Serie A, Week 27: Milan take third, Inter come back from two down to win

On 16 minutes, Roma took the lead. Daniele De Rossi went on an uncharacteristic mazy run into the box and collided with the knee of Cesare Bovo, sending De Rossi crashing to the ground. It looked like an accidental collision however the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation, and Francesco Totti calmly converted the penalty to become the joint second highest Serie A goalscorer of all time, joining Gunnar Nordahl on 225 goals.

Juraj Kucka forced yet another save from the Roma ‘keeper, the rebound falling to Roma substitute Marquinho outside the area. Kucka made a heavy challenge on the Brazilian and the referee saw fit to show the Slovakian his second yellow card.

By this point, it was all one way traffic and within five minutes of coming on, Pasquato added a third deep in stoppage time. The substitute received the ball from Taider and drilled a right footed shot from outside the box into the top corner.

Bologna: Curci; Garics, Sorensen, Cherubin, Morleo; Perez, Taider; Diamanti (Moscardelli 76), Kone (Christodoulopoulos 58), Gabbiadini (Pasquato 87); Gilardino

Mirante kept the game alive with a good save on Icardi with just over ten minutes left, but, unfortunately, it was all in vain.

Goals: Icardi 58 (S)

Five minutes later, Torino again had a great opportunity to score, Barreto and Rolando Bianchi combining with Bianchi fighting off three Palermo defenders to strike a fierce volley against the post.

Alessio Cerci cut in from the right but his drive from 18 yards flew over, whilst at the other end Santiago Garcia went on a 60 yard run out from the back to feed Miccoli on the edge of the area, his attempted chip going harmlessly over.

Despite the changes, it was Catania who created the first opportunity of the second half, breaking quickly after an Inter corner, Gonzalo Bergessio shooting straight at Handanovic from point blank range.

The addition of Palacio was causing the Elefanti backline more problems with his movement, and this told just seven minutes after the break. Palacio was able to make some space for himself down the right hand side and his cross from the byeline was met by an undetected Ricky Alvarez, who headed home to give Inter a foothold in the match.

Goals: Pasqual 5 (F) Cofie 38 (C) Larrondo 78 (F)

Balzano briefly went off to treat an injury, but came back on to turn the Udinese defence inside out with a twisting run, only to hit his shot over from the edge of the D.

Udinese remained dangerous on the counter attack. Muriel found space on the left flank and saw his shot saved by the boot of an outstretched Pelizzoli. Gianluca Caprari sent a shot from the left hand side into the skies and Quintero wasted a free-kick as time ran down.

Roma Injuries and Suspensions:

Out: Leandro Castan, Mattia Destro (injured). In doubt: Alessandro Florenzi

Catania Injuries and Suspensions

Inter Injuries and Suspensions

Eight points to the relegation zone seems a comfortable buffer for the Flying Donkeys, though things could get pretty twitchy if they continue on in their recent form. They’ve got one of the worst away records of any team in the division, though won the last time these two sides met in Tuscany in April 2012. That day Chievo were sat in a nice mid-table position, while Fiorentina were fighting hard against relegation. What a difference a year makes.

Fiorentina Injuries and Suspensions

A spat between Radu and Boateng resulted in cautions for both. Radu’s poor clearance handed Milan a third goal on the hour and effectively ended the game as a contest. The loose ball fell to Pazzini, who drilled a low 25 yard shot past Marchetti at the far post. The frontman was denied a hat trick when he missed connecting with a volley just outside the six yard box. El Shaarawy fluffed a chance to make it four. The Pharaoh sprung the offside trap down the left hand side, only to bend his shot wide of the far post.

Lazio: Marchetti; Pereirinha, (Cana 46) Biava, Dias, Radu; Ledesma; Candreva, Gonzalez, Hernanes, (Ederson 70) Lulic; Floccari (Saha 78)

The crociati, meanwhile, had ambitions -- or perhaps delusions -- of European qualification, so their current position, down in 11th place in the table and level on points with Sampdoria is a bit disappointing. Making things worse is their current appalling run of form.

Sampdoria Injuries and Suspensions

Torino Injuries and Suspensions

Palermo Injuries and Suspensions

It wasn’t so long ago that Massimiliano Allegri’s job security looked very precarious. However, since the turn of the year, his side have put together a remarkable string of results in both Serie A and the Champions League.

”It will be a very important game. So of course we will try to win it.

Napoli had the luxury of choosing from a near full strength squad, while Chiellini was passed fit to start for Juventus. The captain had been in doubt after suffering from a bruised ankle.

A nasty clash of heads between Britos and Inler caused a short delay with Britos suffering a second knock when his head hit the turf. The defender looked out of sorts when he got back up, but remarkably opted to carry on playing.

8:45 p.m. local, 2:45 p.m. ET

The round starts with a bang in Naples, as Napoli look to topple Juventus and give us a title race to enjoy. Recent meetings between these sides have been fiery affairs -- especially the farce at the Super Cup when Napoli refused to engage in the trophy presentation -- so things could get heated at the San Paolo again. Should Napoli win, then the title race will be tightened to a mere three points. Should Juve win, we may as well give them the Scudetto already.

Juventus haven’t won away at the Stadio San Paolo since 2000, though they’ve won three of the last four meetings between these sides, with all four games played in the last year. Napoli won the Coppa Italia final last season, though Juve made amends with a Super Cup victory in controversial circumstances at the start of this campaign.

Napoli Injuries and Suspensions

The Tuscan tactician has come to embody the spirit and madness of Naples and its football team, with the side’s thoroughly entertaining -- and indeed erratic -- style, alongside his wild gesticulations and more than a few perplexing selection decisions.

The players slotted into Mazzarri’s system perfectly. And, while the Coppa Italia win last year -- their first since 1987 -- is an impressive feat, the constant frustration which comes as an occupational hazard of supporting Napoli -- and the frustration seen when the coach throws himself about the dugout with all the theatre of an amateur dramatist -- is resultant of the feeling they could’ve achieved much more.