Inter Milan are crowned Serie A champions, whilst arch rival Milan miss out on the UEFA Champions League.

Parma 0-2 InterMilan

In a thrilling finale to the Serie A, Inter Milan powered by Zlatan Ibrahimovic claimed the Scudetto by beating Parma.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the hero of the day. Still recovering from a knee injury, he came off of the bench to score the two goals that won the league.

Whilst Inter were celebrating, Parma were in tears as the defeat signalled their relegation from Serie A.

Catania 1 Roma 1

Roma who were trailing Inter in the league by just one point, needed to better Milan’s result to win the Scudetto and started perfectly when Mirko Vucinic put Roma ahead after just 8 minutes with a superb sole effort.

However, once news filtered through that Inter Milan had broken the deadlock at Parma, they seemed to take their foot off of the pedal and Catania equalised through Jorge Martinez on 85 minutes. The draw ensured Catania top flight football next season.

Torino 0 Fiorentina 1

Fiorentina also left it late to secure Champions League qualification. Argentine born Pablo Daniel Osvaldo scored the all important winner on 76 and boy was it a cracking overhead kick. Fiorentina’s win rendered Milan’s result redundant.

AC Milan 4 Udinese 1

Milan new that they must win this one and hope Fiorentina dropped ppoints to climb above them and squeeze into the Champions League spot, it wasn’t to be and AC Milan will now compete in the UEFA Cup. They did go out in style though, going a goal down just after half an hour they fought back with goals from youngster Alexandre Pato (48), and then the veterans; Filippo Inzaghi (59), Cafu (79) and Clarence Seedorf (88).

Empoli 2 Livorno 1

Due to Catania’s late equaliser against Roma, Empoli’s win was not enough to avoid the drop. Knowing they must win to have any chance of protecting their Seria A status, Empoli got off to the perfect start. Antonio Busce socre after just 10 minutes, then on 55 minutes Luca Saudati doubled the lead for Empoli. Alessandro Diamanti got one back for Livorno seven minutes from time, to test Empoli’s nerves, but the result made no difference in the end.

Atalanta 2 Genoa 0

With nothing to play for but fans pride, Sergio Floccari put the home side ahead on 32 minutes. Things got easier for Atalanta when Genoa went first down to 10 men as Danilo Sacramento saw red on 65, then on 78 Omar Milanetto joined him for an early bath. Atalanta made sure of the points with seconds to go, substitute Michele Marconi getting the second goal.

Cagliari 2 Reggina 2

Again neither side had anything at stake here, both sides having secured their league status in the last round. It was perhaps a fitting scoreline, with goals from Larrivey 18, putting Cagliari ahead. Nicola Amoruso got things level on 55, then Cagliari went ahead again courtesy of Bianco before the veteran striker known as ‘Dynamite’, Amoruso got his second from the spot with 4 minutes to go.

Lazio 2 Napoli 1

A drab end of season game saw Lazio take the points in what looks to be coach Delio Rossi’s last game at the helm of Lazio. Tommaso Rocchi put Lazio ahead on 14 minutes and then Fabio Firmani doubled up on 71 minutes. Maurizio Domizzi got the consolation on 82 minutes.

Siena 2 Palermo 2

Siena beat their Serie A points record with a respectable haul of 43 points with this draw. Middlebrough flop Massimo Maccarone got the first and last goal for Siena, but Palermo replied first from Serb Bosko Jankovic and the second from Fabrizio Miccoli.

The final standings;

1 - Inter Milan - 85
2 - Roma - 82
3 - Juventus - 72
4 - Fiorentina - 66
5 - AC Milan - 64
6 - Sampdoria - 60
7 - Udinese - 57
8 - Napoli - 50
9 - Atalanta - 48
10 - Genoa - 48
11 - Palermo - 47
12 - Lazio - 46
13 - Siena - 44
14 - Cagliari - 42
15 - Torino - 40
16 - Reggina - 40
17 - Catania - 37
18 - Empoli - 36
19 - Parma - 34
20 - Livorno - 30

Matchday 37, week ending 11th of May 2008.

So it’s the penultimate round of the season and we’re headed for a dramatic final week where it will go right down to the wire.

Inter wasted yet another opportunity to make the Scudetto theirs and Roma still have the chance to steal it from their grasp, repeating the 2002 season that saw Inter hand over a Scudetto to Juventus on the last day. Milan look to be out of the running for a spot in the CL next season, giving back forth place to Fiorentina. The bottom three remain as they were and it’s now official that Livorno will be in Serie B next season. Allan Oliveira reports.

Roma vs Atalanta (2-1)
After 23 minutes, Panucci scored for the second time in as many weeks, heading in a free kick from close range. The home side were forced to make a couple of substitutions as Perrotta then Mexes could not continue through injury. A De Rossi free kick extended the lead on 67 minutes although Bellini slid in to pull one back just minutes before time. The win puts Roma just one point away from Inter while Atalanta remain 11th.

Fiorentina vs Parma (3-1)
The Viola have taken back forth spot from Milan following this win and the latter’s loss to Napoli. They only need to hold on for another round to secure Champion’s League action next season however their opponents have been left in serious trouble, still in the relegation area.

The visitors had a dream start with a goal after 11 minutes, Budan nodding in a deflected Coly cross. Although before the break the home side equalised in style when Montolivo dribbled past everyone including the keeper and cut back for Santana to finish with the simplest of tap ins. Parma were hanging on in the second half but eventually conceded again. On 77 minutes Semioli met Jorgensen’s cross with a well-timed header to put Fiorentina in front. Soon after Parma were reduced to ten players as Rossi was sent off and five minutes from time Osvaldo put the match beyond doubt with a sumptuous volley.

Genoa vs Lazio (0-2)
Lazio did well to shake the woes of their below average season and the mid-week loss to Inter in the Coppa Italia semi. The visitors wrapped up the match within the first half. First Pandev powered a shot into the far corner from inside the area on 31 minutes and then in stoppage time Rocchi had a simple tap in after Behrami set him up. Even bringing on the joint league top scorer, Borriello did not help Genoa who drop a spot to ninth while Lazio now sit on equal points with Siena.

Inter vs Siena (2-2)
The league-leaders stumbled again and sit only one point above Roma with one round left while Siena maintain 12th position.

The home side started well and had several chances within the opening minutes. Materazzi rattled the crossbar and from the resulting corner kick, Vieira headed in the first goal. On the half-hour mark Maccarone levelled the score as he slid in a ball at the near post from a very tight angle. Super Mario (Balotelli) was on hand to restore the lead in stoppage time as he nodded in Vieira’s flicked on header. But with 20 minutes left to go, Kharja beat Julio Cesar to equalise again. Soon after Meterazzi was awarded a penalty for a shirt-pull but he had his shot blocked by Manninger. The wasted chances from this match could come back to haunt Inter and now it’s all about next week!

Juventus vs Catania (1-1)
Catania were still just above the relegation zone and knew they needed to take as many points as possible in these final rounds while Juve have secured third place no matter what so it’s more about the Capocannoniere race with either Del Piero or Trezeguet capable of finishing as the league top scorer. The visitors had to wait until the start of the second half but they struck first as somehow Martinez scrambled a corner kick into the goal. They only had to hold on for all three points but in the last minute Del Piero reacted quicker than the Catania backline and threw himself at a Chiellini cross to equalise and split the points.

Livorno vs Torino (0-1)
Torino’s win guaranteed a stay in Serie A next season however at the same time it guaranteed Livorno’s relegation. The only goal of this match came on 41 minutes as Livorno were punished for their defensive blunders and Rosina tapped in a Di Michele assist from close range, unmarked. Tavano found the net in the second half but had it disallowed for offside and apart from some crowd trouble as projectiles were hurled, there was little left in this match as Livorno accepted their demise.

Napoli vs AC Milan (3-1)
Milan took fourth spot last week but they faced a giant-killer that had already collected the scalps of Juve and Inter at home earlier in the season. The visitors were immediately under pressure and they conceded after 35 minutes as Hamsik took the ball from one end of the field to the other and finished his solo run superbly from the edge of the area. Shortly after the hour mark, Nesta slid Lavezzi from behind and made a mess of it, as the referee awarded a penalty for the mistimed tackle. Domizzi made no mistake from the spot to double the advantage. Then in stoppage time Garics volleyed in a Mannini cross to make it three. Seedorf found a consolation goal shortly after from a free kick but Milan seem like they’ll be without the Champion’s League next season now sitting in fifth. Napoli move up a spot to eighth.

Palermo vs Sampdoria (0-2)
Palermo could not rival the in form Sampdoria who jump over Udinese into sixth and the last UEFA cup spot following this win while the home side remain in 12th. Just after the hour mark Cassano found the net with a perfectly placed free-kick into the top corner. Fifteen minutes later, Maggio doubled the lead with a well-placed header and that wrapped up the action for this match.

Reggina vs Empoli (2-0)
In another relegation battle, Reggina secured their place in the top flight while Empoli are almost certainly joining Livorno in Serie B next season. It wasn’t until 68 minutes that the first goal came but it was quite a goal. Barreto rifled a bullet into the top corner from well outside the area. Just over ten minutes later Amoruso took Marzoratti out of the equation as he cut onto his left and struck the ball past Bassi.

Udinese vs Cagliari (0-2)
Once again there were no first half goals in this match but Acquafresca started the second half perfectly as he smashed in a goal at the near post just minutes after the restart. Then soon after on 55 minutes Cossu finished well from ten yards in another good counter attack. Cagliari can be proud of the way they’ve turned their season around from propping up the table to moving close to the mid table and if they can maintain these performances next season they will do well. They sit in 14th while their hosts have lost the last UEFA spot to Sampdoria although both teams have tough final games in the form of Milan and Juve respectively.

The standings
1st Inter 82pts 37 played
2nd Roma 81pts 37 played
3rd Juventus 71pts 37 played
4th Fiorentina 63pts 37 played
5th AC Milan 61pts 37 played
6th Sampdoria 59pts 37 played

This was the week where Inter could’ve won the Scudetto for the third consecutive season but it was never going to be easy as it was also the week where they had to face their city rivals, AC Milan in the local derby. Fiorentina and Juventus stumbled again though the repercussions were more serious for the former as Milan are now fourth and are now in pole position for a Champions League place. Allan Oliveira reports.

Milan vs Inter (2-1)

Inter blew the chance to win the Scudetto and defeat their bitter rivals and now need to win at least once over the last two games to prevent Roma from taking the title. Milan however have accomplished what they set out to do in the last period of the season, secure the final Champion’s League spot. The first half was all Milan as they pinned back Inter and caused no end of problems for the shaky Nerazzuri defense. Shortly after the restart Kaka crossed from the right for Inzaghi and the veteran nodded in to open up the scoring. Then on 56 minutes Kaka doubled their advantage with a low shot into the far corner after a defensive mistake. This finally woke Inter up and they turned the tables on their opponents, pinning them into their half instead. With just 15 minutes remaining, Cruz curled in a free kick to reduce the deficit but try as they might, the league leaders couldn’t find an equalizer.

Atalanta vs Livorno (3-2)

Livorno are in real trouble after this defeat and will almost certainly be playing in Serie B next season. Few opportunities were created in the first half but there was plenty of action after the restart. Doni opened the scoring for the home side with a wonderful lob in the 56th minute and a few minutes later Pinto added another as his shot squirmed past the outstretched keeper. The visitors refused to go down without a fight as Rossini reduced the deficit by putting away the rebound from Filippini’s blocked shot only five minutes later. On 81 minutes Pavan levelled the score with a glancing header from Diamanti’s cross and gave his team some real hope. Unfortunately Padoin restored the home side’s lead in the last minute with an excellent chip and left the visitors bottom of the table with just 30 points. Atalanta remain in 11th with 45 points.

Cagliari vs Fiorentina (2-1)

After such a good season, the pressures of competing in the final stages of the UEFA cup as well as the league have taken their toll on Fiorentina. The Voila drop to fifth as Milan leap-frog them while Cagliari can almost rest easy after pulling themselves from the bottom of the table. As always the Sardinians are a force to be reckoned with at home and they went ahead early on, Jeda nodding in from a corner kick on 20 minutes. Not long after the restart, Conti tapped in from close range after good work by Cossu and Matri. Santana was able to pull a goal back just three minutes later but they couldn’t find another and Mutu saw red at the death after complaining too much after being booked. Cagliari move up a spot to 14th.

