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ATALANTA 0
UDINESE 0

Bianco was sent off for doing a Shawcross on Sanchez. Bianco actually had the ball but overran it then jumpe14 March 2010

BOLOGNA 1 (Raggi 92)
SAMPDORIA 1 (Gastaldello 86)

Four minutes from time Gastaldello gave Samp the lead from a short corner but his team-mates threw away the points when a lazily played offside trap allowed Raggi to sneak up from the right and slam a shot past Storari.

Attendance : 18,573
Assists : Ziegler, Lanna

GENOA 5 (Zapater 36 Pen, Palacio 39, Sculli 43, Rossi 45, Milanetto 59)
CAGLIARI 3 (Dessena 17, Conti 41, Matri 55 Pen)

Matri turned a defender in the box before flashing a ball across the face of goal, Dessena got the faintest of touches but scored nonetheless. Rubinho should have been sent off for tripping Larrivey as he ran in on goal, I can only assume the fact that he got both hands on the ball is the reason he stayed on the pitch. Genoa hit the woodwork for a third time before Palacio went over to win a penalty. Three minutes after Zapater had equalised Palacio converted a Palladino centre at the second time of asking after kicking it against his trailing leg. Cossu pulled down a longball and laid it off for Conti to side-foot past Rubinho. Sculli put Genoa back in front following a spot of head tennis and Rossi rifled in a Milanetto cross to send Genoa 4-2 up at half time. Matri made it 4-3 from the penalty spot but Genoa quickly reasserted their authority with a fine goal. Sculli lobbed a ball into the box, Palacio headed down and Milanetto volleyed wide of Marchetti.

Attendance : 26,000
Assists : Matri, Palacio (won pen), Palladino, Cossu, Papastathopoulos, Cossu (won pen), Palacio

JUVENTUS 3 (Del Piero 2, Del Piero 7, Candreva 10)
SIENA 3 (Maccarone 16, Ghezzal 46, Ghezzal 74 Pen)

A mix-up between Curci and one of his centre backs gifted Del Piero with an open goal. Fittingly Del Piero’s 301st career goal was a spectacular right foot volley, which forced a change of T-Shirts from his family members commemorating this particular feat in the executive boxes. Candreva, who should be Italy’s standout midfielder at the World Cup, made it 3-0 with a stunning shot from 25 yards. Six minutes later Grygera made another hospital pass (thought it wasn’t as bad as the one against Palermo) and Maccarone ran wide of Cannavaro before beating Juve’s third choice goalkeeper Chimenti at his near post. Siena were surprisingly aggressive in search of more goals and got one early in the second half when Ghezzal tapped over the line after Maccarone’s shot came back off a post. Juve had a shot cleared off the line and Siena hit the woodwork for a second time before Grygera invitingly stuck out a leg in the box and Maccarone obliged by going over.

Juve were probably tired from mid-week and faded badly in the second half.

Attendance : 22,804
Assists : n/a, n/a, Trezeguet, n/a, n/a, Maccarone (won pen)

LIVORNO 3 (Lucarelli 9, Lucarelli 26, Lucarelli 71 Pen)
ROMA 3 (Perrotta 10, Toni 19, Pizarro 28)

Lucarelli played Roma’s offside trap like a fiddle, running from an offside position into an onside position the second Moro sent a ball over the top and he ran clear of Riise to hook a shot into the bottom corner. Perrotta equalised less than a minute later after Taddei flicked on a Toni header with back heel volley. Lovely goal. Perrotta flicked on a Pizarro free kick and Toni headed in at the back post. Roma’s offside trap failed again, leaving Lucarelli with another run on goal, 2-2. Pizarro made a late run into the box to blast in a loose ball and send Roma 2-3 up at the break. The normally dependable Chilean playmaker blew a penalty, hitting the woodwork. Lucarelli made no such mistake after Juan handled in the box.

Ranieri never learns. The offside trap is a mug’s game and has been since FIFA changed the rules back in 1994.

Attendance : 12,358
Assists : Moro, Taddei, Perrotta, Di Gennaro, n/a, n/a

LAZIO 0
BARI 2 (Almiron 51, Alvarez 64)

Muslera fumbled a free kick and Almiron pounced to score against the run of play. Bari’s second came on the break. Meggiorini ran into a Lazio player and shoulder charged him off the ball then passed out wide to Alvarez, the Honduran has pace to burn and left the Lazio defence in his wake then showed all too rare composure to round Muslera and lob into an empty net. Donati pulled back Cruz to concede a penalty. Kolarov, who has an explosive shot, saw his weak spot kick saved by Gillet.

