16 December 2013

MILAN 2 (Zapata 30, Muntari 77)
ROMA 2 (Destro 13, Strootman 52 Pen)

De Rossi found Strootman with a brilliantly weighted pass and Destro tapped his centre past Abbiati. Zapata, of all players, equalised. Muntari flicked on a corner and Zapata headed in at the back post. Abbiati made way for Milan's 20 year old Brazilian goalkeeper and he had an absolute nightmare. He was lucky not to see red for bringing down Gervinho, probably because three players were covering. Balotelli helped on a Kaka' pass, a brilliant first from Muntari (!) took him away from Dodo and he fired low into the right corner. It was the first time Roma had conceded two goals in a game since March. Balotelli, who had a terrible game, could have won it in injury time but shot wide after turning his marker.

Pazzini was on the bench for Milan and his return, probably after Christmas, will be a huge boost, especially as El Shaarawy cannot get fit. Roma need Totti, also on the bench, back in a hurry and they need cover for their centrebacks because Burdisso, who replaced the injury Castan, isn't good enough. Roma have only won one of their last five games.

Attendance : 38,000
Red Card : Allegri 73 (Milan)
Assists : Strootman, Muntari, Gervinho (won pen), Balotelli


15 December 2013

CHIEVO 0
SAMPDORIA 1 (Eder 16)

Attendance : 11,000
Assist : Palombo


FIORENTINA 3 (Ilicic 13, Valero 29, Rossi 65)
BOLOGNA 0

Ilicic slalomed his away through three defenders before squeezing a shot into the right corner. It was his first goal since his injury plagued move from Palermo. A brilliant, brilliant first touch allowed Valero to control a pass that was behind him and he tucked his shot into the same corner as Ilicic. Cuadrado ran at two defenders, switched the ball onto his left foot and passed through them to Valero, as he turned he clipped ball over the top to Rossi, he jumped in the air to bring it under control then lobbed over Curci into an empty net. Superb team goal.

Attendance : 29,600
Assists : n/a, Rossi, Valero


GENOA 1 (Bertolacci 72)
ATALANTA 1 (De Luca 94)

Gilardino tried to wriggle free of two defenders, Bertolacci took the ball off his feet and thumped it past Consigli, In the dying seconds of injury time De Luca threw himself at a superb cross.

Attendance : 19,000
Assists : n/a, Cigarini


LAZIO 2 (Klose 18, Klose 26)
LIVORNO 0

Klose scored two rebounds on his return from injury to save his coach's job - for another week at least. Their miser of an owner must sign a forward in January though worryingly for Petkovic they're linked with no one.

Attendance : 27,000
Assists : n/a, n/a


PARMA 0
CAGLIARI 0

Attendance : 13,016
Assists : n/a


UDINESE 0
TORINO 2 (Farnerud 48, Immobile 76)

Farnerud lobbed Brkic to finish off a lovely passing move and give Torino the lead early in the second half. Cerci released Darmian on the overlap and Immobile headed in his cross. It was Torino's second away win of the season and, more importantly, keeps Udinese mercifully out of reach of a European place.

Attendance : 13,000
Assists : Cerci, Darmian


JUVENTUS 4 (Tevez 15, Peluso 28, Tevez 45, Tevez 68)
SASSUOLO 0

Tevez tapped Juve into a 15th minute lead after Pegolo saved from Vidal. Peluso scored his first Juve goal from a Tevez free kick. Tevez blocked a hospital pass and ran through to score his second and completed his hat-trick from Isla's centre.

Big in Italy. Small in Europe.

Attendance : 37,597
Assists : n/a, Tevez (fk), n/a, Isla


NAPOLI 4 (Higuain 9, Mertens 39, Dzemaili 41, Callejon 81)
INTER 2 (Cambiasso 35, Nagatomo 47)

Higuain smashed Nagatomo's poor defensive header past Handanovic to give Napoli a perfect start. Inter got a very fortuitous equaliser. Guarin slipped as he fired in a centre, Palacio dummied the ball, Alvarez also dummied the ball - by falling over and Cambiasso blasted Inter level. Mertens flicked a ball out wide to Higuain as he spun away from a defender, Higuain played it first time with the outside of his foot to Dzemaili, he held off two defenders before laying off a back heel which Mertens absolutely hammered past Handanovic. Brilliant goal. Two minutes later Handanovic spilled from Mertens and Dzemaili tapped in the rebound. Rafael's failure to make a routine save and hold Guarin's centre allowed Nagatomo to pull Inter within a goal at half time. Crook Tagliavento showed Alvarez a second yellow card for nothing. Callejon tapped in Insigne's centre at the back post. Pandev dived to win a penalty but penalty specialist Handanovic saved.

Attendance : 40,000
Red Card : Alvarez 71 (Inter)
Assists : n/a, Alvarez, Dzemaili, n/a, n/a, Insigne


14 December 2013

CATANIA 0
VERONA 0

Attendance : 15,872
Assists : n/a