Europe
Last week's European action was mixed for the Italian clubs. We'll deal with the negative first. Cuper's Inter lost at home to Lyon. A terrible result but well in keeping with the nerazzurri's inconsistency. In the UEFA Cup, Chievo lost 2-0 at home to Red Star. They would probably have expected more after a 0-0 draw in Belgrade but the "flying donkeys" are suffering a reaction to last season's heroics. Understandable, and boss Del Neri isn't too concerned at this point, being voted best coach for 2001/02 by his peers will certainly help soothe the pain.
Also in the UEFA Cup, Lazio drew 0-0 in Xanthi and progress to the second round, courtesy of the 4-0 thrashing they handed out in the first leg. Now for the positive. The most dramatic match took place in the Ennio Tardini where Parma came back from a 2-1half-time deficit to beat CSKA Moscow. The first game ended 1-1 and Prandelli's team looked on the way out after 45 minutes of the second leg. Fortunately for them, Adriano Muto equalised midway through the second half and then grabbed the winner in the 91st minute.
The undoubted highlights came in the Champion's League. Roma stumbled to victory against RC genk and Juve outclassed Newcastle in the Delle Alpi. The only disappointment being the injury to Di Vaio. The most impressive result of the week though was Milan's triumph in Munich, a week after their great win in Spain against Deportivo. Pippo Inzaghi netted twice and a great last minute save by Dida ensured that the rossoneri earned their third straight Group G victory. The return in the Giuseppe Meazza could see Bayern go out at the first group stage, which would be a shame!!
Berlusconi returned to Milanello last week for the first time in eighteen months. He forsees domestic and European success, believing this to be a new cycle for Milan, based on Pirlo. Hard to disagree on the evidence so far but time will tell. Generally, in European competition, the Italian teams are regaining their pre-eminence, at a time when the national team have slumped to tenth in the world rankings it is pleasant to see this return to a normal state of affairs.
Last weekend in A.
Roma 4 Udinese 1. The giallorossi finally woke themselves up and swept aside Udinese. Montella, Batistuta and two for Totti, the latter being worth the price of admission alone, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Unfortunately, the Roma captain sustained a slight knee injury and is now a doubt for Italy's upcoming qualifiers against Yugoslavia and Wales.
Milan 6 Torino 0. Good and bad news for Juve, the Granata are humbled but Milan look good. Even Inzaghi keeps on scoring, this time netting a hat-trick. Pirlo, perhaps player of the season so far, although Inzaghi and Seedorf would contest this title, got the ball rolloing with a 20th minute penalty. Serginho and Fattori, the latter an unfortunate own goal, were the other marksmen.
Young Pirlo is fabulous, he looked excellent in a low key match at Ibrox and is fulfiling the potential he showed at an early age, much to Silvio Berlusconi's pleasure. Inter may wonder why they let him go, as with Seedorf who has been rejuvenated by the move from the nerazzurri.
Piacenza 1 Inter 4.
Without Toldo and Vieri, amongst others, Cuper's team weathered an early storm to win comprehensively at the Stadio Garilli. Di Biagio scored twice, Recoba and Crespo adding a goal each. Maresca replied for the home team. Hubner missed a few chances and was bizarrely dismissed for requesting a corner. Inter continue to lead the way but I doubt they'll stay there.
Atalanta 0 Lazio 1.
At the Stadio Azzurri d'Italia the biancocelesti recorded their second away win of the season. Vavassori's time in Bergamo may be limited now as Cesar condemned them to another defeat. Lazio are no longer a team of superstars and Cragnotti's pre-season words that he knew what he was doing when he let Nesta and Crespo go may well prove to be correct. I did laugh at the time though.
Juventus 1 Como 1.
Zalayeta saved La Vecchia Signora's blushes with a late strike to cancel out Fabio Pecchia's opener for newly promoted Como. The ex Napoli and Juventus player took advantage of slack defence and, with the aid of an offside Binotto, crashed the ball past Buffon. Juve could have won it after equalising but the minnows held on for the shock of the weekend.
Other scores:
Chievo 2 Modena 0
Emploi 0 Bologna 0
Parma 2 Perugia 2
Reggina 2 Brescia 2
Standings (after 4 games)
Inter 12
Milan 10
Bologna 8
Juventus 8
Empoli 7
Lazio 7
Roma 6
There are no games this weekend as Italy play Yugoslavia in the San Paolo
(Naples) on Saturday and Wales in Cardiff on Wednesday. Ex-Rangers target
Mattteo Ferrari earns a call up and the injured duo, Totti and Inzaghi are
also included. Gennaro Gattuso is there as usual but can someone tell me
why Doni and Marazzina are included?
Abbiati (Milan), Buffon (Juventus).
Adani, Cannavaro and Coco (Inter), Ferrari (Parma), Iuliano (Juventus),
Nesta (Milan), Oddo (Lazio) and Panucci (Roma). Zauri and Doni (Atalanta), Ambrosini (Milan), Di Biagio (Inter), Gattuso and Pirlo (Milan) plus Tommasi (Roma). Del Piero (Juventus), Inzaghi (Milan), Marazzina (Chievo), Montella and Totti (Roma).
Good luck to Italy in both games.