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Here are some things to know about the eighth round of the Italian league:
INDONESIAN INTER
There are now two Serie A clubs with foreign ownership.
Indonesian entrepreneur Erick Thohir and two associates signed a deal to take over a majority stake of Inter on Tuesday. Two years ago, Roma was taken over by a group of Boston executives.
The deal for a 70 percent stake in Inter reportedly cost 250 million euros ($340 million).
While the future of Massimo Moratti, Inter's president, remains unclear, the latest reports have him becoming honorary president.
The 43-year-old Thohir is part owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and D.C. United. He is chairman of the Mahaka Group, which has business interests in media and entertainment.
OPEN OR CLOSED?
Ten days ago, the Serie A judge ordered the San Siro stadium closed for AC Milan's match against Udinese as punishment for insulting chants by the club's fans during a match at Juventus.
Then, after several days of outrage by fans and clubs up and down Italy, the league decided to suspend its decision.
At issue are territorial chants, in which fans use slogans that insult the opposing club's city or geographical area, often in graphic terms.
Territorial chants have been a staple at Italian stadiums for decades and the football community was not happy that they were being dealt with the same sanctions used for racist chants. Several teams have had portions of their stadiums closed for racist chants this season.
ODYSSEY'S END
Cagliari has received permission to play its first home match in 1½ years.
The Sardinian club's Sant'Elia stadium had been closed due to safety concerns, prompting the team to play home games in Trieste, Parma and the nearby Sardinian town of Quartu over the past two seasons.
Now, safety officials say that renovations allow for part of the stadium - nearly 5,000 of 21,500 seats - to be opened for Saturday's match against Catania.
The reopening comes after Cagliari captain Daniele Conti threatened a players' strike over the forced exodus.
Last season, Cagliari president Massimo Cellino was arrested in an investigation over the hastily constructed Is Arenas stadium in Quartu. When Cellino was released, he initially refused to leave his prison cell, protesting that he was innocent and that he would only leave "as a free man."
Serie A Wrap: Milan, Cagliari both win
20 October 2013
Milan beat Udinese 1-0 at home while Cagliari defeated Catania 2-1 in Serie A on Saturday.
Valter Birsa’s goal on his return to the side proved enough for Milan as they beat Udinese at San Siro.
The recalled Slovenian midfielder struck the decisive blow with a wonderful strike midway through the first half to give Massimiliano Allegri's side just their second win in six matches in all competitions.
Udinese struggled to create any clear goalscoring opportunities, the closest they went being Antonio Di Natale's 25-yard free-kick that was tipped onto the crossbar by Gabriel in the 64th minute.
The win represented Milan's second successive home league victory and lifted them above Udinese, who have now lost three of their past five matches in Serie A.
Elsewhere, Cagliari came from behind to beat Catania at home and claim their first win since the opening day of the season.
Gonzalo Bergessio gave the visitors the perfect start in the fifth minute before Cagliari hit back through Victor Ibarbo 21 minutes later.
Catania suffered a blow when they had defender Nicola Legrottaglie sent off just before the break but the scores remained level until six minutes from time, when substitute Mauricio Pinilla pounced to settle the match and leave Catania hovering just above the relegation zone with only one win from their opening eight matches.
Serie A Wrap: Rossi stuns Juve, Inter held at Torino
21 October 2013
Giuseppe Rossi netted a second-half hat-trick as Fiorentina produced a scintillating comeback from 2-0 down to beat Juventus 4-2 in Serie A.
Fiorentina had not beaten Juventus at home for 15 years and that barren run looked set to continue as Carlos Tevez's penalty followed by a Paul Pogba strike sent them in at half-time 2-0 ahead on Sunday.
But Rossi's hat-trick and a goal from Joaquin sealed a spectacular comeback for Vincenzo Montella's men, as Juventus wasted the chance to gain ground on leaders Roma.
Ten-man Inter and Torino played out an enthralling encounter in Turin that finished 3-3. Inter had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic sent off after five minutes, but his replacement Juan Pablo Carrizo saved Alessio Cerci's resultant penalty.
