Football transfer news

Football news (Calcio news): Siena 0-0 Genoa
Stadio Franchi

The spoils were shared at the Stadio Franchi, but both sides had plenty of chances.

Alberto Malesani’s hopes of avoiding the drop took a big hit with their 2-0 defeat to Lazio midweek, but that was their first loss in six rounds. Genoa scraped a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Palermo on Wednesday and remained in European contention.

The injury list included Albin Ekdal, Luca Rossettini and Francesco Parravicini on one side, plus Bosko Jankovic, Robert Acquafresca, Dario Dainelli, Ivan Tomovic and the suspended Omar Milanetto on the other.

Gianluca Curci needed a double save to deny Rossi’s initial attempt and the follow-up.

A brilliant solo effort from Domenico Criscito saw the defender dribble down the left channel for an angled drive that Curci fingertipped round the far post.

Siena thought they had taken the lead just before half-time. Abdel Ghezzal’s header cracked against the crossbar and then he bundled in the follow-up from Massimo Maccarone’s assist, but by this stage had strayed offside.

Moments later Reginaldo’s cross was cut out by a desperate Rossi challenge with the goal gaping.

Tzioli’s hit a screamer to test Marco Amelia’s reflexes, then the goalkeeper had to rush off the line to smother at Ghezzal’s feet.

Curci parried from Rossi’s snapshot and Ghezzal got his volley into the net only after the ball had gone out of play.

The Siena goalkeeper was again decisive with a great save to deny Raffaele Palladino’s volley, but nobody could find a goal.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Football news (Calcio news): Palermo 3-1 Bologna
Miccoli 10, pen 43, 79 (P), Adailton 38 (B)
Stadio Barbera

Fabrizio Miccoli’s hat-trick keeps Palermo in the Champions League spots by beating Bologna 3-1, their first win since March 7.

The Rosanero were looking to consolidate fourth place against a Bologna side that had lost two on the trot. They were without the suspended Simon Kjaer, Edinson Cavani and Federico Balzaretti, while Cesare Bovo, Fabio Simplicio and Mark Bresciano were on the treatment table. This meant a revolutionised defence with Giulio Migliaccio redirected from midfield and 21-year-old Marco Calderoni making his Serie A debut. Bologna had Andrea Raggi and Vangelis Moras unavailable, but Marco Di Vaio made his first start since a thigh strain.

Fabrizio Miccoli’s screamer was off target, but the Pocket Striker broke the deadlock after 10 minutes.

Javier Pastore’s through ball sent him flying down the left channel, where he cut back on to his right foot for an angled drive that flashed into the far bottom corner. It went through the goalkeeper’s legs at the near post.

Roberto Guana blasted over from distance. Palermo horribly wasted what would’ve been one of the goals of the season! Pastore and Abel Hernandez duetted down the left flank with several exchanged passes, but when clear on goal Pastore smashed it off target with the inside of his right foot.

Miccoli’s angled drive flashed across the face of goal following more great combination play from Pastore and Miccoli. Di Vaio also threatened, as he let a long ball over the defence bounce before hitting the half-volley across Salvatore Sirigu. Bologna went close from a corner when Daniele Portanova turned over from six yards.

A long Fabio Liverani free kick only skimmed Migliaccio’s bald pate, as even the tiniest touch would’ve taken it past Emiliano Viviano.

Bologna equalised with a perfect free kick from Martins Adailton. The veteran Brazilian curled into the near top corner with his left foot from just outside the box.

Antonio Busce’ clumsily walked into the back of Hernandez just inside the box and the referee awarded the penalty. The Uruguayan had his back to the goal, so it was a soft decision. Miccoli stepped up and sent Viviano the wrong way to convert.

Di Vaio’s angled drive was smothered at the near post on the stroke of half-time. In the second half another well-worked move came to nothing thanks to Nicolas Bertolo ballooning over from a very promising position.

Miguel Angel Britos did well to use his strength and pace to hold off Hernandez as the two Uruguayans went shoulder-to-shoulder on Pastore’s through ball. Hernandez was again about to pull the trigger when cut off by a crucial tackle in the box.

Miccoli’s spectacular flick created another chance for Palermo, but Calderoni could not make the most of it. Sirigu smothered a bouncing Adailton snapshot that picked up pace off the turf.

