Serie A Weekend Round-up: Giornata 22 + Last minute Transfer Madness

By: Francesco | February 2nd, 2009

After 41 years, Cagliari beat Juventus in Turin in a thrilling 3-2 come from behind victory. Buffon (pictured) could only watch as the Sardinian side took the 3 points. Cagliari have been the real surprise team of the season. After losing their first 5 games, everyone thought this was the end of Cagliari’s run in Serie A and that Cellino had made a mistake in hiring inexperienced manager Massimiliano Allegri. However the squad transformed and now they are flying high in the top part of the table. Allegri has shown he is a genius of sorts, making this team play fast-flowing, entertaining soccer with no real superstars (their biggest name is striker Robert Acquafresca). Imagine if Cagliari had done well in the first 5 games as well. They would be in the Champions League zone. Simply an amazing story. Let’s hope the small side from Sardegna can continue to amaze. Results and transfer news after the jump.

Atalanta-Catania 1-0
Scorers: 24´ Guarente (Ata)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Bologna-Fiorentina 1-3
Scorers: 6´ Mutu (Fio); 16´ Mutu (Fio); 52´ Mingazzini (Bol);
93´ Gilardino (Fio)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Chievo-Sampdoria 1-1
Scorers: 70´ Pazzini (Sam); 72´ Rigoni (Chi)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Genoa-Palermo 1-0
Scorers: 88´ Criscito (Gen)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Inter-Torino 1-1
Scorers: 47´ Bianchi (Tor); 58´ Burdisso (Int)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Juventus-Cagliari 2-3
Scorers: 16´ Biondini (Cag); 31´ Sissoko (Juv); 38´ Nedved (Juv);
54´ Jeda (Cag); 78´ Matri (Cag)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Lazio-Milan 0-3
Scorers: 42´ Pato (Mil); 48´ Ambrosini (Mil); 83´ Kaka` (Mil)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Napoli-Udinese 2-2
Scorers: 24´ Lavezzi (Nap); 27´ Hamsik (Nap); 32´ rig. Di Natale (Udi);
45´ Quagliarella (Udi)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Reggina-Roma 2-2
Scorers: 44´ rig. Corradi (Reg); 45´ Pizarro (Rom); 57´ Pizarro (Rom);
81´ Cozza (Reg)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

Siena-Lecce 1-2
Scorers: 15´ Tiribocchi (Lec); 55´ Castillo (Lec); 79´ Ghezzal (Sie)
Report. Player Ratings. Highlights.

SERIE A STANDINGS

Inter 50; Milan 44; Juventus 43; Genoa 40; Fiorentina 38; Roma 37; Cagliari 34; Napoli 34; Palermo 32; Lazio 31; Atalanta 30; Udinese 27; Catania 26; Siena 25; Sampdoria 24; Lecce 22; Bologna 22; Torino 18; Chievo 18; Reggina 15

NEXT MATCHES

Cagliari-Atalanta; Catania-Juventus; Fiorentina-Lazio; Lecce-Inter; Milan-Reggina; Palermo-Napoli; Roma-Genoa; Sampdoria-Siena; Torino-Chievo; Udinese-Bologna

FRANCESCO’S SERIE A GOALS OF THE WEEK

Fabio Quagliarella vs. Napoli – Quagliarella has a knack for scoring wondergoals and this one is no different. Perfect first time volley. The whole San Paolo stadium applauded this goal.

Giampaolo Pazzini vs. Chievo – Pazzini scores his first goal for Sampdoria with this excellent control and finish from the edge of the area.

David Pizarro vs. Reggina – The Chilean midfielder hits a missile from outside the area that sails into the upper corner.

Adrian Mutu vs. Bologna – Mutu scores his 100th goal in Serie A after he finishes a pinpoint Riccardo Montolivo long ball. Excellent finish with the ball coming down.

Rolando Bianchi vs. Inter – Bianchi puts Torino ahead with a great header from a nice Ignazio Abate cross.

TRANSFER MADNESS

Today was the last day of the transfer window, which meant many Italian teams were stuffed in the ATA Quark Hotel in Milan making last minute deals. Here are some things that happened:

After his falling out with Roma, Christian Panucci wound up staying put in the Italian capital. Supposedly there was interest from the EPL’s Hull City, as well as an offer from Torino, which looked like it would be completed but both sides ran out of time to negotiate.

