Atalanta 3 - 1 Inter Milan

Veteran forward Cristiano Doni produced a masterful display to inspire Atalanta to a stunning 3-1 victory over Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan on Sunday.

But it was in Bergamo that the real drama happened as Doni scored a brace and set up the third in a magical first 45 minutes in which Atalanta totally dominated the reigning champions. It was only Inter's second league defeat of the season. He had the first clear chance of the game, juggling the ball in the box before volleying just wide of the near post. Then on 18 minutes he turned provider, heading the ball back across goal to club top scorer Sergio Floccari who turned Ivan Cordoba and scored with a crisp, low, left-foot finish from inside the area for his 10th Serie A strike of the season.

On 28 minutes, Atalanta did double their lead, thanks to a huge slice of fortune, as Doni's free-kick took a wicked deflection off Zlatan Ibrahimovic's arm in the Inter wall to wrong-foot Julio Cesar. Atalanta hit a third five minutes later as Doni rose between Cordoba and Burdisso seven yards out to head home Valdes's cross.

Mourinho threw on forwards Victor Obinna, Adriano and Luis Figo but it had little effect. Although the visitors improved after the break, Atalanta remained the more dangerous team and came within a whisker of a fourth on 55 minutes as Julio Cesar beat out Ferreira Pinto's shot only for Diego De Ascentis to clip the post with the follow up. Adriano did have a couple of efforts but failed to hit the target while Obinna had a great chance late on only to sky his shot before Ibrahimovic finally poked home a consolation from a yard out after a scramble in the box.

Atalanta 3 - 1 Inter Milan Highlights

Lazio 1 - 1 Juventus

In Rome, Juventus keeper Manninger made a hash of a deep Cristian Ledesma free-kick from out wide on the left, coming for it and then watching it sail over his head into the top corner on 24 minutes.

Lazio's lead lasted only six minutes as former Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg headed home from a corner. Brazilian striker Amauri had several good chances for Juve after the break but Lazio's backline held firm as they edged to within four points of the Champions League qualification positions.


Torino 0 - 1 AS Roma

Julio Baptista was the hero again as AS Roma inched closer to the top four with a last gasp 1-0 win at Torino.

The Brazilian forward scoring a stunning bicycle kick two minutes into injury time that leaves Roma eighth, but just five points behind Genoa.



Full results;

January 17
Siena 1 - 0 Reggina
AC Milan 1 - 0 Fiorentina

January 18
Atalanta 3 - 1 Inter Milan
Cagliari 2 - 0 Udinese
Catania 1 - 2 Bologna
Chievo 2 - 1 Napoli
Lecce 0 - 2 Genoa
Sampdoria 0 - 2 Palermo
Torino 0 - 1 AS Roma
Lazio 1 - 1 Juventus

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AC Milan put the Kaka transfer saga behind them to earn a vital 1-0 Serie A victory over Fiorentina at the San Siro to keep their title hopes alive.

Third-placed Milan began the day nine points behind leaders Inter Milan but closed the gap to just six ahead of their bitter rivals' trip to Atalanta on Sunday. The build-up to Milan's match had been dominated by Manchester City's reported 100-plus million euro bid for Kaka and Milan fans made their thoughts known before kick-off by unveiling a host of banners pleading with the Brazilian star to stay.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti kept the former FIFA World Player of the Year in the starting side and handed ex-England skipper David Beckham a home debut. However, Ronaldinho was dropped to the bench in favour of Massimo Ambrosini as Ancelotti looked for more midfield steel. Kaka would have dearly loved to score but instead it was his teenage compatriot Pato who snatched the winner to condemn Fiorentina to a second successive defeat. They remain in sixth place in the table.

Beckham had tried to cross from the left but hit a defender. As players rushed to the loose ball, Beckham got there just before two Fiorentina defenders and poked it back to Marek Jankulovski who played in Pato in the space vacated by the visiting players. There looked to be little danger from his position just inside the box in the left hand corner but Pato hit a stunning strike across goal and in off the far post. Fiorentina were enjoying the better of the game, although with the talent at Milan's disposal they looked the more dangerous.

AC Milan 1 - 0 Fiorentina Highligts

Other results;

January 17
Siena 1 - 0 Reggina
AC Milan 1 - 0 Fiorentina

January 18
Atalanta ? - ? Inter Milan
Cagliari ? - ? Udinese
Catania ? - ? Bologna
Chievo ? - ? Napoli
Lecce ? - ? Genoa
Sampdoria ? - ? Palermo
Torino ? - ? AS Roma
Lazio ? - ? Juventus

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Brazilian Julio Baptista struck twice to give AS Roma a 2-0 win over Sampdoria in their rearranged Serie A game on Wednesday.

The forward scored with a tremendous free kick on 21 minutes and eight minutes after the break he slotted in a second. Roma, last season's runners-up, had a terrible start to the campaign but have gradually been improving and are now up to eighth place.

The original game in October was abandoned after six minutes because of torrential rain. The rematch kicked off with six minutes already on the clock. Ineffective Samp, who bought Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pazzini earlier in the day, remain five points above the drop zone.

