Saturday 19 January (all times local)18:00 Genoa 2-1 Atalanta (report)
20:30 Fiorentina 2-1 Torino (report)
Sunday 20 January
15:00 Juventus 0-0 Sampdoria (report)
15:00 Livorno 1-0 Empoli
15:00 Napoli 2-2 Lazio
15:00 Palermo 2-3 Siena
15:00 Reggina 2-0 Cagliari
15:00 Roma 2-0 Catania (report)
15:00 Udinese 0-1 Milan (report)
20:30 Inter vs Parma (preview)
Juventus 0-0 Sampdoria
Samp took a deserved point home from Turin as Juventus struggled to build on their early dominance.
Juventus started in some style, with Marchionni missing an absolute sitter, skying the ball far above an open goal from just six yards.
Samp closed ranks after that, but there were still some fine chances for Juve, most notably from Trezeguet, who both hit the bar and had a shot cleared off the line.
It was shaping up to be a frustrating afternoon for the hosts, and thus it proved as an emboldened Sampdoria managed to sit back and soak up what little pressure there was.
Read our full match report here.
Livorno 1-0 Empoli
Livorno's revival continued with a smash-and-grab job at home to Empoli.
Empoli had the best of an uneventful first period, but had relatively few chances to show for all their possession.
One in particular stood out, though: after being put through by Vannucchi, Saudati launched a fine shot goalwards, but Marco Amelia showed why he's on the shopping list of more than a few clubs with a world-class stop.
His team had him to thank, then, for going in level at the break. Then they had a debt to Tavano for giving them the lead, albeit from the spot. Referee Damato awarded a spot-kick after Pratali brought down Vidigal in the area.
That was sufficient to win the game as Empoli's spirits abandoned them.
Napoli 2-2 Lazio
A masterclass from Marek Hamsik left Lazio once again searching for a win in Naples.
After just five minutes, Hamsik was left unmarked in the box and gratefully swept home on his side's first attack of the game.
But Lazio fought back, and found an equaliser 26 minutes in after a great counterattack and fine long-range finish from Ledesma.
Lavezzi almsot re-took the lead for Napoli on the counter, but in fact Goran Pandev was to net first, once again capping off a counterattack after some good link-up play with Tare.
Hamsik always looked dangerous for Napoli, but otherwise it was Lazio that began to appear the stronger side, even as Pandev and Tare were substituted off.
Blasi was then sent off for Napoli right at the death, and Lazio knew that they'd done enough.
Or had they? Apparently not, for Hamsik got the second goal that he'd been angling for all afternoon. The young Slovak smashed home a deflected effort right at the death, before Stendardo was sent off for the hosts to well and truly even things up.
Palermo 2-3 Siena
In a quite unbelievable game on Sicily, it was the Tuscan side that left the happier of the pair after two gutsy comebacks.
Within three minutes, Palermo had taken a deserved lead. Amauri added a few more euros to his transfer value with a bullet of a header after Cassani's cross from the right.
However, Siena managed instant reply when the roasnero completely failed to clear their lines after a cross from the left, leaving Locatelli to slot home unopposed from close range.
It should have been 2-1 seconds later, only for Amauri to stumble on the ball during a goalmouth scramble. Instead, it was 1-2: once again, Palermo's defence failed to deal with a cross, allowing Maccarone to slide in and net from four yards.
It was end-to-end stuff after that, with the hosts having the best of it; however, a series of stops from Manninger kept the scores level going into the hour mark.
Palermo eventually did equalise when Miccoli converted a penalty but, just as earlier, Siena hit straight back. Just two minutes later, Loria gave the visitors the advantage with a great header that left Fontana stranded.
Reggina 2-0 Cagliari
The big relegation scrapended in tears for Caglairi, who now look dead certs to go down after dropping three vital points in Reggio-Calabria.
The first half was as dull as could be, with both sides more scared of conceding than anything else. Perhaps with the stakes so high, that was understandable.
But Reggina needed to use their home advantage: eventually, they did. Twenty minutes into the second period, Brienza took matters into his own hands and beat Storari with a tremendous, left-footed effort from range.
Cozza sealed the deal fifteen minutes from time with a good first touch and a powerful finish, leaving Cagliari's fate more than clear.
Roma 2-0 Catania
They made it difficult for themselves, but in the end the capital club picked up a deserved win over struggling Catania.
Roma started the better side, showing attacking prowess even without Totti in the lineup. Ludovic Giuly, indeed, made it 1-0 very early on with a tap-in after Taddei's long-range drive hit the post.
There were more chances to come, with Mancini proving sadly wasteful in front of goal, but Catania were able to first stabilise and then press forward as the first half ended.
But, just like the first, Roma started the second in dominant mood, but were once again unable to convert in front of goal. However, they had a golden chance to do so when Taddei was tugged down in the box by Terlizzi, allowing De Rossi to beautifully stroke home the penalty.
Read our full match report here.
Udinese 0-1 Milan
An Alberto Gilardino strike right at the death ended Milan's Udine hoodoo and brought the rossoneri one step closer to their Champions League dream.
Despite the goalless nature of the first half, it was nothing if not eventful. Quagliarella was eager to impress for hte hosts, while Zapata and Pepe had their chances as well.
But Ronaldo's chance was perhaps the best of the half, the Brazilian rattling the woodwork from 25 yards.
The former Madrid man was again involved after the break, bringing out the best in Handanovic just after half-time.
As the game wore on, it seemed that it was destined to be 0-0. But nobody, except perhaps Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, had reckoned on the contribution of Alberto Gilardino. The striker, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, slotted home after being put through by Kaka to break the hosts' hearts.
No comments:
Post a Comment