Matchday 1: Preview

Editor's note: Before we play our first games I just wanted to set a few ground rules for the upcoming season:
1. Games will be played at 8 minute halves (this must be changed by the home team when creating the game invitation).
2. Make sure the home team (the team listed first on the schedule) creates the game invite. This is how the home team is determined. According to Del Sole, the home team has a slight advantage (eyes roll) so make sure you get this right.
3. After the game, the home team emails me the result. I will post all the scores on the blog.

Marco's Week One Preview:

Week 1 promises to set the tone of the entire PS3 Maple Fifa League season. The masses are quick to dismiss this first week as an easy week due to none of the BIG 3 playing each other. I will be the first to quell these falsities by stating it here first, not on goal.com or football-italia.net, but here, on http://maplefifa.blogspot.com/ that this week will be filled with everything that makes soccer/football the beautiful game that it is. If it were possible for us to do this, I'd tell you all to look out for dizzying footwork moving the teams up filed, a few crackers from outside the 18 and some spectacular fouls we wont soon forget. Here are the fixtures for week 1:

AC Milan vs Juventus: Game of the Week
(San Siro)

In a remarkable twist of fate, the two titans of Serie A meet simultaneously this weekend on both the virtual pitch and Stadio Olimpico di Torino. Both the virtual and live games promise to be action packed and exciting with the occasional (lets hope) blunder by one of the many meatheads on the pitch. In both versions of this weekends fixture, all eyes will be on Juve to see what they are made of.
Prediction: AC Milan 2 – Juventus 4 (Virtual) AC Milan 2 – Juventus 2 (Live)

Fiorentina vs Internazionale

(Stadio Artemio Franchi)

This fixture sees one of Serie A's most recognizable squads square off against a rising star. Unfortunately neither side will have an easy go of it, as they will in their live Serie A games. Both players bring something unique to the game, however I'm deeming this game “snoozer of the week”.
Prediction: Fiorentina 3 – Internazionale 1

AS Roma vs Manchester United
(Stadio Olimpico)

Beginning their journey with a tremendous hurdle Manchester United square off against a Roma side that can potentially frustrate them out of the competition (just kidding Al). I expect this match to be tough for both sides, as Manchester is out to prove they belong with the big guns of the PS3 world, while Roma will be playing to their potential in an effort to solidify them as the team to beat. Should be a good game.
Prediction: AS Roma 4 – Manchester United 2