Week 21 roundup: Inter show their strength

Inter 2-0 AC Milan
Milan went into the derby with a chance to haul themselves into the driving seat for Lo Scudetto, but were served a lesson from Italian footballs current masters. Both sides started brightly but Inter were in rampant form, smarting from the two games against Siena and Bari in which they had been outplayed on both occasions. Diego Milito, in stunning form, put Inter ahead with a consummate finish after an error from Abate allowed the Argentine to ram home with his weaker left foot. Inter were the better side, up and until Wesley Sneijder got sent off for applauding the referee sarcastically. Then, down to ten men, they were put under the cosh. It was all AC Milan, but the red and backs just could not find a way through. Even with an extra man Boriello still looked isolated, mainly because with Ronaldinho and Beckham stuck to the wings he was in effect upfront alone. In fact, it was Inter who looked more dangerous as they played on the counter attack with Pandev and Milito remaining upfront. The second half arrived and Milan looked dangerous. Ronaldinho missed narrowly from the edge of the area and Boriello missed a header from a Beckham cross when it would have been easier to score. Inter were holding on, but were home and dry thanks to liability number one Nelson Dida. Goran Pandev fired home from a freekick, but Dida barely moved despite the ball being only just right of centre. Milan were beaten, and Ronaldinho's penalty miss later on further confirmed this. Still, in my view at least the Scudetto race is not over. Milan, if they win there game in hand will still only be six points back and with Napoli and Roma in such a rich vein of form its too early to call it dead yet.

Juventus 1-2 Roma
Roma did something they have not done since the Scudetto winning season of 2001, that is to win away in Turin. The first half was cagey but after the break Del Piero put Juve ahead with a wonderful volley, the technique of which any player in the world would have been proud of. However, Juve allowed Roma back into the game when Grosso brought down Taddei in the area. Totti duly converted. Juve were later reduced to ten men when superman Buffon took one for the team by bringing down Riise miles outside the area. Riise though had the last laugh when he scored in injury time to give the capital side the three points.

Elsewhere
Napoli kept up their outstanding form by winning again away at Livorno by 2-0. Now undefeated for 14 games Maggio and Cigarini scored to ensure the possibility of it being 15 remained in tact. Parma continued to stutter into 2010, loosing 3-0 away at a very compact and precise Catania side, totally transformed under Sinisa Mihajlovic. Genoa kept up their excellent home form by beating Atalanta 2-0, but will have to stop loosing on the road if they are to be near the European places come the seasons end. Palermo however are well within the European places after destroying an injury hit Fiorentina 3-0. It was the Tuscan sides 8th defeat, although they still remain in three competitions and look healthy in them all. Sampdoria got back to winning ways beating an Udinese side in crisis away from home by 3-2. Bologna however seem to be emerging from the relegation area, now in 14th after beating Bari 2-1. Lazio however remain in severe difficulty at the moment, again failing to score more than 1 goal in a game and only managing a point at home to Chievo in a 1-1 draw. Midfielder Sebastian Eguren has arrived from Villareal to help the side, and Italy International Gaetano D'Agostino is rumoured to be next for Lazio. Finally, Siena and Cagliari played out a 1-1 draw. Both will no doubt see it as a disappointing result.

Serie A by Numbers
Home wins: 5
Away wins: 3
Highest attendance: Inter 2-0 AC Milan: 80,018: Lazio 1-1 Chievo: 30,308
Average attendance for week 21: 24,334
Total attendance for week 21: 243345
Season average attendance: 24,437
Season total attendance so far: 4,838613

all stats from http://www.stadiapostcards.com/A09-10.htm