Torino twice led through goals from Alexander Farnerud and Ciro Immobile, which were cancelled out by equalisers from Fredy Guarin and Rodrigo Palacio.
A second from Palacio looked to have won it for the visitors before Torino grabbed a last-minute equaliser from a Nicola Bellomo free-kick.
At the bottom of the table, Sassuolo got their first Serie A victory with a 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Bologna, with Domenico Berardi and Antonio Flores Flores on target for Eusebio Di Francesco's men.
Sampdoria moved out of the relegation zone with a dramatic 2-1 win at Livorno. Eder gave the visitors an early lead before Luca Siligardi equalised in the second minute of injury time, but Nicola Pozzi's 96th-minute penalty won it for Sampdoria.
An Alberto Gilardino double gave Genoa a 2-1 win over Chievo, who have now lost four games in a row and six in seven.
Hellas Verona kept up their remarkable early-season form as two Jorginho penalties helped them come from behind to beat Parma 3-2, moving Andrea Mandorlini’s side up into fourth place.
Elsewhere, Stefano Colantuono's Atalanta got their third win in a row with a 2-1 home victory over Lazio, thanks to a late German Denis winner.
Fiorentina's Giuseppe Rossi (L) celebrates after scoring next to Juventus' Claudio Marchisio during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence October 20, 2013. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito
Sun Oct 20, 2013 11:02pm BST
(Reuters) - Fiorentina, inspired by Giuseppe Rossi's 15-minute hat-trick, hit back for a stunning 4-2 win over Serie A champions Juventus on Sunday, although they were nearly upstaged by 10-man Inter Milan's remarkable 3-3 draw at Torino.
Rossi, back this season after successive knee injuries effectively side-lined him for two years, led Fiorentina's revival as they overturned a 2-0 deficit, leaving Juventus coach Antonio Conte seething over his team's collapse.
Inter had goalkeeper Samir Handanovic sent off in the fifth minute, then saw replacement Juan Pablo Carrizo save a penalty with his first touch. They twice fell behind, hit back to lead 3-2 only to be denied a win by last-minute free kick at Torino.
There was plenty going on elsewhere with nine penalties awarded in Sunday's seven games and a first-ever top-flight win for Serie A debutants Sassuolo, who splashed their way past Bologna 2-1 on a waterlogged pitch.
Sampdoria converted two penalties, the second in the sixth minute of stoppage time, for a 2-1 win at Livorno, their first of the season, while Brazilian Jorginho converted a brace of spot kicks for Hellas Verona as they came from behind to beat Parma 3-2.
AS Roma, who made it eight wins out of eight by beating Napoli 2-0 on Friday, lead the table with 24 points, followed by Napoli and Juventus on 19. Surprise package Hellas Verona are fourth (16) followed by Inter and Fiorentina (15).
"We suffered a 10-minute nightmare," bemused Juventus coach Conte told reporters. "I thought it was all over bar the shouting. We dominated the game for long periods and it all went down the drain in 10 minutes."
Juventus had dropped only two points all season and went ahead when Carlos Tevez collapsed dramatically after minimal contact from Gonzalo Rodriguez before firing home a penalty in the 37th minute. Three minutes later, Juan Cuadrado's mis-hit clearance gifted Paul Pogba a second.
FIORENTINA FIGHTBACK
Fiorentina's fightback began with another controversial penalty in the 66th minute when Matias Fernandez was bundled over and Rossi scored from the spot.
Juventus then collapsed, conceding three goals in five minutes. Rossi levelled in the 76th minute and two minutes later, the Juventus defence left Joaquin Sanchez all alone and the Spaniard swept home the equaliser.
Then Colombian international Cuadrado led a counter-attack and slipped the ball to Rossi who drove home his third.
"This could be the most beautiful win (of my career)," said Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella. "In the first half, we didn't look like scoring but, fortunately, football is a marvellous sport and everything can change in a breath.
Inter's adventures began when Handanovic was dismissed for hauling down Alessio Cerci in the area. Mateo Kovacic had to make way for Carrizo and the Argentine made a spectacular entrance when he stopped Cerci's penalty with his first touch.