Catania vs Reggina (1-2)

In what was an important relegation battle the home side started stronger with Mascara doing well but Reggina were first to score through Amoruso’s diving header just before the break. Campagnolo kept the visitors in the game in the second half with some good saves and in the last minute Amoruso completed a brace as he converted a penalty following a Sardo tackle on Barreto. Catania got a goal back in stoppage time as Martinez tapped in but they ran out of time to stage a full comeback. Reggina jump out of the relegation zone and above their hosts into 16th place while Catania drop three places to 17th, only just above the relegation places.

Empoli vs Udinese (0-1)

Empoli went into this match on the verge of relegation and are now second from the bottom as Reggina and Parma went above them. Meanwhile Udinese took full advantage of Sampdoria’s loss to Roma to move into sixth place. The only goal of the match came on 17 minutes as Quagliarella unleashed a long-range shot that Balli made a complete mess of. Empoli began to apply a lot of pressure and finally had a chance through a penalty when Pepe tripped Giovinco but the latter had his spot-kick saved by Handanovic.

Lazio vs Palermo (1-2)

The home side threw away a 1-0 lead as Palermo fought back with a late Amauri brace to take all three points. Pandev placed a penalty kick into the top right corner on 25 minutes after a Migliaccio handball in the area. They should’ve extended their lead but ended up giving Palermo a penalty in a similar fashion, though luckily for the home side Muslera was on hand with a great save. Finally Amauri equalised with a header from Miccoli’s free kick and then in stoppage time Amauri again nodded in another Miccoli free kick to win the match. Lazio’s bad run continues as they slide down to 13th while Palermo close in on Napoli but remain in 10th.

Parma vs Genoa (1-0)

Hector Cuper should breathe a slight sigh of relief as his team finally registered a win and considering the injury and suspension list it’ll go down as a great result. Unfortunately they’re still in the relegation zone in 18th spot and will need a couple more wins and some luck. It was a game of few chances and Parma made the best of one of theirs on the hour mark as Lucarelli put away a header on the rebound after his first attempt hit the crossbar. Despite the defeat, Genoa remain in 8th.

Sampdoria vs Roma (0-3)

Roma have not given up on the Scudetto yet and closed in on the league leaders and are now just 3 points behind them. They left it late but won this difficult encounter in style with three goals in ten minutes. Cassano faced his old team for the first time since his return to Italy and almost scored against them early on but for a great save from Doni. In fact the Brazilian was keeping Roma in the game as they were mostly unmotivated until news started to come through that Inter were losing the derby. Panucci nodded in the first from a Pizarro corner on 75 minutes, then the provider powered a low shot in from just outside the area to make it two. They completed the win as Cicinho converted a pass from Vucinic.

Siena vs Juventus (1-0)

The visitors fell to Siena in a shock defeat although they will finish third no matter what happens now. Siena were looking for complete safety and are now certain to play in the top flight next year, moving one spot above Lazio into 12th. With the first chance of the match, Kharja made the most of a defensive error and looped a shot into the far corner beyond Buffon’s reach on seven minutes. In the remaining time there were several chances for both sides but the respective keepers held the score for the remainder of the match.

Torino vs Napoli (2-1)

The home side made a good start as the ref awarded a controversial penalty on 25 minutes for a Domizzi challenge on Di Michele. The visitors alleged that the striker had tripped himself. Nonetheless, Rosina converted the spot-kick, sending the keeper the wrong way for the only goal of the first half. Soon after the second half began a Bogliacino free kick ended up in his path of Contini and lashed it into the top of the net. But just three minutes later, Di Michele restored Torino’s lead as he beat the offside, controlled and calmly slotted past Navarro. Torino move up to 15th while Napoli remain in 9th

The standings

1st Inter 81pts 36 played
2nd Roma 78pts 36 played
3rd Juventus 70pts 36 played
4th AC Milan 61pts 36 played
5th Fiorentina 60pts 36 played
6th Udinese 57pts 36 played

Round 35 saw all ten games played on the same day, at the same time for once and the Italian public were rewarded with a goal fest. Allan Oliveira has all the details.

The big teams like Roma, Juve and Milan destroyed their opposition while Inter did just enough to defeat Cagliari at home and all but seal the Scudetto for another season. With only three rounds left and 6 points between Roma and the leaders, their challenge is fading. However the Milan derby is the next match and AC Milan are fighting for every point that’s up for grabs.

Roma vs Torino (4-1)

The home side was on fire in the first half, scoring all four goals within 32 minutes. Although their chances of catching Inter are very slim, this convincing win tells the league leaders that they still mean business. On 18 minutes, Perrotta was fouled just inside the area and Pizarro put away the penalty. Two minutes later, Vucinic doubled the score, slotting in Perrotta’s pass from the tightest of angles. Then on 26 minutes Mancini met Cicinho’s cross and powered home a header in at the back post. Soon after, the Brazilian completed a brace and Roma’s goal haul with a tap in following Vucinic’s excellent cut-back. In the second period, Torino found a consolation goal when Ventola headed in a Lazetic cross. Roma were reduced to ten men on 76 minutes as Juan was harshly sent off. It was too late for Torino to conjure up anything else and they returned home still on 34 points, barely out of relegation danger.

Fiorentina vs Sampdoria (2-2)

The Viola hosted Sampdoria in what turned out to be a nail-biter of a match. Fiorentina came close in the first half but most of the action was saved for after the restart. The visitors grabbed an opener on 63 minutes when Cassano set up Maggio for a near post finish through the keeper’s legs. Fifteen minutes later substitute Vieri equalised with a well placed header from Mutu’s cross. Mutu was involved again 5 minutes later when he won a penalty and got up to convert the spot-kick himself. But the home team couldn’t hang on and late in the game Gastadello nodded in a quality equaliser. Just four points separate the teams in fourth and sixth respectively although they’ve allowed Milan to get within two points of the last Champions League spot they’re all clamoring for.

Genoa vs Empoli (0-1)

An early goal was enough for Empoli to secure a win and move them just out of the relegation zone. Abate grabbed his first goal of the season on 15 minutes with a good first time strike from a superb pass from Giovincol. The visitors could’ve made it two but were denied by an incorrect offside call while Genoa finished the match with ten men after Di Vaio lost his cool with the ref and earned a straight red for his verbal assault. Genoa retain eighth spot but can forget about UEFA cup action next season.

Inter vs Cagliari (2-1)

Although Inter were two goals up and in control for most of this match, they had a late scare as Cagliari pulled one back. In the end they held on for the win and now almost certainly have the Scudetto locked down as just one more win will be enough to secure their third consecutive league title. A few months ago this would be an easy fixture but Cagliari have been a dangerous force in recent times, destroying reputations of all those having to face them at home. Although there was good work by Balotelli early on, it was Cruz that put the first goal on the board with a deflected header from a Vieira cross on 22 minutes. The second didn’t come until 82 minutes as Materazzi nodded in from a free kick. The visitors pulled one back at the death as a Biondini shot deflected into the net past a helpless Julio Cesar. Cagliari remain in 15th but are almost certain to remain in the top flight next season. It’ll be a sweet victory for Inter if they can defeat Milan in the derby next week and claim the title at the same time.

Juventus vs Lazio (5-2)

Juve destroyed their visitors to secure Champion’s League football for next season, quite impressive after their first season back in Serie A. Chiellini opened the home side’s goal account on 15 minutes with a glancing header from a Camoranesi free kick. Six minutes later, the provider doubled the advantage himself after turning in Trezeguet’s fluffed effort with a close range finish. Just after the half hour mark, Del Piero left his marker for dead and placed a left-footer into the net. Incredibly, a minute later it was 4-0 as Trezeguet finished off a Camoranesi through ball. Bianchi pulled one back on 55 minutes with a nicely placed lob and then on 61 minutes Siviglia made it 2 for the visitors with a diving header to make it 4-2. Juve seemed to have hit cruise control a little early but unfortunately Lazio’s undisciplined reputation hurt them again as goal-scorer Siviglia was sent off after his second booking on 75 minutes. In the dying minutes the home side sealed the win as Chiellini tapped in a fumbled clearance from six yards. Another loss for Lazio although they retain 12th while Juve can still challenge Roma for 2nd place.

Livorno vs Milan (1-4)

Inzaghi bagged a hat-trick to continue his excellent form of late as Milan routed their hosts to close in on forth place leaving Livorno in serious trouble at the bottom of the table. Milan were in complete control of this match and the veteran Italian grabbed his first on 23 minutes as Kaka rolled a pass across for him to tap in from close range, although replays showed he may have been in an offside position. Shortly after the restart, Inzaghi doubled the score with a glancing header from Bonera’s cross. Then on 59 minutes he completed his hat-trick with another header, this time from a Pirlo corner kick. He also set up Seedorf for the fourth in the 71st minute. The home side at least pulled back a consolation goal two minutes later as Knezevic’s diving header found the net from a corner kick.

Napoli vs Siena (0-0)

Although both teams had their share of chances throughout the match, the best of these were denied by the woodwork for the home side and an offside call for the visitors. Napoli have done well this season after promotion but couldn’t quite reach a UEFA cup spot. They retain ninth spot while Siena can rest a bit easier with a spot in Serie A next season confirmed, holding on to 13th position with a points total of 40.

Palermo vs Atalanta (0-0)

Another goal less match although there was plenty of chances for both sides during this encounter. Miccoli clipped the crossbar after a good run and Cavani wasted a couple of chances too. Meanwhile Pinto and Doni caused some trouble at the other end for their hosts but couldn’t find the net either. The result keeps the two side’s just one point from each other in 10th and 11th respectively.

Reggina vs Parma (2-1)

Cuper’s Parma were in serious trouble following bans to Couto, Gasbarroni, Falcone, Castellini and Mariga compounding their injury woes. And the defeat sends them straight into the relegation zone as Reggina climb out. Although the visitors managed to open the scoring following a clumsy challenge on Reginaldo that Cigarini converted from the resulting spot-kick, the home side fought back for the win. The penalty on 25 minutes was the only goal for the first half but Parma were reduced to ten men soon after the restart as Paci picked up his second yellow. Two minutes later, Cozza took full advantage of the situation with shot on the turn following a goalline clearance. Not long after that he completed a brace as his powerful strike took a deflection to leave Bucci stranded as Reggina clinched an important victory.

Udinese vs Catania (2-1)

Within six minutes the home side were ahead as Di Natale beat the offside trap and he made no mistake in front of goal. However, soon after the half-hour mark, the visitors equalised in style as Vargas struck a beautiful volley. It only took four minutes for Quagliarella to put Udinese back in front and outshine the other goals with a brilliant turn and powerful shot which flew in to the net after clipping the underside of the crossbar. Although Catania desperately tried to get back into the game the home side held on for all three points. They remain seventh but closed the gap to just two points between themselves and Sampdoria, still battling for the last UEFA spot. Catania hold on to 14th position.

The standings

1st Inter 81pts 35 played
2nd Roma 75pts 35 played
3rd Juventus 70pts 35 played
4th Fiorentina 60pts 35 played
5th AC Milan 58pts 35 played
6th Sampdoria 56pts 35 played

Matchday 33, week ending 20th of Apr 2008.

There was much drama this week, with the end of the season drawing near and the race for places heating up, especially that hotly contested fourth Champion’s League spot.

Milan were involved in a 5-1 thrashing of Reggina as Kaka returned to his usual excellent form, appearing well and truly recovered from his injury woes. Juve thumped Atalanta with another amazing performance by their star and captain, Del Piero. It was also a week of harsh referee decisions and many red cards that saw teams reduced to ten, nine and even eight men in Parma’s case! Allan Oliveira reports.