Attendance : 45,000
Assists : n/a, Meggiorini

PARMA 1 (Bojinov 71)
ATALANTA 0

Attendance : 15,695
Red Card : Doni (Atalanta)
Assist : Crespo

UDINESE 3 (Floro Flores 44, Floro Flores 65, Asamoah 70)
PALERMO 2 (Simplicio 51, Cavani 80)

Floro Flores rifled in a loose ball on the stroke of half time. Six minutes after replacing the injured Pastore Simplicio combined with Miccoli to draw Palermo level. Di Natale angled a ball over two defenders and Floro Flores let it bounce before shooting under a defenders legs past Sirigu. Di Natale made what proved to be the winning goal with an exquisite pass. He flicked the ball up with his instep, turned and volleyed over Kjaer, Asamoah took a touch before lobbing over Sirigu. Cavani scored with a corkscrew scissor kick which was not nearly as impressive as it sounds, not enough hang time.

Attendance : 14,000
Assists : n/a, Miccoli, Di Natale, Di Natale, Liverani

MILAN 1 (Seedorf 91)
CHIEVO 0

This game was notable for the fact that it could well be the last David Beckham ever plays. On 87 minutes he was about to kick a ball when he suddenly pulled on holding his calf. He left the field on a stretcher. Milan later revealed he tore a tendon in his left leg and would be out of action for between five-six months and as he’s 35 in May there’s a possibility he’ll never play again. Seedorf came off the bench to grab three points in this abomination of a football match with a spectacular shot from the edge of the box.

Attendance : 37,866n/a
Assist : n/a

13 March 2010

NAPOLI 1 (Lavezzi 48)
FIORENTINA 3 (Gilardino 60, Gilardino 87, Jovetic 95)

Gilardino left Napoli ‘keeper De Sanctis with a bloody mouth after catching him with a boot when attacking a cross. Midget Lavezzi did what team-mate Denis had failed to do on a couple of occasions when he headed in a cross. The turning point came when Lavezzi was tripped by Felipe in the box, no penalty, no card, terrible decision by the ref. Fiorentina’s SIXTEEN YEAR OLD Senegalese striker, on a second half substitute, controlled a booming long ball on his chest, fell, quickly got to his feet as Lazio defenders tried to clear and poked a ball out wide to Jovetic and his first time cross was headed in by Gilardino. The duo combined to put their side 1-2 up, Jovetic headed on a corner and Gilardino’s flick header beat De Sanctis. The Napoli goalkeeper went up for a last second corner with disastrous results, he was tackled on the edge of the box and the ball broke to Babacar, he took one touch before aiming a shot at goal, he didn’t get enough power but Jovetic burst forward and tapped into an empty net.

Fiorentina are out of Champions League despite winning six of their eight games. Miracle worker Prandelli is either replacing Lippi after the World Cup or Zaccheroni as Juve coach. Wherever he ends up he’ll do a great job. He’s a fantastic coach and will leave Fiorentina in excellent shape for the future. Fiorentina are rumoured to be looking at former club legend Dunga as his replacement.

Attendance : 30,000
Assists : Maggio, Jovetic, Jovetic, Babacar

12 March 2010

CATANIA 3 (Lopez 74, Mascara 81 Pen, Martinez 90)
INTER 1 (Milito 54)

Sneijder hit a phenomenal crossfield pass on the turn to release Eto’o and the Cameroon striker, surprisingly, centred for Milito to tap the four time Champions into the lead. Catania broke quickly after winning the ball in midfield, Alvarez drilled a low centre into the box and Lopez hammered a first time shot into the roof of the net. Silly Muntari lasted two minutes after replacing Cambiasso. He caught Martinez with his trademark leg breaking foul from behind then a minute or so later he emulated Balotelli by punching away a free kick, red card and penalty. Mascara converted with an outrageous Panenka lob. Andujar launched a goalkick into the Inter half, Lucio missed a header, Martinez cut in from the left, went past Lucio and Julio Cesar before tapping into an empty net.

Catania’s first victory over Inter in 44 years. Mihajlovic is doing a super job, so far. Milan and Roma will be hoping Inter go deep in the Champions League so they take an eye off the scudetto. Eto’o has been a massive flop. 8 goals in 23 games is a poor return for a player of his ability. Despite being an immense, lazy idiot Balotelli has 7 in 21.

Attendance : 21,000
Red Card : Muntari 81 (Inter)
Assists : Eto’o, Alvarez, n/a, n/a

LEADERS
59 points - Inter
58 points - Milan
53 points - Roma
46 points - Palermo

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MANCHESTER UNITED 3 (Rooney 46, Rooney 84, Berbatov 89)
FULHAM 0

Man United go two points clear at the top having played a game more than second placed Chelsea after seeing off Fulham at Old Trafford. United had the better of a goalless first half as Dimitar Berbatov headed a golden chance wide and Wayne Rooney’s stinging shot was well saved by keeper Mark Schwarzer. Fulham did have chances themselves as Bobby Zamora looped an effort just over whilst early on Clint Dempsey’s long range effort was only just over the bar. United took less than 30 seconds of the second half to take the lead as Rooney found Nani wide and the return ball was perfect for the striker to slide the ball past the keeper to continue his remarkable scoring run. Zamora missed a good chance to level when he allowed Nemanja Vidic to get back and block his shot after he broke clear and it proved vital as United doubled the lead when Berbatov did well on the right and cross low for Rooney to sweep the ball home. A third followed shortly afterwards when Berbatov got onto the end of a near post cross from Ji-Sung Park to send a diving header into the net.

