It turned out to be an enthralling afternoon in the 37 round of the Italian Championship as both Inter and Roma's title credentials were tested by teams with nothing but pride left to play for this season. Both Chievo and Cagliari are outside the top ten, but both put on displays in which they will be disappointed not to have taken something from the match. It looked like it was going to be a comfortable afternoon for Inter as despite conceding an early own goal they bounced back to lead 3-1 at the interval thanks to two wonderful finishes from Estaban Cambiasso and Diego Milito. Roma at the time were drawing 0-0 and the Scudetto was in Inter's hands, and that looked even more so when Mario Balotelli went clear through on goal to make it 4-1. Chievo however had other ideas and Granoche taped home a true strikers goal, but news filtered through to the San Siro that Roma were loosing 1-0. The players didnt keep their heads and Sergio Pellissier pulled one back to make it 4-3. To make it worse for Inter, news filtered through again that Roma had not only equalised but taken the lead through a Totti brace. Inter, and Roma, both held on so the title goes right down to the last weekend of the season. Inter go away to an already relegated Siena while Roma head to Verona to take on Chievo. Few would bet on either side not winning, but anything can still happen and it almost did yesterday
Sampdoria look to have stolen the march to fourth spot, drawing superbly at Palermo in a packed Barbera stadium. They took the lead through a Pazzini penalty but Miccoli leveled from the spot as well to maintain their unbeaten home record. Juve's final humiliation was complete, losing at home to Parma 3-2 as they now will have to begin their season in late July for the Europa League qualifiers. an awful season will end in Milan next week against another side in need of big changes in the summer as they crashed to another away defeat this time to Genoa 1-0.
In the relegation battle Atalanta went down losing away in Naples 2-0, while Lazio won in Livorno 2-1 to move them up to a paltry 14th place. Bologna and Catania played out a 1-1 draw with Maxi Lopez on the scoresheet again while Udinese drew with Bari at home 3-3. Antonio Di Natale took his goal total this season to 28, a superb achievement and a huge seven ahead of Diego Milito and ten ahead of Giampaolo Pazzini. Fiorentina ended their home campaign with a 1-1 draw with Siena, and question marks will now appear over the future of Cesare Prandelli as perhaps he has taken this Fiorentina side as far a he can. Does Juventus now beckon for him? For one thing, a lack of Champions League football in Turin will not be off immediate concern as he would surely relish the chance to rebuilt the Italian giants. He certainly presents a far better case than Rafa Benitez, whose wasted market buys and constant grumblings of a lack of money sums up his managerial ability in a nut shell. Prandelli conversely has worked miracles in Florence and may still wish to do so next year. They won't have European football, but this would allow them to focus on the league and perhaps even mount some sort of challenge at the top. Thats for next season, but now this one is all but over it won't be long before 2010/2011 takes shape.
Sampdoria look to have stolen the march to fourth spot, drawing superbly at Palermo in a packed Barbera stadium. They took the lead through a Pazzini penalty but Miccoli leveled from the spot as well to maintain their unbeaten home record. Juve's final humiliation was complete, losing at home to Parma 3-2 as they now will have to begin their season in late July for the Europa League qualifiers. an awful season will end in Milan next week against another side in need of big changes in the summer as they crashed to another away defeat this time to Genoa 1-0.
In the relegation battle Atalanta went down losing away in Naples 2-0, while Lazio won in Livorno 2-1 to move them up to a paltry 14th place. Bologna and Catania played out a 1-1 draw with Maxi Lopez on the scoresheet again while Udinese drew with Bari at home 3-3. Antonio Di Natale took his goal total this season to 28, a superb achievement and a huge seven ahead of Diego Milito and ten ahead of Giampaolo Pazzini. Fiorentina ended their home campaign with a 1-1 draw with Siena, and question marks will now appear over the future of Cesare Prandelli as perhaps he has taken this Fiorentina side as far a he can. Does Juventus now beckon for him? For one thing, a lack of Champions League football in Turin will not be off immediate concern as he would surely relish the chance to rebuilt the Italian giants. He certainly presents a far better case than Rafa Benitez, whose wasted market buys and constant grumblings of a lack of money sums up his managerial ability in a nut shell. Prandelli conversely has worked miracles in Florence and may still wish to do so next year. They won't have European football, but this would allow them to focus on the league and perhaps even mount some sort of challenge at the top. Thats for next season, but now this one is all but over it won't be long before 2010/2011 takes shape.
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