Serie A Sunday: Udinese Crush Napoli’s Scudetto Dreams With 2-1 Victory

Deep into Zona Napoli, Maurizio Domizzi substitute punched Cristiano Lucarelli inside the area, earning himself a red card and giving Edinson Cavani a perfect opportunity to put Napoli back in the match. In fact, it appeared as though Cavani had converted the penalty:

Small consolation to the partenopei, however, as just six minutes later, former Napoli forward Germán Denis put a second past his former club. The majority of the work was put in by midfielder Pablo Armero, however, who took the ball up the left side before slotting it on to Denis. De Sanctis was caught wrong footed and Udinese lead, 2-0.

Bench: Iezzo, Aronica, Santacroce, Gargano, Mascara, Zuniga, Lucarelli.

Bench: Belardi, Coda, Angella, Battocchio, Cuadrado, Vydra, Corradi.

That was the match in a nutshell, so how about some random observations that might be slightly more interesting than anything involving the play in Florence?

Right from the start, it was apparent that there would be no miraculous Sampdoria victory in Milan. Nearly every rossoneri shirt was packed into the box, taking shot after shot at Gianluca Curci’s goal. Samp must have felt a bit heartened, however, when their first spell of pressure resulted in Abbiati leaving the match, apparently with an injured hand. Unfortunately for the visitors, Seedorf scored just two minutes later, his bending free kick landing in the far corner of the net.

If Pato’s injury caused any nerves in the Milan camp, they were quickly dispelled by the performance of substitute Cassano. Despite being exhausted from new-fatherhood, the former Sampdoria forward dominated the second half. After a Massimo Volta handball inside the area, it was Cassano who stepped up to take the penalty, sending his powerful shot over Curci’s head and into the back of the net.

Late in the half Parma finally got the goal they deserved thanks to a 35th minute strike by Sebastian Giovinco. Cristiano Zaccardo got free along the right and played a tantalizing ball across that Francesco Modesto gathered beyond the far post before picking out Giovinco in the center. Giovinco simply slotted the ball past Julio Cesar and Parma had the 1-0 lead they so deserved going into the half.

It is not as if Parma was upset that they lost some of the possession anyways. They chose to drop deeper and defend with an eye out for the opportunity to counter-attack and that’s just what they did. They twice exposed Inter on the counter, once hitting the bar and another time just missing a golden opportunity, but they finally got the goal to seal it five minutes from time.

Valeri Bojinov had the first chance in the move. He found the ball 15 yards from goal, but by the time he turned and shot the defenders had closed on him to block the shot. Luckily for Parma, the block deflected the ball right to Amauri who took a touch to create space from an onrushing Julio Cesar before slotting the ball into the net for the goal that has essentially ended the match.

First choice goalkeeper Christian Abbiati had to leave the match in the 18th minute. In-form striker Alexandre Pato hurt his hamstring in the 39th and was replaced by Antonio Cassano. Yet AC Milan have doubled their lead over hapless Sampdoria, through a converted penalty by the substitute (not by Marco Amelia. That’d be weird, a goalkeeper taking a penalty).

A spell of pressure by Milan unsettled Samp, leading to a desperate handball by defender Massimo Volta. The visitors tried to claim that Volta had been pushed and had simply brought up his arm to keep his balance, but the referee made the correct decision, pointing to the spot. Cassano stepped up, all the Sampdoria players crossing their fingers that his sleep deprivation -- the forward hasn’t slept in two days due to a new baby -- would prompt a mistake. But nothing doing. Cassano smacked the ball over the head of Gianluca Curci, driving it past his former teammate and into the back of the net.

Cristian Zaccardo spent much of the first half deep on the pitch tending to his defensive duties, but in the 35 minute he finally got to get forward. He pushed up the right and played a good ball across the Inter box that found Francesco Modesto just beyond the far post. Modesto quickly played to Giovinco in the center and the striker put the ball past Julio Cesar for the lone goal of the first half.

