Week 3: Juve, Genoa and Sampdoria roll on

Juventus, Genoa and Sampdoria continued their winning starts to the Serie A season by making it three wins from three over the weekend.

Saturday Games

Livorno 0-0 Milan
However, it was AC Milan that got the ball rolling this week as they took on newly promoted Livorno away from home. At half time in that one, Milan were lucky to still be in the game and it was only thanks to goalkeeper Storari that they were after he pulled off a number of decent saves from the Livorno forward line. Things improved after the break for Milan as Pirlo was introduced for Ronaldinho and Inzaghi for Huntelaar. Indeed, it was the deep lying play maker who nearly opened the scoring, crashing a 20 yard free kick off the bar. Inzaghi went close too as he hit the side netting late on and Tavano had a penalty appeal turned down, but it ended all square as Livorno picked up an impressive point at a packed Armando Picci.

Lazio 0-2 Juventus
In the big evening game, Juventus traveled to Rome for the second time in three rounds, but this time to face fellow high flyer's Lazio. Lazio though were without both of their first choice forwards in Mauro Zarate and Tomasso Rocchi and were expected to struggle, but that turned out not to be the case. Indeed, it was Lazio who started the brightest in terms of possession, though Juve did look more deadly on the break. Trezeguet went the closest early on, firing a strong effort tha Lazio keeper Muslera beat away. Again Juve went close, with Muslera tipping a Camoranesi effort from under the bar. Lazio were not to be outdone though, and went close themselves with a stunning run and effort from Kolarov that Buffon just pushed past the post. Baronio fired an effort on goal too, but there was bad news for Juve just before half time when Diego came off injured. Lazio though put the ball in the net through Mauri, but it was ruled out for a push by Cruz on Legrottaglie. The push was light and really the decision to rule out the goal highly questionable. In the second half Juve asserted their quality on the game, with Amauri and Trezeguet going close. However, Chielini should have been sent off for a second yellow when Foggia was hacked down on route into the area but it was not given. Not long after Juve went in from as Caceres who fired a hard drive into the bottom right. Lazio were on the ropes, and deep into stoppages Trezeguet wrapped up the win with a goal on the counter attack.

Sunday games

Inter 2-0 Parma
Samuel Eto'o made the difference in this tight encounter at the San Siro. Parma defender brilliantly at times and made the likes of Sneijder, Milito and Eto'os time on the pitch difficult by giving them next to no space. Parma goal keeper Mirante showed his quality early on by saving a Sneijder rocket and putting Eto'o off when he blasted wide. Parma had shut Inter down though, and played on the counter in the hope of a goal against the Champions. It was a proud effort and allowed them to go into half time level. After the break Parma played it much the same, it became in essence a game of chess as Parma tried to sneek one on the counter. Balotelli came on to introduce another attacking threat, but he balzed a golden chance over the bar when it would have perhaps been easier to score. Parma also had their golden chance when the promising Biabiany waltzed his way through the entire Inter defence but could only manage to aqcuire a corner. Just when it looked as if Inter would have to settle for a draw, Inter took the lead through a moment of pure magic from Sammy Eto'o. He turned his man and curled an unstoppable effort into the top right corner. Not to be outdone, Milito added one late on as he trapped a Balotelli cross and calmly fired home.

Siena 1-2 Roma
Claudio Ranieri's Roma picked up three points away at Siena, a ground that has proved tough for them in recent seasons. This was an essential three points for il Lupi as they face an unbeaten Fiorentina at home next week. Siena's inspirational Massimo Maccarone opened the scoring with a splendid solo effort, bypassing the Roma defence an applying a consumate finish. It looked to be honest a third straight defeat was on the cards. However, Roma leveled the game on 72 minutes through Philipe Mexes as Totti applied the assist and Mexes fired home. Siena were then later sent down to ten men, and this gave Roma the belief to pour forward for the three points, and it was Riise who rescued it for them with a freekick in the dying embers.


Genoa 4-1 Napoli
In perhaps the most entertaining clash of the Serie A season so far Genoa propelled themselves to the top of the table. This one had everything, from firecrackers to red cards, penalties to world class finishing. Both teams had early chances, with Genoa forcing De Sanctis into a great save when he pushed Criscito's pile driver wide of the post. Criscito however, was the source of the first major incident of the game as he was given a straight red for verbal abuse to the ref, although he denied this and stated after that he was muttering to himself and not the official. Ten minutes later and Napoli were in front after some brilliant football. Pass after pass eventually found its way to Hamsik who rounded the keeper and fired home from a tight angle for his third goal of the season. The lead did not last long though, as on the mark of half time the referee appeared to attone for his harsh red to Criscito by reducing Napoli to ten men and awarding a penalty when Campagnaro brought down Sculli. Floccari stepped up and converted for 1-1. After the break the tight tense affair continued, and Mesto gave Genoa the lead with a stunning finish from distance. A third for Genoa was added soon after, as Palacio found Crespo in the box who showed why he is still a world class finisher by applying a cool finish. Napoli were reduced to nine men late on when Aronica was adjudged to have brought down Palacio in the box. Kharja stepped up and conveted for 4-1. Genoa have begun where they left off last season. Beware everyone else.


Elsewhere
Palermo rescued a point at the death through Igor Budan after Bari took an early lead in Palermo. Bari remain unbeaten so far this season. Chievo put three points on the board by winning impressively in Bologna by two goals to nil, with Sergio Pellissier on the score sheet. Udinese came from behind twice to beat Catania by four goals to two. Antonio Di Natale scored a hatrick, taking him top of the goal scoring charts with six goals in just three games so far in this campaign. Catania remain pointless at the bottom of the table. Sampdoria, despite being down to ten men, won for the third week on the trot by taking three points of Atalanta. Again Cassano was the architect as he set up Manini for his second goal so far this season.

Finally, Fiorentina kept up their excellent start to the season. Alberto Gilardino opened his account for the season to give Fiorentina the three points and push them up to fifth in the table, two points off the sumit. Both Cagliari and Fiorentina have major tests next week though, as Fiorentina travel to Rome to play Roma while Cagliari host Inter Milan.


Serie A by Numbers: Week 3
Current top goal scorer: Di Natale 6 goals
Goals in the last round: 24
Home wins: 4
Away wins: 4
Highest attendances: Lazio v Juventus: 55,000 Inter v Parma: 51,237
Total week three attendances: 250,987
Total league attendance so far this year: 752,782
(not including Cagliari home games, no official attendance)


Attendance stats from Stadiapostcard.com