Milan hold Fiorentina to a goal-less draw but Batistuta picks up a hamstring
injury. Lazio storm into second place with an easy victory over Perugia, 
Roma's traditional post Christmas slump continues, Inter cannot stop scoring
at home and Lippi quits as coach of Juve following their thrashing by Parma
at the Delli Alpi.


7 February 1999

BOLOGNA			3-1			BARI
Signori 37						Knudsen 6
K Andersson 47
Kolyvanov 92

Masinga picked up a loose ball in midfield and started the move that led to
the goal, Knudsen with a powerful finish. Signori equalised with a close 
range strike following some wonderful ball juggling by Fontolan. Andersson 
headed in Lucic's free kick and Kolyvanov made it 3-1.

Red Card(s) : D Andersson 60 (Bari), Masinga 87 (Bari)
Attendance : 27,000


FIORENTINA			0-0			MILAN

Weah's volley cannoned off the inside of the post, Edmundo also struck the
crossbar. Weah squandered a number of chances, Bierhoff also missed a 
header from point blank range. Boban came on for Morfeo and had a magical
game, continually abusing the Fiorentina defence, creating several good 
chances and forcing Toldo into a miracle save from a great snapshot on the
turn. Batistuta appeared to pull his hamstring late in the second half.

Milan were by far the better team, their defence somehow managing to tame
Edmundo and Batistuta. The entire team worked hard, apart from Albertini
because he doesn't know what hard work is, Ambrosini in particular was
outstanding as Milan continually overpowered the lightweight Fiorentina
midfield. Edmundo was too selfish in possession and Batistuta literally
ran himself into the ground, I cannot recall the last time I saw a forward
defend so brilliantly and still manage to make forays into attack. With
Batistuta looking at about a month on the sidelines this could be the
defining moment in Fiorentina's season. Milan almost passed the test but
Zac is not far off a championship winning team.

Attendance : 42,067


INTER				5-1			EMPOLI
Baggio 6							Carparelli 57
Simeone 17
Djorkaeff 35 (pen), 66, 90

Pathetic 'keeping gifted Baggio a goal from a free kick. Simeone headed in 
West's cross. Baggio won Inter a penalty with a dive, Djorkaeff converted.
Carparelli turned in the ball from a goalmouth scramble and Djorkaeff 
completed his hat-trick by smashing in a rebound from Zanetti's shot
and converting West's deflected cross.

Red Card(s) : Cribari 79 (Empoli)
Attendance : 60,000


LAZIO				3-0			PERUGIA
Vieri 42
Salas 48, 76

Perugia's away kit is bloody awful. Two defensive errors gifted Lazio a two
goal lead, Vieri and Salas profiting. Salas headed in Mancini's cross.
Lazio could have got into double figures but still relied on the long ball.

Attendance : 45,000


SALERNITANA			1-2			UDINESE 2
Pierini 47 (og)						Locatelli 39
							Amoroso 46

Locatelli capitalised on another dodgey offside trap to head Udinese into
the lead. Amoroso met Bachini's cross with a superb diving header, Pierini
headed past his own 'keeper and Bernardini missed a penalty for 
Salernitana.

Attendance : 30,855


SAMPDORIA			0-0			CAGLIARI

Samp created the chances but couldn't find a way past the 'keeper. 
Franceschetti was sent off for two bookable offences, Ortega was sent off
for throwing an elbow.

Red Card(s) : Franceschetti 73 (Sampdoria), Ortega 92 (Sampdoria)
Attendance : 20,500


VENEZIA				3-1			ROMA
Recoba 1						Di Biagio 68
Maniero 48
Ballarin 66

Recoba tapped in a rebound. Pedone flicked a ball over the now legendary
Roma defence and as they stood appealing for offside Maniero coolly slotted
the ball past Chimenti and Venezia made it 3-0 as once again the Roma
defence stood still waiting for the linesman as Ballarin ran onto Recoba's
though ball and easily beat Chimenti. Di Biagio blasted in a consolation
goal.

Attendance : 10,685


VICENZA				1-0			PIACENZA
Ambrosetti 10

Ambrosetti volleyed in from Otero's cross.

Red Card(s) : Delli Carri 38 (Piacenza)
Attendance : 14,000


JUVENTUS			2-4			PARMA
Tacchinardi 14						Crespo 34, 40, 58
Fonseca 73						Chiesa 38

Tacchinardi shot Juve into the lead with a magnificent strike from about
25yds. Esnaider missed a sitter. Crespo grabbed his first following a sweet
counter attack, Dino Baggio heading on a loose ball to Chiesa who crossed
into the box and Crespo beat Peruzzi to the ball with a great first time
finish. Chiesa punished Montero's hospital pass and was left with an open
goal when Peruzzi made one of those idiotic charges off his goal-line.
Crespo made it 3-1 with a header from Bennarivo's headed cross and 
completed his hat-trick with an arrogant finish from Veron's cross. Henry
had a goal disallowed for handball and Fonseca chipped over Buffon to 
complete the scoring.