None of the top five won at the weekend which meant Roma’s impressive home win over Inter was all the more sweeter as they are moved to joint sixth with Napoli and just five points behind Inter with a game in hand. AC Milan were unable to overcome a plucky Napoli side in a match where Zlatan Ibrahimovic disgraced himself by earning a red card for fighting. League leaders Juventus were frustrated by Siena while Genoa won a five goal thriller against Lazio.

Saturday 4th February

All evening games were rescheduled in Italy due to poor weather conditions. While most games eventually took place, Cesena’s home tie with Catania was called off and will be arranged to play another day.

Sunday 5th February

Only nine games were played over the weekend and the action started in frantic fashion as Genoa overcame Lazio 3-2 in Liguria. The home side raced into a three goal lead forty six minutes into the game thanks to a lovely back-heeled finish by Rodrigo Palacio and two goals from Bosko Jankovic. Lazio pulled one back from the penalty spot after Senad Lulic was brought down with Cristian Ledesma emphatically putting away the spot kick. Lazio were reduced to ten men with eight minutes remaining when Mobido Diakite was sent off for something he said to the referee. Alvaro Gonzalez pulled one back in stoppage time but
Lazio could not find the equaliser.

There were four 0-0 draws this weekend, the first took place in south where Lecce entertained Bologna. The home side were forced to play the last sixteen minutes with ten men after Moris Carrozzieri was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in the space of minutes. Juventus were held 0-0 at home by Siena. Novara picked up their first clean sheet of this season as they played out a 0-0 home draw with Cagliari. AC Milan were thwarted at home by Napoli though the champions did create the lion-share of chances. With under half hour to play Zlatan Ibrahimovic lost his head and got himself stupidly sent off for a slap on Salvatore Aronica.

Palermo’s mini-revival continued as they beat Atalanta 2-1. The Lombardians were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Andrea Consigli was sent off for a professional foul in the penalty area on Fabrizio Miccoli. The captain then stepped up to convert from the penalty spot. Igor Budan added to the lead just after the interval, but, Atalanta fought back and were rewarded with a goal with over half hour remaining thanks to Maxi Moralez.

Parma got a very crucial away win at Chievo. I crociati took the lead with a fantastic individual finish by Sebastian Giovinco before the Veronese equalised thanks to a Cryil Thereau tap-in. With just over twenty minutes remaining Parma grabbed the winner and it was a comical own goal by Luciano as his wayward clearance flying past Stefano Sorrentino in the Chievo goal.

There was entertainment in Florence as la Viola and Udinese played out a five-goal thriller with the home side coming out on top by a goal. Antonio Di Natale gave the away side the lead with a brilliant deft chip shot. Stevan Jovetic equalised from the penalty spot after a handball in the penalty area. Mattia Cassani got his first goal for the club as he headed home from close range. Fiorentina were awarded a second penalty when Jovetic was brought down in the penalty area and the Montenegrin stepped up again to convert from the penalty spot. Gabriel Torje grabbed a late consolation for the Zebrette.

The big winners of the weekend were Roma as they thrashed Inter at the Stadio Olimpico 4-0. Roma took the lead early on in the game as Juan headed home a Francesco Totti corner. It was 2-0 to the home side with ten minutes remaining in the second half as Fabio Borini got the first of his brace as he turned the Inter defence and slotted the ball past Julio Cesar. It was 3-0 minutes shortly into the second half as Juan played a ball over the top to Fabio Borini who sprung the offside trap and slotted in his second. The icing on the cake was added when substitute Bojan scored a brilliant fourth. The Spanish expertly controlling a long ball before riggling away from the Inter defence and hitting an angled drive past Julio Cesar.