Serie A Round Up Week 36: Milan Finally Scratch Seven Year Itch

 

AS ROMA 0-0 AC MILAN

As goal-less draws go, this was one of the most important in AC Milan’s recent history.

After seven years of watching city rivals Inter dominate at home and abroad, the Rossoneri finally got their hands on the Scudetto in the Italian capital.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men are six points clear of Inter with just two fixtures remaining, but Milan’s superior head-to-head record means they can no longer be caught at the summit.

The hosting Romans will feel they did enough to win this encounter, particularly in the first-half, but the likes of Mirko Vucinic and Fabio Simplicio were unable to convert their chances.

Brazilian attacker Robinho came closest for the champions, striking the post just after the re-start.

The final whistle signalled Milan’s 18th league title, while Roma remain in the hunt of a Champions League berth.

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GENOA 2-1 SAMPDORIA

Twenty years ago Sampdoria lifted their one and only Scudetto. It now looks increasingly likely that the Blues are about to slip through the Serie A trapdoor.

It appeared for a long time that Nicola Pozzi’s 66th minute strike to cancel out Antonio Floro Flores opener had handed Samp a share of the spoils.

But former Wigan Athletic striker Mauro Boselli struck in seventh minute of injury time to hand hosts Genoa all three points and leave Samp two points from safety with time rapidly running out.

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LECCE 2-1 NAPOLI

Lecce did their chances of survival no harm with this controversial victory over out-of-form Napoli.

Daniele Corvia put Lecce in front from the penalty spot, only to see his afternoon end on a sour note when he was handed a red card on 54 minutes.

Napoli midfielder Giuseppe Mascara equalised midway through the second-half and shortly after the numbers were levelled up when striker Edinson Cavani received a second yellow card.

And even more controversy was to follow two minutes from time. Javier Chevanton saw his strike ruled out by the linesman, only for the referee to reverse his assistant’s decision and allow the goal to stand – much to the displeasure of the travelling party.

The win lifts Lecce out of the relegation zone, two points clear of Sampdoria.

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UDINESE 2-1 LAZIO

Antonio Di Natale scored twice to all but ensure he lands the award of Serie A’s leading goalscorer this season, but the win also went a long way to securing Champions League football for Udinese next season.

The Italian international scored both goals before the break, taking his tally for the season to 28.

Lazio striker Mauro Zarate saw his 67th minute penalty kick saved by Samir Handonvic – an incident which also saw Udinese Gabriele Angella receive his marching orders.

The visitors did halve the deficit 15 minutes from courtesy of Libor Kozak, but it was a case of too little too late for the sky blues.

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INTER MILAN 3-1 FIORENTINA

Hosts Inter confirmed their participation in next season’s Champions League with a convincing victory over Fiorentina.

The home side’s goals came from Giampaolo Pazzini, Esteban Cambiasso and Philippe Coutinho, while La Viola’s solo reply came from former AC striker Alberto Gilardino.

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CAGLIARI 0-2 CESENA

Cesena put a four point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone with a hard-fought victory away at Cagliari.

Playmaker Luis Jimenez put the visitors in front with 53 minutes played and that lead was extended six minutes from time by substitute Dominique Malonga.

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PALERMO 2-1 BARI

Palermo warmed up for Tuesday’s semi-final Coppa Italia tie with AC Milan by beating already relegated Bari.

The league’s bottom side actually took a seventh minute lead in this contest through Simone Bentivoglio. The hosts were level before the break though courtesy of Fabrizio Miccoli and they were in front eight minutes into the second half thanks to Cesare Bovo.

Miccoli spurned a chance to extend that lead just after the hour mark when his chipped penalty kick was held by Bari goalkeeper Daniele Padelli.

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BRESCIA 1-2 CATANIA

Brescia were relegated from Serie A after this narrow defeat at home to Catania.

The hosts are on a poor run of form which has seen them win just once in 12 fixtures, and as a result they return to Serie B after just one season in the top flight.

Goals from Matias Silvestre and Gonzalo Bergessio put Catania in control and not even a late strike from Alessandro Diamanti could prevent Brescia dropping out of Serie A.

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BOLOGNA 0-0 PARMA

A win for either side would have secured their Serie A futures in this encounter. As it was neither side could find the cutting edge required to take all three points and both go into the next two fixtures sweating on which division they will be playing in next season.

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