Juventus vs Parma (3-0)
Juve hosted Parma mid-week in this rescheduled round 31 match following the death of a Parma fan. The home side dominated the match from the very start and after 16 minutes Trezeguet put away a Del Piero corner at the back post. Juve struck again on the half hour mark when Palladino beat his marker and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the far corner. The frantic tempo dropped a bit after the second goal and Parma finally had a few attempts but no luck. In the second half the home side continued to push for another goal and were rewarded in the 77th although it was Parma’s Morrone who was the goal scorer. A Tiago pass came off his head and over Bucci, into his own net. A minute later Couto was sent off for dissent and may face further action for punching Chiellini earlier in the match (the incident missed by the referees). Juve found themselves comfortably in third while Parma are hovering just one point from relegation.

Roma vs Livorno (1-1)
Roma dropped vital points after welcoming bottom of the table Livorno and can most likely forget their dream of beating Inter to the Scudetto. Adding insult to injury, they lost captain and talisman Francesco Totti to a knee injury that looks to be quite serious. Both sides were involved in the early exchanges although Roma had more than their fair share. Totti took a knock on his knee but managed to continue until soon after he fell awkwardly following a shot and had to be stretchered off and replaced by Mancini. Vucinic finally broke the deadlock on 54 minutes with a looping header that was out of Amelia’s reach. They pushed for another but couldn’t find it and a Pizarro error forced Juan to give away a free kick. Substitute Diamanti stepped up and curled the ball beautifully into the top corner to level the score with just seven minutes of regular time remaining. Roma began to attack like their lives were on the line and pounded Amelia’s goal in the dying minutes but Livorno held on for a share of the spoils. By goal difference only the visitors are in 18th spot but all three sides facing relegation are on 30 points.

Fiorentina vs Palermo (1-0)
The hosts were looking to keep Milan at bay with another win and although they didn’t produce their best performance of late, they did enough to defeat mid-table Palermo. They maintain fourth spot just as Palermo maintain tenth. The only goal of the match came on the half hour mark when Donadel found the ball at his feet and struck it with venom from about 20 metres. The ball skimmed past Agliardi at the near post much to the delight of the home crowd. Palermo had a couple of good chances to equalise as did the Viola to extend their lead but only Mutu was proving dangerous for his side. Even when the visitors were reduced to ten men after Rinaudo picked up a second yellow for a push on Pazzini, Fiorentina could not take advantage and in fact almost conceeded if not for Frey’s spectacular reaction saves.

Milan vs Reggina (5-1)
Kaka produced quite a display and bagged a hat-track in the thumping of relegation troubled Reggina. After just eight minutes the Brazilian dusted himself off to send Campagnolo the wrong way following a Modesto tackle in the box which resulted in a penalty. He continued to trouble Campagnolo with powerful drives until another spot kick was awarded following a trip on Seedorf by Vigiani. Kaka’ rolled his shot towards the other side this time and made it 2-0 on 34 minutes. Six minutes later Barreto pulled one back for the visitors after collecting a poor clearance and smashing a screamer into the top corner from just outside the area. On 68 minutes Kaka controlled a Brocchi cross with his thigh and fired into the far bottom corner from a tight angle to complete his hat-trick. The goals didn’t stop as Pato entered with immediate impact, his shot smacking into the post for Inzaghi to tap in the rebound. Finally the substitute got himself a goal in the last minute of regular time nodding in a powerful header from a Gourcuff cross. The result keeps Milan four points from Fiorentina but sends Reggina down to the bottom of the table on goal difference.

Atalanta vs Juventus (0-4)
In another one-sided affair, Juventus continued their good run with a convincing win on the road, to leave themselves just five points behind Roma. Atalanta record another loss but manage to retain 11th place with 41 points. Not to be outdone by Kaka, Del Piero also put on an amazing display and scored a hat-trick himself, without the need for any penalties too. The visitors could not hope for a better start when within the first minute, Legrottaglie nodded in a Del Piero free-kick. Five minutes later, Trezeguet set up Del Piero for a close-range volley to further crush Atalanta’s spirits. The home side attempted to get back into the match but this left them open on the counter and on 33 minutes Del Piero struck again with a well-timed run and calm finish. Following the restart, the Juve captain completed his hat-trick when Trezeguet set him up again to smack a volley in from about 10 metres.

Cagliari vs Empoli (2-0)
Another home win for Cagliari although they did it tough this time, ending the match with nine men. In form Acquafresca opened up the scoring on ten minutes with a superb display of skill, trapping a long ball and then turning and powering it into the goal in almost the same motion. Fini doubled the advantage on 64 minutes with a quality strike also but removed his shirt to celebrate and got sent off as it was his second yellow. Not long after, Pisano picked up a couple of yellows himself and had to go in for an early shower too. This left Cagliari with nine men and 12 minutes to hang on for the win although they actually did so quite comfortably. The result leaves Empoli just above Reggina in 19th while Cagliari continue their amazing rise to 15th with 35 points.

Catania vs Lazio (1-0)
This time Lazio ended with nine men although a Spinesi penalty was enough to seal the win and three more important points for Catania who are trying to put more distance between themselves and the relegation area. Even when Lazio had a full side, Catania looked more dangerous and on 33 minutes Zauri saw red and gave away a penalty which Spinesi promptly converted. In the second half Dabo picked up a yellow for a tackle on Tedesco and promptly earned another for dissent. Even with the numerical advantage Catania were looking tired and Pandev almost found an equaliser but it wasn’t to be for the visitors. Catania are in a much better position in 14th and Lazio remain in 12th spot.

Parma vs Napoli (1-2)
No less than four red cards were handed out in this shocking display of football and refereeing. In the 23rd minute Budan stepped up to convert a spot kick for the home side after Lucarelli earned a penalty under controversial circumstances. Just before the break Mariga picked up a second yellow in another controversial decision as him and Mannini collided when going for the ball. Domizzi put away the resulting penalty to equalise the score. On 73 minutes, Bogliacino put the visitors in front with a nice volley at the near post from a Hamsik cross. Two minutes later, Castellini brought down Lavezzi and a fight broke out between both sides with Falcone and Gargano earning straight red cards for their part in the brawl. A few minutes later Gasbarroni was sent off for an ugly kick on Garic and left Parma with just eight men. Sosa wasted several chances to cement victory in the last minutes but in the end Napoli got all three points from this appauling match. The home side sit one point above relegation certainty while Napoli are doing well in 9th spot.

Sampdoria vs Udinese (3-0)
Sampdoria kept Udinese just behind them in seventh but widened the difference to four points with a convincing win. Cassano opened up his team’s account after 24 minutes nodding in a Bellucci set piece. Just before the break Sampdoria doubled the score as Bellucci smacked the ball into the far bottom corner. Another bad decision awarded the home side with a penalty ten minutes after the restart. Replays show the foul occurred outside the box although Bellucci happily completed his brace regardless. Three minutes later Zapotocny got a second yellow and was sent off to leave Udinese with ten and soon after their coach was sent away too, epitomising the match for the visitors.

Siena vs Genoa (0-1)
A quality Konko strike past Manninger’s reach in the 25th minute was all that was needed for Genoa to take away all the points from this match. Although his side had to play with ten men for almost an hour as yet another red card was handed out for a De Rosa trip on Maccarone. Both Konko and Maccarone continued to prove dangerous at either end but the score remained the same. Genoa closed the gap on Udinese to three points but remain in eighth while Siena also retain their spot of 13th, just far enough from relegation woes.

Torino vs Inter (0-1)
The league leaders took full advantage of Roma’s slip and have potentially sealed the Scudetto with only four rounds left. Although Torino went into this match plagued with injuries and suspensions, they were proving dangerous on the counter in the early stages. But Inter scored on their first real attempt at the stroke of 30 minutes as Balotelli supplied a good corner kick to produce a diving header from Cruz. Both sides had several chances in the remaining period although Inter had a couple of clear ones that really should have extended their lead. They maintained the scoreline and took home all three points while Torino drop two places to 16th, just four points from the bottom.

The standings
1st Inter 78pts 34 played
2nd Roma 72pts 34 played
3rd Juventus 67pts 34 played
4th Fiorentina 59pts 34 played
5th AC Milan 55pts 34 played
6th Sampdoria 55pts 34 played

There were a number of big matches this round including a fiery encounter between Juventus and Milan at the top end of the table whilst the relegation jostling continued with Cagliari once again grabbing a win as their season took another turn for the better. Allan Oliveira reports.

Palermo vs Catania (1-0)

The score line doesn’t tell the true story of this game as it was an entertaining match with a good deal of chances for both sides. As it happens, the winner didn’t come along until the 84th minute through Miccoli. The diminutive striker placed a well taken free kick into the top right corner and left the keeper rooted to the spot. Catania failed to build on last week’s win and are back in troubled waters just a few points from the relegation area. Palermo on the other hand, still on a high after defeating Juventus last week, move up again, this time to 10th place.

Juventus vs Milan (3-2)

In one of this round’s biggest games, Juve needed to recover from last week’s defeat at Palermo with Milan looking to home in on a Champion’s League spot. The unstoppable Del Piero opened up Juve’s account early on with a strike that rolled past the outstretched Kalac on 12 minutes. Milan were quick to counter and Inzaghi leveled the score just two minutes later, getting on the end of a quality Kaka pass to tap in from six yards. The end to end attacking continued and shortly after the half-hour mark Inzaghi poached another goal. Juve though weren’t about to enter the break trailing and on the 45 minute mark, Camoranesi picked out Trezeguet whose header was only parried as far as Salihamidzic to tap into the net. The action continued in the second period - Grygera forced a good save with a long range effort before Bonera received a straight red for an horrific studs up challenge on Sissoko. Luckily, Sissoko was eventually able to continue. Inzaghi made way for Cafu but Milan couldn’t hold on as Salihamidzic found the net again with a free header from a Camoranesi free kick. Milan poured forward to find an equaliser but it wasn’t to be their night.

Empoli vs Parma (1-1)

Only one point separated these two teams in the relegation dogfight at the outset although Parma still have a game in hand, the upcoming midweek clash with Juve. The visitors struck first with a somewhat lucky goal on seven minutes. Lucarelli had a free header from a Gasbarroni cross and a wicked deflection took it past the keeper. He soon followed up with a volley that rattled the near post. Empoli equalised on the half hour mark when Giovinco beat several players and curled in a beautiful finish into the far corner. There was little to mention in the remaining time and the teams ended up splitting the points. Parma drop a place lower in 17th following Cagliari’s success and Empoli are now 19th.

Genoa vs Torino (3-0)

Genoa defeated Torino in a convincing display that saw all three goals scored in less than 20 minutes. The home side controlled the game and it seemed to be only a matter of time before they struck. However, the first half remained goal less. All that changed on the 52 minute mark as substitute Di Vaio dribbled past the keeper and slotted into an open goal. Nine minutes later, Serie A’s top-scorer Borriello drove the ball into the net to increase his tally for this season to 19. And it only took another nine minutes for the home team to seal the win as Sculli rose up unmarked to nod in from Milanetto’s delivery. Both sides remain as they were at the start of play, eighth and fourteenth respectively.

Lazio vs Siena (1-1)

Going into this match only two points separated these teams and although Lazio held the lead for most of the second half, Muslera let in a howler just before time to sallow Siena a share the spoils. It took a while for the game to get going and was only in the first half stoppage time that Lazio opened up their account. Mutarelli locked onto a poor clearance and blasted a shot that Manninger got gloves to, but could not stop going in. Just minutes from time a blunder by Muslera during a routine save handed an easy chance to Loria who’s goal levelled things up. Lazio remain in 12th and Siena also sit just behind them.

Livorno vs Cagliari (1-2)

The home side opened the scoring after just two minutes when Galante tapped in at the back post from a low Filippini cross. But Cagliari weren’t about to have their good work of late undone and hit back on the ten minute mark. Acquafresca converted by following up on Cossu’s powerful shot which was only parried by Amelia. Livorno replied with some serious pressure and will rue a few wasted opportunities as after the restart Acquafresca struck again to settle the tie. Chesting down a long pass he cut in and slotted a low shot into the far corner. The visitors held on for the win and are finally out of the relegation zone in 16th while their hosts fall to the bottom of the table.

