Serie A Season 10/11

[Legolas]

Serie A wrap: Cavani treble sends Napoli second

3 April 2011

Napoli moved into second spot on the Serie A table after a thrilling 4-3 win over Lazio, highlighted by a hat-trick from Edison Cavani.

The entertaining encounter exploded into life in the last 35 minutes, when six goals were scored.

Lazio took a 29th-minute lead through midfielder Stefano Mauri and Brazilian Andre Dias doubled their lead 12 minutes after half-time.

But five minutes after Dias' strike, scores were level.

Andrea Dossena scored on the hour mark before Cavani got the first of his treble two minutes later, but parity only lasted six minutes.

Napoli defender Salvatore Aronica turned the ball into his own net to give the visitors a 3-2 lead.

But Cavani would prove to be the hero with two late goals, taking his tally for the season to 22.

First, he was fouled by Giuseppe Biava in the penalty area and after the defender was given his marching orders, Cavani stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

The Uruguayan scored the winner two minutes from time to help Napoli to within three points of top side AC Milan, while Lazio sit in fifth.

Udinese suffered a shock 2-0 loss at struggling Lecce, missing a glorious chance to move closer to automatic European Champions League qualification.

A brace from Andrea Bertolacci ensured Udinese suffered their first league loss of 2011.

The 20-year-old midfielder was on the scoresheet in the 48th and 65th minutes to help Lecce into the safety zone.

Juventus kept their hopes of a Europa League berth alive with a 2-0 win over Roma at the Olympic Stadium.

After a goalless first-half, Serbian striker Milos Krasic gave Juve the lead just before the hour mark, and Alessandro Matri completed the win 15 minutes from the end.

The win sees Juventus, who are seventh in the league, cut sixth-placed Roma's advantage to just two points with seven games to play.

Catania handed Palermo a 4-0 thrashing in the Sicily derby, moving five points clear of the relegation zone.

A brilliant second-half performance saw the hosts record an impressive victory in one of their biggest games.

An own goal from Palermo defender Federico Balzaretti sent them on their way three minutes after half-time.

Three goals in the space of 16 minutes ensured a romp as Gonzalo Bergessio, Pablo Ledesma and Simone Pesce got on the scoresheet.

It was Palermo's sixth defeat in their last seven outings, all but ending their hopes of a spot in Europe.

Bari recorded just their fourth win of the season with a surprise 2-1 victory at Parma.

A 92nd-minute winner from substitute Honduran midfielder Edgar Alvarez put Bari within 11 points of safety.

The visitors had taken a lead through Alessandro Parisi in the 64th minute but Parma striker Amauri equalised 10 minutes from time.

Alvarez provided the winner to give Bari their first win since being 1-0 victors at Lecce on January 7.

Cagliari ended a three-game winless run with a 1-0 victory over Genoa.

A goal from Robert Acquafresca in the 16th minute was enough to send Cagliari into 10th spot and leave Genoa in mid-table.

Cesena scored a late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.

Luis Jimenez gave Cesena an unlikely early lead but Alberto Gilardino ensured his side would go into the break on level terms.

Riccardo Montolivo looked like he had scored the winner in the 69th minute before Cesena substitute Fabio Caserta scored the equaliser four minutes from time.

Chievo and Sampdoria played out a scoreless draw, helping neither team arrest a recent drop in results.

Chievo have won just one of their last eight outings while Sampdoria have won one of their last 12 league outings.

 

[Alexandre Pato]

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1BVX_VjULsU?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="510" width="640"></iframe>

AC Milan 3 - 0 Inter Milan
Full Match Highlights & All Goals 02.04.2011


​

 

[Edinson Cavani]

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ebhpDzgAJnw?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe>

Napoli 4 - 3 Lazio
All Goals & Full Match Highlights 03.04.2011


​

 

[Legolas]

Palermo reappoint coach Rossi, Parma sack Marino

10:15 BST, Mon 4 Apr 2011

MILAN, April 4 (Reuters) - Palermo have reappointed coach Delio Rossi after Serse Cosmi was sacked just a month into the job following Sunday's 4-0 hammering by Catania in the Sicily derby.

Fellow Serie A side Parma, who slipped to two points above the drop zone with seven games left after a 2-1 home defeat by bottom side Bari on Sunday, have also sacked boss Pasquale Marino with a replacement yet to be announced.

