The rumour mill may continue incessantly as it always does, but, for the time being no players will be swapping kits. Instead, now is the time for coaches to start preparing their troops, both new and old, for the business part of the season. It is already February and that mad month of May is [...]

African Cup of Nations (Group C), Gabon vs Tunisia (1pmET, Al-Jazeera Sports / Eurosport International):Tunisia and tournament co-host Gabon both won their first two group games and hence will advance to the final eight (while the other two teams in the group, Niger and disappointing Morocco, will go home).

AC Milan continued where they left off last Wednesday by beating Cagliari 3-0 at the San Siro yesterday to take them to within a point of leaders Juventus. Juve on the other hand were 2-1 winners over Udinese on Saturday.

Both wins see them pull clear of there nearest challengers Udinese and Lazio to set up a rather interesting conclusion to the league this season.

Juventus were crowned Serie A Winter Champions after one of their most controlled performances of the season on Saturday night. Atalanta have proven to be tough opposition for any team, especially at home where their only defeat prior was to champions Milan. But, the Bianconeri overcame early frustration to eventually overcome the Nerazzurri with relative ease.

We are now half way through the Serie A season and the main performance of the week 19 weekend was Roma's 5-1 win over Cesena on Saturday evening. The Luis Enrique project now seems to be taking shape. Later that night Juventus won away at Atalanta and with that win were crowned winter champions. Inter Milan now have won eight games in a row in all competitions after beating Lazio 2-1 in.

Just several weeks into the summer transfer window Juventus sealed the deal for Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner from Lazio for a fee of 10 million euros. Although the other summer signing, Andrea Pirlo, has received most the praise so far this season, Lichtsteiner has arguably been the more consistent of the two.

Just several weeks into the summer transfer window Juventus sealed the deal for Swiss defender Stephan Lichtsteiner from Lazio for a fee of 10 million euros. Although the other summer signing, Andrea Pirlo, has received most the praise so far this season, Lichtsteiner has arguably been the more consistent of the two.

Who knew there's a full slate of games in the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, Spain (Copa del Rey)? Though to tell the truth, not a whole lot of must-see TV today. Actually the one match today that we will try to watch just kicked off, so this will have to be a very quick post:

Udinese-Juventus at Stadio Communale Friuli (12pmET, Fox Soccer Channel, RAI Internazionale, ESPN3 USA, FOX Deportes): 3rd vs 2nd Udinese with 31 points, two behind Juve, who are in turn a point behind table-toppers Milan.

The return of Juventus as a force in Italian football has coincided with the arrival of Andrea Pirlo on a free transfer and with former club captain Antonio Conte assuming control of coaching duties. Both Pirlo and Conte have been influential in Juve's rise with the former Milan midfielder proving indispensable in several matches while coach Antonio has helped revive the squad's damaged spirit.

Celebrating a disallowed goal is always a bit embarrassing, but Napoli star Marek Hamsik can rarely have been left more red-faced than after this bizarre sequence of events during last night's match with Juventus. Hamsik stepped up to take a spot-kick for his side after Andrea Pirlo had tripped Ezequiel Lavezzi in the box.

Joint leaders atop Italian Serie A going into this weekend, managers Eddy Reja and Antonio Conte both knew this was going to be a huge test of their scudetto potential. Juve's Andrea Pirlo passed a last-minute fitness test to start, and the Olimpico audience welcomed back ex-Roma star Mirko Vucinic just like old derby days.

Joint leaders atop Italian Serie A going into this weekend, managers Eddy Reja and Antonio Conte both knew this was going to be a huge test of their scudetto potential. Juve's Andrea Pirlo passed a last-minute fitness test to start, and the Olimpico audience welcomed back ex-Roma star Mirko Vucinic just like old derby days.

Two title contenders will be squaring off this Saturday in Rome as Juventus travel to Lazio. The two clubs are currently sitting at the top of the table with 22 points a side, and they are arguably the two most in form clubs at the moment in Serie A. Coming into this match, Juventus are the only unbeaten side in Italy with 6 wins and 4 draws.

