Latest Serie A News

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PRANDELLI STEELS LA VIOLA

Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has urged his injury-hit squad to dig in deep against Parma on Saturday to come out with another victory.

La Viola are on a good run of form and are flying high in fourth place in Serie A following wins against Catania and away at Udinese.

However, Prandelli's men have been decimated by injuries, with Adrian Mutu, Alessandro Gamberini and Stefan Jovetic all out while Per Kroldrup has returned from international duty with Denmark with a fever and will not figure either.

Riccardo Montolivo is also absent through suspension but Prandelli believes his squad are good enough to pick up the three points even without their missing stars.

"Ahead of Saturday's game our aim is still the same," he said. "We are not worried but aware: we will find it difficult, because Parma are an organised team and on form.

"But we also have the desire to continue on our positive run of results, picking up another victory which would be very important, under many points of view.

"Each match is an exam: we have to remember with what attitude we won games like that in Udine.

"Saturday will be a different challenge, but certain things to keep are the same.

"We have to give away little and stand firm. Moreover, we will have the support of our fans."

Fiorentina have a crunch Champions League clash against Lyon midweek.

Victory would see La Viola top Group E, but Prandelli insists they must put all thoughts of that game to the back of their minds.

"We will only start thinking about that Sunday," he said. "I will repeat that until I bore them with it.

"We don't have the capacity to think about two games at the same time.

"Now we have Parma, then the game against Lyon. No one now should be thinking about the Champions League."

Parma are themselves in good form and travel to the Artemio Franchi a point behind Fiorentina.

However, coach Francesco Guidolin is fully aware his side will be in for a tricky test.

"On Saturday night we have to try to control the game as we did at Udine, at Genoa and at Rome against Lazio," he said.

"We know the difficulty of the match we will face, because Fiorentina are as good as Inter Milan and AC Milan.

"For a few years now the Viola have been one of the three or four strongest teams in Italy.

"In the last few years the progress has been clear and the worth of those who have worked for this should be recognised.

"For us it will be a difficult and complicated game, but we still hope to do well in it."

Guidolin will be without Alberto Paloschi, Alessio Manzoni, Luca Antonelli and Andrea Pisanu for the trip while Jonathan Biabiany and McDonald Mariga are back in the squad but are still rated as doubtful.




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GENOA RARING TO GO Genoa

A revved-up Genoa are eager to face strugglers Livorno on Sunday in Tuscany.

The Grifoni have claimed seven points out of a possible nine in their last three matches and have climbed into sixth place.

The good form has fuelled hopes among the fans the team can make a run this season at a top-four finish to reach the Champions League.

Genoa's players had a bad string of results earlier in the campaign but look to be back to their best and they want to keep the

momentum going ahead of their Italian Riviera derby against city rivals Sampdoria the following week.

"We have put new diesel in our engine," said Genoa midfielder Francesco Modesto. "We're very ready.

"The derby? For the time being I see it still far away. I would prefer that the attention is concentrated on the away match in Tuscany which will be very difficult.

"It would be very important to take back home the three points."

Livorno will have to do without midfielder Francesco Tavano for Sunday's clash against Genoa.

Tavano was expected to return to action this weekend having recovered from a muscular problem only to suffer a recurring injury this week which will keep him sidelined for at least a month.

To make matters worse for coach Serse Cosmi, defensive trio Romano Perticone, Mirko Pieri and Nelson Rivas are still sidelined with injury, while midfielder Cristian Raimondi serves a one-match ban.

Despite his team being plagued by injury woes, Cosmi believes they can make life difficult for Genoa.

"The team has been training well during the international break," he said.

"There is no reason why we cannot do well against Genoa.

"The team is growing game by game and we are determined to climb out of the relegation zone as soon as possible."

The Amaranto go into this weekend's match on the back of two straight defeats which have left them in 18th position on nine points, and only goal difference separates them between salvation and relegation.

Cosmi, who replaced sacked Gennaro Ruotolo a month ago, has attached no importance to those losses and is confident his team will soon be rewarded for their performances.

"In the four games I have been in charge of Livorno, we have taken six points," said Cosmi.

"We were at the foot of the table and now we have nine points, just one place behind safety."

However, the Amaranto will have to show a vast improvement in attack, with just four goals struck in 12 games.

The visitors are without injured Bosko Jankovic, Ivan Juric, Houssine Kharja and Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Moreover, midfielder Omar Milanetto serves a one-match ban but defender Giuseppe Biava returns from suspension.

The good news for Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini is that goalkeeper Marco Amelia returns to action.

Amelia has recovered from a muscular injury that saw him miss the last three games.


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MOURINHO WARY OF BOLOGNA

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho is wary of Bologna's resurgence under new coach Franco Colomba and is set to stick with his strongest line-up for Saturday's trip to the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

Inter face Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night but Mourinho won't be making the wholesale changes he did before their last European outing against Dynamo Kiev.

On that occasion, Esteban Cambiasso, Samuel Eto'o and Walter Samuel were left out of the starting XI for the game against Livorno - a match Inter won 2-0 - but the Portuguese boss is adamant there are differences between then and now.

"The game in Ukraine was one if we lost we would have been out of the Champions League and if we had drawn, we would have been all but out," he said.

"At this moment, the Barcelona game is not that important.

"In the Champions League, we have two matches to get three points so it's very different."

Inter will be without young defender Davide Santon and Holland midfielder Wesley Sneijder for the game after both players picked up knocks during the international break.

Mourinho added: "We have lost Sneijder and Santon. This is a normal situation when you have many players who away with their national teams. It is always expected that someone comes along with some problems. It is a shame but we must accept it as a logical consequence of having so many players away around the world.

"Apart from Santon and Sneijder the others are doing well, without any problems."

