Week 36: Same Old Rossi, Can’t Stop Scoring

By: Martha | May 14th, 2007

The King I don’t know what to think about this Giuseppi Rossi thing. I get that the kid couldn’t get on the pitch at Man U — a 12-year-old who show flashes of brilliance probably won’t get ahead of Rooney and even Saha in the pecking order. But at Newcastle? The team that can’t keep a striker healthy for more than a few weeks at a time and are absolutely desperate for goals? How could he not get more than a game on two with them while he was on loan? And how did he not score?! But I digress. My point is this: Ever since Rossi and The Great Claudio Ranieri showed up at Parma, they’ve transformed the team in a completely stunning way. (Yes, I may have mentioned this before.) Sure, Messina are already relegated and had nothing to play for yesterday, but still — four goals in the first half is impressive no matter who you’re playing. (Plus, since poor Palermo went out and lost to an injury and suspension-depleted Ascoli, beating a relegated team is not exactly a foregone conclusion.)

Elsewhere at the bottom, Siena took a full three points off Empoli (!), while Catania, playing in front of their fans for the first time in months, managed to grab one from Milan. The result of all this is that Parma and Catania are sitting on 38 points, two clear of the playoff zone and just one above Siena and Cagliari, who lost 1-0 to Fiorentina. Below them, Reggina and Chievo staggered to a 1-1 draw to remain on 36 points and seated uncomfortably in the playoff spots. So, with just two games left, practically the whole bottom half of the table has everything to play for. Despite having possibly the most difficult run-in (away to Lazio, home to Empoli), my money’s on safety for Parma, the Tinkerman and that semi-American goal machine of his.

Back at the top, Inter continue to play like crap (Could they still be hung over from that Scudetto bash?) but nevertheless managed to take the full three points from Lazio. The fabled century is out of reach but, if they can beat Atalanta (away) and Torino (home), they’ll not only set a new record for wins in season, but also end with an impressive total of 99 points. Because of Empoli’s loss, Lazio scored a Champions League spot for next season, and Milan’s draw with Catania secured them one, as well. Roma, who lost to Torino, also have a CL spot sewn up, so no matter what happens from here on out, not much will change for those four teams (though Milan and Lazio are still fighting for third and a later entry entry into the qualifiers).

Below the top four, though, there’s still something of a battle for the UEFA Cup spots. Fiorentina (54), Empoli (53) and Palermo (52) are currently clinging to Europe, but Atalanta on 49 are nipping at their heels and, given Empoli’s recent struggles and how horribly Palermo have been playing, there’s certainly a chance they could be caught. Atalanta have a tough home match with Inter next week and go to Livorno for the final match of the season; they’re certainly capable of taking four points from those games. No pressure, Palermo. No pressure at all.

Full results are after the jump.

Ascoli – Palermo 3-2: For the love of God, people! Can’t you just let it be easy? Just once? Sigh.
Catania – Milan 1-1: Seedorf! Again! He’s playing so well Ancelotti is actually afraid to rest him — it’s like it all might go away if he sits for even a half. Speaking of resting, why the hell did Maldini play? Shouldn’t he be on a shelf, wrapped in cotton wool until Athens?
Fiorentina – Cagliari 1-0
Inter – Lazio 4-3
Livorno – Sampdoria 1-0
Parma – Messina 4-1
Reggina – Chievo 1-1
Roma – Torino 0-1
Siena – Empoli 2-0
Udinese – Atalanta 2-3: And the winning goal? Scored by Christian Vieri, of course. Don’t look know, but if things falls right over the next two weeks, this could turn into a pretty magical story. Also, I can’t tell you how much it pleases me that Vieri came on as a sub for Zampanga — they’re both grumpy, old-school strikers who would just as soon go through you as anything else, and it’s somehow very right they’re hauling this team closer and closer to Europe.