Serie A 2011/12: Week 8 Round-Up

Date: 24th October 2011 at 3:40pm
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Serie A came back with a bang this weekend following a washout last week. A number of excellent matches including an amazing comeback by AC Milan at Lecce as well as a superb late equaliser from Genoa in Turin.

Sunday, October 23 2011

Bologna v Lazio

Lazio continued their fine run of form, easily seeing off Bologna away from home.

It was a tough start to the game for the visiting Romans however, as Bologna had a number of wonderful opportunities to find the back of the net. Key striker Robert Acquafresca managed to do so on 23 minutes, albeit at the wrong end of the pitch, as his unfortunate knee scored an own goal to gift the visitors the lead.

One minute into the second period and the Biancocelesti made it two, as Senad Lulic got on the end of a wonderful through ball by Djbril Cisse, securing the three points for the club.

Cisse had the chance to make it three at the death, however he was denied by defender Daniele Portanova, although that miss counted for little, as Lazio incredibly are now second in the league, just one point behind leaders Udinese.

Bologna 0-2 Lazio

Cagliari v Napoli

Cagliari and Napoli played out a dull scoreless draw in Sardinia, a result that extended the visitors dismal run of form over the past month.

Having failed to defeat Bayern Munich in the Champions League midweek, and having gone down to Parma at home in the league last weekend, there were no signs of improvement by the Azzurri, as they were extremely disappointing over the course of the 90 minutes.

Edinson Cavani was very poor on the day, however he wasn’t the only one, as to be fair to the hosts, they simply should have won this match.

Nene and Redja Nainggolan both struck the woodwork in the match, and both looked lively throughout. Mario Santana did likewise for the Partenopei, however it was one of few chances they had in the game.

Cagliari 0-0 Napoli

Inter v Chievo

Inter Milan continued their winning form after defeating Lille midweek in the Champions League, to erase the memories of last weekend’s horror result against Catania in the league.

The Nerazzurri look to have turned a corner after a fairly convincing display against the Flying Donkeys, particularly in the first half, as Thiago Motta finally found an opener for the giants on 34 minutes, after a number of half opportunities in the lead up to it.

The visitors made a few tactical changes early in the second period, and looked quite menacing when going forward, however there was no way through for them, as the few chances they had were expertly dealt with by a determined Julio Cesar in goal.

Maicon struck the crossbar with a thunderous drive late on in the game, however it didn’t matter, as Inter held on for just their second victory of the campaign.

Inter 1-0 Chievo

Parma v Atalanta

Atalanta continued their brilliant return to the topflight, edging out Parma at the Ennio Tardini stadium.

In a fairly timid opening, both sides looked content to sit back and try and play on the counter. It didn’t really work for either though, as the two sides were level without a goal to their names at the break.

The second half was a completely different story however, as the Bergamaschi’s hero from the opening match day’s trip to Genoa – Maximiliano Moralez – hit a quick fire brace within the space of just three minutes to turn the game on its head.

A disappointing Sebastian Giovinco tried to inspire his team into life, however he had no luck, but just when it seemed as if it was all over for the Gialloblu, a surging run forward by Massimo Gobbi, saw the defender play in Jaime Valdes with a wonderful cross, and the substitute made no mistake in pulling one back for his team.

It meant for little though, as the hosts were unable to produce anything further from there, as they slump to yet another home defeat this season.

Parma 1-2 Atalanta

Roma v Palermo

Roma bounced back from last weekend’s Derby della Capitale defeat to Lazio, edging out Palermo at the Stadio Olimpico.

It took just eight minutes for the Giallorossi, as new signing Erik Lamela scored on debut for the club, as he netted with a brilliant side-footed finish to send the home fans into raptures.

Daniele De Rossi was pulling the strings in midfield and almost played in Pablo Osvaldo for the second soon after – however it wasn’t to be, for the striker who was looking to score for the fifth game in succession.

To this point, the Sicilians had failed to record a point or score a goal on their travels away from home all season, however that looked like it was about to change midway through the second half when Abel Hernandez and Josip Iliicic combined. The latter easily made his way from the keeper, and side-footed a ball towards the goal, only for De Rossi to rush back and slide to clear it off the line.

With little time remaining the Giallorossi had done enough to hold on, but only just, as they jump to sixth in the standings, just four points adrift of leaders Udinese.

Roma 1-0 Palermo

Siena v Cesena

Siena comfortably accounted for Cesena in Tuscany, as the Seahorses look a near certainty to go down this season.