Bologna's form has picked up since the appointment of Colomba. They have won both home games under his stewardship, against Siena and Palermo.

"They have won the last two matches at home," added Mourinho.

"They have good players in attack and plenty of options. They are also well organised in midfield and defence.

"The new coach, as is often the case, has increased the levels of motivation. It will be a tough game."

Inter could only manage a draw in their last Serie A game, against Roma on November 8, but are still five points clear of second-placed Juventus.

Bologna are down in 15th but on the rise following a woeful start to the season.

Experienced striker Marco Di Vaio is aware his side will have to be at their best if they want to maintain their improved form.

"To beat a team as strong as Inter, we need to play a great game," said Di Vaio. "We also have to have luck on our side.

"We hope to play a great game on Saturday.

"I hope to score but if I don't, I just want to get a positive result."



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ZAMBROTTA WANTS MORE OF THE SAME AC Milan v Cagliari

AC Milan are determined to build on their positive run prior to the international break when they resume their Serie A campaign at home to Cagliari on Sunday.

The Rossoneri are unbeaten in the last seven and have won four of the last five, but lie seven points off the pace set by city rivals and defending champions Inter Milan.

The run has been punctuated by the international break, which saw Italy draw 0-0 and a 1-0 defeat of Sweden, while Italy's rugby team hosted New Zealand at the San Siro in front of 77,000 fans.

Football returns to the fabled arena on Saturday, with Milan eager to carry the momentum from their 2-1 defeat of Lazio in their most recent Serie A fixture.

"The club teams are coming back on the pitch and we want to continue the positive run after our last matches," defender Gianluca Zambrotta told the club's official website, www.acmilan.com.

Zambrotta insists Milan's attacking approach, which has yielded 10 goals in the last five games, will continue.

He added: "We are playing in a system that allows us to create a lot, we attack with more men.

"Attacking play has always been Milan's philosophy.

"For us wingers, also, it's very important having reference points on the same flank, like it often happens for me with Ronaldinho."

Gennaro Gattuso is battling a thigh problem, while Alessandro Nesta is suspended.

However, Kakha Kaladze has declared himself available for selection following injury to boost a defence which is already without Daniele Bonera and Oguchi Onyewu.

Kaladze said: "I think it's important to always be ready. I'm coming off a serious injury, an operation, I also recovered a bit late compared to the start of the team's official cycle of games.

"Now I'm doing well, I'm available to the coach, he's the one who has to make choices on who plays.

"It wasn't easy for me to come in against Napoli, Nesta's injury was unexpected, but in that circumstance I think I did quite well, as I did against Parma three days later.

"Now for both me and the team it's important to play well, continue the positive series, on Sunday we have to win and earn the three points."

Zambrotta expects Cagliari to provide a stiff challenge to Milan's title aspirations.

"Cagliari are having a good time at the moment, we know it won't be easy on Sunday," he said.

Kaladze added: "We'll have to be careful on Sunday, it won't be easy but we will do everything to win."

Alessandro Matri admits it will be "special" to play the Rossoneri, but he and his Cagliari team-mates will not be fazed by the occasion.

"It's a special game for everyone, not just for me. One can not remain indifferent to Milan," the striker, who began his career at Milan, told his club's official website, www.cagliaricalcio.net.

"How can emerge unscathed from San Siro? We will play our game, without awe. We want to do well."




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TOTTI BOOST FOR ROMA Roma v Bari


Roma striker Jeremy Menez believes the return of talismanic captain Francesco Totti can help them rediscover their form, starting on Sunday against Bari.

The Giallorossi welcome back Totti for the encounter at the Stadio Olimpico.

Totti, who is Roma's top scorer with six goals, has been sidelined since October 4 with a knee injury but has recovered and could see some action against the Galletti.

The Giallorossi have been hindered by Totti's absence, with just four points collected in five games without the former Italy international.

"Roma has more belief in its qualities when Totti plays," said Roma Menez, who is set to partner Totti and Mirko Vucinic up front on Sunday.

"I think Vucinic, Totti and me can play together up front but it will be the coach to decide.

"This could be the right formula for the team but it will be the coach that decides what is best.

"To play with Totti is a dream and I'm sure he will score a goal on Sunday to help us get a win and climb up in the standings."

Claudio Ranieri's side sit in 13th place and are six points adrift of fourth-place Fiorentina after holding Serie A leaders Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw before the international break.

"The team played well at Inter," said Totti.

"But our aim this year is not to fight for the scudetto but to finish in the top four.

"This is what we set out to do at the beginning of the campaign.

"We want to play in the Champions League next season and in order to do that we will have to get continuity in results.

"Unfortunately, there are ups and downs during a season and right now we are trying to grow as a team little by little with coach Claudio Ranieri."

Totti's return is bad news for Bari.

The Roma captain has proved to be the biggest nightmare for the Galletti in previous encounters between the two sides, having struck seven times in 10 games against them.

"We will have to try to stop Totti," said Bari midfielder Sergio Almiron. "It will not be easy because he is a great player.

"We all know how difficult it's going to be to get a result in Rome but we are convinced we can do well.

"We want to win at Roma."

Bari will fancy their chances of claiming at least a point at the weekend as they have the best defensive line in the competition with just seven goals conceded in 12 matches.

The promoted outfit go into the encounter looking for their second win on the road this season.

Giampiero Ventura's side lie ninth in the standings, having claimed 18 points in 12 games.

The hosts will be without injured duo Juan and Daniele De Rossi.

Bari travel to the Eternal City without striker Vitalj Kutuzov, who is out with an ankle injury but welcome back midfielder Antonio Langella from suspension.



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SPECIAL CLASH FOR DEL NERI

Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Neri admits their game against Chievo will be one of mixed emotions for him.