There was nothing Carrizo could do when Alexander Farnerud put Torino ahead in the 21st minute but Inter were reprieved when Fredy Guarin levelled before the break with a bicycle kick.
Torino regained the lead through Ciro Immobile but were stunned by two goals from Rodrigo Palacio. With Inter about to celebrate a remarkable win, Nicola Bellomo saved the home team's blushes when his intended cross from a free kick floated over Carrizo and into the goal in the 90th minute.
Sassuolo set up their win when Domenico Berardi converted a penalty and Antonio Floro Flores scored from long range in the first 20 minutes.
Alessandro Diamanti pulled one back for winless Bologna with another penalty in the 34th minute but their hopes of equalising were thwarted by the torrential rain which made the pitch virtually unplayable.
(Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Clare Fallon)
Juventus' Arturo Vidal celebrates after scoring against Galatasaray during their Champions League soccer match at Juventus stadium in Turin, October 2, 2013. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
Sun Oct 20, 2013 7:48pm BST
(Reuters) - Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal was dropped by coach Antonio Conte on Sunday and is also likely to be fined after returning late from a World Cup qualifier with Chile.
The midfielder, arguably Juve's most influential player after Andrea Pirlo and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, returned on Saturday afternoon, blaming missed flights and a strike at an unidentified airport.
"The rules are there and have to be respected," Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta told reporters. "We have spoken to him and he will certainly be fined.
"It's right that Conte has taken this decision."
Vidal was left on the bench for the start of the Serie A match at Fiorentina and brought on in the 76th minute of Juve's 4-2 defeat.
Milan have called up Mario Balotelli to their squad to face Barcelona in the Champions League tomorrow night.
The Italian international was a doubt for the fixture having struggled to recover from a thigh injury sustained whilst on duty with his country last week.
However, on from Max Allegri’s assessment that the striker may make the match with Barcelona at San Siro on Tuesday night, he has been included in Milan’s 20-man squad.
Milan squad to face Barcelona: Amelia, Coppola, Andrenacci (N.60), Abate, Constant, Mexes, Silvestre, Zaccardo, Zapata, Birsa, De Jong, Emanuelson, Kakà, Montolivo, Muntari, Nocerino, Poli, Balotelli, Matri, Robinho
Zuniga has successful knee operation
22 October 2013
Napoli full-back Camilo Zuniga has undergone surgery to correct a lingering injury to his right knee.
The Serie A side decided to send the 27-year-old for the procedure to sort an issue from a problem he picked up eight years ago.
Zuniga missed the 2-0 defeat to table-toppers Roma on Friday, and will have to wear a knee guard for the next ten days before it will be decided how long he will require for rehabilitation.
Elsewhere, centre-back Miguel Britos has avoided surgery on a dislocated shoulder.
The Uruguayan sustained the injury in Friday's fixture with Roma, and was replaced in first-half stoppage time to be replaced by Paolo Cannavaro.
He will follow a special training plan at the club, and will be missing for up to four weeks.
Rafael Benitez's charges lie second in Serie A with 19 points from eight matches, and will look to bounce back from their Roma setback when they face Marseille in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
By Henry Jackson
Oct 23, 2013 6:39:00 PM
Uefa has reversed its ruling that the Biancocelesti would play against Apollon behind closed doors, with just the Curva Nord being closed instead
Uefa has backtracked on its decision to ban Lazio fans from the Stadio Olimpico for their upcoming Europa League clash with Apollon Limassol.
The Italian giants were originally due to play the clash with the Cypriots behind closed doors after signing offensive chants and displaying an insulting banner about Slavs during September's clash with Legia Warsaw.
However, the governing body has reversed its ruling, with the appeals committee deciding that only the Curva Nord will be closed.
Lazio were given a lengthy stadium ban in Uefa competition last term after racist taunts were heard during a match with Borussia Monchengladbach, which followed similar offences against Tottenham and Maribor.
Lazio currently sit atop of Europa League Group J, which also contains Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, with four points from their two games.
