The Serie A Game to Watch this week features the only matchup of two teams in the top four in the standings.&nbsp; Although it is only the third week of the season (sorry Sampdoria fans), both Lazio and Juventus are eyeing a possible scudetto and this match could keep one club’s early momentum going.
Lazio:&nbsp; The Biancocelesti comes into the match with two close wins to begin the season against two clubs that could battle relegation all season.&nbsp; What was concerning in their most recent 2-1 win over Chievo Verona was the tight nature of contest; the home team had eleven corners and staged a late blitz of shots against the Lazio defense.&nbsp; However Lazio’s ability (or luck?) to hold on for a win even after defender Sanchez Emilson Cribari was sent off shows some determination from the team.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-vz3oPYJ0Y&amp;eurl=http%3A%2F%2Flazio%2Etheoffside%2Ecom%2F&amp;feature=player_embedded">&nbsp;</a>
The season overall has been a mixed bag for Lazio.&nbsp; Over the summer, Lazio upset Inter in the inaugural Super Cup in Beijing.&nbsp; However, the Lazio faithful are restless, as the club <a title="Lazio fan complaints" href="http://lazio.theoffside.com/team-news/at-the-crossroads.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failed to sign</a> some of its targets in the recent transfer window.&nbsp; Additionally, it now seems the captain Tammaso Rocchi and his two goals on the year will join striker Mauro Zarate on the <a title="Rocchi and Zarate out with injuries" href="http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/09/10/1493456/lazio-captain-tommaso-rocchi-doubftul-for-juventus-clash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sidelines with injuries</a>.
Juventus: La Vecchia Signora is in its familiar place in the standings thanks to two wins over Chievo Verona and Roma.&nbsp; In particular, Juventus exploited Roma mistakes to blitz the hapless Giallorossi in a 3-1 win.&nbsp; New acquisition Diego has notched two goals and an assist so far this season.
The names on this squad are familiar to fans of Italian soccer, as many of the starting eleven are also on the Italian national team.&nbsp; It starts in the back with Gianluigi Buffon, one of the best keepers in the world.&nbsp; Vincenzo Iaquinta once again leads the offense but it is new acquisition Diego who seems to be a necessary spark for the offense, setting up Iaquinta on the only goal in the Chievo Verona match and scoring two goals against Roma.
Prediction: Both clubs have the talent and experience to compete for the scudetto.&nbsp; Lazio has shown a determined defense so far, holding off late charges in both their matches for six points.&nbsp; However, the loss of two of their most talented starters will prove to be insurmountable.&nbsp; The key is whether the recent international break has helped or tired the Juventus side; after Saturday’s match they face Bordeaux in the Champion’s League Tuesday.
Juventus slips a few past the Lazio defense for a 2-1 victory.

Serie A Game to Watch: Lazio v. Juventus

Serie A Game to Watch: Lazio v. Juventus - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_1590" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignright"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1590" loading="lazy" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1590" src="/files/2009/09/Gadaffi-pic-150x150.jpg" alt="Can This Man Own Milan?" width="150" height="150"></figure></div>Can This Man Own Milan?</div>
For Milan fans, the news was bad enough that they had been trounced by rival Inter while being watched by their owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.&nbsp; However, a rumor circulating that Berlusconi has been in <a title="Sky Sports on Milan sale" href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11863_5537884,00.html" target="_blank">negotiations to sell the club</a> to Libyan leader Muammar al-Gadaffi adds to the confusion about whether the team is a serious threat to the scudetto and Champions League.
While it may seem unfathomable to some that Gaddafi could own the club, the rumors and the <a title="Guardian story on connections" href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/sep/04/gaddafi-berlusconi-business" target="_blank">connections</a> between the two prompted the President of the Italian Football Association (FIGC) Giancarlo Abete <a title="Goal on Abete statement" href="http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/09/04/1480441/giancarlo-abete-i-am-against-foreign-ownership-in-serie-a" target="_blank">to speak last Friday</a> on the subject of foreign ownership of Italian clubs.&nbsp; Abete praised the Italian families that owned clubs and expressed his opposition to foreigners owning Italian teams.
Currently, no Serie A club is owned by a non-Italian; however last month American businessman Tim Barton began the process of <a title="Bloomberg on Barton sale" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&amp;sid=aHVQ_3_m0G6g" target="_blank">purchasing Serie A newcomer Bari</a>.&nbsp; Even though he is currently awaiting approval for his bid, the Gilletti have already been very active in the recently closed transfer market in anticipation of a new source of funds.
Foreign ownership is nothing new to fans of the English Premier League: powers Manchester United (American Malcolm Gladwell), Liverpool (Americans Hicks and Gillett), and Chelsea (Russian Roman Abramovich) are all foreign-owned.&nbsp; The foreign owners have kept the clubs profitable and expanded their global outreach even if they have failed to win over the confidence of all their English fans.
Mr. Abete is rightfully concerned that one of his owners could sell a club to a “questionable” ownership group or one that could bring scandal to Italian football.&nbsp; However, the benefit of expanding potential owners to foreigners can benefit the game in the long run.&nbsp; Having, for example, an American owner like Barton will allow him to put his company’s assets into keeping the club competitive, as well as expanding their fan base internationally.&nbsp; Imagine Bari kits being sold in American sporting goods stores, the forming of American fan bases, and advertising in places like Dallas.&nbsp; Foreign owners can allow Serie A to continue its quest to level itself with the Premier League by engaging people from the owner’s country in the team.
<a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1959293/">Should non-Italians Be Allowed to Own Serie A Clubs?</a>(<a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com">trends</a>)

Italian FA President: No Foreign Owners

Italian FA President: No Foreign Owners - World Soccer Talk

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Italian FA President: No Foreign Owners