This news will probably be music to Inter fans’ ears, as Ricardo Quaresma and his trivela has been shipped to Chelsea on loan for the rest of the season.

Roma obtained the loan of a young 19 year old Croatian goalkeeper named Sugar David (seriously? Sugar?), while shipping promising striker Stefano Okaka Chuka to Serie B side Brescia on loan for the rest of the season. They also made the capture of Italy U21 captain Marco Motta official, getting him on loan with an option to buy in June.

Palermo dipped into the South American market and bought 18 year old Uruguayan striker Abel Hernandez. They also bought promising 18 year old defender Francesco Sabatucci from Cisco Roma, and two promising players from Treviso: midfielder Eros Pellegrini (19 years old) and Gianmarco Zigoni (who made his Serie B debut last week at 17 years of age and scored a goal.) They also loaned 20 year old winger Luca Di Matteo to Serie B side Cittadella.

Siena made a big surprising move by beating out Reggina and buying Torino striker Nicola Amoruso. Maybe they have finally found a striker that can guarantee goals up front.

Torino, to replace the outgoing Amoruso, bought fantasista Andrea Gasbarroni from Genoa.

Sampdoria brought two Italian youngsters who were playing abroad back to Italy. 19 year old striker Fabio Zamblera arrives from Newcastle with a loan/option to buy deal and 18 year old midfielder Roberto Soriano (also captain of the Italy U-18 national team) arrives from Bayern Munich.

Atalanta made two loan moves, getting Parma midfielder Francesco Parravicini on loan in exchange for the loan of Antonio D’Agostino, and getting Catania’s striker Gianvito Plasmati on loan for the rest of the year as well.

Inter’s out of favor midfielder Olivier Dacourt has returned to the EPL, this time moving to Fulham.

SERIE B

Ascoli-Ancona 2-0
Marcatori: 18´ Soncin (Asc); 28´ Belingheri (Asc)

Avellino-Triestina 1-2
Marcatori: 7´ Tabbiani (Tri); 17´ Princivalli (Tri); 81´ Pecorari (Ave)

Bari-Frosinone 2-1
Marcatori: 49´ Cavalli (Fro); 51´ Lanzafame (Bar); 81´ Caputo (Bar)

Empoli-Vicenza 2-0
Marcatori: 67´ Pozzi (Emp); 86´ Corvia (Emp)

Mantova-Livorno 1-4
Marcatori: 6′ Rossini (Liv); 27′ Rizzi (Man); 46′ Tavano (Liv); 53′ Tavano (Liv); 59′ Diamanti (Liv)

Modena-Rimini suspended because of fog

Parma-AlbinoLeffe 3-1
Marcatori: 17´ Paloschi (Par); 27´ Madonna (Alb); 60´ Budel (Par);
76´ Lucarelli A. (Par)

Piacenza-Grosseto 2-3
Marcatori: 2´ Riccio (Pia); 6´ Cordova (Gro); 7´ Riccio (Pia);
81´ Pichlmann (Gro); 83´ Sansovini (Gro)

Pisa-Sassuolo 0-0

Salernitana-Cittadella 1-2
Marcatori: 22´ rig. Iori (Cit); 29´ Pestrin (Sal); 93´ rig. Iori (Cit)

Treviso-Brescia 3-2
Marcatori: 1´ Zigoni (Tre); 9´ Taddei (Bre); 36´ Rispoli (Bre);
70´ Gissi (Tre); 84´ Musetti (Tre)

SERIE B STANDINGS

Bari 43; Livorno 42; Brescia 39; Sassuolo 38; Parma 38; Grosseto 38; Empoli 36; Triestina 35; Vicenza 32; AlbinoLeffe 30; Rimini 30; Ancona 29; Mantova 29; Pisa 27; Frosinone 26; Cittadella 25; Piacenza 25; Salernitana 23; Treviso 21; Ascoli 20; Avellino 20; Modena 16

NEXT MATCHES

AlbinoLeffe-Empoli; Ancona-Parma; Brescia-Bari; Cittadella-Avellino; Frosinone-Salernitana; Grosseto-Sassuolo; Livorno-Piacenza; Modena-Pisa; Rimini-Treviso; Triestina-Ascoli; Vicenza-Mantova