Serie A - Week 6: Sunday Review

Juventus lost their unbeaten record in Serie A this season after a 2-1 home defeat against Palermo and Roma also went down, 1-0 at Siena. Napoli lost their first game of this campaign at Genoa, while Udinese moved joint top and Fiorentina secured a vital win.

JUVENTUS 1-2 PALERMO
Palermo continue to impress under new boss Davide Ballardini as they posted a 2-1 win away to 10-man Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico. Ballardini took over as boss of the Rosanero last month and has since seen his side claim four wins in five games. His latest triumph was sealed by a goal from teenage Georgia international Levan Mchedlidze nine minutes from time after Juventus, who were reduced to 10 men following Mohammed Sissoko's dismissal after 41 minutes, looked like they might hold on for a point. A stunning Alessandro Del Piero free-kick after 38 minutes had cancelled out Fabrizio Miccoli's earlier strike, but the game turned again three minutes later when Sissoko was given his marching orders for his second bookable offence. And the added workload of having a man down eventually told on Juve when Mchedlidze struck to condemn the Old Lady to their fourth game without victory.

SIENA 1-0 ROMA
Struggling Roma slumped to a third defeat of the season following a poor performance at Siena. Mario Frick's first-half strike was all that separated the two sides while Giallorossi defenders Philippe Mexes and Christian Panucci both saw red in the second half. The Giallorossi had hoped their troubles were over following consecutive victories over Atalanta in the league and Bordeaux in the Champions League, but they were upended in Tuscany for the second season in a row. The result leaves Luciano Spalletti's side 14th in the standings, six points off table toppers and city rivals Lazio.

UDINESE 2-0 TORINO
Fabio Quagliarella scored a brace to earn Udinese their fourth win of the Serie A season against Torino and send the Bianconeri to joint-top of the table. The Italy international struck a goal in each half to see off a spirited Torino side and put Udinese level on 13 points with Lazio and Inter. The win tops off a great week for Pasquale Marino's outfit, who booked their place in the UEFA Cup group stage on Thursday after seeing off German side Borussia Dortmund on penalties.

GENOA 3-2 NAPOLI
Nine-man Genoa edged out Napoli 3-2 in a five-goal thriller to continue their 100% record at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Ezequiel Lavezzi put Napoli ahead after just 26 seconds but the home side levelled through Sokratis Papastathopoulos on the stroke of half-time before going ahead through Raffaele Palladino's effort after 52 minutes. Three minutes later Genoa lost their captain Marco Rossi for a foul on Lavezzi, but they nevertheless extended their lead when summer signing Diego Milito netted his fifth goal in the league 17 minutes from time. German Denis brought Napoli back into the game just two minutes later but the visitors failed to grab an equaliser - even after the hosts were reduced to nine when Papastathopoulos saw a second yellow card in the final minute.

CHIEVO 0-2 FIORENTINA
Fiorentina picked up their first away points of the season with a 2-0 victory over Serie A new boys Chievo. Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Alberto Gilardino scored either side of half-time as La Viola finally found their form on the road. The visitors' hopes of building on last season's fourth-place finish have already been hampered by defeats at Napoli and Lazio, but they bounced back here to leave Chievo still searching for their first win since the opening day of the campaign. Fiorentina's cause was helped by the 37th-minute dismissal of Chievo defender Francesco Scardina, for an ugly challenge on Franco Semioli.

CAGLIARI 0-0 AC MILAN
Cagliari picked up their first point of the season after holding AC Milan to a goalless draw in Sunday's evening game. Massimiliano Allegri's side had lost all five of their previous Serie A matches but there was little evidence of that poor form as they probed for a goal against their illustrious opponents. Milan, who had won their last three league games, appeared tired and bereft of ideas in Sardinia and missed the chance to move up to fourth in the table. The draw leaves the Rossoneri tied for eighth position with Fiorentina while Cagliari remain rooted to the foot of the table.

ATALANTA 4-2 SAMPDORIA
Sampdoria's winless run continued as they were beaten 4-2 by in-form Atalanta at the Stadio Azzurri D'Italia. Antonio Cassano fired the visitors into the lead inside the first 10 minutes but the team from Bergamo hit back with goals from Sergio Floccari and Gyorgy Garics ensuring a half-time lead. Cassano pulled Samp level from the penalty spot nine minutes after the restart only for a further strike by Floccari to put the hosts back in control. Samp's task became all but impossible when they lost Pietro Accardi and Daniele Dessena to red cards in the space of nine minutes, while Cristiano Doni killed the game off when he netted the fourth for Luigi Del Neri's troops after 83 minutes. The loss leaves Samp still searching for their first win of the season after six games while Atalanta are flying high at the other end of the standings after posting their fourth win of the campaign.

REGGINA 1-1 CATANIA
Reggina claimed only their second point of the season as they battled to a deserved 1-1 draw against high-flying Catania, whose poor form on their travels continues. Michele Paolucci gave the visitors the lead after 69 minutes but the youngster went from hero to villain just three minutes later when he was sent off for a second bookable offence. Reggina made the most of the man advantage and Andrea Costa scored 10 minutes from time to ensure Catania, who have collected maximum points from their home games, are still winless away from the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

SERIE A REVIEW:
[Saturday 4 Oct] - [Sunday 5 Oct]