Roma 2 - 0 Sampdoria Highlights

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Juventus 1 - 0 Siena

Alessandro Del Piero scored a stunning free-kick to hand Juventus a 1-0 home win over Siena at Turin's Olympic stadium on Sunday and close the gap at the top behind leaders Inter Milan to four points.

Inter left the door open with a surprise 1-1 home draw against Cagliari on Saturday night and Del Piero's sixth goal of the season direct from a free-kick allowed the Old Lady of Turin to take full advantage. Despite his advancing years, the 34-year-old Del Piero seems to be getting better and better. This was his seventh league goal of the season and 12th in all competitions, but most remarkable has been his free-kick record.

Previous successful dead-ball strikes helped Juve beat Real Madrid home and away in the Champions League while another downed Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 in Turin. And in the league he has been equally deadly, previously hitting the back of the net against Palermo and Chievo.

Juventus 1 - 0 Siena Highlights

AS Roma 2 - 2 AC Milan

All the attention ahead of AC Milan's trip to AS Roma on Sunday may have been focused on David Beckham, but the Englishman was upstaged at the Stadio Olimpico by a Brazilian 14 years his junior as Pato struck both Rossoneri goals in a 2-2 draw.

The 19-year-old signed off before the winter break with two goals in the 5-1 defeat of Udinese Calcio, and repeated the trick early in the second half last night. With Milan trailing, Pato combined superbly with compatriot Kakà for his first strike but it was his second, a deft chip five minutes later, which earned him plaudits not least from his new team-mate.

Pato struck nine league goals in 18 games last season in his first campaign in Italy since leaving SC Internacional and is already within one of that tally this term.

Full results;

January 10
Genoa 3 - 0 Torino
Inter Milan 1 - 1 Cagliari

January 11
Bologna 1 - 1 Chievo
Fiorentina 1 - 2 Lecce
Juventus 1 - 0 Siena
Napoli 1 - 0 Catania
Palermo 3 - 2 Atalanta
Reggina 2 - 3 Lazio
Udinese 1 - 1 Sampdoria
AS Roma 2 - 2 AC Milan

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Zlatan Ibrahimović struck 14 minutes from time to rescue a point for Inter Milan who kicked off the new year with a surprise 1-1 draw at home to Cagliari.

Inter controlled the game without making the most of their chances and they fell behind against the run of play when Robert Acquafresca fired in from the edge of the area on 65 minutes. Inter, however, were not behind for long and Ibrahimović hit back on 76 minutes with his eleventh league goal of the season when he turned in Hernán Crespo's cross. Things could have been worse for Inter had Acquafresca not missed from close range late on after pouncing on a rebound from Júlio César.

The result stretches Inter's lead at the top of the table to seven points, though second-placed Juventus could cut that to four should they win at home to AC Siena on Sunday.

Inter Milan 1 - 1 Cagilari Highlights

Other results;

January 10
Genoa 3 - 0 Torino
Inter Milan 1 - 1 Cagliari

January 11
Bologna ? - ? Chievo
Fiorentina ? - ? Lecce
Juventus ? - ? Siena
Napoli ? - ? Catania
Palermo ? - ? Atalanta
Reggina ? - ? Lazio
Udinese ? - ? Sampdoria
AS Roma ? - ? AC Milan

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Juventus cut the gap with Serie A leaders Inter Milan back to six points with a hard-fought 3-1 win at Atalanta on Sunday. Third-placed AC Milan also racked up an important victory ahead of the mid-season break, thrashing Udinese 5-1 at home with January loan signing David Beckham watching in the stands.

Juve's Alessandro Del Piero and Nicola Legrottaglie put the visitors 2-0 up before former Juve striker Christian Vieri pulled one back with a header just after the break. Determined Atalanta searched for an equaliser, but Amauri's bullet header eight minutes from time ended their hopes. "It was a well-deserved and hard-earned victory," Juve coach Claudio Ranieri told reporters. "I knew it wouldn't be easy away to Atalanta."

Marco Marchionni was offside when he crossed for Del Piero's opener just like Maicon was when he scored the 83rd-minute winner in Inter's fortunate 2-1 victory at Siena on Saturday. Injury-ravaged Milan, three behind Juve, quickly took control of an extremely open contest in the late game.

See the highlight;

Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato scored twice from close range and set up compatriot Kaka for another tap-in with Antonio Di Natale also netting for Udinese in a frantic first 18 minutes. Clarence Seedorf slid home after Andrea Pirlo's free-kick hit the post just before the interval and Kaka blasted in from 20 metres early in the second period.

Beckham, who is joining Milan for two months from Los Angeles Galaxy to stay in contention for an England place, appeared on the pitch before kickoff to wave to the San Siro crowd. He then took his place in the stand alongside wife Victoria.

See the highlight;



Fiorentina moved up to fourth thanks to Riccardo Montolivo's crisp strike in a 1-0 win at Sampdoria. The Florence side were helped up the table by suspension-hit Napoli losing 1-0 at struggling Torino and dropping to fifth. Torino are now a point above the drop zone.

