Alberto Zaccheroni’s Juventus must defeat Bologna to prove they are at long last back on the right track in Serie A.

The relief was clear to see on the faces of club stalwarts Gigi Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero when Juve battled back to defeat Genoa 3-2 in Turin last week. It was a hugely significant win – Zaccheroni’s first since he replaced Ciro Ferrara in the Bianconeri hot-seat and only the second in two months of League action for the club.

Nonetheless even the staunchest Juve fanatic would admit their side was fortunate against Genoa. The team didn’t look particularly comfortable with Zaccheroni’s new 3-4-1-2 system and only came out on top thanks to a non existent penalty won and converted by Del Piero.

On the other hand the fighting spirit displayed by the players and the end of Amauri’s seemingly eternal goal drought are reasons for encouragement. Juve are now 6th, one point off fourth place and Champions League qualification, which can be their only realistic goal this season.

Hosts Bologna are in excellent form and well on their way to mid-table having climbed out of the relegation zone, but they will have to face Juventus without their captain and most potent weapon in the form of Marco Di Vaio.

Former Juve striker Di Vaio picked up an injury in the relegation dogfight with Livorno last week, having already scored the precious goal that gave the Rossoblu their 1-0 win. His absence could prompt a recall for another ex-Bianconero – Marcelo Zalayeta.

Coach Franco Colomba will fancy the chances of another giant killing since his charges have beaten Fiorentina and drawn with Milan in recent times. Under his predecessor Giuseppe Papadopulo the Felsinei held the Old Lady to a 1-1 draw in September’s reverse fixture, Martins Adailton hitting a dramatic late equaliser.

Massimo Mutarelli, Andrea Pisanu and Francesco Modesto accompany Di Vaio on Bologna’s injury list. Salvatore Lanna is suspended.

Juve’s injury crisis has eased, although key striker Vincenzo Iaquinta remains unavailable. Fabio Cannavaro is a doubt, while Christian Poulsen is not likely to be back until March.

Keep an eye on: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus) – The captain has come under fire for the ease with which he tumbled to the ground to win the decisive penalty against Genoa, but more attention should have been paid to his first goal, a wonderful individual effort that began with a hearty slide tackle on Mimmo Criscito that Fabio Cannavaro would have been proud of.

Last five in Serie A: Bologna (D W D D W) Juventus (L L D D W)

Last season: Bologna 1-2 Juventus

Atalanta can pull Chievo down into the relegation dogfight with a win in Bergamo on Sunday. The Nerazzurri are unbeaten in their last two games, but remain second from bottom with four points separating them from safety.

Bortolo Mutti has managed to restore some confidence to the team after a bleak run between November 26 and January 31 when Atalanta recorded just one win in all competitions.

They were unlucky to come away from Catania at the weekend with just a point after creating several scoring chances. Adriano Ferreira Pinto really should have got the winner after a superb cross from an in-form Cristiano Doni. Nicola Amoruso also hit the post after some excellent play on the wings from Jaime Valdes.

It remains to be seen whether Atalanta can actually maintain their momentum against Chievo this weekend. Mimmo Di Carlo’s side are in something of a mini-crisis after losing their last two games. The Gialloblu are also without a win in four matches.

Chievo’s strong start to the season means they still sit relatively comfortably in 13th place, but another defeat could make it squeaky bum time in Verona. Six points are all that separate the Gialloblu from the drop zone, but a win like last year’s in Bergamo should help them breath easier as the season’s final stretch approaches.

Keep an eye on: Cristiano Doni (Atalanta) – The 36-year-old captain is the heartbeat of this side and his performances are crucial to Atalanta’s success. Look out for a stirring display in this relegation battle.

Last five in Serie A: Atalanta (D L L W D) Chievo (W D D L L)

Last season: Atalanta 0-2 Chievo

With Bari being one of the surprise outfits of the season, Milan, wounded by their Champions League defeat, will need to be careful. Any slip-up may mean losing total sight of Inter and potentially losing further ground to Roma.

