Headlines

  • Tuesday 12 May 2009

    Serie A Round 35 Review: Nearly there for Inter

    Sampdoria 5 - 0 Reggina
    Lazio 1 - 3 Udinese
    Torino 1 - 1 Bologna
    Catania 0 - 2 Fiorentina
    Atalanta 1 - 1 Genoa
    Chievo Verona 2 - 2 Inter Milan
    Lecce 1 - 1 Napoli
    Siena 1 - 0 Palermo
    Cagliari 2 - 2 AS Roma
    AC Milan 1 - 1 Juventus

    Inter were held to a draw at the Bentegodi in a thriller against Chievo Verona. Hernan Crespo, with only his second goal of the season, gave Inter an early lead before Marcolini's impressive strike drew the hosts level. Mario Balotelli matched him with a thumping volley in the second half, only for Brazilian Luciano to once again peg Inter back, who were not at their best due to Zlatan Ibrahimovic being suspended. AC Milan's draw with Juventus meant little harm was done to their title challenge, which can be wrapped up next week. Chievo, meanwhile, are now six points clear of the drop with three games left, a commendable position given their precarious state at Christmas.

    As speculation continues over the future of Carlo Ancelotti, AC Milan kept the gap over Juve to four points with Sunday night's draw. The Rossoneri took the lead through Clarence Seedorf's second half strike only for Vincenzo Iaquinta to level three minutes later for his 9th of the season. The Gobbini are without a win in seven and only three points ahead of Fiorentina in fourth. The Viola remain in pole position for that vital Champions league spot after they beat Catania through goals from Montenegrin starlet Stevan Jovetic and Luciano Zauri. Catania's end of season form has been dismal including four defeats in the last six leaving any European hopes in tatters.

    Roma are pressing the self destruct button at the moment with just one win in the last five, and they were held at Cagliari to futher tighten the race for the Europe league places. Matri gave Cagliari the lead before Francesco Totti levelled, Robert Acquafresca then put Cagliari back in front before Simone Perotta snatched a late, and undeserved, point for the embattled Luciano Spalleti. Genoa also left it late, having gone behind in Bergamo through the Chilean Juan Valdes it took until the 92nd minute for Domenico Criscito to tap in and keep the Grifone's Champions league hopes alive. Palermo could have stolen Roma's sixth spot on Sunday had they won at Siena, but as it is they are two points behind and Lazio are also blowing their chances, slumping to a third straight defeat at home to Udinese. Tomasso Rocchi had given the Biancocelesti the lead only for Floro Flores, D'Agostino and Quagliarella to reply for the visitors who are still within a shout of an extraordinary season turnaround and usurping Roma's sixth spot.

    At the bottom, Sampdoria thrashed Reggina to leave the Calabrian side four points off safety with three games left; The next 4 teams up all drew but one out of Lecce, Bologna and Torino will stay up - current form points to Lecce who are three games unbeaten and two points off safety but with three games to go it remains very tight down there.

    No comments: