31 October 1998

Inter's shock defeat at home to Bari may be the end of Simoni's reign as coach.
Crespo upstages his illustrious countryman Batistuta as Parma defeat Fiorentina
2-0. Lazio crash away at Salernitana. Roma mug Udinese and Juve go top thanks
to a comfortable victory over Sampdoria.


PARMA				2-0			FIORENTINA
Crespo 36, 52

Crespo's first was a powerful diving header, Chiesa with the whipped cross. For
his second he received the ball inside the box, skipped a few tackles and rifled a
shot into the top left corner of the net. 

Attendance : 26,000


VENEZIA				0-2			BOLOGNA
							Binotto 71
							Eriberto 94

A Venezia player cleared a cross with an overhead kick problem was the ball fell
to Binotto and he obliged with a goal. Bologna's second was hilarious, Venezia
won a free kick on the edge of the box, right of goal. The idea was simple, cut
back the ball and another player will attempt a first time shot problem was the
pass was intercepted by Eriberto and he ran the length of the pitch and coolly
despatched the ball into the net.

Attendance : 10,000


ROMA				4-0			UDINESE
Di Francesco 45
Totti 52, 71 (pen)
Paulo Sergio 62

Di Francesco pounced on a poor clearance from Locatelli and shot past Turci.
Totti lashed in a fantastic half volley from a tight angle, Paulo Sergio headed
in Wome's cross and Totti scored from the spot.

Attendance : 48,038


1 November 1998

EMPOLI				2-0			PERUGIA
Di Napoli 39, 44 (pen)

Journeyman striker Di Napoli gave Empoli a desperately need three points. He
scored with a sensational free kick and then won and converted a penalty after
throwing himself over Pagotto. Perugia were without Nakata.

Attendance : 8,998


INTER				2-3			BARI
Ronaldo 87 (pen)						Zambrotta 46
Colonnese 91						Masinga 73, 88

Inter had an appeal for a penalty turned down and before Riff starts it was ball to
hand and I never think they are justified. It appears that Sousa was sent of for
dissent. Madsen crossed into the box, Zambrotta poked the ball in. Masinga then
continued his yearly charity match with two goals both were first time strikes
from crosses by Knudsen and the increasingly impressive Zambrotta, he's only
21 and now has 3 goals and 3 assists. If only Italy could produce midfielders to
match their outstanding young forwards but I digress. Ronaldo won and converted
a duff penalty. Zamorano should have been sent off from jumping on Bari 'keeper
Mancini's head but he will claim he was trying to pick the ball out of the net
quickly. Ronaldo surged down the right wing, dribbling his way past and through
about 300 players and then cut the ball back for Colonnese. Almost identical to
the run he made when  setting up Djorkaeff for the winner against Juve last
season.

It's difficult to understand how the best defence in Italy last season have been
reduced to making such amateurish mistakes. As for Simoni it's the familiar Inter
curse. I remember a few seasons ago Bagnoli arrived after a successful spell in
charge of Genoa,. He had a great first season at Inter and in the second season
things wentfrom bad to worse and he was fired.

Attendance : 65,000
Red Card(s) : Sousa 40


JUVENTUS			2-0			SAMPDORIA
Inzaghi 34, 59

Juve made light of Davids and Zidanes absence. Two goals by Inzaghi thanks to
two defensive mistakes. Sakic's clumsily clearance was punished with a great
first time strike. Di Livio hounded Cate inside Sampdoria's penalty area eventually
Cate fell over thanks to a blatant push and Di Livio set up Inzaghi for an easy tap
in.

It's sad to see Del Piero play so poorly. Lassisi, on loan from Parma to Sampdoria,
is at times cynical defender but his distribution and vision look exceptional.

Attendance : 45,806


PIACENZA			1-1			MILAN
S Inzaghi 44						Ganz 92

Milan were without Leonardo. Rastelli hit the post from a header, he then surged
down the wing, crossed into the box and Inzaghi headed home.  Left with an open
goal following good work from Coco, Ganz struck his shot off the underside of the
bar. He made amends with a tap-in after a goalmouth scramble. Did Milan a point?
Probably not. Inzaghi gave another impressive display. If only Italy could produce
midfielders to er done that already.

Attendance : 16,000


SALERNITANA			1-0			LAZIO
Di Vaio 89

Di Vaio headed in Giacomo Tedesco's free kick and condemned his former club to
their first defeat of the season.

Attendance : 35,000


VICENZA				2-1			CAGLIARI
Otero 23, 90						Berretta 29

Two headers from Otero, two assists from Ambrosetti the first a cross from  the
left wing the second a corner. In  between Berretta whacked in a loose ball after
some non-defending by Dicara. Mendez should have been sent off for a sick
Cantona style kick to the back of Berretta.

Attendance : 15,000