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Valdes 16 (A), Ferreira Pinto 70 (A)
Stadio Azzurri d’Italia

Siena are practically in Serie B after losing this relegation dogfight, as they drop to joint bottom place with Livorno.

This could be the decider in the relegation battle, as defeat would almost certainly spell doom for one of the teams. They went into this Easter weekend in 18th and 19th respectively with some very difficult fixtures ahead.

Atalanta were missing Paolo Zanetti, Javier Chevanton, Edgar Barreto, Leonardo Talamonti and Giampaolo Bellini. Siena were without Albin Ekdal, Francesco Parravicini and Luca Rossettini.

Play almost didn’t go ahead after heavy rainfall over Bergamo. Nicola Amoruso nodded just wide in the opening moments, but then got involved in a scuffle with Aleandro Rosi.

Atalanta broke through with a wonderful individual strike from Jaime Valdes. The Chilean took a step outside the box and smashed the right-foot screamer in off the inside of the near post.

Ferreira Pinto’s effort shaved a coat of paint off the woodwork, while Del Grosso’s free kick was off target. Just before half-time Gianluca Curci did well to deny Amoruso’s angled drive.

After the restart Andrea Consigli needed his first real save, at full stretch to palm Larrondo’s header off the line with one strong hand.

Simone Vergassola went so close to an equaliser by pouncing on a poor clearance from close range, but ballooned over. Siena also had penalty appeals for an Emilson Sanchez Cribari challenge on Amoruso.

Atalanta doubled their lead when Guarente’s free kick to the back post was knocked across by Manfredini for Ferreira Pinto’s free header from point-blank range.

Calcio news: Parma 1-1 Fiorentina (Calcio Serie A – 03.04.2010)

Stadio Tardini
De Silvestri 22 (F), Bojinov 68 (P)

Valeri Bojinov cancelled out a Lorenzo De Silvestri debut Serie A goal to keep thse teams locked in mid-table.

The Ducali were unbeaten in six and sat just two points behind the Viola going into this Easter weekend, so it was a play-off for Europa League ambitions. Alberto Paloschi was injured and Daniele Galloppa suspended, while the visitors missed Alessandro Gamberini, Marco Marchionni, Manuel Pasqual and banned duo Adrian Mutu and Massimo Gobbi.

It has been a rough week for Fiorentina, as President Diego Della Valle resigned following a public spat with Cesare Prandelli, though the Coach pledged to stay on.

Parma had their first chance in the opening 60 seconds when Valeri Bojinov intercepted a poor Cesare Natali backpass, but was crowded out by Sebastien Frey with a real risk of giving away a penalty.

Fiorentina had done precious little so far, but took the lead against the run of play. Stevan Jovetic’s inspired through ball sent Lorenzo De Silvestri through to toe-poke in his debut Serie A goal.

It was nearly 2-0 a few minutes later, as Cristiano Zanetti’s piledriver from distance was palmed low off the line by Antonio Mirante. At the other end Bojinov fired straight at Frey after great build-up work from Jonathan Biabiany.

Francesco Valiani drilled inches wide from distance for Parma, while De Silvestri nearly got his second with Mirante parrying the fierce drive from another Jovetic assist.

Mirante rushed off his line to stop Alberto Gilardino getting on the end of De Silvestri’s cross in a move inspired by Riccardo Montolivo.

Parma were laying siege to the Viola area and, after a miraculous Frey save, they found their way through. Frey punched the free kick straight at Jonathan Biabiany for a half-volley, but the goalkeeper somehow stuck out a foot to boot the shot off the line! Another set play was not cleared effectively and eventually ricocheted to Bojinov to fire in from six yards.

Fiorentina thought they had scored with Gilardino, but he was offside when redirecting Mario Alberto Santana’s cross.

Hernan Crespo came off the bench and nearly gave Parma the lead, as he nodded inches wide of the upright.

Mirante needed quick reactions to deny Gilardino from point-blank range on a Juan Manuel Vargas cross.