Having failed to record a win thus far, the visitors’ task was immediately made tougher than it already was, when Pablo Gonzales netted the opener after just nine minutes of play.

The Biacnoneri dominated possession, but were unable to turn that into opportunities, however they maintained their goal advantage at the break, as their opponents offered minimal resistance.

Gonzales teamed up with his strike partner Emanuele Calaio eight minutes into the second half to double the hosts’ advantage, ensuring Siena jump to 11th in the standings, while Cesena remain rooted to the foot of the table with just two points from eight rounds of fixtures.

Siena 2-0 Cesena

Udinese v Novara

Udinese are the new outright Serie A leaders, after thumping Novara at the Friuli stadium.

Since that memorable 3-1 victory over Inter a few weeks ago, the newly promoted club have picked up jut one point in four matches, with that being a 3-3 draw with Catania.

Coming up against an in-form Bianconeri side was therefore always going to be a tough ask, and it showed, when Antonio Di Natale scored his first of the day on 33 minutes.

Di Natale turned provider seven minuted later, when he played in Maurizio Domizzi expertly for the second, before he capped off his brace with his team’s third and final goal of the day, four minutes into the second period.

The result leaves them a point clear at the top of the table ahead of Lazio, and two points clear of third placed Juventus after eight rounds of play.

Udinese 3-0 Novara

Lecce v AC Milan

In the Sunday lunch time fixture, Milan recorded a famous come from behind victory over Lecce at the Via del Mare stadium.

The hosts stunned the reigning champions after just four minutes, when Guillermo Giacomazzi was left unmarked at the back post to head home the opener, following a superb ball in by Carlos Grossmuller.

The Giallorossi incredibly made it two on the half hour mark, as Massimo Oddo scored from the spot against his former club, before the provider of the first goal turned scorer, as Grossmuller sensationally made it 3-0 at the break.

In desperate need of some inspiration, Massimiliano Allegri made a double substitution prior to the start of the second half, introducing Alberto Aquilani and Kevin Prince Boateng for Massimo Ambrosini and a disappointing Robinho.

The switch proved pivotal for the Rossoneri, as the latter had an incredible five shots within his first four minutes on the pitch, the last of which was a cracking opening goal on 49 minutes.

Boateng continued to dominate the game, and the visitors looked a completely different team with him on the pitch. On 54 minutes he banged home a superb second, and the belief was well and truly back amongst the Milan camp.

The champs began to push their opponents deeper and deeper at the back, and a third looked on the cards. Unsurprisingly it eventually came, when on 64 minutes, the Prince incredibly capped of the comeback.

Lecce eventually tested Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal for the first time in the second half on 76 minutes, but just moments later, Mario Yepes popped up to nod home a memorable winner, gifting the champions a crucial three points.

Lecce 3-4 AC Milan

Saturday, October 22 2011

Juventus v Genoa

Juventus were very disappointing at home to Genoa, dropping more points in the newly built Juventus arena.

The Bianconeri came into the match looking to go outright top for the time being, and made their mark on just six minutes, when Alessandro Matri continued his solid goal scoring form, after pouncing on a fumbled ball by the goalkeeper, following a Claudio Marchisio strike from distance.

As they so often do though, Genoa fought back in style, and looked a different team as the half wore on, getting their reward just after the half hour mark, when Marco Rossi scored the equaliser.

Andrea Pirlo began to pull the strings in midfield in the second period, and when he picked out Matri for his and the team’s second of the evening, the three points looked secured, until Andrea Caracciolo popped up to score from an acute angle five minutes from time, to ensure his team took a share of the spoils.

Juventus 2-2 Genoa

Fiorentina v Catania

The opening game of the round saw Fiorentina held by Catania at the Artemio Franchi stadium, despite dominating large portions of the play.

With Alberto Gilardino out injured on the sidelines, Stevan Jovetic has stepped up in recent weeks, since returning from a long-term injury of his own, and it was he who on 20 minutes found a way through to grab the opening goal.

Similar to the match that would follow however, the visiting Sicilians lifted after conceding the opener, and found an equaliser just before the break, as Gennaro Delvecchio levelled the score line with a fine finish.

Jovetic was not done yet however, as he scored his second of the night just after the hour mark, and just as the Viola looked headed for a crucial three points, Maxi Lopez popped up to tap in a late equaliser to gift his side a crucial point on the road.

Fiorentina 2-2 Catania

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