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Serie A Season 10/11

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Things will only get harder, says AC Milan´s Gattuso


Things will only get harder, says AC Milan´s Gattuso

27 November 2010

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AC Milan´s Italian midfielder Ivan Gennaro Gattuso (L) fights for the ball with Auxerre´s Polish midfielder Dariusz Dudka (R) during the UEFA Champions League football match on November 23, 2010. Gattuso believes things are going to start getting tougher for the Serie A leaders as they travel to Sampdoria this weekend.

ROME (AFP) - AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso believes things are going to start getting tougher for the Serie A leaders as they travel to Sampdoria this weekend. Milan opened up a three point gap at the top of the table last week with a 1-0 defeat of Fiorentina, coupled with Lazio's 1-1 draw at Parma. Things are going well for Massimiliano Allegri's team as they also qualified for the Champions League knock-out stages in midweek following a 2-0 win at Auxerre.

However, Sampdoria is a notoriously difficult destination for visiting teams and, what's more, Gattuso suspects there is widespread determination to beat the leaders. "Now things are going to get tough," he warned. "All the teams we'll play against will have the attitude that they're playing the leaders and they'll give 100 percent. "They also did it before because playing against Milan is always very important but when you're top every match played is one less towards the final objective. "With every game the three points become more important."

Gattuso also played tribute to his team's battling spirit given that they have been missing some top players at various stages this season. "Right now we're missing a player who for me defines football: Andrea Pirlo," added Gattuso of his great friend. "The fact that he's missing and we're still getting results says a lot about what makes this sport special. "You also need a lot of luck. For example, against Auxerre we didn't play well but you could see how much we wanted to win.

"When you have such motivation no-one is indispensible and me even less so." Sampdoria has always been a difficult place to go to but Domenico Di Carlo's team have been highly inconsistent this season. They have only lost at home once, to Napoli, but have also struggled a lot, being held to scoreless home draws by the likes of Chievo, Catania and Udinese. Overall they have won only four games out of 13 and drawn seven.

Sampdoria are also still without star forward Antonio Cassano, who remains suspended by his club for having insulted president Riccardo Garrone. The club is trying to terminate the 28-year-old's contract. Second placed Lazio host Catania while third-placed Napoli are at Udinese in games that look decidedly winnable on paper. One team that needs a real boost, though, is champions Inter Milan as they have not won in four league matches. That run has seen them drop to sixth and nine points behind Milan.

But playmaker Wesley Sneijder believes Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League success against FC Twente can be a springboard for Rafael Benitez's team. That saw them qualify for the knock-out stages of Europe's premier club competition and now Sneijder insists the club is buoyed. "We're going through a tough period but we knew before the game that if we won we'd qualify," he said. "That's really important for us, finally we've won and our morale is great, we can't wait to play the next match."

Inter host struggling Parma in Sunday's early match knowing they must win to have any chance of rekindling their title hopes. However they will be without top goalscorer Samuel Eto'o, the scorer of nine of their 14 league goals, as he starts a three-game ban for his headbutt against Chievo last week. That will leave injury-ravaged Inter short up front as Diego Milito and Coutinho are also out.

Fixtures:

Saturday
Sampdoria v AC Milan
Juventus v Fiorentina

Sunday

Inter Milan v Parma
Bari v Cesena
Bologna v Chievo
Brescia v Genoa
Cagliari v Lecce
Lazio v Catania
Udinese v Napoli
Palermo v Roma

 

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Sky´s the limit for AC Milan


Sky´s the limit for AC Milan

27 November 2010

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AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has declared he wants his side to win every tournament they are contesting this term.


AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has declared he wants his side to win every tournament they are contesting this term. With his side surprise Serie A leaders after 13 games and having already booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, Allegri sees no reason why they should not be pressing hard for the ultimate success. "We want to win everything. We have no limits and we have the players and so we will not just limit ourselves to the league," Allegri said.

The 43-year-old coach paid tribute to Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose eight goals since his off-season move from Barcelona have been instrumental in Milan's climb up the Serie A standings after their third-placed finish last season. "We signed him because we needed a player like him. And now with (Brazilian striker) Pato and (striker Filippo) Inzaghi out, who are we supposed to depend on?" he said.