The two club statements followed shock defeats and the speed in which they have acted shows the angst dominating the boardrooms at the two sides with a Europa League place slipping away for eighth-placed Palermo and relegation haunting Parma.

Rossi was sacked by fiery Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini on Feb. 28 after a 7-0 home humiliation at the hands of Udinese. His return is all the more surprising given the language used by Zamparini after the thrashing.

"He has ruined my Palermo. Rossi destroyed this team," Zamparini said at the time. However, Zamparini had little alternative but to recall Rossi having decided to sack Cosmi so quickly.

Under Serie A rules, coaches are not allowed to manage two top-flight teams in a season and with Rossi still under contract, reappointing him was the cheapest option.

 

[Legolas]

Milan fined 20,000 euros for lasers and banners

15:34 BST, Mon 4 Apr 2011

MILAN, April 4 (Reuters) - Italian leaders AC Milan have been fined 20,000 euros after fans shone lasers in the eyes of Inter Milan coach Leonardo and player Wesley Sneijder during Saturday's 3-0 derby win, Serie A said in a statement on Monday.

The fine was also punishment for offensive banners which were unveiled at the San Siro insulting Leonardo, who was Milan coach last season and joined arch rivals Inter in December.

Serie A's weekly disciplinary release also confirmed that Napoli striker Edinson Cavani would be suspended for next Sunday's game at Bologna.

The Uruguayan scored a hat-trick in Sunday's 4-3 win over Lazio to keep his club in the title hunt but picked up a booking to take him over the limit.

Inter's Cristian Chivu and Milan's Antonio Cassano will both miss their sides' next match after being sent off in the derby.

 

[Edinson Cavani]

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 10 characters.

 

[Dodomeki]

 

[Legolas]

Serie A wrap: Inter bounce back, Totti seals Roma win

10 April 2011

Inter Milan moved back up to second in the Serie A with a testing 2-0 win over Chievo, while Roma inflicted a second straight loss on Udinese.

Inter were made to work hard for their win at the San Siro, with Chievo's resolute defence holding out the champions for more than an hour.

The deadlock was finally broken when Argentine Esteban Cambiasso found the back of the net after 66 minutes, after good build-up work from Maicon.

And the Brazilian joined his South American counterpart on the scoresheet when he made sure of the result with his finish six minutes from time.

The victory ensured coach Leonardo, who replaced Rafael Benitez mid-season, maintained his unbeaten record at home this season.

At the Stadio Communale Friuli, Francesco Totti was at his best as his Roma side closed to within three points of Udinese, who sit fourth and occupy a Champions League qualifying place, with a 2-1 victory.

The legendary forward opened the scoring from the spot after 57 minutes and his goal looked to have given Vincenzo Montella's side a valuable away win.

But with just three minutes remaining, Antonio Di Natale bagged his 26th league goal of the season to spark wild celebrations among the home fans.

Those celebrations proved to be premature though, as Totti converted John Arne Riise's assist in the fourth minute of stoppage time to deliver his side a hard-fought victory.

 

[Dodomeki]

 

[Legolas]

Di Natale faces ban for hitting teammate

10 April 2011

Udinese's veteran striker and captain, Antonio Di Natale, is facing a Serie A ban after being caught on camera slapping a teammate.

Di Natale, who had moments before scored Udinese's equaliser, was seen striking 21-year-old defender Gabriele Angella and shouting: You've got to shut up!?

Tempers flared during Roma?s last-gasp 2-1 victory on Saturday, a result secured by Francesco Totti from the penalty spot with the final kick of the game in the 94th minute.

Moments before that goal, Udinese had a strike disallowed after Kwadwo Asamoah handled, though he claimed he had been pushed.

Di Natale looked to be trying to stop Angella taking his protests too far, therefore earning himself a red card.

 

[Legolas]

Serie A wrap: Milan maintain lead, Napoli still close

10 April 2011

AC Milan's lead at the top of the Serie A remains at three points after they won 2-1 at Fiorentina on Sunday, while Napoli and Juventus also won.

Milan's last road trip ended in a 1-0 defeat at Palermo, but they came out firing in this fixture at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Alexandre Pato supplied the assist for Clarence Seedorf's eighth-minute opener and the Brazilian turned scorer four minutes before half-time to double his side's lead.

Canadian Juan Manuel Vargas breathed life into Fiorentina's bid to win a point with 11 minutes remaining but although Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off in the 87th minute, on his return from suspension, the visitors held on for victory.

