6 January 2005
ATALANTA 1-0

FIORENTINA
Budan 81  

 
   

 
Attendance : 13,000
Assist : n/a
 
 
BRESCIA 1-1

BOLOGNA
Di Biagio 67 (Pen)  

Tare 18
   

 
Bellucci was first to react after he smashed a free kick into the Brescia wall, an
excellent touch took him away from two players and he pulled the ball across the face
of goal for Tare to give Bologna the lead. Juarez fouled Sculli in the box just as he
was about to get on the end of a long ball, Sculli took a few steps before hitting the
deck, clear dive but also a penalty. Di Biagio earned Brescia a point from the penalty
spot.

Attendance : 8,000
Assists : Bellucci, Sculli
 
 
CAGLIARI 2-1

MESSINA
Esposito 48  

Zampagna 21
Gobbi 55  

 
     
Zampagna made up for an earlier miss when he drilled a free kick through the Cagliari
wall. Cagliari equalised on a lightning quick counter attack. Gobbi dropped a long ball
ball into Langella who showed incredible pace to head the ball past a defender before
chipping a cross to the back post which was met emphatically by Esposito. Cagliari's
winner was similar only in slow motion, this time Zola carried the ball down the left
and Gobbi headed in. Storari saved Zola's poorly struck penalty, awarded for a foul on
Langella.

Langella is awesome.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Di Napoli (won fk), Esposito, Zola
 
 
CHIEVO 1-3

SIENA
Semioli 74  

Taddei 44
   

Flo 54, 66
     
Taddei, arguably the team's best player last season, was foolishly dropped for the first
half of this season because he was pushing for a move to Roma. I believe the
chairman, and not the coach, was to blame. Taddei, making only his fourth
appearance this campaign, gave Siena the lead on half time, calmly lobbing over
Marchegiani after Chievo's infamous offside trap made an unwelcome return. Flo
scored the first of his two goals on the break. Pecchia passed out wide to Flo then
hilariously threw himself over the legs of a Chievo player in a lame attempt to win a
free kick, Flo dribbled past three players and from a tight angle cracked the ball into
the bottom corner. His second was a superb header. He was standing just inside the
box and having spotted Marchegiani off his line he sent Pecchia's 50 yard free kick
lopping into the net. Semioli reduced the arrears when he headed in a free kick and
Pellissier almost set up a tense finish but his shot came back off the crossbar.

Attendance : 7,300
Red Card : Vergassola 75 (Siena)
Assists : Flo, Pecchia, Pecchia (fk), D'Anna (fk)
 
 
LIVORNO 0-2

INTER
   

Materazzi 42
   

Vieri 73 (Pen)
     
Inter were awarded a penalty for a handball. Adriano stepped up, took a short run and
shot wide of the post. His second consecutive penalty miss. His confidence seemed to
take a hit as he missed a good chance later in the half. Materazzi, on as a substitute
for Mihajlovic, ran in unopposed, because Vieri had taken out Giallombardo, to head
in van der Meyde's corner. Giallombardo then conceded a second penalty after kicking
van der Meyde. Vieri converted and it became too much for one of the locals as he
stormed the pitch, I'm not sure who he was going for but Toldo made sure he didn't
get there.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : van der Meyde (ck), van der Meyde (won pen)
 
 
MILAN 5-2

LECCE
Crespo 23, 36, 57  

Bojinov 76
Shevchenko 51  

Cassetti 84
Tomasson 89    
     
European Footballer of the year Andriy Shevchenko paraded the Ballon D'or around the
San Siro before the start of this match. Milan should have had a four goal lead at half
time but had to settle for two. The defending by Lecce in this match has to be seen
to be believed. Rullo headed Dida's longball straight to Kaka', he fired the ball to the
back post and Crespo side footed into an empty net. Dhorasso sent Kaka' down the
opposite flank this time and Crespo danced past Sicignano and a defender before
tapping in his second.

