Remarkably Juventus are still unbeaten in the league this season and still sit second in the table behind AC Milan. The Old Lady won the big game on Sunday night winning the Derby D’Italia against Inter at a packed lovely Juventus Arena. The night before AC Milan maintained their bid to retain their title by defeating Roma by coming from a goal down to win 2-1. Meanwhile, Napoli threw away a two-goal lead to drop points at home to Catania. The race for Champions League football spots hots up and Lazio kept their hopes alive with a win. Udinese failed to do likewise, however, only managing a point in Sicily against Palermo.

Saturday 24th March

Roma traveled to AC Milan confident of keeping their two-game winning streak intact Milan lost Thiago Silva early on in the game to injury and had to be replaced by Gianluca Zambrotta. On the stroke of half time visitors took the lead when Daniele De Rossi’s cross cum-shot was poked home by Pablo Osvaldo. But the lead was short lived as just seven minutes into the second half AC Milan were awarded a penalty after De Rossi handled the ball inside the area. Zlatan Ibrahimovic duly stepped up and sent Maarten Stekelenburg the wrong way. With seven minutes remaining AC Milan got the winner when a long ball over the top was eventually nodded home by Zlatan Ibrahimovic who did ever so well to hold off the attention of Simon Kjaer.

Palermo hosted Udinese who were eying up the third and final Champions League spot. Palermo took the lead inside the first half when Edgar Barretto played a lovely through ball to Fabrizio Miccoli who hit a left footed angled drive past the fingertips of Samir Handanovic. But Udinese got the equaliser six minutes from time when Roberto Pereyra crossed in for Romanian Gabriel Torje to score.

Sunday 25th March

The Sunday lunch time game saw Atalanta gain all three points as they hosted Bologna. Ot took until five minutes into the second half for the home side to take the lead, Cristian Raimondi’s cross in from the right found Manolo Gabbiadini who headed home for his firest goal in the Serie A. Two minutes into stoppage time Atalanta made the game safe when Maxi Moralez squared the ball to Simone Tiribocchi who curled a shot past Jean Francois-Gillet.

Novara and Lecce played out a goalless draw, a result that will do neither side any good as they both fight for Serie A survival. Novara did nearly win right at the end but the cross bar denied Japanese striker Taka Morimoto.

Lazio claimed a priceless home win over Cagliari and kept up their hopes for Champions League football alive. The only goal of the game came with five minutes remaining when a Cristian Ledesma free-kick was headed home at the back post by Mobido Diakite.

Cesena was denied a home win over Parma in an entertaining 2-2 draw. Parma took the lead when Sebastian Giovinco crossed in for Sergio Floccari to drive home. Cesena then overturned the lead when Mario Santana equalised when he tapped home after Antonio Mirante spilled a shot. Then Simone Del Nero took fly with a brilliant left footed effort from twenty five yards out to put the Seahorses ahead. But, Gabriel Paletta got the equaliser when he popped up to ensure the spoils were shared.

Chievo and Siena played out a 1-1 draw. The Flying Donkeys took the lead when a Michael Bradley’s corner was eventually put away by Francesco Acrebi. Siena equalised early on in the second half when a poor back-pass found its way to Mattia Destro. The striker did superbly as he rounded Chievo ‘keeper Stefano Sorrentino to score into an empty net.

Genoa and Fiorentina shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw in Liguria. The home side took the lead when the smallest man on the pitch, Fernando Belluschi, headed home. La Viola equalised shortly after through Riccardo Montolivo. Fullback Cesar Natali then gave the away side the lead with a bullet of a header. But, Genoa got themselves back into the game when Alberto Gilardino chested the ball to Rodrigo Palacio who squeezed past the Fiorentina defence to score with an angled drive.

Napoli threw away a 2-0 goal lead over Catania as they hosted Catania. Incredibly, all four goals came in the last half hour of play. Blerim Dzemaili opened the scoring with a twenty five yard thunderbolt. Edinson Cavani then doubled the lead after he was played through on goal by Ezequiel Lavezzi. El Matador was lucky enough to get two bites of the cherry after his initial effort was denied by the woodwork. Catania gallantly fought back through Nicholas Spoili who headed home from a corner. Then Catania equalised again from a set piece, David Lanzafame nestling the ball into the net after seeing his first attempt blocke.d

The final game of the weekend saw Juventus at home game against Inter in the derby d’Italia. Antonio Conte’s men had been undefeated heading into this match and needed a win to keep the pressure on league leaders Milan. It took until the second half for Juventus to open the scoring when ten minutes in Martin Caceres found himself unmarked inside the area as he headed home an Andrea Pirlo corner.

Juventus put the result beyond doubt with twenty minutes remaining when Arturo Vidal played a through ball to Alessandro Del Piero who scored his first Serie A goal of this season. The veteran could not have chosen his moment better to open his account. But, Inter were perhaps slightly unlucky to come away empty handed after they had the better of the chances prior to Caceres’ opener.