Del Neri made his name at Chievo where he took them straight from Serie B to UEFA Cup qualification.

The 59-year-old had two spells lasting a total of five years in Verona and is hailed as a miracle worker by the city's football fans.

The Samp boss insists the feeling is mutual but will be going all out for victory as he bids to get his current team back to winning ways.

"It won't be a game like the others not just for me but also for my squad who want to change the team's course, after less than favourable results which have come up lately," said Del Neri.

"Personally I am tied with great affection to Chievo Verona, the club which allowed me to make my debut in Serie A as a manager, even though from that period, apart from the president Campedelli and the sporting director Sartori, hardly any one has remained.

"Nevertheless the years I spent in Verona will remain an unforgettable time for me in my memory and in that of the players that wore the gialloblu shirt in those years.

"We were a group of debutants and we managed to get extraordinary results."

He added: "Chievo are part of my past and the memories which link me to this experience I will carry always with me.

"But at this moment I am Sampdoria coach and I will try to get the best for these colours."

Del Neri will be hoping the current Chievo team do not manage to get an extraordinary result at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Samp got their season off to a flier and stunned many by topping the Serie A table for the first few weeks.

However, they are going through a blip of late and have claimed just one point in their previous three games to slip to fifth in the standings, behind Fiorentina on goal difference.

Del Neri has an almost full squad to choose from with the exception of suspended defender Marius Stankevicius and midfielder Franco Semioli who is nearing full fitness but will only come back into the squad next week.

Chievo have had a mixed start to the season but are sitting comfortably in 12th place in the Serie A table.

Coach Domenico Di Carlo is fully aware of how difficult a test they face tomorrow with Samp yet to lose at home but eh as urged his players, who have one of the best away records outside the top three, to dig in deep and grind out a result.

"We are facing a great team, in the Champions League positions at the moment, led by a really great coach," said Di Carlo.

"We have to play as a team. Above all, we have to take courage and the capacity to suffer onto the pitch, without any sort of fear.

"And with a pinch more of cynicism...at times, maybe, we should be less 'beautiful' and more concrete."

Yonese Hanine, Fabio Moro and Nicolas Frey remain sidelined for the trip but Gennaro Sardo has been included after recovering from his injury, although he is unlikely to start.



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SIENA AIM TO MAKE MOST OF BREAK Siena

No team has welcomed the two-week break more than Marco Baroni's struggling Siena, who will look to show some improvement in Sunday's game against Atalanta.

The Bianconeri find themselves bottom of Serie A after taking just six points from 12 matches this season.

Baroni took over as caretaker coach following Marco Giampaolo's departure 10 games into the season.

The Tuscan outfit were hoping to lure Mario Beretta back to Siena last week but were handed a blow when he turned down the offer.

"I am very saddened to announce that the negotiations for my return to Siena have been broken," said Beretta.

"I believe that the means needed to try to help the team avoid the drop this season are not there.

"I wish the players, the coaching staff and the fans, who have always shown a lot of support to me, to come out of the difficult position in the standings as soon as possible."

With eight defeats and just one win so far, it is no surprise the team, watched closely by club president Lombardi Stronati, have spent the last 14 days concentrating on putting things right.

"We are only thinking about salvation and have put the rest to one side," said Baroni. "We will play and fight to avoid the drop, as this is the most important thing.

"My players should only be thinking about how to defeat Atalanta on Sunday and nothing else.

"We must win this game, it is absolutely necessary that we take a triumph in order to give us oxygen and bring calmness to the team.

"As long as I am here, things will be done with this mentality."

Siena have one of the worst defences in Serie A, conceding 20 goals and scoring just once in their last four home games.

Atalanta, who are three points better off, will be under pressure to take maximum points at the Artemio Franchi stadium with anything but a win possibly seeing them drop into the bottom three.

Antonio Conte's side go into the game on the back of defeats to Livorno, Cagliari and Juventus.

The Bergamaschi appear to have made an improvement in their weak attack, having struck twice against the Turin giants having failed to hit the back of the net in their previous two games.

However, the 5-2 loss to Juventus left Atalanta level on nine points with 18th-placed Livorno.

Conte's side will be desperate to show a vast improvement in defence after conceding

nine goals in their last three games.

Baroni will have all his players available with the exception of injured defender Luca Rossettini and midfielder Francesco Parravicini.

The hosts will be hoping striker Massimo Maccarone can maintain his form in front of goal having scored in the last two games.

The visitors will have to overcome the absence of Cristiano Doni and Tiberio Guarente, both serving a one-match ban.



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RIVALS AIM TO MAKE THEIR POINT


Palermo host Catania at La Favorita in Sunday's Sicilian duel with both teams in desperate need of points.

The hosts will want to improve on their current position of 11th in the standings while Gianluca Atzori's Catania look to have finally got over a nightmare spell of injuries and will be anxious to move out of the drop zone.

The return of six players from injury is good news for Atzori, whose side lie 19th in the table having mustered just one victory and eight points so far.

Giusepe Bellusci, Jorge Martinez, Takayuki Morimoto, Simone Pesce, Marco Biagianti and Gianvito Plasmati have all recovered during the international break from their respective injuries and will be available.

However Catania, who won 4-0 at Palermo last season, are well aware they face a tough task with Sunday's rivals remain unbeaten at home.

"We must forget about last season's 4-0 triumph at Palermo," said striker Giuseppe Mascara.

"We are preparing for a different kind of match and we know it will be difficult to take a positive result at La Favorita."

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has given a vote of confidence to coach Walter Zenga ahead of the match.

Zenga had been under pressure following his team's surprising 3-1 defeat at Bologna in the last round, which marked their fourth defeat of the campaign and left the team four points behind Genoa, who hold the last European qualifying spot.

