With their grip on the Scudetto already confirmed, Milan took on Cagliari with a sense of calm and reassurance about their numero uno status. Celebrations have been afoot since last weekend’s draw against Roma and Milan even arrived in the stadium in an open top bus. With the horde of Rossoneri fans following them everywhere, Milan players even did a lap of honour before the game started. When the match got underway, Cagliari started on the brighter side, looking to upset the weeklong celebrations. The initial jitteriness aside, Milan came into their own slowly and Robinho opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Gattuso then doubled the lead minutes later with a header off a Agazzi clearance. Robinho doubled his tally in the 35th minute as Cagliari were well and truly staring down the barrel. Finally, Cossu opened Cagliari’s account with a fine turn, fooling Yepes and shooting past Abbiati. The second half was a drab affair, as Milan’s players played out time waiting for the final whistle. In-between they even managed to score another goal courtesy Seedorf who scored after exchanging passes with Pato. With Robinho proving that he’s no Berbatov, and Milan’s veterans too coming to the party, it was a happy and satisfied Milan team which lifted the trophy at the end of the match.
The action shifted to Catania then, with Roma hoping to seal fourth place, which would enable them to qualify for the Champions League next season. Roma seemed to be on course for just that, when in the 14th minute, Loria put Roma on the front. The game remained like that till halftime as Roma looked assured for that 4th spot. But as fate would have it, Cagliari broke Roma’s hearts, twice. Once in the 78th minute, when Bergessio headed past Doni and then again in the 90th minute, when Gomez scored to throw Roma out of Europe. Coincidentally, it was Bergessio who set up Roma’s second goal. Even though Doni had as many as 5 saves to his names after the game, it was not enough as Udinese opened up a 5 point gap between them and Roma with their 2-0 win over Chievo.
The Bianconeri were up next with their journey to Europe in their own hands as Roma had lost their match. Juventus started off ambitiously as Matri tried his luck from through some optimistic long-distance shots. Del Piero too tried his hand but was unable to find that decisive goal that would give the Old Lady the impetus to grab the game by the neck. With Parma wasting valuable chances, it looked like that game would remain goalless. Melo had a superb chance to score the opener when he was set up by Martinez, but he was only able to force a save from the agile Mirante. Soon enough, a perfect Del Piero corner was wasted by Martinez as he headed wide. Giovinco, an ex-Juve player, finally scored the winner in the 64th minute, to condemn Juventus out of Europe with their hopes now resting on a Roma defeat to relegated Sampdoria next weekend.
The action then shifted to Napoli next as they took on second placed Internazionale. Inter dominated the proceedings as Eto’o twice had a chance to score the opener. The first came courtesy of a fine back-heel by Kharja, which Eto’o blazed over the bar. The second, came minutes later, as a superb defense-splitting pass from Diego Milito found Eto’o and the Cameroonian’s right footed shot scorched the back of the net. On the other end of the pitch, Maggio set up Zuniga as he scored past Cesar to bring the scores level. Chances were rare to come by in the second half, as both the teams seemed content with a point.
Game of the week
Lazio 4-2 Genoa
An entertaining game, which effectively culminated in Lazio taking a huge step towards Europe next season, saw as many as 6 goals from either side. The action started off at the Stadio Olimpico with Biava opening the scoring for Lazio in the 7th minute. Palacio equalized minutes later, but soon after that Lazio ran riot. Happy with the equalizer, Genoa looked to block out Lazio as they were content with a single point. That changed in the second half, as Lazio came out all guns blazing. Rocchi scored minutes after the restart and then Hernanes joined the party. His brace in the 55th and in the 66th minute sealed Lazio’s fate. Floro Flores got a consolation goal in the dying minutes of the game, but by then it was too late for them.
Serie A player of the week
Robinho (Milan)
Having spent most of the season missing sitters in front of goal with no goalkeeper in sight, it was heart-warming to see him scoring finally. Two beautiful goals from him sealed the game against Cagliari. The first goal was worth mentioning which saw him perform a superb solo run.
Goal of the week
Flop of the week
Juventus
Juventus failed once again to win a match that could have sent them to Europe next year. This has been an up and down season so far for the Bianconeri and now they have to rely on Lady Luck to smile on them once more.
Team of the week
Race for the Capocannoniere
Antonio Di Natale – 28
Edinson Cavani – 26
Samuel Eto’o – 20
Marco Di Vaio – 19
Alessandro Matri – 19
Results
Lazio 4-2 Genoa
Milan 4-1 Cagliari
Fiorentina 1-1 Bologna
Catania 2-1 AS Roma
Parma 1-0 Juventus
Chievo 0-2 Udinese
Bari 0-2 Lecce
Sampdoria 1-2 Palermo
Cesena 1-0 Brescia
Napoli 1-1 Inter
League Standings
AC Milan – 81
Internazionale – 73
Napoli – 69
Udinese – 65
Lazio – 63