16 DECEMBER 2001

ROMA				1-0			MILAN
Totti 43

Totti picked out Delvecchio with a ball over the top and from a tight angle he
pulled the ball across goal. Totti scored with a deflected effort though Abbiati
should have saved. He miss-judged the bounce and the ball spun up off his
hands into the net. Antonioli made a brilliant save from Rui Costa's free kick
just before half time.

Milan had a goal controversially disallowed for handball. Roque Junior flicked
on a long ball to Jose Mari, it brushed his arm as he turned and shot past
Antonioli. Abbiati made a fantastic save to deny Delvecchio late in the second
half.

This was a typical Roma match though this time it was Milan and not the
reigning champions that were kicking the crap our of their opponents. Close
to 40 fouls in total. Shevchenko and Totti, the toughest forwards on the
planet, came in for some rough treatment as usual. Shevchenko was kicked
in the back by Candela (but didn't go down) and also cut in half by Samuel
but bounced right back up. Rui Costa was beyond awful. He continually gave
the ball away and far from setting up attacks his dithering on the ball and over
dribbling slowed Milan down. Without Serginho and Contra Milan have no
creativity. Roma are well on course to successfully defend their championship.
The rest of Serie A better hope the Giallorossi's incessant work rate takes it's
toll in the summer because even without any fit strikers they're already top.

Attendance : 60,000


ATALANTA			4-1			PARMA
Berretta 23						Micoud 67
Sala 43
Doni 59
Comandini 66

As Djetou was busy climbing over Comandini the ball hit the former Milan
striker and Berretta poked past Frey. Sala headed in Paganin's free kick. Dabo
punted the ball 40yds downfield and Doni headed first time past the luckless
Frey. Easily the best thing Dabo has done in his miserable Serie A career. The
Milan rejects combined for Atalanta's fourth, Saudati helping Paganin's pass
onto Comandini. Micoud pulled one back with a great strike from the edge of
the box.

The draw hasn't been kind to Passarella but he better start winning and win
quickly. George Graham would be ideal.

Attendance : 13,000
Assists : Comandini, Paganin, Dabo, Saudati, Bonazzoli 


BOLOGNA			2-1			PERUGIA
Pecchia 25						Tedesco 21
Fresi 46

Ze Maria swung in a corner, it hit Castellini's chest and Tedesco poked the
ball past Pagliuca. Pecchia smashed in a rebound after Cruz's shot had
inevitably been saved. Fresi headed in from Tarantino's free kick.

Attendance : 15,000
Assist : Tarantino


FIORENTINA			1-0			BRESCIA
Moretti 93

Moretti gave desperate Fiorentina a crucial three points when he scrambled in
a late winner. Brescia are struggling to cope without Baggio and Guardiola.

Attendance : 10,000


JUVENTUS			2-0			PIACENZA
Ferrara 35
Trezeguet 91

The Boss wasted a glorious chance in the opening minutes. Juve took the lead
from Nedved's corner. Trezeguet met Zambrotta's flick on with a far post volley,
the ball smacked off Ferrara's face into the net. Buffon made a World Class
save to deny The Boss in the 91st minute and to add insult to injury Juve ran
downfield and scored a second. Maresca with an OUTSTANDING disguised pass.
He stepped over the ball with his right foot then flicked it to Trezeguet with this
left, Trezegol killed the ball before rifling past Guardalben. Give him the service
and he's the best damn finisher on the planet. Trezeguet will get a far better
supply when playing for France than he does for Juve. Scary, scary and
brilliant.