The top two teams in Serie A square off as Juventus and Lazio do battle in the weekend's top match-up.

There are some games in England this weekend that may spark more interest, but seeing Andrea Pirlo and Juve take on the Lazio squad led by Miroslave Klose and Hernanes.

The Premier League will offer up the latest contender lining up to try and hand Manchester City its first defeat as Liverpool plays host to the Citizens, while Manchester United takes on Newcastle in another clash of Top Four teams.

by serieaweekly writer Matthew Coccoluto With the international break over, means it's time for the European domestic leagues including Italian Serie A to get back in action. Juventus will welcome Palermo on Sunday with the hosts coming off of an extended break. Due to their last game against Napoli being postponed, it has been an astonishing 21 days since Juventus beat Inter at the San.

If you are ever planning a party, don't invite Uruguay. They famously scuppered Brazil's World Cup festivities back in 1950. And, on a much more minor scale, they burst the balloons blown up for the match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification in Rome. It brought the Azzurri back down to earth after a victory over one of the hosts of next year's European Nations a few days.

If you are ever planning a party, don't invite Uruguay. They famously scuppered Brazil's World Cup festivities back in 1950. And, on a much more minor scale, they burst the balloons blown up for the match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification in Rome. It brought the Azzurri back down to earth after a victory over one of the hosts of next year's European Nations a few days.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli is expected to start today's friendly fixture against Uruguay. The 21 year old striker who been instrumental in City's recent form will earn his 6th cap for the senior side in a match that could cement his position in the Italian squad.

After his amazing performances against Poland last Friday, Prandelli has decided to stick with Balotelli.

Time to sing "Everything you own in the box to the left!" to Diego Forlan because Uruguay have officially reaffirmed their commitment to their new national hero (handball and all), Luis SuaaaRez!

Of course, it's hard to ignore his four goals against Chi-le-le over the weekend but the Italians can sit down and relax because he won't be featuring against them tonight in the Italy-Uruguay international friendly.

Italy, oh Italy! The world's eyes are fixated on their fallen president and wacky owner of AC Milan today... Botox Berlusconi! Well, everyone except the Azzurri of course, where it was 'Business as Usual' with medical checks at the team's training camp in Florence yesterday.

Once again, Liverpool flattered to deceive. At Anfield, against a Swansea that does not travel well, the mighty Reds laboured to a disappointing draw. An out-of-sorts Liverpool performance was made worse because of a superb goalkeeping display by the Swans' Michel Vorm. His two saves from Suarez highlighted his sterling performance.

While everyone else with the club was busy with the Derby d'Italia this weekend (and successfully so), a few poor souls in the tech department were busy with Photoshop and some age-predicting software in the case of Andrea Pirlo. The result is some Halloween images of their frightening employees of prominence.

While everyone else with the club was busy with the Derby d'Italia this weekend (and successfully so), a few poor souls in the tech department were busy with Photoshop and some age-predicting software in the case of Andrea Pirlo. The result is some Halloween images of their frightening employees of prominence.

The first thing Andrea Pirlo must've said when he saw that bizzare photo above was : "è che un lupo mannaro con meno capelli?!" (is that a werewolf with lesser hair?). What else is this Halloween Juventus extravaganza supposed to be about, if doesn't involve their own coach, Antonio Conte, dressed up in a Count Dracula suit?

Former Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo made the move to Juventus this summer on a free transfer in what should be his last contract with an elite club. Pirlo now joins an exclusive list of players who have represented Italy's three most prestigious clubs, Inter, Juve and Milan. In fact, Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the only other active player who has worn the shirt of the three clubs.

Serie A returned with a bang at the weekend with some fantastic action. This week we got goals and more goals which included seven goals between Lecce and AC Milan. Udinese finished on top of the pile after a brilliant 3-0 over Novara. Here are the five top goals of the week 5. Alessandro Matri Juventus – Genoa This was Alessandro Matri 2nd goal of the game and it was a brilliant goal.

