27 May 2007
 
ASCOLI 2-1

CAGLIARI
Soncin 17  

Mancosu 13
Paolucci 78    
     
Terrible conditions great match. Ascoli's Eleftheropoulos saved a penalty from
Pepe while at the other end Chimenti made a fantastic save from a free kick.
Soncin headed Ascoli into the lead from a corner, despite having his short
pulled by Bizera. Mancosu scored on what I believe was his Serie A debut,
catching Eleftheropoulos by surprise with a curling shot from 25 yards. Aresti
replaced Chimenti on half time and made a phenomenal point blank save from a
corner. Soncin tried his luck from long range a second time, the ball popped up
off the back of a defender and as it dropped Paolucci went airborne and
connected with a scissor kick.

Attendance : 1,000
Assists : Marchini (ck), Bonanni, n/a
 
 
CATANIA 2-0

CHIEVO
Rossini 65  

 
Minelli 79    
     
This was Serie A's winner takes all match. Chievo had much the better start with
Pantanelli making an extraordinary save early on from Brighi and Mandelli
missing an easy header. The chances dried up in the second half and with Chievo
still a point ahead of their hosts in the standings Catania's coach went for
broke and brought on Rossini and he made his mark within 9 minutes, brilliantly
heading Lucenti's cross into the bottom left corner of the net. Obinna and
Cossato blew chances to equalise and they paid the price when another Catania
substitute, Minelli, turned the ball in from close range after Squizzi flapped
at a free kick.

Attendance : 10,050
Assists : Lucenti, Vargas (fk)
 
 
FIORENTINA 5-1

SAMPDORIA
Mutu 5  

Quagliarella 40
Montolivo 36  

 
Pazzini 48    
Reginaldo 73, 91    
     
The Fiorentina players, their kids and management took the field wearing purple
noses. Unfortunately they removed them off before kick off. Montolivo released
Mutu on the break, he stepped inside Sala before whipping the ball inside a
post. Standing to the left of the box Montolivo rolled a pass into Liverani
before continuing his run into the box, Liverani dropped the ball over his
shoulder and he volleyed it into he opposite corner of the net. Soddimo back
heeled to Quagliarella and he ran through Pasqual before shooting wide of Frey.
Mutu threaded a pass between four defenders for Pazzini to fire in Fiorentina's
third. Reginaldo threw a series of dummies at Sala before turning away and
blasting into the left corner and in injury time he scored a magnificent third.
B lobbed a high cross into the box, as the ball dropped Reginaldo flicked it
over the head of a defender before volleying into the corner.

2007-2008 : Fiorentina have made no secret of the fact that Toni will leave
(probably for Bayern Munich). They don't need to raid the transfer market for a
replacement as they already have the outstanding Pazzini and Reginaldo and
Bojinov will return from Juventus. Playmaker Montolivo is the new Pirlo.
Fiorentina's defence is a joke and they don't play with a DM which is stupid.
They've got the money to address these issues, whether they will is another
matter. So far there has been no interest in Mutu, which is incredible given the
season he's had.

Attendance : 29,312
Assists : Montolivo, Liverani, Soddimo, Mutu, Blasi, Santana
 
 
INTER 3-0

TORINO
Materazzi 12 (Pen)  

 
Maicon 60  

 
Figo 67 (Pen)  

 
     
Despite having their official scudetto party on Saturday Inter were not feeling
charitable. Materazzi converted a penalty after Mariano Gonzalez threw himself
over Taibi in the box. Maicon, the best fullback in the World, ran into the box
from the right flank and beat two players before crashing the ball into the
bottom left corner of the net. Master diver (Inter have needed one of these for
a long time) Gonzalez won a second penalty and was about to take it himself
before Materazzi talked Figo into taking it.

2007-2008 : Suazo will arrive within the next week instantly giving Inter an
incredible counter attack, which is something they sorely lack. Inter is also
the most likely destination for Buffon. That piece of crap Ibrahimovic, who
upset many people at the club by praising that bastard Moggi and claiming his
Juventus side were better, is fishing for a move to Milan so he can play with
Ronaldo. No thanks.

Attendance : 60,000
Assists : Gonzalez, Stankovic, Gonzalez
 
 
LIVORNO 4-2

ATALANTA
Lucarelli 45, 57 (Pen)  

Zampagna 51
Morrone 47  

Bombardini 65
Paulinho 84  

 
 
You wouldn't expect six goals in a match between two teams that had nothing to
play for. Lucarelli opened the scoring on the stoke of half time. He turned onto
Morrone's pass whilst holding off a defender before blasting a superb right foot
shot into the top corner. Morrone tapped in a second after a mix-up between a
defender and goalkeeper Ivan left him with an empty net. Zampagna pulled a goal
back on the rebound after Amelia saved his penalty. Lucarelli converted an
equally dubious penalty before making way for Paulinho. Bombardini burst onto
Vieri's return pass before lashing the ball into the bottom left corner.
Paulinho tapped in Livorno's fourth after Ivan the terrible failed to hold a
long range shot.

