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Parma 2-0 Catania
Jan 23rd
Giovinco and Candreva strikes ensure Diego Simeone’s first game as Catania boss ends in defeat…
Sebastian Giovinco and Antonio Candreva were both on target as Parma beat struggling Catania in style to spoil Diego Simeone’s Serie A coach debut.
Having warmed up their shooting in the first half, both men finally started hitting the back of the net after the interval with Candreva tapping home a loose ball before Giovinco made the points safe with a brilliant free-kick on the hour.
Pasquale Marino came into the game with the sound of pre-match rumours claiming this could be his last stint at the helm following last week’s loss at Brescia – that noise was watered-down as enthusiasm took centre-stage.
For Catania meanwhile it was all change at the top as Diego Simeone took his first match in charge after replacing Marco Giampaolo in midweek.
And it was Simeone’s men who went on the charge early on. Adrian Ricchiuti was fouled by Blerim Dzemaili, but the cleverly-worked free-kick failed to get the better of Parma who defended well.
The early exchanges were decent at best with neither side committing too much energy going forwards. Parma responded through Cristian Zaccardo who should have scored from Giovinco’s corner, but incredibly he missed the target from close range.
Maxi Lopez recently said his game could do with a few more goals after five in 18 games to date, but he will have to refine his finishing further after firing a right-foot shot into the arms of Antonio Mirante.
However, it was Parma who enjoyed the early dominance. Hernan Crespo, Giovinco and Candreva were all presented with decent chances, but the finishing failed to lift their side off the ground.
Ricchiuti was pulling the strings for the Sicilians as he responded to calls from Simeone on the bench. His brilliant assist was made to measure for Alejandro Gomez, but the midfielder fired wide.
Still, after Parma’s positive control, it seemed as if Catania had started to take control of the game with a commanding presence, limiting the home side to long-range shooting which never really troubled Mariano Andujar.
Eventually the Gialloblu found the breakthrough with Candreva latching onto a lose ball to tap home from close range. Francesco Valiani supplied the cross for Mariano Angelo’s knock-on which seemed to have crossed the line, but Candreva made sure to claim his second goal of the season.
It wasn’t long before the home side doubled their lead. Giovinco scored a screamer of a free-kick on the hour to remind Simeone of the challenges he faces as new Catania boss.
Parma 1 – 2 Cagliari
Jan 10th
Robert Acquafresca broke a four-month goal drought with a brace as Cagliari shocked the Tardini.
The Ducali were brimming with confidence after their 4-1 triumph away to Juventus on Thursday. Only Marques was unavailable for the Tardini outfit. Cagliari suffered a barely deserved last-gasp home defeat to Milan and missed Andrea Lazzari from midfield.
Parma’s last win in this fixture was back in April 2007. Antonio Candreva couldn’t quite get his head to an inviting Sebastian Giovinco cross, but moments later at the other end Andrea Cossu fired off target from a promising position.
Cagliari broke the deadlock with Robert Acquafresca after 22 minutes. A poor Gabriel Paletti clearance gave him the ball in the D and he picked his spot, curling a powerful left-foot finish past Antonio Mirante. It was his first goal since September 11 2010.
Acquafresca has had a dire few years in Serie A, but doubled his tally at the Tardini. He did brilliantly to wait for the right moment, trap a long ball and whack the angled drive across the goalkeeper.
It was a remarkable turn of events, as Parma had until then only conceded four times on home turf all season. Michael Agazzi had to rush off his line to smother at the feet of Giovinco, then the goalkeeper did brilliantly to deny Cristian Zaccardo in a one-on-one.
Cagliari nearly made it 3-0 right after the restart, as Mirante flew to deny a Daniele Conti free kick.
Parma got back into it with Giovinco’s third goal in two games. It was a magnificent solo effort, as the youngster shook off three defenders on the edge of the box to curl a left-foot finish towards the far post.
Agazzi smothered at Hernan Crespo’s feet from a free kick, but Raffaele Palladino had a good penalty shout ignored when he appeared to be felled by Michele Canini.
Both sides had complaints about the referee, as there were also penalty appeals from Alessandro Matri for a shirt-tug and an Alessandro Lucarelli tackle from behind.