"Zenga will remain even if the team loses on Sunday," said Zamparini. "It has never entered my mind to sack him. He has the club's full support.

"In any case, against Catania I would be happy if my team wins 1-0 in the 90th minute and with a Catania own goal."

Palermo defender Mattia Cassani has also praised Zenga and believes the team is behind the manager.

"We are all behind Zenga," he said. "He knows how to lead this group and we hope to prove that on Sunday.

"We are playing at home and we want to display our quality and get a great result."

Cassani knows his team will have to show a vast improvement having claimed one point in the last three rounds while conceding eight goals.

"We are all ready to produce a great performance in this game," he said.

"We want to bounce back from our defeat against Bologna and there is no better game to do that than Sunday's one.

"We want to avenge last season's humiliating result and we know we have to remain concentrated and be patient."

Zenga will field Edison Cavani alongside Fabrizio Miccoli in attack.

The hosts will be without injured midfielder Giovanni Tedesco, midfielder Simone Kjaer and striker Davide Succi, but welcome back defender Federico Balzaretti.



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NAPOLI WANT SIX APPEAL

Napoli's unbeaten run at the San Paolo stadium will be put to the test when they host a desperate Lazio on Sunday.

The Partenopei go into their home encounter in buoyant mood and for good reason.

The Naples-based outfit are still undefeated under boss Walter Mazzarri and lie 10th in the standings, just three points adrift of a Champions League spot.

Wins against Fiorentina and Juventus and a 2-2 draw against AC Milan before the international break handed Napoli a big boost in confidence.

But midfielder Michele Pazienza knows his team still have a lot of work to do to finish in the top six this season.

"So far we have done well and we are pleased," he said. "But if we have given 100% so far, we must now give 200%.

"Only if we multiply our efforts can we gain consistency and keep our performance levels high.

"When you get wins there is more confidence and we all work with a greater enthusiasm."

Napoli host an under-performing Lazio side who are determined to return to winning ways in order to lift themselves out of danger.

And Pazienza has warned his team-mates not to underestimate tomorrow's opponents.

"We are focused on tomorrow's game with Lazio," he said. "Lazio have great quality throughout the team.

"They are desperate to end their poor run of results and we make a mistake to underestimate them.

"They played well against AC Milan in the last round and we will have to be concentrated from start to finish."

Napoli have every reason to be wary, considering their last home win over Lazio in the top flight came in 1996.

Lazio coach Davide Ballardini's future hangs in the balance with his side failing to win in the league since August 30, collecting five points from a possible 30.

They have dropped to 16th in the table, just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Lazio did show an improvement in their 2-1 loss to AC Milan in the last round but that game again highlighted their main problem this season.

A lack of goals has hindered Lazio, who have struck just three times in their last six games.

Lazio fans will be desperate for Mauro Zarate to increase his goal tally with the Argentinian forward having found the back of the net just three times this season.

Zarate is set to play in support of Tommaso Rocchi and Julio Cruz up front.

Two strikes from Rocchi handed Lazio a 2-0 win at Napoli last season.

The visitors are still without the injured Ousmane Dabo, Albano Bizzarri, Sebastiano Siviglia, Pasquale Foggia and Francelino Matuzalem.

The hosts will be without defender Salvatore Aronica, who serves a one-match ban, and injured defender Fernando Santacroce.




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BUFFON: WE MUST BEAT UDINESE

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes Sunday's game with Udinese is pivotal to their chances of challenging Inter Milan for the Serie A title.

Juve are five points behind Inter in the table while city rivals AC Milan are two points further back in third and defeat for Juve could see the Rossoneri go above them if they win.

Udinese will be without forwards Antonio Di Natale and Simone Pepe through suspension and injury respectively but Buffon does not expect Juve's opponents to be easier to beat because of this.

"They are fundamental players but I don't think that Udinese will be easier to beat for this reason," said Buffon.

"For us it will be a decisive match for our progress in the championship and for this reason we must win," he told his website, www.gianluigibuffon.com.

"At home we have already dropped a number of points and we cannot afford more false steps."

Buffon is also aware of the need to win with the match against leaders Inter on the horizon.

He added: "The direct encounter is drawing near. Our objective is to start winning full points and win the three points against Udinese, trying to repeat this in the next match away to Cagliari."

Defender Fabio Cannavaro is also wary of thinking too far ahead to the Inter game and wants to concentrate on the Udinese match and the Champions League encounter with Bordeaux before looking at the clash with the league leaders.

Cannavaro said: "I see that many are already speaking of the match against Inter but personally I have decided not to speak on this subject for the next two weeks.

"I am interested in the matches against Udinese and Bordeaux. The first must make us understand that we must not give up in the championship whilst the second must grant us the ticket to the next round of the Champions League.

"Luckily, after the break we will have the return of many important players like Del Piero and for us it is a good thing since we need everyone."

Juventus welcome back captain Alessandro Del Piero who has been out with a thigh injury for over a month but is set to return to action this weekend.

"I see an in-form Juventus side," said Del Piero.

"I am fully recovered and ready to play."

Udinese midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino hopes the game in Turin can be a turning point for his team as they are still searching for their first win on the road this season.

"Each one of us must hand in a great performance," he said.

"We have lost too many points so far and it's time to start winning them back.

"We must be aggressive, solid in every department and try to stop them from playing their game from the beginning.

"We face a very strong squad, with players that can make the difference at any moment."

Udinese are currently tied in 12th place with Chievo and Roma with 15 points from 12 games played so far this season.



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EASY WIN FOR INTER


Inter Milan moved eight points clear at the top of Serie A with a dominant 3-1 win at Bologna.

