Last weekend’s Serie A matches were full of action and drama and as many as 25 goals were scored. With only 11 more rounds to go, the teams headed off against each other with nothing else but a renewed sense of vigour in the rush to claim the Scudetto. This weekend started with AS Roma visiting Stadio Via del Mare, where they took on Lecce. The home team was on full throttle from the onset of the match and looked to take the game to the Roman side. An inspired Doni only thwarted their efforts. A Vucinic strike put Roma in front, but it was only a matter of time before Lecce’s continued attacks breached the Roma goal. Giacomazzi equalized for Lecce and it looked as if the match along with all three points would head towards Lecce. But as fate would have it, a handball by Munari inside the box saw Pizzaro calmly finish to take Roma a point closer to the fifth place and leave Lecce only three points above the R-zone.
Then came one of the biggest derbies in Serie A, when Juventus hosted the current league leaders, AC Milan. Milan went on the attack as early as in the 3rd minute of the match when Ibrahimovic volleyed over the crossbar. Milan had another chance in the first half itself, but Cassano blazed it over the crossbar. Finally, the onus of scoring fell on the most unlikely hero, Gattuso. His left footed shot slid under Buffon and with it left millions of Bianconeri fans heart-broken. What was appalling on the part of Juventus was that the Old Lady did not even manage to have a shot on goal. The outcome only heaped more pressure on Del Neri and it looks like his days are numbered.
On the other side of town, Current champions Internazionale hosted Genoa. Inter’s rise under new coach Leonardo is well documented and the same was on display during this match. Being a goal down at half time, Inter came out for the second half all guns blazing. Pazzini and Pandev strikes were interspersed with a Eto’o brace and the game ceased to become any sort of a contest after Nagatomo scored. Genoa only managed to score a consolation goal in the dying minutes of the match.
Game of the week
Internazionale 5-2 Genoa
The demolition of Genoa at the hands of Inter was the highlight of the week. This was Genoa’s second successive loss but it propelled Inter to only 5 points from the top. Rodrigo Palacio put the visiting team ahead in the 40th minute and it remained the same till the break. Inter then went on an attacking frenzy and in only seven maddening minutes, they were three goals up. Pazzini opened the floodgates when his shot hit the roof of the net in the 50th minute. Then, pouncing on two defensive errors, Eto’o scored his 17th and 18th goal of the season. Eto’o then turned provider and Pandev scored in the 70th minute. But it was not over yet. Nagatomo got his name on the scoring sheet when his shot bulged the net in the 84th minute, making it a memorable night for the Nerazzurri.
Serie A Player of the week
Samuel Eto’o (Internazionale)
A deadly eye for goal has always defined Eto’o; be it in his Barcelona days, or when he is playing for Internazionale. His brilliant attacking skills were on display once more this weekend when he scored a brace and also had a hand in the Pandev goal. His stellar performance only highlights his importance in the team and how he was missed during his injury. With Eto’o scoring almost at will, it will be tough to stop Inter from their 6th consecutive Scudetto.
Goal of the week
Mirko Vucinic (AS Roma)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0995g54HzLo
In a game where both of the team had 4 shots on goal each, Vucinic’s opening goal against Lecce deserves special mention. Taking down the ball with his chest near the halfway line, Vucinic started off on a solo run. Evading Andrea Rispoli, he took the ball to the edge of the area. He then toe-poked the ball past Rosati and into the far corner to start off wild celebrations from the visiting fans.
Flop of the week
Francesco Antonioli (Cesena)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9QJZqlI3vc
Cesena were cruising to victory with an emphatic 3-0 margin when disaster struck in the 83rd minute. Antonioli was unable to collect Massimo Maccarone’s free kick cleanly, and the ball slipped through his legs. That costly fumble allowed Volta to score Sampdoria’s first goal. Maccarone was again back in the thick of things when he scored in the 90th minute. That mistake by Antonioli almost cost Cesena the match which makes him our flop of the week.
Team of the week
4-1-2-1-2
Race for the Capocannoniere
Antonio Di Natale – 22
Edinson Cavani – 20
Samuel Eto’o – 18
Marco Di Vaio – 17
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 14
Results
Lecce 1-2 AS Roma
Juventus 0-1 AC Milan
Sampdoria 2-3 Cesena
Bologna 2-2 Cagliari
Internazionale 5-2 Genoa
Napoli 0-0 Brescia
Fiorentina 3-0 Catania
Udinese 1-0 Bari
Lazio 2-0 Palermo
League Standings
AC Milan – 61
Internazionale – 56
Napoli – 53
Lazio – 51
Udinese – 50