Shevchenko headed in a Pirlo free kick before unselfishly centring for Crespo to
complete his hat-trick. Nesta was sent off for bringing down Bojinov when he ran
through on goal, despite the fact that Maldini was covering. Bojinov scored from
the resulting free kick with a stunning shot right into the top corner and Audio
Cassetti tapped in a second as the Milan defence simply lost interest. There was
still time for substitute Tomasson to get on the score sheet, once again Shevchenko,
realising his responsibility as the World's best player (either that or he's been
watching Henry) passed up the chance to score and laid a goal on a plate for his
team-mate.

Had these teams met a couple of months ago this would have been an incredible
match but Lecce ran out of steam weeks ago and the Christmas break did nothing to
help them in that regard. Milan should move very quickly to tie up Crespo before his
value shoots up further. Dhorasso, another of Ancelotti's signings, was again utterly
brilliant. Ancelotti is a genius.

Attendance : 70,000
Red Card : Nesta 73 (Milan)
Assists : Kaka', Kaka', Pirlo (fk), Shevchenko, Bojinov (won fk), Bojinov, Shevchenko
 
 
PARMA 1-1

JUVENTUS
Marchionni 85  

Ibrahimovic 63
     
Juve were all over Parma and only the woodwork (twice) and an extraordinary save
from Frey prevented them from taking the lead which they did immediately after
Del Piero was subbed. Ibrahimovic ran between the Parma defence to thump
Camoranesi's header past Frey. A mistake by Montero lead to the equaliser. He swung
a boot at a back pass, slicing the ball in the air which Marchionni raced onto
unopposed into the box, as he shot Cannavaro arrived from nowhere but only
succeeded in deflecting the ball to Buffon who parried straight back to the midfielder
and he lashed a left foot shot into the roof of the net.

Fighting broke out at full time.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : Camoranesi, n/a
 
 
REGGINA 1-0

PALERMO
Nakamura 7    
     
Attendance : 15,000
Assist : n/a
 
 
SAMPDORIA 2-0

UDINESE
Flachi 68    
De Sanctis 75 (og)    
     
Both teams were playing very direct in this match. Samp turned the screw in the
second half and Udinese eventually cracked under the pressure. From a free kick
Pisano hit the most amazing cross, which seemed to hang in the air for ages before
dropping right onto Flachi, he took a touch on his chest before thundering the ball
into the net. De Sanctis has been credited with the second goal after Castellini's
header rebounded off the underside of the crossbar, hit his arse and rolled into the
net.

Given how Udinese have been playing the result and their lacklustre performance
was a major surprise.

Attendance : 24,000
Assists : Pisano, n/a
 
 
LAZIO 3-1

ROMA
Di Canio 29  

Cassano 69
Cesar 74    
Rocchi 84    
     
Lazio settled quickly and it was no surprise when they took the lead just before the
half hour mark. Liverani hit a superb reverse pass upto Di Canio, he met the ball on
the volley, sending it flying over Pelizzoli who was hopelessly stranded on the penalty
spot.

Roma started the second half as well as their neighbours started the first and drew
level when Cassano headed in Panucci's excellent cross. Three Roma players were
drawn to Di Canio and forgot to pick up Cesar, the Brazilian, free in space on the
left half, volleyed Di Canio's spectacular back heeled flick into the bottom corner.
Two unbelievably good passes from Liverani sent Rocchi through on goal, he screwed
up the first having rounded the 'keeper but he made no mistake the second time
round, a deft header left Pelizzoli jumping at fresh air and the little striker with an
open goal.

Papadopulo (it's so tempting to stick a S on the end) kept Siena in the top flight last
season before being dismissed due to his chairman's stupidity. I'd say given the
attitude of the Roma players this season of the two coaches Del Neri has by far the
tougher job.

Leading up to the match Di Canio and Totti had been talking smack. Clearly Totti
can learn a thing or two from Di Canio about leadership because the 37 year old ran
the show along with Liverani who was hitting passes with Koeman like precision.

Attendance : 65,000
Assists : Liverani, Panucci, Di Canio, Liverani
 
 
R Mehdi