Serie A Power Rankings: Round 13

Round 13 of Serie A brought little change to Italy's top flight. It was mainly a week of small clubs getting slapped into reality against the giants. All five of Italy's best won to keep their spot in the top quarter of the table, with no movement within.

As alluded to after Round 12, there are three main contenders for the title the way it seems right now and all three of those sides won yet again.

There was one convincing victory this weekend, but for the most part the top half stayed the same. So who is the top team in Italy? Well, that should be obvious based on recent rankings, but where does the rest of the league stack up?

Once again, I apologize for the tardiness of these rankings. Final exams have made me busier than usual. That said, due to the schedule in Serie A this coming weekend, with the last match of the round taking place on Tuesday, the Round 14 rankings will be posted either Tuesday night or Wednesday.

Round 13: Lost 4-2 vs. Napoli (A)

Well, they got two at the San Paolo. That's impressive, but not enough when you give up four goals in response.

The game was already beyond reach when Luis Murial scored for Lecce, with Napoli making it 3-0 by halftime. The game was even farther out of reach when Daniele Corvia scored late on.

While playing many key players, it was clear that Napoli's primary objective was just to get past this game and focus on Villareal in the Champions League. Good on them because they won that match to reach the Round of 16 in Europe.

Its back to the Via del Mare on Saturday for the Wolves, but the odds of walking away with nothing to show for it are good yet again.

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Lazio (H)

Round 13: Lost 3-0 vs. Lazio (A)

No one should have expected anything less than this when Novara went to the Olimpico to face Lazio.

Its Lazio, they're one of the five best clubs in the league. They've been playing very good football. This was a win of the most simplistic manner.

Next up for Novara, yeah, probably another loss. At least they get to make Napoli wear those hideous yellow kits.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Napoli (H)

Round 13: Drew 0-0 vs. Atalanta (H)

The draw was actually a solid result against a very good team. A point moves the Flying Donkeys up one spot in the power rankings.

It was a surprisingly even match at the Bentegodi. Shots, possession, everything was nearly even the entire way.

It's doubtful that Chievo get any points from their next match, but this is a point to be proud of.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Udinese (A)

Round 13: Lost 2-0 vs. Juventus (A)

Well, what can you do?

If anyone can go to the Juventus Arena and get a win or even a draw for that matter, I would love the opportunity to shake that manager's hand.

Cesena have been playing poorly anyways, so Juventus' domination shouldn't be a shock to anybody.

Football requires both luck and skill, so it's hard to say that you can't necessarily win when you're out-shot in total 29-2, 8-1 shots on goal, and when you control only 26 percent of the possession. Rough day for the Seahorses. They keep looking destined for Serie B.

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Palermo (A)

Round 13: Lost 1-0 vs. Bologna (A)

Just because you control the possession doesn't mean you win the game, right Siena?

They kept the ball for two-thirds of the match, but Siena were unable to undo Bologna on the road in Round 13.

In less than shocking news from the match, Marco Di Vaio was the man to get the winner. He scored in the 28th and Bologna never looked back.

Siena have a chance at redemption this weekend, but will they capitalize?

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Genoa (H)

Round 13: Won 1-0 vs. Siena (H)

Marco Di Vaio got the winner for Bologna this weekend. Who else would it be?

The struggling blue and red found three greatly appreciated points when Siena came to town this weekend.

It was only Di Vaio's third goal of the season, not that he's had many opportunities to strike, given the problem of playing for Bologna. It's amazing. Di Vaio had the skill to play elsewhere, and for more than the couple seasons he spent with Juventus and Valencia.

Unfortunately for him, when he retires, and it will happen soon most likely—if he is riding off into the sunset celebrating anything, it could possibly be celebrating Bologna's return to Serie A because right now, this is a team that should be afraid of getting relegated.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. AC Milan (H)

Round 13: Lost 2-0 vs. AC Milan (H)

Genoa were outplayed completely by the reigning champions, who continue to look like contenders yet again.

They only had the ball 27 percent of the time, they were reduced to 10 men following Kakha Kaladze's red card in the second half and they overall just looked unmotivated.

They've fallen off recently and are starting to fall behind in the standings. Recovery, if it is going to happen, needs to come quickly.

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Siena (A)

Makeup match vs. Inter Milan on 12/13 (H)

Round 13: Won 1-0 vs. Catania (A)

There it is Cagliari.

The club that started off as one of Europe's most talked about surprises has slowed down recently, but they got a quality win over Catania on the road this weekend that keeps them just behind the European spot holders.

Segundo Ibarbo netted the only goal 64 minutes in and guaranteed three points for the Islanders. It was his first goal in Serie A after joining from Colombian side Atletico Nacional.

