11 November 2007
As most of you already know today's matches have been overshadowed by the death of Lazio supporter and well known DJ, 26 year old Gabriele Sandri. At around 9am (Italy time) Lazio ultras attacked Juventus supporters at a motorway service station in Badia al Pino, Arezzo. Arezzo is in Tuscany some 153 miles from Rome and 327 from Turin. The Juventus supporters appealed to a passing police car for help and it's believed a warned shot fired by one of the policeman killed Gabriele Sandri who was sat in the back of a car. Lazio's match with Inter at the San Siro was called-off. All other Serie A matches kicked off 15 minutes late but the match between Atalanta and Milan was suspended after seven minutes. Both sets of fans wanted the game called off. Atalanta's Ultras, who apparently have close links with Lazio's ultras, started throwing flares on the pitch and smashed holes in the Plexiglas separating the fans from the pitch. The referee stopped play and Atalanta captain Cristiano Doni failed in his attempts to get the fans to stop their violent protests. Sunday's evening match between Roma and Cagliari was subsequently called off.
TORINO 1 (Malonga 15)
CATANIA 1 (Martinez 63)
Ventola's sensational overhead kick, from the edge of the box, thundered against the underside of the crossbar and 18 year old Malonga, on as a seventh minute sub for Rosina, smashed in his first Serie A goal. Fontana collided with a defender when trying to claim a deflected cross leaving Martinez to tap into an empty net.
Attendance : 19,000
Red Card : Vargas 26 (Catania)
Assists : n/a, n/a
FIORENTINA 1 (Pazzini 28)
UDINESE 2 (Quagliarella 23, Di Natale 63)
Quagliarella ended Frey's run of four successive clean sheets with a powerful point blank header from a stunning Pepe cross. Handanovic flapped at a cross under pressure from Mutu and Pazzini headed into an empty net. Felipe hit a longball out of defence to Di Natale and despite being marked by three defenders he brought the ball under control before spraying out wide to Pepe, he played a one-two with Quagliarella and Di Natale slammed his centre past Frey.
I'm not sure who Donadoni will play in attack against Scotland and he's certainly not short of options but Di Natale and Toni would seem to be the ideal pairing based on current form. So much for my Udinese prediction.
Attendance : 28,382
Red Card : Pasqual 83 (Catania)
Assists : Pepe, n/a, Pepe
SIENA 2 (Maccarone 18, Loria 92)
LIVORNO 3 (Tavano 17, Bergvold 31, Knezevic 42)
Bergvold overran a pass before crashing into a defender and Loria's hurried clearance fell to Tavano who caught Eleftheropoulos by surprise with an early shot. Siena hit back immediately, Maccarone scoring via a deflection after Amelia failed to hold a Locatelli shot. Bergvold ran though a feeble challenge on the edge of the box to restore Livorno's lead and Knezevic made it 1-3 with a lucky back header which took a freak bounce before dropping into the top left corner. Loria held off Grandoni to scramble in a late consolation goal.
Attendance : 8,000
Assists : n/a, n/a, n/a, Loviso, Maccarone
PARMA 2 (Gasbarroni 43 Pen, Pisanu 57)
JUVENTUS 2 (Legrottaglie 76, Iaquinta 82)
Juve has ANOTHER soft penalty called against them. Reginaldo ran between two defenders and went down as Zanetti brushed against him. As usual Buffon didn't get close to the penalty. Lurking at the back post Pisanu took a high cross on his chest, cut inside Grygera and volleyed past Buffon. Legrottaglie headed Juve back into the match from a Tiago free kick.
Two minutes later there was a double dismissal. Chiellini went through the side of Morfeo with a sliding tackle, as Morfeo fell on top of him he grabbed the defenders chin and Chiellini retaliated by ramming his shoulder in Morfeo's jaw. Morfeo deserves a three game ban and Chiellini at least five. Arseholes. Iaquinta poked in the equaliser after Trezeguet helped on a cross and in injury time Coly was sent off for a marginally late sliding tackle on Zanetti.
I make it five penalties called against Juventus so far this season in just 12 games. At this rate they're going to set a record and Juve's crap defence isn't to blame for this particular stat.
Attendance : 22,278
Red Cards : Chiellini 78 (Juventus), Morfeo 78 (Parma), Coly 92 (Parma)
Assists : Reginaldo (won pen), Gasbarroni, Tiago (fk), Trezeguet
REGGINA 2 (Amoruso 32, Joelson 81)
GENOA 0
Amoruso turned on a Vigiani knockdown and managed to stay on his feet despite Lucarelli's insane attempts to pull him down in the box then shot past Rubinho. Brazilian striker Joelson's first Serie A goal was a fantastic header.
Reggina's first win of the season in Renzo Ulivieri's second game in charge. They should have won last week as well. I think, hope, they're going to be fine. They're my second favourite side after Milan.
Attendance : 11,000
Assists : Vigiani, Vigiani
10 November 2007
SAMPDORIA 3 (Giacomazzi 5 og, Montella 40, Sammarco 90)
EMPOLI
Giacomazzi turned a Volpi free kick into his own net. Bellucci hit a crossfield pass out to Sammarco on the edge of the box, he passed to Maggio who ran made an overlapping run and Montella tapped in his centre to score his 140th Serie A goal which makes you realise what a phenomenal striker he was at his peak between 1996 -2001 before he was hit by injuries. Bellucci centred a longball and Caracciolo seemed certain to score his first goal of the season until Sammarco selfishly turned his goal-bound effort into the net, to the dismay of his team-mate.
Attendance : 20,000
Assists : n/a, Maggio, Caracciolo
PALERMO 2 (Tedesco 57, Tedesco 66)
NAPOLI 1 (Bogliacino 54)
Bogliacino bravely headed in Lavezzi cross, taking a boot to the face from defender Zaccardo, bloodying his nose and eyebrow in the process. Tedesco equalised with a stunning volley from the edge of the box and nine minutes later scrambled in the winner from a corner.
Attendance : 25,138
Assists : Lavezzi, n/a, n/a