Football transfer news

Stadio San Paolo

Napoli slide back down behind Juventus after failing to break down 10-man Cagliari.

Time was running out for the Partenopei to break back into the Champions League spots, but a win was expected against a Cagliari side that hadn’t won since February. Fabio Quagliarella continued to sit out his three-match ban for insulting the referee, but Christian Maggio was the only other absentee. The Sardinians missed Diego Lopez, Francesco Pisano and Andrea Parola.

Federico Marchetti flew to palm a German Denis header round the near post, then palmed a Marek Hamsik snapshout out from under the crossbar in the opening 10 minutes.

Bad news for Napoli, who lost Ezequiel ‘Pocho’ Lavezzi to injury, making way for Mariano Bogliacino.

Denis had penalty appeals for an Ariaudo shirt-tug, but the referee waved play on. Denis did get his chance soon after, but Marchetti had a strong hand to turn his header off the line.

It turned into a siege before half-time, as Marchetti beat away a series of desperate efforts from Denis, Bogliacino and Walter Gargano. The Cagliari goalkeeper was unbeatable and pushed a Denis strike from point-blank range out at the near post.

Marchetti continued his one-man duel with the entire Napoli squad, risky challenges denying Pazienza and Bogliacino as part of the same move.

Cagliari went down to 10 men after substitute Andrea Cossu was spotted in an off the ball foul on Gianluca Grava.

Napoli kept pushing and Juan Zuiga skipped past Astori to go one-on-one with Marchetti, but finished it like a defender and flashed the shot across the face of goal.

In stoppages Denis turned a diving header inches wide of the upright.
Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Grava, Zuniga, Pazienza (Maggio 78), Gargano, Aronica (Dossena 54), Hamsik, Denis, Lavezzi (Bogliacino 26)

Cagliari: Marchetti; Ariaudo, Canini, Astori, Agostini, Dessena, Conti, Biondini, Lazzari (Cossu 73), Matri (Ragatzu 52), Larrivey (Nene’ 64)

Ref: Mazzoleni

Sent off: Cossu 80 (C)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Lucarelli pen 50 (L), Bellucci 60 (L), Bergvold 65 (L), Maxi Lopez 86 (C)
Stadio Picchi

Livorno at least boosted morale with their first victory in 16 rounds, as the crowd saw fantastic goals from Claudio Bellucci and Maxi Lopez, but it didn’t stop them sliding into Serie B.

The Amaranto were essentially relegated already after just five draws from the last 15 rounds, but welcomed a Catania side that needed only a handful of points to be mathematically safe. Leonardo Miglionico, Nelson Rivas, Francesco Tavano, Antonio Filippini, Diniz, Mirko Pieri and the suspended Romano Perticone missed out. The visitors were without Cristian Llama and Blazej Augustyn.

These two sides had met 37 times between Serie A, B and C1 with 15 Livorno wins, nine draws and 13 Catania triumphs. Their last encounter here was a 1-0 Amaranto victory on March 2 2008.

The stands were practically empty, as Amaranto supporters had announced they would boycott this match in protest at recent results.

Gennaro Delvecchio wasted an early header and Ricchiuti also failed to make the most of a good chance when he sprung the offside trap.

Livorno’s first chance was a fierce snapshot from Martin Bergvold that stung the palms of Mariano Andujar. Claudio Bellucci had a few efforts, but they tended to be too weak to really trouble the goalkeeper.

On 33 minutes Cristian Raimondi volleyed a corner kick, but Terlizzi performed practically a goalline clearance to keep it out.

David Di Gennaro forced a save out of Andujar with his free kick, but after the restart he was brought down by Ciro Capuano in a clumsy tackle from behind. The penalty was inevitable along with the second yellow card, although it took several minutes of persuasion for the referee to remember he had already booked the defender. Cristiano Lucarelli coolly converted by sending Andujar the wrong way.

Raimondi thought he’d made it 2-0, but the cross-shot from a narrow angle cracked against the outside of the upright.

Livorno doubled their lead with an absolute gem of a goal from veteran Bellucci. Lucarelli knocked down a cross for Bellucci’s spectacular right-foot volley from 12 yards that flew into the top corner with an outside curl.