Napoli vs Atalanta (2-0)

Another home game and another win for Napoli. Two goals within two minutes were enough to see them exchange positions with their visitors, swapping 11th for 10th. Cappola denied Sosa on 62 minutes but could do nothing about Hamsik’s follow up. Then on 64 minutes the former provided a cross for Lavezzi to score and wrap up the win.

Reggina vs Sampdoria (1-0)

Bottom of the ladder Reggina upset their visitors and jumped a couple of places in the process although Sampdoria maintain sixth spot for now. Brienza beat the offside trap from Cozza’s pass which he controlled well to round the keeper and roll into an open goal on 35 minutes. They had a good chance on the hour to double their lead when Amoruso attempted to put away Brienza’s pass but he only succeeded in shooting wide before crashing in to the keeper.

Udinese vs AS Roma (1-3)

Roma staged a brilliant comeback after finding themselves a goal down in the second half. The home side was looking to take advantage of Milan’s defeat but the early exchanges were nervy and the game looked very much in the balance. But on 51 minutes Di Natale struck with a header at the back post that had Doni and Panucci blaming each other. Roma equalised on 64 minutes as substitute Guily made an immediate impact, a great pass for Vucinic who controlled and finished from close range. Six minutes later De Rossi set up Taddei to put Roma in front and finally Vucinic set up Guily with a clever backheel that the Frenchman placed into the far bottom corner. As all three teams above them lost, Udinese are still well in contention for the Uefa cup places.

Inter vs Fiorentina (2-0)

The last game of the round and perhaps one of the most anticipated saw the league leaders host Fiorentina with only one point separating them and Roma following the latter’s win just hours before. There was plenty of action at either end in the first half and Inter slowly applied more and more pressure but the outstanding Frey kept the Voila in the game. However, carrying an injury he found it noticably harder as the game wore on and inevitably Inter scored when Vieira made a run into the area and cut the ball back for Cambiasso to blast into the net. The young Balotelli grabbed another goal only seven minutes later, beating the offside trap and calmly placing the ball to score.

The standings

1st Inter 75pts 33 played
2nd Roma 71pts 33 played
3rd Juventus 61pts 32 played
4th Fiorentina 56pts 33 played
5th AC Milan 52pts 33 played
6th Sampdoria 52pts 33 played

Serie A Roundup by Allan Oliveira

Matchday 32, week ending 6th of Apr 2008.

This week Roma cut the lead at the top to just one point, although Inter restored the advantage 24 hours later under controversial circumstances.Vieira climbed over his marker to head in their first goal. Milan welcomed back Kaka’ and were soon back to winning ways as they defeated Cagliari at home and although they also managed to get a point away from that crucial last Champion’s League spot, Fiorentina restored their advantage the next day with a win over Reggina. Juventus were defeated by a last minute cracker and find themselves in danger of losing third spot to the Viola. It’s still very close at the bottom with five teams within three points of each other and who will stay or go is anyone’s guess.

Roma vs Genoa (3-2)
Roma had their work cut out for them this week as Genoa fought back from 2-0 down to equalise, a De Rossi penalty winning them the match. The game started well for the home side as they put away two goals in under 20 minutes. Taddei grabbed the first goal on 14 minutes when a Tonetto cross landed at his feet and he tucked it away from close range on the second attempt. Four minutes later Vucinic scored a beauty, with his back to goal and well outside the area he struck the ball as he turned and placed it into the top right corner. They seemed content with the scoreline and were probably looking to coast the rest of the match but Genoa had other plans. Just before the hour mark the visitors scored twice with the goals just seconds apart. First Doni could only parry Borriello’s shot into Rossi’s path and he tapped in from a few metres then substitute Julio Leon placed a low, powerful drive into the bottom right corner from the top of the box. Roma appeared to be in shock and found it difficult to get back into the game but their chance came on 80 minutes when De Rossi was brought down by Borriello. He picked himself up and converted the spot kick, ultimately winning the match for Roma and keeping their Scudetto dreams alive. Genoa did well but remain in eighth position as neither Atalanta or Napoli could capitalise on the result.

Milan vs Cagliari (3-1)
Milan closed the gap between them and Fiorentina to just one point, even if only for 24 hours, while Cagliari continue in relegation limbo after failing to secure any points this week. The match saw the welcome return of Kaka to the Milan line up and he wasted no time reminding them why he’s such a vital player to the Rossoneri. He scored the opener after just 8 minutes with a well-placed strike from the top of the D. Kaladze picked up a yellow on 21 minutes which means both him and Nesta are suspended for next week’s match against Juve. Just after the half hour mark Inzaghi popped up to nod in a Pirlo corner and Kaka’ almost made it three just before the break, another long range drive forcing the best out of Storari. Shortly after the restart Conti pulled one back when his curling shot slipped through Kalac’s fingers and under the big man, a howler that he’ll want to forget. Inzaghi made it three for Milan on 69 minutes, beating several defenders as well as the keeper before slipping at the critical moment but he kept his composure and turned the keeper again to slot the ball into an empty net.

Atalanta vs Inter (0-2)
Atalanta hosted the league leaders this week and Inter knew they had to win after Roma closed the gap to one point the night before. Inter had a huge injury list which allowed 17 year old Mario Balotelli or “Super Mario” to start although they did at least welcome back Cambiasso to the midfield. There was plenty of action early on but the visitors struck first on 21 minutes as Vieira rose up to nod in a Balotelli corner kick, although he appeared to be all over his marker and was lucky to see the goal stand. Crespo also found the net but saw his goal disallowed for being in an offside position. After the restart Inter wasted a few good chances to increase their lead although Balotelli was doing a lot of good work in setting up his team mates. Finally the youngster did the job himself and scored his first Serie A goal. He beat the offside trap and picked up Stankovic’s flick over the defence to then round the keeper and slot into an empty net. In the dying minutes there was some more controversy as Materazzi pulled on Inzaghi’s shirt in the area but the foul went the other way and then Doni saw two yellows in quick succession when he verbally attacked the ref for not giving a free kick after Vieira knocked over Pellegrino in stoppage time. The lead at the top stays at four points while Atalanta also maintain ninth position.

Catania vs Napoli (3-0)
Catania delivered a convincing home win to set up a more comfortable buffer between them and the relegation zone while Napoli continued their poor away form but at least hold onto tenth spot for now. The home side opened up their goal account after just five minutes when Colucci’s low free kick somehow flew past everyone and in at the near post. Around ten minutes later Spinesi made it two, putting away a simple tap in after Sardo provided a great pass from the right. The remaining period of the first half saw Napoli attempt to get back into the game with several good efforts although shortly after the restart Vargas wrapped things up for Catania. From a corner kick he volleyed into the net on the second attempt after his first didn’t quite work out. Both teams wasted chances in the remaining minutes but it was unlikely that Napoli would stage a comeback anyway.

Fiorentina vs Reggina (2-0)
Pazzini and Mutu kept Fiorentina in fourth spot and sent Reggina to the bottom of the table considering Empoli’s win. Makinwa was worrying the Viola from early on but Pazzini broke the deadlock when he headed in from Pasqual’s cross on 23 minutes. Reggina pushed hard for an equaliser but unfortunately wasted their best chances. Fiorentina also had their fair share of chances but failed to build their advantage thanks to poor finishing. Finally Mutu put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time after Gobbi flicked on Vieri’s cross for him to slot into goal.

Parma vs Lazio (2-2)
Parma hosted Lazio this week and the teams delivered an entertaining first half which contained all four goals. A minute’s silence was observed at the start of the match as a tribute to Parma fan, Matteo Bagnaresi who was tragically and accidentally run down by a bus of Juventus fans last week. On 17 minutes Budan picked up a deflected effort and ran on to blast a shot past Muslera. The keeper had more to contend with soon after but did well to keep his team in the game. On 35 minutes Pandev equalised when he beat several defenders and fired into the far corner. Only three minutes later Bianchi put the visitors in front with a powerful long-range strike into the top-corner. Paci pulled one back and equalised for the home side just minutes before the break with a glancing header from a deep free-kick. The teams must’ve used up all their inspiration and reserves as the second half was much less exciting and there was very little to speak of at either end. Parma are just one point out of relegation danger although they have a game in hand, while Lazio maintain 11th spot but only through goal difference now.

Sampdoria vs Livorno (2-0)
The hosts welcomed back Cassano who completed his five match ban for dissent and he was on hand to supply the scorers of both goals. The first half was pretty much all Sampdoria as the diminutive Italian got in on the action but Livorno held on and entered the break with a clean sheet. After the restart it was Tavano that caused problems for the home side and he found a goal, but had it disallowed for a push on the last defender although replays show it was a very soft decision. Maggio finally opened up his side’s account as he slotted into the net following Pieri’s fine work. Five minutes from time Cassano set up Bonazzoli with a fine pass that only needed to be placed into the net. Udinese’s slip allowed Sampdoria to climb a place into sixth position but Livorno remain in serious trouble just two points from the bottom.

Siena vs Udinese (1-1)
The opening minutes of this match saw good chances as well as penalty appeals at either end and the exchanges continued throughout the first half even though no goals resulted. The home side brought on Kharja shortly after the hour mark and he delivered within minutes blasting a powerful shot from about 25 metres into the near corner. Udinese’s sub Flores also delivered when he put away the follow up of Di Natale’s attempt on 78 minutes. The latter almost scored himself just minutes later but Manninger blocked his header and left the teams to split the points. Udinese drop a place to seventh while the home side also drop a place to 13th.

Torino vs Empoli (0-1)
The visitors grabbed a late goal and all three points to lift themselves off the bottom of the table while Torino manage to hold onto 14th position. Recoba saw a great effort saved within the opening minutes and Tosto and Stellone also missed a good chance. Then it was Motta who shook the crossbar just after the half-hour mark and soon after the same crossbar denied Recoba’s free kick. All a sign perhaps that things weren’t about to go Torino’s way. After the restart Empoli began to get back into the match but in the dying minutes Di Michele incredibly missed an open goal after flicking the ball past the last defender and the keeper, he nodded wide and past the unguarded net. Empoli punished this mistake with a goal from Vannucchi a minute later that won the match for the visitors.

Palermo vs Juventus (3-2)
Juve had to fight back after conceding two goals in the first half and although they managed to equalise, a late goal by Palermo won the match for the home side. It was all Palermo from the start and Amauri scored after just 11 minutes with a quality curling strike into the top corner, out of Buffon’s reach. In an unfortunate collision, Guana and Nedved clashed heads and both had to be substituted as neither could continue. As the half wore on Juve got back into the game but couldn’t find the net and just before the break were punished again when Amauri completed his brace with a powerful header into the top corner. Shortly after the restart Del Piero pulled one back when Fontana couldn’t hold onto Sissoko’s shot and the ball fell for the Juve legend to put away. Then on 71 minutes Fontana found himself in a similar position after he blocked Trezeguet’s header but directed the ball towards Del Piero again who had no problem completing his brace to put the teams on level terms again. With ten minutes to go Juve almost won the match when Del Piero’s free kick rattled the post and Fontana had to block Trezeguet’s follow up but against the run of play and in the last minute of regular time, Cassani chested down a cleared free kick and smashed the ball straight into the net from 26 metres with Buffon unable to even move. The old lady are now just two points in front of Fiorentina while Palermo climb back into the 12th spot although the visitors still have a game in hand.

The standings
1st Inter 72pts 32 played
2nd Roma 68pts 32 played
3rd Juventus 58pts 31 played
4th Fiorentina 56pts 32 played
5th AC Milan 52pts 32 played
6th Sampdoria 52pts 32 played

This week both Inter and Roma stumbled at the top of the table, settling for away draws. Milan’s well below average season continued with a loss at home to Atalanta while Udinese hosted Fiorentina in a very entertaining match as things stayed interesting near the top of the table in the race for the last Champions League spot. In other news, the tragic death of a Parma fan on the way to the match against Juventus meant the game had to be called off.

