6 October 2013

PARMA 3 (Palladino 32, Rosi 70, Cassano 76)
SASSUOLO 1 (Berardi 51 Pen)

Cassano worked his magic on the right before laying on a goal for Palladino. Mirante was harshly sent off for bumping into Berardi but despite going a man down and conceding from the spot (to an 19 year old) Parma came back to win. Cassano made another goal with a sumptuous cross and scored the third himself when he beat the offside trap. Magnanelli was sent off fouling Gargano.

Attendance : 10,671
Red Cards : Mirante 49 (Parma), Magnanelli 88 (Sassuolo)
Assists : Cassano, n/a, Cassano, Gargano


BOLOGNA 1 (Diamanti 52 Pen)
VERONA 4 (Cacciatore 22, Iturbe 29, Toni 57, Jorginho 93)

Cacciatore blasted Verona into the lead from the edge of the box. Argentine sensation Iturbe scored for the second successive game and if he keeps this up his value will go through the roof. Gonzalez chopped down The Undertaker for the penalty. Taleb and Gonzalez did the hard work to set-up Toni for the third and Jorginho scored the ninth goal Bologna have conceded in their last two games via a deflection.

Attendance : 20,000
Assists : Taleb, n/a, Moscardelli (won pen), Iturbe, Romulo


CATANIA 1 (Barrientos 59)
GENOA 1 (Legrottaglie 87 og)

Barrientos seized on Antonini's terrible mistake to give the home side the lead on the hour mark. Legrottaglie scored with a brilliant diving header at the wrong end earning Gandalf Gasperini his first point since his return to Genoa after three years of misery at Inter and Palermo.

Attendance : 12,482
Assists : n/a, n/a


NAPOLI 4 (Pandev 3, Inler 26, Callejon 54, Hamsik 83)
LIVORNO 0

Mertens lead the charge as Napoli broke from a corner, he found Pandev with a beautifully weighted pass and Bardi probably should have done better with a poorly placed shot however there's no question he was at fault for the second, failed to parry a speculative drive. Callejon played a one-two with Pandev before grabbing his fourth of the season and Hamsik tapped in a rebound to complete the rout.

Napoli's first real test, after their pathetic display against Arsenal, comes in two weeks when they face red hot Roma.

Attendance : 41,000
Assists : Mertens, Mertens, Pandev, n/a


SAMPDORIA 2 (Sansone 41, Eder 93 Pen)
TORINO 2 (Immobile 66, Cerci 76 Pen)

Sansone broke from the half way line to score with a brilliant low drive. Immobile tapped in a rebound from a corner before both teams traded dodgy penalties.

Attendance : 20,480
Assists : Pozzi, n/a, D'Ambrosio (won pen), Eder (won pen)


UDINESE 2 (Danilo 33, Di Natale 53 fk)
CAGLIARI 0

Danilo gave Udinese the lead with a spectacular volley as Cagliari failed to clear a corner. Di Natale made the points safe with a brilliant free kick.

Attendance : 13,000
Assists : n/a Silva (won fk)


JUVENTUS 3 (Pirlo 15 fk, Giovinco 69, Chiellini 76)
MILAN 2 (Muntari 20 seconds, Muntari 90)

Milan played their best football in the opening 20 seconds. Nocerino's awful shot on the end of a fine passing move fell to Muntari and somewhat typically he lost his balance as struck a right foot shot that crept inside the post. Juve only had to wait 15 minutes to equalise when Pirlo whipped a free kick over the wall and Abbiati should have saved. Mexes should have been sent off early in the second half when he punched Chiellini when Milan were defending a corner. He was given a three match ban for punching Borriello in a Milan v Juve game two seasons and I imagine the same will happen again. Marchisio tackled the feeble Marchisio as he tried to control a pass out of defence and played the ball to Vidal, Mexes chopped him down and the ball broke to Giovinco who dribbled past Zapata as he came diving in with a challenge then slammed low into the corner. Brilliant goal. Mexes was sent off for swearing at the ref. A Pirlo free kick smashed off the crossbar and Chiellini fired in the rebound. Muntari gave the late show specialists hope via a massive deflection off Bonucci but Giovinco took the sting out of Milan's sails when he dived and feigned injury to eat up precious seconds.

There's no really much point in discussing Milan, everyone knows this is a shit side that and the cracks have been papered over by the forwards, most of whom are injured but Juve have been poor at the back his season. They've conceded six goals in seven games and three in just two UCL games. They say defence wins Championships and if Juve are to retain they can't keep coming back from a goal down.

Attendance : 39,594
Red Card : Mexes 75 (Milan)
Assists : Nocerino, Tevez (won fk), Vidal, n/a, n/a


LAZIO 0
FIORENTINA 0

Attendance : 31,000
Assists : n/a


5 October 2013

CHIEVO 0
ATALANTA 1 (Moralez 16)

Attendance : 5,000
Assist : Raimondi


INTER 0
ROMA 3 (Totti 18, Totti 40 Pen, Florenzi 44)

Roma made it a magnificent seven wins in a row with another breathtaking display. Florenzi and Gervinho worked an opening for Totti who hammered a first time shot past Handanovic. Pereira chopped down Gervinho to concede the penalty. Benatia headed out a corner to Totti, with his back to goal, juggled the ball, turned and flicked a pass through to Strootman, three other Roma players swarmed forward in support and he gave a pass to Florenzi on his right and the youngster fired across goal in a move reminiscent to Carlos Alberto's

legendary goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final. Balzaretti chopped down Alvarez to earn a red card. Next up for Roma - Napoli. Let's hope the international break doesn't effect their form. They have been amazing to watch and it's so rare to see a strong defence in modern football.

Attendance : 60,336
Red Card : Balzaretti 79 (Roma)
Assists : Gervinho, Gervinho (won pen), Strootman