In the final minutes an Astori goalline clearance denied Palladino the equaliser, but Mirante stopped Alessandro Matri from adding a third to the Cagliari tally.
Parma: Mirante; Zaccardo, Paletta, Lucarelli, Gobbi (Modesto 67); Morrone, Dzemaili (Palladino 46), Candreva; Valiani (Calvo 81), Crespo, Giovinco
Cagliari: Agazzi; Pisano (Perico 72), Canini, Astori, Agostini; Biondini, Conti, Nainggolan; Cossu (Laner 90); Nenè, Acquafresca (Matri 62)
Ref: Candussio
Parma 2 – 0 Brescia
Aug 30th
Sebastian Giovinco made an inspirational Parma debut, even though he didn’t get either of the goals.
Newly-promoted Brescia made their return to Serie A after five years and could count on new faces like Eder, who was top scorer in Serie B last season, and ex-West Ham star Alessandro Diamanti. Mareco and the suspended Hetemaj were unavailable for this opener. Parma will be without Italy defender Daniele Galloppa until January following knee ligament surgery, but Sebastian Giovinco makes his debut behind Valeri Bojinov.
Davide Possanzini had the first real chance for Brescia, as he got behind Massimo Paci to prod a low Vass cross into the grateful arms of Antonio Mirante from six yards.
It was Parma who broke the deadlock, though. Marques and Giovinco combined to set up the third prong of their trident attack, Bojinov. Former Juventus starlet Hiovinco’s divine chipped pass went over the defence and sent the Bulgarian through for a cool finish.
A couple of Giovinco low drives tested Matteo Sereni at the near post, while the away goalkeeper also denied Zaccardo and a Giovinco free kick, but Brescia’s new signing Diamanti struggled to make an impact.
In first half stoppages Andrea Caracciolo had penalty appeals for a tussle with Massimo Paci as he tried to get his head to a Diamanti free kick.
Parma doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. A free kick was knocked down for Stefano Morrone to sweep in relatively unmarked from five yards after the ball had bobbled past several players.
Brescia nearly scored a spectacular goal two minutes after the restart. Zambelli got down the right and crossed for Caracciolo’s flying backheel flick, but Mirante was at full stretch to fingertip it off the line.
Parma should’ve had a third when Bojinov went on the counter to force Sereni into a save with his trailing leg, but then Marques somehow fired wide of an empty net from seven yards!
‘Atomic Ant’ Giovinco was on fine form and his curling free kick thumped the crossbar on the hour mark.
Brescia continued to have their chances, such as a Possanzini angled drive and Eder header from a free kick, both skimming the woodwork.
Valiani went on the counter-attack and forced a tricky save out of Sereni at the near post.
Parma: Mirante; Zaccardo, Paci, Lucarelli, Antonelli; Valiani, Morrone, Gobbi (Pisano 81); Giovinco (Coppola 86), Bojinov (Paloschi 67), Marques
Brescia: Sereni; Zambelli, Zoboli, Martinez, Dallamano; Kone, Budel (Cordova 55), Vass; Diamanti (Diamanti 61); Possanzini, Caracciolo (Feczesin 80)
Ref: Damato
Bordeaux 2-0 Juventus
Nov 26th
Juve started off with the now traditional 4-2-3-1 formation with Del Piero in the starting line-up. Bordeaux immediately started off with great determination and on the 3rd minute benefited of the first free-kick: Buffon saves incredibly into corner. Three minutes later the French side has another free-kick: Tremoulinas shot hits the wall. Caceres clears.
On the 8th minute, there is a ball into the Juve area. Caceres manages to anticpate the French striker. Four minutes later, there is a corner for Juve: ball dangerously into the area but the defence manages to clear in some way or another.
The 17th minute sees a ball into the Juve area but Melo clears into out. One minute later, there is a good Juve initiative by Diego and Sissoko but the Mali player slips as he is about to score.
On the 22nd minute, there is a free-kick for Juve: ball into the area, Chiellini with a magnificent elevation over Diarra heads the ball off the ground but it goes slightly high. Seconds later there is a great recovery by Chiellini.