Cagliari will have a chance at three more big points this weekend, but it will require their best effort.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Parma (H)

Round 13: Lost 1-0 vs. Udinese (H)

Even with the season Udinese are having, this is a match an Inter team of different years would have won.

Inter is not the same club anymore.

Giampaolo Pazzini had the chance to salvage a draw for the hosts after Julio Cesar stopped Antonio Di Natale's penalty kick, but Pazzini slipped on the run-up and sent the shot flying nowhere near the goal.

The video here basically sums up Inter's season to this point.

Their spot at 12 in these power rankings is much more welcoming than their current position in the league. No matter how shocking it may be, Inter are 16th in the league. This is a team that before last season had won the Serie A in five successive seasons.

Claudio Ranieri stated a couple weeks ago that this is a team that could easily win the Scudetto.

Okay, if you say so Claudio. If you say that, you need to back it up.

After losing to Udinese in the second matchup of the 2003-04 season, Inter went on to dominate the next 10 matches over five seasons with six wins and four draws. They won the championship each year.

Last year, they beat Udinese the first time before falling 3-1 in the second meeting. Inter went on to finish second to Milan. After this, their second successive loss to the Udin club, it doesn't look like history will undo itself and it will be a Scudetto-less season for Inter.

Think before you speak Claudio.

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Fiorentina (H)

Makeup match vs. Genoa on 12/13 (A)

Round 13: Lost 1-0 vs. Cagliari (H)

Well, they had the possession. They had the shots. They just didn't have the goals and it cost them as Catania fell to Cagliari at the Angelo Massimino.

Despite this stumble, Catania remain in the top 10 of the table in Serie A.

The Elephants will certainly be hoping that they can stay within range of the European spots, but that may depend greatly on the future of Maxi Lopez. The Argentine forward is expected to be plan B at Milan if Carlos Tevez does not join the club.

Whatever happens, Catania have a few challenges up ahead. Whether they're up for the challenge remains to be seen.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Atalanta (A)

Round 13: Drew 0-0 vs. Palermo (H)

The results around them allowed Parma to move up this weekend, but they were certainly hoping for a better result at home, despite the quality of Palermo.

Parma's accuracy in front of net lacked greatly. Of 24 shots, only four hit the target and they were unable to beat the keeper on any of them.

Even against a greater opponent, when you shoot 24 times and only put the ball on target four times, there are going to be issues. Parma need to better themselves in front of net. Sebastian Giovinco can't do it on his own.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Cagliari (A)

Round 13: Lost 3-0 vs. Fiorentina (A)

Maarten Stekelenburg's face in this picture says it all. Roma were dominated at the Artemio Franchi by Fiorentina.

The biggest problem for Roma: discipline.

Luis Enrique's club showed no discipline whatsoever and it showed with three players being sent off.

Juan took down Stevan Jovetic in the box 15 minutes in, putting Jovetic on the penalty spot and earning himself an early shower.

Down 2-0 in the second half, Fernando Gago made a horrid challenge on Jovetic, earning him a second yellow card to reduce Roma to nine men.

Off a corner with only a few minutes left, Roma were lucky not to lose two players. The referee failed to see Gabriel Heinze's elbow in the middle of the box because Bojan Krkic pulled a Luis Suarez, but in less heroic style as Roma had already lost the match. Santiago Silva converted the ensuing spot kick.

Rough day for Roma. Three-goal defeat with two goals on penalty kicks and one on a corner kick to go along with three sending offs. The Giallorossi have certainly seen better days and this can honestly be seen as nothing more than a bump in the road.

The worst news of all of this is that they lose three big players for Monday's major derby with Juventus.

Round 14: 12/12 vs. Juventus (H)

Round 13: Drew 0-0 vs. Chievo Verona (A)

Not the greatest of results for Atalanta, albeit on the road.

La Dea started off hot, but have come down to earth a little bit and have fallen back to the bottom half of the table, if only for the time being.

I constantly have to remind people that this is a club that if not for the penalties inflicted by the league prior to the season would be in Napoli's Europa League spot.

This is a very good team and with Germain Denis leading the attack; the only way this team is going is up.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Catania (H)

Round 13: Won 3-0 vs. Roma (H)

Domination.

That's normally what happens when 11 men play against eight and it was no different at the Artemio Franchi this weekend as Fiorentina handled Roma with ease 3-0.

They owe Roma a little bit. Two goals came from penalty kicks caused by childish acts by Juan and Bojan. Both were sent off: Juan for trying to play a little American football and Bojan for not realizing that Luis Suarez is only a hero for his sending off in the World Cup because Uruguay were still in with a chance in that match.

