6 January 2014

NAPOLI 2 (Mertens 53, Mertens 62)
SAMPDORIA 0

Mertens met a Higuain centre on the run to give Napoli a deserved lead. Mertens blasted home his second from a free kick although Sampdoria can count themselves unlucky having hit the woodwork twice.

Attendance : 42.000
Assists : Higuain, n/a


UDINESE 1 (Pereyra 43)
VERONA 3 (Toni 8, Toni 39, Iturbe 70)

Luca Toni, who runs like the six million dollar man for those old enough to remember, scored thanks to a goalkeeping mistake. Brkic's defenders bailed on him for the second, someone failing to see him ran onto Rumulo's through pass. Pereyra flicked a ball over the heads of two defenders before smashing a shot past Rafael, great goal. Verona rode their luck as the hosts missed several chances. Iturbe dribbled in between two defenders before beating Brkic with an awful shot.

Di Natale announced he will retire at the end of the season. You can only ride an old horse for so long.

Attendance : 13,000
Assists : Raphael, Romulo, n/a, n/a


MILAN 3 (Kaka' 35, Kaka' 65, Cristante 67)
ATALANTA 0

Emanuelson found Kaka' with a great inside two defenders and a sharp turn opened the angle for a shot inside the right corner. Excellent finish and his 100th Milan goal. Atalanta missed numerous chances to draw level, Abbiati denying Denis a certain goal with an incredible point blank save. Robinho stumbled over a Balotelli centre, because he's a useless, lazy bastard, and Kaka' tapped in the rebound. Prodigy Cristante marked his first Serie A start with a goal. Collecting a Kaka' pass from 25 yards he drilling a right foot shot in off the left post, taking the number of goalscorers aged 21 and under this season to 13.

Attendance : 40,000
Assists : Emanuelson, Robinho, Kaka'


CATANIA 2 (Bergessio 23, Lodi 66 Pen)
BOLOGNA 0

Lodi returned to Catania after a poor six month stint at Genoa to inspire the racists (Argentine top heavy squade) to a much needed victory. Bergessio headed in Lodi free kick and Lodi made the points safe from the penalty spot after Morleo handled.

Pioli paid the price for another miserable display with his job. What his replacement will do with a dreadful squad is anyone's guess.

Attendance : 14,000
Assists : Lodi, n/a


GENOA 2 (Gilardino 28 Pen, Bertolacci 45)
SASSUOLO 0

Gazzola pulled back Antonelli to concede the penalty. Konate overhit a cross but Bertolacci arrived at the back post to score. Pegolo made a fantastic save to deny Gilardino from the penalty spot. Genoa's 500th win in Serie A.

Attendance : 18,431
Assists : Antonelli (won pen), Konate


PARMA 3 (Marchionni 34, Lucarelli 44, Amauri 70)
TORINO 1 (Immobile 21)

Immobile slammed in Darmian's centre at the back post, his 9th goal of the season. Marchionni (like Rossi another injury prone midget) equalised with a crisp right foot volley. Lucarelli gave Parma the half team lead with a ridiculous goal. Sansone hit a lousy corner, Lucarelli, standing on the left edge of the six yard box jumped in the air and flicked up the outside of his right foot and the ball sailed over a packed penalty area before crashing in off the right post. Immobile and Cerci went off with injuries at half time and without their key attacking threats there was no hope of a comeback. Amauri held off a defender to score Parma's third.

Attendance : 12,367
Assists : Darmian, Cassani, Sansone, Marchionni


LAZIO 1 (Klose 81)
INTER 0

Boring Edy Reja was back in charge of Lazio after Petkovic was sacked. The match was absolutely terrible, largely because Inter failed to show up and Lazio are crap. Klose provided the only moment of quality, jumping in the air to swing a volley past Handanovic.

Inter have only won one of their last 6 games. In November they were within three points of a UCL place but can forget about playing in that competition for another two seasons at least.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Candreva


5 January 2014

CHIEVO 0
CAGLIARI 0

Attendance : 5,000
Assists : n/a


FIORENTINA 1 (Rodriguez 66)
LIVORNO 0

The big news from this match was a probable season ending injury for De Rossi. Rinaudo ran up behind him and kicked his brittle right knee. It was an innocuous foul but Rossi is weak and his knee gave way.

With Gomez also still out that's Fiorentina's hopes of a UCL place over barring some major reinforcements in the transfer window.

Rodriguez headed in a Valero comer.

Attendance : 29,000
Assist : Valero


JUVENTUS 3 (Vidal 17, Bonucci 48, Vucinic 77 Pen)
ROMA 0

Tevez rolled De Rossi as he turned onto Lichtsteiner's pass and flicked ball between three players to send in Vidal for the opener. Beautifully worked goal. For the first time in ages Buffon pulled off a great save to deny Pjanic an equaliser. Pirlo was back from injury and with his free kick made the second for Bonucci. De Rossi was sent off for a disgraceful, two footed jumped foul on Chiellini. Castan joined him in the showers when he handled on the line.

Roma's first loss of the season leaves Juventus a massive eight points clear. They're far too good for everyone else in the league this season but three in a row is a meaningless achievement given how pathetic they have been in Europe.

Attendance : 37,000
Red Cards : De Rossi 75 (Roma), Castan 76 (Roma)
Assists : Tevez, Pirlo, n/a