Mid-table AS Roma, who had won five league games in a row after a poor start, lost 3-2 at Catania with Japanese forward Takayuki Morimoto confidently scoring twice for the Sicilians. Roma drew 1-1 at Catania on the final day of last season when they lost the title to Inter.

Serie A resumes from the mid-season break on 10 and 11 January. fifa

Full results;

Lazio 1 - 0 Palermo
Siena 1 - 2 Inter Milan
.......
Atalanta 1 - 3 Juventus
Cagliari 1 - 1 Reggina
Catania 3 - 2 AS Roma
Chievo 0 - 1 Genoa
Lecce 0 - 0 Bologna
Sampdoria 0 - 1 Fiorentina
Torino 1 - 0 Napoli
AC Milan 5 - 1 Udinese

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Inter Milan stretched their lead at the top of the Serie A table to nine points, for a day at least, after a crucial 2-1 victory at Siena on Saturday.

Brazilian full-back Maicon was the hero with both goals, either side of an equaliser from Moroccan Houssine Kharja, as the reigning three-time champions won for the eighth league match in a row. Inter have not dropped points since October. They will take a lead of between six and nine points into the three-week winter break, depending on how Juventus fare on Sunday at Atalanta.

The visitors took the lead on 34 minutes. Before that only Zlatan Ibrahimovic had struck at goal in anger but his free-kick skidded well wide. But soon after the half hour mark Siena's defenders were punished for ball-watching at a corner. Mario Balotelli sent over a pea-roller of a cross and Maicon managed to steal in and poke the ball home from inside the six-yard box despite being surrounded by several Siena defenders.

Siena did not let their heads drop and equalised a minute before the break as Cristiano Del Grosso crossed from the left. Kharja threw himself full length in front of Maxwell to nod home from close range. Inter came out after the break with more purpose and Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari curled an effort just wide of the upright. On 58 minutes Ibrahimovic came within inches of giving Inter the lead as he crashed a shot against the cross-bar.

Siena were dangerous too. Substitute Massimo Maccarone should have done better with his close-range header than send it high over the bar. The hosts were made to pay for that miss as Maicon grabbed the winner seven minutes from time. Centre-back Ivan Cordoba tried his luck from distance but his shot took a deflection and landed at the feet of Maxwell, who released his Brazilian compatriot with a clever flick, leaving Maicon to apply a chipped finish over Gianluca Curci. Siena could have come away with something but poor finishing cost them again as Abdulkader Ghezzal skied his left-foot shot from six yards.

Meanwhile, Lazio won for the first time since November 9 in a 1-0 success over Palermo to move up to sixth. The early season leaders had gone five matches without a win but overcame their Sicilian opponents thanks to a strike from club captain Tommaso Rocchi, who nipped in front of his marker to clip home Frenchman Mourad Meghni's near post cross. fifa

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Juventus 4 - 2 AC Milan

Juventus kept their own title hopes alive while dealing a potentially fatal blow to those of AC Milan with a thrilling 4-2 victory at Turin's Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Juve stayed six points behind leaders Inter Milan, who beat rock bottom Chievo by the same score earlier in the day. Milan, who finished with ten men after Gianluca Zambrotta was sent off on his return to his former club, are nine points back in fourth spot with the title slipping away.

Juve took the lead through an Alessandro Del Piero penalty after the striker was felled in the box by Marek Jankulovski. Milan hit back just after the half hour as Georgian centre-back Kakha Kaladze played in Ronaldinho on the left and he crossed for Pato to tap home. But Milan failed to stay on level terms for very long and centre-back Giorgio Chiellini was left free to head home a Del Piero corner.

Brazilian Amauri scored Juve's third goal just before the break after more poor Milan defending as no-one closed down Paolo De Ceglie on the left, allowing him to pick out Amauri's head with a pinpoint cross. Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati kept his side in it at the beginning of the second half, saving shots of Claudio Marchisio and Momo Sissoko.

Massimo Ambrosini scored Milan's second on 56 minutes with a deflected shot but any hopes the visitors had of claiming something from the game soon disappeared. Zambrotta was dimissed for a second booking on 65 minutes and four minutes later Amauri slotted in his second with a bobbled volley. Del Piero almost added a fifth but crashed his shot off the post with Abbiati well beaten.

See the highlight;

Inter Milan 4 - 2 Chievo

At the San Siro Inter looked to be coasting two minutes into the second-half when they led 2-0 but the Flying Pigs staged an unexpected fight-back to level things at 2-2 before Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a late brace. That ensured Inter will go into the Serie A winter break in a week's time at the top of the standings.

Inter were off to a dream start on three minutes as Brazilian full-back Maxwell cantered down the left on the overlap, took a pass from Dejan Stankovic, cut inside and rifled a right-footed shot home. It was a similar story at the start of the second period as the champions fashioned a brilliant goal through Stankovic. The Serbian midfielder fed Maicon, who galloped down the right. He crossed into the box where Ibrahimovic's deft flick fell perfectly for Stankovic to fire home.

