1 APRIL 2001

MILAN				1-0			LAZIO
Boban 60

The first half was absolutely awful. Negro had the only chance. He 
intercepted a slack pass and drove forward but shot over with only Rossi to
beat. Peruzzi punched out a fiercely struck shot by Helveg, donkey Bierhoff
attempted to control the ball but it hit his knee. Pathetic. Serginho was
fouled and it seemed as if the Lazio defence were waiting for the ref to blow
his whistle, he didn't, Kaladze crossed and Boban headed past Peruzzi. Right
at the death Rossi got his fingertips to Lopez's shot and Negro, totally
unmarked in front of an empty net, managed to shoot wide.

Assist : Kaladze


ATALANTA			1-1			NAPOLI
Doni 68 (Pen)						Pecchia 38

Bellini sliced a cross in his box, Amoroso rolled the ball to Pecchia and he
slotted past Pelizzoli. Napoli were equal to anything Atalanta threw at them
but came away with only a point after Doni converted a penalty awarded for
handball.  

Attendance : 19,000
Assist : Amoroso


JUVENTUS			1-1			BRESCIA
Zambrotta 30						Baggio 86

Del Piero whacked a free kick against the post. Srnicek made two great saves
from Zidane and Inzaghi wasted a couple of chances. Brescia weakly cleared a
corner, Zambrotta controlled the ball on his chest and let rip with a
brilliant half volley. Hubner hammered a shot against the post, the ball hit
Van der Sar and bounced to safety. Del Piero's brilliantly stuck a ball
through a defenders legs to give an opening to Zambrotta but he shot over.
Pirlo chipped a ball upto Baggio, with an outrageous first touch he took the
ball wide of Van der Sar and tapped into an empty net. Inzaghi had a goal
disallowed for marginal offside.

Attendance : 35,000
Assist : Pirlo


PARMA				0-0			BOLOGNA

Buffon blocked Signori's shot and two Bologna players screwed up the rebound.
Pagliuca made a stunning one handed save to prevent an own goal. Amoroso
took  a dive in the box and talked himself into a yellow card. Paolo
Cannavaro was harshly sent off for a poorly timed challenge on Brioshi.

Given the way Parma had been playing recently you would have expected
them to win this match comfortably.

Attendance : 21,500
Red Card : P Cannavaro 85 (Parma)


PERUGIA				2-3			INTER
Materazzi 44						Vieri 22, 57, 66
Vryzas 92

Vieri's gave Inter the lead with a messy header, one of those instances where
Mazzantini's lack of height cost him dearly. Cauet cleared a shot off the
line. A rare mistake by Frey gifted Perugia an equaliser. He came out to
claim Liverani's cross, got nowhere near, Di Loreto managed to keep the ball
in play and knocked it to the back post and Materazzi volleyed into an empty
net. Vieri poked in a rebound after Mazzantini had saved his header and he
completed his hat-trick with a low volley. Saudati headed against the post,
Tedesco headed the rebound over the bar. Robbiati, on loan from Inter,
supplied the cross from which Vryzas scored Perugia's second.

Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Serena, Cauet, Di Loreto, Robbiati


REGGINA			1-1			UDINESE
Taibi 87							Alberto 76

Dionigi had to be strechered off after a collision with Giannichedda left him
without a substantial amount of flesh under his knee. Alberto smashed a loose
ball past Taibi. Taibi came up for two corners, first time he headed wide,
second he headed past Turci! I believe he's only the second 'keeper in Round A
history to score from open play. Rampulla (Juve) was the first.

Attendance : 15,000
Assist : Mamede


ROMA				3-1			VERONA
Apolloni 55 (og)						Camoranesi 26
Batistuta 60
Montella 71						

Batistuta wasted two great early chances. Antonioli threw himself at
Bonazzoli's cross, missed, Zago kicked the ball against Camoranesi and it
rolled into the net. Antonioli made a brilliant save from Oddo. Bonazzoli
dragged a shot inches wide of the post. Totti helped on Candela's cross and
Apolloni beat Montella to the ball and headed past his own 'keeper. Cafu made
goals for Batistuta and Montella. 

Attendance : 62,235
Assists : Cafu (x2)


31 MARCH 2001

BARI				3-2			LECCE
Andersson 36, 48						Vugrinec 16, 44
Poggi 90

Masinga managed to head wide from six inches (insert joke here). Drug addict
Gillet (he tested positive for the steroid nandrolone) dropped a cross and
Vugrinec put Lecce in the lead. Cassano cleverly drew a defender out of
position which allowed Andersson to run onto Bellavista's through ball
and equalise. Tonetto smashed a free kick into the Bari wall, latched onto
the rebound, ran wide and floated a cross onto Vugrinec's head, 1-2.

Sterchele made a fantastic save from Masinga's header, Osmanovski pulled
down the loose ball, turned and fell over, penalty. Andersson scored from the
spot and then set-up Poggi for the winner.

Attendance : 12,000
Assists : Bellavista, Tonetto, Osmanovski, Andersson


VICENZA				1-1			FIORENTINA
Repka 10 (og)						Rui Costa 76

Sommese's shot deflected off Adani and fell to Repka, Repka had plenty of
time but somehow managed to slice the ball past his own keeper. Toldo made
an excellent save from Crovari's snapshot. Some nice touch play involving
Toni, Comotto and Kallon gave Vicenza their only other notable opening of the
second half but Toldo was quick to smother Zauli's effort. Chiesa got in the
way of Leandro's volley. An attempted clearance by Tomas fell to Rui Costa
and he drilled the ball past Sterchele. 

It's difficult to judge Mancini's coaching skills because he's inherited a
squad whose confidence is shot.