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| Massimiliano Allegri: closing in on the title in his first season as Milan coach |
Milan’s rivals Inter moved into second place when they beat Lazio 2-1 at the San Siro – a win which looked unlikely after 22 minutes, when goalkeeper Júlio César was red-carded and Lazio took the lead via a Mauro Zarate penalty. Inter refused to wilt however, and goals from Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto’o moved them ahead of Napoli in the table.
Udinese failed to capitalise on Lazio’s defeat, so the two sides battling for the final Champions League place are still separated by just a single point. Parma followed their surprise victory over Inter with another upset at the Stadio Friuli. Amauri had already put Parma ahead when Udinese had midfielder Gökhan Inler sent off after 22 minutes. Another goal from Amauri sealed the win for Parma, who are now three points above the drop zone in fourteenth.
The re-appointment of coach Delio Rossi at Palermo continues to look like a wily move. Rossi’s charges fell behind thanks to an early penalty – which was converted by Napoli striker Edinson Cavani – but like Inter, they fought back and eventually won the game 2-1. Napoli drop to third in the standings after their second straight defeat.
A laboured 1-0 home win over Chievo in Saturday’s early game lifts Roma to within four points of a Champions League qualifying spot. Juventus look certain to miss out on Europe’s most prestigious club competition as they have simply shot themselves in the foot too many times this season. A first half brace from Alessandro Del Piero gave Juve a comfortable 2-0 lead, but Alejandro Gomez pulled one back for Catania in the 81st minute and Francesco Lodi then earned a point for the visitors in dramatic fashion with his excellent 95th minute free kick. You can watch Lodi's goal, and the delighted celebrations which followed it, on the Football Blog Page.
Genoa may have been reluctant to help their relegation-threatened rivals Sampdoria, but they did the Blucerchiati a favour by beating Lecce 4-2. This result, combined with Sampdoria’s 1-0 win over Bari, means that Sampdoria just about crawl out of the relegation zone on goal difference while Lecce fall to seventeenth, one place below them. Bari’s future in Serie B is now confirmed after their home defeat. Cesena find themselves two points above the relegation zone in sixteenth place following their 2-0 win at Bologna.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina won for the first time in six games thanks to two goals from Alessio Cerci. The 2-1 win at Cagliari lifts the Viola to ninth in the table, two points above their opponents.
Til next time…
Serie A: week 34 results
Bari 0-1 Sampdoria
Bologna 0-2 Cesena
Brescia 0-1 AC Milan
Cagliari 1-2 Fiorentina
Genoa 4-2 Lecce
Inter 2-1 Lazio
Juventus 2-2 Catania
Palermo 2-1 Napoli
Roma 1-0 Chievo
Udinese 0-2 Parma
