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Cagliari 1 - 1 Parma

A draw was probably fair on both sides in a game in which the advantage swung from side to side.

Parma started well, but neither Cigarini nor Lucarelli could make the most of early chances, allowing Cagliari to take the lead.

Jeda managed to skip around Couto and then beat Bucci with an impressive effort to delight the home crowd.

However, Reginaldo then hit back with instant reply, Dessena's cross allowing the striker to beat Storari at the near post.

Cagliari really should have taken the lead just afterwards, but Bucci's wonder-save left Jeda holding his head in his hands.

Right after the break, Parma came out swinging, hitting the post through Falcona and then Couto coming close.

But Cagliari re-took the initiative towards the end, particularly after the introduction of Foggia, who kept Bucci busy until the death.

Empoli 1 - 0 Lazio

Lazio's inconsistency struck again as Empoli protected their early lead to pick up three vital points.

Vannucchi rifled home a free-kick after just seven minutes to give his side an early lead, and the chase was on for the Romans.

However, Pandev, Kolarov and Rocchi all spurned chances in what was to be a frustrating and niggly afternoon for the visitors.

Empoli were content to soak up pressure and hit on the break, and this was to pay off as Lazio grew increasingly upset at proceedings.

This culminated in a late sending-off for Kolarov, whom the referee felt was too violent in the tackle on Marianini, although the television replays may suggest differently.

All in all, that really was the icing on the cake for Lazio, who will not look back on this game with fondness.

Check out our live text here or our report here.

Livorno 1 - 1 Genoa

Ten-man Genoa managed to fight back for a vital point against a Livorno side that should have done better.

Livorno looked set to continue their renaissance when Tavano gave his side the lead after just fifteen minutes, linking up well with Pasquale and Tristan to open the scoring.

However, Genoa came back strongly, and should have equalised eight minutes later after a fine team move, only for Borriello to find his finish wanting.

Indeed, the Grifoni were starting to appear the better side, but were struggling in the final third.

Their task appeared that much harder when Dos Santos was sent off fifteen minutes from time, but in fact that inspired Di Vaio to equalise with a close-range finish after some poor defending.

The Amaranto will wonder why they gave away that goal, but in the end, a draw was probably fair.

AC Milan 1 - 0 Siena

Alberto Paloschi made the difference in a close-fought game at San Siro.

Milan began in superior fashion, but despite their good work in the midfield, Inzaghi and Ronaldo were either left waiting for a final ball, or unable to do much with it.

Indeed, service was a problems Pato and Kaka looked on from the sidelines, and thus Ancelotti sacrificed striker Ronaldo for Seedorf at half time.

This was to help, but not quite as much as the introduction of young Alberto Paloschi.

For no sooner was he on the pitch than the 18-year-old had scored on his Serie A debut, rifling home a volley from the edge of the box to leave Manninger helpless.

Siena tried to hit back, with Vergassola coming close with a fine solo effort, but he was then sent off for deliberate handball, leaving Milan to sail on towards victory.

Check out our live text here or our report here.

Sampdoria 2 - 0 Napoli

A late onslaught saw the Genovese past a Napoli side seemingly unable to recapture their form.

It was an ugly, brutal first period, with relatively little to redeem it in the eye of the neutral. Napoli offered little, while Samp fluffed their two good chances.

After the break, though, the blucerchiati began to hit stride, forcing corner after corner and keeping their visitors on the back foot.

This eventually paid off when Delvecchio capitalised on Cassano and Bellucci's fine teamwork to tap home fifteen minutes from time, and then Delvecchio was then involved as he tipped Bellucci's fine cross into the path of Franceschini to make it 2-0.

That was enough to flatten Napoli, and the three points stayed up north.

Torino 3 - 1 Palermo

Despite being on the pitch for less than half the game, Di Michele left as man-of-the-match after a game-changing showing against hapless Palermo.

The first half was hardly flowing stuff, with the vast majority of action coming in the form of midfield fouls.

After 36 minutes though, in-demand Palermo striker Amauri found the net after a truly irresistible run forward that left first Lanna and then goalkeeper Sereni helpless.

The hosts needed to react, and did so in the second period after Di Michele came on for Lazetic. Rosina came close, and then the Toro really began to charge.

On the hour mark, Diana was able to tap in Di Michele's cross in a move that some interpreted as offside, and then ten minutes later, Di Michele himself netted a classic solo goal to give his side the lead.

Amauri was then sent off for a clumsy, late challenge on Comotto, and Di Michele was then on the scoresheet once more ten minutes from time with an easy finish.

Udinese 1 - 2 Juventus

A late comeback from Juventus spared Claudio Ranieri's blushes, and kept his side in the title race.

Juventus started dreadfully, struggling to deal with the pace and ambition of their hosts.

Within six minutes, Di Natala and Quagriaella had linked up wonderfully to allow the latter to hit the post with a fierce effort, with Dossena then sneaking in to net the rebound.

Only Buffon was keeping his side in it as the pressure continued up to half time, and something had to change at the break.

In fact, the hosts' pattern of dominance continued, but Juve showed their class with a well-worked equaliser. Camoranesi was beautifully positioned to find Del Piero's corner, rocketing a header past Handanovic.

Fifteen minutes later, Iaquinta scored with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, getting on the end of Nedved's through ball to delight the visiting fans.

That was enough to seal a quite dramatic and unlikely turnaround, with Udinese left to rue their failure to kill the game off in the first period.



source:goal.com