Serie A proved to be a mix of the mundane, the farcical and the sublime this week.  Although looking back it has those properties every week. 

 

 

Roma crashed away at Juventus, given the Giallorossi's record in Turin it is still a surprise. 

 

Ranierii picked an  attacking if unfamiliar three man attack.  Sure they seemed to have plenty of the ball early on and had a few half chances, but in reality the majority of the Bianconeri crosses in the first half went AWOL, Camoranesi had a good game but was unable to unlock Roma.

Roma actually played a good tactical game in the first half, they sat back, built up attack slowly and tried to keep possession in the middle.  The majority of their crosses and balls into the box needed a Juventus boot or head to cut them out.

Roma always looked more threatening and composed. 

Nedved is a wily old campaigner and knows how to dive.  Sure the foot was stuck out, watch the replay, he starts the dive with his other leg.  That sort of play gets you a free kick in Italy. 

Let's not take away the excellent free kick from Del Piero, let's just point out the atrocious wall. 

Roma came out in the second half but the tactical nous of Ranierii saw Camoranesi withdrawn and Nocerino added.  So the Bianconeri have two holding midfielders, Roma get plenty of possession but failed to find that pass or that shot. 

Mr. Spalletti, clearly Totti is a talismanic figure in Rome, but clearly he was not fit today.  Playing him was pretty dumb.  Sure his touch can be sublime and his passing intricate but when he can't run to stab home a ball in the six yard box then he's just like a chocolate fire-guard.  Would Ranierii, Mancini, Ferguson, Wenger or Moyes play a crocked player?

 

Juventus:-

Buffon

Zebina

Legrottaglie

Chiellini

Molinaro

Camoranesi (Nocerino 46)

Zanetti

Nedved (Palladino 81)

Del Piero

Iaquinta

Trezeguet (Sissoko 67)

 

Goals:-

Del Piero 46

 

Bookings:-

Chiellini

 

 

AS Roma:-

Doni

Cassetti

Ferrari

Mexes

Tonetto

Pizarro (Aquilani 73)

De Rossi

Taddei (Giuly 60)

Perrotta (Esposito 82)

Mancini

Totti

 

Bookings:-

 

Goals:-

 

Referee:-

Saccani

 

 

Genoa lost at home to Sampdoria in a turgid game without much to recommend it. 

 

The bright start, Maggio and Di Vaio going reasonably close in the opening few minutes soon gave way to some really dire football. 

The two teams aren't solely to blame for this.  Them being two points off each other before kick off and local city rivals and having played to a draw earlier on in the season were just a backdrop. 

Fresh faced and freshly minted by FIFA Mr. Rizzoli; known for being card happy; had a total smegging 'mare of a game.  Breaking wind got you a stern look, spitting and he'd give a player the evil eye, make a goof strong derby tackle and he'd give s oft or stupid yellow. 

The teams cancelled each other out in a poor Derby game whilst the referee was happy to take Bob Marley at his word and "Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow".  He had to do a Cartman and stamp his AUTHORITAH! On the game instead of letting it flow.  Then Rizzoli has the temerity to not book Delvecchio? 

 

Genoa had more possession but couldn't do much with it.  Sampdoria looked more threatening in attack but it took playing against ten men (a spurious couple of cards) and the eventual use of his eyes by Maggio to create the goal. 

Cassano was the one bright spot in the game, some brilliant passages of play and some entertaining whining flowed from the youngster.  Thankfully he didn't despair that the six other chances he handed to Maggio went AWOL and persevered to hand the midfielder the seventh. 

 

Genoa:-

Rubinho

Konko

De Rosa

Criscito

Rossi (Bovo 67)

Paro

Juric

Danilo

Milanetto (Lucarelli 64)

Borriello

Di Vaio (Figueroa 49)

 

Goals:-

 

Bookings:-

Juric

Paro

Danilo

Danilo (second get's sent off)

Konko

Criscitto

 

Sampdoria:-

Castellazzi

Campagnaro

Sala

Accardi

Maggio

Delvecchio (Volpi 68)

Palombo

Franceschini (Bonazzoli 83)

Pieri

Cassano (Ziegler 90)

Belluci

 

Bookings:-

Sala

Campagnaro

Cassano

Accardi

 

Goals:-

Maggio 87

 

Referee:-

Rizzoli

 

 

Injuries can be no excuse for this torpid and uninspiring display.  Top marks to Parma for making themselves hard to beat. 