"Zlatan Ibrahimovic is our technical leader and we needed a player like him." Allegri has injury concerns besides strike duo Pato and Inzaghi ahead of Saturday's clash with eighth-placed Sampdoria at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Midfielder Andrea Pirlo and defender Luca Antonini will miss the clash, as will right-back Massimo Oddo.

 

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Storari wants Juve future, or else

27 November 2010

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Juventus goalkeeper Marco Storari says he may leave the club once injured Gigi Buffon returns to first-team action.

Juventus goalkeeper Marco Storari says he may leave the club once injured Gigi Buffon returns to first-team action. Storari, 33, has impressed since taking over from Buffon, who has not played in the Serie A this season after injuring his back at the World Cup in South Africa.

Buffon returned to light training this week but is not expected to be fully fit until January. After a difficult start, Storari, whose contract with Juve runs until 2013, is now performing well, so well that he believes he should be in Cesare Prandelli's national team plans.

"It seems impossible for me not to be in the squad," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday. "History tells us that if a goalkeeper plays for Juve, Milan or Inter, he isn't foreign and is playing well then they end up in the national squad." "They have experience and know how much certain jerseys weigh." "My 33 years can't be a problem, because the role of a goalkeeper is a unique one.

"Emiliano Viviano, Salvatore Sirigu and Antonio Mirante will be amongst the top goalkeepers in the world in a few years time, but right now they lack experience." Turning to Juventus, Storari admitted that he'd like to stay with the Old Lady but he may be forced to assess his options next summer once Buffon is back.

"The directors who took me to Sampdoria signed me for Juventus, they know me and my ideas," he added. "At my age I don't want to sit on the bench, I want to play." "If I don't get that opportunity at Juventus then I will calmly evaluate my situation, even if I want to lay some roots here."

 

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Serie A wrap: Milan, Juventus held to draws


Serie A wrap: Milan, Juventus held to draws


28 November 2010

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Serie A leaders AC Milan extended their lead at the top of the standings on Saturday - but only by one point after a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria.

Serie A leaders AC Milan extended their lead at the top of the standings on Saturday - but only by one point after a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria. In a first half controlled by the visitors, Milan were unlucky to be only one goal up heading into the break. Brazilian striker Robinho opened the scoring just two minutes from half-time with a stunning volley, but Sampdoria emerged from the interval reinvigorated and thoroughly deserved their equaliser.

Giampaolo Pazzini scored it on the hour mark after some excellent build-up play from Daniele Gastaldello allowed him to beat Milan keeper Christian Abbiati from close range and despite chances to both sides in the final third of the match, the spoils were shared. The point takes Milan to 30 points from their 14 games - four clear of second-placed Lazio, who play on Sunday.

In Saturday's other match, Juventus needed a Simone Pepe leveller with just eight minutes left to steal a point at home in a 1-1 draw against Fiorentina. The hosts found themselves a goal down after just four minutes when defender Marco Motta put an own goal past goalkeeper Marco Storari on the four-minute mark.

Despite creating plenty of opportunities, Juventus had to wait until the 82nd minute to finally beat Fiorentina's Polish shot-stopper Artur Boruc. The draw moved Juve into third place on the Serie A standings on goal difference, after pulling level with Napoli on 24 points, while Fiorentina remain in 13th place.

 

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Inter back on track after Stankovic hat-trick


Inter back on track after Stankovic hat-trick


28 November 2010

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Inter Milan´s Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic celebrates after scoring during the Serie A football match between Inter Milan and Parma at San Siro stadium in Milan. Inter beat Parma 5-2.

ROME (AFP) - A hat-trick by Inter Milan's veteran Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic saw the champions to a welcome 5-2 victory over Parma on Sunday and ended a run of four Serie matches without a win.

Inter had given coach Rafael Benitez some breathing space in squeezing through to the last 16 of the Champions League in midweek when, had they been defeated by Dutch side Twente, many believed the Spanish handler would have been facing the sack.

However, Stankovic's treble and goals from Argentinian Esteban Cambiasso -- who had scored the only goal against Twente -- and Thiago Motta saw them to an easy three points against Parma, for whom veteran Argentinian Hernan Crespo bagged a double. Inter are still seven points adrift of bitter city rivals and leaders AC Milan, who drew 1-1 with Sampdoria on Saturday.

