This weekend the match against Fiorentina will prove to be a very tricky one indeed. Despite their loss last week to Chievo and their somewhat unimpressive position in the table, La Viola have a very good side and have shown their potential in the Champions League with some impressive displays, most notably their winning double over our European nemesis, Liverpool.

Like La Viola, we head into this match also on the back of a defeat. Last weekend, our midfield was again exposed as our luck ran out as we were unable to come away with anything and lost in front of our home crowd. The Palermo trio of Nocerino, Simplicio and Bresciano completely over ran our midfield to continue a trend started in the matches against Zurich and Marseille. As a result, it has become clear that in midfield we have a real weakness, a weakness mainly surrounding our lack of fight and defensive qualities. If La Viola and Prandelli have done their homework, they will follow Palermo’s cue and try to take control of the midfield by fielding players capable of pressuring the likes of Pirlo and Seedorf and over running the aging Ambrosini.

With the loss last weekend, our great run of five consecutive victories also came to an end. And whilst we have the potential to get back on track and get back to winning ways, I feel the lack of depth in our squad may come to haunt us in Florence and prohibit us from closing out the year with a win. At the back in particular we are without our regular centre back Thiago Silva and also the preferred alternatives in Oneywu and Bonera. This means that either Favalli or Kaladze will get the nod and this is not a good thing. Both the Italian and Georgian are complete liabilities and errors, costly errors at that, will most likely occur.

In midfield, the last few weeks have shown that our aging pair of Ambrosini and Pirlo are suffering from fatigue. Our inability to control the midfield in recent weeks is very much related to this fact and with no subsitute for Pirlo and with only Flamini or the out-of-favour Gattuso to cover for Ambro there are not many options for Leo. If we are to win, Leo must find a way to win midfield and this will not be an easy task as La Viola are expected to field a five man midfield.

Last week Borriello was wasteful with his chances and with Leo stubbornly refusing to play Huntelaar, we can only hope that Marco has one of his better games.

With resources being stretched and with the available players suffering physcially from the busy match schedule of the last two months or so, this match presents Leo with one of his toughest tests so far. This is without mentioning the importance of getting a victory. Last week we fell a point further away from Inter and Juve are snatching at our heels in third place with Parma only one win behind. With still only four points separating fourth and eleventh place on the table, it is vital that we get back to winning ways if we are going to at least gain a top three spot.

Moving on and last night we were paired to play Manchester United in the second round of the UCL. A mouth watering tie it will be but one I would have liked to have avoided. Man U will present us with an almighty task to get through to the quarter finals and though we have a great record against Man U, what I am concerned about is the young and inexperienced Leo taking on the wise old head of Sir Alex.

With some January reinforcements in addition to Adiyiah and Beckham, it is a tie we can win. Indeed, Beckham will be a great asset in taking on the Red Devils whilst for Ronaldinho the match will present him with a real chance to show that he is well and truly back, to a some degree at least.

All the Italian teams have been handed difficult draws and like last year it is very much the case of Italy v England s with Inter to face Chelsea. We have not faired so well in recent years against our English counterparts and I fear this year may not be any different. Manchester United and Chelsea are very strong sides and are rightly so the favourites.

But, like I said, if Galliani can bring in some reinforcements then we have a decent chance against the Reds. If he does not, then it will be an up hill battle.