 

Not much to say about this game.  Parma started the game with a point in mind and got it.  Milan started the game poorly and continued in that vein for the following ninety minutes. 

Even the highlights were awful. 

Ancellotti is praying for Pato. 

 

Parma:-

Bucci

Zennoni

Couto

Falcone

Castellini

Dessena

Morrone

Cigarini (Mariga 75)

Pisanu

Reginaldo (Gasbarroni 64)

Lucarelli (Budan 64)

 

Goals:-

 

 

AC Milan:-

Kalac

Cafu

Nesta

Kaladze

Jankulowski (Maldini 70)

Gattuso (Gilardino 46)

Emerson

Ambrosini

Serginho (Pirlo 46)

Kaka

Inzaghi

 

Goals:-

 

Referee:-

Dondarini

 

 

Adrian Mutu is sniffing around the capponcanoniere.  The Romanian is the difference in one of the best Italian games this weekend. 

 

Catania are hard to break down and have some good attacking options in Vargas, Pia and Martinez. 

Fiorentina are better away than at home although they have Mutu up front.  A good team with plenty in all departments. 

 

Catania shaded the game early on then Fiorentina got themselves straight and started to dominate possession although not chances. 

Some soft defending allowed Kuzmanovic to get between two defenders to nod home a cross for Fiorentina's opener. 

Mascara's introduction caused Fiorentina problems and more defensive fluffs (created no doubt from the dodgy Serbian 'keeper) led to a well executed goal from a corner, Vargas with the powerful shot from the sloppy clearance. 

The second half was end to end stuff, nail biting and well executed.  Mutu is the jewel in Prandelli's squad and a good knock down, powerful direct running and a blinder of a shot led to the winner for La Viola.  This was just after a passage of play that saw Fiorentina pushed back and Catania squander several half chances. 

This time Fiorentina weathered the late pressure and came away with a good three points. 

 

Fiorentina:-

Frey (Abramov 55)

Potenza

Dianelli

Gamberini

Pasqual

Donadel

Montolivo (Jorgenson 65)

Kuzmanovic

Santana (Semioli 76)

Mutu

Pazzini

 

Goals:-

Kuzmanovic 39

Mutu 70

 

Bookings:-

Mutu

Donadel

 

 

Catania:-

Polito

Alvarez

Silvestri

Stovini

Vargas

Baiocco

Izco

Biagianti (Mascara 46)

Martinez

Pia

Colucci

 

Bookings:-

Silvestri

 

Goals:-

Vargas 60

 

Referee:-

Banti

 

Catania's 433 would look like this is FSC were actually correct in their team graphics!:-

Polito

Stovini - a CB @ RB?

Vargas - a LB @ CB?

Izco - a CM @ CB?

Baiocco - a CM @ LB?

Silvestri - a CB @ CM?

Biagianti

Colucci - a F @ CM?

Pia

Alvarez - a RB @ F?

Martinez

That is just so dumb. 

 

 

Max Bretos and other commentators. 

Gotta single out the commentator here.  Firstly the team sheet for Catania was hopelessly WRONG.  The names of the players were correct but their location on the graphic was hopelessly lost.  Juan Vargas isn't a right back either.   Thankfully he didn't do the commentary. 

I'm sure that the people of Genoa love to hear tales about their nautical past but is it really necessary to waffle on about it during a football match. 

He wasn't the only muppet at the mike this weekend though.  Two normally reliable commentators; Richard Widdle and Paul Visca; seemed to think Juventus dominated the first half, surely they must have been bough some nice new Italian suits by Ranierii to be so blatantly pro Bianconeri. 

 

The bloke who did the Fiorentina game was excellent. 

 

Other Results.

 

Internaz ional 2 - 0 Livorno

The table toppers increase their hold on the Scudetto.  Suazo gets a pair and Livorno are glad to get out of Milan. 

 

Lazio 3 - 0 Atalanta

A surprise and welcome win for the Biancocelesti.  Back to the drawing board for Atalanta. 

 

Napoli 1 - 3 Empoli

Big trouble for the Azzurri with another loss.  With three sendings off it was a high tension game. 

 

Palermo 2 - 1 Cagliari

Guidolin's 'little girls' show some balls. 

 

Reggina 1 - 3 Udinese

Back into the European place scrap for Udinese, more woes for Reggina. 

 

Siena 0-0 Torino

Snore draw.  Hardly a surprise.