Week 6: Sampdoria clear at the top

Sampdoria 1-0 Inter
Sampdoria are totally clear at the top of Serie A. They responded to their 2-0 defeat away to Fiorentina midweek by beating Inter Milan by 1-0 at the Marassi. It was a tight and tense affair as I think we all thought it would be. Last year Inter visited Samp here twice, being held 1-1 on opening day and then getting mauled by Samp 3-0 in the Coppa Italia. Saturday night turned out to be no different as Inter left the Marassi again defeated. The first half was tight, few chances were created. But, in the early going of the second half Diego Milito had the best chance of the match so far, but again just as he did against Barcelona he failed to keep his footing at the vital moment. Inter went close again with an outstanding Samuel Eto'o effort later on. His shot went just wide from 25 yards as Castellazzi was beaten. However, Sampdoria took the lead moments later. Manini, an inspirational signing from Napoli, again proved his worth by threading through to Pazzini who left Julio Cesar with no chance at all. Inter thought they had equalised late on as Quaresma's deflected effort went in off Lucio, but the latter was in an offside position. It finished Sampdoria 1 Inter 0.

Juventus 1-1 Bologna
Juventus failed to capitalise on Inter's defeat the night before, but they do move back above them in the table. Diego returned and Trezeguet started up front for Juve alongside Amauri. Del Piero also returned late on to give Juve a plethora of options up front. However, it was Trezeguet that gave Juve the lead as Zebina set up the Frenchman to slot home. Juventus continued to pile on the pressure as Felipe Melo tested the Bologna reserve with a piledriver from distance. However, Bologna fought back and Buffon again had to continue his good form to keep Juve in front. However, it was not to be for the old lady as Adailton equalised in stoppages on the volley to leave Buffon with no chance. 1-1 at the end.

Milan 0-0 Bari
Bari produced an inspirational performance to continue Milan's slump in form. Despite an excellent win against Marseille in the Champions League, Milan have continued to struggle in Serie A. Huntelaar and Ronaldinho started up front for Milan, but it was a fruitless partnership as it was Bari, through Rivas and Baretto, who began to tear the Milan defence to shreds. Thanks only to their goalkeeper Storari Milan salvaged a point from this one.

Lazio 1-1 Palermo
Lazio came from behind to take a point of Palermo, but it really should have been three points today for the capital club. Lazio were controlling possession right from the start and Mauro Zarate forced a good save out of the Palermo keeper early on. Foggia to did the same, only for Kjaer to have to clear off the line to prevent Julio Cruz from heading into an empty net. It was all Lazio, and after the break that continued. Mauro Zarate wasted a guilt edged opportunity to put Lazio in front as his timid effort was saved by the keeper when clean through. After, Palermo had a fantastic chance to equilise but Cavani passed it into the hands of Muslera instead of the boot of Simplicio. Yet, against the run of play Palermo took the lead thanks to a Muslera howler. Cavani fired a shot from distance that he should have stopped, but it rebounded of his hand into the net. Lazio poured forward and Rocchi went close twice, before Zarate fired home from an uncleared free kick in the Palermo area. 1-1. It should have been 2-1 Lazio moments later but thanks to the brilliance of Palermo keeper Sirigu who saved from Zarate again it remained 1-1.

Elsewhere
Cagliari stunned Parma with a 2-0 away win to take them up to seven points in the table as Allegri continues to work his magic with the Sardinian club. Roma through Danielle De Rossi rescued a point late on after sensation Morimoto had give Catania the lead. Napoli continued their good home form by beating Siena by two goals to one. Marek Hamsik scored his 4th anf 5th goals of the season to give the Napoli faithful three points. Fiorentina coninued their quite passage up the table with another win to move them level with Inter Milan on 13 points. Stefan Jovetic scored his third goal of the season to give Fiorentina the bragging rights in the Tuscan derby over Livorno. Antonio Conte's Atalanta registered a second point in two games thanks to a tough away draw against Chievo, it could have been three after they took the lead by Chievo talisman Sergio Pellisier leveled late on.

Finally, in one of the games of the round in form clubs Udinese and Genoa clashed in Udine in which Udinese won by 2-0. Antonio Di Natale scored his 8th goal of the season in just 6 games, and Simone Pepe added late on to move Udinese up to 5th in the table.

On to Europe
Some tough ties for the Italian clubs this week, lets take a look

Tuesday 29th Champions League game day two
Rubin v Inter Milan
Fiorentina v Liverpool

Wednesday 30th September Champions Leagu game day two
AC Milan v FC Zurich
Bayern Munich v Juventus

Thursday 1st October Europa League
Levski Sofia v Lazio 6pm UK
Roma v CSKA Sofia 8.05 UK time
Valencia v Genoa 8pm UK time live on ESPN


SERIE A BY NUMBERS: Week 8

Top scorer: Di Natale 8, Hamsik 5, Milito 5
Home wins: 3
Away Wins: 1
Draws: 6
Highest Attendance: Napoli v Siena 40,209
Total Attendance week 8: 226,828
Most goals: Napoli 2-1 Siena, 3 goals
Clean Sheets: Udinese, Sampdoria, Cagliari, Milan, Bari, Fiorentina