Leading 2-0 at home to the bottom side, Inter would have been expected to win easily but Chievo mounted a comeback. Sergio Pellessier started things off with a stunning shot from distance that gave Julio Cesar no chance in the Inter goal. San Siro was stunned into silence in the 65th minute as Andrea Mantovani got to the byline on Chievo's left and crossed for Simone Bentivoglio to bundle home from two yards out, courtesy of a deflection off Maxwell.

Mourinho did not waste much time in trying to kick-start his team, throwing on strikers Hernan Crespo and Mario Balotelli as well as winger Luis Figo. But it was Ibrahimovic who made the difference, rising highest to head home a cross from Maicon with 11 minutes left. Chievo's Santiago Morero was sent off for a second booking and then the Swede smashed home a stunning right foot shot two minutes from time.

See the highlight;



AS Roma 3 - 2 Cagliari

AS Roma won for the fifth match in a row to continue their recent resurgence with a come from behind 3-2 success at home to Cagliari.

Roma have been upwardly mobile since a disastrous start to the season in which they lost six of their first nine matches. They find themselves in the top half of the table for the first time this campaign. Things looked good as Francesco Totti put them in front but goals from Daniele Conti and Brazilian Jeda turned the match on its head before Simone Perrotta's acrobatic finish restored parity. Roma threw everything but the kitchen sink at Cagliari and Mirko Vucinic scored the winner in injury time after a scramble in the box. fifa

See the highlight;



Full results;

Bologna 5 - 2 Torino
Napoli 3 - 0 Lecce
AS Roma 3 - 2 Cagliari
Fiorentina 2 - 0 Catania
Genoa 1 - 1 Atalanta
Inter Milan 4 - 2 Chievo
Palermo 2 - 0 Siena
Reggina 0 - 2 Sampdoria
Udinese 3 - 3 Lazio
Juventus 4 - 2 AC Milan

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Lecce 1 - 2 Juventus

A last-gasp effort from Amauri gave Juventus a 2-1 win at US Lecce that brought the Serie A hopefuls back to within six points of leaders FC Internazionale Milano

Juve were hamstrung by the absence of forward Alessandro Del Piero but it was his understudy, Sebastian Giovinco, who scored on 57 minutes. Giovinco, a reported target of West Ham, stepped up 12 minutes into the second half to smash a free-kick into the top corner. That looked like it would be enough to earn Juve the three points, but Lecce piled on the pressure and equalised.

Jose Ignacio Castillo should have done so 10 minutes from time but directed a header from inside the six-yard box over the bar. Daniele Cacia steered home a shinned left-foot volley three minutes later to seemingly earn the southerners a share of the spoils. Juve kept fighting and Brazilian Amauri headed home a Paolo De Ceglie cross from close range in the last minute to give the visitors three points.

See the highlight;

AC Milan 1 - 0 Catania

Milan began their match against the Catania in the middle of a paralysing injury crisis. With players such as Ronaldinho, Andrea Pirlo, Marco Borriello, Clarence Seedorf, Massimo Ambrosini and Alessandro Nesta on the treatment table a patch-work Milan took to the field at the San Siro.

The two teams played out an entertaining if scoreless first half with the recalled Andrei Shevchenko sending a header just over the bar early on. Just before the quarter-hour mark Giuseppe Mascara hit the post for the visitors with a terrific shot from outside the area that had Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati beaten. Moments later the woodwork was struck up the other end as Albano Bizarri tipped Kaka's curling effort onto the post.

Milan enjoyed the better of the chances. Shevchenko should have done better when played in by Kaka but, apparently lacking confidence, he tried to play the ball back to the Brazilian rather than shooting. His pass was deflected away for a corner. Teenage Brazilian forward Pato was next to try his luck but Bizarri tipped his thunderous free-kick over the bar on 64 minutes. From the resulting corner, however, Milan took the lead with Kaka's header from Pato's dead ball flicking off Lorenzo Stovini's toe to deceive Bizarri. Chances kept coming quickly after that as the game opened up, but Mascara came closest to scoring with a diving header that Abbiati turned around the post for a corner. fifa

See the highlight;



Full results;

Chievo 0 - 1 AS Roma
Lazio 0 - 3 Inter Milan
.......
AC Milan 1 - 0 Catania
Atalanta 3 - 0 Udinese
Cagliari 1 - 0 Palermo
Lecce 1 - 2 Juventus
Napoli 2 - 0 Siena
Reggina 2 - 2 Bologna
Torino 1 - 4 Fiorentina
Sampdoria 0 - 1 Genoa

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Chievo 0 - 1 AS Roma

AS Roma wracked up their 1,000th top flight victory with a 1-0 success at rock-bottom Chievo. Luciano Spalletti's Roma finished with ten men as they won for the fourth match in a row with French winger Jeremy Menez celebrating a rare start by scoring the only goal of the game with a stunning volley, just days after suggesting he would leave the club he joined in the summer due to his limited starting opportunities.