Lucarelli’s strike with the outside of his right foot flashed across the face of goal to skim the far post.

Bergvold did make it 3-0 soon after, firing in low at the near bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Lucarelli went close again with an audacious volley from Vitale’s cross.

Catania did get one back late on with a truly magnificent overhead kick from Maxi Lopez. Alfonso De Lucia had punched away a free kick to the edge of the area, where Maxi Lopez acrobatically catapulted the ball into the far top corner.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Palacio 7′ (Genoa), Dias 25′ (Lazio), Floccari 32′ (Lazio)
Stadio Ferraris

Sergio Floccari made up for last week’s derby debacle by scoring the winner against 10-man Genoa.

Both teams recently lost local derbies and are suffering in the shadow of their rivals’ success this season. Genoa were still in with an outside chance of the Europa League, but the Biancocelesti weren’t yet safe from relegation. Dario Dainelli’s ban meant a defensive reshuffle, while Houssine Kharja, Bosko Jankovic, Marco Rossi and David Suazo were sidelined. Lazio’s Cristian Ledesma and Aleksandar Kolarov were suspended, joining the injured Guglielmo Stendardo, Mourad Meghni and Francelino Matuzalem.

The fans and Genoa paid tribute to former defender Andrea Fortunato on the 15th anniversary of his tragic death from leukaemia.

Lazio had a strong record at Marassi, winning their last three visits and unbeaten here since 1992. Stefano Mauri had a good chance from a corner in the opening minutes.

However, a foolish defensive error allowed Genoa to take the lead. A free kick was taken quickly while Lazio’s players complained to the referee and Rodrigo Palacio slapped the angled drive across Nando Muslera from outside the box completely undisturbed.

Sergio Floccari’s header skimmed the bar against his former club, but it was Andre Dias who equalised. A corner found the defender soaring to nod in from six yards, although Alessio Scarpi was caught in no man’s land.

Genoa lost Emiliano Moretti to injury and were caught napping as Lazio fought back to turn the game around completely. A free kick over the top ricocheted around the box and Floccari was quickest to react by toe-poking in at the near post from a couple of yards.

The home team reacted with Raffaele Palladino turning in the area to test Muslera with a one-handed save.

Floccari spread the play for Tommaso Rocchi’s right-foot strike to crack against the bar on the counter-attack after 35 minutes.

There were no doubts about the offside flag when Rocchi tapped in a parried Floccari snapshot.

Genoa wasted a good opportunity to equalise at the dawn of the second half, as Palladino tried to make his pass too fancy for Robert Acquafresca and allowed Dias to intercept.

Muslera tipped a rising Fatic strike out from under the bar and Edy Reja was sent off for dissent, walking very slowly all the way across the pitch to reach the locker rooms.

Genoa went down to 10 men thanks to a second bookable offence from Salvatore Bocchetti for hauling back Floccari.

Nonetheless, Mimmo Criscito’s powerful header from an Omar Milanetto free kick tested Muslera’s reflexes.

It should’ve been 3-1 late on, but Mauro Zarate’s cross-shot flashed across Julio Cruz when only a touch would’ve put it in the net.
Genoa: Scarpi; Papasthatopoulos, Bocchetti, Moretti (Mesto 26); Tomovic (Fatic 51), Milanetto, Juric, Criscito; Palacio, Acquafresca, Palladino (Sculli 61)

Lazio: Muslera; Biava, Dias, Radu; Lichtsteiner, Brocchi, Baronio, Mauri, Del Nero (Siviglia 92); Rocchi (Zarate 67), Floccari (Cruz 75)

Ref: Morganti

Sent off: Bocchetti 69 (G)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Italian Serie A, Lega Calcio – Bologna 2-1 Parma
Biabiany 23 (P), Di Vaio 39, 50 (B)
Stadio Dall’Ara

A red card proved decisive, as Bologna fought back to win the Emilia-Romagna derby with Marco Di Vaio’s double.