Britos was fortunate perhaps to only receive a yellow card when he hauled Hernandez back by the shoulder as the young Uruguayan burst towards goal with remarkable pace.

Miccoli’s screamer of a free kick skimmed the near post, hitting the support for the back of the net. Ondrej Celutska received his Serie A debut, replacing newcomer Calderoni, who was suffering from cramp.

Miccoli completed his hat-trick in style. A wonderful Fabio Liverani pass from midfield sent him clear down the left and the tiny hitman kept his cool to slip it between the goalkeeper and the near post.

It would’ve been 4-1 in the final minutes when Pastore threaded through for substitute Igor Budan, but this time Viviano stuck out a foot to parry the finish. Bologna also had the chance to get back into it, but Sirigu beat away Adailton’s angled drive from point-blank range.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Football news (Calcio news): Napoli 1-0 Catania
P Cannavaro 51 (N)
Stadio San Paolo

Paolo Cannavaro gave Napoli a victory that keeps them in the hunt for European places.

The Partenopei fought back for a sensational 3-1 victory over Juventus on Thursday night that put them in level sixth position, ending an eight-match winless streak. However, Catania were also boosted by the fact they were unbeaten in five, during which they had beaten the likes of Inter and Fiorentina.

Andrea Dossena’s injury lay-off drags on, while the Elefantini left behind Cristian Llama, Potenza, Alvarez, Carboni, Plasmati and Capuano.

It was Catania who had the first chance after 60 seconds! A Giuseppe Mascara corner found Nicolas Spolli unmarked for a volley that smacked against the underside of the crossbar to bounce back out.

Fabio Quagliarella spun just wide and Grava acrobatically cleared from Mascara, while there were penalty appeals for a tussle between Michele Pazienza and Adrian Ricchiuti.

Mariano Andujar got down to parry an Ezequiel Lavezzi strike at the near post from Marek Hamsik’s quickly-taken free kick.

Catania went very close with Martinez left far too much space for a free header on Mascara’s cross, but he nodded over the bar.

Quagliarella failed to make the most of Spolli’s error, as his first touch let him down when clear on goal.

Napoli finally broke the deadlock with captain Paolo Cannavaro. Lavezzi sprung the offside trap and got to the byline, nutmegging a defender for Quagliarella to touch it on for Cannavaro’s tap-in behind him.

Hamsik’s rising angled drive flashed inches over the far top corner, but soon after Cannavaro was denied his brace by an incredible save! Cannavaro’s deflected header from a Walter Gargano cross was going the opposite direction to Andujar, but the goalkeeper stuck out his trailing hand to bat it off the line.

A very strange opportunity fell to Napoli when Hamsik’s shot took a deflection to ricochet on to the goalkeeper’s chest, though Andujar didn’t seem to know much about it.

Catania went so close when Mascara’s slide-rule pass found Maxi Lopez at full stretch, unable to get enough power to beat Morgan De Sanctis from point-blank range.

The Sicilians had strong penalty appeals in the final minutes, as Maggio fell with his arm on top of the ball when trying to shrug off Gennaro Delvecchio, but the referee judged it to be involuntary. Catania Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic was sent off for taking his protests too far.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Football news (Calcio news): Livorno 1-1 Bari
Allegretti 24 (B), Tavano 85 (L)
Stadio Picchi

Livorno are still propping up the table, but at least fought back to earn a late point with Francesco Tavano’s snooker-shot.

The Amaranto were in crisis and Coach Serse Cosmi apologised for “betraying” the trust that the fans put in him. They had slipped to the bottom of the table thanks to one point from five rounds and had to do without Romano Perticone, Andrea Esposito and Leonardo Miglionico. Bari were also promoted in the summer, but sitting pretty in ninth place despite missing Paulo Barreto, Andrea Ranocchia, Antonio Langella, Daniele De Vezze, Vitali Kutuzov, Mariano Donda and Sergio Almiron.

Francesco Tavano had a fantastic opportunity after 18 minutes when he unleashed a right-foot rocket on the bounce from the edge of the area that forced Jean-Francois Gillet into a flying save.

Moments later Cristiano Lucarelli went one-on-one, but Leonardo Bonucci made up for his error by blocking him off with a crucial sliding tackle.