Attendance : 7,000
Assists : Morrone, n/a, n/a, Lucarelli (won pen), Vieri, n/a
 
 
PARMA 3-1

EMPOLI
Muslimovic 8  

Saudati 28
Budan 16  

 
Gasbarroni 88    
     
Rossi chased down Raggi as the defender tired to dribble the ball out of
defence, he eventually tackled him before playing a centre into Muslimovic, the
Swede feigned to shoot, wrong footing Vanigli, before curling a low shot inside
a post. Budan scored a fantastic second on the break. Muslimovic tackled
Vannucchi, turned, jumped a sliding tackle and Parravicini took over, he ran
into the Empoli half before threading a fabulous pass to Budan and he shot first
time between Bassi's legs. Pressing and quick counter attacks are the features
of Parma's game since Ranieri took over. Saudati converted assist machine
Busce's cross with a great volley at the near post. Parma maintained the
pressure on Empoli's goal and scored an overdue third when Gasbarroni curled in
a third from the edge of the box.

Ranieri is expected to leave for Manchester City while Rossi will return to
Manchester United, which is a huge shame because together they could have went
places with Parma.

Attendance : 17,607
Assists : Rossi, Parravicini, Busce, Pisanu
 
 
REGGINA 2-0

MILAN
Amoruso 8  

 
Amerini 67    
     
As expected the European Champions rested most of their big names though
Ronaldo, who looked thoroughly miserable during the celebrations on Thursday and
Friday, was back after a short injury lay off. Amoruso settled Reggina nerves
with an early goal. He was given all the time and space in the World to juggle a
cross, turn and shoot past Kalac. Modesto turned Oddo inside out as he ran in
from the left flank before pulling the ball back for Amerini to fire in
Reggina's second.

2007-2008 : The major objectives are the European Sup Cup, Intercontinental Cup
and Serie A. Ancelotti has gone on record as saying he wants Ronaldinho, Eto'o
and Mexes with the latter the most likely to arrive. Shevchenko is another
possibly but he can stay in London for all I care.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Mesto, Modesto
 
 
ROMA 4-3

MESSINA
Totti 10, 73  

Rigano 9, 58
Mancini 19  

Cordova 75
Rosi 84    
     
Neither team had anything to play for but Totti was looking for the two goals
that would take him top of the European Golden Boot rankings. Rigano opened the
scoring when the Roma defence switched off on a D'Aversa trough ball, rounded
Curci and tapped into an empty net. Roma hit back immediately, Totti played a
one-two with Taddei one the edge of the box before drilling low into the corner.
Mancini ran onto a pass from Taddei and dribbled past two defenders before
making Cesaretti look like a twat with a stunning lob. The Roma defence may as
well not have turned up because they didn't seem to have any interest in
snuffing out Messina attacks. They left Rigano unmarked at the back post to
volley in his 19th goal of the season. Rigano conceded a penalty when he tried
to swap shirts with Totti, without his permission. Totti missed his 7th penalty,
weakly passing the ball to the debuting Cesaretti. Ten minutes later he
despatched Wilhelmsson's centre to go top of the Golden Boot rankings. Cordova
made it 3-3 with an incredible free kick from almost 40 yards out. Rosi headed
in the winner after Mexes volleyed back an overhit cross.

2007-2008 : Roma are in desperate need of a DM if they are to seriously
challenge Inter and Milan for the scudetto. The team are still too inexperienced
to make a significant mark in Europe.

Attendance : 53,872
Assists : D'Aversa, Taddei, Taddei, Pestrin, Wilhelmsson, Montella (won fk), Mexes
 
 
SIENA 2-1

LAZIO
Maccarone 23 (Pen)  

Rocchi 73 (Pen)
Negro 84    
     
Maccarone went to ground in the box after Stendardo dived in with a tackle. It
would have been a definite penalty had had made contact. Berni, playing in place
of Peruzzi who retired last week, guessed right but couldn't get a hand on
Maccarone's spot kick. Ex Lazio defender Negro chopped down Rocchi to concede
the game tying penalty. Siena hit the woodwork three times and had a goal
disallowed for offside before Negro turned in Vergassola's centre to keep Siena
in Serie A for another season.

2007-2008 : The major problem Lazio face is holding onto their brilliant coach
Delio Rossi who is a target for Juventus. Pandev is expected to return to
Udinese, unless they come up with some serious money. Like neighbours Roma,
Lazio are too inexperienced to make a mark in Europe but their game, which
relies on lightning fast counter attacks, is very similar to Arsenals and
probably better suited to a cup format, IF they get through the group stages.

Attendance : 12,000
Assists : Maccarone (won pen), Rocchi (won pen), Vergassola
 
 
UDINESE 1-2

PALERMO
Sivok 21  

Caracciolo 14
   

Corini 71
     
This match was probably the most effected by the heavy rain in Italy over the
weekend. De Sanctis kicked a back pass into the sodden turf, Sivok took one
touch before lobbing inside the left post. Sivok headed Udinese level from
Barreto's free kick. Corini gave Palermo a deserved victory with a monstrous 40
yard free kick.

2007-2008 : Palermo were on course for a Champions League place until Amauri got
injured and although he will return next season the big problem this team face
is their president is an idiot and will probably sell half the team and sack
three coaches before he returns.

Champions League football would be a distinct possibility for Udinese if they
weren't so cheap. Iaquinta is expected to join Juventus. Muntari is off to
Portsmouth and full back Zapata has been linked with several clubs.

Attendance : 5,000
Assists : n/a, Barreto (fk), Caracciolo (won fk)
 
 
R Mehdi