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| | Spotlight: Swiss world |
Thursday 20 March, 2008
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| Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 29 of the Serie A season |
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The winners…
Valon Behrami (Lazio)
The biggest games can produce unlikely heroes and few would have expected Behrami to decide the Rome derby. Injuries have stopped us seeing the best of the Swiss international in recent times, but he popped up with his fourth career Serie A goal to vanquish the Giallorossi and earn hero status in the blue half of the Eternal City.
Igor Budan (Parma)
Budan is back. The Crociati's top scorer from last season has an impeccable sense of timing and has returned from serious injury to give a struggling side a shot in the arm. His brace earned three precious points against Palermo and it's as if the Ducali have a new signing.
Franco Brienza (Reggina)
Who knew the Palermo benchwarmer had it in him? After years of being a bit-part player in Sicily, Brienza has richly rewarded Reggina's trust in him and is dragging the Calabrians towards safety. Last night's goal alone justified the decision to loan him.
The losers…
Pelé (Inter)
The one thing that Roberto Mancini didn't need last night was to be left with 10 men once again. The Portuguese youngster showed he still has a lot of growing up to do as he blew a rare shot at a starting place and possibly cost his team two vital points.
Tiago Mendes (Juventus)
It's one step forward and two backwards for the hapless ex-Chelsea man. After an overdue improvement during the last couple of games, Tiago was back to his anonymous worst against Empoli and misplaced almost every pass.
Moris Carrozzieri (Atalanta)
There's no doubting the towering stopper's ability - if only he could stay on the field for long enough to prove it. Carrozzieri got his marching orders once again against Cagliari and is Serie A's most notorious bad boy with two reds and 15 yellows to his name.
The goals…
Marco Borriello (Genoa)
The loose ball pinging around the box could so easily have gone anywhere, but Borriello positioned himself in milliseconds for a fantastic scissor-kick. That's a pure goalscorer's instinct.
Simone Perrotta (Roma)
A classic Roma-style team effort. Mirko Vucinic held up the ball with his back to goal, Francesco Totti rolled it across and Simone Perrotta came speeding through the Lazio defence to finish it off.
Simone Pepe (Udinese)
Often overlooked in the Friulani trident, Pepe curled a perfect free kick in off the inside of the upright. Andrea Pirlo would have been proud of such a strike.
The numbers…
San Siro success
Sampdoria beat Milan at San Siro for the first time in 11 years. The Blucerchiati's 2-1 win was their first triumph on Rossoneri soil since February 2, 1997 when they edged a dramatic game 3-2.
The Great Escape?
Cagliari's Houdini impression continues as the Sardinians' win over Atalanta took their tally for the second half of the season to 17 points - already more than the modest 10 they secured in the first 19 rounds.
All or nothing
Napoli don't do things by halves. The Vesuviani haven't drawn in the second half of the season - they have won four and lost six.
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| Words: Paul Watson |
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Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of the 2007-08 Serie A campaign. More |
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