Not many surprises arrives on week 20 in Serie A beside Inter Milan’s seven winning streak end in the hands of Lecce after Guillermo Giacomazzi netted the only goal that clinched the victory.

The Nerazzurri did actually put the ball in the net twice in the second half but all of those goals were correctly disallowed by the referee because of offside.

Claudio Ranieri didn’t really commented much about the disallowed goals as he was more concerned with his team’s performance against Lecce, something that should’ve been seen earlier since Inter last couple of games were pretty poor despite getting the three point. The defeat brought the Nerazzurri back to fifth place as Lazio dethroned Ranieri’s team previous fourth spot, making things much more interesting in the coming weeks.

For the moment the Scudetto race leaves Juventus and Ac Milan getting toe to toe as the one point margin stands until this upcoming midweek where the league starts again. This weekend, the Turin giant successfully defeated Udinese 2-1 with goals from Alessandro Matri, while Milan destroyed their visitor, Cagliari 3-0 at San Siro, thanks to the contribution of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Antonio Nocerino and also Massimo Ambrosini.

Week 20 also seen Lazio and Genoa being successful as the Biancocelesti stormed Chievo 3-0 with goals coming from Hernanes and also Miroslav Klose’s double in the final minutes of the match. Meanwhile, the Marassi outfit managed to stun Napoli, beating Walter Mazzarri’s team 3-2 with Rodrigo Palacio’s brace and Alberto Gilardino’s strike. The Partenopei did made things interesting though after Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi scoring within just two minutes, giving the last 10 minutes a difficult time for Genoa.

Complete Serie A result for Week 20:
Catani a v Parma 1-1; Juventus v Udinese 2-1; Fiorentina v Siena 2-1; Cesena v Atalanta 0-1; Chievo v Lazio 0-3; Genoa v Napoli 3-2; Lecce v Inter 1-0; Palermo v Novara 2-0; Roma v Bologna 1-1; Ac Milan v Cagliari 3-0

photo credit: .a_dit.

Having an inconsistent run in their early Serie A matches, both Inter Milan and As Roma looked to get themselves together just before the Christmas break as the two closes the year with comforting victories.

The Nerazzurri trashed their visitor, Lecce, 4-1 at San Siro with Ricky Alvarez providing an inspiration for the home side, while Roma also continue their positive run with another precious away victory, this time against Bologna.

Inter Keeps On Winning Run

Inter Milan continuing to show signs of improvement as they climb the Serie A ladder again just before the Christmas break, sitting at fifth place at the moment after tormenting bottom table Lecce in a pretty convincing scoreline. Things didn’t actually came out easily for Claudio Ranieri’s side as the visitor managed to took the lead after 20 minutes through Luis Muriel, who sprung through the offside trap and placed his shot away from Julio Cesar’s reach right after beating Lucio and Douglas Maicon in the process.

After unluckily hitting the woodword, Inter finally managed to get their equalizer through Giampaolo Pazzini, who flicked in Maicon’s cross passed Lecce keeper, Gabrieli. The 1-1 scoreline spurred the home team even more in the second half and their pressure were rewarded with a goal early after the re-start from subsitute, Diego Milito, who latched on through Alvarez’ fine through pass.

Lecce did gave some fight in the second period as they created several good goal scoring opportunities through Daniele Corvia and Davide Di Michelle. However, the home team simply didn’t want to risk anything and eventually closed the visitor’s effort with two more goals from Cambiasso and also Alvarez, all came from a fine effort made by Yuto Nagatomo.

Roma Picked Up Another Away Glory

Following a surprising 3-1 victory over Napoli in the weekend, Roma faced Bologna with high confidence, despite the home team are pretty good when playing in front of their fans. The away team controlled the ball possession and finally took a deserved lead after 17 minutes through Rodrigo Taddei’s vicious volley right in the edge of the penalty area.

