A throwaway week in Serie A, 3 penalties are missed and with the exception of
Udinese none of the teams play great football. Lazio, Milan and Parma labour
to unimpressive wins. Fiorentina can only manage a goal-less draw at home to
Roma. Bologna, Udinese and Juventus stay in the UEFA Cup zone. Actually the
highlight of the day came before the goals round-up as Anna Falchi was
dancing around in the studio showing off a wonderful see through dress. I 
think she forgot to put on a bra, on purpose. You won't get that on PPV!

21 February 1999

BOLOGNA			2-0			EMPOLI
Binotto 15
Signori 81

Empoli failed to clear a long punt into the box by Lucic and Binotto curled 
the ball past Sereni. Signori blew an undeserved penalty but made amends
with a tap-in from Kolyvanov's cross.

Attendance : 25,000


JUVENTUS			2-0			VICENZA
Amoruso 10
Conte 29

A Zidane corner led to the first goal, Conte's attempted shot fell to Amoruso
who whacked the ball into the roof of the net. If someone can tell me why
Schenardi was stood on his goal-line with his legs wide open please let me
know, actually please don't. Conte headed in Zidane's cross.

Attendance : 44,596


LAZIO				1-0			INTER
Conceicao 38

Nedved's cross caused havoc in the Inter goal, Pagliuca punched out Vieri's
header and the big man squared the ball for Conceicao to score the crucial
goal. Zamorano kept throwing himself to the ground. Pagliuca denied Conceicao
his second with the now customary great save. Cauet screwed up a decent
chance created by Baggio who also struck the crossbar from a free kick and 
forced Marchegiani into a brilliant save with a fiercely struck volley. 
Stankovic and Salas blew two great late chances but Conceicao's goal was 
enough. The first half was bloody awful. Lazio are good to watch when they
have the ball in the final third just remember to close your eyes when
watching the midfield. Inter were pathetic and barely put up a fight.

Attendance : 70,000


MILAN				1-0			CAGLIARI
Villa 50 (own goal)

Muzzi missed a great chance early in the match, heading straight into
Abbiati's arms. By the time Albertini shot hopelessly wide from the edge of
the box Cagliari had already spurned several chances. Bierhoff's header 
deflected off Villa past his own 'keeper. Ziege's cross was great. Milan 
created a number of good chances in the second half but  goalscoring remains
a problem.

Attendance : 60,000


SALERNITANA			1-2			PARMA
Di Vaio 85						Cannavaro 41
							Stanic 54

Monaco had his hands all over Crespo in the box, Parma were awarded a penalty
but Chiesa's shot was saved. Cannavaro headed in Fuser's corner. Stanic 
turned in Crespo's cross and Di Vaio scored a consolation killing a through
pass beautifully and shooting past Buffon. Parma were so devoid of ideas it
was embarrassing, almost as bad as watching a Lazio match actually it was 
worse as at least Vieri and Salas are great to watch. When Crespo gets a 
chance he just closes his eyes and hopes for the best, reminds me of former
Milan player Massaro. Chiesa has great technique but can't score.

Attendance : 35,000


SAMPDORIA			3-2			PIACENZA
Montella 23 (penalty)					Piovani 70, 79 (pens)
Laigle 33						
Ortega 56

Montella won and converted a penalty. Laigle headed in Ortega's free kick.
Ortega scored with a brilliant volley from Montella's cushioned header. 
Piovani scored from a free kick and a penalty but Samp hung on for a much
needed victory. Montella may have scored but he still doesn't look as sharp
as he used to be prior to injury.

Attendance : 15,087


UDINESE			4-0			BARI
Sosa 38, 48
Amoroso 64
Bertotto 78

Walem and Amoroso created Sosa's first and Amoroso was also involved in
Sosa's second, Genaux ran onto his superb disguised pass and crossed for 
Sosa who poked the ball in. Amoroso was left with a tap-in thanks to a
De Ascentis hospital pass. At this point Guidolin couldn't resist bringing
on Poggi. Sosa blew a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick and Bertotto
capitalised on another mistake from De Ascentis and chipped Mancini from
35yds great goal, great performance. Sosa has now become Udinese's talisman
just like Bierhoff before him. 

Red Card(s) : De Rosa 57 (Bari)
Attendance : 16,000


VENEZIA				2-1			PERUGIA
Recoba 12						Bucchi 92
Maniero 47

The outstanding Recoba let Marangon's throw in bounce in the edge of the box
and smashed the ball into the net. Mazzantini could only parry Recoba's shot,
Maniero tapped in the rebound. Luppi missed a penalty, Maniero missed an
open goal, Perugia had a goal disallowed and Bucchi scored from a Kaviedes
pass. Recoba is and has been THE outstanding player in Serie A over the past
two months. Not sure why either Volpi or Tedesco were sent off.

Red Card(s) : Tedesco 80 (Perugia), Volpi 94 (Venezia)
Attendance  9,554


FIORENTINA			0-0			ROMA

Toldo pulled off an incredible double save to deny Paulo Sergio. Edmundo
volleyed over from close range with the goal gaping. Toldo made a good save
as Tomassi charged towards goal and Edmundo shot inches wide when put through
by Rui Costa. Tarozzi (Fiorentina) struck the post.  Totti smashed a ball 
against Toldo and Aldair had a header cleared off the line. Robiatti blew a
great chance in the final minute. Fabio Junior's body movements are eerily 
like Ronaldo's but he hasn't got the pace or ability.

Attendance : 45,000