Turin giants Juventus continue to impress as they opened up a three-point lead at the top of Serie A courtesy of a 2-0 win over struggling Livorno.
The three point haul owed more than a little to their goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. The talented shot-stopper proved unbeatable in keeping Livorno at bay after Vincenzo Iaquinta and Claudio Marchisio had taken Juve's only chances of the first half.
Italy striker Iaquinta, who netted in the lacklustre 1-1 draw with Bordeaux in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, headed in Mauro Camoranesi's cross after eight minutes.
Midfielder Marchisio then ran on to another clever Camoranesi pass and dinked the ball home on the half hour.
The pressure increased on under-fire Napoli coach Roberto Donadoni after his side's goalless stalemate with Udinese in the Stadio San Paolo.
Napoli, who have won just once in their opening four Serie A games, had the better chances but could not break down an Udinese side who had conceded seven goals in their previous three matches.
When the ball did go in the net, Antonio di Natale's goal for the visitors was wrongly ruled out for offside.
The best chance of the whole game then fell to Marek Hamsik in the 82nd minute but he volleyed over from seven yards out.
Napoli then laid siege to the Udinese goal in the closing minutes, but could not find a way through and they left the field to a chorus of whistles.
Sampdoria proved too strong for Siena with a 4-1 win at the Luigi Ferraris to move level on points with Juventus at the top of the table.
Angelo Palombo fired Sampdoria in front on 23 minutes and Daniele Mannini doubled the lead eight minutes later.
Marco Padalino added a third three minutes after the restart before Michele Fini pulled a goal back for Siena on 68 minutes.
Padalino completed the rout with his second goal of the contest five minutes from time.
Inter Milan came from behind to beat Cagliari 2-1.
Jeda gave Cagliari a surprise lead on 16 minutes from the penalty, but two goals in four second half minutes from Diego Milito turned the game in Inter's favour.
AC Milan left it late to beat Bologna at San Siro with Clarence Seedorf netting the winner 15 minutes from time.
Roma got back to winning ways after their midweek European defeat with a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Giallorossi raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time with two goals from Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi's strike.
Totti broke the deadlock from the penalty spot on 27 minutes and he added a second six minutes later.
The Roma captain turned provider for the third goal crossing for De Rossi to head home four minutes before the break.
Alberto Gilardino pulled a goal back for Fiorentina six minutes from time, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Chievo ended Genoa's perfect start to the campaign with a 3-1 victory at home.
Chievo raced into a two-goal lead in the opening seven minutes with goals from Michele Marcolini [penalty] and Erjon Bogdani.
Sergio Floccari reduced the arrears from the penalty spot on 65 minutes, but Sergio Pellissier made the game safe 14 minutes from time.
Catania moved off the bottom of the table with a 1-1 draw with Lazio.
Jorge Martinez gave Catania the lead on 12 minutes, but Julio Cruz equalised for Lazio just before the hour mark.
Atalanta dropped to the bottom after a 4-1 thumping at Bari.
Two goals in two minutes from Emanuel Rivas (7) and Paulo Barreto (9) put Bari in control and Edgar Alvarez made it 3-0 five minutes before the break.
Former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati added a fourth just past the hour mark rendering Gianpaolo Bellini's 84th strike a mere consolation.
Cristian Zaccardo's early strike gave Parma a 1-0 win over Palermo at the Ennio Tardini. |
Round 4 Wrap-up
Posted - 21 Sep 2009 : 16:57:34