Lazio can pull to within a point of AC Milan if they beat Catania at home later on Sunday. Former Inter star Crespo gave Parma a fourth minute lead but Inter levelled through Stankovic's first and were quickly 3-1 up as the 32-year-old Serb, who has been at Inter since 2004, was set up by Frenchman Jonathan Biabiany as he had been for his first goal.

Cambiasso scored the third before his compatriot Crespo benefited from a dreadful error by veteran Italian central defender Marco Materazzi, who is in for the long-term injury victim Walter Samuel, to reduce the deficit. Motta and Stankovic rammed home Inter's superiority with further goals in the second-half to leave Parma just four points above the drop zone.

 

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Football | Italy

Bologna vs Chievo postponed

<hr class="dotted"> 28 November 2010, 17:15

The Serie A match between Bologna and Chievo Verona was postponed on Sunday after heavy snowfall at Bologna's Dall'Ara stadium. Snow started falling in the city at about midday and was continuing to fall when the decision was made.

The 1400 GMT kickoff was initially pushed back as officials and club staff attempted to make the pitch playable and both sides had changed and warmed up in anticipation of kicking off.

Bologna captain Marco Di Vaio and his Chievo counterpart Sergio Pellissier both checked the state of pitch. No date has yet been set for the rescheduled match.

 

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Ranieri despairs over Roma defeat


Ranieri despairs over Roma defeat


29 November 2010

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Claudio Ranieri has questioned his Roma team's title credentials following a disappointing defeat at the hands of Palermo on Sunday.


Claudio Ranieri has questioned his Roma team's title credentials following a disappointing defeat at the hands of Palermo on Sunday. Roma were steadily climbing the table after a slow start to the season but their revival ground to a halt with a 3-1 defeat at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.

Ranieri believes his side were beaten by the better team on the day but he knows that Roma's slim title hopes can ill afford many more defeats throughout the season. "I don't know if we can achieve the miracle (winning the title), as we need the kind of consistency that we should've found in tonight's game," Ranieri said. "If we had won, it would've been a clear signal to the rest of the league." "Palermo were better on the night, but I'd only be worried if we were always like this."

"There really is only one way of analysing this match. We didn't do so badly in the first half, though Palermo always had good counters and we were a little slow." "After the break we really did badly and Palermo deserved the victory. We were sluggish and the only times we did break rapidly, a foul would stop us in our tracks. I'd only be worried if we were always like this, but that is not the case."

"We were coming off a midweek game and Palermo prepared very well for this match. Still, there were no signs pointing to a night like this." "I'd rather say we didn't get the wrong approach, but that Palermo were simply superior this evening." Palmero boss Delio Rossi is adamant that there is still plenty of room for improvement, despite recording a win over last season's runners up.

"I still see that we've got so many defects as well as reasons to be happy," Rossi said. "Our team spirit and way of holding the field has improved, but as a Coach I can say it's easy to get 90 percent of the way to a great side. It takes years and details to get to 100." "We struggled a lot in the opening 20 minutes. After the break the team did very well and deserved the three points."

 

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Italy awaits decisive week on strikes and Cassano


Italy awaits decisive week on strikes and Cassano

By Mark Meadows
12:44 GMT, Mon 29 Nov 2010

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MILAN, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Italian soccer could lurch into a new crisis this week if the players' union calls a strike over contracts and the national side's main striker Antonio Cassano is left without a club in a separate but connected dispute.

Serie A is no stranger to controversy, with the 2006 match-fixing scandal and hooligan problems still fresh in the memory, but the coming days are likely to offer as much drama and suspense as any top-flight match. The union, at odds with the league over a new collective contract which lays down the basic rights of soccer players, postponed a strike in September to allow more talks but Tuesday's deadline for an agreement is fast approaching.

Serie A's demands over marginalising or force-selling unwanted players has angered the union so much that new strike dates are set to be announced unless a late deal is reached. "They have a stance which is wholly unacceptable," union chief Sergio Campana told Reuters. "A club can't make a player leave if the player is under contract and does not want to move. A player also has the right to train with the first team."

Italy's Olympic Committee has called a hearing of its High Court for Wednesday but with the union saying strike action could be called after Tuesday, it may come too late. "I think we must respect the timing of the High Court, which is carrying out a fundamental role in finding a solution and it must be allowed to make its judgement serenely," Italian soccer federation chief Giancarlo Abete told reporters.

