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Serie A Week 37 – 9/5/10 – Stadio Franchi – Ref: Tozzi
Strikers: Vergassola 3 (S), Marchionni 16 (F)

Fiorentina fought back for a draw in this timid derby that ended the campaign on a low note.

This was a Tuscan derby, but one shorn of a competitive nature, as Fiorentina were already out of the running for Europe and Siena’s relegation was sealed last weekend. Both Coaches took the opportunity to test out some new faces.

In part this was forced upon them, as Mario Alberto Santana, Juan Manuel Vargas, Alessandro Gamberini, Gianluca Comotto and Babacar were sidelined. The vistors missed Francesco Pratali and Francesco Parravicini.

Siena took the lead almost immediately. Massimo Maccarone’s cross from the left was knocked down by Albin Ekdal for Simone Vergassola to volley in from seven yards.

Fiorentina equalised when Stevan Jovetic went on a slalom through the Siena defence and the ball eventually found its way to the on-rushing Marco Marchionni to tap in undisturbed at the back post.

Cesare Natali nodded an Adem Ljajic free kick just over, though it was Jovetic who was taking control with a series of solo efforts.

Alberto Gilardino replaced Keirrison for the second half, but Sebastien Frey had to beat away a Maccarone snapshot and Emanuele Calaio’ left-foot strike. Gianluca Curci palmed Massimo Gobbi’s angled drive round the post and had his palms stung by Riccardo Montolivo’s missile.

Siena nearly won it on 86 minutes when substitute Larrondo received from Jajalo to turn in the box, but he thumped the upright when one-on-one with Frey.

Serie A Week 37 – 9/5/10 – Stadio Dall’Ara – Ref: Giannoccaro
Strikers: Di Vaio 15 (B), Maxi Lopez 51 (C)

Both teams are now safe from the drop with a share of the spoils at the Dall’Ara.

Barring a minor miracle, both teams were safe for another season in Serie A. Bologna did just about enough with their last-gasp draw against 10-man Atalanta last week, while the Elefantini were looking to beat the club record of 43 points.

Gaby Mudingayi and Mingazzini were sidelined along with the suspended Daniele Portanova. Catania had to do without Cristian Llama and Blazej Augustyn, but Jorge Martinez was off the treatment table and on the bench.

Mariano Andujar beat away a Marco Di Vaio free kick that burst the defensive wall, then did the same to deny a Casarini left-foot shot on the bounce.

Di Vaio did break the deadlock when he ran on to an Antonio Busce’ through ball to roll a snooker shot into the near corner.

Casarini went off with an injury to make way for Francesco Modesto.

Catania equalised after the restart when Biagianti threaded through the middle to release Maxi Lopez, who kept his cool to place a daisy-cutter into the far corner.

Serie A Week 37 – 9/5/10 – Stadio San Paolo – Ref: Orsato
Striker: Quagliarella 42′, 83′ (Napoli)

Fabio Quagliarella’s brace has mathematically secured Napoli’s place in the Europa League – sending Juventus to the preliminary round – and relegated Atalanta to Serie B.

The Orobici conceded their hopes had been “reduced to their last embers” after the unlucky 1-1 draw with Bologna last week. Max Pellegrino’s red card proved crucial and here he sat out the first in a two-match ban, joining the injured Cristiano Doni, Jose Leonardo Talamonti, Paolo Zanetti and Edgar Barreto.

Napoli were in the Europa League, but faced a battle with Juventus to avoid the preliminary round. Gianluca Grava and Juan Zuniga were suspended, with Hugo Campagnaro out for the rest of the season, but Walter Mazzarri tested out the trident attack.

German Denis had a goal disallowed after six minutes for his foul on Bianco, then ‘El Tanque’ nodded another chance just wide.

Andrea Consigli kept his cool in a on-on-one against Ezequiel Lavezzi to close down the striker. At the other end Morgan De Sanctis was attentive to palm away a Tiberio Guarente lob.

Fabio Quagliarella made his comeback from a ban and scored on the stroke of half-time. He charged down the right flank and flashed a snooker-shot of an angled drive across the face of goal into the far bottom corner.

Simone Tiribocchi went so close to an equaliser 30 seconds later, but after skipping round De Sanctis he had narrowed the angle too much and hit the side-netting.

Fabio Caserta wasted the chance to equalise with a header off target, but it was Napoli who doubled their lead.

Quagliarella got the second in the final stages, soaring at the back post for a towering header on Mariano Bogliacino’s cross from the left.

Serie A Week 37 – 9/5/10 – Stadio Friuli – Ref: Pinzani
Strikers: Barreto 18 (B), Di Natale, 63 21 (U), Pepe 27 (U), Koman 40 (B), Almiron 93 (B)
Missed penalty: Barreto 16 (B)

It was certainly entertaining, as Antonio Di Natale celebrated his 100th and 101st Serie A strikes in a game with six goals and a missed penalty.

Both sides were comfortably mid-table and ready to have fun going into the final two rounds. In particular, Antonio Di Natale was eager to secure the Capocannoniere title. Maurizio Domizzi was suspended, joining Gaetano D’Agostino, Chris Obodo, Andrea Coda and Paolo Sammarco in the stands. Bari missed goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet for the first time this season, along with Nacho Castillo, Mariano Donda, Andrea Ranocchia and Antonio Langella. This meant former Liverpool ‘keeper Daniele Padelli got the gloves.

Bari thought they were about to take the lead when Cristian Zapata brought down Riccardo Meggiorini with a clumsy tackle. However, Paulo Vitor Barreto incredible fired the penalty wide of the upright.

Moments later Barreto made up for his error, as he was given acres of space outside the box to pick his spot and smash an angled drive into the far bottom corner.

Udinese equalised through Di Natale, who celebrated his 100th Serie A goal with a special gold crown and T-Shirt provided by teammates. Mauricio Isla deserves much of the credit, as he burst down the right flank and rolled across for Di Natale’s daisy-cutter from outside the box.

Simone Pepe turned the game around completely. Di Natale’s cross from the right was hooked brilliantly with the right foot and thumped in with the left from nine yards.

Bari equalised again for the fourth goal of the first half, as a long Massimo Donati cross found Vladimir Koman at the back post for a well-taken volley. However, it probably should’ve been disallowed, as Bonucci was offside and in the way of Damiano Ferronetti.

After the restart only an acrobatic Bonucci intervention prevented Di Natale from adding to his tally.

Di Natale did get his 101st Serie A goal, as a well-worked move saw backheel flicks from Pepe and Isla, he cut back past his marker to fire from the edge of the box.

Zapata used his body as a human shield to charge down an Edgar Alvarez strike.

It was almost a fourth when Sergio Almiron had to clear off the line from Pepe’s corner kick, while Padelli needed a double save to deny Alexis Sanchez.

Bari completed their comeback in stoppages, as Donati’s cross from the left found Almiron for a free header at the back post against his former club.