Serie A, Round 22: Juventus cruise past Inter Milan in Derby d’Italia

The Grifone had eased to a 3-0 victory back in Week 3, but Samp ensured there would be no repeat of that scoreline. This match was originally due to be played Sunday lunchtime, but a debate between local MPs and fans from both sides saw the game pushed back.

Samp opened the scoring on 24 minutes. Lopez played a give and go with Eder, whose eloquent first touch lofted the ball perfectly into the Argentine’s path for him to squeeze a shot past Perin at the far post.

Keita was brimming with confidence and almost doubled Lazio’s lead ten minutes after the restart. Candreva’s cross was behind the Spaniard, but he still managed to connect with a backheel which Puggioni saved.

Candreva continued to be Lazio’s architect. Another cross into the box was just too far for a stretching Keita to reach, while another ball bobbled in front of Senad Lulic, who blazed over from a promising position.

The game was remarkably uneventful throughout the first half, with neither side looking threatening. It was predictably Napoli who created the better chances of the first half, though they lacked a sense of urgency as well as their attacking stars, who watched on agitatedly from the bench.

Napoli created a couple of half-chances to draw level, though they still couldn’t find an equaliser. With 25 minutes remaining, they were punished. A howler from Gökhan Inler saw him attempt a bizarre overhead kick in his own box. Charging towards goal, Denis picked the ball up and slotted it underneath Reina to double his side’s advantage, and seal a brace against his former club.

Actually playing football was pretty much impossible in the conditions, with the ball sticking to the pitch like velcro. With this game having much at stake for both sides -- Roma being in the hunt for the scudetto and Parma chasing their European dream -- it makes sense that the referee called the game off.

Farnerud would be made to pay for his miss within five minutes of the restart, with centre-back Adil Rami showing Milan’s strikers how to finish with a venomous strike which flew past Padelli and into the top corner. All of Toro’s work was undone, and the game was put right back to square one.

The momentum unsurprisingly swung in Milan’s favour, who had found the verve they showed in the opening few minutes. Robinho thought he’d given the rossoneri the lead after stroking Kaká‘s assist into the back of the net just short of the hour, only for the linesman to flag for a very tight offside.

AC Milan injuries and suspensions

Out: Stephan El Shaarawy, Cristián Zapata, Matías Silvestre (injured); Mario Balotelli (suspended). In doubt: None.