This was a local derby, but one that gave Parma the opportunity to send their local rivals closer to relegation. Bologna had lost four of their last five games and were only two points clear of Atalanta. Nicola Mingazzini and Roberto Guana missed out, while the visitors lost Luis Jimenez, Stefano Morrone, Damiano Zenoni, Alberto Paloschi and the suspended Alessandro Lucarelli.

Emiliano Viviano stuck out a foot to parry Valeri Bojinov’s strike, but Marcelo Zalayeta had a goal disallowed for an offside position.

Zalayeta knocked down a corner for Portanova’s fierce volley, bringing a great save out of Antonio Mirante.

Parma took the lead thanks to the blistering pace of Jonathan Biabiany. He sprinted past two Bologna players, leaving Lanna and Vangelis Moras behind to place an angled drive across Viviano. Lanna was tempted to barge him off the ball, but had only just been booked.

However, the Ducali were reduced to 10 men after Cristian Zaccardo clumsily clattered into Zalayeta, bringing him down when running clear on goal. It was particularly galling, as Zaccardo is a former Bologna player.

From that free kick Bologna thought they had equalised, but the whistle had already gone for a Portanova push when Marco Di Vaio tapped in the loose ball. It was a very controversial decision.

Bologna drew level with former Parma star Di Vaio. Antonio Busce’ did well to whip a low cross from the right and Di Vaio smartly flicked it just at the near post enough to beat Mirante.

The home side kept pushing, as Di Vaio skimmed the crossbar from the D and a brave Paolo Hernan Dellafiore tackle stopped Zalayeta tapping in, so Parma redesigned the squad with two substitutions before half-time.

One of the new entries, Lunardini, nearly scored for the Ducali straight away. His fierce right-foot screamer flashed past the post.

Bologna took the lead when veteran Di Vaio pounced on a dreadful defensive error from debutant youngster Gigli. The header back to his goalkeeper was far too weak and intercepted for a classic lob.

Mirante prevented another goal moments later by using his legs to parry from Martins Adailton, while he kept out Biabiany and Di Vaio’s sliding finish. The goalkeeper also did brilliantly to slap away a Pisanu backheel flick from point-blank range.

Both sides ended with 10 men, as Gaby Mudingayi was stretchered off 10 minutes from time after the substitutions had been completed.
Bologna: Viviano; Raggi, Portanova, Moras (Britos 78), Lanna; Buscè, Mudingayi, Casarini (Guana 62); Adailton (Pisanu 61); Di Vaio, Zalayeta

Parma: Mirante; Zaccardo, Paci (Lunardini 43), Dellafiore; Biabiany, Valiani, Galloppa (Lanzafame 85), Antonelli, Castellini; Crespo, Bojinov (Gigli 44)

Ref: Bergonzi

Sent off: Zaccardo 29 (P)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Lega Calcio – Udinese 4-1 Siena
Pepe 19, 43 (U), Calaio’ 40 (S), Sanchez 61 (U), Di Natale pen 80 (U)
Stadio Friuli

Udinese made short work of sorry Siena, who now slide closer towards Serie B.

This was a relegation battle, although the Friulani felt relatively safe after a recent upturn in results. Siena had four points from the last two rounds, both from remarkable comebacks, so were putting up a real fight to avoid dropping out of Serie A after seven years. Gaetano D’Agostino, Christian Obodo, Dusan Basta and Andrea Coda joined the suspended Cristian Zapata and Paolo Sammarco in the stands. Abdel Ghezzal and Aleandro Rosi also sat out bans, with Michele Fini and Francesco Parravicini sidelined.

Udinese had a strong start, as Gianluca Curci rushed off his line to close down Antonio Di Natale from an inspired Mauricio Isla pass, then the goalkeeper had to stop Emilson Sanchez Cribari scoring an own goal.

A corner kick found Maurizio Domizzi soaring above the crowd for a header that clipped the outside of the upright.

Emanuele Calaio’ thought he had opened the scoring with a looping header, but the flag had been raised for an offside position after 16 minutes.

The Friulani did break through at the 19th. A looping cross from the right by Isla found Simone Pepe’s towering header at the back post.