The Biancorossi sit a comfortable nine points above the drop zone and only five points off the last Europa League spot. Still, Coach Giampiero Ventura is adamant the target is to consolidate their place in Serie A.

Since the injury of young defender Andrea Ranocchia, however, the Galletti have lost three of their last four games. Several more injuries throughout the squad, including midfielder Sergio Almiron and striker Vitali Kutuov, mean that Ventura’s men will have to work extra hard if they want to take anything from the Rossoneri.

For Milan, their reaction to the midweek defeat will be one of the biggest factors in the telling of this tie. They must either forget about it or use it to spur them on.

Alexandre Pato appears to be fully recovered and will most likely partner Ronaldinho in supplying the big centre-forward. Expect this to be Marco Borriello, who has shown great progress and should be ready to start on Sunday evening.

There are not quite so many options at the back for Coach Leonardo though. Luca Antonini injured his hamstring against United and although his agent Andrea D’Amico is positive his absence will not be a whole month as it was initially diagnosed, he will not be available for some games.

There could be a glamorous return to Bari for Gianluca Zambrotta – the full-back, who spent two seasons with Bari in the late 1990s, has shown much improvement and may start on the bench with either Marek Jankulovski or Giuseppe Favalli filling in at left-back, the Czech being favoured.

After another unconvincing performance against United, we will probably see Dida relinquish his starting position to Christian Abbiati, in an attempt to give more security to what is likely to be a tired back four.

Keep an eye on: Paulo Vitor Barreto (Bari) – From the players of both sides, Barreto is the top scorer having found the net 11 times already this season. Furthermore his track record should have Milan on their guard as the small Brazilian has shown he is not intimidated by the big occasions – he has scored against Inter twice, Juventus, Napoli and Fiorentina.

Last five in Serie A: Bari (D L W L L) Milan (W L D D W)

Last season: Not played

Struggling Parma make the daunting visit to Cagliari’s Sant’Elia fortress.

Uncharacteristically Cagliari lost every one of their first three home games this term, and yet they are undefeated in nine since then. This terrific sequence has seen the fighting Rossoblu pull off famous comebacks against Genoa, Napoli and Roma at the Sant’Elia, whilst Juventus were also put to the sword at the Sardinian stronghold.

As a result the Isolani are once again vying for European qualification – they are three points off a Europa League spot and four away from a Champions League position.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri has worked wonders for a club more accustomed to survival scraps, a fact that was recognised recently when he beat Jose Mourinho to the Panchina d’Oro Coach of the Year award.

As for Parma their campaign is in serious danger of fizzling out. The Gialloblu’s stunning start to the season seems a very long time ago, with their last win coming on December 13. The 1-1 draw with Inter in the rearranged fixture last week seemed like a turning point, but the 2-0 home loss to Lazio that followed last weekend seemed to confirm that it was no more than a false dawn.

It may be an anti climax for the Ducali support but Francesco Guidolin’s side will have to focus purely on securing safety for the time being. However, if they do arrest their slide then they are not too far off the European places to make qualification an impossibility.

Cagliari remain without the services of their first and second choice keepers – Federico Marchetti and Cristiano Lupatelli – so youngster Michael Agazzi will continue in goal. Jeda, Daniele Dessena and Diego Lopez are also injured, whilst Davide Biondini is suspended.

Parma’s new arrival Hernan Crespo has struggled with injury, making the decision to let Nicola Amoruso go to Atalanta appear questionable, but the Argentine should be fit for the bench in Sardinia. Guidolin must make do without the suspended Luis Jimenez and the injured Blerim Dzemaili and Alberto Paloschi.

Keep an eye on: Andrea Cossu (Cagliari) – One of the most underrated players in Serie A, Cossu is the man that makes Cagliari tick with his vision and deft touch. The little playmaker scored against Bari last week.

Last five in Serie A: Cagliari (W D D L W) Parma (D L L D L)

Last season: Not played

The pressure must really be on at the Artemio Franchi, what with Fiorentina owner Andrea Della Valle coming out in support of Cesare Prandelli.