Bari broke the deadlock with a frankly bizarre goal. Riccardo Meggiorini had a hopeful long-range snapshot that took two deflections off Livorno defender Nelson Rivas and Riccardo Allegretti to send Rubinho the wrong way.

Antonio Filippini went off with an injury and Bari wasted the opportunity to make it 2-0 before half-time. Rubinho’s poor clearance fell straight to Jose ‘Nacho’ Castillo, who hesitated and allowed the defence to close him down.

After the restart Bari went very close again, as Rivas almost scored an own goal with his wayward defensive header thumping the crossbar.

Tavano felt he deserved a penalty on 54 minutes, but instead had the free kick given against him. Rubinho fumbled an Edgar Alvarez shot and almost let it bobble into his own net.

Cristiano Lucarelli failed to get the right contact as Fabio Galante knocked on a corner.

Play was halted for a couple of minutes when Livorno fans threw flares on to the pitch, but the situation soon calmed down.

Livorno equalised in the final minutes. Lucarelli knocked on a long ball and Tavano did very well to spin round, nutmegging a defender with a snooker shot into the far bottom corner.

Popularity: 2% [?]

It was all square at the Bentegodi between two sides who both hit the frame of the goal.

These sides were both mid-table and could effectively consider themselves safe from the drop, even though Parma were in far better shape after a 1-0 win over Milan midweek. Only Blerim Dzemaili and Alberto Paloschi were on the treatment table. Chievo missed Michele Marcolini, Moro, Bianchi and the suspended Giampiero Pinzi.

Chievo had the first scoring opportunity when Sergio Pellissier ran on to a Rigoni through ball and set up De Paula, but the Brazilian blasted over.

At the 25th minute Valeri Bojinov released a sudden screamer from 20 metres that Stefano Sorrentino flew to palm out from under the bar.

Simone Bentivoglio’s volley was smothered, but on 38 minutes Antonelli’s header from a Castellini cross forced a save at full stretch out of Sorrentino.

Luciano’s snapshot from distance was parried into the path of De Paula, who slipped at the crucial moment.

Straight after the restart De Paula’s left-foot shot thumped the base of the near post with the goalkeeper well beaten.

Parma also rattled the woodwork when Sorrentino flew to fingertip a fierce Zaccardo right-foot free kick on to the crossbar. Bojinov went close with a left-foot strike from the edge of the box that skimmed the upright.

Bojinov and Pellissier again missed the target by a small margin, but nobody was able to find a goal.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Guberti 48 (S), Nene’ 81 (C)
Stadio Ferraris

Sampdoria are caught in fifth place by Juventus and Napoli after Nene’ scored a late equaliser and was sent off.

The Blucerchiati were right back in the race for Europe, despite their midweek defeat away to Bari. Antonio Cassano had scored two in as many games, so the injured Nicola Pozzi, Rossi and Luca Castellazzi were not missed. Cagliari were in crisis after one point from five fixtures and had to do without Andrea Cossu, Jeda, Andrea Lazzari, Pisano, Parola, Agazzi and the suspended Daniele Dessena.

The visitors got off to a great start, as after five minutes Marco Storari was forced into a desperate save to deny Alessandro Matri from a corner kick.

Franco Semioli nodded a Stefano Guberti cross just wide, as did Michele Canini at the other end with Daniele Ragatzu unable to get the final touch.

Ragatzu was playing as both Cossu and Lazzari were out of action. The youth product had a good game and his curler was off target from the edge of the box.

Cassano drilled over, had a free kick deflected and aimed another wide of the target, as he tried to single-handedly inspire Sampdoria.

The Blucerchiati found a way through at the dawn of the second half, just moments after Stefano Guberti had been moved between the lines. Giampaolo Pazzini spun round in the box for a deflected shot that ricocheted into the path of the on-rushing Guberti from 10 yards.

Matri also threatened, though, as he was sent clear by Daniele Conti only to hesitate and Storari held his ground very well in a one-on-one situation.

On the hour mark a long corner found Daniele Gastaldello’s header at the back post, but Federico Marchetti managed a point-blank reaction save to beat it away.

Cagliari equalised with a fantastic header from Nene’, who was allowed far too much space to nod in Conti’s free kick that was chipped over the top of a distracted defence.

