9 points clear at the top of the table, Juventus are in prime position to retain their title in Serie A Soccer. AS Roma have been in terrible form off late and on Sunday they registered their ninth draw of the campaign. In the last six matches in all competitions, Roma has won only one game. They might soon lose the second spot to Napoli if they don’t find a way to get better results.
The Romans were held in a 1 – 1 draw at Verona. Totti drew first blood, but twelve minutes late Jankovic found the equalizer. Although Roma had seven out of 16 shots on target, they couldn’t stop themselves from losing two important points. The league leaders, on the other hand, came back from behind on Friday to win 2 – 1 against Atalanta. Llorente got the equalizer for the Old Lady, while Andrea Pirlo scored a majestic winner just before half time.
Rafa Benitez’s Napoli got a convincing victory over Sassuolo on Monday. Zapata and Hamsik scored for the Naples based team, but soon after the second goal Mertens got sent off and Napoli were reduced to ten men. They had 3 shots on target of which two converted to goals.
Cagliari were beaten by Inter 2 – 1 and with this win Nerrazuri have reached the eighth spot on the Serie A table. They are only five points away from the fourth placed, Lazio. Yet, the Champions League place seems quite far for Roberto Mancini’s men. Their fierce city rivals, AC Milan aren’t very far away from them. Milan have taken the ninth spot in the table and they are only two points behind Inter. Rossoneri won the game on Sunday against Cesena at San Siro. Bonaventura opened the scoring for the Italian giants, while Pazzini’s penalty in the dying minutes sealed three points for Inzaghi’s team.
Lazio won 2 – 1 against Palermo, while Empoli recorded a 3 – 0 win over Chievo. The match between Parma and Udinese was postponed because the club has not paid wages to the players or staff in the last five months. Also, the new owner Giampietro Manenti has failed to meet the minimum costs against debt due on 16 February. Things are really bad at the club as the cash levels have dipped below £29,700 reportedly.
The federation statement read: “The president has taken note of Parma’s request that Parma-Udinese, originally scheduled for February 22, take place exclusively behind closed doors.
“He has heard from the Italian Footballers’ Association and the Italian Association of Soccer Coaches who have expressed discomfort of players and coaches from both teams about playing behind closed doors.
“Decision: the rearrangement of the game to another date which will be decided by the Lega Serie A.”
The club skipper Alessandro Lucarelli has expressed his discomfort over the whole situation and said, “We’ve had a meeting with the president [Manenti] and what has emerged is the difficulty in bringing the money to Italy. He has reiterated that he will try to give us some guarantees in the next 24 hours.
“But our patience has a limit. We are a united group and we have given the club an ultimatum. The time is running out. We need action, not words.”