Serie A - Week 8: Sunday Review

Udinese defeated Roma 3-1 at home to heap yet more misery on the Giallorossi and go top of Serie A along with Inter, who were held by Genoa, and Napoli who secured three points at Lazio. Elsewhere, away victories for Fiorentina and Milan moves them closer to top spot.

UDINESE 3-1 ROMA
Udinese moved to the top of the Serie A standings after inflicting a third consecutive league defeat on Roma at the Stadio Friuli. Captain Antonio Di Natale shook off a knee injury he picked up in the UEFA Cup win over Tottenham in midweek to score a brace while Antonio Floro Flores added a first-half goal. Roma also got their captain on the scoresheet as Francisco Totti netted a late penalty, but the goal was unable to inspire a comeback. The defeat will no doubt pile further pressure on Giallorossi coach Luciano Spalletti, whose side are now just a point away from the relegation places in 15th position with only two wins to their name this season.

INTER 0-0 GENOA
Ten-man Genoa held Inter to a goalless draw at the San Siro to earn their first point on the road this season and stall Inter's recent revival. A lively Genoa dominated the first half and went close to scoring on two occasions, but a red card to midfielder Ivan Juric on the hour mark allowed the home side to take control. Despite their efforts, the Nerazzurri came up against a brick wall of determined Genoa players who more than deserved a point for their efforts.

LAZIO 0-1 NAPOLI
Napoli moved into a three-way tie at the top of Serie A after a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory at Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. A Sebastiano Siviglia own-goal condemned the Biancoceleste to a second consecutive defeat while the jubilant visitors now sit alongside Udinese and defending champions Inter at the summit, while Lazio fall four points behind in 7th position.

ATALANTA 0-1 MILAN
Ricardo Kaka scored the only goal of the game as AC Milan ended an eventful week in positive fashion at Atalanta. Already this week Milan had caught the eye with a 3-1 UEFA Cup win at Heerenveen and made headlines for off-field reasons as they announced they were close to signing David Beckham on a short-term deal for the start of next year. A move for the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder has been seen by some as a marketing exercise, but there were moments during an error-strewn performance in Bergamo when the Rossoneri could have done with the former England captain's creativity and calming influence. In the end, Kaka's control and neat finish ten-minutes from the end handed Milan their fifth Serie A win of the season.

PALERMO 1-3 FIORENTINA
Fiorentina moved into a share of fourth place with Milan in Serie A with a controversial win over Palermo in Sunday's evening match. Alberto Gilardino used his arm to score the opening goal after 19 minutes before Adrian Mutu added a second three minutes before half-time. Palermo had a legitimate goal ruled out approaching the break, but appeared to be back in the game when Fabio Simplicio scored five minutes into the second half. But Mutu ended their hopes on the hour mark with his second of the game.

SAMPDORIA 2-0 BOLOGNA
Sampdoria earned their first win of the season to lift themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 victory over Bologna. Gennaro Delvecchio scored after 63 minutes and Claudio Bellucci doubled their advantage with 16 minutes remaining to revive Sampdoria's desperate domestic form. The hosts had endured a miserable start to the season with just five points from their opening eight Serie A fixtures, but success in Europe - a midweek 2-1 victory over Partizan Belgrade in the UEFA Cup - proved the perfect stimulus as Walter Mazzarri's men recorded their second win in four days.

CAGLIARI 2-0 CHIEVO
Cagliari climbed out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 home victory against rivals Chievo - who drop down into the bottom three. Robert Acquafresca gave the hosts the lead on the half-hour mark and Michele Fini extended the lead in the second half - doubling their goals scored total. Chievo's failure to hit the target cost them as Cagliari held on to secure their second successive win after just one point from their previous six Serie A fixtures.

REGGINA 2-0 LECCE
Bernardo Corradi scored twice from the penalty spot in the second half to give Reggina their first win of the Serie A season at home to Lecce. The 32-year-old striker proved his value to the team on his recall when, after 58 minutes, he kept a cool head to stroke home the first of his penalty kicks. Corradi then made sure of the result when he again converted from the spot in injury-time - his third successful penalty in his tally of four goals this campaign. The win, however, was not enough to lift the Amaranto off the foot of the table but they are now just one point from safety.

SERIE A REVIEW:
[Saturday 25 Oct] - [Sunday 26 Oct]