For the first time all match, Cristian Zaccardo was able to put his defensive responsibilities to the side for a moment and push forward. He did so with great effect as he played a tantalizing ball across and all the way to Francesco Modesto on the left. Modesto gathered and spotted Giovinco, who calmly put the ball past Julio Cesar for the 1-0 Parma lead.

Perhaps Samp were simply distracted by the drama at the other end of the pitch, because Clarence Seedorf was able to almost instantly put the rossoneri ahead. Milan were awarded a free kick about thirty yards up, with the Dutchman stepping up to take. It was a beautiful shot from Seedorf, bending away from Sampdoria keeper Gianluca Curci to settle in to the far corner of the net.

It’s a tough climb back for Doria now, both in the match and in the league. Dropping all three points here could see the club drop down into the relegation zone, depending on Sunday’s results.

Perhaps there are fitness reasons, perhaps Leonardo is still upset with his squad after their performance against Schalke midweek, perhaps Inter are focusing on the Coppa Italia match against Roma, knowing that it might be their only chance at silverware. Whatever the reasons, Maicon has been left out of the squad, while Wesley Sneijder takes a place on the bench, Dejan Stanković coming in behind Giampaolo Pazzini and Samuel Eto’o.

Parma, meanwhile, have put their leading goalscorer, Hernán Crespo, on the bench once again, preferring Sebastian Giovinco and Antonio Candreva with Amauri. And if someone would like to enlighten me as to why, exactly, I’d much appreciate it.

The pressure is on for AC Milan: one little slip and they could be sharing first place in Serie A with Napoli (assuming Napoli wins tomorrow, which, um, is far from a given). Fortunately they play host to Sampdoria, who are in free fall, having collected just two points from their last eight matches. ‘Doria sit in 16th, even on points with Parma, who are lucky enough to be hosting Inter Milan today. At this point, it almost seems as though Samp have just given up, that they’re merely waiting for next season to begin -- Serie B or otherwise.

Milan, as everyone knows, will be missing Zlatan Ibrahimović, possibly for the rest of his born days. No matter, however, as it’s the Alexandre Pato show from here on out.

The visitors weren’t going to turn down a free chance at goal, however. Mauricio Pinilla, waiting for the ball inside the area, was brought down by a tug on his shirt, courtesy of Nicolás Burdisso. You’d think the Roma defender would have learned, considering that was almost exactly what Armin Bačinović did to Jérémy Menez to give the Giallorossi their penalty...but then again, you’d think Menez would learn to pass as well, so maybe it’s just a Roma thing. Anyway, Pinilla took the penalty, leaving Doni with nothing to do but look befuddled.

1-1 at the break, a scoreline that Palermo would happily take back to Sicily. But Roma are the ones desperate for a Champions League position -- will they find another capitano winner?

Palermo have every right to feel slighted, as Mauricio Pinilla was dragged down inside the box in the seventh minute. The referee turned a blind eye to that one, however, so Palermo will have to do this the hard way.

Roma have been forced to play with a weakened defense as they host Palermo, with Juan suspended and Philippe Mexes injured. Marco Cassetti moves to center back and Simone Loria slots in at fullback. Mirko Vučinić takes the bench, because Vincenzo Montella clearly hates me, and Jérémy Menez takes his place.

Palermo leave out captain Fabrizio Miccoli and have Josip Iličić out injured, but at least welcome back Javier Pastore from injury. He starts just behind Abel Hernández and Mauricio Pinilla.Other than that, it’s just a question of whether we see good Salvatore Sirigu or bad Salvatore Sirigu.

With just six weeks left to play in Serie A, “every match is a final.” Actually, it’s not -- try as they might (and they do try) clubs typically can’t affect the results of other matches, whereas in an actual “final,” it’s you and the other team. That’s it. In other words, no, these are not finals. However, one wrong step, one misplaced pass, a poor deflection, an errant thought, a bird flying overhead, a mis-cut blade of grass, and the dreams of the season could be over. In Week 33, every single match includes at least one team crossing their fingers, trying to hang on to hope for just another week. They might not be finals, but I submit that end of the season drama is even more exciting.

Saturday, April 16