Nene’ was sent off in stoppages for a bizarre rugby tackle from behind on Andrea Poli.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Portuguese international joined the Spaniards on loan in January and is starting to show his form of old.

Speaking to Cadena Ser, the man signed from Lyon for £11m in the summer of 2007 says he wants to end his Italian nightmare.

“I don’t want to go back to Italy,” said the former Chelsea player. “However, I still have two years left on my contract with Juventus and I can’t decide on what will happen.

“Atletico Madrid is a special club,” he added. “The fans have great passion and us players feel it.”

Juventus are understood to be willing to sell Tiago if a club makes a big enough offer for his services.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Stadio Friuli

A dire 0-0 draw was played out at the Stadio Friuli between two teams terrified of defeat.

These two sides were anxiously looking over their shoulders for a potential slip back into the danger zone. Giovanni Pasquale’s suspension prompted a defensive reshuffle, while Dusan Basta, Gaetano D’Agostino, Maurizio Domizzi and Christian Obodo were out of action. Chievo were without Michele Marcolini and Fabio Moro, but welcomed Andrea Mantovani back from a ban.

Antonio Floro Flores and Antonio Di Natale didn’t get enough power on their shots early on, but Andrea Coda was stretchered off with a knee injury to mark Damiano Ferronetti’s comeback.

Samir Handanovic had his palms stung by a Luca Ariatti screamer from distance.

Kwadwo Asamoah wasted a promising counter-attack when he refused to pass it and could only manage a meek finish.

Ariatti’s through ball was just a little too long for Giampiero Pinzi, who had been allowed to spring the offside trap. The two combined again soon after, but this time Handanovic rushed off his line to intercept.

Di Natale squeezed between two defenders to toe-poke the ball, but Stefano Sorrentino did well to save.

After the break Cristian Zapata did well to make a crucial intervention, denying Sergio Pellissier the tap-in from close range.

Pinzi’s header whistled wide from six yards from a taut Nicolas Frey cross from the right.

Sorrentino ran a real risk when he backpedalled to pluck a looping Paolo Sammarco header out of the air just before it completely crossed the line.

Later efforts included Pinzi again one-on-one with Handanovic only to hesitate and a Bernardo Corradi header.
Udinese: Handanovic; Isla, Zapata, Coda (Ferronetti 7), Lukovic; Sammarco, Inler, Asamoah; Pepe (Sanchez 46), Di Natale, Floro Flores (Corradi 85)

Chievo: Sorrentino; Frey, Morero, Yepes, Mantovani; Luciano, Rigoni, Ariatti (Bentivoglio 65); Pinzi; Pellissier (Sardo 92), De Paula (Granoche 75)

Ref: Mazzoleni

Popularity: 2% [?]

Tiribocchi 53 (A), Valdes pen 64, 72 (A), Conti 91 (C)
Stadio Azzurri d’Italia

Atalanta thrashed Cagliari 3-1, but were helped by a Daniele Dessena red card after just 17 minutes.

Time is running out for the Orobici, who were four points from safety going into this midweek round and only one above rock bottom Livorno despite Sunday’s 3-0 win. Cagliari’s confidence was collapsing after one point from five games, which saw the club reimburse fans after the 2-0 home defeat to Lazio at the weekend.

Cristiano Doni sat out a ban with the injured Edgar Barreto, Giampaolo Bellini, Paolo Zanetti and Leonardo Talamonti. The Sardinians had Diego Lopez suspended, while Francesco Pisano, Michael Agazzi and Andrea Parola didn’t make the trip.

Daniele Dessena drilled wide early on, but his game really didn’t last very long. After 17 minutes he flew in with a horrible late tackle from behind on Jaime Valdes at the byline and the referee had every reason to flash a straight red card.

Naturally Atalanta poured forward and soon after Federico Marchetti flew to palm a Gyorgy Garics angled drive round the post, while Valdes also tested the goalkeeper.

Javier Ernesto Chevanton limped off with a thigh problem and made way for Simone Tiribocchi in the first half.

Marchetti was keeping 10-man Cagliari in it with some more stunning saves on Valdes and even Agostini’s rather clumsy clearance that was turning into an own goal.

