.
Inter’s dismal show against relegation-threatened Parma on Saturday saw them drop three crucial points, which has taken them out of title contention this year. Although mathematically they still stand a chance but unless Allegri’s men are to commit a suicide, Inter can kiss their title hopes goodbye.
Meanwhile, Milan totally outclassed Sampdoria at the San Siro 3-0, to increase their advantage over Napoli and Inter to six and eight points respectively. Injury to goalkeeper Abbiati and their inform striker Pato in the first half itself acted as a dampener but the Brazilian is expected to return within ten days and with matches against Palermo (Copa Italia) and Brescia next in line, Milan’s surge towards scudetto is expected to remain well on its course.
Napoli, who are having a dream season, failed to deliver when it mattered the most as they went down 1-2 to Udinese late on Sunday night at Stadio San Paolo in a fixture they needed to win in order to cut shot Milan’s lead at the top. Cavani, who is the top scorer for the side from Naples, would be ruing the penalty he missed just a minute from regulation time especially after substitute Mascara netted one for the hosts in the dying seconds of the game. With a six points gap between them and the league leaders Milan, the dream is slowly fading away for Walter Mazzarri’s men.
Earlier, Lazio had scored via four different players to record a comfortable 4-1 win over Catania which sees them knocking on the doors of champions league for the next season. Juventus have been the biggest name in Italain football for ever a century now, but for the past few seasons, they have been playing like a shadow of themselves; something which they confirmed on Sunday against Fiorentina after their match ended in a goalless draw, which now casts a serious question over their European chances for the following season.
Game of the week: Lecce 3-3 Cagliari
Having led for nearly the entire duration of the match, Cagliari must have thought that they had three points in the bag. However, with just two minutes from the regulation time they hit the self destruct button. Within the space of six minutes, a comfortable two-goal cushion had evaporated and the home team ended up snatching a point from the jaws of defeat.
Acquafresca gave the away team the lead in the 20th minute through a volley after Lazzari provided him with an assist. Although Mesbah equalized for the hosts within minutes of the second half commencing, Daniel Conti had given Cagliari the lead back in the 67th minute. Acquafresca completed his brace four minutes later and at that moment the visitors would have believed that three points were sealed in their favour.
Fabiano’s header just two minutes from time started the revival for the home team and Corvia’s incredible equalizer in the fourth minute of injury time completed the comeback for Lecce.
Player of the week: Hernandez (Palermo)
After receiving a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Catania and then sharing points with Cesena at home, Palermo finally had something to cheer about against A.S. Roma thanks to a late brace scored by Hernandez. He always looked like scoring and came ever so close near the half hour mark but his scorcher of a shot just went over the crossbar. The bulk of the match was played at a fast speed and it remained evenly poised till Hernandez broke the deadlock and gave Palermo the lead in the 84th minute after Totti’s and Pinilla had both converted a penalty each for both the teams in the first period.
He completed his brace six minutes later and sealed the three points for the visitors. In spite of few nervy moments at the end which saw them conceding one to Roma via Vucinic in the second minute of stoppage time, Palermo hung in there to pick up a much needed win under their belt, all thanks to the twin strikes of Abel Hernandez.
Flop of the week: Cambiasso (Inter)
Chivu had been on the hate list of Inter fans after his atrocious showing in the past few weeks which was kicked off from the Derby in early April but after his Saturday’s performance, Cambiasso made sure that from now on till the season is over his name will also be a part of that unfortunate list.
Parma’s Giovinco had troubled the backline of Inter for the entire length of his stay on the pitch and at the time of the first goal, Cambiasso was caught ball watching when he should have closed in on the atomic ant. Later, he failed to tackle Amauri inside the box, who finished off the Nerazzuri with just four minutes left on the clock. A defeat to the relegation-threatened Parma has closed almost all doors for Inter to retain the league title.
Goal of the week: Marcolini (Chievo) vs Bologna.
Team of the week: Formation 4-3-2-1
Race for the Capocannoniere
Antonio Di Natale – 26
Edinson Cavani – 25
Samuel Eto’o – 19
Marco Di Vaio – 19
Alessandro Matri – 18
All results of the week:
AS Roma 2-3 Palermo
Milan 3-0 Sampdoria
Parma 2-0 Inter
Genoa 3-0 Brescia
Cesena 1-0 Bari
Fiorentina 0-0 Juventus
Chievo 2-0 Bologna
Catania 1-4 Lazio
Lecce 3-3 Cagliari