The Italian coach has dismissed suggestions that the Bianconeri are struggling, while he voiced his dismay with the referee's performance
Juventus coach Antonio Conte has insisted that the Serie A champions are not suffering a crisis following their 2-1 Champions League defeat at the hands of Real Madrid on Wednesday evening.
The Bianconeri are yet to record their first win in Europe this season, but Conte feels that his men showed at the Santiago Bernabeu that they have what it takes to compete with the very best, regardless of the final result.
"Last year we were outclassed by Bayern while this season we played a great game against a team who are more or less at the same level as the European champions," Conte said at a press conference.
"So I don't think we are in crisis as many said on the eve of the game – quite the opposite actually.
"We played at the same level as Madrid and we could even have won. Now everything is certainly more difficult but we proved we can be competitive against any opponent.
"We proved we can play at this level if we really want to. We only lost due to a couple of small details, a couple of things that did not go our way."
Conte then went on to discuss referee Manuel Grafe's performance after the German awarded Madrid a penalty and dismissed Giorgio Chiellini and he was not impressed with the official's display.
He added: "The referee certainly affected the game with some dubious decisions, such as Chiellini's red card and the penalty call.
"I can only laugh about it. It was definitely not an elbow and it can't be considered a clear goalscoring opportunity either. If that was a clear goalscoring opportunity, then anything is..."
Juventus sit third in Group B with two points from three games.
Inter will be keen to avoid becoming the latest victim of newly promoted Verona's surprise Serie A start when the sides meet on Saturday.
Walter Mazzarri's side dropped points against Torino last weekend, the Turin club scoring a last-minute equaliser to earn a 3-3 draw, and are now winless in three matches having faltered after a promising start to the new campaign.
Under normal circumstances, even that dip in form would not prevent them from starting as overwhelming favourites against a Verona side who were promoted as runners-up from Serie B last season, but Andrea Mandorlini's men continue to defy the pundits.
They moved into the top four by virtue of an enthralling 3-2 win over Parma last weekend, secured as Brazilian midfielder Jorginho - who has been linked with a move to Inter - netted his second of the game from the penalty spot two minutes from time.
Mandorlini's side have won five of their first eight Serie A games ahead of their first league meeting with Inter since 2002.
They will be searching for their fourth consecutive triumph, and the 53-year-old Mandorlini - now in his fourth season with the club - is hopeful that their current run of form can continue.
"We are very happy with our position in the table and we certainly didn't expect it," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"We just need to enjoy the moment because we are going above our expectations.
"We hope this will last long."
Inter won 3-0 the last time the two sides met in the league, but they will need to produce an improved defensive display to replicate that feat after shipping six goals in their last two outings.
Goalkeeper Samir Handanovic misses out for the hosts due to suspension, but attacking midfielder Ricky Alvarez should return to fitness in time.
However, defender Hugo Campagnaro is a doubt with a thigh problem, while Javier Zanetti (Achilles), Cristian Chivu (toe) and forward Diego Milito (thigh) are all unavailable.
Verona's injury problems are less severe, with only striker Daniele Ragatzu set to miss the trip to San Siro.
Rome heads to Udinese in search of a record-breaking ninth victory, while Juventus hopes to kick-start its season against Genoa. Napoli hosts Torino on Sunday, looking to bounce back after its first defeat of the season. Here are five things to know about this weekend's games in the Italian league.
RECORD-SETTING ROMA?
Roma is looking to become the first Serie A team to win its first nine matches of the season when it visits Udinese on Sunday. Last week's 2-0 win over Napoli saw it match the longest winning streak at the start of an Italian season, set by Juventus in 1930-31 and matched by the Bianconeri in 1985-86. Juventus won nine straight to start 2005-06, but its title was stripped in the "calciopoli" match-fixing scandal. Roma has scored 22 goals this season, conceding just once.
DEFENSIVE WOES FOR JUVE
Juventus' title-winning campaigns of the past two seasons have been built on a solid defense, and both years it let in the least goals in Serie A. However, this season there have been signs of problems at the back and last weekend it let slip a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 against Fiorentina – its first defeat of the campaign. It is the first time since 1992-93 that Juventus has let in 10 goals in the opening eight matches. Antonio Conte's team hosts Genoa on Sunday.