Chievo remain rooted to the foot of the table while Roma moved up to 12th but crucially they are now only four points off a Champions League qualifying position. For a team who harboured hopes of winning the title before beginning the season with six defeats in their opening nine matches, they now seem firmly back on the right track.

Roma had much the better of a tame opening spell with Menez proving a particular threat. After ten minutes he beat two players as he slalomed into the area but Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino was equal to his effort. Roma turned the screw after the break and despite Sorrentino coming to the rescue again on 65 minutes to repell a Simone Perrotta volley they went ahead four minutes later.

Once again it was Menez who proved decisive, running onto a header forwards from Daniele De Rossi before steering a delightful right foot volley from 15 yards across Sorrentino and into the far corner. The only sour note was Brighi's sending off five minutes from time for a second booking.

See the highlight;

Lazio 0 - 3 Inter Milan

Inter Milan went nine points clear at the top of Serie A after a stunning 3-0 win at Lazio on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho's reigning champions are looking unstoppable as headers from Walter Samuel and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a Mobido Diakite own goal gave Inter an easy evening in the capital. Inter got off to a dream start in the Roman Stadio Olimpico as Samuel headed home a cross from Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari on two minutes. Lazio had the better of the rest of the first period.

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar also tipped a shot from Pasquale Foggia onto the outside of the post as the hosts piled forwards, but disaster struck in first half injury time as Diakite inadvertently turned a Maicon cross past Juan Pablo Carrizo in the Lazio goal.

The match was over as a contest ten minutes into the second period as Ibrahimovic headed home an Esteban Cambiasso free-kick, although it looked to have gone in off a defender's head. fifa

See the highlight;



Current results;

Chievo 0 - 1 AS Roma
Lazio 0 - 3 Inter Milan
.......
AC Milan ? - ? Catania
Atalanta ? - ? Udinese
Cagliari ? - ? Palermo
Lecce ? - ? Juventus
Napoli ? - ? Siena
Reggina ? - ? Bologna
Torino ? - ? Fiorentina
Sampdoria ? - ? Genoa

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Inter Milan 2 - 1 Napoli

Inter Milan's Serie A lead doubled to six points on Sunday as they defeated SSC Napoli 2-1 in an afternoon encounter and their neighbours AC Milan lost 3-1 to US Città di Palermo in the late game.

Napoli gifted their hosts a 16th-minute advantage with poor defending at a short corner that was played to Sulley Muntari, who crossed for Colombian centre-back Ivan Cordoba to volley home on the turn. Inter's second was pure class as Julio Cruz's backheel presented Maicon with space to shoot inside the box. He scuffed his effort but it arrived at Muntari's feet on the edge of the six-yard box and the Ghana midfielder reacted quickly to flick the ball between his legs and past the helpless Gennaro Iezzo on 25 minutes.

Nine minutes before the break the visitors fashioned a brilliant goal of their own. Ezequiel Lavezzi cut in from the right flank and played the ball into Uruguayan Marcelo Zalayeta who, with his back to goal, back-heeled the ball past a line of blue and black shirts. Argentina forward Lavezzi had continued his run and found himself clean through before cleverly dinking the ball over Julio Cesar as the Brazilian goalkeeper dived at his feet.

See the highlight;

Palermo 1 - 3 AC Milan

AC Milan crashed, 3-1, at Palermo on Sunday to hand city rivals and reigning champions Inter Milan a six-point lead at the top of the Serie A table. Milan remained third on goal difference behind Juventus who beat Reggina, 4-0, on Saturday in a match that saw veteran Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero score his 250th goal for the club.

Palermo dominated for an hour in Sicily but Milan had the better chances of the first half. Goalkeeper Marco Amelia saved a Ronaldinho penalty on 27 minutes after he had knocked into Pato. Ronaldinho also hit the crossbar in first-half stoppage time direct from a free-kick but Palermo had enjoyed more pressure. Five minutes into the second half Fabrizio Miccoli faked to shoot on the edge of the box, made space and then curled a right-footer around Christian Abbiati.

Just before the hour mark Fabio Liverani chipped the ball into the area and Brazilian forward Edison Cavani rose above Paolo Maldini to head home. Brazilian Simplicio was left completely unmarked in the box to head in the third 10 minutes from time from a Federico Balzaretti cross. Ronaldinho scored a consolation from the spot seven minutes from time after he was brought down by Cesare Bovo. fifa

See the highlight;



Full results;

Catania 1 - 1 Lecce
Juventus 4 - 0 Reggina
.......
AS Roma 1 - 0 Fiorentina
Atalanta 2 - 0 Lazio
Cagliari 1 - 0 Sampdoria
Genoa 1 - 1 Bologna
Inter Milan 2 - 1 Napoli
Siena 1 - 0 Torino
Udinese 0 - 1 Chievo
Palermo 3 - 1 AC Milan

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Juventus 4 - 0 Reggina

Veteran forward Alessandro Del Piero bagged his 250th Juventus goal as the Turin giants climbed up to second in the Serie A table with a 4-0 victory over Reggina in snowy Turin on Saturday.