Allan Oliveira reports

Cagliari vs Roma (1-1)

Cagliari are off the bottom after first winning back three docked points after a legal appeal and then holding the mighty Roma to a draw. They found themselves ahead after just three minutes through an own goal when a corner kick came off Ferrari and ended up in the back to the net. Roma had a good chance to equalise not long after but Mancini hit the post. Luckily for them, Totti was able to level the score just before halftime although the captain had to come off later with a suspected thigh injury. Not great news for the club ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester United. Despite Roma pressure, Cagliari held on for a share of the spoils and in doing so, moved up to 17th.

Lazio vs Inter (1-1)

Inter travelled to visit Roma’s city rivals with much of the talk centering on Jose Mourinho who many belive will take over from current coach Roberto Mancini. Crespo put Inter ahead after 11 minutes when Maicon found him with a nice low pass near the 6 yard line allowing him a simple tap in. The sides continued to exchange blows with both keepers very active before, just around the hour mark, Rocchi completely beat the offside trap and then slotted past Julio Cesar. Lazio were very unlucky in the remaining minutes as the crossbar saved Inter not once but twice. The home side find themselves in 11th place in the table.

Milan vs Atalanta (1-2)

Milan hosted mid-table Atalanta on Sunday and were shocked in the first half, finding themselves two goals down thanks to Floccari and Langella. Although much stronger after the restart, they only managed to pull one goal back when Maldini nodded in on 85 minutes. Within seconds Nesta was sent off after the Milan players surrounded the ref following a foul by their goal scorer. Two minutes after that Milan were awarded a penalty and a chance to equalise following a tackle on Ambrosini. However Pirlo was thwarted by a great save from the visitor’s keeper. The Rossoneri’s hopes of Champions League football next season took another knock as Udinese went above them in the table. .

Catania vs Torino (1-2)

A great start to this encounter saw two goals in the space of five minutes. First Spinesi scored for the home side from a Vargas corner kick and then minutes later Diana equalised after combining with Recoba. Although Catania continued to play well before the break, they wasted several chances and were made to pay as just after the hour Di Michele put the visitors ahead and sealed all three points. Catania are now level on points with Cagliari and Parma, all just above the relegation zone while Torino are 5 points clear of all three.

Empoli vs Sampdoria (0-2)

Sampdoria made short work of their hosts and had the match effectively wrapped up in under 20 minutes. First Sammarco found the net with a long range effort on 7 minutes and then Marzoratti helped out with an own goal just ten minutes later. Sampdoria continued to play well and really should have scored more. The result draws them level with Milan and close to Udinese and Fiorentina meanwhile Empoli take over from Cagliari as the team propping up table.

Genoa vs Reggina (2-0)

The first half of this match produced no goals but it did produce some fine saves from Genoa’s Rubinho as well as a goal-line clearance from Tognozzi after Di Vaio lobbed the keeper. On the sixty minute mark Serie A top scorer Borriello put his side in front after Campagnolo parried a strike into his path and he punished the Reggina keeper for the mistake. Rossi wrapped things up in stoppage time with a powerful drive from just outside the box to make it 2 - 0. Genoa stay in eighth spot while Reggina slide down one to 19th.

Juventus vs Parma

Postponed.

Livorno vs Siena (0-0)

The Tuscan derby ended in a fairly lacklustre draw although Siena’s keeper, Manninger was kept fairly busy. Diamanti gave the former Arsenal keeper a couple of free kicks to deal with and also sent Tavano clear on one occasion but Manninger was on hand again to save the day and ensure a share of the spoils. Livorno drop into 18th position while Siena are still in 13th.

Udinese vs Fiorentina (3-1)

Both sides came out strong in this match with end to end attacking football but it was Udinese that found the opener when Inler smashed home a screamer from just outside the area. Pepe and Di Natale were keeping Frey busy while Osvaldo and Pazzini tested his counterpart in Handanovic at the other end. Vieri equalised for the visitors after coming off the bench only to see Di Natale restoring the home team’s advantage after a counter-attack on 72 minutes. Another goal on the break just five minutes later saw Quagliarella wrap things up for Udinese who leap-frog Milan into fifth and close the gap to three points between them and their visitors.

Napoli vs Palermo (1-0)

As has been the case lately, Napoli managed another win at home although they made their fans wait right until the death as Hamsik grabbed a winner in the third minute of injury time. Both sides started well with plenty of action early on and Fontana was called on several times to thwart Napoli’s efforts. Although it could have gone either way, the match seemed destined to end in a draw until Hamsik’s powerful header gave his side all three points. Napoli climb back to 10th this week while Palermo drop another spot to 13th.

The standings

1st Inter 69pts 31 played
2nd Roma 65pts 31 played
3rd Juventus 58pts 30 played
4th Fiorentina 53pts 31 played
5th Udinese 50pts 31 played
6th AC Milan 49pts 31 played

All games were played on Saturday over the Easter weekend and the fixtures also brought the Derby d’Italia as Inter faced Juve. The visitors delivered a blow to the league leaders, defeating them at home and opening up the race for the Scudetto. Roma made ground by defeating Empoli while Fiorentina and Milan recorded wins and Udinese reclaimed the Uefa cup spot from Sampdoria. Who will stay or go at the end of the season is anyone’s guess now as only a few points separate the bottom six. The final rounds of the season should be very interesting indeed.

Allan Oliveira reports

Roma vs Empoli (2-1)

Roma closed in to within 4 points of Inter following a 2 - 1 home win over Empoli. Doni was called on fairly early as he palmed away Giovinco’s shot and then found himself beaten soon after with only the goal frame to thank from another effort from Giovinco. Roma did take the lead soon after the half hour mark as Tonetto slotted in at the near post from close range, set up by a clever Totti back heel. Five minutes after the restart Empoli were level as the impressive Giovinco tapped in after a blistering counter attack and the visitors soon had another advantage as Perrotta received a straight red for a cynical challenge. But even 10 men, the home side was able to find a winner. Panucci rose up above all others to nod in a corner on 64 minutes and send the home crowd wild. They held on for all three points and dealt another blow to Empoli’s torrid season.

Atalanta vs Catania (0-0)

The home side started well in this encounter although Floccari missed a golden opportunity to score early on. The visitors fought back and forced Coppola into a fine save to deny Mascara before Atalanta were given another chance after the referee awarded a penalty for a hand ball only for Doni to be denied by Catania keeper, Polito. There was very little action after the first half hour and the result was a fitting end to a dull match. Atalanta drop a position this week to 9th while Catania maintain 16th spot.

Fiorentina vs Lazio (1-0)

Lazio found themselves a man down when Mutarelli was sent off after 38 minutes for picking up two yellow cards. Mutu was involved early on but his header was too weak to trouble Ballotta. Then he saw another header go wide as the Viola’s laid siege to the Lazio goals after the restart. At the other end Pandev’s effort was blocked by Avramov’s incredible one handed save. The home side finally scored after 77 minutes when Pazzini received the ball just inside the area and smashed it in, beating the keeper at the near post. The remaining period was very heated and just before the end of the match, both Mutu and Ledesma picked up cautions. The home side hold onto the last Champions League spot while Lazio drop a place to tenth.

Palermo vs Genoa (2-3)

Visiting Genoa began well and kept Fontana busy but it was the home side that scored first when Amauri converted a controversial penalty. Although Santos brought Cavani down, replays show him making contact with the ball first. Soon after, on 27 minutes, Figueroa equalised with a well-placed shot. Five minutes after the restart, Milanetto deservedly put the visitors ahead when Figueroa provided a low cross for the former to slide past Fontana and on 62 minutes Genoa extended the lead, Konko powering a header into the net from a corner kick. Amauri pulled one back for Palermo at the death but it wasn’t enough. Another defeat saw the home side drop to 12th while Genoa jump up to eighth.

Reggina vs Napoli (1-1)

Although Napoli have been playing well at home recently, slaying several giants, their away form continues to be inconsistent. Reggina begun well and had an appeal for a penalty perhaps unjustly waved away by the ref after Contini brought down Amoruso. They had more chances as the game progressed but it was the visitors that scored against the run of play. On 75 minutes Sosa placed his own rebounded shot into the net after his first attempt was blocked. They only had to hold on for just over 15 minutes but Brienza found an equaliser in stoppage time to give his side a share of the spoils. Reggina remain in 18th while Napoli fall a place to 11th.

Sampdoria vs Cagliari (1-1)

Cagliari continue to impress as they fight for survival. They came close to scoring just before the half hour mark, Castellazzi needing to deny Jeda. On 41 minutes their pressure paid off as Foggia beat the Sampdoria defence and blasted a shot past Castellazzi. The second half wasn’t so one-sided as Sampdoria began to get back into the match although the visitors almost doubled their advantage as Acquafresca found the net, only to have his goal disallowed because of a questionable offside call. In the dying minutes Franceschini saved some face and a point for his team, heading in at the near post. The home side drop a place and out of the last Uefa Cup spot while their visitors are now within a few points of climbing out of the relegation zone.

Siena vs Parma (2-0)

The visitors started this match well with Budan forcing a quality save from Manninger within the first few minutes. Ten minutes later Siena had a chance in the form of a free-kick but Galloppa’s effort hit the wall. After the excitement at the start, both teams began to play more defensively and it looked like a draw would be the result until Maccarone was fouled in the area and he picked himself up to convert the resulting spot kick on 88 minutes. The goal woke up Parma but unfortunately they left themselves stretched at the back and Maccarone completed his brace at the death to put the result beyond doubt. Both clubs maintain their positions in 13th and 15th respectively although Parma are back in relegation danger, just four points separating them and bottom placed Cagliari.

Torino vs Milan (0-1)

Milan controlled large parts of this match and got back on track and hot on Fiorentina’s heels. Stellone had an early effort hit the side netting while at the other end Seedorf forced a save from the home keeper after a well taken free-kick. Milan continued to press with Pato almost scoring after good work by Maldini and then Seedorf shaking the bar with his powerful volley. Finally their efforts paid off as Pato ran in to finish on 66 minutes. Despite a few lapses they held on for an important win.

Udinese vs Livorno (2-0)

The home side completed a convincing win over Livorno and took back sixth spot from Sampdoria. A goal in each half was enough as Quagliarella opened up the tally on 17 minutes, firing in from distance. Diamanti wasted a chance to equalise as he missed from close range. Minutes after the restart, Udinese grabbed their second following a defensive error. Apart from a Tristan free-kick that shook the upright, Livorno had very few chances to get back into the match. Livorno continue to sit on the edge of the relegation zone and will need to do better when they host Siena next week.

Inter vs Juventus (1-2)

The last match and much anticipated Derby d’Italia duly delivered as Juve shocked league-leaders Inter, the first team to defeat them at home this season. The sides started exchanging blows straight away, mostly in the form of set pieces but they entered the break scoreless. After the restart Juve took the lead in controversial fashion as a clearly offside Camoranesi scored after a Del Piero free kick. Inter had a couple of chances themselves but were punished for not converting them by a goal from Trezeguet on 63 minutes, a volley from close range. Both teams wasted more chances until some Maicon brilliance left three players in his wake and set up Maniche for a tap in. The Portuguese international almost salvaged a point in the final minutes but his effort hit the post. The result opens up the Scudetto race leaving just four points between Inter and Roma.

The standings

1st Inter 68pts 30 played
2nd Roma 64pts 30 played
3rd Juventus 58pts 30 played
4th Fiorentina 53pts 30 played
5th AC Milan 49pts 30 played
6th Udinese 47pts 30 played

Matchday 29, mid-week round on the 19th of Mar 2008.

This matchday was another mid-week round and it proved to be one where all the big teams stumbled. Inter were held to a draw by Genoa while Roma missed out on a chance to cut the distance between them, losing the derby against Lazio. Juventus were also held and both Fiorentina and Milan were defeated.

So things remain as they were at the top, apart from Sampdoria closing some ground in sixth.

Milan vs Sampdoria (1-2)
Visiting the San Siro used to be a daunting task for most teams but Milan’s poor form continued this round and Sampdoria were only too happy to hand them a defeat. It was a bad start for Milan as Kaka’ pulled up injured after ten minutes and had to be changed for younster, Paloschi. Two minutes later there was more bad news as Maggio tapped in from close range after a good team effort to open up the scoring for the visitors. On 25 minutes, a swift counter-attack and finish by Delvecchio had Milan two goals down. The teams continued to exchange blows with some good chances either side until Paloschi pulled one back with a glancing header from a Pato cross. Although an equaliser was almost found in the final minutes, another 2-1 defeat was the result. Even with Fiorentina’s stumble, Milan’s task of grabbing the last champion’s league spot just got a whole lot more difficult. Sampdoria have closed the gap between the them to just one point.

