Week 32: Genoa fall while Juve Stall

Another great week of Serie A action saw a number of surprise results that have brought a number of teams back into the champions league race for next season's competition. It also saw the likely end to Juve's Scudetto hopes by their inability to beat Inter Milan at home, although I believe Inter's game in Napoli next week could have a greater impact. Lets take a closer look.

Genoa 0 - 1 Lazio
The weekends action started with a very solid performance by Lazio who became only the second team to beat Genoa at home this season. Nando Muslera made some great saves early on to keep Lazio in the game, but the aquilotti took control from the 30 minute mark. Ledesma cut down the byline to cross for Pandev but his shot was saved well by Rubinho although Zarate should have opened the scoring on the follow up but blazed well over the bar. Pandev pulled up just before half time with a presumed muscle strain, and was replaced by Rocchi. Lazio again after the break looked very comfortable in possession, and opened the scoring on 65 minutes through Zarate. Kolarov smashed a 60 yard pass straight to Zarate who ran onto the ball and fired home from just inside the box to beat Rubinho in the bottom left corner. Lazio should have doubled their lead again through Zarate late on, but the Argentine youngster almost had too much time to think and Rubinho made his presence felt to put him off.

Scudetto Watch

Juventus 1 - 1 Inter Milan
Inter Milan made their fourth consecutive Scudetto or the more likely by taking a point from Juventus. Juventus set the tempo early on, but almost conceded in the early going through Mario Balotelli after Tiago only just cleared off the line. Juventus however could have also taken the lead in the first half through Grygera who was unmarked on a Del Piero freekick, but he wasted his opportunity. In the second half Buffon did his best to convince the world that he is still the best in the world. First, he stopped a stankovic missile and then on an Ibrahimovic header than Buffon picked out from under the bar. He could do nothing though to stop Inter taking the lead on a wonderful move. Juve failed to take advantage on a corner and Inter on the counter threaded the ball up the field to Muntari who set up Balotelli to open the scoring. Later on Inter were handed another advantage, as Tiago lost the plot on an irritable Balotelli and hacked him down. He was shown a straight red. It looked all over for Juve, until the arrival of Giovinco who brought some energy to a depleted Juventus. It was from a corner deep in injury time that Juve leveled the tie, as Grygera headed home to give Juve, and now Milan for that matter, a very very small chance of staying in the Scudetto hunt.

Milan 5 - 1 Torino
Milan absolutely demolished Torino in the Sunday night encounter. It did not take them long to open the scoring as Inzaghi headed home from a Beckham corner to make it 1-0. Inzaghi added to his tally late in the second half after Beckham played a ball into the area for Inzaghi to powerfully head into the top right corner. Kaka should have made it three before half time but somehow blazed the ball over the bar. Pato was replaced by Ronaldinho at half time and he had an even greater impact and dictated the play from the midfield. He set up Inzaghi for his hatrick with a wonderful through ball that Inzaghi struck home from inside the box. Torino could have pulled one back after Rosina and Abate combined effectively, but Bianchi was not on the same wavelenght at that moment. It went from bad to worse thought for the boys from Turin, as Ambrosini was brought down in the penalty area. Kaka converted with a powerful low drive. Torino did pull one back from Franceschini after a Torino corner. Milan though were not content with this advantage and Kaka played a superb ball through to Ambrosini to fire home to make it five.

Champions League chase
Fiorentina failed to take advantage of Genoa's defeat at the hands of Lazio the day before by falling in Udine. D'Agostino was at the heart of everything as Udinese disposed of the Viola by 3-1. Roma however had no such problem as they beat Lecce, just, by 3-2. Roma were 2-0 after 13 minutes through Totti and Brighi, but Lecce pegged one back through Munari on the half hour mark after confusion in the Roma defence. Lecce drew level on 55 minutes through winter signing Papadopoulos after he fired a strong effort past Doni. However, another soft penalty for Roma allowed Totti to convert for 3-2 and they held on to take the three points.

Elsewhere in Serie A
Chievo kept up their good form with a strong win in Siena, whilst Reggina stunned Bergamo by beating Atalanta at home 1-0. Cagliari notched up another home win after outplaying Napoli throughout much of the match by 2-0, and Catania won by the same margin at home to Sampdoria who possibly had their minds on their midweek Coppa semi with Inter Milan. Palermo kept up their excellent form as they appear to be making a success of their season, and with a few additions could really challenge for a Champions League spot next year. Palermo stuffed Bologna 4-1 at home before they visit Milan again next week to play AC Milan, after taking a point off Inter last week.