AC Milan are crowned winter Champions. We knew this a week ago, but this round provided conformation of it and it's significance cannot be denied as in most cases whoever tops the table at Christmas will top it come week 38 in May. However, Milan's crowning as winter Champions saw them slip up a home to a determined Roma side, who absorbed everything Milan could throw at them before Milan's 'old friend' Marco Boriello put the Lupi in front midway through the second half. In truth Milan never looked like scoring after that, and really only looked there devastating selves in the first 10 minutes or so where a superb chance engineered by Robinho was squeezed past the far post under the Curva Nord after he tied Mexes in knots. The defeat was a blow to Milan, there fourth at home to Roma in their last five attempts, but arguably the biggest blow was the injury to Andrea Pirlo who looks set to be out a month. That being said Milan will look over their shoulders and seem themselves five points ahead of Juve, seven ahead of Roma and 13 ahead of Inter, who do have two games in hand, and be very very happy with their season so far.
Keeping up the chase however are Lazio and Napoli, as Juve fell by the way side in Verona having conceded a last minute Sergio Pellissier goal after fabio Quagliarella opened with a contender for goal of the season. Lazio squeezed out a win at home to Udinese in an end to end pulsating clash. Having taken the lead twice, with star Hernanes on the mark again, Udinese pulled them back twice and confirmed there significant improvement this season under Francesco Guidolin. However, Udinese lost out thanks to an own goal from Cristian Zapata in the latter stages. Napoli also left it late and again Edinson Cavani answered the call with a breathtaking goal from distance after dancing around the Lecce midfield. It was his 17 goal in 25 games this season as his confirmed his rise to an elite Serie A player. Palermo, another side reaching for the stars, failed in their bid to keep pace with the leaders as ten man Bari pegged them back in 1-1 draw.
At the bottom of the table despite their point Bari look in deep trouble as things stand. However, Cesena pulled their heads above water with a win over Cagliari and joined Brescia and Lecce on 15 points. It's tight in the lower half of the table but Bologna would have been pleased with their point in the derby against Parma to leave them both comfortable as things stand. Catania can also consider themselves in a similar shape as Maxi Lopez hit the winner against Brescia.
The big game of the round, the Genoa derby, was sadly postponed due to adverse weather.
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