KAKATASTIC
Kaka shone for AC Milan in its 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday. The Brazilian looked like a player reborn as he showed flashes of his old form after a disappointing few seasons at Real Madrid. The performance was all the more impressive as Kaka is not yet fully fit after recently returning from injury. The 31-year-old, who had only played 83 minutes for Milan, lasted 70 minutes before going off to a standing ovation. Kaka is again likely to start at Parma, with forwards Stephan El Shaarawy and Giampaolo Pazzini still out injured.
DIVIDED LOYALTIES
It will be a special match for Hellas Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini this weekend as he takes his team to Inter Milan, the club he supports and played at for seven years. Mandorlini brought Verona up to the top flight for the first time in 11 years and the team has enjoyed an impressive start, to sit fourth after the opening eight matches.
"I have never hidden my passion: as a young boy I supported Inter, then I played for them, I won the scudetto with a record number of points," Mandorlini said. "This will never be a normal match for me, going into San Siro always gives me a special emotion.
"I would sign up now for a draw. That way everyone would me happy, Verona and me."
CATANIA COACH
Despite guiding Catania to its best Serie A finish of eighth last season, coach Rolando Maran has paid the price for the club's poor start to this campaign, which has seen it win just one of its opening eight matches. Luigi De Canio was brought in to help Catania claw its way away from the relegation zone. His first match in charge will be at home to fellow struggler Sassuolo, which will be boosted by picking up its first ever Serie A victory.
ROME: Title-chasing Roma are going to find out what life is like without talisman Francesco Totti Sunday, as their 100 percent record comes under the spotlight on a tricky trip to Udinese.
The former Italy international is out for up to a month after limping off with a thigh injury during Roma’s 2-0 defeat of title rivals Napoli last Friday.
Roma are further hurt by an injury suffered by in-form Gervinho in the same game, meaning that they will have to rely on new signing Adem Ljajic and out-of-favor Marco Borriello to lead up front.
The 37-year-old Totti has been in sparkling form this season, scoring three goals and leading Roma to an unprecedented eight wins in their eight opening matches, which put them five points clear at the top of Serie A.
Defender Mehdi Benatia believes they will cope without their evergreen captain in Sunday’s game, however.
“We score goals because of everyone’s hard work, from the captain up front right back to [Morgan] De Sanctis behind me,” Benatia told the Corriere Dello Sport.
The defeat of Napoli has led to increasing talk of Roma’s fourth scudetto, something the club have tried to play down.
The Serie A leaders have a series of easy-looking home games coming up, with Chievo Thursday as the first, but some tough away fixtures including Torino next weekend.
Udinese are in 11th place on 10 points, all of which have come in their four home matches, although they have yet to play anyone in the top half of the table.
Benatia will be facing his old team mate Antonio Di Natale, another veteran attacker who still packs a punch.
“He’s a great player,” Benatia said. “Having him in front of me will be difficult but I won’t be giving him any gifts like I used to in training.”
Hellas Verona, the surprise package in fourth place, will travel to the San Siro to face fifth-placed Inter Milan Saturday.
Former Inter player Andrea Mandorlini, who won the league title under Giovanni Trappatoni in 1989, has guided newly promoted Verona to 16 points in a start which has included games against champions Juventus, AC Milan and Roma.
Mandorlini admitted his admiration for Inter still ran deep, telling the Gazzetta Dello Sport Thursday: “I’ve never hidden my passion; I supported Inter as a boy and I played there.
Serie A wrap: Inter and Sampdoria claim victories
27 October 2013
Inter ended a three-game winless streak by overcoming in-form Verona 4-2 at the San Siro on Saturday.
The visitors came into the match in a rich vein of form but horrific defending from a pair of early Inter corners saw Vangelis Moras deflect Jonathan's volley into his own net and Rodrigo Palacio bundle home.
Luca Toni laid on Raphael Martinho for an emphatic finish as Verona halved the deficit but Esteban Cambiasso restored Inter's two-goal cushion before half-time.
Rolando scrambled a fourth as Andrea Mandorlini watched his side's set-piece defending fail them once more to render Romulo's fine strike a consolation.