It was a sixth win in seven league games for Juve with 34-year-old Del Piero's landmark goal coming from the penalty spot following strikes from Mauro Camoranesi, Amauri and Giorgio Chiellini. The victory moved Juventus above AC Milan on goal difference, three points behind leaders and champions Inter Milan. Both Milanese giants play on Sunday.

Centre-back Chiellini and Del Piero had both gone close for the hosts before Camoranesi gave them the lead on 28 minutes. Del Piero sent Czech veteran Pavel Nedved free down the inside left channel and he drew goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo before pulling the ball back for the Argentine-born Italy midfielder to slot home. Brazilian forward Amauri held off two defenders under a high ball in the area which then bounced kindly for him to fire home low to Campagnolo's left.

Chiellini added the third with his head from close range 17 minutes into the second half as Reggina's defence stopped and watched Marco Marchionni's deep free-kick. Del Piero added the fourth on 74 minutes from the penalty spot after substitute Sebastian Giovinco had gone down very easily under very barely a challenge from Bruno Cirillo.

In the day's early match, Catania failed to move level on points with fourth-placed Napoli after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to lowly Lecce. The Sicilian hosts took the lead just after the hour mark as young star Michele Paolucci's shot was deflected in. But the visitors earned the point that edges them further away from the drop zone when Argentine substitute Jose Ignacio Castillo crashed home a shot from distance eight minutes later. fifa

See Juventus vs Reggina highlight;

Other results;

Catania 1 - 1 Lecce
Juventus 4 - 0 Reggina
.......
AS Roma ? - ? Fiorentina
Atalanta ? - ? Lazio
Cagliari ? - ? Sampdoria
Genoa ? - ? Bologna
Inter Milan ? - ? Napoli
Siena ? - ? Torino
Udinese ? - ? Chievo
Palermo ? - ? AC Milan

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Torino 2 - 2 AC Milan

Alessandro Rosina fired home a penalty 12 minutes from time to earn Torino a 2-2 draw at home to AC Milan on Sunday and dent the seven-time European champions' title hopes. Milan are second in Serie A but are now three points behind bitter city rivals Inter Milan, who beat third placed Juventus 1-0 on Saturday.

Roberto Stellone nipped in front of his marker Kakha Kaladze on 25 minutes to head home a cross from Rosina at the near post to give the hosts the lead. But just four minutes later Milan were level after teenage Brazilian forward Pato brilliantly killed a firm pass from Gennaro Gattuso as he beat the offside trap and then fired high into the roof of the net.

On 34 minutes Milan were in front thanks to a rifled free-kick from Ronaldinho, who is already making a name for himself in Italy for spectacular strikes. But as Milan tried to hold on, a cross from the left hit Kaladze on the thigh and rebounded onto his arm, with the referee pointing to the spot and Rosina made sure the points were shared.

See the highlight;

Lecce 0 - 3 AS Roma

AS Roma captured their first away victory of the season as Luciano Spalletti's team continued their recent resurgence with a 3-0 win at Lecce. The capital side began the day just one place above the relegation zone but their predicament is looking increasingly less desperate following a second straight league win - the first time this season they have managed that feat.

Prior to this victory they had lost five and drawn one of their six away matches. But on the back of recent home victories over Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League and city rivals Lazio in the league, Roma's confidence is starting to return and results are beginning to improve.

Vucinic hit the net after just 11 minutes with an angled left-foot shot from Totti's pass. Brazilian centre-back Juan then doubled the advantage seven minutes before the break after Matteo Brighi's shot was deflected into his path. Just after the restart Totti added the third with a delightful chip over goalkeeper Francesco Benussi after latching onto a through ball from Brighi. It could even have been worse for Lecce as Vucinic hit the post with a header from Totti's cross in the second half. fifa

See the highlight;


Full results;

Fiorentina 4 - 2 Udinese
Inter Milan 1 - 0 Juventus
.......
Bologna 1 - 1 Palermo
Chievo 0 - 2 Siena
Lazio 1 - 1 Genoa
Lecce 0 - 3 AS Roma
Napoli 2 - 2 Cagliari
Reggina 3 - 1 Atalanta
Sampdoria 3 - 0 Catania
Torino 2 - 2 AC Milan

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Inter Milan 1 - 0 Juventus

A second half goal from Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari gave champions Inter Milan a narrow 1-0 win over Juventus at San Siro on Saturday. Inter are now four points clear at the top, although their bitter city rivals AC Milan can close that gap back to one point if they win at Torino on Sunday. Juventus stay third while Fiorentina move up to fourth.

The game at San Siro was played at a furious pace with end to end action, despite few clearcut scoring chances. Dejan Stankovic broke through for Inter on 12 minutes but couldn't quite keep his balance under pressure from challenges by Christian Molinaro and then Giorgio Chiellini. On 26 minutes, Nicola Legrottaglie completely missed the ball, allowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to scamper away down the left, but the Sweden striker dragged his shot wide when a square ball to the waiting Adriano would have presented the recalled Brazilian with an open goal. In first half stoppage time, Muntari took a pass from Ibrahimovic in his stride and brought a smart save out of Alex Manninger.