The goal made things much more comfortable for Luis Enrique’s side as they managed to boss around the match before eventually doubling their lead through Pablo Osvaldo’s fine strike, which came from Eric Lamela’s pass. Nothing really changed in the second half as the Giallorossi continue to control possession, making things difficult for the home team in creating chances, although Marteen Stekelenburg in Roma’s goal was forced to make several saves from Alessandro Diamanti’s efforts.

Match reports:

Inter v Lecce 4-1
Goals: Pazzini 34, Milito 49, Cambiasso 73, Alvarez 84 (Inter); Muriel 20 (Lecce)

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Nagatomo; Faraoni (Cambiasso 46), Zanetti, Motta, Alvarez; Forlan (Milito 46), Pazzini (Obi 72)
Lecce: Gabrieli; Oddo, Tomovic, Ferrario; Cuadrado, Giacomazzi, Obodo (Pasquato 75), Olivera (Piatti 46), Brivio; Muriel (Corvia 54), Di Michele

photo credit: .a_dit.

AS Roma strengthened their top-six position in Serie A as David Pizarro converted an added-time penalty to seal a 2-1 victory at Lecce.

Roma will attempt to overturn a 3-2 first-leg deficit when they travel to Shakhtar Donetsk for their Champions League round of 16 second leg on Tuesday and the success at the Stadio Via del Mare will have boosted the Giallorossi’s morale.

Mirko Vučinić surged away from the home defence to fire in the 32nd-minute opener for Vincenzo Montella’s charges but parity was restored when Guillermo Giacomazzi  headed in. Lecce appeared set to edge four points clear of the relegation zone with a draw until Gianni Munari handled and Pizarro fired in the late winner from the penalty spot.

Surprises never seems to stop happening in Serie A as this weekend shocking results arrives for two big clubs, Juventus and As Roma, that suffered defeats in their latest league matches this weekend.

The Bianconeri suffered a 2-0 defeat against relegation battler Lecce, while the Giallorossi received their fourth loss in a row after the capital club surrender a three goal lead against Genoa.

10 Man Juventus Stunned by Lecce

Having a big confidence boost after beating Scudetto candidate, Inter Milan, last weekend, Juventus came to Via Del Marre in a positive mood with Luca Toni and Alessandro Matri partnership once again being played up front. However, Lecce that have a pretty good record at home weren’t scared of the challenge and surprised the away team with their fast attacking play that led to the dismissal of Gianluigi Buffon in the 12 minutes after the keeper handled the ball outside of the penalty box in his attempt to stop Davide Di Michele.

Buffon’s red card forced Juve to make an early switch, leaving Milos Krasic out for Marco Storari, who finally gets his chance again after being relegated to the bench in the last few games with the Italian number one’s return from injury. Unfortunately, Storari’s return to action didn’t bring a good luck for his team as the home team finally took the lead in the 32 minute through Mesbah, who easily rolling the ball pass the visitor’s net after receiving a pass from Gianni Munari.

Playing with 10 men is really too much of a task for Juve as things gets even worse early in the second half after Lecce got their second goal less than five minutes of the second period after Andrea Bertolacci tapped in beats Storari for the second time. Once again the goal occurred after a rather poor defensive display by the Bianconeri’s back line, that surprisingly played very high and looked very disorganize after their fine display against Inter last weekend.

Roma’s Slump Continues As They Throw Away A 3-0 Lead

A splendid match occurred at Luigi Ferraris marking Roma’s fourth consecutive defeat which this time could really enraged their already furious fans as the capital side amazingly gave away a three goal lead and eventually lost 4-3. Playing away in a difficult ground, the Giallorossi actually started the half in a very positive way as they took a two goals lead before the first period ended with goals from Philipe Mexes and Nicolas Burdisso.

