STORM BREWING

After eight weeks at the top there are signs that parity is about to be restored
in Round A as high flying Atalanta and Udinese lose to Parma and Milan
respectively while Roma and Bologna are held to draws. Inter fight back
from two goals down to earn a point at home to Juve. Only three points
separate 8th placed Milan and 2nd placed Atalanta.


3 DECEMBER 2000

INTER				2-2			JUVENTUS
Blanc 13							Trezeguet 6
Di Biagio 66						Zidane 10

Inter won a throw in near their own goal. Macellari decided to throw the ball
to Di Biagio who was standing outside the box, as Di Biagio attempted to
control the ball Tacchinardi intercepted, Zidane played a one-two with
Del Piero then passed to Trezeguet and he tapped in from close range. Just
pathetic defending. Zidane added a second minutes later with a fantastic
strike from 20yds. Blanc headed in Recoba's corner though Van der Sar was
at fault. Vieri had a goal disallowed for pushing? Montero should have been
sent off for punching Di Biagio, the ref didn't see it. Recoba gave Vieri a
gift but he shot over from about 2 inches. Tacchinardi deflected Di Biagio's
free kick past his own 'keeper. Vieri messed up a cross with Recoba unmarked
in front of goal. Frey made a great save from Trezeguet.

Attendance : 75,337
Assists : Zidane, Recoba


BOLOGNA			1-1			VICENZA
Cruz 33							Toni 41

Cruz played a one-two with Maresca and as he took the return pass the
Vicenza defence en mass ran back trying to play offside, absolutely hilarious,
Cruz was left with a one on one with Sterchele and drilled the ball into the
net. Zauli whipped a free kick into the box and Toni scored with a spectacular
volley. Both teams had chances in the second half. A fair result.

Attendance : 23,000
Assists : Maresca, Zauli


LECCE				1-1			FIORENTINA
Conticchio 11						Chiesa 54 (Pen)

Fiorentina's awful defence gifted Lecce the opening goal, they failed to deal
with what should have been a routine clearance, Lucarelli played in Conticchio
and he shot inside the post. Fiorentina dominated the second half. Chimenti
made excellent saves from Chiesa and Nuno Gomes, Bressan headed against
the post. Juarez fouled Chiesa in the box and he stepped up to convert the
penalty. 

Attendance : 12,238
Assists : Lucarelli, Chiesa


NAPOLI				1-0			BARI
Amoruso 46

Napoli took a much needed three points thanks to a very fortunate goal, Sesa
took a pop from outside the box, the ball hit a defender, then hit Bellucci's
head and ended up at Amoruso's feet, 1-0. Napoli wasted numerous chances to
score. The ref got injured by an object thrown by the thugs in the home
crowd.

Attendance : 40,000
Assists : Bellucci


PERUGIA				0-0			ROMA

Vryzas had a goal disallowed for offside for the home team. After that it was
all Roma. Mazzantini made a string of excellent saves from Cafu, Batistuta
and Tomassi . Perugia should have been awarded a penalty for handball by
Cafu. Roma's best chance fell to Montella but he spooned his shot over the
bar after Mazzantini parried Batistuta's free kick. There were several
horrendous fouls by the home side. Blasi was sent off for going through the
back of Guigou.

Attendance : 25,000
Red Cards : Blasi 83


UDINESE			0-1			MILAN
							Shevchenko 52

Bierhoff blazed over from a free kick and forced Turci into a great. Shevchenko
stole a yard of his marker to brilliantly turn Maldini's cross past Turci.
He also had a goal harshly disallowed for offside. Jose Mari missed an open
goal following great work by Shevchenko.

Easily Milan's most impressive performance of the season, for the first time
they looked solid in defence.
 
Attendance : 27,000
Assists : Maldini


VERONA				2-1			BRESCIA
Bonazzoli 5						Hubner 91
Gilardino 84

A group of Brescia players tackled Mutu, Bisoli thought it would be a good
idea to pass the ball back to the 'keeper through a ruck of players,
Bonazzoli intercepted and shot under Srnicek's legs. Mutu missed an open
goal. A fine run by Oddo opened up Brescia's defence, he drew out Srnicek
and knocked the ball across goal, Gilardino tapped into an empty net.
Hubner finished well from Baggio's brilliant pass. Marino hit the outside of
a post. Petruzzi cleared Gilardino's shot off the line.

Attendance : 13,863
Assists : Oddo, Baggio


2 DECEMBER 2000

PARMA				2-0			ATALANTA
Lamouchi 18
Conceicao 82

Parma scored a fortunate opening goal, Micoud hit a cross into the ground,
Lamouchi's struck the ball first time, it bounced off the turf and into the
net. The pitch didn't look in good shape so that might have played a part.
Atalanta dominated possession and Buffon was forced to save twice from
Ganz. Conceicao picked the ball up on the half way line, drove forward,
turned a defender inside out before crashing a shot in off the post.
 
Assists : Micoud, ?


LAZIO				2-0			REGGINA
Salas 25
Crespo 57

Salas scored from Nedved's cross and then released Crespo with a superb
reverse pass, Crespo chipped the ball over Taibi to score only the third goal
since his £35 million move from Parma. Taibi made an excellent save from
Dino Baggio and also saved a twice taken penalty by Simone Inzaghi. 

Reggina played the match in a neutral stadium and will also play their next
home match away from home as punishment for the crowd trouble last week
against Brescia, Brescia's 0-3 victory stands. 

Assists : Nedved, Salas