Serie A - Week 36: Sunday Review

Champions Inter celebrated their 17th Scudetto in style with a 3-0 win over Siena. Juventus are just holding onto third spot after they could only draw 2-2 with Atalanta, a result that leaves them just a point ahead of Fiorentina, who overcame Sampdoria. At the other end Bologna, Reggina and Torino all won in the fight for survival.

INTER 3-0 SIENA
Inter celebrated winning their fourth consecutive Serie A title in style with a 3-0 win over Siena at the San Siro. Esteban Cambiasso put Jose Mourinho's side ahead a minute before half time before goals from Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic completed their 24th victory of the season to confirm their recent dominance. The Nerazzurri had their 17th Scudetto thanks to AC Milan's defeat at Udinese on Saturday while Siena had already reserved their place in the top flight for another season so the game in itself risked becoming an undercard to the official title celebrations. The unofficial celebrations took place last night when the Inter players staged an impromptu celebratory tour around the centre of Milan aboard an open-top bus, which lasted into the early hours.

[Inter land Scudetto]

JUVENTUS 2-2 ATALANTA
Juventus' grip on third place in Serie A has grown ever more tenuous following a thrilling 2-2 draw against Atalanta in an empty Stadio Olimpico. Atalanta stunned Claudio Ranieri's men when Luca Cigarini fired them ahead in the second minute but Vincenzo Iaquinta restored parity after 26 minutes before a stunner from Cristiano Zanetti put the hosts in front. Substitute Maximiliano Pellegrino levelled matters a minute before half-time and, although both sides had chances galore to snatch a win, they had to settle for a point apiece. Juve inch closer to AC Milan but the Bianconeri will be looking nervously over their shoulders at Fiorentina who are only a point behind.

FIORENTINA 1-0 SAMPDORIA
Alberto Gilardino struck the only goal as Fiorentina took a significant step towards securing a place in next season's UEFA Champions League with a narrow victory over Sampdoria. The Italy striker netted what turned out to be the winner after 21 minutes as the Viola moved five points clear of fifth-placed Genoa with just two games remaining. Defeat capped a miserable week for Samp, who were beaten by Lazio on penalties in the final of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday night.

GENOA 2-2 CHIEVO
Genoa came from behind to secure the point they needed to qualify for the UEFA Europa League next season thanks to a 2-2 draw with Chievo at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. Giampiero Pinzi put Chievo ahead afte 35 minutes, but a penalty from Diego Milito on the hour mark levelled matters before Ruben Olivera put the home side ahead after 71 minutes. Sergio Pellissier scored the equaliser which all but mathematically secures Chievo's future in the top flight five minutes from time. The draw, however, means Genoa trail Fiorenina in the race for the final Champions League position by five points with only two games left.

PALERMO 2-0 LAZIO
Palermo beat Copp Italia winner Lazio 2-0 to remain in the hunt for European football next season. Fabrizio Miccoli opened the scoring in the sixth minute from the penalty spot after he was brought down inside the area by Aleksandar Kolarov. Despite having numerous chances to double their lead, the hosts only added their second three minutes from time with a Giulio Migliaccio header. The result condemned the Romans to their fourth straight defeat in Serie A while it leaves Palermo two points behind sixth-place Roma, who hold the last Europa League spot, with two games left.

BOLOGNA 2-1 LECCE
Sergio Volpi struck a 94th-minute winner to breathe new life into Bologna's fight for Serie A survival at the expense of fellow strugglers Lecce. Simone Tiribocchi had put Lecce ahead on the half-hour mark but Marco Di Vaio levelled seven minutes later. The visitors had Dimitrios Papadopoulos sent off five minutes into the second half and the 10 men held out for the next 40 minutes but were then stunned by Volpi's last-gasp strike. The result sees both teams remain in the drop zone with two games remaining, but 18th-placed Bologna move onto 33 points while Lecce stay on 29 and slip to bottom of the standings.

NAPOLI 1-2 TORINO
Torino's Serie A survival bid remains on track but they did things the hard way as they came from behind to win at Napoli. Second-half goals from Rolando Bianchi and Alessandro Rosina kept the Granata a point clear of the relegation zone.Inacio Pia had put Napoli ahead three minutes before the break, but the visitors fought back to record their first away win this term. The gloss was taken off the win by victories for fellow strugglers but at least Toro know their fate is in their own hands with two matches left to play.

REGGINA 2-1 CAGLIARI
A defiant Reggina came from behind to beat Cagliari 2-1 and keep their Serie A hopes alive. Nevio Orlandi's side entered the clash at the Stadio Oreste Granillo against ninth-place Cagliari knowing that a defeat coupled with a Torino win would seal their fate. Cagliari took 18 minutes to break the deadlock through Andrea Lazzari but Fabio Ceravolo equalised shortly afterwards. And Franco Brienza scored early in the second half to seal three priceless points for the hosts. Reggina have now leapfrogged Lecce into 19th position but still have a mountain to climb to beat the drop as they head into the last two rounds of games four points from safety.

SERIE A REVIEW:
[Saturday 16 May] - [Sunday 17 May]