Cagliari vs Atalanta (1-0)
Another important victory for last placed Cagliari builds on their fight to remain in the top level. The defining moment of the match came shortly after the first quarter of an hour. Pellegrino was adjudged to have fouled Acquafresca in the area and the latter was given a penalty that he promptly converted. The home side did well to maintain the score and even though Atalanta destroyed Empoli last week, they could barely muster a couple of chances against Cagliari. The only other action was Carrozzieri’s second yellow on 76 minutes which meant he was off for an early shower. The home side take another step towards moving up from the bottom while Atalanta maintain 8th position, although are now level on points with Lazio.

Catania vs Siena (0-0)
Both teams went into this match just above the relegation area but Catania couldn’t capitalise on their home advantage with no goals scored for either side. The match was largely uneventful with Siena having the only real chance in the second half. Maccarone saw his strike smash into the goal and the resulting chance was wasted by Locatelli. Catania drop a place to 16th while Siena actually move up a spot to 13th thanks to Torino’s defeat.

Empoli vs Juventus (0-0)
Juventus had another disappointing game, failing to find a way past another relegation battler. There was very little action in this game and few real chances. Empoli did find the net once but Volpato was in an obvious offside position. Luckily most of the teams near Juve also stumbled so their third place spot is still secure and Empoli also remain second from bottom.

Genoa vs Inter (1-1)
Inter are now seven points clear of Roma at the top even though they were held to a draw by Genoa. Suazo was on the scoresheet early for the visitors, giving them an advantage after just 11 minutes. But after Pele picked up a couple of yellows by 40 minutes Inter found themselves down to ten men yet again. Something the nerazzuri must be getting used to by now. They almost held on for a win but allowed Borriello to score five minutes from time.

Livorno vs Reggina (1-1)
This was an important match for both sides with Reggina in the first relegation spot and Livorno just outside of the zone. The visitors were the first on the scoreboard with a lovely goal from Brienza on 32 minutes. He received the ball on the edge of the area and with a couple of well controlled touches, spun around and smacked the ball into the top far corner, out of reach of the diving De Lucia. Diamanti was proving very dangerous but the home side’s equaliser only came just after the hour mark through former Reggina player, Bogdani. A very well placed header from a difficult high cross. Parma’s win means that Livorno and Reggina are now next to each other in 17th and 18th respectively.

Napoli vs Fiorentina (2-0)
A brace by Lavezzi in the first half proved enough to sink Fiorentina. Napoli have become giant killers at home, also defeating Juventus and the only team to beat Inter this season. The first goal came after 23 minutes as Lavezzi slid in to finish Mannini’s pass. The second was a bit of a gift as Frey got it all wrong from a corner kick that Lavezzi nodded in. The home side jump up a couple of places to tenth while Fiorentina maintain forth.

Parma vs Palermo (2-1)
Parma took a step towards securing their place in Serie A next season, moving up from 17th to 15th. The win wasn’t without controversy though as the winner came in the dying minutes when Parma were awarded a penalty. The home side did well and played for over an hour with ten men although Palermo also finished with only ten after Barzagli picked up a second yellow just after 70 minutes. Surprisingly the first goal was Parma’s, Budan nodding in at the far post from a Gasbarroni free kick on 52 minutes. But Palermo equalised when they still had the numerical advantage. Cavani with a nice run onto a through ball and a cool finish with the outside of the boot into the bottom right of the goal. Dessena fell awkwardly from a Migliaccio challenge but did not deserve a penalty, nonetheless, Budan stepped up again to send the keeper the wrong way. Palermo drop two places to 11th, tied on points with Napoli and Genoa.

Torino vs Udinese (0-1)
The home side came into this match off a crushing defeat by bottom-placed Cagliari whereas Udinese were looking to improve on their draw to Lazio last week. One goal was enough to decide this encounter and it came on 25 minutes when Pepe delivered a well-placed free kick over the wall and just inside of the near post. Rosina tried his best to get Torino back into the match but Handanovic was up to the task of denying him glory. The home side did score but in another controversial decision it was disallowed because Di Michele was in an offside position even though Stellone was the scorer. Torino drop a place to 14th while Udinese remain seventh, only just behind Sampdoria and Milan.

Lazio vs Roma (3-2)
The derby of Rome delivered a five-goal thriller that saw Roma’s distance from Inter widen by a point while Lazio jumped up the table to 9th. The visitors were first to score even though Taddei knew little about the clearance that smashed into his face and then back into the goal! Just before the break, Pandev equalised as Doni palmed a cross straight into his path for an easy finish. Juan gave away a penalty on 58 minutes as he tugged on Bianchi’s shirt and Rocchi stepped up to convert. Four minutes later, Perrotta equalised with a strong drive after being set up by Vucinic. It was end to end stuff in the remaining minutes until finally Behrami converted a badly dealt with cross at the near post in stoppage time.

The standings
1st Inter 68pts 29 played
2nd Roma 61pts 29 played
3rd Juventus 55pts 29 played
4th Fiorentina 50pts 29 played
5th AC Milan 46pts 29 played
6th Sampdoria 45pts 29 played

Serie A Roundup by Allan Oliveira

Matchday 28, round ending on 16th of Mar 2008.

This week saw the much anticipated showdown between Roma and Milan. One fights for the Scudetto and the other to be allowed to play in the Champion’s League next season. Relegation battlers Reggina and Cagliari fought hard for convincing wins at home. Sampdoria continued to rise up the table and have finally climbed over Udinese into 6th position. Inter put a terrible week behind them and got back on track as the league becomes their only focus now, crashing out of Champion’s League to another Liverpool defeat. Juventus also secured an important win to stay above the Viola.

Udinese vs Lazio (2-2)
Both teams went into this match with several players sidelined through injury although in form Rocchi was on hand to grab an early goal for the visitors. He picked up a deflected Ledesma pass and rounded the keeper to calmly put the ball into the net. Lazio continued to cause problems for the home side during the remainder of the first half as Udinese proved ineffective in attack. A goal resulting from a corner kick saw Udinese equalise soon after the restart, although the initial header was cleared off the line, it fell for Ferronetti to tuck away. The goal opened the game up as both sides began to attack more and more ferociously, but Lazio put themselves in front again on 80 minutes when Ledesma released an absolute rocket from outside the area. Udinese picked themselves up and equalised yet again, six minutes later through Di Natale’s solo effort. They blew a chance to win the game in stoppage time when Pepe fired wide, just metres from the goal. Udinese lose their UEFA spot to Sampdoria while Lazio remain in 11th.

Roma vs Milan (2-1)
Milan allowed themselves to suffer late goals and hand over the game as they seem to do quite often in big games (think the Arsenal match recently and the Liverpool CL final comeback). Both sides had good chances in the first half but they either had their shots blocked or fired wide. Milan came out inspired after the restart and soon enough, world player of the year, Kaka’ was on hand to put the visitors ahead on 56 minutes, when he side-footed a well-timed Oddo cut back past the helpless Doni. Although Milan continued to attack and were proving very dangerous, on 78 minutes and then three minutes later, the game changed completely when a couple of Roma’s super-subs both scored. First Perrotta somehow threaded a pass to Giuly who was unmarked in the area and volleyed past Kalac. Then Vucinic latched onto a De Rossi pass and also slotted one past the big Australian as his well timed run left Milan’s defence for dead. It was end to end stuff in the dying minutes but the score remained the same. Roma closed the gap at the top to three points (although just for one day) and Milan dropped more crucial points, putting their chances for a CL spot next season in serious threat.

Atalanta vs Empoli (4-1)
Atalanta did well to secure a good result with a crushing defeat of Empoli who are in real danger now after their forth consecutive loss. The home side’s first goal arrived after 19 minutes when Langella headed in a Belleri cross. Less than ten minutes later they doubled their advantage as Doni easily put one past Bassi. Empoli threatened the home side after the restart when a Budel shot had to be palmed away but not long after Padoin extended the lead by finishing off Floccari’s good work. On 83 minutes Vannucchi reduced the deficit with a fine goal that blasted in at the near post but a minute later Padoin grabbed another with a volley at the back post. The win sees Atalanta jump up two spots into eighth while Empoli drop to 19th.

Cagliari vs Torino (3-0)
Although Torino did enough to beat Atalanta last week, they were thrashed by a Cagliari that may still have enough in the tank to pull themselves off the bottom of the table. The visitors were missing key players for this trip and the home side let them know after only 11 minutes that they meant business. Acquafresca set up Jeda on the edge of the box for him to slot in a quality goal. Di Michele had a chance to level the score but his spot kick was well denied by Storari. Within a minute, Cagliari was awarded a penalty under controversial circumstances as replays failed to show Barone handling the ball. Never the less, Acquafresca didn’t waste the opportunity and promptly converted on 22 minutes. The home side continued to play well and secured their win shortly after the restart when Acquafresca smashed in a goal from the edge of the area. Although Cagliari remain bottom, they’re only five points away from lifting themselves up and out of the relegation zone. Torino remain in 13th spot.

Fiorentina vs Genoa (3-1)
The home side welcomed back Adrian Mutu and he picked up where he left off with some brilliant work. First he combined well with Santana, brilliantly flicking the ball over the Genoa defence for the Argentine to volley into the net first time on 19 minutes. On the half hour mark Mutu scored one himself after picking up a loose ball on the edge of the area and driving a stunning goal into the top corner. Unfortunately soon after Santana picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Waigo. Ten minutes into the second half put the result beyond doubt as Pazzini beat the offside trap and tapped in past Scarpi. The Viola continued to play well although they allowed a late consolation goal on 83 minutes as substitute Masiero finished from close range. The win increases Fiorentina’s distance from Milan who stumbled against Roma the day before. Genoa drop a spot to tenth as Atalanta leaps over them.

Inter vs Palermo (2-1)
Inter did enough to beat Palermo after crashing out to Liverpool in the middle of the week, and after some unsettling comments by coach Mancini plus an ever increasing injury list. They were quick enough to open the scoring however, just five minutes in had the ex-Juve pair, Ibrahimovic and Vieira exchanging passes for the later to nod in. Inter then wasted a couple of other chances and on 25 minutes Materazzi was unfortunate to give a goal back to the visitors as it eventually came off him and into the net after amazing work from Julio Cesar in an attempt to defend the goal. Jimenez almost restored the lead soon after but had his goal disallowed for offside. He only had to wait until 36 minutes though as he grabbed on to Maicon’s pass and then found the net at the far corner. The visitors played well during the second half but Inter hung on for the win. Materazzi’s woes continued as he was elbowed, booked and bumped heads, the yellow card meaning he misses the next match. Inter return their lead at the top to six points and Palermo loses their spot to Atalanta.

Livorno vs Parma (1-1)
Lucarelli returned to his old club while Hector Cuper grabbed Parma’s reigns with a big task ahead of him. The first half saw very few chances for either side and Livorno scored with their first real chance just before the break as Vidigal released a powerful drive into the top corner. Parma found the equaliser just after the hour mark as Reginaldo dipped a wicked volley past Amelia. Both sides continued to fight for the winner but would have to settle for a share of the spoils. The result of the lower table clash sees both teams still teetering on the edge of the relegation zone in 16th and 17th respectively.

Reggina vs Siena (4-0)
The home side seems to have taken out it’s frustrations on Siena as they demolished the visitors to keep their relegation battle alive. Brienza picked up a failed Cozza attempt and tapped in from close range after just nine minutes. Ten minutes later Cozza got it right with a lovely curling free kick. Twenty minutes later, Brienza was on the score sheet again after Bertotto’s goal-line clearance fell to him and he promptly put it into the net. Reggina continued strongly in the second half and were rewarded again on 68 minutes through Missiroli. Both sides maintain their positions for now, Reggina second from last and Siena in 14th position.

