With Roma’s Saturday draw, Juventus knew they only needed the same to stay ahead. Instead, led by two goals from Tevez, they won comfortably and distanced themselves at the top of the table. Elsewhere, Napoli turned up the pressure in third, and Inter failed to take advantage of Empoli.
Let’s get to the games:
Empoli (0) – Internazionale (0)
While Inter might have come in with high hopes, it took tough saves from goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to keep level and insure they left with the single point. Empoli controlled much of the first half, with one of the only moments of promise coming from a Fredy Guarin shot that whizzed past the post. Inter was much stronger in the second half, but despite multiple chances, they were unable to secure a win.
Palermo (1) – AS Roma (1)
Palermo went ahead in the 2nd minute, but even the substitution of Francesco Totti 10 minutes from the end could not pull out the win, as Roma drew for their second game in a row. Paulo Dybala scored for Palermo to start things off with a easy one-on-one with the keeper, notching his 10th goal of the season. Roma seemed stunned by the early goal, and failed to register a shot on goal in the first half. In the 54th minute, however, Kevin Strootman pushed a Pjanic free-kick into the path of Mattia Destro who scored to pull even. Roma pushed to try to get all three points, but were unsuccessful and now fall 5 points behind Juventus at the end of the weekend.
Lazio (0) – Napoli (1)
Napoli turned up the heat and focused their eyes on second place Roma with a win over Lazio, dropping the Romans to 5th place. Gonzalo Higuain scored the game’s only goal with a run from the right flank past Lucas Biglia and a hard shot past the goalkeeper. Lazio increasingly grew frustrated with the deficit and threw everything they had at the game, including Miroslav Klose in the second half, but were unable to pull even as the second half did not result any many good chances for either side.
AC Milan (0) – Atalanta (1)
AC Milan continued their slide, having now won only once in the last 10 matches, after losing at home to Atalanta who is fighting the relegation battle. In the 33rd minute, AC Milan’s offside trap bit them as Maximiliano Moralez threaded a pass through to Denis who dropped the shot into the bottom-left corner, giving the visitors the lead. After a lackluster first half, the hosts turned up the heat in the second half, but the resolute defending of Atalanta kept Milan frustrated and insured all of the points for the visitors.
Cesena (2) – Torino (3)
The most exciting finish of the weekend saw Torino steal away victory in the final three minutes. Torino went ahead in the 20th minute with a Benassi right-footed shot that beat the Cesena keeper. They doubled their lead two minutes later when Alexander Farnerud was again provider, this time to Quagliarella who tucked in a shot at the far post. The duck only lasted until the 40th minute, though, when Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli brought down Franco Brienza in the box, and Brienza converted the penalty to get Cesena back into the game. A second penalty was scored five minutes from time after Pontus Jansson’s handball, but Torino had one more surprise up their sleeves. Quagliarella set up Maxi Lopez within the six-yard box and his right-footed shot put Torino ahead and ultimately gave them the victory.
Chievo Verona (1) – Fiorentina (2)
Fiorentina pick up their eighth win of the campaign on a last-minute winner from Khouma Babacar. The first half almost ended in deadlock, as neither team was able to properly challenge the other until the Fiorentina’s Nenad Tomovic headed a cross into the back of the net. Shortly after, Cheivo found an equalizer when a failed clearance led to Sergio Pellissier’s shot in the 72nd minute. Cheivo had the momentum to the end, but Fiorentina would up with the final goal, as Babacar sent a powerful header into the net, capturing all three points for the visitors.
Genoa (3) – Sassuolo (3)
Genoa came back from behind three times to earn a draw and stay alive in the race for international position. The hosts gave up an early penalty when Maxine Lestienne fouled Domenico Berardi in the box, and Berardi converted to put the visitors ahead. Genoa found an equalizer just six minutes later when Lestienne set up Iago Falque for an easy left-footed shot. After the break, Sassuolo scored again when Genoa failed to clear a corner and Simone Missiroli was left unmarked for a tap-in. Two minutes later, Genoa answered again, this time through a short-range goal by Ioannis Fetfatzidis from Lestienne. With 21 minutes remaining, Zaza set up Berardi in the box who put Sassuolo up 3-2. In the dying moments, however, Genoa’s Kucka went down in the box and a Fatfatzidis penalty gave each side a point.
Parma (0) – Sampdoria (2)
Sampdoria needed a win to keep pace with third-place Napoli, and got it over a Parma side at the bottom spot in the table. Gonzalo Bergessio put the visitors on the board early in the second half with an assist from Eder. Roberto Soriano scored the second in a rebound off of the post on a Bergessio shot. Sampdoria’s win was a good omen as additional firepower in the form of Luis Muriel and Samuel Eto’o are set to join the club on Monday.
Udinese (2) – Cagliari (2)
Udinese passed on the opportunity for more than a draw against the relegation-zone Cagliari squad. Just before halftime, the visitor’s Joao Pedro put a shot into the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area. Udinese responded quickly, starting with a long-distance shot from Allan and followed two minutes later when Thomas Heurtaux headed in an Antonio Di Natale cross to give the home team the lead. Cagliari was the harder working team as time began to run out, and in stoppage time a penalty for handball in the box was converted by Danilo Avelar to deny Udinese a win.
Juventus (4) – Hellas Verona (0)
Carlos Tevez proved the star as Juventus used the Roma draw as an opportunity to pull away, distancing themselves by 5 points at the end of the weekend. In the third minute, Alvaro Morata set up Paul Pogba who finished on the ground from 25 yards out. Less than four minutes later, Pogba dummied a cross in and Tevez calmly finished from 16 yards out for his first on the night. Juve went up 3-0 when Giorgio Chiellini set up Roberto Pereyra with a perfect ball to run on to, and he easily converted. Just eight minutes later, Tevez got his brace with a pass from Marchisio and a shot through the legs of the keeper.