Samir Handanovic was at full stretch to palm a Simone Vergassola angled drive past the far post, but at the other end Cristian Del Grosso risked an own goal. Calaio’ rattled the woodwork with an acrobatic finish, but it wouldn’t have counted anyway due to an incorrect offside call.

Siena equalised before the break. Massimo Maccarone deserves much of the credit, as he pushed down the left flank and smartly pulled it back for the on-rushing Calaio’ to drill low into the far bottom corner.

However, some awful defending gifted Udinese with the lead again moments later. Isla robbed Albin Ekdal in the final third and Pepe was sent clear through the middle to score.

Sanchez made it 3-1 by finishing off after great work from Di Natale to slalom between defenders.

Marco Malago’ held back Sanchez in the area for a penalty 10 minutes from time. Di Natale stepped up and converted with his right foot to extend his lead at the top of the Capocannoniere charts.
Udinese: Handanovic; Ferronetti (Cuadrado 83), Domizzi, Lukovic, Pasquale (Badu 72); Isla, Inler, Asamoah; Sanchez, Di Natale, Pepe (Lodi 79)

Siena: Curci; Malagò, Cribari, Pratali, Del Grosso; Vergassola, Ekdal (Jarolim 55), Tziolis (Larrondo 66); Reginaldo (Jajalo 54), Calaiò, Maccarone

Ref: Rosetti

Popularity: 2% [?]

Bari 1-2 Napoli
Lavezzi 28, 57 (N), Almiron 75 (B)
Stadio San Nicola

A brace of Ezequiel Lavezzi stunners sank Bari at the Stadio San Nicola to get Napoli back on track.

Both sides were decimated going into this Derby del Sud. The home team missed Vitali Kutuzov, Emmanuel Rivas, Mariano Donda, Andrea Ranocchia, Antonio Langella, Riccardo Meggiorini, Marco Pisano and Andrea Sestu. Napoli’s Christian Maggio stayed behind with the banned trio of Fabio Quagliarella, Paolo Cannavaro and Salvatore Aronica. The visitors needed a boost after their 3-2 home loss to Parma.

Bari’s last win here was 2-0 in January 1998, but their total record at the San Nicola was of 11 victories, 13 draws and just nine defeats in all competition.

Nacho Castillo just failed to make contact with Riccardo Allegretti’s free kick across the face of goal.

German Denis should’ve given Napoli the lead after 13 minutes, but he horribly scuffed his angled drive from Ezequiel Lavezzi’s assist straight at Jean-Francois Gillet. Juan Zuniga also blasted over from a tight angle.

Napoli took the lead thanks to an absolute screamer from Lavezzi. He controlled outside the box and swung an unstoppable shot into the near top corner past Gillet’s outstretched hand.

Morgan De Sanctis had to rush off his line to anticipate Paulo Barreto after Hugo Campagnaro’s poor backpass on the stroke of half-time. His defence wasn’t helping him, as the Napoli goalkeeper needed the same to stop Castillo pouncing on a Leandro Rinaudo error.

After the restart De Sanctis again smothered an Allegretti strike and Napoli proved far more clinical with their chances.

Lavezzi gathered on the edge of the box and smacked another brilliant right-foot strike under the bar that Gillet could do precious little about, having pounced on Bonucci’s error.

Bari weren’t dead yet and put the result back in doubt 15 minutes from time. Sergio Almiron rose for a glancing header on an Alvarez cross that left De Sanctis stranded.

Moments later Sforzini just failed to get his toe to a low cross that flashed along the six-yard box, then as the move continued Masiello’s shot was charged down.

Michele Pazienza tried to play on after apparently fracturing his nose, but eventually had to leave the field.
Bari: Gillet; Belmonte, A Masiello, Bonucci, Parisi; Alvarez, Gazzi, De Vezze (Almiron 58), Allegretti (S Masiello 70); Barreto, Castillo (Sforzini 59)

Napoli: De Sanctis; Santacroce, Rinaudo, Grava; Campagnaro, Pazienza (Bogliacino 79), Gargano, Zuniga; Lavezzi, Hamsik; Denis (Dossena 84)

Ref: Bergonzi

Popularity: 3% [?]