It is the 24th minute when there is another corner for Bordeaux: ball cleared by the Juve defence. The French side is awarded another corner one minute laterafter a dangerous deviation in the area: ball into the Juve area but Buffon waves it away before a good clearance by Caceres.
On the 29th minute, a good Sissoko long ball finds Del Piero who passes to Diego who with a good shot sees the keeper saving. Good play by Juve. Two minutes later there is a corner for Bordeaux: the Juve defence clears.
The 35th minute sees a good run by Caceres who crosses to Del Piero but the ball is a bit too long. Three minutes later, Buffon performs a miracle on Chamakh before the ball is cleared by the defence. From the rebound it is a super Chiellini who clears into corner.
Juve continue to defend from the continuous Bordeaux attacks and on the 44th minute there is a free-kick for Bordeaux from outside the area following a foul by Melo: ball goes wide. The first half ends in a deadlock.
The second half sees Juve trying to react but Bordeaux are a hard nut to crack. On the 1st minute Amauri enters the area but he is stopped for off-side. One minute later, there was a great clearance by Chiellini and seconds later, an Amauri cross from the right is intercepted by the defence.
On the 5th minute, there is a free-kick for Bordeaux following dangerous play by Legrottaglie: the Juve comes out well clearing the danger. Three minutes later another free-kick for Bordeaux marks the turning point of the match: ball into the area and Fernando heads home for the opener: 1-0.
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Juventus 1-0 Udinese
Nov 24th
A goal by Fabio Grosso early in the second half was enough for Juventus to beat Udinese in a disappointing encounter and move within five points of leaders Inter…
Juventus welcomed Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico hoping to get back within five points of runaway leaders Inter.
The home side started strongly and after just a minute Diego made a good run on the right and fired a cross-shot that hit the outside of the net.
The Brazilian playmaker threatened again in the 5th minute, when he fired a shot from distance that was parried by goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, and as the ball came back down Cristian Zapata did well to clear the ball away from Amauri.
Seven minutes later Mauro Camoranesi sent in a dangerous cross toward the far post which found Sebastian Giovinco, whose left-footed shot was well-saved by Handanovic.
After that there was a long quiet period in the match, as both sides struggled to create chances. At the half hour mark, there was a chance for Camoranesi as he was in a good position to shoot following a corner kick, but his shot was blocked.
Eight minutes later the Italian international found Amauri in the area after a good team move, but the striker couldn’t beat Handanovic with his volleyed shot.
A minute before half time, Udinese saw a goal chalked off for offside as Gaetano D’Agostino’s shot from the edge of the area was turned in by Mauricio Isla, who was judged to be beyond the last Juventus defender when D’Agostino struck his shot.
During the break neither coach opted to make a change.
Five minutes in, Juve finally broke the deadlock, as Christian Poulsen sent the ball forward for Jose Caceres, who played it back into the area to Fabio Grosso, and the Italian international full back had no problems beating Handanovic.
The home side continued to attack after that, and in the 64th minute after a nice one-two on the left between substitute Alessandro Del Piero and Diego, the Brazilian sent in a cross that was parried by Handanovic, and on the rebound Mohamed Sissoko fired a shot that went just over the bar.
A minute later Udinese had their first real chance, with a shot by Antonio Floro Flores from the edge of the area that was parried away by Buffon with his foot.
In the 77th minute, Handanovic had to come up with a great save to prevent an own goal by Dusan Basta, as a Del Piero corner kick accidentally landed on the defender’s head and nearly put Juve 2-0 up.
Five minutes later, the Juventus captain claimed a penalty as he controlled a pass by Fabio Cannavaro and appeared to be brought down by Basta, but the referee waved play on.
In injury time there were a couple more dangerous incidents. In the 93rd minute Zapata forced Buffon into a good save with a low left-footed shot, and a minute later Bernardo Corradi seemed to be brought down by Giorgio Chiellini, but the referee didn’t give a penalty.
In the end the home side held on to their slim lead and earned a priceless victory that allows them to move within five points of leaders Inter. Currently they are second with 27 points, while Udinese are 14th with 15 points.
