Lazio stun Parma with a 3-1 away victory. Bologna defeat Inter in a superb
match, Batistuta inspires a Fiorentina comeback against Cagliari, Juve are
held away to Venezia, Roma dismiss Vicenza despite some major absences and
Milan's victory over Perugia is marred by disgraceful violence. Some
tremendous goals in this weeks matches.

17 January 1999

BARI				3-1			SAMPDORIA
Masinga 34						Laigle 65
De Rosa 47
Olivares 70

With his back to goal Masinga killed a header, turned, shot and the ball
trickled in off the post. He looked totally uncoordinated at times but 
there's no denying he has genuine ability. Bari carved open Samps defence
with a superb move, De Rosa charged won the left wing, passed to Zambrotta,
he cut infield and played in Osmanovski with a sensational pass and he
centred for De Rosa to finish off. Brilliant goal. Laigle punished a slack
clearance with a brilliant volley but Olivares killed any hopes of a
comeback with an easy goal from Madsen's pass.

Attendance : 23,000


BOLOGNA			2-0			INTER
Signori 41 (penalty)
Fontolan 52

Inter started brightly, Baggio shooting just over from a free kick and
Ronaldo denied by a brilliant Antonioli save. Signori and Pagliuca started
their twice yearly duel (well excluding last season) with Pagliuca saving
from Signori's free kick. Ronaldo was booked for lashing out at Ingesson.
Signori failed to trouble Pagliuca with a point blank header and Baggio
struck the post from a free kick. Bologna blew another good chance from a
header, this time Andersson was the culprit. After the ref consulted his 
linesman Bologna were awarded a penalty for a idiotic handball by Galante.
Signori sent Pagliuca the wrong way. After Baggio went close with a header
Pagliuca made what must go down as one of the best saves of all time.
Forget about Banks V Pele, this was better, Binotto took a shot and as 
Pagliuca dived to cover the ball took a deflection and Pagliuca someone
managed to claw the ball over the goal with his left hand as he was diving
to his right. AWESOME SAVE! Bergomi headed Signori's corner past Pagliuca
and Inter basically stopped trying. Ronaldo tried his trademark dribble and
shot but he couldn't pull it off and he looked lethargic, I'm sure he's 
still carrying a knee injury. Pagliuca made a great save from Signori's
volley, Djorkaeff cleared Paramatti's shot off his line. Signori went close
with a chip and then blasted over when played in with a tremendous through
pass from Simutenkov.

The first half was a delight to watch, both teams playing tremendous quick
passing football. In the second half Bologna simply overran Inter thanks to
outstanding pressing by the entire team, even Signori and Fontolan were 
tackling and tracking back. Signori could have had a hat-trick. Andersson
was murdering the Inter defence, no one holds the ball up better than the
giant Swede. Fontolan was threatening every time he had possession. 
Ingesson was sensational pressing in midfield. Paramatti was awesome in
defence and attack, Binotto came close to scoring twice, Antonioli pulled
off a great save on the only occasion he needed to and was confident in his
area - just a tremendous team effort all round, one of the best I have seen
in years and the football was off the charts awesome. 

Attendance : 40,000


FIORENTINA			4-2			CAGLIARI
Batistuta 7, 79, 89					O'Neill 32
Edmundo 76						De Patre 58

Batistuta gave Fiorentina the perfect start with a great diving header from
Rui Costa's cross. Cagliari piled forward and O'Neill put them level with a
header from Vasari's cross. Zanetti was sent off a late sliding tackle on
Robbiati, his second bookable offence. Edmundo's extravagant back heel was
intercepted and De Patre profited from a superb lightning quick 3 man
counter attacking move. Fiorentina had a goal disallowed for offside.
Edmundo swept in a shot from the edge of the box and then Batistuta took
over with a volley from Robbiati's corner and a close range strike. 
 
