Week 22 (Yes, We’re Going Back in Time), Or: Marry Me, Claudio Ranieri!

By: Martha | April 19th, 2007

God damn. Instead of acknowledging Inter’s depressing loss, I’ve decided to focus instead on Parma’s miraculous victory over Fiorentina: Two more goals by Giuseppi Rossi, three points, and Parma are a hair’s breadth from safety. I don’t know everything that’s gone on at the club since Claudio Ranieri showed up, but the fact that his arrival has coincided with an amazing reversal in form is undeniable — they’re now on 29 points, tied for third-bottom with Chievo and just a point from Reggina and salvation. Still sitting last, meanwhile, are Ascoli, who have both feet in Serie B at this point. Four points above them are Messina, who in the blink of an eye have fallen completely apart and now find themselves with a long way to go to even reach the playoffs.

At the other end of the table, you may have heard Inter lost. Sigh. Thanks to their win over the Nerazzurri, Roma are now a mere 13 points off the lead with ~~seven~~ six games left — hey, mathematically they’re can still catch them! Lazio remain third but, having taken only a point from Chievo yesterday, they’re now nine points from Roma and just four above the rampaging Milan. Still clinging to a UEFA Cup spot are Palermo, who didn’t play midweek (they played this round on that fateful Saturday in February), and Empoli, who picked up three points yesterday and are now even with Palermo on 49. Five points behind that duo are Fiorentina, who have to see the loss to Parma as a serious stumble — if they’re going to get into Europe, they must take three points off the bottom teams.

Full results are after the jump.

Ascoli-Milan 2-5: Poor Ascoli. They can sort of hang together against most teams, but when they come up against a good team that’s on form, it’s Katie bar the door, as they say. (That is an expression. Isn’t it?) You know things are bad when Gila scores twice.
Catania-Palermo 1-2: I know it says they played yesterday, but it’s actually this game.
Empoli-Atalanta 2-0: Vieri played, Vieri played! He came on and immediately put a shot just over the bar, so no extra €100,000 for him today — the pleasure of 20 minutes back on the pitch will have to do.
Inter-Roma 1-3
Lazio-Chievo 0-0
Livorno-Cagliari 2-1
Parma-Fiorentina 2-0: Rossi, Rossi, Rossi!
Reggina-Messina 3-1:
Siena-Torino 1-0
Udinese-Samp 1-0