Attendance : 36,246
Assists : Trezeguet, Maresca


LECCE				1-1			TORINO
Cimirotic 49						Lucarelli 76

Despite the terrible conditions this was an excellent match. Tons of chances,
goal-line clearances and great saves. ? helped on Chevanton pass to Cimirotic
and with a superb first touch, although I'm not sure he meant it, he took the
ball wide of Sorrentino and tapped into an empty net. Lucarelli equalised from
Galante's long ball out of defence.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Chevanton, Galante


VENEZIA				2-1			UDINESE
Maniero 39						Helguera 66
Valtolina 73

Maniero chased down Caballero as he tried to shepard the ball back to Turci
and succeeded in stealing the ball and giving Venezia the lead. Helguera
equalised with a goal his brother would have been proud of, a brilliant strike
from 25 yards. Valtolina gave Venezia their first win of the season when his
shot deflected in off Gargo.

Getting rid of Hodgson was one of the worst mistakes Udinese have made in
their history.

Attendance : 6,909
Assist : ?


VERONA				3-1			LAZIO
Colucci 21						Crespo 55
Camoranesi 41
Mutu 72

Inzaghi missed an open goal and wasted a further two chances before Leonardo
Colucci gave Verona the lead. Colucci controlled Camoranesi's cross with his
arm before volleying past Marchegiani. Marchegiani then did a 'Peruzzi' coming
off his line and flattening Frick. Obvious penalty but should have been a red
card. Oddo's penalty was saved, his second successive penalty miss, but
Camoranesi slammed in the rebound. Crespo rounded Ferron and tapped into
an empty net and should have scored a second but saw his effort smash against
the inside a post. Verona were furious when the linesman disallowed a perfectly
legit goal after Cesar cleared the ball out of the net. Even Ray Charles would
have seen this one. A superb move give Verona the cushion of another goal.
Camoranesi pulled down a loose ball, dragged it back then hit an instant pass
through two defenders to Frick and Mutu turned his centre past Marchegiani.
The commentator was in hysterics. Inzaghi put the seal on a miserable
performance when he was sent off for kicking out at Frick.

Mutu will be a great player one day - if he stays free from injury.

Attendance : 15,158
Red Card : Inzaghi 74 (Lazio)
Assists : Camoranesi, Inzaghi, Frick


16 DECEMBER 2001

INTER				1-2			CHEIVO
Vieri 25							Corradi 20
							Marazzina 54

Match of the season. This is about as good as it gets with chances coming thick
and fast at both ends. Guly had the first after just 10 minutes with a superbly
struck half volley which Lupatelli miraculously saved. Chievo or, to be more
precise, Eriberto then set about taking Inter apart. Eriberto bounced Corini's
superb diagonal pass off his chest before volleying over the bar. Eriberto, who
must surely make Brazil's World Cup squad, surged down the left flank before
floating a perfect cross to Marrazina but he headed wide. Perrotta wasted a
100% chance from Gresko's mistake. Chievo took a deserved lead from a
corner. Corini's wicked, wicked cross was headed against the inside of a post by
Corradi, the ball had already crossed the line before Farinos tried to play 'keeper
but only succeeded in looking stupid as he palmed the ball off his head into the
net. Inter hit back immediately, Farinos' free kick struck Vieri and rolled into the
net. Farinos, who handball aside had a marvellous game, chipped a ball up to
Ronaldo, he bounced it off his chest before unleashing a left foot volley which
just sailed over the bar. Recoba went close with free kicks either side of half
time, the second crashing off a post.

Perrotta's awesome through pass caught the Inter defence cold and Toldo was
helpless as Marazzina hit a beautiful first time shot inside the post. Vieri
muscled his way into the box and unselfishly centred for Ronaldo, his shot hit
Eriberto's heels and agonisingly rolled wide of goal. Ronaldo, who seemed to
improve with each passing minute then made one his trademark bursts into
the box before crossing to Kallon but he shot wide. Chievo almost scored a third
but desperate defending by Cordoba thwarted Barone.

Do you believe in miracles? No? then start believing. This isn't a fairytale,
this isn't Hans Christian Anderson or Walt Disney, this is real!

Attendance : 62,000
Assists : Corini, Farinos, Perrotta


R Mehdi