The Italian league has proven surprisingly unpredictable this season with relegation favourites Lazio leading the way for some time, whilst perennial league winners Inter Milan had so far endured a difficult campaign.
But there was a familiar feel to proceedings this weekend, with Roma, Milan, Lazio and Juventus dropping points and Inter Milan winning comfortably.
It all started on Saturday, as AC Milan missed out on the chance to extend their lead in Serie A, after drawing 1-1 with Sampdoria.
The first half saw the Rosoneri dominate, with Brazilian Robinho scoring just before the break. But Sampdoria, who were once again without troubled star Antonio Cassano, had another of their Italian forwards to thank in the second half as Giampaolo Pazzini scored just before the hour mark. Though Milan pressed for a winner late on, ultimately a draw was the fairest reflection on an entertaining game.
Elsewhere, Juventus failed to capitalize on this setback, as they were also held to a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina. In fact, the Viola led for much of the game, courtesy of a Marco Motta own goal. In the end it took a mistake from goalkeeper Artur Boruc, who had been at his shot stopping best up until that point, for Juve to draw level through Simone Pepe’s capitalizing.
Brazilian defender Felipe received a red card for Fiorentina late on, but the Viola held on for a much needed point.
The draw did however see Juventus move level with Napoli on 24 points, after the Sky Blues suffered a defeat away to the quickly improving Udinese.
Tellingly, Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale was back on form following something of a world cup hangover. Last season’s top scorer put the home side two goals up before half time, with a well taken penalty and a curling effort from all of 30 yards.
And the hat trick was completed in bizarre fashion on 57 minutes as Marek Hamšík allowed a Di Natale corner to slip through his legs at the near post.
The Slovakian midfielder made something of amends two minutes later, with a well taken goal. The comeback then seemed on when Napoli were awarded a penalty. But Hamšík returned to the role of villain once more as keeper Handanovič saved his well taken effort.
Roma meanwhile lost at league rivals Palermo. The Eagles took the lead on 20 minutes after Fabrizio Miccoli, who had just returned from injury, scored the opener.
The home side’s second goal came on the hour mark as Josip Iličić made it two, before just five minutes later Antonio Nocerino added a third. There was to be no repeat of Roma’s midweek Champions League heroics against Bayern Munich, although Francesco Totti still grabbed a consolation in stoppage time.
Their cross town rivals Lazio, also failed to take advantage of AC Milan’s slip after drawing at home to league struggler Catania. The visitors even took a brief lead through Matias Silvestre on 44 minutes.
But just a minute later Lazio were level through Brazilian Hernanes. The second half saw both sides draw a blank in front of goal as the home side remained three points off of the top spot.
All of which was good news for Rafa Benitez’s under pressure Inter Milan, who enjoyed a high scoring win over relegation plagued Parma.
It had started badly for the defending champions too with old boy Hernan Crespo scoring for Parma after just four minutes. Fortunately, Inter had a couple of reliable old boys of their own, as first Dejan Stankovic scored two in the space of two minutes and then Esteban Cambiasso added a third to put the home side in control. But back came Parma as Crespo scored his second on 36 minutes, making it 3-2 at half-time!
The second half was a tight affair which was ultimately decided in the closing stages with first Thiago Motta scoring on 72 minutes and then three minutes later Stankovic adding a fifth to complete another hat trick in Serie A this weekend.
The defeat did little to help strugglers Parma, as Cagliari rose above them thanks to a precious win against Lecce. Two goals from Alessandro Matri in the opening quarter of the game, as well as a third from Michele Canini put Cagliari into a commanding position at half time. But second half goals from Ruben Olivera and David Di Michele saw Lecce threatening to stage the unlikeliest of comebacks. In the end though, Cagliari held on for a much needed victory.
Elsewhere Cesena drew level on points with Lecce, after drawing away at Bari. The visitors had taken the lead through a Giuseppe Colucci penalty on 62 minutes, but the lead lasted only two minutes as Francesco Caputo levelled for the home side.
Brescia also endured a disappointing weekend, drawing 0-0 at home to Genoa in a result that suited neither side’s ambitions. Snow fall had threatened to call a halt to proceedings at the Stadio Rigamonti, but the pitch was eventually deemed playable.
The same could not be said for the game between Bologna and Chievo, which had been initially called off to wait for conditions to improve, but to no avail.
It may have been a chilly weekend of action in Italy, but when it comes to the Serie A title race, Inter may just be warming up.