Alberto Gilardino gave Fiorentina three points against Cesena, while Lazio comprehensively defeated Napoli 2-0. Roma and Juventus were honours even despite an open game.
Juventus and Roma had to be content with a 1-1 draw despite a host of chances for both sides. The game, which perhaps only took a backseat to the Milan derby over the weekend, was played at an incredibly quick pace and afforded both teams clear chances to take home all three points.
Meanwhile, Lazio lifted the gloom of two straight defeats by soundly defeating Napoli 2-0 with goals from Zarate and Sergio Floccari. The win allowed Lazio to breath the air at the top of Serie A for a few hours at least, as Inter take on Milan at the San Siro later today.
Fiorentina also got things back on track with a 1-0 win over Cesena.
As expected, Fiorentina atoned for their loss to Roma by defeating Cesena. The hosts fielded Alessio Cerci, Adrian Mutu, and Manuel Vargas behind Alberto Gilardino in a formation that expressed their ambition from the outset.
It has been a tough season so far for coach Sinisa Mihajlovic. His team were expected to be in the reckoning for the top four, but instead they find themselves on a mediocre 12 points.
The only goal of the game came after 58 minutes when Gilardino collected a Cerci pass, propped up the ball on the turn, before volleying it into goal.
There was a sour note to the evening as Mutu went off injured.
In a fairly open game, Juventus and Roma had to settle for a draw.
Juventus went ahead in the 35th minute, and it was through the constant danger man, Alberto Aquilani. Aquilani was brought in as a replacement for Diego, and he is proving a much more valuable part of the Juve team than the Brazilian did. He found an open Vincenzo Iaquinta in the box, who volleyed home fantastically.
Roma got back on even terms through a Francesco Totti penalty at the stroke of half-time. Totti's free-kick was adjudged to have hit Simone Pepe's hand inside the box, even though there were vociferous protests from the Juve team.
The game ended 1-1, but both teams had chances to claim three points.
After two consecutive defeats, Lazio returned to winning ways by beating Napoli 2-0. The result was a shock considering how demoralized the Biancoceleste were. After all, they relinquished top spot after a derby defeat and a shock loss to Cesena.
However, Mauro Zarate and Sergio Floccari restored the confidence in the Lazio camp.
Zarate scored the first goal in the 15th minute, collecting a long pass and finishing neatly in the far corner.
Floccari added one more in the 60th minute when he collected a Zarate pass and finished with a low shot from inside the area. The win means Lazio keep pace with Milan, as they are only one point behind the Rossoneri.
Neither Sampdoria nor Chievo could find enough inspiration to score. Perhaps Antonio Cassano could have made the difference, but he is still marginalized after a dispute with Sampdoria president Ricardo Garrone.
Andre Ranocchia scored a late goal in the 83rd minute as Genoa made it two wins out of two under Davide Ballardini's reign.
Eduardo was crucial for Genoa, as his saves kept Cagliari at bay for much of the match.
Rannocchia's goal came via a header from a corner.
It was the Javier Pastore show in the Sicilian derby.
He first scored with a well-placed header before adding one from a tough angle in the second half.
The last goal came when Massimo Maccarone drew defenders to him and found Pastore open in the penalty area.
Pastore continues his red-hot form, reminding everyone why he is such a coveted player throughout Europe.
Marco Di Vaio grabbed three points for Bologna with a goal in the 58th minute.
He scored an oustanding on-the-turn shot that left Brescia stunned. They had endeavoured admirably in trying to break down the Bologna defence, but the game just did not open up for them.
The win moves Bologna into a relatively safe spot above relegation.
Antonio Candreva scored the only goal of a tempestuous encounter between relegation candidates Bari and Parma.
Bari had Masiello and Donati sent off, and Alessandro Parisi missed a penalty.
The loss leaves Bari rooted at the bottom of the table.
Udinese crushed Lecce 4-0 as Antonio Di Natale marked his return to the side with a hat-trick.
Di Natale netted all his goals in the first-half while Floro Flores added one more in the second half.