Diego Milito put the Nerazzurri ahead in the 22nd minute but Marcelo Zalayeta equalised within a minute.

Mario Balotelli restored Inter's advantage three minutes before half-time and Esteban Cambiasso sealed the win in the 72nd minute to enable Inter to prepare for Tuesday's Champions League match with Barcelona having established a comfortable lead at the top.

Inter defender Maicon spoiled his side's evening when he received a red card in stoppage time for insulting one of the referee's assistants.

It was clear from the way Bologna lined up that they did not rate their chances very highly.

They left Zalayeta alone up front and put 10 men behind the ball, and Inter were happy to attack.

The first moment of danger in front of Emiliano Viviano's goal came in the 13th minute when the Bologna goalkeeper could only parry Cristian Chivu's shot to Cambiasso, but there were no takers for his inviting cross into the centre.

Thiago Motta headed straight at Viviano from close range as Inter threatened with a corner from the right.

The next corner from the same side heralded the opening goal with Motta again given space for the header, but this time the ball was off target and reached Lucio who headed it back to Milito, who turned and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

Before Inter could reorganise at the back, Zalayeta had found space between Walter Samuel and Lucio to latch onto Adailton's long ball forward and bring Bologna level.

His first touch to control the ball was excellent and made the room for him to beat Julio Cesar into the top right-hand corner of his goal.

Balotelli wasted the chance to put Inter ahead in the 29th minute when he broke free, but he delayed his shot too long with just Viviano to beat and, when he finally did decide to pull the trigger, the Bologna goalkeeper had an easy save.

Dejan Stankovic could hardly have come any closer to scoring in the 36th minute when his shot hit both posts before Viviano dived on the loose ball almost in disbelief just ahead of Cambiasso.

But Inter got the lead they deserved in the 42nd minute from another corner.

This time it was Balotelli who found room unmarked in the centre of the six-yard box and he directed his header just to the left of Viviano.

Inter continued their dominance into the second half, with Samuel Eto'o setting up Milito whose shot was flicked instinctively onto the crossbar by Viviano.

Stankovic had a volley saved by the Bologna custodian just before Cambiasso finally put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute.

Miguel Britos hesitated and left a cross from Milito without realising that Cambiasso was just behind him, and the Argentinian took the invitation to place his shot into the far corner.

The only sour note on an easy evening for Inter came in stoppage time when Maicon was given his marching orders for a verbal tirade at an assistant referee.




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PARMA STUN FIORENTINA


Parma moved up to third in Serie A with an unexpected 3-2 win at Fiorentina.

Alberto Gilardino put the home side ahead in the 25th minute but goals from Nicola Amoruso and Valeri Bojinov turned the game around.

Gilardino's second with just over an hour gone brought Fiorentina level again and they appeared to be in the ascendancy until Davide Lanzafame struck the winner on the break for Parma in the 67th minute.

And to make matters worse for Fiorentina, they lost Marco Donadel to a second yellow card as time ran out.

Parma started brightly with Bojinov missing a great early chance when he had only Sebastien Frey to beat, but he placed his shot wide.

The visitors continued to look a threat on the break but Fiorentina were enjoying most of the possession and starting to build up a head of steam when Gilardino put them ahead.

Moments before scoring, Gilardino had sent Marco Marchionni through and Antonio Mirante managed to get a hand to his shot to push the ball behind for a corner.

Gilardino scored from the corner with the ball going all the way across to the other side of the field where Mario Santana lifted it back in for the Italy striker to head into the far corner, leaving Mirante no chance.

Parma responded well and levelled through Amoruso on the half hour.

Cristian Zaccardo beat the offside trap to break down the right and squared the ball to give Amoruso an easy tap-in from point-blank range.

Parma went ahead in the 53rd minute when Fiorentina's offside trap was broken once again, this time from a free-kick.

Daniele Galloppa lifted the ball into the danger area where Bojinov stuck out a leg to divert the ball past Frey.

The goal served as a wake-up call to the home team, who suddenly started to play with more belief going forward and Juan Vargas tested Mirante with a dipping volley from just outside the penalty area.

It was not long before they were level with Gilardino again meeting a corner with a great leap and even better precision with his header into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Italy striker had another goalbound header deflected wide by Alessandro Lucarelli as Parma were pegged back in their own half.

But they managed to break for the winner in the 67th minute with Christian Panucci delivering a perfect ball with the outside of his right boot straight into the path of Lanzafame.

The Parma substitute almost pushed the ball too far in front of him but managed to stretch just before being caught by a Fiorentina defender to nudge the ball past the onrushing Frey into the far corner.

The Viola laid siege to the Parma goal but Marchionni and Gilardino both missed chances, Mirante making a fine one-handed save to deny the latter in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

And Fiorentina ended the game with just 10 men when Donadel received his second yellow card three minutes before the end.



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[sky star 2]

DEFENCES ON TOP AT SAN PAOLO

Napoli's unbeaten run at the Stadio San Paolo continued but they were unable to break down Lazio and shared a 0-0 draw with the struggling Roman outfit.

The visitors had the better of the first half, dominating the midfield and creating the better chances with the hosts limited to counter-attacks.

The Partenopei picked up the pace after the break and were the better team for the second 45 minutes, however, meaning a draw was a fair result.

Napoli are still undefeated under boss Walter Mazzarri and move up a place to ninth in the standings, five points adrift of a Champions League spot, while troubled Lazio lie 15th.

The first chance of the match fell to Napoli in the eighth minute. Michele Pazienza provided the through-ball for Christian Maggio, who burst through the visiting defence and found himself one on one with Fernando Muslera, but the goalkeeper came out forcefully and cleared the ball.