Sampdoria vs Catania (3-1)
Cassano continued to serve out his five match ban on the sidelines although his side were up to the task again in a match where all the goals came in the second half. After a lacklustre first half, the home side finally opened their account when Palombo was lucky to see his shot squeeze past Bizzarri on 68 minutes. Five minutes later the visitors equalised as Stovini nodded in a Vargas cross. Only minutes later Sampdoria reclaimed the lead as Accardi rose up unmarked to head in from a corner kick. The visitors had some good chances to equalise but instead conceded about five minutes from time. Bellucci marked his return from injury with a quality strike that confirmed his side’s three points to climb over Udinese into the 2nd UEFA spot. Catania remain 15th but are now are on points with Livorno.

Juventus vs Napoli (1-0)
Juventus saved themselves at the death in the last match of the round. Yet another super-sub in Iaquinta as he found himself the hero of the day. A turnover occurred in the midfield and Del Piero instinctively found the former who placed a low shot past the keeper. Although Juve started slowly, both sides had several clear chances throughout the first half but failed to convert. More and more pressure built before the inevitable goal but Napoli became very dangerous in the final minutes and almost equalised. The win keeps Fiorentina at bay, just four points behind Juve and Napoli remain in 12th spot.

The standings
1st Inter 67pts 28 played
2nd Roma 61pts 28 played
3rd Juventus 54pts 28 played
4th Fiorentina 50pts 28 played
5th AC Milan 46pts 28 played
6th Sampdoria 42pts 28 played

Serie A Roundup by Allan Oliveira

Matchday 27, round ending on 9th of Mar 2008.

Roma kept pressure on league leaders Inter this week. although they both secured routine wins to keep the gap at 6 points. Fiorentina stumbled against Siena allowing Milan to close the gap between them to just one point while Juventus got back to winning, beating Genoa on the trot.

Inter vs Reggina (2-0)
Inter got back to winning ways again after the shock defeat to Napoli that ended their unbeaten run last week. It was also a good way to mark the club’s centenary with celebrations following the match. They played host to second from bottom Reggina and were able to welcome back Ibrahimovic from a knee injury which will be a relief with their do or die champions league match against Liverpool in a few days. The Swede opened up Inter’s goal account from the penalty spot after just 14 minutes following a foul on Cambiasso just inside the area. Burdisso made it two, 20 minutes later with a powerful header to convert Jimenez’s free kick. Reggina had a few chances but Julio Cesar was on fire and let nothing past him. Ibrahimovic almost had a brace with only the top bar denying his thunderous free kick. The visitors return home in the same position on the table and will need to fight harder to remain in the top flight.

Palermo vs Udinese (1-1)
Palermo were unlucky not to take full points in this match, Udinese’s keeper Handanovic was in fine form to deny almost all of the home side’s efforts. Amauri had most of the early chances but it was Simplicio who hammered the first goal in just after the half hour mark when the ball fell to him just outside the area. The match continued to be all Palermo until on 65 minutes, Felipe rose above all others to nod in at the far post. This only caused the assault on Udinese’s goal to become even more intense but Handanovic’s handy work allowed his side to hold on for a share of the spoils. Another draw for Palermo keeps them out of the running for a UEFA cup spot in eighth while Udinese hang on to theirs, in sixth place.

Catania vs Cagliari (2-1)
Catania were able to seal a win against Cagliari after being a goal down in this relegation zone fight for survival. The visitors started well and Conti only had to wait 22 minutes to score, netting from a Cossu cross in their first real attempt on goal. They couldn’t maintain that lead and conceded just before half time when Silvestri equalised. The second half did not start well either after Canini guided a cross into his own net only three minutes following the restart. The home side continued to attack vigorously but could find no more goals. They’ve pulled themselves out of the relegation zone and up three spots to 15th thanks to Empoli, Parma and Livorno losses. Cagliari’s woes continue as they prop up the others.

Empoli vs Milan (1-3)
The visitors left it late to win this tie with the score locked for most of the game. With only the league to play for after being knocked out by Arsenal earlier in the week, they’ve improved on recent draws and closed the gap between themselves and Fiorentina to one point. Milan’s first goal was a bit of a gift as Bassi failed to deal with a cross, bumping into Gilardino and dropping the ball for Pato to guide into the net. Gilardino should have doubled the score but completely missed a Kaka cutback shortly after. Soon after that the home side equalised when Busce converted an Antonini cross at the back post. The sides continued to exchange blows throughout the remaining time but it was Milan that took control, first on 86 minutes with Ambrosini’s header from Kaka’s cross and then three minutes later as the provider became scorer shooting low into the bottom corner and putting the match beyond doubt. Empoli drop into the relegation zone, sharing points with Parma but have worse goal difference.

Lazio vs Livorno (2-0)
Lazio wrapped up this match early on, both goals within 25 minutes. At the quarter of an hour mark Ladesma set up Rocchi even though the scorer needed two attempts to put the ball away. Shortly after Pandev grabbed a loose ball and found the net with the help of a deflection. Lazio held on to their lead easily enough with the visitors rarely troubling them. The points are much needed after a lack of wins recently had them sliding down the table. Livorno dropped a place to Catania and will have to be careful to not fall back into the relegation zone.

Napoli vs Roma (0-2)
Roma cut Inter’s 9 point lead from the day before back to 6 points and defeated Napoli easily where the league leaders failed only a week earlier. With only two minutes on the clock, Perrotta smashed home an angled effort after Totti set him up. Both sides continued to attack but Roma was more dangerous and forced some good saves from Gianello. Shortly after the restart the ref awarded a penalty to the visitors when Mannini took down Cicinho. Totti converted the spot kick to mark his 500th match for Roma.
Napoli almost pulled one back but Hamsik’s tap in was disallowed as Lavezzi was offside before his assist. Mexes was stretchered off just before the end after colliding with Zalayeta which is bad news for Roma. It was an important win without the support of their fans, banned from travelling over fears of public safety, Roma are looking more and more dangerous. Through to the next round of the champions league and seriously challenging for the Scudetto. Napoli remain in their mid-table spot.

Parma vs Sampdoria (1-2)
Parma faltered again after getting hammered last week by Roma. Sampdoria had to do without Cassano who will be on the sidelines for the next five weeks after he completely lost it last week and threw his shirt at the ref. The visitors seemed to be doing well enough without him and scored on 12 minutes when an unmarked Maggio nodded in a Franceschini effort. Gabarroni had a chance to level the scores when the ref awarded a penalty shortly after the restart, but he smashed it into the upright. Soon after Bonazzoli doubled the score with a header from a corner kick. Budan was able to pull a goal back ten minutes later but Parma were unable to take any points from this encounter and will be disappointed with all their missed chances. They drop another spot while Sampdoria close in on Udinese, hoping for a UEFA cup spot next season.

Siena vs Fiorentina (1-0)
The Tuscan derby favoured the hosts this time as they grabbed a late winner in a tough match. Pazzini wasted an early effort when Waigo set him up only for him to shoot wide from just six yards. Frick almost gave his side the lead on the hour mark but his goal was disallowed for offside. Maccarone finally broke the deadlock, curling around the wall and into the top far corner from a free kick. If only he’d kept his shirt on he could’ve played out the final ten minutes but was sent off with a second yellow. Siena held on for victory and are now level with Torino on points in 14th.

Torino vs Atalanta (1-0)
Torino did just enough against their visitors who had to play most of the match a man down. Both sides had several chances in the first half hour but it was Barone’s touch that found the net on 35 minutes. Within two minutes Atalanta were reduced to ten men after Pellegrino picked up a straight red for his tackle from behind on Di Michele. Torino wasted some good opportunities in the remaining minutes but seemed content enough to hold out for the win. Atalanta hold on to tenth in the league for now.

Genoa vs Juventus (0-2)
Juventus dropped vital points over the last few weeks and had Fiorentina breathing down their neck, a point away from stealing 3rd spot. But Juventus secured the important win and took full advantage of their rival’s lapse. Juve were quick to get off to a good start with their first real attempt, a poorly cleared Zebina free kick fell for Grygera who smashed it into the net just under the bar on 25 minutes. The scorer turned provider just eight minutes later, setting up Trezeguet for his first goal in over a month. This allowed the Frenchman to tie with Ibrahimovic on 15 goals, both of them still one goal less than the home sides’ Borriello. Both sides had good chances in the remainder of the match but Juve held on to their advantage. Genoa drop a place and move to 9th with 35 points.

The standings
1st Inter 64pts 27 played
2nd Roma 58pts 27 played
3rd Juventus 51pts 27 played
4th Fiorentina 47pts 27 played
5th AC Milan 46pts 27 played
6th Udinese 40pts 27 played

Serie A Roundup by Allan Oliveira

Week ending 2nd of Mar 2008, Matchday 26.

Cagliari’s task of remaining in Serie A after this season just got harder, as the Italian football federation deducted three points for taking unauthorised legal action against a former player for alleged defamation. They were already at the bottom of the league with 18 points, but will have three less now depending on how the club’s appeal goes. It was also a matchday where the substitutes were often the decisive players and the last game of the week resulted in Inter’s shock defeat at the hands of Napoli to put an end to their 31 game unbeaten streak in the domestic competition.

Roma vs Parma (4-0)
Roma got back to winning ways after stumbling against Inter in the mid-week fixture by letting in a late goal for a draw. The home side started well, within the first minute a lovely Totti dummy set up Guily for a strike that just fizzed wide. Parma had a shot at the other end not long after but Doni was able to block it. Aquilani was gifted with a ball at his feet on 27 minutes when Parma keeper Bucci fumbled a Cassetti cross and palmed it to the midfielder for a straight-forward finish. The score remained the same in the first half but Roma doubled the advantage just over five minutes into the second half when Falcone found his own net with a clearance that went wrong. Parma almost pulled one back soon after but their goal was disallowed for a controversial foul. Ten minutes before the final whistle, Totti powered in a sublime strike from outside of the box after a a nice back heel set him up and right at the death Vucinic completed the four-goal thrashing with a tap in.

A good confidence booster ahead of the CL clash with Madrid as well as a step towards the Scudetto as they close the gap at the top to 6 points.

AC Milan vs Lazio (1-1)
Milan dropped points again after Lazio left the San Siro with a share of the spoils, although they did well to equalise after conceding first. The first half was quite dull and only a Pato strike was worth mentioning although keeper, Ballotta dealt with it easily. Kalac was called upon early in the second half with a couple of good saves that will help his chances of remaining the number one keeper. Unfortunately he was unable to stop the goal on 54 minutes when Bianchi slid in to finish a nice Rocchi pass. Milan began to get back into the match and then Kaladze was pulled down in the area to receive a penalty that Oddo converted against his former club. Lazio were on the receiving end of several yellow cards in the remaining minutes until Silvestri was sent off with a straight red for cleaning up Pato in the 84th minute. Milan could not capitalise on their numerical advantage and had to settle with one point.

Cagliari vs Genoa (2-1)
Cagliari took a step forward after a couple of steps backwards thanks to the docked points. The visitors started off the better, forcing saves from Rubinho. On 15 minutes Lucarelli nodded in a Fabiano cross to give Genoa the lead. They continued to push but the home side equalised in style just before the half-hour mark when Acquafesca smacked a volley into the bottom far corner from Cossu’s long pass over Genoa’s defense. In the dying minutes of the first half Cagliari were helped by Genoa’s keeper after Acquafresca’s headed effort hit the inside of the far upright and bounced back into the net off his shoulder. There were few chances in the second half, Cagliari received a handful of yellow’s but managed to hang on to their slender lead to grab more crucial points in their bid for survival.

Genoa maintain eighth spot on goal difference while Cagliari remain bottom, propping up the table.

Empoli vs Siena (0-2)
Siena managed to take away all points with goals in both halves of this local derby to continue their fine form of late. Siena found their first goal on 33 minutes when Portanova met a Codrea free kick at the far post to nod it into the back of the net. There was little else of mention in the first half but in the second both teams were playing well and creating chances. It wasn’t until the 90th minute that Siena put the match beyond doubt. Moro was shown red for his nasty tackle on Rossi and only moments later, Rigano doubled the score with a close range effort.