HIGH-PROFILE

The union's point about players being marginalised follows three high-profile cases this season. Sampdoria forward Cassano, who had appeared to have put his bad-boy image behind him, has been suspended by the club for the last month after verbally abusing president Riccardo Garrone. Friday's arbitration hearing, which may not make a final decision, will see whether Samp's stance is legal and whether Cassano breached his contract and so is now a free agent.

The ex-Real Madrid man has apologised and wants to stay but his contract being void could prompt a scramble for his signature, although his behaviour could equally put suitors off. Inter Milan, in need of an extra forward, have been cautious about their chances of signing him and a more prolonged absence from the game will hit Cassano's Italy starting spot.

Italy 2010 World Cup goalkeeper Federico Marchetti is awaiting a new arbitration hearing over a similar dispute with Cagliari while Fabio Grosso was dropped from the Juventus squad only to be recalled recently, strengthening the union's case. Scandal is never far from the headlines in Italian soccer and several other probes continue this week.

The long-running criminal trial into the 2006 match-fixing affair has brought up new phone tap evidence which the federation is reviewing to see if previously innocent Inter were involved in the scandal, something the champions deny. Financial problems at Bologna have also led to a federation investigation which could lead to a points deduction.


 

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Juve to keep Aquilani and Buffon: Marotta


Juve to keep Aquilani and Buffon: Marotta


30 November 2010

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Juventus say they are ready to sign Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool at the end of the season while insisting there are no plans to sell goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.


(GSM) - Juventus say they are ready to sign Alberto Aquilani from Liverpool at the end of the season while insisting there are no plans to sell goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Aquilani has impressed since moving from Liverpool on loan and General Director Beppe Marotta expressed Juve's interest in signing the €16m-rated former Roma midfielder next summer.

“We’ve already expressed ourselves on Alberto – we want to take up our option to sign him at the end of the season," Marotta said. “We have good reason to believe that he is a fundamental player for the future of Juventus.” Meanwhile Buffon, who has been out with a back injury since the summer, has been linked with a move away from the club to the likes of Manchester United.

“Although anything can happen in the transfer market, Gigi is a symbol for this team,” Marotta noted. “He’ll stay, as will Aquilani". Buffon's contract with Juventus expires in 2013.

 

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Serie A players agree on December strike


Serie A players agree on December strike

1 December 2010

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Serie A football has plunged into chaos after the Italian Players' Association (AIC) called a strike for the weekend of December 11-12.

Serie A football has plunged into chaos after the Italian Players' Association (AIC) called a strike for the weekend of December 11-12. The strike comes after talks between the AIC and the league regarding a new collective bargaining agreement for players broke down on Tuesday.

An earlier strike planned for September had been postponed and talks were said to be progressing, but the latest setback means a full round of Serie A matches are now in doubt. "From our side there was willingness and availability, we sought an agreement but no agreement was reached. A strike has been declared for December 11-12," AIC vice-president Leonardo Grosso said.

The match between Juventus and Lazio is the highest profile fixture to be affected, while Inter Milan, AC Milan and Roma are also scheduled to play on the strike-affected weekend. Serie A president Maurizio Berretta slammed the decision by the players' union, branding it 'irresponsible' and 'dangerous'.

"Today's meeting was incredible, without precedence in history," Berretta said. "The union refused to listen to the intervention of the federation president, which included the issue of players outside the squad. At that point they got up from the table and left."

"We are participating in a dangerous and absurd massacre. The footballers' strike is an irresponsible decision and isn't based in reason." The strike comes just a week after Scottish referees took similar industrial action to illustrate their displeasure with the poor treatment of officials by clubs and players.

 

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Ibra wants Balotelli reunion


Ibra wants Balotelli reunion

2 December 2010

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Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he would love to see Mario Balotelli play alongside him at Milan.

(GSM) - Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he would love to see Mario Balotelli play alongside him at Milan. The strike duo played together while at Internazionale, but Ibrahimovic has moved to Milan after a failed spell at Barcelona while Balotelli moved to Manchester City.

