5 December 1998

A dire encounter between Juventus and Lazio is brought to life by Salas's late
winner. Inter also struggle, needed a late equaliser from Silvestre to keep their
fading title hopes alive. Roma, Parma and Milan keep up their challenge with
comfortable victories but Fiorentina remain clear at the top thanks to a Batistuta
free kick.


ROMA				5-1			PERUGIA
Totti 61							Rapajic 32
D Conti 63
Delvecchio 78, 80
Gautieri 91

Nakata finally repaid Rapajic for loads of assists by setting him up for Perugia's
first although Chimenti  must take the blame for a lame save. Totti equalised with
a great strike from the edge of the box and Conti put Roma in front with a header
from Alenitchev's cross. Delvecchio grabbed two headers, the second a superb
looping effort. Gautieri ended Perugia's misery with a tap in from close range.

Red Card(s) : Matrecano 43 (Perugia), D Conti 64 (Roma)


FIORENTINA			1-0			BOLOGNA
Batistuta 56

Batistuta slammed in Rui Costa's free kick. Bologna created more goalscoring
chances and deserved a point at the very least. Toldo pulled off a brilliant double
save from Signori and Binotto and also denied Signori from a free kick. 


SAMPDORIA			0-2			PARMA
							Chiesa 44, 46
		
Chiesa's first was a header from Dino Baggio's cross. At the start of the second
half Thuram made a surging run downfield and picked out Chiesa with a great
through pass, Chiesa sent Sakic and Ferron on their arses before tapping into an
empty net.

Attendance : 3,646


6 December 1998

CAGLIARI			0-1			VENEZIA
							Zanoncelli 66 (og)

Zanoncelli turned Valtolina's cross past his own 'keeper to end Cagliari's long
unbeaten run. Muzzi was sent off for taking a kick at a Venezia player.


JUVENTUS			0-1			LAZIO
							Salas 81

Morgan De Ascentis made his league debut for Juve in goal. Nesta returned from
a serious injury for Lazio and gave an off the charts performance, in  fact I don't
think he's played better. Juventus creates lots of half chances but  couldn't find a
way through a packed Lazio penalty area. Blanchard wasted a glorious opportunity
at the end of the first half. Mancini blazed over the bar following a defensive
mistake. Marchegiani pulled off a point blank save from Zidane. Minutes later
Salas won the match with a classic poachers goal at the far post, loosing Iuliano
to meet Conceicao's cross and then turning Iuliano inside before poking the ball
into the net.


MILAN				3-0			UDINESE
Weah 22
Leonardo 40
Bierhoff 61

Milan started well with Bierhoff and Weah going close. Rossi was forced to pull of
a great save from Poggi. Bierhoff headed on a punt upfield by Ambrosini into
Weah's path. He ran over Bertotto and chipped the ball over Turci from a right
angle. Great goal. Weah and Bierhoff combined for Milan's second, Bierhoff killing
the ball with a great first touch and the passing for Leonardo to launch a missile
into the roof of the net from just outside the box. Another great goal. Leonardo
returned the favour for Bierhoff as the German ended his goal drought with an
easy finish in the box but he was so far offside even Ray Charles would have seen
it but the bent homer ref Collina didn't, neither did the linesman. Udinese's best
chance of the second half came from an indirect free kick inside the box but
N'Gotty cleared.

A comfortable performance by Milan with all 3 forwards getting a goal and playing
a part in the others. Discounting the miserable display against Parma Milan have
made vast improvements in recent weeks particularly in defence, thanks to Sala
and in attack with Weah and Bierhoff linking well. If Leonardo can stay fit Milan
are a dangerous proposition but not quite championship contenders just yet.


PIACENZA			0-0			EMPOLI

Ritzitelli struck the crossbar, the highlight of the match. Piacenza greatly
missed Simoni Inzaghi.


SALERNITANA			2-2			BARI
Vannucchi 12						Osmanovski 42
Bolic 62							Knudsen 92

Vannucchi slid in Chianese's cross. Osmanovski scored a similar goal from
Olivares's cross. Bolic scored a bizarre goal, Di Michele's cross struck Di Vaio on
the arm, he threw himself to the floor clutching his face and Bolic smashed the
ball past Mancini. Knudsen volleyed in a loose ball. 

Red Card(s) : De Ascentis 71 (Bari)


VICENZA				1-1			INTER
Luiso 21 (penalty)					Slivestre 92

Luiso threw himself over Colonnese's outstretched leg and won himself a penalty
which he converted. Brivio pulled off an impossible save from a Djorkaeff shot.
Diliso was sent off for pushing Djorkaeff, the second Vicenza player to do so and
Zamorano was sent off for kicking a Vicenza player.  Zanetti's free kick deflected
off Colonnese and Silvestre scored from the rebound. Schenardi was sent off for
dissent. Vicenza must have created 5 great goalscoring chances, the Inter defence
was beyond awful.

Red Card(s) : Diliso 65 (Vicenza), Zamorano 68 (Inter), Schenardi 94 (Vicenza)