Ahead of the Viola’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, which they lost 2-1, a banner was draped over the stadium reading: “Prandelli, the cycle is over.” Della Valle laughed it off as the work of a Siena fan, but the fickle message emphasised just how frustrating times are in Florence.

With just one point from their last five League games, Fiorentina are showing relegation form and badly need a victory to boost the team’s confidence, which must have dropped to an all-time low.

The news that Alessandro Gamberini requires surgery on his shoulder, ruling him out for two months, will not have helped matters at all – but football can be cruel and only a good performance can remedy the situation.

Livorno at home really could not be a better game for the Viola right now. Struggling down in 18th following their promotion from Serie B, Serse Cosmi’s team are on a poor run themselves. Two draws and three loses in their last five fixtures doesn’t make for pretty reading, but they are only two points off Lazio in 15th so there’s still a long way to go.

Indeed, just as Fiorentina will see this as the perfect opportunity to get back on track with their Champions League bid, the Amaranto will view this as the best possible time to head to the Tuscan outfit.

Prandelli has problems with players missing though, with Cristiano Zanetti still out injured along with Mario Santana and Gamberini. Creative midfielder Riccardo Montolivo and Danish centre-back Per Kroldrup are serving one-match bans, and of course Adrian Mutu is unavailable.

Cosmi has a clean bill of health attached to his side, apart from Uruguayan midfielder Leonardo Miglionico, whose injury has ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Keep an eye on: Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina) – With a side bereft of confidence, you have to look to your strikers to make things happen. Gila may not have the creative side of his game of a Wayne Rooney or a Francesco Totti, but he knows where the goal is. Now would be a good time for him to end his Serie A goal drought, at least from a Viola perspective.

Last five in Serie A: Fiorentina (L L D L L) Livorno (L L D D L)

Last season: Not played

Delio Rossi welcomes the club he left in the summer, while Edy Reja hopes to continue his strong start on the Lazio bench.

Rossi remains popular with the Biancocelesti fans after conquering the Coppa Italia last season, but his contract was not renewed due to disagreements with President Claudio Lotito. It must therefore be pleasing for him to see that his replacement, Davide Ballardini, was sacked last week to make way for Reja. The new boss had a successful debut by beating Parma 2-0 and faces another away game to maintain that trend.

It won’t be easy, as Palermo are unbeaten at the Stadio Barbera in almost a year. Since the shock 4-0 derby defeat to Catania on March 1, 2009, the Sicilians have amassed 15 wins and five stalemates. In those 20 competitive games they only failed to hit the back of the net once, as Genoa emerged with a 0-0 result, interrupting 46 goals. If the Rosanero do pick up all three points, it will be their seventh consecutive home win between Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

Only Giovanni Tedesco is a slight injury doubt for this game, so Palermo can count on the likes of ex-Lazio midfielder Fabio Liverani. After last week’s 4-1 drubbing at Roma, President Maurizio Zamparini raged at the “insult to football” of leaving Javier Pastore on the bench. “I consider that a lack of courage from my Coach. From now on I want to see Pastore and Abel Hernandez always on the pitch, as they will be key figures for next season’s team.”

It remains to be seen if Rossi will bow to these demands. He is likely to stick with Cesare Bovo in defence, even though he too was lambasted by Zamparini, who described his performance in Rome as “like a circus clown.”

As for Lazio, they have their own controversy following Reja’s decision to drop Mauro Zarate for their Parma match. He came off the bench and scored, but the tactician warned “he doesn’t pass the ball enough and needs to work more for the team.” It’s likely the Argentine will be back in the starting XI to replace Tommaso Rocchi.

The big change that Reja brought about was Cristian Ledesma, who last week played his first official game of the season. Locked away due to a contract dispute and with Lazio in the relegation zone, it showed just how much they missed him when he pulled out a fine performance at the Tardini.

The extensive injury list includes Albano Bizzarri, Simone Del Nero, Ousmane Dabo, Francelino Matuzalem, Mourad Meghni, Andre Dias, Julio Cruz and Pasquale Foggia. Some of them could recover for the bench in time for the game.