Cagliari 2-2 Palermo
Cossu 28 (C), Jeda 87 (C), Miccoli 89 (P), Hernandez 95 (P)
Stadio Sant’Elia

Cagliari thought they had earned their first win since February on the debut of Coach Giorgio Melis, but Palermo wiped out a 2-0 gap in stoppages!

The Derby delle Isole meant a great deal for both clubs. Cagliari sacked Massimiliano Allegri this week after picking up just two points from nine games, although the more likely reason is he was ‘distracted’ by offers from top sides. Primavera youth team Coach Giorgio Melis made his debut with former player Gianluca Festa. The Rosanero were still in joint fourth place with Sampdoria and had to improve their away record to make it into the Champions League.

The Sardinians had Daniele Conti and Michele Canini suspended, plus Diego Lopez injured. The visitors missed Mark Bresciano, Fabio Simplicio, Cesare Bovo, Manuele Blasi and Giovanni Tedesco, but Fabrizio Miccoli was surprisingly benched.

Salvatore Sirigu got down to beat away a Daniele Dessena snapshot from distance. At the other end Federico Marchetti controlled at Edinson Cavani’s feet.

On 27 minutes Marchetti needed stunning reflexes to palm a Goian header on to the crossbar from Federico Balzaretti’s cross. It was a bullet header from point-blank range.

Moments later, Cagliari got the opening goal instead. A cross from the corner flag found Andrea Cossu’s wonderful volley, but it wouldn’t have beaten Sirigu without a large deflection off Goian.

Sirigu prevented a second by parrying Nene’s header soon after, while Cossu’s first touch let him down on the counter and allowed Simon Kjaer to clear.

On the stroke of half-time, Marchetti again got down very well to parry Goian’s towering header from a corner, as Cagliari struggled on set plays.

Sirigu took two attempts to get Nene’s right-foot effort under control. Javier Pastore’s powerful strike stung Marchetti’s palms from distance after a defensive error.

Goian’s diving header whistled wide, but it was Cagliari who put the result under lock and key in the final minutes.

Fabio Liverani’s error sparked a counter and Nelson Jeda kept his cool to place the angled drive across Sirigu into the far bottom corner.

Palermo didn’t give in and pulled one back moments later. Miccoli pounced on a loose ball in the box following a lucky deflection.

Incredibly, it was almost 2-2 after 60 seconds! Igor Budan forced Marchetti into a desperate save from point-blank range. At the other end Alessandro Matri’s right-foot shot was parried by Sirigu’s outstretched foot.

At the 93rd minute Giulio Migliaccio’s header from a Miccoli free kick cracked the crossbar!

Palermo got their equaliser in the final minute of injury time! Astori only got a touch to a cross from the right and Abel Hernandez rose for the header – the last kick of the game.
Cagliari: Marchetti; Pisano (Marzoratti 59), Astori, Ariaudo, Agostini; Dessena, Parola, Lazzari; Cossu (Jeda 77); Nene’, Ragatzu (Matri 57)

Palermo: Sirigu; Cassani, Kjaer, Goian, Balzaretti; Migliaccio, Liverani (Budan 89), Nocerino (Bertolo 80); Pastore; Hernandez, Cavani (Miccoli 63)

Ref: Rocchi

Popularity: 3% [?]

Atalanta 2-1 Fiorentina
Ferreira Pinto 6 (A), Tiribocchi 69 (A), Montolivo 75 (F)
Stadio Azzurri d’Italia

Atalanta are still in the running for Serie A safety after disposing of a visibly tired Fiorentina.

The Orobici needed a victory to maintain any hope of avoiding relegation and had been on fine form recently, unlucky to lose 2-1 at leaders Roma last week. They were missing Javier Chevanton, Edgar Barreto, Giampaolo Bellini, Paolo Zanetti, Jose Leonardo Talamonti, Gyorgy Garics and the suspended Max Pellegrino.