Siena are now equal in points with Torino but Empoli lose a place to Livorno and lie in 17th on the relegation threshold.

Juventus vs Fiorentina (2-3)
This match was the highlight of matchday 26 as the teams battled for 3rd place on the table. It certainly lived up to the hype and provided a thrilling match, the visitors coming from behind to take home all the points at the death. Both teams came out attacking but Gobbi grabbed the first goal for the visitors on 19 minutes, linking up well with Jorgensen to leave the Juve defence in tatters. Juve pulled one back against the run of play to equalise ten minutes later. Frey palmed away a Palladino free kick only for Sissoko to volley in an overhead kick. The home side started to play much better and just after ten minutes of the restart, Camoranesi gave Juve the lead with a splendid volley. Prandelli’s changes proved decisive as first substitute Waigo equalised on 75 minutes and then turned provider with a cross for fellow substitute Osvaldo who nodded in from close range on 90 minutes.

The win sees Fiorentina just one point away from third position although both teams are well off 2nd place and the league leaders.

Livorno vs Catania (1-0)
Livorno jumped three places with their win, out of the relegation zone and left their visitors in their place. The home side had less possession during the first period but held on as neither side could find the net. After the restart Diamanti was brought on and he wasted little time, snatching a goal just after the hour mark. An incredible long range strike into the top corner. He almost doubled the advantage moments later from a free kick, just hitting the top post. Livorno continued to push hard and were unlucky not to score again with more efforts hitting the woodwork.

Reggina vs Palermo (0-0)
Palermo continued their less than spectacular run of late while Reggina did little to get them out of relegation trouble. The first half was sparse of action. Zaccarodo having his goal disallowed for offside while Brienza did all he could for the home side as he weaved through four players to cut the ball across the face of goal but his colleagues failed to get a final touch, were the only first half highlights. Palermo lost a couple of players to injury and in the second half Reggina came out much stronger. They were unlucky not to find the net as Palermo’s keeper and their own poor finishing denied them all three points.

Sampdoria vs Torino (2-2)
The home side had to come from behind twice in this match as Cassano inspired them to a draw and continued his impressive season. Torino started well and were on the scoresheet after just 18 minutes when Comotto blazed into the area and put the ball past Castellazzi. They continued to pressure their hosts but Cassano managed to set up Sala just before the break to level the scores. Sala turned villain in the second half as he brought down Di Michele in the box and gave the visitors a penalty. Di Michele dusted himself off to convert the spot kick on 51 minutes. Sampdoria didn’t have to wait long to equalise when a good individual effort from Cassano made it 2-all only a minute later. He also turned villain when he picked up a red card for dissent in the dying minutes.

Sampdoria hold on to seventh place while Torino maintain 13th spot for now.

Udinese vs Atalanta (2-0)
Two goals within minutes of the half hour mark were enough to secure a win for Udinese. From a corner, Quagliarella headed in past Coppola to put his team in front. Two minutes later Di Natale doubled the score, grabbing on to a loose ball and slotting in past the keeper. Atalanta spent the rest of the match trying to get back into the game but the hosts were resilient and held on for all the points.

Atalanta drop a place whilst Udinese stay in 6th, feeling the pressure from Sampdoria.

Napoli vs Inter Milan (1-0)
Inter’s unbeaten run has ended, an early Zalayeta goal after just 3 minutes was enough for the unlikely heroes. 31 consecutive games without a loss. It had to end at some stage and it was looking more and more likely as Inter were without a win in their last three matches and were missing key players, such as Ibrahimovic, Samuel, Cambiasso, Julio Cruz, Cesar and Cordoba. Materazzi struggled to deal with Lavezzi throughout most of the match and the visitors were under constant pressure. They slowly started to get back into the game but Materazzi went from bad to worse, almost finding with own net after the break, if not for Julio Cesar’s acrobatics. Julio Cesar was involved again when he gave the home side a penalty for clearing part of Gargano’s ankle as well as the ball but the shot stopper did brilliantly again to deny Zalayeta. Napoli continued to play well but 1-0 was the result at full time.

The lead at the top is just six points now so the race is definitely on, while Napoli remain in 11th spot with 33 points.

The standings
1st Inter 61pts 26 played
2nd Roma 55pts 26 played
3rd Juventus 48pts 26 played
4th Fiorentina 47pts 26 played
5th AC Milan 43pts 26 played
6th Udinese 39pts 26 played

Serie A Roundup by Allan Oliveira

Week ending 24th of Feb 2008, matchday 24.

Matchday 24 kicked off with a bang on Saturday, an eight goal thriller between Torino and Parma as well as an upset, as 2nd from bottom Reggina defeated Juventus at home. Sunday continued with another eight goal thriller, this time between Udinese and Genoa. Ten-man and bottom-placed Cagliari defeated visiting Lazio in their desperate fight to stay in the top-flight and Milan finally reached their goal this season of 4th place.

Torino vs Parma (4-4)
This match saw an amazing comeback by the home squad to deny Parma full points. Torino started well and were on the scoreboard by 11 minutes through Stellone’s services as he narrowly beat the offside trap to score. The lead wasn’t to last as Gasbarroni pulled the visitors level on 28 minutes and struck again 4 minutes later, through a brilliant free kick that dipped over the wall and into the top corner. On 42 minutes, Morrone capitalised on a poor clearance and powered an incredible volley into the net. Not even half a minute later Budan made it 4 goals for Parma to continue the crushing assault. The home side mustered enough strength to pull one back as Natali put away a free-header just before the break. In the second half, Stellone got his brace to make it 3-4 after a volley from a Recoba corner kick. Eight minutes from time, Di Michele equalised and Torino almost took a win as a Ventola header slammed into the underside of the crossbar. An astounding comeback to share the spoils, another draw for Parma leaves them still in the relegation zone while Torino sit in 12th spot.

Reggina vs Juventus (2-1)
Juventus wasted last week’s hard work to defeat Roma by losing to 19th-placed Reggina. The home side took the lead just after the half hour mark as Brienza put Reggina in front. Juve were unlucky to remain off the scoresheet in the first half as they had the lion’s share of chances. Reggina’s keeper, Campagnolo will want to forget the few minutes around the 70 minute mark. First he was unable to deal with a cross that almost allowed Del Piero to equalise and then messing up a simple save to allow Del Piero to make up for the earlier miss as the fluffed save let the ball trickle across the line. The game looked to finish a draw until Sissoko fouled Amoruso just before the end of the match. The ex-Juve striker picked himself up to put away the penalty and seal the win. Zanetti picked up a red at the end of the match for his complaints directed towards the ref and both teams remain in the same positions on the table.

Udinese vs Genoa (3-5)
Another eight-goal thriller for this week saw Genoa defeat Udinese to take home all three points. Both teams started well but Genoa draw first blood as Julio Cesar Leon smacked a rocket into the net. The home side were awarded a penalty after 27 minutes and Di Natale stepped up to convert from the spot. Just over ten minutes later the ref had to point to the spot again after Bovo handled the ball. Di Natale sent the keeper the wrong way again to give the home side the lead. Genoa found a controversial equaliser before the break as Sculli tapped in from close range with replay’s showing an offside position.

Less than ten minutes after the restart saw Borriello restore Genoa’s advantage with a sublime piece of skill, controlling with his back to goal and turning to unleash an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Udinese equalised on 72 minutes through a Flores header but it wasn’t to last as Borriello completed his hat-trick with a low-drive six minutes later and a diving header in the 85th minute. Udinese remain in 6th for now while Genoa jump a couple of positions up to 8th.

Sampdoria vs Inter Milan (1-1)
The league leaders made the trip to visit Sampdoria this week and had to settle for a draw after their loss to Liverpool last week. Mancini had to rest Ibrahimovic and Cruz while Cordoba was out with a serious knee injury after the CL encounter. Sampdoria controlled the early part of the match with Cassano in excellent form again. Inter began to get into the match as the game wore on but on 47 minutes, Sampdoria hinted at things to come with a goal that was ruled out for being offside. Who else but Cassano eventually broke the deadlock, beating a couple of defenders to release a powerful drive into the net five minutes after the hour mark. This woke Inter up and they really started to get back into the game. Finally Crespo found the net and saved Inter’s unbeaten domestic record by heading in a Stankovic cross. Inter remain on top but Roma’s win sees their lead cut to nine points. Sampdoria move closer to Udinese in points but remain in 7th place.

Livorno vs Napoli (1-2)
There was very little of mention in the first half of this match apart from a couple of free kicks on either side that were dealt with by the respective keepers. Calaio opened the scoring for the visitors with an unmarked header. Livorno equalised in the 74th minute as Diamanti placed a curler into the top corner from a free kick. Napoli left it late but Calaio completed his brace in stoppage time with another free header from close range. Livorno drop a place to 16th and Napoli remain in the same mid-table position.

Atalanta vs Siena (2-2)
Mid-table Atalanta hosted relegation-battler Siena this week as they were held to a draw. There was little action before Siena found the net just after the half-hour mark, Bertotto combining well with Codrea and Rigano. The visitors extended their lead through Locatelli after 40 minutes. Atalanta’s Floccari didn’t see a need to enter the break at such a disadvantage and pulled one back with 42 minutes on the clock. Three minutes later he equalised to leave the scores tied at half-time. The second half was far less impressive with mostly offsides and little else. Atalanta remain where they were last week but the lone point was enough to move Siena out of the relegation area.

Cagliari vs Lazio (1-0)
The hosts showed amazing determination with a strong will to pull themselves out of the relegation zone in a match that had few chances for either side. Cagliari lost Fini just after the hour mark as he was shown a red card for his studs-up tackle on Mudingayi. The one-man disadvantage wasn’t enough to prevent the home side scoring as substitute Matri scored a glancing header only a few minutes from time. Unfortunately three points won’t even move them off the bottom of the table, let alone out of the relegation zone. Lazio remain in 13th place.

Empoli vs Catania (2-0)
The hosts took all three points to move up several places and overtake their visitors after this match, continuing their good form of late. Giovinco found the net after 36 minutes, leaving Terlizzi behind and smashing a shot in at the near post. He could’ve doubled the lead later but was stopped for an incorrect offside call. Catania were awarded a penalty after the break but failed to convert as Bassi saved Spinesi’s shot. Budel wrapped things up on 78 minutes to secure the win. Empoli leapfrog Catania into 14th and push the visitors back to 15th.

Roma vs Fiorentina (1-0)
Roma got back into their chase for Inter and the Scudetto after last week’s defeat to Juventus in an entertaining match with forth-placed Fiorentina. The hosts were without Mancini who was suspended while Fiorentina had to do without Potenza, Santana and Pazzini. There were a lot of chances early on as both teams wasted good opportunities to score. The keepers were also kept busy as both sides tested them from distance. Roma broke the deadlock after Vucinic dribbled past the visitors to have his shot deflected into Cicinho’s path who slotted in from close range. The goal-scoring chances continued in the remaining half-hour but the solitary goal was enough to secure the win. The goal scorer was sent off in the 90th minute after two yellow cards within five minutes.

AC Milan vs Palermo (2-1)
Fiorentina’s dropped points and Milan’s win over Palermo have finally allowed them to exchange places for the important 4th place into Europe, but only through goal difference. Palermo welcomed several regulars back from suspension and injury while Milan started Pato and Gilardino with Seedorf and Maldini getting a rest. Palermo began well and shocked the home side with an early deflected goal through Australian, Bresciano. Increasing pressure from Milan resulted in an equaliser on just 24 minutes, Ambrosini finishing an Oddo cross at the back post. The pressure continued for the rest of the match and Veteran keeper Fontana was keeping Palermo in the game for the most part. With Gilardino disappointing again, Inzaghi was brought on with just over 15 minutes left. This proved to be an important substitution as the Italian snatched a goal in the dying minutes to seal Milan’s victory. Time will tell if Milan can hold on to 4th place or even give Juventus and Roma trouble further up the table.

The standings
1st Inter 60pts 24 played
2nd Roma 51pts 24 played
3rd Juventus 47pts 24 played
4th AC Milan 41pts 24 played
5th Fiorentina 41pts 24 played
6th Udinese 36pts 24 played