And Ibra could not hide his admiration for Balotelli's talents and, despite the latter's move to City just last summer, Ibra says he would love to see the Italy international at Milan. "Mario is a great player. He has proved to be clever also," Ibrahimovic told Chi.

"It would be nice to get back to playing both together. Even for the Milan fans. "Milan is a fantastic club, from every point of view. I am honoured to be part of this group. Meanwhile Paolo Berlusconi, brother of Milan president Silvio, told 7Gold: "I would be happy if Balotelli comes to Milan.

"I think that, when there could be a possibility of a change of team, AC Milan could be there to take him, even if I only speak as a Milan fan. "(Balotelli) is a young boy, I hope that he can cope well with his life. Milan is a club which helps to heal the follies of youth.

 

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No Mourinho reunion: Ibrahimovic


No Mourinho reunion: Ibrahimovic

2 December 2010

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Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rubbished speculation that he is ready to follow his former boss José Mourinho to Real Madrid.

(GSM) - Milan star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has rubbished speculation that he is ready to follow his former boss José Mourinho to Real Madrid. Ibrahimovic played under Mourinho while the pair worked at Internazionale before the Swede striker moved to Barcelona.

And while admitting that he enjoyed working with Mourinho, Ibrahimovic insists he is fully-committed to Milan. "Mourinho and I are similar because we speak clear and concrete. My only regret is that we only worked together for a year," Ibrahimovic told Chi.

"If he calls me at Real Madrid? No. I am a Milan player and now I don't think to other." Mourinho is said to be keen on signing an additional striker for the Santiago Bernabéu club, but the prospect of reuniting with Ibra appears to be slim.

Ibrahimovic is on loan at Milan from Barcelona until the end of the current season, but the Italian club may take up the option to sign the player on permanent basis this summer.

 

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Benitez welcomes Motta return


Benitez welcomes Motta return


3 December 2010

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Inter Milan manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed Thiago Motta will play a part in their Serie A clash against Lazio on Friday.

Inter Milan manager Rafa Benitez has confirmed Thiago Motta will play a part in their Serie A clash against Lazio on Friday. The midfielder came on as a substitute in Inter's 5-2 win over Parma last start in a return from injury, scoring within minutes of gracing the pitch, and Benitez confirmed he would be fit to take part again on Friday.

"Well, he (Motta) can play. He's not at 100 percent, but he can play," Benitez said. "Of course, if he's available, we have different options that we couldn't evaluate in other matches. Now we have the chance to play with a high-quality midfield made of three players. We'll evaluate match by match."

"Of course with Motta or Muntari, who is getting back, it will be easier to choose to play with three midfielders if necessary." "The point is to choose if two and one or one and two will be playing, but in the end it always makes three." But the former Liverpool manager will not have Diego Milito at his disposal for the trip to the Italian capital.

"He (Milito) isn't ready to play against Lazio in Rome. I want to see all these injured players as soon as possible, so that they can train with the team and we can work with them. If this is not possible, we won't risk. He's not ready to play in the match against Lazio," he said.

Benitez is hoping his side can emulate their goal fest that saw them thrash Parma last time out. "I believe we did a good job the other day when we scored five goals. We have conceded two goals and could have conceded even more, but on the other hand we have scored five goals and we could have scored even eight goals," he said.

"We'll try to repeat the same good job in the attacking areas in the match against Lazio and we'll try to improve in the defensive areas." Lazio manager Edoardo Reja admitted his side needed to play faultless football to take anything from their fixture against the three-time champions.

"We will have to play a perfect match in order to take advantage," Reja said. "We will all be highly focused on the match, but there should be also a certain tactical cleverness in order to create as many problems as possible to their defensive players." "We'll be playing against a team who is very good at playing and at letting the other team plays."

 

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Serie A preview: Lazio eye Inter scalp


Serie A preview: Lazio eye Inter scalp


3 December 2010

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Lazio kick off a weekend of Serie A action when they host a blockbuster clash with defending champions Inter Milan on Friday night.

Lazio kick off a weekend of Serie A action when they host a blockbuster clash with defending champions Inter Milan on Friday night. Inter broke a four-match winless run in the Italian league with a 5-2 thumping of Parma last time out, and will be keen to build on that ascendancy before departing for the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Rafael Benitez's men have improved to fifth on the table with 23 points, one point behind Juventus in third and seven behind league leaders and bitter rivals AC Milan. Lazio, meanwhile, have entered a period of inconsistent form and could be vulnerable against an Inter side preparing for their last league clash of the year.

