Parma returns to action after two weeks of no-show. Parma, 20th in the Serie A table, still have a realistic chance of battling out of the relegation zone although their closest competitors are 9 points ahead of them. Parma entertained Atalanta at home and the match ended in a goalless draw. The hosts got reduced to ten men in the dying minutes of the game as Rodriguez picked up two yellow cards in a span of nine minutes.
The Italian champions were bailed out by their charismatic midfielder Paul Pogba in the 82nd minute. It was a typical Pogba screamer from about 30 yards from goal. Juve earned a narrow 1 – 0 victory over Sassuolo maintaining the lead over the challengers, AS Roma. Roma dropped two more points this weekend and now seem to be totally off the track. Trailing by 11 points to the league leaders, Roma were involved in a 0 – 0 draw at Chievo. With 12 games remaining, they are mathematically still in the race for the Serie A title, but at present they don’t seem motivated enough to get there.
Lazio managed an impressive victory on Monday. Lazio played host to Fiorentina and punished the visitors 4 – 0. Miroslav Klose, 36, is still contributing in the goal scoring department and his two goals helped his side go ahead of Napoli. Napoli are fourth on the table, although, they are equal in points tally to Lazio. Rafa Benitez’s team were held in a 2 – 2 stalemate with Roberto Mancini’s Inter. Hamsik and Higuain’s second half goals gave a comfortable lead to the Naples based side, but Palacio’s strike and Icardi’s cool penalty ensured a point for San Siro based side.
Another San Siro based side, AC Milan also played a draw at the weekend against Verona. The final score was 2 – 2 with Milan suffering a cruel 95th minute blow. Lopez scored the late equalizer for Verona, denying Inzaghi’s side a chance of climbing above their arch rivals, Inter Milan. It is believed that the Rossoneri boss is soon going to get sacked.
When he was asked the same after the draw against Verona, he told Sky Sport Italia, “Will I be sacked? Don’t ask me. I will go with my head held high.
“You can say that we played badly tonight but not that we lacked commitment.
“In training, these boys are working with the right spirit. We definitely have to play better, but we must look forward.
“We’re not the Milan we were expecting to see, but we will try to be in the next game.”
“If we had won, it would have been the right decision,” he said. “And when Pazzini doesn’t play, you ask me why not!
“I thought that in a game like this Salvatore would give us a big hand at the back. I have to make decisions.
“It’s just disappointing that we conceded a goal with 10 seconds to go. We had this game in the bag.”
Cagliari and Cesena will have to try harder in the coming weeks if they want to get out of the relegation zone. The 19th placed, Cesena picked up a point after a 0 – 0 stalemate against Palermo at home, whereas Cagliari, who are ahead of Cesena on goal difference, lost 2 – 0 at Sampdoria. The former Barcelona and Everton striker, Samuel Eto’o scored the second goal for Samdoria.