Red Card(s) : C Zanetti 56 (Cagliari)
Attendance : 33,273


MILAN				2-1			PERUGIA
Guly 36 *						Nakata 90 (pen)
Bierhoff 39

Ambrosini seems to have added attacking skills to his play, he chipped in a
brilliant cross for Bierhoff who was denied thanks to a great save and also
flashed a shot wide of the post. This kid is a lock for the national team.
Bierhoff headed Leonardo's corner against the post, Guly headed in the
rebound. Minutes later Guly returned the favour with a cross for Bierhoff
to score his trademark headed goal. Ba look weird with black hair. As 
Bierhoff lay on the floor (he slipped) a Perugia player jumped over and 
stamped on him, the linesman was inches away but did nothing. Bierhoff and
Guly missed decent chances, Matrecano headed a shot against the crossbar.
Perugia were awarded a penalty when Rapajic fouled Costacurta in the
box. This has happened on a number of occasions over the past two seasons
and it's ridiculous, I cannot understand how a ref can award a penalty to
a player when he makes the foul, sheer stupidity and speaking of which
after Nakata converted the penalty as Bucchi ran into the goal to claim
the ball Rossi nailed him with a clothesline. He was shown the red card.
Sala and Ambrosini helped calm the situation (where was Milan's captain, 
isn't that his job?). Substitute 'keeper Abiatti looked to have taken a
boot to the face from Kievedes but the replay showed otherwise. 

A real ugly game which rightfully detracts from the good performances by 
several Milan players. The officials must take some blame for the initial 
stamping incident on Bierhoff. Violence is great in a ring or cage between 
two opponents whose purpose is to fight but cowardly acts of violence have
no place on a football field. Both teams and the officials should be fined.
Just damn ugly.

* If you think I'm typing his full name you've got problems!

Red Card(s): Rossi 90 (Milan)
Attendance : 55,000


ROMA				3-0			VICENZA
Di Francesco 6
Delvecchio 44
Gautieri 79

Roma were without most of their first choice defenders, which is no real
loss and Totti. Konsel was back in goal following a long injury lay-off.
Di Biagio intercepted a ball, struck a shot against the post and 
Di Francesco superbly chipped in the rebound. Another counter attack 
resulted in Roma's second, Di Baggio passed the ball upfield to Delvecchio,
he charged into the box, sold an outrageous dummy to a Vicenza defender and
placed the ball into the bottom corner. Another great goal. Quadrini played
a one-two with Tommasi, ran into the box and chipped in a peach of a cross
for Gautieri to head in Roma's third. Quadrini's second assist in only his
second appearance.

Attendance : 46,160


SALERNITANA			1-1			PIACENZA
Fresi 17							Dionigi 58

Di Vaio hooked a ball across goal and Fresi headed in at the far post but 
the goal was disallowed due to a foul on Vierchowod, yes he's still
playing. Fresi headed in from a corner. Dionigi ran onto a punt upfield
by Polonia and smashed the ball past Balli. Gattuso was sent off for
stamping on Dionigi.
 
Red Card(s): Gattuso 81 (Salernitana), Dionigi 81 (Piacenza)
Attendance : 36,000

	
UDINESE			0-0			EMPOLI

It was all Udinese. Poggi missed their best chance. Why Guidolin prefers
him to Sosa is beyond me. Carparelli blew Empoli's best chance from 3yds
out. Credit to the ref for not awarding a penalty when Jorgensen threw
himself over an Empoli player in the box.

Attendance : 17,000


VENEZIA				1-1			JUVENTUS
Pedone 5						Fonseca 53

Iachini lofted a ball over the Juve defence and Pedone headed into an empty
net as Birindelli and Rampulla got in each other's way. Maniero almost 
punished Juve's awful marking further, smashing a shot off the post. Juve
didn't threaten Venezia's goal until the introduction of Esnaider in the
second half. He bulldozed his way through some defenders and as he lost his
balance Fonseca whacked the loose ball past Taibi. Pessotto almost scored
an own goal with a slack clearance. Esnaider was the only bright spot in an
otherwise abysmal display from the defending champions.

Attendance : 12,292

PARMA				1-3			LAZIO
Crespo 53						Salas 51 (pen)
							Mancini 68
							Vieri 91

Crespo had a shot cleared off the line. Pancaro was 'fouled' in the box, 
Salas converted the penalty. Seemed a harsh decision but I didn't see a
replay. Fuser lofted a cross into the box, Chiesa headed down and Crespo
volleyed the ball past Marchegiani. Great finish. Mancini put Lazio back 
in the lead with an awesome back heel volley from Mihajlovic's corner. You
must see this goal. Vieri made it 3-1 with a superbly struck half volley, 
don't know who gave him the pass.

Parma tried and had enough possession but really didn't create enough good
chances and failed to put Marchegiani under enough pressure. Veron did
nothing. Lazio on the other hand looked far more dangerous when they 
attacked.