Early in the second half, things seemed to look very good for Roma as they get their third goal through Francesco Totti, whose left footed drive stormed into Genoa’s bottom corner. Just as things looked bright for the away side, Genoa slowly made their comeback as just a minute after the Giallorossi’s third goal, the home side pulled a goal back through Rodrigo Palacio’s easy tap in from just seven yards.
Palacio’s goal spurred Genoa to life as 16 minutes later, the home team successfully got their second goal after substitute striker, Alberto Paloschi, maximizing Floro Flores’ blocked shot to reduce the gap and caused panic for the away team. Around six minute later, the capital side’s fear came after Palacio once again beat Julio Sergio on Roma’s goal to make the scoreline level again.

As if getting back from a three goal down isn’t enough, the Griffone keept on pouring forward, maximizing Roma players’ low morae and eventually got the fourth goal through Paloshi again. The Ac Milan owned youngster volleyed Palacio’s cross to give a devastating blow to the Giallorossi’s day as the home team amazingly turned the game around in just 22 minutes! This defeat will surely brought more distraught for the capital side’s fans who have already staged their protest over the team’s current poor form after the new year.

Match Reports:

Lecce v Juventus 2-0

Goals: Mesbah 32, Bertolacci 48 (Lecce)

Lecce: Rosati; Donati, Fabiano, Ferrario, Brivio; Vives; Munari, Bertolacci (Coppola 91), Grossmuller, Mesbah (Rispoli 85); Di Michele (Chevanton 53)

Juventus: Buffon; Sorensen (Iaquinta 58), Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Krasic (Storari 12), Melo, Aquilani, Marchisio; Matri, Toni (Del Piero 46)

Genoa v As Roma 4-3

Goals: Palacio 52, 74; Paloschi 68, 85 (Genoa); Mexes 6, Burdisso 16, Totti 51 (Roma)

Genoa: Eduardo; Mesto, Kaladze, Dainelli, Criscito; Rafinha, Kucka, Milanetto (Veloso 61), Rossi (Paloschi 64); Palacio, Floro Flores (Moretti 81)

Roma: Julio Sergio; N Burdisso, Mexes, Juan, Riise; Greco, Brighi, Simplicio (Menez 64), Perrotta (Taddei 10); Borriello (Loria 72), Totti

photo credit: :: Suwaif ::

Ac Milan hasn’t had a really good start in the start of the year as after dropping a point against Udinese last weekend at San Siro, the Rossoneri once again failed to keep their six points lead at the top after being held into a 1-1 draw by Lecce.

Milan’s poor attitude after taking the lead through Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s wonder goal can pretty much be blamed as the cause of their dropped points as the fashion capital side’s lapse of concentration led to the equalizing goal scored by Ruben Oliviera.

Starting the match with a three points lead from second place Lazio, Milan started the game in a very commanding fashion as they are bossing the ball possession, however there seems to be a lack of sharpness from the league leaders as they make too many passing error in the half. Lecce themselves didn’t really do much as they were much more focused in keeping the Rossoneri at bay and would probably pleased with a point from the game.

Ending the half with a disappointing 0-0 draw, Milan took the lead as early as the second half started after Ibrahimovic’s amazing speculative shot blazed through Lecce’s goal after the big Swede won a ball from the home team’s defender in a counter attacking move. Strangely, the Rossoneri seemed to lose their appetite for the game as it was the host that went on pushing their luck in searching for the equalizer despite having plenty of scarce at the back as the away team threatened from their sharp counter attack.

After a very rigid display of football, Lecce finally get their equalizer less than 10 minutes before time after Ruben Oliviera converted a corner from the right hand side escaping the challenge from Alessandro Nesta, who looked a little bit rusty in the game. The equalizing goal seemed to spark Milan alive as they began to take the attacking initiative once again and would’ve re-taken the lead once again in more than one occasion as they were missing few goal scoring chances in the final five minutes.