It is a special encounter for Reja, who returns ‘home’ to the club he represented as a player from 1968-69 to 1972-73, notching up 124 appearances and one goal between Serie A and B. However, he has never beaten Palermo as a Coach, managing only one point from five previous meetings.

Keep an eye on: Javier Pastore (Palermo) – Dropped against Roma and the subject of demands from the President, this lad now has a lot to prove. He started the season relatively anonymously, but has slowly come into his own and can now dictate the tempo as well as score goals.

Last five in Serie A: Palermo (D W L W L) Lazio (L D D L W)

Last season: Palermo 2-0 Lazio

Roma need a win against Catania to keep their Scudetto hopes alive as they chase leaders Inter who have a seven point advantage.

The Giallorossi ended their positive run in midweek after suffering an unlucky 3-2 defeat against Panathinaikos in the Europa League. Before then they had collected 20 consecutive positive results.

“We suffered a black-out against the Greeks,” noted boss Claudio Ranieri. “But I don’t want people to think that we had our minds on the campionato. We care for the European competition just as much.”

Since the arrival on the bench of Sinisa Mihajlovic, Catania have really got back on track. They are unbeaten in five games and have been impressive both home and away. Last weekend they were held by Atalanta at the Massimino.

“We are disappointed because we really wanted to win that direct clash,” said the Rossoblu boss. “Against Roma we can do well but it all depends on us. It will be a difficult clash and we will go there to win. We fear no one and believe in our capabilities. Let’s see what happens.”

Roma will be without their captain Francesco Totti this weekend. Meanwhile, Luca Toni is recovering from injury and may sit on the bench. Julio Sergio got injured in midweek so Doni should start. Doubt remains at the back between Marco Motta and Marco Cassetti.

Mihajlovic will be without Marco Biagianti, suspended, but should recover Ezequiel Carboni. Meanwhile, Christian Terlizzi could surprisingly replace Matias Silvestre at the back. Only the bench awaits for Taka Morimoto after a series of disappointing displays.

Keep an eye on: Julio Baptista (Roma) – ‘The Beast’ is finally recovering his shape and starting to prove his worth at the Olimpico. After his goal against Palermo, the Brazilian is getting confident and could be useful to their cause.

Last five in Serie A: Roma (W W W W W) Catania (D W D W D)

Last season: Roma 4-3 Catania

It will be a tense clash in Tuscany between Siena and Napoli – two sides who are hungry for points but for very different reasons.

Siena are bottom of the table and losing contact with the rest of the pack. Last weekend they finally managed to win a game and it was a tough one away to Chievo. But there is still a long way, a very long way, to go.

“We still believe in survival,” said Simone Vergassola. “In recent weeks we have struggled but the team has always been keen. We have the right and the duty to play and believe in this project. After all we were really close to beating Inter at San Siro.”

Napoli are having a fantastic season and they currently sit fourth in the table. At the weekend they played a superb game against Inter and were only denied all three points by the woodwork. Now they have to rack up the points to keep ahead of Sampdoria and Juventus.

“We deserved to win against Inter,” said Walter Mazzarri, who was harshly criticized by Jose Mourinho. “The Portuguese is a successful Coach, but if I disagree with him I will just say it. I am quiet and respectful but I am not a fool.”

The Tuscans will start with their now standard 4-1-4-1 strategy. Francesco Parravicini, Jardim Brandao and Luca Rossettini are all doubtful for this clash. Massimo Maccarone should start up front while Emanuele Calaio will probably have to sit on the bench.

Ezequiel Lavezzi is back in training but he is an unlikely starter for this one. Walter Gargano is suspended but Luca Cigarini can cover for him. German Denis will start up front.

Keep an eye on: German Denis (Napoli) – El Tanque is finally delivering and performing at his level. The Argentine striker needs to prove he is worth the hefty transfer fee Napoli paid Independiente.

Last five in Serie A: Siena (W L L D L) Napoli (D W D L D)

Last season: Siena 2-1 Napoli