Inter continued to create the best openings after the break, and Adriano headed a cross from Ibrahimovic over the bar before the Swede took a Stankovic pass on his chest but shot wide of the near post. But the hosts took the lead in scrappy fashion 18 minutes from time as a scuffed Ibrahimovic shot found Muntari at the back post with an empty goal to tap into. That spurred Juventus into life and Alessandro Del Piero drew a fine diving save from Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar with a header from a corner on 82 minutes.

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Fiorentina 4 - 2 Udinese

Meanwhile, stuttering Fiorentina relaunched their faltering title challenge with a vital 4-2 home victory over Udinese. Riccardo Montolivo scored a brace, Adrian Mutu hit the net from the penalty spot and Alberto Gilardino also got his name on the scoresheet, alothough Gianluca Comotto was sent off late on. Antonio Floro Flores had given Udinese a first half lead and substitute Antonio Di Natale tucked home a penalty late on for the visitors.

For Udinese it was a third straight defeat and fourth match in a row without a win since they enjoyed a share of the Serie A lead. The visitors took the lead on 29 minutes as Floro Flores teased two defenders on the edge of box and then lifted a fine shot over French goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.

Udinese had enjoyed much the better of the first half but the game turned on a penalty award seven minutes after the break. Alberto Gilardino tumbled in the box under a challenge from Maurizio Domizzi, Mutu cleverly dinked the penalty home with a cheeky chip, and on 64 minutes the hosts went in front. It was a simple goal as Montolivo took Mutu's pass to the left of the area and curled a low shot around Samir Handanovic. Fiorentina then scored twice more within a minute as Montolivo sent home a bobbling left foot volley from outside the box before Mutu crossed for Gilardino to poke home a fourth.

Comotto was red carded after handling on the line to deny Floro Flores a second, but Di Natale stroked home the resultant spot kick. fifa

Current results;

Fiorentina 4 - 2 Udinese
Inter Milan 1 - 0 Juventus
.......
Bologna ? - ? Palermo
Chievo ? - ? Siena
Lazio ? - ? Genoa
Lecce ? - ? AS Roma
Napoli ? - ? Cagliari
Reggina ? - ? Atalanta
Sampdoria ? - ? Catania
Torino ? - ? AC Milan

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AS Roma 1 - 0 Lazio

Brazilian forward Julio Baptista scored the winner five minutes after the break as AS Roma gave their season a welcome boost with a crucial 1-0 derby victory over ten-man Lazio on Sunday. Roma began the match only goal difference above the Serie A drop zone after a dreadful start to their season which had seen them win only twice in ten games.

Lazio started brightly and Argentine forward Mauro Zarate hit the side-netting after a clever pass from Goran Pandev opened up the Roma defence on 18 minutes. Moments later and Juan Pablo Carrizo made a sprawling save up the other end from a diving Mirko Vucinic header.

Those were isolated moments of action before the interval but five minutes after the restart the nominal hosts were in front as Baptista found the bottom corner with a header from Francesco Totti's cross.

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AC Milan 1 - 0 Chievo

Meanwhile AC Milan closed the gap at the top to a single point behind city rivals Inter Milan following a 1-0 victory over lowly Chievo. Brazilian playmaker Kaka scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot following a controversial decision by the referee.

Kaka tumbled in the area under what looked like minimal contact when chasing a flicked Ronaldinho pass but the referee gave a foul against Simone Bentivoglio. The midfielder made no mistake from the spot and although Milan went on to dominate the rest of the game, they failed to find a way through against the team that now props up the entire division. fifa

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Full results;

Palermo 0 - 2 Inter Milan
.......
AC Milan 1 - 0 Chievo
Atalanta 3 - 1 Napoli
Cagliari 1 - 0 Fiorentina
Catania 3 - 2 Torino
Sampdoria 3 - 2 Lecce
Siena 1 - 1 Bologna
Udinese 0 - 1 Reggina
AS Roma 1 - 0 Lazio

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Two goals from striking magician Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a 2-0 victory at Palermo shot Inter Milan three points clear at the top of the Italian league table on Saturday night. Ibrahimovic's second half goals meant Jose Mourinho's team will finish the weekend on top regardless of what happens in other matches as Juventus, three points behind Inter, have already played in a 4-1 win against Genoa on Thursday. AC Milan and Napoli, who are in equal third spot four points behind Inter, play Chievo and Atalanta on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic simply had a superb match. Known as "Ibracadabra," the Swedish striking magician found the net in the 46th and 64th minutes to spell the end for Palermo. An uneventful first half gave way to more incidents in the second. Ibrahimovic, largely left unattended by the Palermo defence, opened the scoring with a powerful 25-metre shot which left keeper Alberto Fontana with little chance. He then doubled his striking tally with a just-as-powerful 20-metre freekick which Fontana was once more unable to do much about. In between the goals, the hapless Sicilian keeper was a little lucky that the rampant Ibrahimovic had not found the net as he parried away another shot from the on-form Swede.