Fiorentina crashed out of the Coppa Italia semi-final midweek and so had to focus on securing a Europa League spot through Serie A. Manuel Pasqual and Marco Donadel joined the suspended Adrian Mutu, but Stevan Jovetic, Massimo Gobbi and Cristiano Zanetti were dropped. Alessandro Gamberini returned from a long lay-off with a shoulder injury.

Atalanta had a very aggressive start and notched up a series of corners, but Mario Alberto Santana’s strike was tipped out from under the bar as well.

The Orobici took the lead six minutes in. Ferreira Pinto rose for a glancing header at the near post from a Jaime Valdes cross down the left channel.

Fiorentina fought back with Marco Marchionni’s free kick palmed away, but the winger wasted a great opportunity when he passed it straight to Andrea Consigli rather than set up Alberto Gilardino on the counter.

Gila got the ball caught under his body and couldn’t squeeze it into the net from close range, then Riccardo Montolivo drilled wide. At the other end, Nicola Amoruso’s run split the Viola defence in two, but Sebastien Frey was equal to the finish.

Gilardino’s twisting header from a Juan Manuel Vargas cross looped over Consigli and thumped the top of the crossbar after 40 minutes.

Moments later Fiorentina again had a great chance, but Felipe’s header was all the way across the face of goal from a yard! Gianluca Comotto had put the cross perfectly from the right and the defender was unmarked.

Atalanta lost goalkeeper Consigli during the half-time break, so he made way for veteran Ferdinando Coppola. Frey controlled a Tiribocchi snapshot and later the same Orobici striker flashed an angled drive across the face of goal to thump the far post.

The home side made it 2-0 with an absolutely magnificent goal! The cross from the right found an acrobatic Tiribocchi volley from nine yards that scissor-kicked the ball in at the near post.

Fiorentina got back into the running 15 minutes from time. Keirrison got to the byline down the left and pulled it back to the edge of the box, where Montolivo’s splendid right-foot volley flew in.

Valdes ran rings round Comotto down the left channel, but Tiribocchi’s shot was charged down at the near post. Fiorentina could’ve drawn level too, but Vargas horribly wasted a great opportunity by volleying off target.

Massimo Gobbi was sent off in stoppages for a second bookable offence.
Atalanta: Consigli (Coppola 46); Capelli, Bianco, Manfredini, Peluso; Ferreira Pinto (De Ascentis 76), Padoin, Guarente, Valdes; Tiribocchi, Amoruso (Doni 67)

Fiorentina: Frey; Comotto, Gamberini, Kroldrup, Felipe (Gobbi 56); Marchionni, Bolatti (Keirrison 56), Montolivo, Vargas; Santana (Zanetti 67), Gilardino

Ref: Romeo

Sent off: Gobbi 92 (F)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Parma 2-3 Genoa
Palacio 33, 52 (G), Zaccardo 60 (P), Bocchetti og 62 (P), Fatic 72 (G)
Stadio Tardini

Genoa threw away a 2-0 lead, but Ivan Fatic still managed to snatch a shock away victory.

This was effectively a play-off between two teams with an outside chance of Europa League qualification. Only one point separated them going into the Tardini and Parma were fresh from a shock 3-2 win away to Napoli. Genoa had lost the derby and were without a victory in five.

Jonathan Biabiany and Francesco Valiani sat out bans for the home side, while Alberto Paloschi and Damiano Zenoni remained on the treatment table. David Suazo, Ivan Juric, Bosko Jankovic, Houssine Kharja and the suspended Domenico Criscito didn’t make the trip, while Marco Amelia was again benched, Emiliano Moretti and Giuseppe Sculli failed fitness tests.

It was a very special game for Hernan Crespo, who was facing his former club, and he had the first shot smothered.

Alessio Scarpi got down well to palm Daniele Gastaldello’s header off the line, as Crespo had knocked on a throw-in.

It was Genoa who took the lead against the run of play. Zaccardo was clumsily dispossessed in the final third and Rodrigo Palacio did well to sweep a precise curler into the far post from outside the box.

Davide Lanzafame drilled wide, but Parma needed more of a threat and introduced Valeri Bojinov for the second half in a 4-4-2.

