Archive for February 15th, 2009

Genoa 3-3 Fiorentina: Adrian Mutu in the Come-Back Story of the Month (Serie A Matchday 24)

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

Genoa 3-3 Fiorentina: Adrian Mutu in the Come-Back Story of the Month (Serie A Matchday 24)

Everyone expected the Inter vs. Milan derby to be an epic showdown, but ironically Serie A’s biggest entertainment this week-end came from Genoa vs. Fiorentina. Although to be fair to both teams, this match had already been anticipated as a “Champions League” battle: a showdown between 4th and 5th-placed usually always gives rise to interesting results.

But who on Earth could have predicted six goals and one of the most dramatic come-backs of the year, an equalizer deep into stoppage time and everything. Not only that, but the added bonus of a “hero” (these matches usually have at least one): the one and only Super Adrian Mutu who marked a top-notch performance with the first hat-trick of his Italian career.

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Juventus 1-1 Sampdoria: Bianconeri Stopped by Blucerchiati & Woodwork (Serie A Matchday 24)

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero, right, is fouled by Sampdoria defender Paolo Sammarco during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Juventus and Sampdoria at the Olympic Stadium in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009. (AP Photo by MASSIMO PINCA)

Before Sunday, one of the main reasons for Juventus to complain this season was their injury situation. After today’s match against Sampdoria Bianconeri fans can add another item to the list, one which is just another manifestation of that darned bad luck persecuting the team all year long.

That item is woodwork.

Yes, as of today even posts and crossbars are conspiring against Ranieri’s boys, which tried their darndest to obtain a vital three points but found an attentive Blucerchiati defense and some evil curse of dark magic to deny them that joy (for I can find no other explanation to justify the boatload of missed chances I witnessed at the Stadio Olimpico today). The 1-1 final result will satisfy Walter Mazzarri (who has now raked four consecutive matches with points), but certainly not Juve, who see Inter and their Scudetto chances slipping further away.

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Napoli 1-1 Bologna: The Azzurri’s Dark Tunnel Continues (Serie A Matchday 24)

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

Napoli's Christian Maggio, on ground, is pressed by Bologna defender Salvatore Lanna, right, and Vangelis Moras during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Bologna, in Naples' San Paolo stadium, southen Italy Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009. (AP Photo by FRANCESCO CASTANO')

Saturday’s Napoli vs. Bologna was a match telling two tales. The first is that Mihajlovic seems to like 1-1 draws an awful lot: since he took over the team, Bologna has finished six matches out of twelve with that scoreline. That’s six valuable points in the fight against relegation which may prove decisive later on (you know what they say about pennies…).

The second thing is that Napoli aren’t in a slump anymore, they’ve turned just plain mediocre. I don’t know what it is, but this is a team who is now incapable of winning: they’ve raked 4 losses and 2 draws in their last 6 matches, something which sounds almost unreal compared to the 8 wins & 1 draw in their first 9 of the season. That was back in September/October. So who’s to blame? The manager? The players? Hard to say, but one thing’s for sure: presidents don’t generally fire their players…

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