Sunday's programme of matches sees capital city rivals AS Roma, in great difficulty in 17th spot, and fifth-placed Lazio clash in their Olympic stadium. fifa

Other results;

Palermo 0 - 2 Inter Milan
.......
AC Milan ? - ? Chievo
Atalanta ? - ? Napoli
Cagliari ? - ? Fiorentina
Catania ? - ? Torino
Sampdoria ? - ? Lecce
Siena ? - ? Bologna
Udinese ? - ? Reggina
AS Roma ? - ? Lazio

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Juventus 4 - 1 Genoa

Juventus joined Inter at the top of Serie A with a comfortable 4-1 win against Genoa. Claudio Ranieri's side have put a sluggish start to the domestic campaign behind them to record seven consecutive wins.

Zdenek Grygera opened the scoring in the sixth minute from a tight angle before turning provider for Amauri's headed goal 20 minutes later. Vincenzo Laquinta added a third in the 85th minute, but Genoa pulled one back from the penalty spot through Serie A's top scorer Diego Milito after Nicola Legrottaglie handled in the area. Juve were soon three goals clear again when Sokratis Papastathopoulos diverted Mauro Camoranesi's cross into his own net in stoppage time.

This game had been brought forward to Thursday evening as the Stadio Olimpico is booked for a rugby international at the weekend. Inter lead Juventus on goal difference and they will meet at the San Siro in just over a week.

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Juventus are up to sixth after their fourth win in a row as they triumphed 2-0 at second from bottom Chievo. Evergreen forward Alessandro Del Piero proved he's lost none of his brilliance with yet another stunning free-kick five minutes before the break. Del Piero has already hit the net with sumptuous free-kicks in victories over Real Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg and AS Roma this season (see all the videos below) and once again he demonstrated his unerring ability to find the top corner with a dead ball.

"The key to our success last season and these last few games is Alessandro Del Piero," beamed Juve boss Claudio Ranieri. "Our team wants to fight and get back to its best. Then there is the impact of our stars that comes to the fore such as that of Del Piero, who in this moment is absolute magic. He's always been the leader, he carries Juventus and everyone else is right behind him. Given half a chance, he scores and that's good for us and our morale."

Vincenzo Iaquinta secured the three points by adding a second after the restart as Juve moved onto 21 points, just one win off top.

Meanwhile, two injury time goals from Inter Milan's Julio Cruz and Lecce defender Andrea Esposito sent champions Inter top of Serie A at the expense of city rivals AC Milan. Argentine substitute Cruz's goal gave Inter a 1-0 victory over plucky Udinese while Esposito denied AC Milan a win in a 1-1 draw on the south coast.

Ronaldinho looked to have won the match for Milan for the third game running when he converted Pato's cross from the right just 11 minutes remaining. But Esposito came up deep into injury time to head home a free-kick and spark wild home celebrations.

AC Milan are joint second with Napoli, just one point back from Inter, after Diego Maradona's former team beat Sampdoria 2-0. The result in Milan was tough on Udinese, who were on the brink of holding out for a deserved point until they lost concentration at a corner. Inter boss Jose Mourinho preferred to focus on his own team's strength of character in battling to the end. FIFA

Full Serie A results;

Torino 1 - 0 Palermo
Bologna 1 - 1 AS Roma
Catania 2 - 1 Cagliari
Chievo 0 - 2 Juventus
Fiorentina 2 - 1 Atalanta
Genoa 4 - 0 Reggina
Inter Milan 1 - 0 Udinese
Lazio 3 - 0 Siena
Napoli 2 - 0 Sampdoria
Lecce 1 - 1 AC Milan

See all free kick goals by Del Piero this season


Chievo vs Del Piero


Del Piero vs AS Roma


Real Madrid vs Del Piero (all his two goals)


Del Piero vs Zenit St. Petersburg

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AC Milan 3 - 0 Sampdoria
AC Milan continued their recovery from a rocky start to the season with victory over Sampdoria on Sunday, but it was not always as straight forward as the final score suggests. Although missing several players through injury and suspension, Sampdoria put up a good fight until Stefano Lucchini handled Ronaldinho's shot inside the area to earn a second yellow card in the 54th minute. Ronaldinho scored the resulting penalty, then added a second in the 66th minute before Filippo Inzaghi capped the victory in the final minute.

Inter Milan 4 - 0 Roma
Internazionale stormed to the top of Serie A, playing arguably their best football this season to demolish Roma 4-0. Goals early in both halves from Zlatan Ibrahimovic made it an uphill struggle for last season's league runners-up while two goals in as many second-half minutes from Dejan Stankovic and Victor Obinna put the defending champions back on top of the pile. Maicon also hit the post as the Nerazzurri ran riot against a Roma side who lacked the same incisiveness in front of goal as their opponents and, with four defeats in seven matches, they continued their disappointing start to the season, falling nine points behind Inter. Inter coach Jose Mourinho sprang a surprise in his team selection with Obinna making his first start of the season in attack with Adriano, Mario Balotelli and former Roma forward Mancini all left on the bench.

www.espnstar.com

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