After surviving a biting nail moment in the last five minutes, Lecce fans erupted in joy as they finally managed to get a point from the current Serie A leader straight after taking three point in previous week against the league runner up, Lazio. As for Milan, their lack of sharpness seemed evidence in the game as they looked a little bit off the pace at time especially with the movement of several players who just returned from injuries along with suspension such as Nesta, Mathieu Flamini and Massimo Ambrosini. The draw only put the fashion capital side have a four point lead at the top of Serie A ahead of Lazio that got a lucky win in a game few hours before the fashion capital side’s match at Via Dal Mare.

photo credit: Jan S0L0

AC Milan extended their lead to six points in Serie A despite a 4-4 home draw with Udinese, though SSC Napoli will be hoping to close in on the Rossoneri when they host Juventus later.

Fans at San Siro were treated to an eight-goal thriller as Milan came from behind three times to force a 4-4 draw. Pato cancelled out Antonio Di Natale’s 35th-minute opener on the stroke of half-time only for Alexis Sánchez (53) and Di Natale (66) to put the visitors 3-1 up, but the hosts rallied through a Medhi Benatia own goal (78) and a second Pato strike (82). Germán Denis (89) then grabbed what looked to be the winner with a minute remaining, yet the league leaders salvaged a point via Zlatan Ibrahimović in added time.

It proved a crucial draw as second-placed Lazio lost 2-1 at home against lowly Lecce to slip further adrift of the summit. Fourth-placed Roma also tasted defeat, losing 2-1 at nine-man Sampdoria after losing Júlio Sérgio to a 55th-minute red card, though their hosts finished with nine men following the late dismissals of centre-backs Daniele Gastaldello and Stefano Lucchini.

Inter came from behind to triumph 2-1 at Catania and lift themselves to seventh, while an even more dramatic comeback ended with Fiorentina turning a 2-0 deficit at home to Brescia into a 3-2 win.

Elsewhere, there were victories for Bologna and Cagliari at Bari and Parma respectively, while Palermo and Genoa were held to 0-0 draws at Chievo and Cesena.

photo credit: Jan S0L0

Lecce’s Serie A game with bitter southern Italian rivals Bari on January 6 will now be played behind closed doors because of security worries, the home side said in a statement today.

The rivalry on Italy’s heel between Serie A’s two bottom sides is one of the hottest in the country and police have acted following a series of incidents.

Last month Lecce’s Souleymane Diamoutene was accosted by his own fans at a training session because he used to play for Bari while former Bari coach Antonio Conte was attacked on a beach near Lecce two years ago.

It should have been the perfect combination with Totti and Adriano leading Roma’s attack, however, this dream partnership has failed to impress. Adriano’s injury plagued season and Totti’s tense relationship with coach Claudio Ranieri almost saw the scudetto runners up last season doomed to the bottom 3 only 2 months into the new season.

Now, as Roma prepare to face their arch rivals Lazio this Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico, they will have to do it without their iconic captain Francesco Totti who is suspended for the match after being sent off in their 2-0 over Lecce last week.

Totti not only received a one match ban, but was also fined 20,000 Euros. Still trying to come to terms with his punishment, Totti voiced his concern terming the ban ‘too much’.

“I did not deserve a one-match ban, but had the sanctions been heavier, I would have revealed the truth about what happened,” Totti said.

“I think the sending-off and fine is too much. For me, it is too heavy not being able to play in the derby. It’s too important a game for me, and it always provokes my emotions.”

Meanwhile strike partner Adriano is also fighting to earn a slot in Ranieri’s starting line up. The Brazilian is yet to feature for Roma regularly this season raising questions as to whether he will return to Brazil.

Adriano’s agent however rubbished the reports linking his client with a return to Brazil-Santos in particular.

“Adriano to Santos? This is not true at all. It is just a made up invention to put pressure on the player,” Rinaldi said. “I have said it many times before that Adriano will not leave Roma.

“I am not in contact with any club because the player wants to show what he is worth in the capital. I can categorically deny the reports.”

Photo credit: from stiksa

Italian Serie A top scorer Samuel Eto’o scored the only goal in Inter’s 1-0 win over Cagliari yesterday to take them joint second on the table with city rivals AC Milan.

