Milan superstar Ronaldinho Gaucho turns 30 today and the perfect gift would be for his team AC Milan to gain the top spot in the Italian Serie A. Ronaldinho who has been in superb form for the Rossoneri this season is very confident that his side can pip arch rivals Inter today to top the league.

Milan play Napoli at the San Siro in a match that could decide who lifts the scudetto in May. With 10 games left to play, Dinho has said that his side will be playing each game like a final.

“Inter have the edge, they have been winning the title for years and are ahead of Milan. They are in front of us in the standings although by little. But Milan are perhaps more motivated. Milan have not the sudetto in a long time. We craveit, we are chasing it, we want it”.

If Milan win the championship this season then they will have Dinho to thank. The Brazilian’s 9 goals and  12 assists – the most by any player this season, have been instrumental in guiding Milan to the second spot. With the sale of play maker Kaka to Real Madrid, Ronaldinho stepped up his game to fill the void left by one of the clubs greats.

Now with the season almost through, Ronaldinho has proved that he still has what it takes to play at the highest level. This match could also be the deciding factor that makes Dunga rethink his stance on including Dinho in his squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

A Serie A medal would be another acquisition to Ronaldinho’s already impeccable trophy cabinet.

Photo credit: Stemph

Nickname(s): The Blues

All-Time Ranking: 9th

2007/2008 Finish: 8th

2008/2009 Position (as of 04/07): 11th

Coach: Roberto Donadoni

Key Players: Paolo Cannavaro, German Denis, Ezequiel Lavezzi

History:

Founded in 1904, Napoli has spent most of its existence in Italy’s top flight. The squad won the league title twice at the end of the 1980s and hasn’t had much success since. Though they are the ninth most successful side in Serie A history, they are the winningest team in the nation’s southern region, so they have a large, dedicated fan base.

Napoli’s two titles were largely due to the brilliant play of Diego Maradona, the controversial Argentine playmaker. After he left, the team suffered some hard times and even fell to the third division. Even when results were poor, people showed up for games in droves. The team has recently been mediocre and in the middle of the league table. 

American Sports Doppleganger:

Napoli has suffered from some severe financial problems despite its two titles and the fact fans nearly fill the stadium to capacity every match. So, they remind me of the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, who also have had some cash flow problems despite winning two championships and almost always selling out all of the team’s home games.

Serie A outfits Udinese and Juventus are set to compete against each other in league action today.  The Old Lady – currently second in the league – sits 20 points ahead of Udinese which occupies the 14th slot.

Samba striker Amauri leads Juventus with 11 goals.  Antonio Di Natale paces Udinese with nine.

The match will be played at the Stadio Friuli in Udine.  Udinese recently signed Finnish midfielder Sakari Mattila.  The 19-year-old could factor today.  He joins Finnish national team midfielder Roman Eremenko at the Italian side.

Also on tap today in Serie A action:

Genoa at AC Milan
Bologna at Atalanta
Siena at Cagliari
Inter Milan at Catania
Lecce at Chievo
Napoli at Fiorentina
Palermo at Roma
Reggina at Torino

Roma launched 22 shots today, six on goal at the Stadio Olimpico as the outfit continues to climb back into next season’s European discussion.  Francesco Totti’s second-half goal ensured a 1-0 victory; it was the club’s third straight win over Fiorentina in Rome.

The Giallorossi now sit 14th in the Serie A table, but only six points out of a UEFA Cup bid.  Roma has won three straight — a 1-0 win versus Lazio in the Rome derby and then last weekend’s 3-0 away win at Lecce. 

Fiorentina now have five away defeats on the year.

In today’s other Serie A action:

Atalanta 2-0 Lazio

Goals from Valdes in the 54th and Sergio Floccari in the 68th minute proved too much for the Roman side.

Cagliari 1-0 Sampdoria

Samba striker Jeda’s goal only three minutes into the second half proved to be the difference.

Genoa 1-1 Bologna

Genoa’s 100 percent home record now gone with the draw after a goal from Bologna’s Marco Di Vaio.

Inter Milan 2-1 Napoli

Sulleysaves the day at the San Siro.  Now say that seven times fast!

Siena 1-0 Torino

Thanks to Massimo Maccarone, Siena retained its unbeaten home record.

Udinese 0-1 Chievo Verona

Chievo wins!  Who knew?  It took an own goal from Udinese, but a wins a win!

Palermo 3-1 AC Milan

AC Milan relegated to little brother again as it looks like another title on the horizon for Inter.