Mauro Zarate almost opened the scoring at the other end three minutes later but saw his 35-yard blast swerve just to the right of Morgan De Sanctis' goal.

De Sanctis was called upon in the 18th minute, saving messily from Pasquale Foggia's right-wing cross. Stefano Mauri was on hand to pounce and appeared to have a straightforward tap-in but the Napoli defence managed to avert the danger.

The visitors appealed for a penalty on the half-hour mark when Zarate's 30-yard shot from a central position appeared to hit the elbow of Leandro Rinaudo, but the referee waved play on.

The lively Zarate continued to take the battle to the hosts and once again found himself within shooting range on the edge of the area four minutes before the break, but Hugo Campagnaro saved the day.

Napoli stepped up their game after the interval and could have taken the lead two minutes in.

Ezequiel Lavezzi swung in a corner from the left which looked perfect for Maggio to convert but he failed to connect and allowed Aleksandar Kolarov to clear.

Lavezzi then got past Emilson Cribari and entered the Lazio area, only to be tackled by Stefan Radu.

Napoli were dominating by now and pushing Lazio onto the back foot.

A fine ball into the area from Marek Hamsik in the 65th minute found Lavezzi, but he could not get his shot away thanks to the attentions of substitute Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Mauri fed a brilliant ball through to Julio Cruz in the 86th minute but it had just enough weight on to give De Sanctis the chance to come out and clear at Cruz's feet.

That proved to be the last chance of note in the game as both sides had to settle for a point.


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[sky star 2]

SPOILS SHARED IN SICILIAN DERBY

Lowly Catania fought back to claim a 1-1 draw in the Sicilian derby at Palermo but the visitors to La Favorita will perhaps feel the three points went begging after finishing far the stronger of the two sides.

Giulio Migliaccio fired the hosts into an early lead but second-bottom Catania levelled through Jorge Andres Martinez in the second period.

Late pressure from Gianluca Atzori's visitors failed to bring the goal which could have sealed Catania's first away win of the season, meaning the Elefanti are three points from safety after 13 games.

The point will do little to lift the gloom surrounding Palermo coach Walter Zenga, who was given a vote of confidence by club president Maurizio Zamparini prior to the game following a disappointing string of results.

The hosts began well enough, though, and were ahead inside four minutes.

Fabrizio Miccoli created the chance, his free-kick giving way to a scramble in the area which the visitors failed to clear and Migliaccio was on hand to lash home.

Javier Pastore went close for the hosts when he fired wide on 13 minutes before Miccoli saw a driven effort deflected onto the bar via a remarkable Mariano Andujar save.

With four minutes of the half remaining, a neat passage of play between Edison Cavani, Fabio Simplicio and Mattia Cassani ended with the former pulling the trigger from just inside the area but his effort sailed just wide.

Having offered little in the way of attacking threat in the opening 45, Catania rang the changes at the interval with Martinez and Ciro Capuano entering the fray, and they immediately looked an improved unit.

The leveller arrived 10 minutes into the second period when home goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu failed to clear the ball to safety after saving from Takayuki Morimoto, and Martinez was on hand to smuggle the ball over the line from six yards.

A moment of creativity by Giuseppe Mascara almost put Catania ahead with 10 minutes to go as he spied Sirigu off his line, but the forward's attempted chip was misjudged and the ball sailed harmlessly over for a goal kick.

There was only going to be one winner in the final stages as Catania had emphatically won the midfield battle following the half-time changes made by Atzori, but when the chance arrived to snatch all the points luck was not on their side.

A free-kick was swung over dangerously into the Palermo area and ran through to Martinez, who found the back of the net only to see the effort chalked off by the referee, who adjudged Nicolas Spolli to be offside and interfering with play in front of Sirigu.



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[sky star 2]

SIENA REMAIN ROCK BOTTOM

Siena remain rooted to the bottom of Serie A after going down 2-0 at home to Atalanta, their ninth defeat in 13 games.

Simone Tiribocchi gave the visitors the lead after 52 minutes and Robert Acquafresca looked to have sealed the win 16 minutes later from the penalty spot.

Siena were gifted the chance to get back into the game on 78 minutes but Michele Paolucci saw his penalty saved and the home side knew it would not be their day when they hit the bar twice within a matter of seconds.

Atalanta came into the game just three points above their opponents and knew victory could be vital in the battle at the wrong end of the table.

They started brightly and striker Simone Padoin flashed a shot wide from the edge of the box after eight minutes.

But it was the home side who came agonisingly close to an early goal on 12 minutes when Claudio Terzi's superb header came back off the post following Ferreira Reginaldo's cross.

No doubt buoyed by coming so close, Siena pressed forward and Gael Genevier tried his luck from distance on 19 minutes, but Atalanta keeper Andrea Consigli got down to his left to make the save.

Atalanta rallied and after 23 minutes Acquafresca headed wide from close range from Fabio Ceravolo's cross.

And eight minutes later Tiribocchi wasted a great chance to break the deadlock by lobbing over the bar with young Siena goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo well beaten.

Pegolo was back in prime position shortly after to deny the same player, pulling off an excellent stop to prevent Acquafresca's shot finding the corner of the net.

The final chance of the first half fell to Siena but Massimo Maccarone fired wide.

It took just seven minutes of the second half for the deadlock to be broken however, Tiribocchi heading home from close range.

And seven minutes later Acquafresca missed a golden chance to double the visitors' lead, failing to tap in from close range when it looked easier to score.

Atalanta did make it 2-0 on 67 minutes, however, Acquafresca making amends for his miss by winning and scoring a penalty.

He was fouled in the area by Daniele Ficagna but picked himself up to convert the spot-kick.