Edoardo Reja's side started their league campaign in terrific fashion, notching seven wins from their first nine matches. But the Roman club have secured just five points from their past five, including a 1-1 draw against Catania in their last match.

With Milan just three points ahead, Lazio will do all they can to secure maximum points and keep the league leaders in sight, but a resurgent Inter will no doubt present a strong challenge. On Saturday, Milan will hope to rebound from a disappointing 1-1 draw at Sampdoria when the struggling Brescia pay a visit to the San Siro.

Brescia climbed out of the drop zone with a 0-0 draw against Genoa but will struggle to contain a scintillating Milan, who have lost just one of their past 12 matches. Roma will also be looking to make amends at Chievo, having seen their seven-match unbeaten run ended in a 3-1 defeat at Palermo.

On Sunday, Juventus will aim to hand Catania their first home loss of the season when they visit the Stadio Angelo Massimino, while Sampdoria will look to channel their disappointment at crashing out of the Europa League when they host lowly Bari.

Udinese entered the top 10 with a 3-1 win over Napoli last round, but will need to avoid their third straight defeat on the road when they visit Parma.

Fiorentina will be without leading goal-scorer Alberto Gilardino when they host Cagliari, after the striker suffered a hamstring strain against Juventus.

Strugglers Cesena and Bologna square off at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi, while Lecce will look to avoid a fourth straight loss when they host Genoa.

On Monday, Palermo is aiming for a fourth straight win when they visit Napoli, who have fallen to fourth with two losses in their past three.


 

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Under-pressure Benitez sees Inter slump to Lazio


Under-pressure Benitez sees Inter slump to Lazio


4 December 2010

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Inter Milan´s Spanish coach Rafael Benitez speaks to his players against Lazio during their Serie A football match in Rome´s Olympic Stadium. Inter Milan slumped to a dispiriting 3-1 defeat at Lazio on Friday.

ROME (AFP) - Inter Milan slumped to a dispiriting 3-1 defeat at Lazio on Friday leaving coach Rafael Benitez under renewed pressure just as the former Liverpool boss thought he had turned the corner with the Serie A and European champions.

Inter, who face a trip to the Middle East for the World Club Cup in two weeks' time, stay in sixth place, seven points behind leaders AC Milan who face struggling Brescia on Saturday.

Lazio are second behind Milan on goal difference and despite having taken just five points in their previous five league outings before Friday, they still had too much firepower for Inter. "Lazio played very well, but they had the run of the ball, not us. That was the difference between the two teams," insisted Benitez.

The Rome side were ahead after 26 minutes when Giuseppe Biava scored a freak goal. Inter goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi pushed a cross into the path of Esteban Cambiasso whose clearance rebounded off Biava's chest and into the goal.

Mauro Zarate doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute before Macedonian international Goran Pandev cut the deficit 22 minutes later with his first goal since February. Inter were unlucky not to be level when an Ivan Cordoba header was cleared off the line and a Wesley Sneijder drive came back off the crossbar.

Lazio made the most of their good fortune by grabbing the third in the 89th minute through Brazilian midfielder Hernanes who scored from a direct free kick. "The reaction of the team was better in the second half," added Benitez, who was without Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroon striker banned for three matches for headbutting an opponent.

"The guys kept trying to score right until the end of the match. But it's always better to score the opening goal, otherwise you are in danger when you are trailing. "It wasn't easy up front for us with our two best strikers, Eto'o and Diego Milito (injured) not here. We are really unlucky."

Lazio president Claudio Lotito believes the scoreline could have been even more comprehensive. "It could have been 4-0. We had plenty of opportunities and their goalkeeper had a great match," he said.

 

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AC Milan cruises to win over Brescia


AC Milan cruises to win over Brescia

Last Updated: Saturday, December 4, 2010 | 7:57 PM ET

The Associated Press

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AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri was delighted with his side's 3-0 victory against Brescia on Saturday.

AC Milan cruised to a 3-0 win over Brescia and re-established a three-point lead over Lazio in Serie A on Saturday. Kevin-Prince Boateng, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in the first half for the Rossoneri, who stretched their undefeated streak to six matches. "It's important for us to continue this way," said Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri.

