When Napoli lost 3-1 to Inter Milan in mid week many saw the result as the clearest indication yet that the resurgent Sky blues were not quite ready to challenge for the Serie A title. But just days later the Naples based outfit appear to have taken full advantage of mistakes from those around them.
It was also a good weekend for Inter Milan and new coach Leonardo who maintained his 100% record with a hard fought win away to a tricky Catania side. After a goalless first half the game sprang to life when Alejandro Gómez gave the home side the lead on 71 minutes.
The goal provided the perfect catalyst for Inter as midfielder Esteban Cambiasso scored four minutes later to level the match and then again on 79 minutes to complete the turn around and leave Inter thirteen points off the top, but with two games in hand on their rivals.
The defeat left Catania in 13th and on 21 points along with Bologna and Chievo who both picked up valuable points over the weekend. Bologna enjoyed their first win in four games against bottom side Bari. Albin Ekdal opened the scoring on 38 minutes in what could yet prove a crucial win for the struggling side. Talismanic striker Marco Di Vaio sealed the win with 21 minutes remaining as Bologna moved further away from the relegation zone.
It was a more frustrating tale for Chievo whose impressive display against in form Palermo brought them only a 0-0 draw. The Flying Donkeys had struggled for points in recent weeks but proved more than a match for the Sicilian club. Ultimately it was a tale of two goalkeepers, with Palermo’s keeper Salvatore Sirigu providing a man of the match performance along with Chievo’s Stefano Sorrentino also being on top form.
Moving one point above Chievo are Fiorentina and Cagliari who both secured valuable wins against fellow strugglers Brescia and Parma respectively.
The Viola left it late to stage a comeback against Brescia at the Artemio Franchi stadium. Brescia were 2-0 up at half time through an Alessandro Diamanti goal on 30 minutes and a Nicolas Cordova free kick. And it stayed that way until the 72nd minute when Alberto Gilardino reduced the deficit for the home side.
Just when it seemed as though Fiorentina’s comeback had run out of steam, Mario Santana scored with four minutes remaining before Manchester United reject Adem Ljajić struck another goal a minute later to seal the last gasp win.
Cagliari meanwhile had Genoa loanee Robet Acquafresca to thank for securing a priceless home victory against Parma. The 23 year old grabbed a nine minute brace to put the home side in control and although Sebastian Giovinco pulled one goal back in the second half, Cagliari stood strong to leapfrog their opponents.
The win also saw Cagliari move above Cesena, despite the newly relegated club picking up a well earned point at home to Genoa. The no score draw saw Cesena extend their recent unbeaten run to four games and move away from the bottom three.
In truth Genoa missed numerous chances to take the lead with Houssine Kharja and Mattia Destro both guilty of missing guilt edged chances for the visitors. In the end the home side were lucky to escape with a 0-0 which nevertheless helped their continuing fight for Serie A survival.
The draw meant that Genoa remained fell three points behind Europa League qualification rival Sampdoria, after the latter snatched the win in a heated encounter with Roma at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
A battling game saw Roma take the lead on 18 minutes through Mirko Vučinić. Just before the hour mark though, the game was flipped on it’s head as Roma keeper Julio Sergio committed a foul in the box and was sent off, thus allowing Nicola Pozzi to level the scores from the spot.
With the man advantage the hosts completed their turnaround with Stefano Guberti scoring on 83 minutes after a defensive mix up from Roma.
The closing stages of the game saw the away side’s hopes of an equaliser heightened as first Stefano Lucchini and then Daniele Gastaldello received second yellow cards to leave Sampdoria with nine men. However Claudio Ranieri's team were unable to salvage a draw, although they remain fourth in the table.
Meanwhile Udinese's lead over Sampdoria was cut to a point, though it could have been much more with the little Zebras seemingly on course for a famous win over league leaders AC Milan at the San Siro.
In truth the visitors probably should have wrapped up the points after taking a 3-1 lead at one stage of the match. Antonio Di Natale opened the scoring in the first half before Brazilian Alexandre Pato levelled up things in first half injury time.
Alexis Sánchez and Di Natale (again) then gave Udinese a commanding lead before a Mehdi Benatia own goal on 78 minutes and then a second Pato goal on 82 minutes brought AC Milan level.
But there was to be another twist when Argentine striker German Denis scored with a minute remaining to put the visitors back out in front. And yet the greatest twist of all was reserved for AC Milan and their player of the season so far Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with the big Swede scoring in the 90th minute after excellent work from new signing Antonio Cassano.
Away from Milan, second place Lazio endured another disappointing result at home, this time to second bottom Lecce. Lazio were poor throughout the game and a disappointing first half was typified in the 39th minute when keeper Nelson Muslera scored a bizarre own goal to give Lecce the lead.
The second half saw the home side quickly improve with Stefano Mauri grabbing an equaliser two minutes into the half. Yet Lecce would not be denied the win which saw them move from the bottom of the table, and 19 minutes from time Carlos Grossmüller scored to give the visitors a priceless win in an otherwise difficult season.
With Milan drawing and Lazio losing, Napoli had the chance to move closer to contention for the Serie A crown. But they first had to overcome a high flying Juventus side that had recently added Italian goal machine Luca Toni to their books.
However, what promised to be a close fought encounter proved anything but as Uruguayan star Edinson Cavani took centre stage with a famous hat trick. Goals on 20 and 26 minutes put the home side in control and though the second half saw Juve push forward in search of a way back into the game, the win was ultimately sealed as early as the 53rd minute with Cavani completing his treble.
Napoli take second spot from Lazio and move to within four points of AC Milan. Could a new decade see an end to the North Italian dominance of Serie A? Or will AC hold on for their first scudetto in over five years? Then of course there’s still Inter, not to mention the Old Lady who hasn’t quite sung yet...