Fiorentina and Inter played out a 0-0 stalemate in the big top-of-the-table clash in Italy’s Serie A on Wednesday as Udinese and Napoli pulled clear at the head of the standings.
Udinese are top on goal difference with 20 points after a 2-0 win at Catania, while Argentine striker German Denis fired a hat-trick in Napoli’s 3-0 rout of rock-bottom Reggina.
AC Milan are a point behind the top two in third following a 2-1 home win over Siena, leaving Inter fourth on 18 points and Fiorentina fifth, a point further back.
PHOTO: AP
The build-up to the big match had been dominated by off-field issues as Inter boss Jose Mourinho left misfiring strikers Adriano and Julio Cruz out of his squad for ill-discipline, while Fiorentina were without Serie A top scorer Alberto Gilardino, suspended for celebrating a goal he scored with his forearm against Palermo on Sunday.
Despite a second game without a goal, Mourinho was satisfied.
“Tonight, I’m going home happy. I can’t be satisfied with the result, but my team played a match that wasn’t good but was intense. I’m happy with the team,” Mourinho said. “After this game, I can’t reproach my players for anything. We fought like a team. Of course, I’m not happy because I always want to win, but I can’t criticize the lads and I’m going home calm.”
The champions came out firing and Brazilian winger Mancini hit the bar with a rocket from a tight angle on just five minutes after a splendid disguised pass from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Inter came within a whisker of scoring again on 27 minutes through the same combination, but this time it was Mancini’s delicate chip forward that released Ibrahimovic, who outpaced and out-muscled Alessandro Gamberini before just missing the far post with a ripping volley.
The hosts had their best chance two minutes from the break when Julio Cesar saved a Manuel Pasquale free-kick, before Nicolas Burdisso pulled back Giampaolo Pazzini’s shirt to stop him reaching the rebound. The referee missed the infringement.
Inter had the first clear chance of the second period when French goalkeeper Sebastien Frey made a hash of coming out for Maicon’s deep cross, but Mancini failed to even hit the target with a woeful volley at the back post.
The visitors were starting to take control and after Mourinho brought on Patrick Vieira and Hernan Crespo, the Argentine forward was released by Dejan Stankovic, but Frey stood up well to block his shot. Mourinho’s men turned up the heat and Crespo couldn’t quite get enough on a header from Ibrahimovic’s set-up to direct the ball on goal after 67 minutes.
La Viola were far from out of the match, though, and Gamberini should have given them the lead on 78 minutes with a free header from Mario Santana’s corner. Fiorentina had another great chance to win it four minutes from time after a flowing passing move, but Pazzini couldn’t keep down his thumping header from Pasquale’s pinpoint cross from the left.
Moment’s later Montenegro midfielder Stevan Jovetic fired narrowly over Julio Cesar’s bar as the hosts finished strongest.
Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik set up two goals for Denis in the first half as Napoli ran riot against sorry Reggina.
Cristian Maggio put a third on a plate for Denis after the break. Napoli play Milan next at the weekend.
Udinese were off to a flying start at Catania as Alexis Sanchez hit a corker from distance. Italy forward Fabio Quagliarella wrapped up the three points seven minutes from time.
Veteran forward Filippo Inzaghi gave AC Milan the lead against Siena and Brazilian Kaka fired the winner from the spot after Simone Vergassola’s leveler.
Two goals from Czech veteran winger Pavel Nedved fired Juventus to a 2-1 victory at lowly Bologna, while the match between AS Roma and Sampdoria was called off following a storm in Rome.
Team |
P |
GD |
PTS |
|
1 |
Udinese |
9 |
11 |
20 |
2 |
Napoli |
9 |
7 |
20 |
3 |
Inter |
9 |
8 |
18 |
4 |
AC Milan |
9 |
6 |
17 |
5 |
Fiorentina |
9 |
5 |
17 |
6 |
Lazio |
9 |
5 |
16 |
7 |
Genoa |
9 |
4 |
16 |
8 |
Catania |
9 |
2 |
15 |
9 |
Juventus |
9 |
2 |
15 |
10 |
Atalanta |
9 |
0 |
13 |
11 |
Palermo |
9 |
-2 |
13 |
12 |
Siena |
9 |
0 |
10 |
13 |
Lecce |
9 |
-2 |
10 |
14 |
Torino |
9 |
-4 |
8 |
15 |
Sampdoria |
8 |
-5 |
7 |
16 |
Roma |
8 |
-6 |
7 |
17 |
Cagliari |
9 |
-7 |
7 |
18 |
Bologna |
9 |
-7 |
6 |
19 |
Chievo |
9 |
-7 |
6 |
20 |
Reggina |
9 |
-10 |
5 |
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