However, the match was not without any incidents as the referee threatened to stop the game due to racist chants aimed at the Cameroonian international. Not that it dint matter but Eto’o who by now is used to such treatment, did what he knows best and responded by scoring a sublime goal.

Only a few weeks ago, two of the games biggest governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA issued statements on a similar case where fans of Lokomotiv Moscow placed a disrespectful banner during a league thanking West Ham for buying their Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie.

Both FIFA and UEFA said they were powerless to act in that situation raising concerns as to how future racist incidents will be handled. Yesterday’s match was barely underway when the referee Mr. Paolo Tagliavento stopped play.

Mr. Tagliavento had heard racist chants and ordered for an announcement to be on the Public address system to warn that he would suspend the game if the chants continued.

Coming to the defense of his club and town, Massimo Cellini Cagliari’s President said that the referee misunderstood the fans. Speaking to RAI after the match, Cellini termed Mr. Tagliavento’s actions as an ‘error of judgement’.

“It was certainly an error of judgment,”

“Racist incidents do not happen here in Cagliari. I can exclude that categorically. Our fans are not like that.”

Meanwhile, Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero reached a milestone with the Bianconeri on Sunday when he equaled Giampiero Boniperti’s record of 178 Serie A goals.

In dramatic fashion, the striker came off the bench to grab Juve’s  4th goal of the day with only 8 minutes remaining in the game. The Turin giants beat Lecce 4-0 in Turin to take them 5th in the standings on 11 points 4 behind surprise leaders Lazio.

Speaking to Mindset Premium Del Piero expressed his delight of adding yet another record to his glittering career.

“I am pleased to have reached the record of an exceptional person and to have contributed to the victory,”

“Earning the applause is nice, every game is difficult, our sacrifices have been rewarded this Sunday. Let’s enjoy the result and then tomorrow we’ll think about the next match.”

Photo credit: from ScROs

The Italian Serie A season gets underway this weekend after a 3 month break with some very mouth watering fixtures key among them being the Udinese v Genoa, Fiorentina v Napoli and Sampdoria v Lazio matches.

This will however not be like any other previous season as the strategic buying that most clubs employed means that the league will be more competitive than previously thought. A good example would have to be Juventus.

While Inter still remain as favourites to repeat their epic treble, the Bianconeri cannot be ruled out especially after acquiring some very talented players. Milos Krasic, Simone Pepe and Leonardo Bonucci are just a few of these players.

If the reports doing the rounds are true then the Rossoneri should not be taken lightly either. After signing Amelia, Yeppes Papastothopoulos, Milan are looking to crown it all up by acquiring Ibrahimovic and Robihno. Should they sign these players, then they will be another strong contender for the title.

In my opinion, Roma should have won the title last season. A slight loss of focus saw Inter pip them to their 5th straight scudetto on the last weekend of league action. The Giallorosso have also boosted their squad after landing Adriano and Burdisso amongst other players.

Every league has their traditional title contenders and in this case they are Inter, AC Milan, AS Roma and Juventus. However, there is the chasing pack who could very well spring a surprise this time round.

Napoli, Genoa, Sampdoria, Palermo Fiorentina and Lazio are what i like to call the party poopers. Sampdoria and Palermo fought down to the wire last season and i expect them to do the same this season.

The of course we have the minnows. The teams who don’t stand a chance whatsoever. The list this time includes Lecce, Brescia and Cesena. All these teams were promoted and will be playing with the big boys who will see them as an easy 3 points.

Matches slated for Saturday include:

Udinese v Genoa and AS Roma v Cesena

Sunday’s matches are as follows:

Bari v Juventus

Parma v Brescia

Chievo Verona V Catania

Fiorentina v Napoli

Sampdoria v Lazio

AC Milan v Lecce

Palermo v Cagliari

Defending champions Inter Milan open their account on Monday away to Bologna.