13 January 2008
MILAN 5 (Ronaldo 15, Seedorf 30, Ronaldo 46, Kaka' 68, Pato 75)
NAPOLI 2 (Sosa 27, Domizzi 37 Pen)
Pirlo played in Ronaldo with a sumptuous disguised pass, he turned and shot at the advancing Iezzo, the ball looped up off his legs and dropped into the net. Milan, who attacked with reckless abandon, were caught on the break. Lavezzi centred Hamsik's crossfield pass for Sosa to nonchalantly flick past Dida. Three minutes later Milan were back in front. Pato gathered from his hero Ronaldo and drew a save from Iezzo, Ronaldo played back the rebound, Iezzo parried a second time from the Brazilian teenager but Seedorf was on hand to lash home the rebound. Kaladze fouled Lavezzi to conceded a penalty as the home side were once again caught on the break.
Favalli replaced the struggling Maldini at half time. Despite the presence of EIGHT Napoli players in their own penalty area Seedorf's cross found Ronaldo who headed in his second goal of the season. Kaka' ran through a challenge before hammering a low drive inside Iezzo's left post. Minutes after Ronaldo was substituted Pato opened his Milan account. Chasing down a Favalli longball he held off a defender and as Iezzo advanced off his line, tapped into an empty net. He was immediately mobbed by his new team-mates. He almost made good on his promise to scored two goals when he wriggled his way through two defenders on the right flank before stinging Iezzo's palms with a ferocious drive, Emerson should have put away the rebound for a sixth.
Pato lived up to the hype. This was a sensational debut which will have the Italian press going absolutely bat shit insane. Ronaldo's importance, in terms of making space and occupying defenders, cannot be overstated.
Attendance : 70,076
Red Card : Gargano 91 (Napoli)
Assists : Pirlo, Lavezzi, n/a, Lavezzi (won pen), Seedorf, Favalli, Favalli
ATALANTA 1 (Adriano 17)
ROMA 2 (Totti 38, Mancini 45)
Guarante back-heeled Bernardini's inswinging cross and Adriano ran off the shoulder of his marker to shoot past Doni. Totti rifled a free kick into the bottom left corner and on half time Mancini, linked with a move to Manchester City, cut in from the left before unleashing a ferocious drive past Coppola.
Attendance : 18,000
Assists : Guarante, Tonetto, Pizarro
CAGLIARI 0
UDINESE 1 (Quagliarella 32)
Attendance : 10,000
Red Card : Felipe 29 (Udinese), Larrivey 89 (Cagliari)
Assist : Di Natale
LAZIO 1 (Mauri 23)
GENOA 2 (Borriello 51 Pen, Borriello 55)
Genoa goalkeeper Rubinho flapped at a corner and Mauri fired Lazio into the lead. Borriello levelled from the penalty spot and four minutes later met Milanetto's free kick with a bullet header, his 10th goal of the season.
Lazio coach Delio Rossi is headed for the sack. He hasn't been helped by Lazio's scrooge like transfer campaign.
Attendance : 15,000
Assists : n/a, Milanetto (won pen), Milanetto (fk)
PARMA 1 (Coly 69)
FIORENTINA 2 (Mutu 43, Mutu 85 Pen)
Mutu headed Fiorentina into the lead from a corner, via a deflection off Morrone. Coly equalised with a tremendous header from a Cigarini free kick. Mutu took the points from the penalty spot.
Attendance : 15,162
Assists : n/a, Cigarini (fk), Vieri (won pen)
SAMPDORIA 3 (Bellucci 20, Sammarco 45, Cassano 77)
PALERMO
A great opening goal for Samp. Cassano played a centre across the box and with his first touch Bellucci chipped the ball over Capuano, ran past him then slotted into a corner. A Cassano free kick rebounded off the underside of the crossbar, Maggio got the ball caught in his feet, Sammarco took it off him to make it 2-0. Cassano capped off another fine performance by scrambling in a third.
I believe Donadoni has hinted he would consider recalling Cassano and he should on the proviso that Cassano gets a lobotomy.
Attendance : 22,000
Assists : Cassano, n/a, Campagnaro
SIENA 2 (Cordoba 31 og, Forestieri 92)
INTER 3 (Ibrahimovic 26 Pen, Cambiasso 46, Ibrahimovic 53)
Ibrahimovic gave Inter the lead from the penalty spot. I believe it was his first league goal since late September. Cordoba turned the ball into his own net when trying to clear under pressure from Maccarone. Cambiasso restored Inter's lead on half time, sliding in an Ibrahimovic centre. Ibrahimovic made it 1-3 with a fantastic shot from 25 yards. 3 days shy of his 20th birthday Forestieri jumped for a loose ball, brought it down on his chest then ripped a shot into the top left corner.
Attendance : 15,000
Assists : Cruz, n/a, Ibrahimovic, Chivu, n/a
TORINO 1 (Bottone 78)
LIVORNO 2 (Tavano 20, Tavano 49)
An excellent first touch allowed Tavano, running between two defenders, to bring a longball under control and he side footed past Amelia. Tavano tapped in his second after Tristan's free kick almost snapped the crossbar in half. 21 year old midfielder Battone came off the bench to score his first Serie A goal from a deflected pass.
Attendance : 18,000
Assists : De Vezze, n/a, n/a
12 January 2008
EMPOLI 1 (Saudati 6 Pen)
REGGINA 1 (Ceravolo 2)
The sodden conditions played a part in the opening goal. Empoli goalkeeper Balli ran out of his box to intercept from Missiroli, the midfielder pushed the ball past him and Ceravalo applied the finishing touch. Cirillo hacked down Busce to concede a penalty. Saudati converted then missed a second penalty 10 minutes later.
Attendance : 5,000
Assists : Missiroli, Busce (won pen)
CATANIA 1 (Spinesi 15)
JUVENTUS 1 (Del Piero 91 Pen)
Spinesi lost the Juve defence on a cross, not exactly difficult, and beat Buffon lead with a stunning right foot volley. Biagianti pissed away three points with a clumsy foul on Del Piero and he got up to equalise from the penalty spot.
Attendance : 21,000
Assists : Mascara, Del Piero (won pen)