That looked to be decisive and Siena were left cursing their luck on 73 minutes when Emanuele Calaio hit the bar from 15 yards and Michele Fini also smashed the rebound against the woodwork.

If that was bad luck, Siena only had themselves to blame for not getting on the scoresheet with 12 minutes left.

Paolo Bianco was adjudged to have pushed Maccarone inside the area but was rescued by his goalkeeper, Consigli keeping out Paolucci's penalty to preserve his side's two-goal cushion.



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[sky star 2]

PULZETTI HITS WINNER FOR LIVORNO

Nico Pulzetti headed a late winner as Livorno secured a valuable 2-1 win over Genoa in their mission to avoid relegation.

Genoa had taken seven points from the three previous rounds of Serie A matches and were looking to build on that run of form, and a draw looked highly likely as the match neared its conclusion, after Domenico Criscito had cancelled out the home team's opener from Cristiano Lucarelli.

However Pulzetti had the final say in the third minute of stoppage time, arriving to head home a dramatic winner.

Genoa began the match strongly and Rodrigo Palacio picked out Hernan Crespo with a cross, however the veteran Argentinian striker lashed his shot over the bar.

Palacio then threatened by himself after beating Davide Moro for pace, but like Crespo he cleared the bar with his strike at goal.

Livorno recovered from the early assault on their goal to break through after 21 minutes when Antonio Candreva set up Cristiano Lucarelli and the striker turned well before driving his right-footed shot into the net past Marco Amelia.

Genoa went close just before the half-hour mark when Giandomenico Mesto fed the ball to Palacio who was put off by defender Leonardo Miglionico just as he prepared to shoot, and failed to hit the target.

Lucarelli threatened again six minutes before half-time when he got on the end of Candreva's cross but got only a faint touch on the ball.

Amelia made an impressive save early in the second half from Marcus Diniz's volley, before Genoa threatened at the other end when Raffaele Palladino produced a neat trick before striking a left-footed shot which Alfonso De Lucia gathered at the second attempt.

Genoa's equaliser arrived in the 63rd minute when Palladino's cross deflected off Dario Knezevic and found its way to Criscito who tapped in with his left foot.

Genoa have high hopes of a lofty finish this season and after drawing level they became favourites to win the match, but Livorno were not finished.

After his earlier strike, Lucarelli went for a second goal in the 83rd minute when he produced a menacing volley from 25 yards, however the ball arrowed the wrong side of goal.

The teams were still deadlocked at the 90-minute point, however with the home crowd willing them on Livorno produced a grandstand finish.

Moro used his speed on the right to buy himself some space before crossing expertly to the far post.

With Genoa's defence floundering, Pulzetti seized his chance, powering forward to head the ball past Amelia.




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[sky star 2]

SAMP STRUGGLE TO VICTORY

Sampdoria moved back up to fourth in Serie A but they made hard work of defeating a Chievo team who played with 10 men for the entire second half.

Luciano saw red for the Flying Donkeys in the 45th minute and with his side trailing to Marco Rossi's 19th-minute goal, it looked like being a long afternoon for the visitors.

Giampaolo Pazzini doubled Samp's advantage but Chievo hit back through a Andrea Mantovani effort with 10 minutes to go.

Samp held on though to move within a point of second-placed AC Milan and give coach Luigi Del Neri a win against the side with whom he made his name.

The early stages were cagey with neither side really creating much.

Chievo threatened when Elvis Abbruscato whipped in a cross towards Sergio Pellissier but, just as the striker was poised to shoot from close range, Daniele Gastaldello nipped in to clear.

And the visitors had another half chance after 16 minutes with Michele Marcolini shooting over from 25 yards.

Samp struggled to gain any momentum going forward in the opening exchanges but that all changed when Andrea Poli hammered in a long-range effort which Rossi deflected on goal, the ball wrong-footing Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino.

Sorrentino did better after 32 minutes, saving well from Antonio Cassano after the Italy playmaker curled one towards the top corner from 20 yards.

Chievo were still looking dangerous on the break and Samp keeper Luca Castellazzi had to be alert to keep out Mario Yepes' 25-yard drive after 41 minutes.

The Verona-based outfit came close again when, on the stroke of half-time, Pellissier saw an effort chalked off for offside after he had slotted past Castellazzi.

Chievo's frustration boiled over and Luciano took his protestations too far with a verbal volley at the referee which resulted in his second yellow card of the afternoon.

Samp made the most of the man advantage initially.

Cassano saw a shot deflected wide after nonchalantly taking down a Rossi pass while Pazzini just failed to convert an inviting cross from Gastaldello.

The influential Cassano then struck a post as the pressure grew on the Chievo defence.

And it finally buckled for a second time after 65 minutes. Marco Padalino and Cassano played a neat one-two which led to the former Real Madrid man crossing for Pazzini to tap in from close range.

Cassano, now rampant, had another shot on goal saved by Sorrentino as Samp threatened to run riot.

Chievo bravely rallied and substitute Erjon Bogdani almost pulled one back but narrowly failed to get on the end of a Marcolini free-kick.

Domenico Di Carlo's men did get on the scoresheet with 10 minutes to go, however, Mantovani scrambling the ball home after a goalmouth scramble.

The hosts appealed for a handball but the referee was unmoved.

Chievo came again three minutes later as they went in search of a shock equaliser but Castellazzi produced a fine save to keep out Luca Ariatti's effort.

Samp nearly added a third with three minutes to go but Sorrentino pulled off a wonder stop to deny Pazzini.





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[sky star 2]

TOTTI IS ROMA'S RETURNING HERO

Francesco Totti returned from injury and struck a hat-trick in the first 28 minutes for Roma in an impressive 3-1 victory over Bari.

