A fantastic performance by Napoli on Friday night dispatching six past Cagliari who then sacked their manager Davide Balladini after the defeat. Inter, AC Milan and Roma picked up wins without conceding. Juventus were held goalless at Genoa and wasted a hatful of chances to score but had one harshly ruled out. Udinese and Lazio were embarrassed by both Novara and Bologna on Sunday night.

Friday 9th March

The weekend’s game where spread over three days because of the Italian teams participation in the Champions League and the Europa League.

Both Napoli and Inter got wins, Napoli hit six at home to Cagliari in a nine goal thriller. Napoli raced into a three goal lead thanks to a brilliant angle drive by Marek Hamsik, a powerful header by central defender Paolo Cannavaro and a own goal by Cagliari defender Davide Astori. But before half time Cagliari pulled one back, as Joaquin Larrivey headed home from a Daniele Conti free kick. Napoli added a fourth as Ezequiel Lavezzi was brought down in the area; he got up and sent the keeper the wrong way. Walter Gargano added a fifth when Edinson Cavani played in Gargano who volleyed home. Cagliari pulled one back and Joaquin Larrivey headed home his second goal of the game. Napoli made it six with five minutes to go when Cristian Maggio raced through and hit a angle drive. But with the last kick of the game, Cagliari grabbed one more and once again it came from the head of Joaquin Larrivey.

Inter travelled to Chievo hoping to put all their problems behind them, but it didn’t help when Diego Milito missed a penalty early in the first half. Milito penalty was brilliantly saved by Chievo keeper Stefano Sorrentino. It took till five minutes from time for Inter to get the breakthrough as Walter Samuel headed home from a Wesley Sneidjer corner. With one minute remaining Inter doubled the lead when the evergreen Javier Zanetti crossed in for Diego Milito to head home.

Saturday 10th March

Roma travelled to Palermo and picked up a crucial 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Fabio Borini. The goal came three minutes into the game as Erik Lamela played in Borini who finished brilliantly with his left foot. The Italian striker is bang in form at the moment. What is Chelsea and Parma loss is Roma gain.

Sunday 11th March

Juventus were held to a goalless draw at Genoa, how this managed to stay goalless no one knows. Rodrigo Palacio nearly scored after twenty seconds but was brilliantly denied by Gigi Buffon. Mirko Vucinic hit the woodwork twice. With twenty minutes remaining Simone Pepe had a harsh goal ruled out for offside as he finished from close range. The Italian winger was marginally onside when the ball was played.

Catania dispatched a low in confidence Fiorentina 1-0 at home, Alessandro Gamberini brought down Gonzalo Bergessio in the penalty area. Francesco Lodi the dead ball specialist confidentially dispatched the penalty with aplomb.

Siena picked up a brilliant away win at Cesena. Siena were awarded a penalty with fifteen minutes remaining which led to the red card of Cesena defender Luca Ceccarelli after he brought down Emanuele Calaio. Claudio Terzi had his spot kick parried onto the post which led Franco Brienza to tap home the rebound. With nine minutes remaining Siena killed the game off as Franco Brienza crossed in for Erjon Bogdani to poke a volley home in off the underside of the cross bar.

Atalanta were held 1-1 at home by Parma, Thomas Manfredini gave the home side the lead with an acrobatic over head kick. Early in the second half Parma levelled as Gabriel Palletta headed home emphatically.

AC Milan pulled four points clear at the top of the table with a routine home win over Lecce. Antonio Nocerino gave the home side the lead with a deflected half volley. Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubled the lead in the second half with a brilliant twenty yard half volley which flew into the top corner.

There were two Sunday night games in Novara and in Rome.

Novara defeated high flying Udinese 1-0 at home thanks to a powerful header from Brazilian striker Jeda fifteen minutes into the game. Udinese did have a goal harshly ruled out for offside as Pablo Armero crossed in for Benatia who had his shot blocked only for Danilo to head home. No idea why this goal was disallowed.

The other game on Sunday night was a bad night for Lazio. After the derby win last Sunday they crumbled at home to inform Bologna. Daniele Portanova opened the scoring as he bundled in from close range. Fifteen minutes later it was 2-0 to Bologna as Federico Marchetti headed clear only for the ball to go to Alessandro Diamanti who volleyed home into an empty net. Before half time Lazio was reduced to ten men as Matuzalem was sent off for a swipe on Alessandro Diamanti. Ten minutes into the second half Lazio were given a life line as Matteo Rubin scored a comical own goal. Rubin over hit a back pass to Jean Francois Gillet and the Bologna keeper was left scrambling back to his goal in vein. But on the hour Lazio was reduced to nine men as Alvaro Gonzalez was sent off for a professional foul on Gaston Ramirez who had out done the Lazio midfielder for pace and Gonzalez tripped him as Ramirez was about to shoot. Alessandro Diamanti had his free kick blocked by the Lazio wall but the rebound fell to Rene Khrin who drilled home from outside of the area.