This season's Serie A campaign has saw a number of different teams fighting for dominance, as perennial challengers Inter and Milan have started slowly. Juventus sit on top of the pile after seven games, but their newfound confidence will be tested with tricky away fixtures in Milan and Naples.

Fans and media alike have been reveling in the praise of the new-look Juventus, and one must tribute the hard work done by Antonio Conte.

For a couple of years now, there seemed to be a perpetual state of skepticism surrounding the Juve Camp. Transfer market after transfer market, the Bianconeri were still seen lugging the burden of underachievement.

For Juventus supporters, it is hard not to be inspired by Antonio Conte. The passion and intensity shown by the Old Lady's new commander is infectious, for the players on the pitch as well as the fans in the seats. He has done well in his first five games, but I fear there just might be icebergs ahead and the captain needs to be ready to chart a new course if needs be.

Inspired performances by Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Cassano lead Italy to a memorable 3-0 victory over an ordinary Northern Ireland side in Pescara. Qasa Alom reports AC Milan's Antonio Cassano was warned prior to the match that this would be his last chance in the national set-up after offensive comments to a journalist last week – and FantAntonio really didn't disappoint with a brilliant brace.

Inspired performances by Andrea Pirlo and Antonio Cassano lead Italy to a memorable 3-0 victory over an ordinary Northern Ireland side in Pescara. Qasa Alom reports AC Milan's Antonio Cassano was warned prior to the match that this would be his last chance in the national set-up after offensive comments to a journalist last week – and FantAntonio really didn't disappoint with a brilliant brace.

Italy have had a solid qualifying campaign for Euro 2012, which has seen the side go unbeaten and concede a mere two goals. The side has also looked impressive in some recent friendlies, beating World Champions Spain 2-1 back in August. Although it could be argued that the Spain squad fielded that day was somewhat experimental, it is still quite an achievement for a national side that only a year previously was in crisis and bereft of confidence.

Andrea Pirlo collects the ball on the outside of the box, and plays a lofted ball into the heart of the Irish box, perfectly landing in the vicinity of Frederico Balzaretti, who flicked it across the six yard box, only to find the despairing feet of Gareth McAuley, securing the third goal and the victory for Italy.

Ah, leave it to the Azzurri to tour the football pitch in style! Seriously though, you could set up a fashion runway right in the middle of Belgrade's Marakana stadium and the Italian national team won't look an inch out of place. Work it, bellissimo!

It has been a week to forget for Milan fans. Mainly because of what happened at the Juventus Arena on Sunday night. It was a match that highlighted nearly everything that is wrong with this current Milan side. Too old, too slow, too tactically rigid, zero creativity, Ibra-dependent, Nesta-dependent, did I miss any.

Before Sunday night Juventus' start to the season hadn't been anything to write home about. Laboured performances against Siena, Bologna and Catania had eroded some of the optimism born from the opening day's 4-1 thrashing of Parma. The Vecchia Signora took five points from these games but their displays were arduous: plenty of heart, but little fluidity or panache.

Like every aspiring plutocrat who loves AC Milan, I sometimes fantasise about owning the club. I have big plans for it. Investing heavily in the youth programme. Engineering unbreakable bonds of affection between players and club. Brokering a creative and generous understanding between our ultras and local government.

Tottenham and Arsenal square off today in the latest installment of the North London Derby, one of the world's premier rivalries, and in this case, a battle between teams with similar aspirations of being a Top Four team in the English Premier League.

Tottenham will be favored playing at White Hart Lane, and will look to punish an Arsenal defense that has had its problems in the early season.

Juventus have to demonstrate to the footballing world they mean business this season which means nothing less then all three points today. The team is well rested and well prepared, with no mid-week game. Prediction: advantage Juventus, but they were too poor against Catania and allowed Bologna to step into their house and take a point in the last home outing.

The North London Derby headlines this weekend's proceedings as Tottenham and Arsenal renew one of the fiercest rivalries in world soccer.

Brad Friedel and Spurs will be the favorites, but you can never predict what will happen when Harry Redknapp's squad takes on Arsene Wenger's team.