LAZIO - BIG MONEY, BIG PROBLEMS

Lazio's expensive summer gamble backfires as Conceicao scores the winning
goal against his former club and the fans turn on last season's Championship
winning coach, Sven Goran Eriksson. Batistuta scores a late winner in an
emotional match against former team Fiorentina. Atalanta and Bologna
maintain their excellent starts. Victories for Milan and Juventus. 


26 NOVEMBER 2000

ROMA				1-0			FIORENTINA
Batistuta 82

The Fiorentina tifosi gave former hero Batistuta a warm welcome. The match
itself was a drab affair with little in the way of genuine goalscoring chances.
Predictably Batistuta won the match with a fantastic half volley.

Attendance : 65,000
Assist : Guigou


BARI				2-1			UDINESE
Masinga 66, 77						Sosa 92

Both teams had goals disallowed for offside. Masinga come on as a substitute
and not for the first time turned the match on it's head. He poked in
Mazzarelli's free kick and was left with a tap-in following good work by
Osmanovski. Sosa headed in Fiore's corner.

Attendance : 10,000
Assists : Mazzarelli, Osmanovski, Fiore


JUVENTUS			2-1			VERONA
Trezeguet 37						Adailton 88
Zidane 74

Like most Juve games this wasn't great viewing. Interestingly Del Piero was
benched and Trezeguet started alongside Inzaghi in attack. He headed Juve
into the lead, Birindelli with the cross. Ferron made a fantastic save from
Conte's annual attempt at goal of the season, an outrageous back heel flick
from a corner. Tacchinardi won a free kick 25yds from goal. Zidane stepped
up and brilliantly curled the ball into the net according to the commentator
ala Platini. Knowing the media Zidane is suddenly back on form and is the
best player in the World, etc, etc, etc. Adailton got one back after a series
of deflections.

Attendance : 30,000
Assists : Birindelli, Tacchinardi


PARMA				2-0			LAZIO
Conceicao 10
Lamouchi 94

Pancaro and Peruzzi left Amoroso's through ball to each other, Conceicao
ran in on the blindside and beat both of them to it, 1-0. Amoroso missed two
chances late on though Peruzzi deserves some credit. Donkey Couto was sent
off for his second bookable offence. Deep into injury time Lamouchi ran onto
a through ball, Pancaro tried to clear but kicked the ball straight against
the Frenchman, he held off Nesta and shot past Peruzzi.

Fans in the stadium held aloft a banner calling for Eriksson to get the sack.
As many had predicted, Lazio's expensive gamble of trading Conceicao and
Almeyda for Crespo, has spectacularly backfired. Somehow I doubt Eriksson
was willing to lose both players for Crespo, was probably a move by President
Cragnotti. Rumour has it that if Lazio's don't take three points off Leeds in
next week's Champions league clash, Eriksson is history. 

Attendance : 24,000 
Assist : Amoroso
Red Card : Couto 88 (Lazio)


PERUGIA				1-3			BOLOGNA
Saudati 54						Bia 2
							Locatelli 39
							Nervo 46

Bia was credited with the opening goal though Monaco deflected his cross
past Mazzantini. Ze Maria's free kick hit the outside of a post and Pagliuca
made a great point blank save from Bucchi. Locatelli scored against the
run of play, meeting Nervo's cross with a diving header. Nervo finished
off a brilliant one touch passing move by lifting Locatelli's precision through
pass over Mazzantini. Saudati punished slack defending to grab a consolation
goal.
 
Attendance : 8,000
Assists : Nervo, Locatelli


REGGINA			0-3			BRESCIA
							Marino 55
							Calori 70
							Esposito 82

The ball broke for Marino as Baggio was fouled outside the box, he tried his
luck from a stupid angle and the ball crept into the net. Baggio smoked
Stovini with a great dummy in the box and touched the ball back to Calori
who swept a first time shot past Taibi. Baggio did another number on Stovini
out on the left flank, cut inside the box and whipped a brilliant cross to the
back post with the outside of his foot, Esposito met the ball with an
outrageously athletic header. A definite contender for goal of the season.
Shame none of this counts as the match was suspended due to crown trouble.
A real ball breaker for Brescia who deserved the points. I'm assuming the
home fans caused the trouble which should mean the result stands and
Reggina could be docked points.

Attendance : 23,232
Assists : Baggio (x2)


VICENZA				0-0			INTER

Kallon had a goal harshly disallowed for offside. Frey made a fantastic point
blank save from Toni. Gresko was lucky not to give away a penalty. Rossi
cleared Blanc's header off the line.

Red Card : Gresko 81 (Inter)
Attendance : 14,000


25 NOVEMBER 2000

ATALANTA			1-0			LECCE
Ganz 44

Chimenti made a fabulous save from Rossini's bullet header and Ganz had
a shot cleared off the line. They combined for the goal, Rossini's chesting
the ball into Ganz's path and the veteran striker volleyed past Chimenti.
Atalanta were awarded a penalty when Nappi dived in the box, Chimenti
made another stunning save from Ganz's spot kick.

Assist : Rossini


MILAN				1-0			NAPOLI
Ambrosini 44

The scoreline would have read 10-0 if Milan took their chances, Bierhoff and
Jose Mari missing six between then. Ambrosini scored the only goal, a header
from Bierhoff's cross. Napoli put up a fight in the second half and almost came
away with a point were it not for two World Class saves from Abbiati both
from Magoni. Milan's first clean sheet in seven league games.

Assist : Bierhoff