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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)

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.

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)

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)

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