[D-Kin]

Serie A Week 25 - 25/2/07 (14.00 UK)

Messina - Siena
Stadio San Filippo

Messina and Siena meet at the Stadio San Filippo in a Week 25 match between relegation battlers. The local team will desperately need the three points, but the Bianconeri will be hoping to improve their recent results.

Last year’s tie ended with a boring goalless draw. Messina are third from bottom of the table with 17 points, while the visitors are in a better position with 25 points.

The Giallorossi are forgetting what victory tastes like and not even new Coach Alberto Cavasin has been able to improve the team’s results. In Week 24 Siena were defeated 4-3 by Milan, but still played well. The Sicilians were defeated 2-1 in Livorno.

Cavasin isn’t sure whether to play with a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 formation, but the latter will probably be selected. Nicholas Caglioni should be the goalkeeper, despite his howler last week, and former Udinese shot-stopper Gabriele Paoletti may sit on the bench.

Former Siena ace Vincent Candelà will play on the left wing and will try to make the Tuscans regret their January decision to get rid of him. Peloritani top scorer Christian Riganò may sit on the bench. Arturo Di Napoli is unlikely to start so Cavasin will gamble on the talents of Sergio Floccari and Ibrahima Bakayoko.

Siena boss Mario Beretta should line up a 4-3-1-2 formation. In front of Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Manninger there should be Valerio Bertotto and Daniele Gastaldello. Towering defender Leandro Rinaudo won’t be travelling to Sicily.

Francesco Cozza will play as a trequartista behind former Boro striker Massimo Maccarone and youngster Daniele Corvia. After recovering from flu, veteran Enrico Chiesa should be in the squad, but may not start in the first XI.

Man on fire: Massimo Maccarone (Siena) – Super Mac scored his first two goals for the Bianconeri against Milan and seemed unstoppable.

Last season: Messina 0-0 Siena

Form guide: Messina (D L L D L) Siena (D W L D L)

Messina (probable): Caglioni; Rea, Zoro, Zanchi, Parisi; Alvarez, D’Aversa, Pestrin, Candelà; Floccari, Bakayoko

Siena (probable): Manninger; Bertotto, Gastaldello, Portanova, Molinaro; Antonini, Codrea, Vergassola; Cozza; Maccarone, Corvia

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