Out since October 4 because of a knee injury, the Roma captain made a dramatic comeback, notching his first from the penalty spot after six minutes. His second came eight minutes later from a set-piece and he smashed home a loose ball from inside the area just before the half-hour mark to make it 3-0.

Bari reduced the arrears with an own goal by Marco Andreolli on 77 minutes but could not find a way back into the game.

The outcome left Roma 11th in the standings - six points behind fourth-place Sampdoria, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

The hosts went into the game looking to keep up their good form after holding Serie A leaders Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw before the international break.

Roma sent an early warning with Mirko Vucinic's right-footed effort beating Bari goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet but rebounding off the right post.

Bari should have broken the deadlock in the fourth minute but an unmarked Barreto's close-range strike was saved by Roma goalkeeper Julio Sergio.

Shortly after, the referee pointed to the spot after Gillet brought down Vucinic inside the area.

Totti fired towards the far post, sending Gillet the other way to put the hosts in front.

In the 14th minute, Roma extended their lead.

Totti earned a free-kick and was assisted by David Pizarro before firing a right-footed strike towards the near post, out of Gillet's reach.

At the other end, Antonio Langella's acrobatic effort from inside the area forced Julio Sergio to palm over the bar for a corner.

Just when Bari were starting to look more dangerous, Totti struck again.

Bari defenders failed to clear the ball inside the area, leaving Totti to strike a left-footed effort past Gillet for his third of the afternoon.

Barreto should have made it 3-1 on 39 minutes but fired wide from close range with only Julio Sergio left to beat.

On the stroke of half-time, Sergio Almiron's 30-yard free-kick forced Julio Sergio to dive to his right to clear.

The visitors showed more determination after the restart and were unlucky not to reduce the deficit on 58 minutes.

Almiron's bullet-strike from long range beat Julio Sergio but struck the crossbar.

In the 66th minute, Bari were denied by Julio Sergio, who made an instinctive save to clear substitute Vladimir Koman's diagonal strike from the edge of the area.

Bari's efforts paid off with 17 minutes left.

Andreolli headed the ball into his own net from a Bari corner in an attempt to clear the danger, with Andrea Ranochia ready to fire.

There was nothing Julio Sergio could do to deflect the ball away from goal.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Julio Baptista set up Simone Perrotta, whose powerful effort from inside the area was cleared by Gillet.

Roma held on without any major scares.






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[sky star 2]

LEONARDO: GATTUSO GOING NOWHERE

Gennaro Gattuso has no intention of leaving AC Milan, according to club coach Leonardo.

The Italy international is a reported target of Manchester City and the Italian media have claimed Gattuso is pondering a move away from the San Siro in the winter transfer market.

"I have spoken to (AC Milan club administrator Adriano) Galliani," said Leonardo.

"I often speak to Gattuso and it's not true.

"There is no truth in claims that he wants to leave."

Gattuso's has been playing less than last season partly due to injuries and also to Leonardo's rotation policy.

The 31-year-old has made seven league appearances this campaign and is currently sidelined with a muscular injury.

"Gattuso's priority is to recover," said Leonardo. "He is out injured and it's normal that a player who is recovering from injury is eager to come back to play.

"Milan's project is to use all the players we have available."

Gattuso has been with the Rossoneri since 1999 and was a crucial member of the Italy squad which won the 2006 World Cup.

Team-mate Ronaldinho believes Gattuso, who is under contract with the Rossoneri until June 2011,

is likely to stay put.

"Rino (Gattuso) is a good friend of mine," he said. "He is the soul of this team and I expect him to remain here."





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[sky star 2]

MILAN EDGE SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER

AC Milan continued their pursuit of Serie A leaders Inter by edging out Cagliari in a seven-goal thriller at the San Siro.

Clarence Seedorf gave the hosts the lead in the fifth minute, but Alessandro Matri replied within five minutes and Andrea Lazzari gave the Sardinians a deserved lead after half-an-hour.

But two goals in as many minutes earned Milan the half-time lead with Marco Borriello and Alexandre Pato on target.

A penalty by Ronaldinho gave the Rossoneri a two-goal advantage in the 62nd minute, but they were made to sweat for their third straight league win when Nene reduced the arrears in the 69th minute.

Milan made a bright start with Seedorf putting them ahead after exchanging passes with Borriello and then beating Federico Marchetti in the Cagliari goal.

But any thoughts that it would be an easy afternoon were soon quashed as Cagliari showed why they had won their last four matches.

They had penalty claims turned down in the seventh minute when Matri went down under the challenge of Dida, but did not have to wait much longer to level, the same player losing Kakha Kaladze to equalise in the ninth minute.

Cagliari had a 20-minute spell of pure dominance with chance after chance going begging.

Massimiliano Allegri's side could have been three goals to the good by the time Lazzari finally put them ahead after half an hour.

Jeda just missed the target in the 14th minute with Dida making two saves, one better than the other, to deny Matri.

But he could do nothing about Lazzari's goal as the Cagliari forward picked perhaps the only spot Dida could not cover for an excellent individual goal.

It looked more likely that Cagliari would score a third when Milan equalised in the 38th minute.

Marchetti managed to block Pato's header but Borriello was well placed to nod in the rebound.

And two minutes later it was Pato's turn to put his name on the scoresheet with a shot into the top corner after being found by Ronaldinho.

Cagliari did not let their heads drop, however, and continued to play the better football until Davide Astori fouled Borriello inside the area and Ronaldinho converted from the spot to double Milan's lead in the 62nd minute.

Even then, Cagliari continued to impress and they got back into the game in the 69th minute when Nene was put through by Jeda and he placed his shot past Dida to set up a grandstand finish.

But despite their efforts, the Rossoblu could not find an equaliser they had more than deserved and Milan held on for their third straight win.




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