Napoli's good form continued after they won 2-0 at Bologna, while Juventus came from behind to defeat Genoa.

Walter Mazzarri's side won their fourth match in succession thanks to first-half strikes from Giuseppe Mascara and Marek Hamsik.

Bologna had only lost at home in the league once since December so the task was never going to be easy for the Naples-based club, but Mascara gave his side the lead on the half-hour mark.

He was booked for his celebration in a tense match littered with cautions, with the most crucial yellow card of the match handed to Bologna goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on the stroke of half-time.

Viviano was given a caution for his foul on Ezequiel Lavezzi and Hamsik buried the resultant penalty, giving his side a valuable two-goal advantage at the main break.

The cards continued to come in the second half but Napoli held on for an important away win.

In Torino, Juventus scored three second-half goals as they recorded an impressive 3-2 home win against Genoa.

Leonardo Bonucci's seventh-minute own-goal had the hosts on the back foot but they equalised through another own goal, with Marco Rossi putting the ball into his own net early in the second half.

That goal energised Juve and although Antonio Floro Flores hit the back of the net for Genoa after 57 minutes, goals from strike duo Alessandro Matri and Luca Toni - the latter with seven minutes remaining - saw Luigi Delneri's side record victory.

In other matches, Lazio moved ahead of Udinese and into fourth after a 2-0 home triumph over relegation-threatened Parma, thanks to goals from Hernanes and Sergio Floccari.

Struggling Sampdoria's horror run of form continued as they slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to Lecce, with David Di Michele and Ruben Olivera getting on the scoresheet for the victors.

Striker Massimo Maccarone pulled a goal back with 21 minutes remaining but it was not enough for Sampdoria, who lost key goal-scorers Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini in the January transfer window and have now won just one of their last 14 league matches.

Cesena, who sit second from bottom, pulled off a remarkable comeback to draw 2-2 at Palermo.

First-half goals to Jasmin Kurtic and Mauricio Pinilla had Palermo seemingly cruising, but stoppage-time strikes to Marco Parolo and Emanuele Giaccherini saw the promoted side snare a famous draw.

As if the goals did not make the second half eventful enough, three Cesena players were shown red cards. Defender Steve von Bergen was dismissed on 74 minutes for a dangerous foul of Pinilla, with unused substitute Paolo Sammarco also red carded for leading the protestations.

Fellow substitute and veteran goalkeeper Alex Calderoni followed him down the tunnel in the 90th minute after overdoing the celebrations at Giaccherini's equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Maxi Lopez's first-half equaliser gave Catania a point in a 1-1 draw at Bari. Brescia also came from behind to draw 1-1, at Cagliari.

 

[Zlatan Ibrahimovic]

Ibrahimovic suspended again

11 April 2011

AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been handed a three-game suspension for being sent off against Fiorentina.

The 29-year-old, who is his side's leading scorer with 14 Serie A goals this season, was given a straight red card for dissent in Milan's 2-1 away win on Sunday, although he denies swearing at a linesman.

The temperamental Swede was making his first appearance back after serving a two-game ban for striking Bari defender Marco Rossi last month.

Ibrahimovic had already been booked in the Fiorentina match and would have been facing a one-game ban, but his straight red meant his penalty was increased to three matches.

"I lost the ball and was angry with myself, not the assistant referee. I was talking to myself," Ibrahimovic said.

"I didn’t protest the red card because there was nothing to be said, he had made his decision."

"My teammates have reason to be angry with me, as during a period when Fiorentina were putting on the pressure was certainly not the right time to get sent off."

"I am sorry, but it seems as if nowadays I can’t even mutter to myself without getting into trouble. I’ll do everything I can to help Milan win the Scudetto."

Milan, who lead Serie A by three points from Napoli, are tipped to appeal the ban, but if that move proves unsuccessful they will be without their leading scorer for league clashes with Sampdoria, Brescia and Bologna.

He will, however, be available for their Coppa Italia semi-final clash with Palermo on April 20.

 

[Legolas]

Serie A preview: Napoli eye off Milan, Del Piero fit for Juventus
15 April 2011

Napoli will be hoping to keep the pressure on Serie A leaders AC Milan when they welcome Udinese to the San Paolo on Monday.

Sitting in second place, Napoli are only three points behind Milan, and will be buoyed by the return of star striker Edinson Cavani from suspension for the Udinese fixture.

