Fiorentina predictably thrashed Inter and Milan needed a 91st minute goal from
Leonardo to seal victory over Lazio. The rest of the chasing pack dropped points.

21 November 1998


BOLOGNA			1-1			PERUGIA
Binotto 43						Rapajc 36

Rapajc (that's how they are spelling it this week) picked up a throw-in on the
wing, slalomed his way into the box and chipped the 'keeper. Binotto punished
slack marking from a corner to score the equaliser. Signori was booked for diving,
about time.


CAGLIARI			1-0			PARMA
Kallon 77

Parma threatened to scored on several occasions from set pieces. Kallon won the
match with a great first  time strike from Vasari's cross.


ROMA				1-1			BARI
Totti 83 (Pen)						Masinga 76

For the second consecutive week Bari were completely outplayed but came away
with a point. Masinga scored with a tap-in from Osmanovski's cross. Totti won and
converted a penalty after taking a dive following a touch by Neqrouz.


22 November 1998


FIORENTINA			3-1			INTER
Padalino 5						Djorkaeff 3 (Pen)
Batistuta 16
Heinrich 75

Sousa played in Baggio with a superb through pass, his initial shot was saved as
he attempted to follow up the rebound Toldo brought him down. Had the incident
occurred later in the game Toldo would have been sent off, he escaped without
so much as a yellow card. Djorkaeff converted the penalty. Padalino equalised
minutes later following a goalmouth scramble. Edmundo won a free kick with a
shameful dive, Batistuta slammed the free kick through a pathetic wall. Heinrich
made the game safe with a tap-in thanks to a fabulous run by Edmundo. Bergomi
went close on two occasions and Recoba was denied a goal thanks to an awesome
save by Toldo. Other than a period at the start of the second half this was all
Fiorentina. The link up play between Edmundo and Batistuta was breathtaking.
Edmundo deserved a goal for his unselfish play in attack but was denied thanks
to one of Pagliuca's legendary saves.  Oliveira deserved a goal for his hard work.
Neither defence looked comfortable but fortunately for Fiorentina Inter didn't put
up much of a  fight.

Attendance : 40,873


JUVENTUS			0-0			EMPOLI

Juve best chance in the first half fell to Zidane who had a fiercely struck shot
saved by Sereni. Empoli had  the better of the second half but were denied by
Peruzzi's manic charges off his line.

Attendance : 44,460


SAMPDORIA			0-0			VICENZA


Ortega's weakly struck penalty was saved by Brivio. Ortega blew a great chance
in the second half in a game notable for some dire finishing.

Attendance : 1,762


SALERNITANA			1-0			VENEZIA
Bilica 20 (own goal)

As Bilica found himself unmarked in his own penalty area he couldn't resist putting
the ball past his own 'keeper with a fantastic diving header. Di Michele with the
assist. Belmonte won a penalty with one of  those I've been shot dives. Di Vaio
slammed the penalty off the crossbar. Fresi was sent off for attempting to bring
down Schwoch who was through on goal. Schwoch had two goals disallowed for
marginal offside decisions.

Red Card(s) : Fresi 55 (Salernitana)
Attendance : 1,762


UDINESE			1-0			PIACENZA
Poggi 41

Red Card(s) : S Inzaghi 52 (Piacenza), Pierini 70 (Udinese)

Amoroso had a penalty saved but Poggi gave Udinese a desperately need three
points with toe poke from Jorgensen's cross. Inzaghi was harshly sent off for
protesting. The ref made up for his earlier mistake by sending off Pierini for
having his foot up high when challenging for a ball. Stroppa struck the post from
a free kick and Piacenza also had a goal disallowed for handball.

Attendance : 18,000


MILAN				1-0			LAZIO
Leonardo 91

Salas's volley from a Mihajlovic free kick flashed wide of the post. That was
about as good as it got for Lazio in the first half. Weah combined with Ganz for
the first chance, Ganz's shot deflected off Negro, struck the crossbar and kindly
rebounded to Marchegiani. Weah blew two decent chances before setting up
Bierhoff for what should have been a certain goal. A brilliant passing move
involving Mancini and Stankovic set up Salas who headed over the bar. Ganz then
created three great chances for Weah and Bierhoff, Weah with a predictably weak
finish, Bierhoff's volley flew agonisingly wide of the post and he spooned a shot
over from just outside the box. Weah had a goal disallowed for offside, Ganz
missed another chance but Mancini provided us with the most miserable finish of
the match after being gifted a great chance thanks to, surprise, surprise, Nedved,
the best midfielder in the world.  Before anyone starts that's the first time this
season I have made that comment. Ganz was substituted for Leonardo but it
seemed to make no difference as he missed another great chance carved out by
Weah. Nedved stripped Helveg of the ball and once again picked out Mancini, he
never learns, shite finish. Nedved shot wide before Leonardo won the game with
a shot from outside the box following tremendous work by Weah.

The link-up play between Weah, Ganz and Bierhoff was fantastic, shame about
the finishing. Milan should have won by about 6-0, they were so much in control
of the match it was not funny. This is the second consecutive week Milan have
completely overrun the opposition but they have only one goal to show for their
efforts. Next weeks match away to Parma should give a good indication as to how
far Milan have progressed.