It was a resounding win for Udinese, and one that will galvanize their campaign. As for Lecce, things get worse, and this latest defeat leaves them perilously close to the relegation zone.
See my detailed report here: https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/156031/inter-milan-vs-ac-milan/#_report
Meanwhile, Lazio lifted the gloom of two straight defeats by soundly defeating Napoli 2-0 with goals from Zarate and Sergio Floccari. The win allowed Lazio to breath the air at the top of Serie A for a few hours at least, as Inter take on Milan at the San Siro later today.
Fiorentina also got things back on track with a 1-0 win over Cesena.
As expected, Fiorentina atoned for their loss to Roma by defeating Cesena. The hosts fielded Alessio Cerci, Adrian Mutu, and Manuel Vargas behind Alberto Gilardino in a formation that expressed their ambition from the outset.
It has been a tough season so far for coach Sinisa Mihajlovic. His team were expected to be in the reckoning for the top four, but instead they find themselves on a mediocre 12 points.
The only goal of the game came after 58 minutes when Gilardino collected a Cerci pass, propped up the ball on the turn, before volleying it into goal.
There was a sour note to the evening as Mutu went off injured.
In a fairly open game, Juventus and Roma had to settle for a draw.
Juventus went ahead in the 35th minute, and it was through the constant danger man, Alberto Aquilani. Aquilani was brought in as a replacement for Diego, and he is proving a much more valuable part of the Juve team than the Brazilian did. He found an open Vincenzo Iaquinta in the box, who volleyed home fantastically.
Roma got back on even terms through a Francesco Totti penalty at the stroke of half-time. Totti's free-kick was adjudged to have hit Simone Pepe's hand inside the box, even though there were vociferous protests from the Juve team.
The game ended 1-1, but both teams had chances to claim three points.
After two consecutive defeats, Lazio returned to winning ways by beating Napoli 2-0. The result was a shock considering how demoralized the Biancoceleste were. After all, they relinquished top spot after a derby defeat and a shock loss to Cesena.
However, Mauro Zarate and Sergio Floccari restored the confidence in the Lazio camp.
Zarate scored the first goal in the 15th minute, collecting a long pass and finishing neatly in the far corner.
Floccari added one more in the 60th minute when he collected a Zarate pass and finished with a low shot from inside the area. The win means Lazio keep pace with Milan, as they are only one point behind the Rossoneri.
Neither Sampdoria nor Chievo could find enough inspiration to score. Perhaps Antonio Cassano could have made the difference, but he is still marginalized after a dispute with Sampdoria president Ricardo Garrone.
Andre Ranocchia scored a late goal in the 83rd minute as Genoa made it two wins out of two under Davide Ballardini's reign.
Eduardo was crucial for Genoa, as his saves kept Cagliari at bay for much of the match.
Rannocchia's goal came via a header from a corner.
It was the Javier Pastore show in the Sicilian derby.
He first scored with a well-placed header before adding one from a tough angle in the second half.
The last goal came when Massimo Maccarone drew defenders to him and found Pastore open in the penalty area.
Pastore continues his red-hot form, reminding everyone why he is such a coveted player throughout Europe.
Marco Di Vaio grabbed three points for Bologna with a goal in the 58th minute.
He scored an oustanding on-the-turn shot that left Brescia stunned. They had endeavoured admirably in trying to break down the Bologna defence, but the game just did not open up for them.
The win moves Bologna into a relatively safe spot above relegation.
Antonio Candreva scored the only goal of a tempestuous encounter between relegation candidates Bari and Parma.
Bari had Masiello and Donati sent off, and Alessandro Parisi missed a penalty.
The loss leaves Bari rooted at the bottom of the table.
Udinese crushed Lecce 4-0 as Antonio Di Natale marked his return to the side with a hat-trick.
Di Natale netted all his goals in the first-half while Floro Flores added one more in the second half.
It was a resounding win for Udinese, and one that will galvanize their campaign. As for Lecce, things get worse, and this latest defeat leaves them perilously close to the relegation zone.
See my detailed report here: https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/156031/inter-milan-vs-ac-milan/#_report