Atalanta finally broke through after the restart. Marchetti beat away a Simone Padoin screamer, but could do nothing on Simone Tiribocchi’s follow-up.

Valdes cut in from the left to unleash a rocket that Marchetti palmed out from under the crossbar.

Michele Canini clumsily tripped Tiribocchi and Valdes converted the penalty to double Atalanta’s advantage, sending Marchetti the wrong way.

Chilean Valdes completed his brace soon after with a sensational goal. He had acres of space on the counter, but took his time to curl a perfectly-aimed right-foot shot into the far top corner.

Nelson Jeda came on and off again after an injury. His replacement, Ragatzu, earned a controversial penalty when he just seemed to lose his balance during an acrobatic move. It didn’t matter, as Andrea Cossu smacked the penalty on to the underside of the bar.

Cagliari at least got a consolation goal in stoppages with Daniele Conti’s looping header.
Atalanta: Consigli; Garics, Bianco, Manfredini, Peluso, Ferreira Pinto (De Ascentiis 57), Guarente, Valdes (Ceravolo 75), Amoruso, Chevanton (Tiribocchi 35)

Cagliari: Marchetti; Canini, Ariaudo, Astori, Agostini, Dessena, Conti, Biondini, Cossu, Matri (Nene’ 71), Larrivey (Jeda 61) (Ragatzu 77)

Ref: Rocchi

Sent off: Dessena 17 (C)

Missed penalty: Cossu 80 (C)

Popularity: 1% [?]

Lichtsteiner 6 (L), Cruz 72 (L)
Stadio Olimpico

Lazio have put the crisis behind them with a second consecutive victory, including Julio Cruz scoring the moment he came off the bench.

This had become a relegation dogfight and a six-pointer for both sides. Lazio needed to get away from the drop zone and were boosted by Sunday’s 2-0 victory in Cagliari, while Siena’s recent good form had lifted them off the foot of the table. The Tuscans were unbeaten in six, but had never managed to conquer the Olimpico before with four draws and as many defeats.

Mauro Zarate’s two-match ban had expired, so he returned although Sergio Floccari, Ousmane Dabo, Mourad Meghni, Pasquale Foggia, Christian Manfredini, Francelino Matuzalem, Sebastiano Siviglia and the suspended Giuseppe Biava missed out.

Lazio took the lead with Stefan Lichtsteiner, a rare goalscorer for the club. A long Stefano Mauri cross from the left went over Tommaso Rocchi to find Lichtsteiner ready to prod home from six yards with his weaker left foot.

Soon after Stefano Mauri came sliding in to a Cristian Brocchi through ball, forcing a point-blank save out of Gianluca Curci.

Zarate stung Curci’s palms after Emilson Sanchez Cribari’s error released the Argentine and Rocchi’s daisy-cutter shaved a coat of paint off the base of the far post 60 seconds later.

A scuffle broke out on 23 minutes, as the tension got to these teams, earning bookings for Aleandro Rosi and Aleksandar Kolarov.

Lazio should’ve scored with a classic counter-attack sparked by Brocchi, but Rocchi fired straight at the goalkeeper one-on-one.

Siena did precious little in the first half and introduced Reginaldo for a more attacking line-up and immediately went close with Marcelo Larrondo.

Rocchi’s snapshot and an Emanuele Calaio’ failed to really trouble the goalkeepers, but Larrondo pounced on a Gugliemo Stendardo error only for the defender to make up for it with a crucial block.

Julio Ricardo Cruz replaced Zarate and scored with his first touch! He had been on the field for only around 10 seconds when he turned a fantastic overhead kick from a corner in from seven yards.

Mauri could’ve made it 3-0, but his delightful lob was palmed out from under the crossbar by Curci.
Lazio: Muslera; Dias, Stendardo, Radu; Lichtsteiner, Brocchi, Ledesma (Baronio 91), Mauri, Kolarov; Zarate (Cruz 72), Rocchi (Foggia 84)

Siena: Curci; Odibe, Cribari, Pratali (Reginaldo 46); Del Grosso (Calaio’ 54), Rosi, Vergassola, Tziolis; Ghezzal; Maccarone, Larrondo (Fini 80)

Ref: Bergonzi

Popularity: 1% [?]