La Viola looked good once again overall and Dellio Rossi will have been more than happy to accept his first win as manager in any way, shape or form.

Speaking of form, Fiorentina look set to go on a good run of it. With Stevan Jovetic healthy, there's no telling what Fiorentina can do.

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Inter Milan (A)

Round 13: Drew 0-0 vs. Palermo (A)

Not the best of results for Palermo.

They are clearly the better team than Parma, but they were miserably out-shot and never seemed to have a chance at winning the match.

Francesco Benussi denied the four shots of 24 that actually found their way on frame. He was man of the match for the Rosanero.

They hover just behind Napoli in the standings on goal difference. That could be an interesting fight, as while Napoli have proven to be a dangerous force on a European level, Palermo are also a dangerous contender.

Remember, Italy is not like other counties. The competition for the European spots will last through to the very end of the season and someone is going to get the short straw.

Palermo will have to be at their best throughout the rest of the season if they want one of those coveted positions.

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Cesena (H)

Round 13: Won 3-0 vs. Novara (H)

A dominating performance at the Olimpico earned Lazio three simple points.

Giuseppe Biava netted the opener and then Tommaso Rocchi netted the last two halfway through each half to guarantee the three points.

Lazio continue to soar and are impressing in Europe as well. They are very close to qualifying for the Round of 32 in the Europa League and will need to impress next week to do that.

Lucky for them, they can rest a couple key players at the weekend against Lecce.

Round 14: 12/10 vs. Lecce (A)

Round 13: Won 4-2 vs. Lecce (H)

By the time Lecce got on the board it was 3-0 in a game where Napoli let off the pedal as not to over-assert themselves before their Champions League victory over Villareal this week.

Napoli are soaring. Another win to put them fifth in Serie A and they are into the Last 16 of the Champions League. Things are looking really good for Walter Mazzarri's team. With the Group Stage completed, Napoli can focus on solely the league for the next two months.

Up next, well, it should be another simple three points.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Novara (A)

Round 13: Won 1-0 vs. Inter (A)

Udinese are really good.

To move past the obvious statements, it was another great performance out of the black and white and the win at the San Siro over lowly Inter keeps them level with Milan on points. The champions' plus-15 goal difference beats out Udinese's plus-10.

Mauricio Isla netted his third of the season and Udinese had the chance to go up 2-0 with four minutes left, but Antonio Di Natale missed a penalty kick. Julio Cesar stopped the shot, but Inter's chance to capitalize on their own penalty a few minutes later was for naught as Giampaolo Pazzini's slip let Udinese off the hook.

Next up is Chievo Verona. It may prove to be a match to rest some key players as Udinese need to get a positive result at the midweek in their last Group Stage match of the Europa League to reach the Last 32.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Chievo Verona (H)

Round 13: Won 2-0 vs. Genoa (A)

They just keep on rolling.

Unbeaten in the league since losing to Juventus in early October, AC Milan sit a mere two points adrift of their Lombardy rivals as they keep pace with a dominating 2-0 win against Genoa.

Milan did what Milan do best by possessing the ball and controlling the game from start to finish. A late red card for former Milan defender Kakha Kaladze didn't help Genoa, but the Rossoneri were too strong.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's penalty kick, his eighth goal of the season, put Milan in front and then Antonio Nocerino, who had five goals for his career prior to joining Milan on the last day of this summer's transfer window, struck with his fifth goal of this season.

Milan have been playing fantastic football in Italy and now have two months to focus solely on working toward a second straight Scudetto before having to face the consequences of finishing second to Barcelona in their Champions League group.

Other Milan news that affects their Italian campaign: Carlos Tevez is very close to joining the club after agreeing to terms.

Alexandre Pato, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Carlos Tevez. Think about that for a minute.

Round 14: 12/11 vs. Bologna (A)

Round 13: Won 2-0 vs. Cesena (H)

Shocker.

Juventus keep their top spot after easily doing away with Cesena at the Juventus Arena to remain unbeaten with eight wins and five draws through 13 matches.

Claudio Marchisio and Arturo Vidal struck late in the second half to guarantee Juventus the entire three points and keep their domination going.

At the moment, no one is stopping Juventus. Everyone knew heading into this season that this would be the team to beat in the race for the Scudetto. That prediction seems to be holding up nicely.

Normally, I'd say Roma had a great shot of ending Juve's unbeaten run, but with all the red cards against Fiorentina, Juventus are likely going to have a lot of ease getting through this derby.

The ultimate test will have to wait until the last match before Christmas on December 21st when they play Udinese.

Round 14: 12/12 vs. Roma (A)