Inter leapfrogged Verona to go fourth in the table and the night ended on a bizzare note as Moras and Ishak Belfodil were sent-off after full-time for an on-pitch scuffle.
In the day's earlier kick-off, Sampdoria overcame 10-man Atalanta.
The Genovese outfit were on the back foot for much of the first-half and Cristian Raimondi looped a header against the crossbar for Atalanta on the stroke of half-time.
But the half-time introduction of Savvas Gentsoglou galvanised Sampdoria and Shkodran Mustafi headed the decisive goal amid confusion.
Atalanta's Luca Cigarini tried to palm the ball off the line and was initially shown a straight red card before earning a reprieve of sorts when the referee's assistant gave the goal.
The visitors would eventually end up a man down when Constantin Nica scythed through Eder.
Serie A Wrap: Roma march on as Napoli, Juve win
28 October 2013
Roma maintained their 100 per cent Serie A record with a 1-0 victory at Udinese as the top three all won on Sunday.
Rudi Garcia's men continued their remarkable start to the season as they made it nine wins out of nine in the league to stay five points clear at the top of the table.
Udinese looked set to end Roma's perfect record and they would have fancied their chances of beating the leaders when Maicon was sent off for a second bookable offence midway through the second half.
But Michael Bradley came off the bench to score the winner eight minutes from time as Roma proved they can cope with the absence of injured talisman Francesco Totti.
Gonzalo Higuain scored both goals as Napoli beat Torino 2-0 to stay in second place.
The Argentina striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot and added a second before half-time as Rafael Benitez's side got back on track following their defeat at Roma last weekend.
Juventus also slipped up in Serie A at Fiorentina last weekend, but they responded with a 2-0 home win over Genoa.
Arturo Vidal set the Turin giants on their way to victory with a penalty and Carlos Tevez scored the second before half-time to ensure Juve stay level on points with Napoli.
A late Marco Parolo goal gave Parma a dramatic 3-2 home victory over Milan at the Ennio Tardini stadium.
Parolo and Antonio Cassano put the home side 2-0 up at half-time, only for Alessandro Matri and Matias Silvestre to score in quick succession to get Massimiliano Allegri's side back on level terms.
But Parolo had the final say as he stunned Milan with a last-gasp winner that moved Parma above Milan and up to eighth.
Fiorentina built on their fine win over Juventus by coming from behind again to win 2-1 at Chievo.
Colombian defender Juan Cuadrado scored both goals to move Vincenzo Montella's men up to fifth, with Chievo now bottom.
Lazio eased the pressure on coach Vladimir Petkovic by securing their first win in six games as Cagliari were beaten 2-0.
Miroslav Klose came off the bench to score the opener and Antonio Candreva added a second from the penalty spot.
Catania were held to a goalless draw by fellow strugglers Sassuolo, while Bologna moved off the foot of the table courtesy of Jose Angel Crespo's early goal that secured a 1-0 win over Livorno.
Allegri criticises Balotelli, announces deals for Rami, Honda
28 October 2013
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was critical of Mario Balotelli following Sunday's last-gasp 3-2 defeat at Parma.
But there was better news for the club's fans following the narrow reverse, after it was finally confirmed that Adil Rami and Keisuke Honda will be joining the club in January.
The visitors went into the break 2-0 down against a hard-working Parma side following strikes from Marco Parolo and Antonio Cassano, with the insipid nature of Milan's display forcing Allegri into a double change shortly after half-time.
Balotelli and Andrea Poli were replaced by Alessandro Matri and Kaka, and the changes reaped immediate reward as first Matri pulled a goal back on the hour, before Matias Silvestre equalised two minutes later from a corner, which had been forced by Kaka.
That quickfire double looked to have secured Milan a draw, but Parolo then lashed a 30-yard free-kick beyond goalkeeper Gabriel in stoppage time as Milan's woes away from home continued.
And Allegri was particularly disappointed with the performance of Balotelli, back in the starting line up after recovering from a thigh injury.
"I took Balotelli off because he didn't have a good game," Allegri said. "We had to change something for the second half. Balotelli had a few good moments, but overall it was not a good game.