After eleven Serie A matches, Napoli is tied with AC Milan on 23 points and is only one point behind first place Internazionale. 

The Partenopei have used a strong defense and timely goals thus far.  Goalkeeper Gennaro Iezzo recorded four saves in his shutout victory over Sampdoria on Sunday.

In the 2-0 victory, goals came from Daniele Mannini and substitute Marcelo Zalayeta.  Zalayeta, the 29-year-old Uruguayan, has scored two goals in eight league appearances.  Fellow Uruguayan, Walter Gargano, has also played a pivotal role for Napoli.  The 24-year-old midfielder arrived in 2007.

Top goal scorers, German Denis (5 goals) and Marek Hamsik (4 goals) are new to the squad, both arrived after 2007, but have quickly jelled with their teammates.

Can Napoli keep up its winning ways?

Of the eight, AC Milan vs. Lazio appears to be the marquee match-up.  With AC Milan invested in successful Serie A and UEFA Cup campaigns, Lazio has an opportunity to surprise the Italian giants.  Also on tap are:

Internazionale vs. Genoa, Roma vs. Bologna, Sampdoria vs. Empoli, Udinese vs. Reggina, Fiorentina vs. Torino, Napoli vs. Salernitana, and Juventus vs. Catania.    
     
Serie B sides include Salernitana and Empoli.  Empoli was relegated from Serie A last season leaving Salernitana as the lone Cinderalla at the dance.  Salernitana won promotion to Serie B last season after capturing the Serie C title.

Who will advance?

I have Lazio, Inter, Roma, Sampdoria, Udinese, Torino, Napoli, and Juventus advancing to the quarterfinals.

Who do you have?  Let Serie A Tickets know.

Here is a look at five key attacking prospects in Serie B.  All are 25-years-old or younger.

1. Francesco Lodi: The 24-year-old second striker is picking up where he left off in 2007-2008.  He already has six goals for former Serie A side Empoli.  Several clubs could move for the forward during the January transfer window including Napoli.

2. Barreto: The 24-year-old Samba striker is on loan at Bari from Serie A outfit Udinese.  He has four goals already and could return to the Zebrette for the 2009-2010 campaign.

3. Giuseppe Greco: The 25-year-old striker has four goals for Pisa Calcio.  He is on loan from Genoa.

4. Riccardo Meggiorini: The Inter Milan youth product has four goals for Cittadella.  The 23-year-old played one match Internazionale in 2004.

5. Francesco Volpe: Known for his blazing speed, Volpe once called Juventus home (2004-2006).  He has the potential but must continue to work on his finishing.

Also keep an eye out for:

Paulinho (A.S. Livorno Calcio), Aleandro Rosi (A.S. Livorno Calcio on loan from AS Roma), Rey Volpato (Bari), Riccardo Maniero (Bari on loan from Juventus), Mario Pacilli (US Avellino), and Willy Aubameyang (US Avellino on loan from AC Milan).

See have tickets to all Napoli games home and away

January
13 Jan, 2010 Juventus FC – SSC Napoli – Buy Napoli Tickets
17 Jan, 2010 SSC Napoli – US Palermo - Buy Napoli Tickets
24 Jan, 2010 Livorno – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
30 Jan, 2010 SSC Napoli – Genoa CFC - Buy Napoli Tickets

February
07 Feb, 2010 Udinese – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
14 Feb, 2010 SSC Napoli – Inter - Buy Napoli Tickets
21 Feb, 2010 AC Siena – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
28 Feb, 2010 SSC Napoli – AS Roma - Buy Napoli Tickets

March
07 Mar, 2010 Bologna FC – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
14 Mar, 2010 SSC Napoli – AC Fiorentina - Buy Napoli Tickets
21 Mar, 2010 AC Milan – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
24 Mar, 2010 SSC Napoli – Juventus FC - Buy Napoli Tickets
28 Mar, 2010 SSC Napoli – Catania - Buy Napoli Tickets

April
03 Apr, 2010 SS Lazio – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
11 Apr, 2010 SSC Napoli – Parma FC - Buy Napoli Tickets
18 Apr, 2010 AS Bari – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
25 Apr, 2010 SSC Napoli – Cagliari - Buy Napoli Tickets

May
02 May, 2010 Chievo Verona – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets
09 May, 2010 SSC Napoli – Atalanta BC - Buy Napoli Tickets
16 May, 2010 UC Sampdoria – SSC Napoli - Buy Napoli Tickets