With Messi’s exploits and Robben’s volley fresh in mind, the world seemed to have forgotten about the usual weekend business that are the European championships. A couple of derbys there, a change in leadership there, football lives on. With (yet another) strong emphasis on the Serie A but what can I do? I do belong somewhere…
Serie A
It was bound to happen. After seeing their lead fall from nine points to one, Inter have finally lost the lead of the Serie A this weekend. The Nerazzuri were once again held back away from home, this time in Florence, where Prandelli’s Fiorentina managed to score a late equalizer for a final 2-2 scoreline. Keirrison scored his second of the season as an opener, Milito and Eto’o scored sensibly the same goal but Kroldrup finally took advantage of a (not so rare anymore) mistake from Julio Cesar. In a matter of weeks, Inter could see their season go from gold to dust with Barcelona pending over them… The final count could have been different had Milito not hit the post within the first 5 minutes, then again, things could have also been different had Consigli, the Atalanta goalkeeper, not wiped out on Vucinic’s shot. Roma, who didn’t need anymore incentive, accomplished the overtake with a simple 2-1 win at home acquired within the first thirty minutes thanks to Vucinic (and Consigli) and Cassetti. Ranieri’s team seem unstoppable, with their 23rd consecutive useful result (every week I add one to the series) and a renewed attractiveness to the game thanks in part to the return to form of key elements like Totti, De Rossi, Toni, Pizarro and the list could go on. If not on the European level, Italian football remains fascinating by its suspense. Suspense out of which Milan have almost fallen out. With a pushy 2-2 home draw against Catania, Milan finds itself four points behind Roma and three behind Inter. More than the points, it is the manner in which Milan succumbed to two counter attacks that is worrying. Ronaldinho is back to being a has-been along with an over-aging midfield that can produce the quality it needs only rarely (see Pirlo’s opening for Seedorf on the second goal). The saviour is here named Boriello and his regularity to find the back of the net. With a comfortable ten point lead over Palermo, Milan can at least relax in their third spot, waiting for next year’s Champion’s League.
Behind the solid first three, the clog remains. From Palermo won their confrontation with Chievo 3-1, thanks a five-star Miccoli once again. His second goal, an outside of the box shot straight past the defense and the keeper, serves Lippi as a reminder that some new (old) blood could do the Nazionale a great deal of good in South Africa (I certainly hope so). The Sicilians find themselves at equal points (54) with Sampdoria who, on their side, won the Genovese derby. Within a dirty and rugged game, Cassano delivered the tifosi with a wining header (1-0 final score), the rest is a succession of fouls, yellow cards and players fighting. Three points behind we see Juve come back to a more decent standard, sixth postion, thanks to a boring 1-0 win over Cagliari. With Buffon back in goal, the Bianconeri can once again rely on a certain defensive solidity that has cost them so many points in this 2009-2010 season. As a symbol of an offense in demise, it is Chiellini, aka the central defender, to transform the 1-0 and Iaquinta to turn another Chiellini goal into a disallowed one. Europe is still in reach for Juventus but it will require a flawless end of season, starting with the trip to San Siro to meet Inter next week. Napoli slip back to seventh spot with a 3-2 home loss to Parma. Mazzari’s players fell victim to a comeback only Italy knows how to produce: in this case, Hernan Crespo. In a game that saw both teams take the lead at different times, the Argentinian mercenary delivered a second assist to his fellow Inter-reject Jimenez, two minutes before the three whistles to help Parma cling onto the ninth position. For the Napolitans the European promises of their president De Laurentiis are now far away, and the smell of revolution is back in the air. In the lower part of the table, the two “bigs” once in prey of the relegation zone, Lazio and Udinese, now seem clear of any unexpected surprise. The Biancocelesti came back from 2-0, to win their game at Bologna, direct opponent in the standings, 3-2 thanks to a supersonic second half. Udinese continue their stroll through the end of season with a 2-0 win over doomed Livorno, Di Natale’s 23rd as icing on the cake.
English Premier League
The Matchday is split in two this week, domestic cup oblige. So Manchester had a good opportunity to put some pressure back on Chelsea, who plays on Wednesday, and get over their European sore. Alas, the 0-0 draw against Blackburn confirmed the Red Devils’ ultra-dependency on Rooney, at the image of a transparent Berbatov and a Valencia unable to transform a one-on-one for the goal. Fergie’s boys are now more subject to an Arsenal overtake than a leadership title. The Gunners play at Tottenham for yet another London derby. In the meanwhile it was Manchester City to temporarily distance themselves from their North London opponents with an express 5-1 over Birmingham City. Three goals in five minutes, a double for Onuoha and Adebayor, the fourth place and Champion’s League almost sealed. After their promising win against Benfica in the Europa League, a tired Liverpool enviously watches Mancini’s team from sixth position. Benitez’s team tied against Fulham amidst numerous chances. The end of the season is still long for The Reds. The rest of the analysis in mid-week.
Spanish Primera Division
It was the headliner of this week, the championship decision, the duel between Messi and Ronaldo, the-best-players-in-the-world vs the-best-team-in-the-world. This year, the Clasico was subject to a polarization unseen in recent years: ex-players’ predictions, top 10s, ultimatums, trash talking, the best derby on earth, blablabla, any sports media’s paradise. The game itself? Nothing but the most predictable: a Barcelona beyond any rating of excellence, Xavi new emperor of modern football, Messi his favourite munition, Guardiola’s winning tactics (Puyol right back, Alves attacking right winger…) and Real Madrid’s lack of collective coherence. The Merengues only created themselves very poor chances of scoring (excpect one maybe…), Cristiano Ronaldo was under par, Casillas saved the White House from another humiliation, Higuain still unable to find the back of the net when it matters most (see: Real Madrid – Lyon, second leg) and Manuel Pellegrini soon elegantly without a job. The final scoreline is 2-0 for Barcelona, with goals from Messi and Pedro, both served on a silver platter from Xavi. Barcelona is now three points ahead Real and nearer a promised Spanish League title.
Behind the battle of the Titans, Valencia hurt themselves to the Majorcan wall, with a 3-2 loss that sees their opponent of the day come back five points behind them in fifth place. Between Valencia and Majorca, Sevilla regains a European spot within the Spanish league thanks to a 2-1win at Malaga. After both goalkeepers set the teams at a 1-1 draw, Lolo delivered the Sevillans at the 85th, giving Sevilla the right to hope for next year’s Champion’s League. The most entertaining game of the week goes to a scorching Bilbao-Almeira: one post, one stopped penalty kick, one Messi-goal from Martinez, one pinball-goal, one shot-from-thirty-meters-out-goal, missed open goals, one touch passing, so on so forth, this game had it all. The final score is 4-1 in favour of Athletic Bilbao who gets to keep their precious and deserved European sixth place. Behind them, the “Yellow Submarine” Villarreal finally see the tip of Europe again with a solemn 1-0 win over Gijon.
TFO
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