Headlines

  • Monday 24 August 2009

    Serie A Round 1 Review

    Bologna 1-1 Fiorentina
    Catania 1-2 Sampdoria
    Genoa 3-2 Roma
    Inter 1-1 Bari
    Juventus 1-0 Chievo
    Lazio 1-0 Atalanta
    Livorno 0-0 Cagliari
    Palermo 2-1 Napoli
    Siena 1-2 AC Milan
    Udinese 2-2 Parma

    Well that wasn't in the script. Inter's sluggish display at home to Bari ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw, as a Samuel Eto'o penalty in the 55th minute was cancelled out by Vitaly Kutuzov's 74th minute strike. The promoted visitors, who enjoyed few chances and the minority of the possession, will be delighted with a point. On Saturday, AC Milan got their campaign off to a good start thanks to two goals from Alexandre Pato - both set up by compatriot Ronaldinho, who produced his finest performance since joining the rossoneri. Are we about to see a return to the Ronaldinho of old?

    Juventus edged to a 1-0 win over Chievo in a somewhat unconvincing display and they had Antonio Di Natale to thank for the goal which separated the two sides. In a surprising result on Saturday, Fiorentina were held at Bologna, with the Viola falling behind thanks to their former striker Pablo Osvaldo before Adrian Mutu struck a second half leveller. Genoa emerged victorious in the game of the weekend, 3-2 winners over Roma. After Domenico Criscito had given the Grifone the lead, Francesco Totti and then Rodrigo Taddei had seemingly turned things around before Genoa debutant Alberto Zapater equalised with a majestic free kick and, in dramatic style, Giuseppe Biava pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area to seal the win for the home side.

    Elsewhere, Sampdoria pulled off an opening day victory at Catania thanks to Daniele Gastaldello's last minute winner; A solitary Tommasso Rocchi strike was enough for Lazio to down Atalanta; Goals from Edison Cavani and Fabrizio Miccoli enabled Palermo to defeat Napoli; Livorno and Cagliari played out the weekend's only goalless draw and Udinese and Parma shared the spoils at the Stadio Friuli, although Parma will feel robbed as they twice went in front only for Antonio Di Natale to score twice, the second right on the full time whistle.

    No comments: