25 October 1998

Predictably Juventus V Inter ends amidst controversy again thanks to a dodgy
penalty and  2 red cards. Milan edge out Roma 3-2 in a pulsating contest. Perugia
pull off the shock of the season beating Parma 2-1 at home.  Tons of goals and
tons of red cards.

BOLOGNA			3-1			PIACENZA
Nervo 51						Mangone 58 (og)
Andersson 55, 78

Binotto played a key role in Bologna's first league win of the season, he got
Lamacchi sent off for a nothing foul then set up Nervo and Andersson, Andersson
with a superb flick finish for his first and the second a toe poke from close range.
In between Mangone put the ball past his own 'keeper.

Attendance : 24,969
Red Card(s) : Lamacchi 41 (Piacenza)


CAGLIARI			3-3			BARI
Muzzi 42, 45						Knudsen 44 (pen)
De Patre 53						Masinga 80
							Zambrotta 82

Muzzi headed in Vasari's cross. Zambrotta won a penalty with a shameful dive,
Knudsen converted. Muzzi shot Cagliari back in the lead with a great turn and
shot and then crossed from a corner for De Patre to head Cagliari into a 3-1 lead.
Masinga whacked in a rebound after Bressan struck the post and Zambrotta
headed in the equaliser from De Rosa's cross. Awful defending by Cagliari and
another spirited fightback from Bari.

Attendance : 18,000
Red Card(s) : Marcolini 86 (Bari)


FIORENTINA			4-0			SALERNITANA
Edmundo 50, 89
Batistuta 69, 91

Monaco was dismissed for a tackle from behind on Edmundo, even though he made
little contact. Fiorentina had two goals disallowed before Edmundo headed them
into the lead from Heinrich's headed pass. Batistuta scored his first thanks to a
great Edmundo through ball and another great though ball, this time from
Robbiati, sent away Edmundo for his second. Batistuta completed his brace with
a shot from an incredible angle. Fiorentina were breaking at incredible speed.

Attendance : 40,000
Red Card(s) : Monaco 11 (Salernitana)


LAZIO				1-1			VICENZA
Mancini 54						Schenardi 30

Schenardi headed in Zauli's cross. Taibi spilled Mihajlovic's free kick and Mancini
tapped in the rebound.

Attendance : 35,000


MILAN				3-2			ROMA
Leonardo 46						Delvecchio 9, 70
Ziege 59
Weah 73

For the first 30 minutes it was all Roma. Delvecchio slid in a rebound after Rossi
parried Totti's chip. Delvecchio then hit the inside of the left post the ball
rebounded for Tomic who struck the other post. Rossi pulled off an unbelievable
save from Totti's vicious half volley. An inspired Bierhoff tried the same trick but
Chimenti tipped his shot over the crossbar. Bierhoff had a goal disallowed for
offside and Weah was booked for punching the ball out of Chimenti's hands.
Leonardo equalised from Bierhoff's knock back, terrible marking by Tomic. Wome
and Helveg should have been red carded for ludicrous two footed tackles on each
other. Early in the second half Roma won a penalty thanks to a dive from
Delvecchio. For thesecond consecutive week Rossi saved a penalty, this time from
Totti. The Roma defence waited for Chimenti to claim Weah's extravagant back
heel but he was slow off his line, Chimenti attempted to block the ball, it struck
Ziege's elbow and he poked the ball into an empty net. Delvecchio slammed the
ball in from Paolo Sergio's pass. Weah headed in Boban's free kick. Paolo Sergio
headed wide from close range as Milan hung on for the 3 points.

Awesome match. Milan looked a different team once Weah and Leonardo switched
flanks. Zac subbed the eternally hopeless Albertini and we finally saw the central
midfield partnership of Ambrosini and Boban that Milan fans (well me and two
others) had been crying out for. N'Gotty and Zago were superb in defence for their
respective teams and Ambrosini gave another great performance as did
Delvecchio. Totti was anonymous after missing the penalty. An encouraging
display from Milan if you switch off your brain when they defend but Roma
deserved a draw.

Attendance : 65,000
Red Card(s) : Boban 82 (Milan), Conti 91 (Roma)


PERUGIA				2-1			PARMA
Rapaic 10						Chiesa 1
Bucchi 28

For the second successive week Chiesa scored thanks to a great back heel from
Crespo, wonder if it will work against Fiorentina next week? Rapaic scored with
a missile from outside the box and Bucchi gave Perugia a shock lead when he rose
between Cannavaro and Thuram to head in Campolo's second assist. Other than a
header from Stanic which hit the post, Parma were restricted to shots from long
range.

Attendance : 15,000

SAMPDORIA			3-0			EMPOLI
Palmieri 18, 72
Ortega 70

Palmieri curled in a shot from inside the box thanks to Ortega's pass. Sakic took a
dive in the box and got a deserved smack in the head from an Empoli player.
Ortega missed the penalty. He made amends with one of his trademark dribble
and shoot goals later and Palmieri added a third with a magnificent half volley
from Ortega's delightful pass. Ortega for Zidane? Well he played more of a team
game than I have ever seen him play but he still needs a haircut.

Attendance : 18,000


UDINESE			1-1			VENEZIA
Amoroso 36 (pen)					Schwoch 56

Amoroso dived in the box and converted the penalty. Schwoch volleyed in Pedone's
cross, Venezia's first goal of the season.

Attendance : 17,000


JUVENTUS			1-0			INTER
Del Piero 87 (pen)

Pagliuca pulled off his trademark miracle saves from Iuliano's volley and a close
range effort from Inzaghi. Inzaghi fell over in the box, Del Piero's penalty was
saved by Pagliuca but he spilled the ball and Del Piero put away the rebound. It
was never a penalty but Galante did not help by putting his hands all over Inzaghi.
Zidane was sent off for a vile two footed challenge on Sousa, fortunately Sousa
was quick to pull away.  I assume Davids was dismissed for dissent. Inter rarely
threatened.

Red Card(s) : Zidane 48 (Juventus), Davids 91 (Juventus)

There was some business about the ref Farina on several broadcasts. According to
CNN he received a  'phone call on Saturday asking him to favour Empoli. First the
drugs scandal and now this and that's on top of 14 red cards in 18 league games.