"I needed a centre forward who could really play that role and Balotelli wasn't doing it, although he has the characteristics."
Allegri, who hinted before the game that he may not a sign a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of this season, went on to reveal that he would be making two additions to his squad when the transfer window reopens in the new year, with the captures of Rami and Honda from Valencia and CSKA Moscow respectively.
"Adil Rami and Keisuke Honda will be joining us in January and strengthen our squad," he continued.
The coach also criticised the overall performance of his side as they slipped to their fourth defeat in nine Serie A matches.
"We are not balanced yet," he added. "In the first half we created little and conceded twice on the counter-attack.
"After the break we did more and went close to a third goal, but then that free-kick happened at the end.
"We were naive and conceded two goals just before the end of each half.
"We should have closed down and not allowed any more space, but instead we got it wrong.
"We need to improve a great deal away from home, as we've only picked up two points this season on our travels."
Late Bradley strike helps Roma to ninth win in a row
AS Roma's Michael Bradley celebrates after scoring past Udinese's goalkeeper Ivan Kelava during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the Friuli stadium in Udine October 27, 2013. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo
By Terry Daley
ROME | Sun Oct 27, 2013 5:19pm GMT
(Reuters) - A long range Michael Bradley strike nine minutes from time helped 10-man Roma beat Udinese 1-0 and win their ninth straight match to stay five points clear at the top of Serie A.
Rudi Garcia's Roma, who were missing injured attackers Francesco Totti and Gervinho and had right back Maicon sent off for a second bookable offence in the 66th minute, stay top with 27 points after a gutsy display at the Stadio Friuli.
Napoli remain second, level with Juventus on 22 points, after two controversial Gonzalo Higuain penalties helped Rafael Benitez's side beat 10-man Torino 2-0, while an Arturo Vidal penalty and a fine Carlos Tevez goal gave champions Juventus 1 2-0 win over Genoa.
Bradley's winning strike was created by Kevin Strootman, who held the ball up well before laying off a perfect pass for the American midfielder.
"We're taking it one game at a time. We came here today looking to play well and get three points. We gave everything and if you ask me these are three deserved points," Bradley said in a television interview after the match.
"This is a team with great desire and determination. Last year it didn't go as well as it could have, and this year it's going a bit better. Now we're concentrated on Chievo and we'll give it our all."
Roma's victory equals the nine consecutive wins Juventus recorded at the start of their title-winning 2005-06 season.
They were later stripped of that title in the "Calciopoli" match-fixing scandal.
CONTROVERSIAL PENALTIES
Napoli were awarded their first penalty after Dries Mertens looked to have gone down easily under Nicola Bellomo's challenge after 14 minutes, while a harsh handball against Kamil Glik earned them the second just after the 30 minute mark.
Glik accidentally blocked Federico Fernandez's shot from point blank range with his arm.
Referee Andrea De Marco initially waved away the home side's penalty claims but with Torino breaking away and bearing down on goal, he then pulled play back and pointed to the spot, infuriating Torino boss Giampiero Ventura.
Torino later had Migjen Basha sent off for a professional foul on Goran Pandev four minutes from time.
"The first one I don't know whether he touched him, and the second wasn't a penalty but it doesn't change anything because we were never in the game," Ventura said afterwards.
There was also controversy in the manner Juventus took the lead midway through the first half when Kwadwo Asamoah appeared to be brought down outside the area by Davide Biondini for Vidal's penalty.
There was no doubt about their second however, with Asamoah feeding Tevez from out wide, allowing the Argentine attacker to brilliantly slot the ball home with his left foot.
AC Milan 10th with 11 points after Marco Parolo's last-gasp free kick consigned Massimiliano Allegri's side to a 3-2 defeat at Parma.
Two goals in two minutes from Alessandro Matri, who had replaced Mario Balotelli in the 52nd minute, and Matias Silvestre had brought Milan back from two goals down against their hosts, who led at halftime through goals from Parolo and Antonio Cassano, against his former club.
"The first half we created little and they had three counter attacks and scored twice," said Allegri.
