Serie A, Round 29: Fiorentina beat Napoli, Juventus win comfortably

This was punished almost instantly as Milan then went ahead, much against the run of play and in very lucky circumstances. Kaká‘s cross from the right deflected off Abdoulay Konko’s face and beat Etrit Berisha at his front post to give the visitors a lead that their play really didn’t warrant.

Three minutes after this and Lazio did finally equalise. The irrepressible Antonio Candreva crossed from the right-hand side and Biglia flicked the ball on for Álvaro González, who headed home powerfully for a goal Lazio had deserved from the first minute.

It was no clasico, but there was certainly plenty of fire on display in Catania. Before five minutes were out, Juventus had a goal disallowed, and everything but the football exploded from there.

A couple minutes later, handbags were thrown when Giorgio Chiellini caught Pablo Barrientos with his elbow. To avenge his strike partner, Catania forward Gonzalo Bergessio caught Chiellini with his own elbow. So when, just a few minutes before the break, Bergessio elbowed Leonardo Bonucci yet avoided getting a second yellow, tensions were already high. The result? Both Antonio Conte and Rolando Maran were sent off.

That Fiorentina even had the opportunity to go in front in the second half was all thanks to their young goalkeeper Neto, who was the game’s top performer in the first period. He was on hand to tip Gonzalo Higuaín’s volley around the post in the opening ten minutes, before getting down to make a close-range stop on Marek Hamšík soon after.

Fiorentina unsurprisingly came out after the second half in the ascendency, with Napoli reduced to rare counter-attacks and Gonzalo Higuaín looking ever more isolated up top. However, the viola struggled to break a determined Napoli down, with Benítez having reshuffled his team into two sturdy banks of four at the halftime break.

Hernanes was the early architect for the Nerazzurri. The Brazilian ghosted past his markers to create two chances for Fredy Guarin, but both efforts were off target.

Handanovic was rooted to the spot and could only watch as Denis’s 17th minute header clipped the top of the crossbar.

In the second half, both teams lacked decent opportunities. The grifone were happy to soak up Parma’s pressure, with the hosts having the majority of the possession and Genoa simply looking for the opportunity to make a quick break.

Parma (4-3-3): Mirante; Cassani, Paletta, Lucarelli, Gobbi; Acquah, Munari (Obi 69’), Parolo; Schelotto (Biabiany 69’), Amauri, Cassano (Palladino 82’)

Juventus are 11 points clear at the top of table. They’re on an unbeaten run of 20 Serie A matches, having not lost since October 20. They’ve got a +45 goal difference.

Catania, dead last, have 55 points less than the bianconeri. This squad has knocked in just 21 goals. The elefanti have just one point from their last four games.

The last time these sides met was at the end of October and with Allegri and Petković still in the dugouts. It was a cagey affair between two struggling teams that ended in a 1-1 draw. That said, Lazio have improved markedly since then whilst Milan have stagnated and been unable to pull themselves out of mid-table.

Lazio injuries and suspensions:

Sunday March 23rd, 12:30 p.m. local, 7:30 a.m. ET

Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma

Napoli injuries and suspensions

Out: Juan Zúñiga, Rafael, Christian Maggio (injured). In doubt: None.

The second half was unfortunately no better a spectacle, with Chievo throwing on another defender at the break and just looking to avoid any further embarrassment. In that they succeeded, with the newly-introduced spare defender enabling them to gain more of a grip in midfield. Even so, they couldn’t convert their extra possession into anything meaningful, and succumbed to a resounding defeat. Just a point above the relegation zone, they are in serious danger.

Chievo Verona: Agazzi; Frey, Cesar, Dainelli, Sardo; Radovanović, Rigoni, Bentivoglio; Stoian (Rubin 46’), Paloschi (Pellissier 59’), Lazarević (Obinna 70’).

Chievo Verona injuries and suspensions

AS Roma injuries and suspensions

A struggle to avoid relegation. A frantic battle for second place. Fighting for a Europa League position - or fighting to avoid one. And wondering just what week Juventus will be crowned champions.

Yep, that’ll be the next nine weeks of Italian football. Settle in and enjoy the ride...