Cavani has scored 25 goals for his side so far this season, and will slot back in alongside Argentine Ezequiel Lavezzi, who has nine goals to his name.

Udinese, chasing fourth position and the final Champions League spot, were denied points against Roma last week when they conceded a losing goal in the final minute.

Struggling Sampdoria, who are flirting with relegation, visit table-topping AC Milan, looking to snap their seven-game winless streak which is a consequence of releasing star strikers Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini.

Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato, AC Milan's second top scorer with 16 goals, will start in attack where he is likely to partner Cassano, who replaced the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Parma host reigning Italian and European champions Inter Milan, who were eliminated from Champions League by Schalke on Tuesday.

Alessandro Del Piero is fit again for Juventus' visit to Fiorentina as the Bianconeri look to maintain their winning ways after a late Luca Toni strike gifted the Turin side the three points in their last clash over Genoa.

Elsewhere, sixth-placed Roma take on Palermo, while Lazio will be looking to keep their faint title hopes alive when they travel to Catania.

Lecce will be looking to score their third consecutive win when they face Cagliari, while Chievo will move closer to securing their top flight status if they beat Bologna.

Elsewhere, Genoa welcome relegation-threatened Brescia, while Bari and Cesena will slug it out in their relegation battle.

 

[Alexandre Pato]

Serie A wrap: Inter hopes fade, Milan romp

17 April 2011

​

​

​

Inter Milan's Scudetto hopes appear all but over after a 2-0 loss at Parma on Saturday, while AC Milan extended their lead with another win.

Inter's form has been on the slide ever since the defending champions fell to Milan in the Derby della Madonnina on April 2, and were since bundled out of the Champions League by German side Schalke.

With Milan rediscovering their best form despite the ongoing absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Napoli surging up the table, Inter needed a win at Parma in order to remain in touching distance of the title with five games remaining.

But it was not to be, as Sebastian Giovinco and Amauri netted goals in either half to leave Inter trailing Milan by eight points.

Giovinco left Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar for dead on 34 minutes, with the Italy international pouncing on Francesco Modeto's cut-back pass with a blistering left-footed strike that found the far corner.

The visitors could not equalise past Parma custodian Antonio Mirante, who saved several attempts from Dejan Stankovic and Wesley Sneijder, and former Juventus forward Amauri landed the killer blow with a goal four minutes from stoppage time.

The result will only bring further cheer to bitter cross-town rivals Milan, who thumped visiting Sampdoria 3-0 to open up a provisional six-point lead on top of the table.

Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf blasted a free kick from range past the outstretched arms of Gianluca Curci in the 20th minute, a lead that was stretched after the break by Antonio Cassano and Robinho.

Cassano, substituted on for Alexandre Pato, converted from the penalty spot against his former club following Massimo Volta's 54th-minute handball.

Robinho headed in his 11th goal of the campaign after Cassano met a through ball at the left post and looped a clever pass over for the Brazilian after the hour.

Napoli can peg the gap back to three points when they host Udinese on Sunday.

Finally, Roma's campaign hit another low with a 3-2 loss at home to Palermo.

Veteran forward Francesco Totti put Roma ahead from the spot in the 20th minute, but Mauricio Pinilla was equal to the task shortly before half-time and Uruguay international Abel Hernandez sent the visitors clear with a second-half brace.

Montenegrin attacker Mirko Vucinic added a consolation strike in stoppage time for Roma, whose position in the Europa League places could come under threat from Juventus before the weekend is out.

 

[Alexandre Pato]

Inter out of title race: Leonardo

17 April 2011

​

​

​

Inter boss Leonardo has conceded his side cannot win the Serie A title after they were shock 2-0 losers at Parma on Saturday.

Goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Amauri gave Parma the three points at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, leaving Inter eight points behind league-leaders AC Milan with five games remaining.

Leonardo conceded the gap was too much for Inter to cover, but insisted they must remain focused to ensure a top-three spot.

"More than looking at the table, we must focus on getting back into shape, otherwise it becomes even more difficult to achieve our objectives," Leonardo said. "We still need points, as we are not mathematically certain of a top three finish yet."

"Tonight we started with too much haste, not because we lacked petrol in the tank. Then Parma scored with their first chance and that is when the fatigue hit us."

"Nonetheless, we kept trying to the end and eventually conceded the second. We lost many games for different reasons this year and not just for one element."