However, Genoa doubled their advantage. Raffaele Palladino went on a slalom and his angled drive was parried into the path of Palacio for his second of the game.

Moments later Parma nearly got back into it from a corner, but the Massimo Paci header turned into an assist for Crespo and Scarpi smothered from point-blank range.

Bojinov nodded over, but the Gialloblu got back into the game on the hour mark. Zaccardo rose at the back post to nod in Lanzafame’s cross from the left.

Parma completed their comeback soon after! Lanzafame was down injured, but his teammates kept playing and Scarpi parried the Bojinov angled drive, but the ball ricocheted on to the shin of Salvatore Bocchetti, who clumsily prodded into his own net.

It was wide open at the Tardini, as Mirante performed a desperate reaction save to deny Sculli from point-blank range.

It was Genoa who turned it around again! Ivan Fatic had just stepped on to the field when he gathered down the left flank and seemed to be squaring up for a cross, but smashed the powerful angled drive under the bar from a tight angle!
Parma: Mirante; Zaccardo, Paci, Dellafiore, Lucarelli; Lanzafame (Dzemaili 85), Jimenez, Galloppa, Lunardini (Bojinov 46), Antonelli (Pasi 80); Crespo

Genoa: Scarpi; Papastathopoulos, Dainelli, Bocchetti; Mesto, Zapater, Milanetto, Tomovic; Palacio (Lazarevic 86), Acquafresca, Palladino (Sculli 56)

Ref: Banti

Popularity: 4% [?]

Catania 2-2 Siena
Maxi Lopez 11 (C), Maccarone 49 (S), Biagianti 50 (C), Vergassola 69 (S)
Stadio Massimino

Siena earned a surprise 2-2 draw at the Massimino in which Maxi Lopez saw his penalty saved.

This was a relegation dogfight, but one that looked very unbalanced. The Elefantini were practically safe after beating Palermo and holding Milan in recent weeks, while Siena’s chances of avoiding the drop were very slim.

Giuseppe Mascara sat out a ban with Jorge Martinez, Cristian Llama, Augustyn and Gianvito Plasmati. Siena made the trip without Francesco Parravicini, Michele Fini and the suspended Pratali.

Catania took the lead just 11 minutes in. Marco Biagianti won back the ball in midfield and Maxi Lopez shrugged off his marker to smash into the near top corner with his right foot.

Siena could’ve equalised on 20 minutes, but Vergassola’s header cracked against the crossbar from a corner.

Taka Morimoto was correctly booked for simulation in the box, but Siena hit the woodwork for the second time with a splendid Aleandro Rosi free kick that dipped on to the bar.

An Alvarez bullet of a free kick was pushed off the line with some difficulty.

Siena equalised at the dawn of the second half, as Massimo Maccarone was given far too much room to steer a free header in from eight yards.

However, it lasted all of 30 seconds before Siena’s defence was torn to shreds. Biagianti combined with Maxi Lopez on the edge of the box to burst in and place an angled drive across Curci.

Abdel Ghezzal mistimed his tackle on Morimoto just inside the area for a penalty. However, the Maxi Lopez spot-kick was saved and Ciro Capuano’s follow-up cleared off the line, as Siena held on.

The visitors managed to claw their way back to 2-2, as a corner came out to the D for Simone Vergassola’s shot on the bounce, which took a decisive deflection off Silvestre.

Siena almost won it at the death, but Maccarone’s half-volley was deflected out for a corner. Mariano Andujar also flew to fingertip a Del Grosso screamer over the bar.
Catania: Andujar; Alvarez, Terlizzi, Silvestre, Capuano, Carboni, Izco (Sciacca 81), Ricchiuti (Delvecchio 63), Biagianti, Morimoto (Ledesma 93), Maxi Lopez

Siena: Curci; Rosi (Reginaldo 51), Malagò, Cribari, Del Grosso, Vergassola, Ekdal (Jarolim 78), Tziolis, Maccarrone, Ghezzal, Larrondo (Calaio’ 51)

Ref: Gava

Missed penalty: Maxi Lopez 60 (C)

Popularity: 3% [?]