Italian Serie A News, Results, Analysis and Features on Football Soccer

In the big game on Saturday night there was a bit of a controversial moment in the game when Sulley Muntari headed home from close range only for Gigi Buffon to claw it away. Replays showed the ball crossed the line by at least a yard. The referee pointed back to the centre circle but the linesman on that side didn’t give it. Inter have now lost five in a row away at Napoli who now have won four in a row, Roma were embarrassed away at Atalanta and had two players harshly sent off.

Saturday 25th February

Parma travelled to Genoa and raced into a two-goal lead thanks to a twenty yard effort from Massimo Gobbi after Genoa failed to clear a set piece. The second came on the counter attack after Jonathan Biabiany ran from his own half and played in Sebastian Giovinco who had his effort hit the post and the rebound fell to Sergio Floccari to tap home. Genoa fought back first from the penalty spot after a handball in the area, Rodrigo Palacio had his spot kick saved then scored from the rebound. In the sixth minute of added time Genoa got the equaliser their play deserved and when Palacio netted past Mirante in off the post.

The evening game was the game of the season at the San Siro as AC Milan entertained Juventus. AC Milan took the lead fifteen minutes into the game when Leonardo Bonucci gave the ball away to Robinho who played it to Antonio Nocerino who charged down the centre before unleashing a strong drive at goal which ended in the back of the net, courtesy of a kind deflection. Then there was controversy as Sulley Muntari had a goal disallowed when he headed home from close range only for Gigi Buffon to claw it away. Replays showed the ball had cleared crossed the line and the referee thought so to until he noticed his linesman standing still with his flag raised.  Controversy reigned supreme again later in the match when Juventus had a goal ruled out incorrectly. Alessandro Matri scored what would have been the equaliser, but, it was chalked off the board when he was adjudged to have been in an offside position. Replays showed that he was not. But, Juventus did get the leveler shortly afterwards and it was Matri that popped up to grab it.  In a game of high tensions, tempers flared late on which saw a number of yellow cards handed out while Arturo Vidal was sent off for a blatant tackle from behind on Mark van Bommel.

Sunday 26th February

Lecce picked up a brilliant away win in Sardinia as Serge Cosmi goes about reviving the Southern outfit. The visitors took the lead as Luis Muriel sprinted past the Cagliari defence to hit a curling effort into the bottom corner. Cagliari equalised from the penalty spot after a hand ball with Joaquin Larivey stepping up to send the Lecce keeper the wrong way. Cosmi’s side then got the winner as Andra Bertolacci fired home after a long throw in to the Cagliari box.

Chievo overcame Cesena with a solitary goal that was claimed by Davide Moscardelli who slid the ball home after a cross was poorly defended by the Cesena defence.

Catania’s fine home form continued as they dispatched Novara 3-1. The first goal was scored by Gonzalo Bergessio who tapped home from close range. The goal of the week by far was added early in the second half by Cataina Giovanni Marchese who hit a brilliant left footed volley a la Paul Scholes against Bradford, which whistled past Novara keeper. Alejandro Gomez added a third as he received the ball on the left and ran on goal cutting in from the left and hit an angle drive past the Novara keeper. Rafaelle Rubino pulled one back for the away side but it was only a consolation goal.

Atalanta embarrassed Roma at home destroying with a crushing 4-1 victory. Guido Marilungo opened the scoring after picking up a through ball by German Denis which split the Roma defence and slotted the ball past Maarten Stekelenburg. It was 2-0 when Germain Denis got the first of his hat-trick as Maxi Moralez played him in to hit an angled drive into the net. Roma pulled one back when Pablo Osvaldo shot found Fabio Borini who poked home from close range.

Just after the interval it was 3-1 thanks to good interplay between Marilungo and Denis with the former crossing in for Denis to tap home. Roma were reduced to ten men when Pablo Osvaldo was sent off for an off the ball incident with Luca Cigarini, who earned a yellow card for his troubles. Denis then added a fourth as he sprung the offside trap to lift the ball over the Stekelenburg to capture his hat-trick. It got worse for Roma as Marco Cassetti was sent off for dissent.

Siena produced a brilliant home display against a rejuvenated Palermo side. The Sicilians were reduced to ten men early on when Federico Balzaretti was sent off. But the visitors took the lead when Igor Budan headed home from a corner. Claudio Terzi equalised from the spot after Brienza was brought down in the penalty area, the penalty was twice taken. Just before half time Siena took the lead with a lovely cross in from the left by Mattia Destro on the outside of his boot was flicked home by Erjon Bogdani. Luca Rossettini added a third as he volleyed home from close range, Franco Brienza added the final goal of the game with a brilliant free kick.

There were three evening kick offs on Sunday night.

Lazio warmed up for the derby next week with a 1-0 win over Fiorentina thanks to a goal from Miroslav Klose. Hernanes assisted the German with a lovely through ball and the German striker kept his nerve by rounding the Fiorentina keeper and slotting home into an guarded net.

Napoli added more woes on to Claudio Ranieri as they picked up their fourth straight victory. The only goal of the game just before the hour thanks to a brilliant run by Blerim Dzemaili played in Ezequiel Lavezzi who curled a brilliant effort into the bottom corner past the outstretched Julio Cesar.

Udinese travelled to Bologna and picked up a second brilliant away win in three days, Udinese took the lead from the penalty spot after Di Natale was brought down, even though it was outside of the area. Di Natale stepped up and dispatched the penalty kick by Gillet. Dusan Basta doubled the lead as he ran on to a through ball on the right and calmly chipped the on rushing Gillet. Kone pulled one back for the home side as a cross in from the right hand side found Marco Di Vaio who headed back to the on rushing Kone who fired home from six yards out. Antonio Floro Flores killed the game off when he volleyed home from a Dusan Basta cross.

Scot Munroe

A Football fan for around 18 years since the age of 6 years old. My first love is Swindon town now managed by the mad man that is Paolo Di Canio. I have been a fan of Italian football for around 10-15 years now since the Channel four days back in the Uk with James Richardson. I am a Roma fan as well and i have been following the club since 2003 with the attack minded football with Totti and Cassano.

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