11 May 2008

FIORENTINA 3 (Santana 39, Semioli 77, Osvaldo 85)
PARMA 1 (Budan 11)

Fiorentina were defending a cross. Christian Lucarelli brushed his elbow against his marker who theatrically screamed clutching his face (pussy) leaving the unmarked Budan to head in Coly's deflected cross. Montolivo caught Coly ball watching as he looked odds on to clear a loose ball, he dribbled his way into the box before centring for Santana to equalise. Semioli put Fiorentina in front with a rare headed goal and Osvaldo, who has inexplicably been dropped in favour of donkey Vieri in recent weeks (unless he's been injured) stretched to volley in the third from a Jorgensen free kick.

Attendance : 36,000
Red Card : Rossi 80 (Parma)
Assists : n/a, Montolivo, Jorgensen, Jorgensen (fk)


GENOA 0
LAZIO 2 (Pandev 32, Rocchi 47)

With his back to goal Mauri back heel volleyed a throw in over his head towards Rocchi and he held up the ball for Pandev to score his 14th goal of the season. Genoese hands went up for offside when Mutarelli sent Behrami down the right and he dribbled into the box before centring for Rocchi to score Lazio's second.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : Rocchi, Behrami


INTER 2 (Vieira 11, Balotelli 45)
SIENA 2 (Maccarone 30, Kharja 69)

Inter's scudetto celebrations began on 11 minutes after Vieira headed the reigning champions into the lead from a Balotelli corner. Former Milan youth team product Massimo Maccarone stunned the hosts with an equaliser, gathering Kharja's pass and beating the exposed Julio Cesar with a low shot under his body. Balotelli settled Inter's nerves on the stoke of half time, heading in at the back post after Vieira flicked on Maicon's throw in. Shortly after Siena succeeded in kicking Balotelli out of the game Kharja equalised, expertly placing Burdisso's hurried clearance beyond Julio Cesar. Rigano sacked Materazzi to concede a 79th minute penalty. Italy's World Cup hero took the penalty himself but his spot kick was brilliantly saved by Manninger. Mancini revealed after the match Materazzi was third choice after Cruz and Balotelli.

Siena players took turns to kick Balotelli, a common Serie A tactic against star players. None of the challenges in themselves warranted a red card but the league need to clamp down on systematic, targeted fouling. Something drastic like a stadium ban for a team that reaches a three kick count on a single player.

Attendance : 80,000
Assists : Balotelli (ck), Kharja, Vieira, n/a


JUVENTUS 1 (Del Piero 89)
CATANIA 1 (Martinez 48)

Martinez gave Catania the lead early in the second half, getting the last touch to the ball after Buffon fumbled a corner. Chiellini played a one-two with Camoranesi before whipped a cross to the back post and Del Piero pounced to volley in the equaliser.

Attendance : 21,000
Assists : n/a, Chiellini


LIVORNO 0
TORINO 1 (Rosina 41)

Rosina looked offside as he tapped the ball into the net after Amelia saved from Di Michele. Harsh on Livorno who are relegated as a result.

Attendance : 6,000
Assist : n/a


NAPOLI 3 (Hamsik 36, Domizzi 69 Pen, Garics 92)
MILAN 1 (Seedorf 94)

Hamsik gave Napoli the lead with sensational goal. He broke his own half when Napoli when defending a corner, ran the length of the pitch, turned Kaladze inside out as he brought the ball onto his left foot and slotted past Kalac. Milan rallied briefly, drawing good saves from Napoli's 23 year old reserve goalkeeper Navarro. Kaka' missed a great chance to equalise early in the second half. Nesta fouled Lavezzi as he broke into the box to concede a penalty. Domizzi smashed the ball past Kalac and the other end Pato missed a chance to reduce the deficit. Napoli hit the woodwork twice in quick succession before Hamsik destroyed Kaladze once more, this time drawing him out to the left flank, and swung a low centre for Garics to score the third. Serginho, hopefully in his last match for Milan, touched back a free kick for Seedorf to score a late consolation goal.

Attendance : 60,000
Assists : n/a, Lavezzi (won pen), Hamsik, Serginho (fk)


PALERMO 0
SAMPDORIA 2 (Cassano 61, Maggio 76)

Cassano gave Sampdoria the lead with a magnificent free kick, curled perfectly into the top left corner of Agliardi's goal. Full-back Maggio, who has been playing on the right side of midfield, scored his 8th goal of a very impressive season from a corner.

Attendance : 24,000
Assists : Sammarco (won fk), Palombo


REGGINA 2 (Barreto 68, Amoruso 79)
EMPOLI 0

Barreto broke the deadlock with a stunning shot from 35 yards which arched over Bassi before dropping under the crossbar. Amoruso completed Reggina's annual escape act by cutting inside a demoralised Empoli defence and slotting into the bottom left corner.

Attendance : 25,000
Assists : n/a, Vigiani


ROMA 2 (Panucci 23, De Rossi 68 fk)
ATALANTA 1 (Bellini 88)

For the second successive week Panucci headed Roma into the lead from a Pizarro set piece. De Rossi made it 2-0 with a splendid free kick. Cristiano Doni found Pellegrini with a fabulous crossfield pass, he headed across goal, Doni ran off his line and fell over Bellini as he scored.

Doni is potentially the worst goalkeeper to ever play for a scudetto winning side.

Attendance : 37,000
Assists : Pizarro (fk), De Rossi (won fk), Pellegrino


UDINESE 0
CAGLIARI 2 (Acquafresca 48, Cossu 55)

Acquafresca beat Udinese's centre backs to a long ball out of defence before slotting past the advancing Handanovic. Cossu nonchalantly skipped over a sliding tackle as he collected a pass from Foggia and fired thorough the arms of Udinese's goalkeeper.

Attendance : 14,000
Assists : Cossu, Foggia


SCUDETTO

Roma (A) must beat Catania and hope Inter (A) fail to beat Parma

Inter retain if they beat Parma. A draw will be enough if Roma fail to beat Catania


4th CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLACE

Fiorentina (A) claim 4th spot if they beat Torino. A draw is enough if Milan (H) fail to beat Udinese

Milan must beat Udinese and hope Fiorentina fail to beat Torino


RELEGATION

Empoli (H) will retain their Serie A status if they beat Livorno and Catania (H) lose to Roma due to their superior head to head against Catania (Catania 1-0 Empoli, Empoli 2-0 Catania)

Parma (H) must beat Inter and hope Catania lose to Roma

Catania will be safe if they match Parma and Empoli's results. A win guarantees survival.