Week 4: Juve and Sampdoria roll on

Both Juventus and Sampdoria retained their 100% records as they won their fourth Serie A game on the trot. Milan picked up three points, Lazio stopped the rot, Ranieri lifts Roma and the pressure mounts on Donadoni and Zenga.

Top Tier: Juventus 2-0 Livorno, Sampdoria 4-1 Siena, Chievo Verona 3-1 Genoa
Juventus cruised to a win at the Stadio Olimpico grande. In form Vicenzo Iaquinta headed Juventus into the lead after just eights minutes as an injury ravaged Juve began with promise. No Diego, no Melo, no Del Piero but it was 2-0 soon enough. New Italy international midfielder Claudio Marchisio moved down the left straight and cooley chipped the goalkeeper to show why he is a very important cog in the Juve machine. Livorno were not out of it though, and they tested Buffon twice through Lucarelli and again after the break against a Fillipini effort. Yet again, Buffon saved the impossible shot from a point blank range effort from Danilevicius. Juve took the points, and Buffon displayed some truly world class goalkeeping.

Sampdoria hosted Siena as they looked to maintain their truely fantastic start before they face Fiorentina on wednesday evening and then an almighty clash with Inter next saturday. They wasted little time in going ahead and after half an hour they were two goals to the good thanks to Angelo Palombo and Daniele Manini. Padalino came on and made it three before former Cagliari man Fini pulled one back for Siena. Late on Padalino finshed it off with his second of the match.

Genoa visited Verona to take on an unpredictable Chievo and they left their 100% record in the Bentigoti. Chievo again put on their giant killing hat as they established a two goal lead over Genoa early on. Sergio Floccari pulled on back, but talisman Sergio Pellissier made the points safe late on.

Capital Action: Roma 3-1 Fiorentina, Catania 1-1 Lazio
It was another eventful weekend for the capital clubs, as Roma demolished Fiorentina by 3 goals to 1 and Lazio somehow rescued a point from Catania. Roma wasted little time in putting pressure on Fiorentina and captin Francesco Totti gave them the lead from the penalty spot after Gamberini was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. Totti doubled their lead not long after as he smartly volleyed home for 2-0. Totti was again at the heart of goal number three as he crossed into the area for De Rossi to smash a header in from the penalty spot to leave Frey stranded. Fiorentina were punch drunk and luckly for them half time arrived. Roma stepped of the gas for the second half, and later on Fiorentina pulled one back through Gilardino who turned Mexes well and fired home for 3-1. It should have been 3-2 moments later as Gilardino spectacularly volley just wide, but Roma took the points.

Lazio took their game to Catania as they looked to put two consecutive defeats behind them. But it was Catania who started the brighter and took the lead through a superb Martinez effort as he left keeper Muslera with no chance as he blasted a well worked move into the top corner. Lazio were stunned and Catania poured forward looking to add a second, but they nearly drew level through a snap shot from outside the box by Roberto Baronio who drilled inches wide. After the break Lazio should have drawn level through Julio Cruz but he completely miss hit a Kolarov assist. It looked like another defeat for Lazio, but inspirational midfielder and Italy international Pasquale Foggia waltzed through the Catania defence and provided a cross on a silver platter for Julio Cruz to head home with a diving header. However, just when it looked like Lazio would dominate, Catania got back into the game and had chance after chance to take the three points. Bad finishing, and Lazio keeper Nando Muslera ensured that Lazio took home a point.

Milanese victories: Cagliari 1-2 Inter, Milan 1-0 Bologna
Both Milan clubs racked up three points. Inter came from behind after Jeda had put them infront. Diego Milito scored twice in the second half to give Inter three points in a stadium where they were defeated last season. Milan played a decent game of football and finally made the breakthrough against Bologna thanks to a wonder goal by Clarence Seedorf. However, Milan fans continue to make their displeased state of mind felt with the performance of the team, as only 35,000 showed up at the San Siro on sunday compared to the usual league average of around 60,000.

Pressure mounting: Parma 1-0 Palermo, Napoli 0-0 Udinese
The pressure is most definatelty mounting on both Palermo's manager Walter Zenga and Napoli equivalent Roberto Donadoni. Palermo failed to win away to a very well organised Parma side as Cristian Zaccardo headed them into a one goal lead as Parma move up to 5th in the table. Napoli failed to win again also, and really should have been beaten after Totto Di Natale put them ahead but the goal was questionably ruled out for offside. With Palermo hoasting an inform Roma next and Napoli heading to Inter it may not be long before the axe is wielded.

Brilliant Bari: Bari 4-1 Atalanta
Bari continue to roll on in Serie A and picked up their first full three points of the season as they now have 1 win and 3 draws to their name. They put four past Atalanta before their lone reply. Atalanta manager Angelo Gregucci was fired today and former Bari man Antonio Conte takes charge.