"I'm annoyed because the team played well in the second half...but after having put the effort in and equalising instead of holding on to the 2-2 we conceded from the free-kick. Parolo did well but we made mistakes."
A Juan Cuadrado brace either side of halftime helped Fiorentina go fifth after coming back from a goal down to win 2-1 at Chievo, who drop to bottom in Serie A after Bologna beat Livorno 1-0 and Sassuolo drew 0-0 at Catania.
Inter forward Ishak Belfodil and Verona’s Evangelos Moras received two-match bans for their off-the-ball scuffle.
FootballItalia – Sun, Oct 27, 2013 13:52 GMT
Ishak Belfodil is sent off (Imago)
The pair clashed at the final whistle of Saturday's game at San Siro and were both shown the red card and, having read the referee's report, the Disciplinary Commission opted to hand two-match bans to both players.
It explained they were guilty of “a gravely intimidating attitude, grabbing an opposition player by the throat.”
Atalanta defender Constantin Nica has instead received a one-match ban for his dismissal against Sampdoria.
Inter head into their fixture with Atalanta looking for a first victory over Stefano Colantuono's side since April 2010.
The Milan outfit suffered two defeats to Atalanta last season, including a thrilling 4-3 reverse at San Siro in April, and drew both meetings in the 2011-12 campaign.
Their last success came in a 3-1 home win more than three years ago, with goals from Diego Milito, Sulley Muntari and Christian Chivu securing the points on that occasion.
Inter go into Tuesday's game at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on the back of a 4-2 home victory over Verona.
That triumph ended a run of three Serie A matches without a win for Walter Mazzarri's side, and left them fourth with 18 points from nine games.
Mazzarri is looking forward to the challenge Atalanta will pose and is happy with the way his team have responded since he took over as manager in the close-season.
"It is another test for us to see how far we've come," he said. "The next two games (against Atalanta and Udinese) will tell us a lot about where we are going.
"I'm delighted with the way the lads have taken everything on board. I look not just at the results but how we play and I'm happy."
Ishak Belfodil is absent through suspension for Inter following his sending-off after the final whistle against Verona.
Atalanta have struggled for consistency so far in Serie A, but occupy a respectable position of ninth with 12 points to their name.
Colantuono will hope for a strong reaction after his side fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Sampdoria on Saturday, ending a run of three consecutive victories in Serie A.
Striker German Denis will look to provide the attacking impetus for Atalanta, the 32-year-old having notched four league goals so far this season.
Giacomo Bonaventura and Stefano Lucchini (both thigh) remain sidelined for the hosts.
Serie A Preview: Juventus v Catania
29 October 2013
Juventus will attempt to extend their seven-match unbeaten run against Catania in Serie A when the two sides meet on Wednesday.
The reigning champions have not tasted defeat against Catania since a 2-1 setback in December 2009, and won both of last season's league fixtures 1-0.
Juve have also lost just once in Serie A this term, and bounced back from their 4-2 defeat at Fiorentina - which they followed up with a 2-1 UEFA Champions League reverse at Real Madrid - with a comfortable 2-0 home success against Genoa on Sunday.
Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez got the goals at the Juventus Stadium, and defender Giorgio Chiellini is confident the team can build on their performance after the disappointments of Florence and Madrid.
"We analysed everything over the past few days and saw that certain things could have gone differently," the Italy international said.
"But I can say that I saw the right spark in Madrid and today we once again saw another Juventus - ruthless and aggressive, just as the coach wants.
"We started with the right anger and aggression and swarmed Genoa in the first-half.
"Now we'll be confident in approaching Wednesday's game against Catania."
Forwards Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic and defender Stephan Lichtsteiner all remain sidelined with thigh injuries, and are unlikely to return in time to face Luigi De Canio's side.
Catania sit just outside the Serie A relegation zone in 17th position after taking just six points from nine matches so far this campaign.
They have failed to win in their last three league fixtures, including a 0-0 stalemate with fellow strugglers Sassuolo on Sunday.
The Stadio Angelo Massimino outfit are also winless in their last 10 top-flight away games, and are the division's lowest scorers this season having found the net just six times.
