesson and
Marocchi the industry and the best defence in Serie A has been superbly marshalled
by Antoniolli in goal. Bologna may lack the star names of other Serie A clubs but
they more than make up for it with the finest team work in the league. Lack the
strength in depth to make a challenge for the scudetto but are capable of climbing
further up the league table.
 
BARI

The draw specialists. A superb defence led by De Rosa and the powerhouse
Neqrouz and Mancini has been inspired in goal. Bari's little known Scandinavian
signings in the summer are arguably the best kept secrets in Serie A, Osmanovski
and Madsen in particular have been outstanding.  Zambrotta and Masinga may
not form the most prolific attack in Serie A but will score enough goals to keep
Bari in the hunt for a UEFA Cup place.

JUVENTUS

Even though Del Piero wasn't firing on all cylinders his loss through injury has
coincided with Juve's slide down the table. A team clearly suffering from World
Cup hangover, Davids and Zidane look a shadow of their former selves. With
Inzaghi reliant on service the rest of the team, carried by the aforementioned
players, are showing just how average they really are. Ferrara's return has done
little to improve a suspect defence, Montero's rash of red cards have not helped
either. Esnaider and Henry should boost an impotent attack but unless Zidane
starts to perform it's hard to see where the service will come from.


Team of the Season

			Muzzi 		Batistuta 
			(Cagliari)	(Fiorentina)

	Binotto	 	Ambrosini	Nakata		Di Francesco
	(Bologna)	(Milan)		(Perugia)	(Roma)


	Mihajlovic 	Thuram		Cannavaro	Sala
	(Lazio)	 	(Parma)		(Parma)		(Milan)

				Pagliuca 
				(Inter)