"After an enormous fightback we needed everything to be 100 per cent, but it didn’t go that way." "Now we need to rediscover our calm and sharpness to get important points, climb as high as possible and prepare for the Coppa Italia."

Parma boss Franco Colomba was understandably delighted after his side grabbed a crucial three points which sees them move four points clear of the relegation zone.

"This is a very important victory for us," Colomba said. "It'll give confidence to everyone at the club, especially as it was earned with a fine performance." "We all needed this: the club, the city, the fans, coach and above all players. It is a stepping stone, but also three golden points we will cling to while we await other results."

"Safety is our trophy and we must earn it with these performances."

 

[Legolas]

Serie A wrap: Napoli lose at home, Lazio win away

18 April 2011

Napoli missed a chance to move within three points of table-toppers AC Milan after they lost 2-1 at home to Udinese in the Serie A on Sunday.

AC Milan now sit six points clear at the top and with just five matches remaining, look to have the title sewn up after slip-ups from their nearest title rivals, Inter and Napoli.

Udinese entered the match missing the Serie A's top scorer, Antonio Di Natale (26 goals in 31 matches) and strike partner Alexis Sanchez (12 in 24) due to foot and thigh injuries respectively and were only given an outside chance of victory against the title-chasing hosts at the Stadio San Paolo.

But they were able to get through the opening half unscathed and stunned the home crowd when Gokhan Inler found the back of the net just 10 minutes into the second half.

Buoyed by the goal, Napoli had the momentum and grabbed another six minutes later when German Denis scored on the hour-mark and although Giuseppe Mascara scored a consolation goal in the fourth minute of injury time, Walter Mazzarri's side slumped to their first home loss since October.

A Mauro Zarate-inspired Lazio won 4-1 at Catania, thanks to a goal and two assists from the Argentine.

Zarate had to start on the bench after turning up late to training in mid-week, but was introduced after 14 minutes as Lazio took a 40th-minute lead through Hernanes.

Catania hit back straight after the break thanks to a Ezequiel Schelotto but Zarate started to dominate, setting up firstly Stefano Mauri for his 56th minute goal before he again provided an assist, this time for Sergio Floccari with 12 minutes to play.

Zarate had time to cap off a terrific day with a goal in the 89th minute as Lazio closed with three points of third-placed Inter, who occupy one of the automatic qualification spots for the Champions League.

In other matches, goals to Fabiano and Daniele Corvia in the last five minutes secured a 3-3 draw for Lecce at home to Cagliari while Genoa also scored three, routing Brescia 3-0 thanks to second-half strikes from Rafinha, Luca Antonelli and a Gaetano Berardi own goal.

Fiorentina and Juventus played out a goalless draw in a match that promised plenty but delivered little while Chievo played the entire second half with 10 men but won 2-0 at home to Bologna thanks to goals from Kevin Constant and Michele Marcolini.

Erjon Bogdani's 48th minute strike was enough to lift newly promoted Cesena out of the relegation zone, as they won 1-0 at home to bottom-side Bari.

Cesena have now been replaced by Sampdoria in 18th, who after losing key strikers Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini to AC Milan and Inter in January, have now just won two of their last 17 Serie A matches.

 

[Alexandre Pato]

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OW7l8VZxzjw?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe>

Parma 2 - 0 Inter Milan
Highlights & All Goals 16.04.2011


<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2PoDgNNoelI?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe>

AC Milan 3 - 0 Sampdoria
Highlights & All Goals 16.04.2011


<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VDRELnJ4y1E?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe>

AS Roma 2 - 3 Palermo
Highlights & All Goals 16.04.2011


​

 

[Filippo Inzaghi]

 

[Filippo Inzaghi]

Coppa Italia: Roma 0 Inter Milan 1

20 April 2011

A wonder strike from Dejan Stankovic was enough to hand Inter Milan a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final with Roma.

A fortnight after his sensational long-range volley in Inter's 5-2 loss to Schalke in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, the Serbian midfielder was at it again when his rasping drive soared into the top corner just before half-time at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma will be ruing a missed opportunity from their Montenegrin striker Mirko Vucinic, who should have done better with a glorious chance on the 10-minute mark.

Roma have played Inter in five of the last six Coppa Italia finals, with Inter winning last season's 1-0, and they will play the second leg at the San Siro on May 11.

Serie A leaders AC Milan host Palermo on Wednesday in the first leg of the other semi-final.

 

[Zlatan Ibrahimovic]