Earlier, AS Roma wasted a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Chievo Verona. Milan leads with 33 points; Lazio has 30; Juventus and Napoli 24; and Palermo, Inter and Roma 23. Lazio beat Inter 3-1 on Friday, Juventus visits Catania on Sunday and Napoli hosts southern rival Palermo on Monday.

Boateng scored his first Serie A goal since joining Milan from Portsmouth in the fourth minute at the San Siro, redirecting a pass from Ibrahimovic at the edge of the box. Robinho then took advantage of a defensive error to double the lead in the 28th and Ibrahimovic evaded three defenders before sending in a shot just under the crossbar three minutes later.

In Verona, Brazilian midfielder Fabio Simplicio scored twice for Roma in the first half before Davide Moscardelli and Pablo Granoche hit back for Chievo in the 61st and 83rd. Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi was sent off for a direct card in the 86th after tripping Moscardelli.

The pitch at Bentegodi Stadium was in poor shape following a recent rugby international, and Roma coach Claudio Ranieri likened the match to "beach soccer."
"It was impossible to control the lead because you couldn't make two passes in a row," Ranieri said.

Moscardelli's goal came after Roma midfielder Rodrigo Taddei was charged with a foul for standing a meter (yard) inside the pitch for a throw in, apparently confused by painted lines remaining from the Nov. 13 Italy-Argentina rugby match. Chievo was awarded the ball and promptly scored.

 

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Serie A wrap: Guberti fires up Sampdoria


Serie A wrap: Guberti fires up Sampdoria


6 December 2010

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Sampdoria moved to seventh in the Serie A with a 3-0 win over Bari on Sunday, while Fiorentina and Bologna also won.

Sampdoria moved to seventh in the Serie A with a 3-0 win over Bari on Sunday, while Fiorentina and Bologna also won. Giampaolo Pazzini put hosts Sampdoria ahead from the penalty spot 17 minutes in at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris after Marco Rossi handled in the box.

Fernando Tissone set up Stefano Guberti for the second on 56 minutes and the winger made it a brace just four minutes later, unleashing a low drive from outside the box to wrap up the win. The victory puts Sampdoria above Roma on goal difference after their draw with Chievo on Saturday, while defeat leaves Bari rock bottom with just 10 points from 15 games played.

Lecce sunk deeper into trouble following a 3-1 loss at home to Genoa. Edward Ofere gave the struggling hosts the lead on the stroke of half-time at the Stadio Via del Mare, but the lead was cancelled out by Luca Toni in the 55th minute.

Andrea Ranocchia struck on 75 minutes to put the visitors ahead, before Marco Rossi completed the scoring in the 90th minute. Genoa are now ninth in the table, while Lecce remain second bottom.

Goals in either half from Marco di Vaio and Miguel Britos helped Bologna to an important 2-0 win away to fellow strugglers Cesena.

Victory at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi puts 16th-placed Bologna four points clear of their beaten hosts, who are outside of the drop zone on goal difference only.

Adrian Mutu's first league goal following his return from a drugs ban helped Fiorentina to a 1-0 win at home to Cagliari, while a brace from Argentine veteran Hernan Crespo - a former Chelsea teammate of Mutu - secured a 2-1 win for Parma at home to Udinese.

 

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Troubled Bologna beat Chievo with last-gasp Di Vaio goal


Troubled Bologna beat Chievo with last-gasp Di Vaio goal


16:23 GMT, Wed 8 Dec 2010

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MILAN, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Marco Di Vaio scored in stoppage time to give Bologna a 2-1 home win against Chievo on Wednesday and lift some of the gloom hanging over the Serie A club.

Bologna had one point deducted last week because of tax irregularities and another points loss could follow with the Italian soccer federation investigating why players have been unpaid for the past two months.

Sergio Porcedda, who bought the club in the close season, has put Bologna up for sale given the financial problems. The owner of the city's basketball team has said he wants to see the books before deciding whether to bid for the soccer side.

Di Vaio's strike, which took him joint top of the scoring charts with nine goals, sent Bologna up to 13th spot. They took the lead through Miguel Britos shortly before halftime but Bostjan Cesar equalised early in the secod period.

The original game was postponed because of snow two weeks ago.

 
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