Giornata 22 Review

http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/2009-2010/regular-season/tables/

Match of the week:

Bari – Palermo: 4-2 Bonucci 5 (B), Alvarez 7 (B), Cavani 28 (P), Pastore 53 (P), Barreto pen 62 (B), Koman 84 (B)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hmYQjZAIfw

--I’ve only been following Serie A for 3 years but I’d like to know the last time2 promoted teams were having such great seasons as Bari and Parma (the first half at least). Palermo has been no rollover since getting rid of Zenga but this home win is up there with beating Inter.

(My prediction: 0-1 Palermo… I’ve come to anticipate a Napoli-esq, grab-a-point-one-way-or-another mentality from Palermo but turns out I underestimated Bari on this one.)

Goals and highlights

Juventus – Lazio: 1-1 Del Piero pen 70 (J), Mauri 78 (L)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLcH1L3lxbM

-- Has to be one of the worst PK’s ever given. Lazio did justice by pulling something from this game. Nice to see ADP getting regular time in though.

(My prediction: 3-2 Juve… I expected Juve to struggle defensively but thought they would have been resilient enough to have pulled out the win.)

Napoli – Genoa: 0-0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXMpv9NatZM

Disappointing game for everyone involved. Just one of those nights for Napoli where the ball just wouldn’t go in. Take note: Napoli still hasn’t allowed a goal in now 6 rounds.

(My prediction: 2-1 Napoli… Napoli was definitely 2-1 better than Genoa on the night, the scoreline just didn’t show it.)

Sampdoria – Atalanta: 2-0 Palombo 36 (S), Pazzini 44 (S)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN5kUA8ouJE

How about Cassano-less Sampdoria?! Goes to show big names are not untouchable and 6 points out of 6 proves that it was the right move.

(My prediction: 2-0… Sampdoria is too good for their mid-season slump to have gone any further. Relegation-bound Atalanta was hardly an obstacle.)

Catania – Udinese: 1-1 Floro Flores 32 (U), Biagianti 80 (C)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv-c7RVSqCY

Simple case of Udinese losing 2 points rather than gaining one. DiNatale is too good to be letting those chances go begging.

(My prediction: 0-2... Udinese was definitely capable of getting 2, maybe 3, but Catania did well to level after giving Udinese all the chances in the world.)

Milan – Livorno: 1-1 Ambrosini 44 (M), Lucarelli 53 (L)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWu-Y1aOQDs

Ronaldinho still playing well but not donig enough to get Milan scoring the late goals that Roma and Inter are getting. I honestly can’t say I know anything about Livorno but the character of any lower-table Serie A club is capable of taking something from the giants when they don’t put chances away.

(My prediction: 0-0... Didn’t expect Milan to get out of their funk after one week, despite the mid week Coppa loss.)

Roma – Siena: 2-1 Riise 29 (R), Vergassola 41 (S), Okaka 88 (R)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TXWWYH-ZOI

Imagine if Roma could consistently play to their potential for a full season. I love the late game-winning goals they’ve been scoring. Maybe the title race isn’t over quite yet. (Optimism anyone?)

(My prediction:1-0… Roma had this the whole way. I feel sorry for Siena though. Obviously not a blow out but always a goal or two better.)

-- Some phenomenal goalkeeping but Okaka’s goal was a thing of beauty.

Chievo – Bologna: 1-1 Di Vaio 11 (B), Pellissier 49 (C)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG2sCnd9P38

Sitter-miss of the year for Di Vaio, luckily he followed that up quickly with a goal. I’m becoming a fan of Pellissier too.

(My prediction: 3-2… I didn’t expect a whole lot from this game which is why I anticipated a big scoreline. My mistake.)

(Scorelines from http://www.football-italia.net/alatest.html )