TOP OF THE TABLE BORE DRAW

A 90th minute penalty save by Rossi earns Milan 3 points against Parma. Late
goals by Delvecchio and Recoba, for Roma and Inter respectively, maintain
their title challenge. Lazio and Juve battle out a mind numbingly boring 
goal-less draw.

27 NOVEMBER 1999

BOLOGNA			0-0			FIORENTINA

Bologna appeared to have little trouble carving opening the Fiorentina
defence. Toldo had to save twice from Nervo, Signori and a fierce drive from
Ingesson. Typically after the home sides dominance it was Fiorentina who
nearly scored on the stroke of half time, Pagliuca made a great save to keep
out Amor and Firicano's follow up was superbly cleared off the line by
Sanchez. More of the same in the second half, Fontolan wasting Bologna's best
chance when put through by Ingesson via a great Signori dummy.


PIACENZA			1-0			VERONA
Di Napoli 42 (Pen)

Piacenza won a penalty for an apparent foul on Dionigi. Frey got a hand to
Di Napoli's spot kick but couldn't keep it out. Mazzola had a goal chalked
off for handball after the ref confused use of the chest for use of the
hand, for some reason a common mistake. 

28 NOVEMBER 1999

CAGLIARI			2-3			BARI
Macellari 16						Osmanovski 24, 42
Berretta 22						Olivares 85

Macellari picked up a loose ball on the half way line, held off two defenders
and rifled a shot past Mancini. Mboma's shot took a wicked deflection off
Del Gross and Berretta arrived at the back post to volley in the rebound.
Spinesi headed down Collauto's cross and Osmanovski turned the ball past
Scarpi. Osmanovski's header took a deflection off Villa giving Scarpi no
chance. Oliveira, De Patre and Mboma wasted great chances and were duly
punished when Olivares tapped in Andersson's free kick.

Attendance : 15,000
Red Card(s) : O'Neill 92 (Cagliari)


LECCE				2-1			VENEZIA
Lucarelli 60						Valtolina 23
Viali 80

Valtolina ran onto a magnificent huge pass from Volpi and shot wide of 
Chimenti into the net. Konsel pulled off an incredible save to tip over
Biliotti's header. Lucarelli tapped in from a deflected cross. Volpi was sent
off for a late tackle. Substitute Bonomi's free kick rebounded off the post
and Viali touched in the rebound.

Attendance : 12,000
Red Card(s) : Volpi 73 (Venezia)


MILAN				2-1			PARMA
Boban 8							Crespo 46
Maldini 50

A dull, niggly first half was lit up by a few moments of magic by Boban
and Ortega. Boban giving Milan the lead with a brilliantly struck free
kick. Giunti came on for the injured Albertini and had a fine game, no
surprise there.

In a much improved second half Stanic headed down Ortega's cross, Costacurta
was slow to react and Crespo side stepped him before placing the ball past 
Rossi. Boban curled a free kick through a ruck of players although everyone
has awarded the goal to Maldini. Little else in the way of scoring chances.
Stanic was booked for diving, long overdue (how many times have I said that)
and then won a penalty in the 90th minute when Maldini pulled him down in
the box. Rossi, who had very little to do throughout the match, brilliantly
saved Crespo's admittedly weak spot kick.

A superb performance by Boban, playing behind Bierhoff and Shevchenko.
Serginho and Helveg had solid games defensively but wasted the ball when in
good attacking positions. Parma were overrun in midfield but fortunately
Thuram and Cannavaro brilliantly shackled Bierhoff and Shevchenko. Parma
are now 1-3 in meetings against the 'top 7' having suffered defeats
against Inter, Lazio and Milan with their lone victory coming against
Fiorentina.

Attendance : 55,000

REGGINA			0-1			INTER
							Recoba 89

Blanc headed Georgatos's corner wide, the first real chance of the match.
Cauet should have been sent off for three late tackles and a blatant
handball. Recoba came on with 25 minutes to go and wasted a great chance
when put through by Georgatos before winning the match with a fine first
time strike from Di Biagio's pass. 

Attendance : 27,000


TORINO				0-1			PERUGIA
							Calori 46

Nakata and Lentini wasted good headed chances. Calori put away Nakata's
whipped free kick at the second attempt after Bucci blocked his initial
header. Ba gave Amoruso a gift and after rounding the 'keeper he
pathetically shot/crossed wide. Tedesco blazed over the bar when put through
inevitably by Nakata. Mazzantini could have taken the day off. This victory
puts Perugia back into the UEFA Cup zone!

Attendance : 19,000


UDINESE			0-2			ROMA
							Delvecchio 73, 87

Sottil handled in the box from a corner but unusually Roma didn't bother
appealing for a penalty instead Delvecchio fired them in front. Bertotto
made a brilliant goal line clearance to keep out Delvecchio but he put the
game beyond reach with a trademark powerful run wide on goal and a cool
finish into the bottom corner of the net. 

Attendance : 20,000


LAZIO				0-0			JUVENTUS

Both 'keepers were only called into action once in the first half, Rampulla
quickly came off his line to smother a Salas shot. Marchegiani made a good
save from Zambrotta's well struck drive.

Del Piero side-stepped a challenge from Marchegiani and tried to lift the
ball into the net, it deflected off Favalli and fell to Zambrotta who horribly
dragged his shot wide. The Juve defence scrambled to clear a Mihajlovic
corner. Sensini almost scored an own goal, heading Zidane's free kick wide,
you can see I'm struggling here. From the resulting corner the ball fell to
Del Piero who weakly shot at goal. Another weak finish, this time from
Fillipo Inzaghi. Minutes later his brother was sent off for verbal abuse.

Lack of ambition of Lazio's part is to blame for this wretched affair,
they wanted to avoid defeat at all costs and set out for a draw. Juve
really tried in the second half and had some half chances late in the
match.

Attendance : 65,000
Red Card(s) : Simoni Inzaghi 86 (Lazio)