Serie A, Week 18: Bologna Hold Napoli To Draw

Napoli Lineup (3-4-2-1): De Sanctis; Cannavaro, Aronica, Campagnaro; Dossena, Gargano, Inler, Maggio; Hamsik, Pandev; Cavani

Bologna Lineup (3-5-2): Gillet; Antonsson, Cherubin, Raggi; Mudingayi, Perez, Taider, Morelo, Pulzetti; Di Vaio, Acquafresca

Things changed in the final ten minutes as Inter opened things up, and both goals were threatened in a frenetic finale to the half that culminated in a long-range shot by Mark van Bommel rattling Julio Cesar’s crossbar. At some point, the deadlock will have to be broken, and things will get very entertaining when one of these sides is forced to actually chase the game. Should be a fun second half... we hope.

For the final fifteen minutes of the first half, Catania rued chance after chance. Tagliavento very nearly assisted on a goal for the home side, but Roma were having none of that sort of help from the referee. Barrientos, Bergessio and Alejandro Gomez kept combining well, but just couldn’t hit the high notes, with Bergessio hesitating just a second too long, arriving just an instant too late.

While rain seemed fun in the first half, creating a rather festive, fluid atmosphere, in the second it started to feel rather ominous. The ball stopped moving, the action seemed to be happening in slow-motion, and players kept skidding along the soggy pitch, picking up wedgies and who knows what other sorts of injuries. Tagliavento really had no choice but to call off the match, but you have to wonder how fair, exactly, will a 24 minute replay be -- to either side?

Game Date/Time: Saturday, January 14, 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local

Venue: Stadio Angelo Massimino, Catania, Italy