On Saturday night Juventus travelled to Florence to take on Delio Rossi Fiorentina side and demolished the Viola 5-0 and Alessio Cerci got himself stupidly sent off. The race for third is hotting up as it looks like no wants it. Udinese and Napoli shared four goals in Udine which a stupid red card for Diego Fabbrini and horrid penalty miss by Edinson Cavani. Inter were held at home by Atalanta and Milan won away at Parma.

Saturday 17th March

Milan travelled to Parma and picked up a brilliant 2-0 away thanks to a brilliant performance by Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Milan took the lead on seventeen minutes and it came from the penalty spot as Cristian Zaccardo handled in the penalty area. Zlatan stepped up and sent Antonio Mirante the wrong way. Nine minutes into the second half Milan doubled their lead and it was Urby Emanuleson who broke from deep which involved Zlatan Ibrahimovic dummying to move out of the way and finished with Emanuleson rounding the keeper to slot home into an empty net.

Juventus travelled to Florence on the back of four draws on the spin and put in a professional performance against a sluggish Fiorentina side. Juventus won 5-0 and five different goal scores nabbed the goals. Goals in the first half from Mirko Vucinic and Arturo Vidal who then celebrated with a knockout punch with Leonardo Bonucci. Alessio Cerci found himself in the showers early in the game sent off for violent conduct for a kick out at Juventus defender Martin Caceras. Second half goals from Claudio Marchiso, Andrea Pirlo and Simone Padoin. In a post match interview, Andrea Pirlo dedicated this win to Fabrice Muamba who collapsed on the pitch on Saturday evening and now remains in a critical condition.

Sunday 18th March

In the lunch time kick off Cagliari struck in a half opened stadium due to security reasons thanks to a hat-trick from on loan striker Mauricio Pinilla. The first goal was a two yard tap in and the next two came from the penalty spot. Cesena had two players sent off Giuseppe Colluci and Marco Rossi was given their marching orders.

Lecce drew at home to Palermo as Lecce took a lead six minutes into the game from the penalty spot which David Di Michele converted .Palermo equalised just ten minutes later when Ezequiel Munoz headed home. Lecce was reduced to ten men in the second half as Massimo Oddo was sent off.

Catania fine form continues under Vincenzo Montella as they beat Champions league contenders Lazio 1-0. A goal ten minutes from time gave Catania then win, a corner from the left by Francesco Lodi was volleyed home by Nicola Legrottaglie gave Catania then win.

A horrible week for Inter ended in more disappointment as they drew a blank at home to Atalanta. Diego Milito weak penalty was saved by Andrea Consigli. Massimo Moratti was so distraught with the result he left the game with minutes to go. He also went into the dressing room at half time to give a spirited talk to the players. Atalanta had penalty claims as Lucio brought down Manolo Gabbiadini, but the referee played on to the dismay of the Atalanta player’s appeals.

Bologna and Chievo played out an entertaining four goal thriller and both teams took a share of the spoils. Marco Andreolli stabbed home from close range. Bologna equalised when veteran striker Marco Di Vaio pounced to net. Chievo re took the lead when Cyril Thearu tapped home. But Bologna hit back when Alessandro Diamanti levelled with a low deflected effort past Stefano Sorrentino.

Novara surprised Siena with a brilliant 2-0 away win and gave themselves a little bit of hope to survive in Serie A this season. Eight points is now the gap. Two goals in the last twenty minutes from Marco Rigoni with a brilliant strike, before the goal of the weekend contender from Filippo Porcari who hit a fantastic strike which just flew past the Siena keeper to give them a priceless win.

The Sunday night game was a showdown for the third and final Champions league spot between Udinese and Napoli. It was a corker, four goals a sending off and a dodgy penalty miss from Edinson Cavani. Udinese raced to a two goal lead thanks to goals from each half from Giampiero Pinzi and Antonio Di Natale. Then Udinese lost Diego Fabbrini for two yellow cards. The second yellow was a bit harsh for a challenge on Hugo Campagnaro. Napoli was then awarded a penalty when Domizzi handled. Edinson Cavani stepped up and hit his penalty straight at Samir Handanovic, a poor penalty. But Napoli turned the game on its head with two quick goals in the last five minutes both from Edinson Cavani, the first from a free kick from the edge of the D, the second was a angle drive that went in off the post. Udinese boss Francesco Guidolin was sent to the stands after the penalty was given for Napoli. When Edinson Cavani missed the penalty, Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri was also disappointed as he took of his tie when the spot kick was saved.

Right there was a Monday night game and it was in the capital as Roma took on Genoa in the final game of the weekend. This game was put back due to Italy playing Scotland on Saturday afternoon in the six nations Rugby. Roma won tonight’s game 1-0 thanks to an early strike from Pablo Osvaldo who controlled a cross field ball brilliantly and hit an angle drive past Sebastian Frey. Rodrigo Palacio with ten minutes remaining struck the cross bar as the home side sat back and protected their lead.