Attendance : 75,207
Assists : Nani, Berbatov, Park

SUNDERLAND 1 (Jones 9)
MANCHESTER CITY 1 (Johnson 91)

Honours even at the Stadium of Light as a stoppage time goal salvaged a point for Man City at Sunderland. The hosts deservedly led at half time with an early header from Kenwyne Jones which gave keeper Shay Given no chance from Steed Malbranque’s cross. After the break City sub Roque Santa Cruz, Craig Bellamy and Shaun Wright-Phillips were both denied by keeper Craig Gordon within seven minutes of the restart as the visitors stepped up a gear. Carlos Tevez also forced a brilliant reaction save from the home keeper as the game wore on and City continued to press for a leveller. With ten minutes to go Bellamy found space but his shot from a tight angle was again kept out as did a stinging deflected effort from the same man as the game entered stoppage time but from the corner, City finally equalised as the ball wasn’t cleared and fell to sub Adam Johnson on the right edge of the area and he curled a brilliant effort over everyone and into the top corner.

Attendance : 41,398
Assists : Malbranque, n/a

13 March 2010

BIRMINGHAM 2 (Jerome 26, Gardner 52)
EVERTON 2 (Anichebe 19, Yakubu 22)

Birmingham came from two goals down to earn a draw against Everton as both clubs remain in the top half. Everton blazed into a two goal lead as Phil Neville found Victor Anichebe who turned in the area and walloped in an unstoppable shot before Steven Pienaar crossed for Yakubu to nod in at the far post. Birmingham battled back and pulled a goal back within four minutes as Cameron Jerome got the slightest touch on Keith Fahey’s cross to find the net inside the far post and they grabbed a point in the second half when Jerome’s header was volleyed first time into the bottom corner by Craig Gardner.

Attendance : 24,579
Assists : Neville, Pienaar, Fahey, Jerome

BOLTON 4 (Elmander 10, Davies 48 Pen, Muamba 53, Taylor 69)
WIGAN

Bolton moved eight points clear of the drop zone after a thumping win against fellow relegation battlers Wigan. A Kevin Davies header set up Johan Elmander to slot in the opener and then Davies added the second himself from the penalty spot after Tamir Cohen tumbled over Gary Caldwell’s leg and within five minutes they scored again when Fabrice Muamba found the far post with a low shot after being found by Elmander and they completed a fine win when Matt Taylor latched onto a mistake from Caldwell to slot in the fourth

Attendance : 20,053
Assists : n/a, Cohen, Lee, n/a

BURNLEY 1 (Thompson 73)
WOLVES 2 (Jarvis 26, Carlisle 47 og)

Burnley are in free fall after losing a relegation six pointer at home to Wolves, leaving the hosts three points behind their opponents and safety. Wolves led at half time when Tyrone Mears didn’t get enough power on his header back to his keeper, allowing Matt Jarvis to nick the ball past Brian Jensen in goal and tap in from close range. They doubled the lead with a freakish goal as a shot from Adlene Guedioura was heading miles wide but struck the heel of Clarke Carlisle and found the bottom corner. The hosts did pull one back when he headed in Graham Alexander’s bobbled shot but they couldn’t find an equaliser.

Attendance : 21,217
Assists : n/a, n/a, Alexander

CHELSEA 4 (Alex 16, Drogba 45, Malouda 77, Drogba 90)
WEST HAM 1 (Parker 30)

Chelsea regain top spot for 24 hours at least after initially making hard work of seeing off West Ham before a second half goal blitz. They led thanks to a glancing header from Alex after a cross by Florent Malouda however by the interval the Hammers were levelled when Kieron Dyer’s throw was taken on the chest by Scott Parker before he unleashed a cracker of a shot from 30 yards which flew in. After the break, Malouda’s pinpoint cross gave Didier Drogba a simple chance to head in from close range and then roles were reversed as Malouda collected a pass from his team mate and netted from the edge of the area. Late on, Drogba added a fourth from close range again after Robert Green couldn’t hold Frank Lampard’s shot.

Attendance : 41,755
Assists : Malouda (ck), Dyer, Malouda, n/a, n/a

HULL 1 (Bullard 28 Pen)
ARSENAL 2 (Arshavin 14, Bendtner 93)

Arsenal go level on points with Chelsea at the top having played a game more as they netted a stoppage time winner at ten man Hull. Arsenal went ahead when Nicklas Bendtner found Andrey Arshavin on the edge of the area and after squeezing between two defenders, he fired a low shot into the net. Hull levelled after a flicked pass found Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink in an offside position but play continued and he was bundled over by Sol Campbell, allowing Jimmy Bullard to wallop home the spot kick. Late in the half saw a flurry of bookings with three yellow cards in as many minutes and a fourth followed in stoppage time as George Boateng was shown a second yellow - although it perhaps should have been a straight red anyway - for a studs first late challenge onto the knee of Bacary Sagna. Hull looked to have held on during the late second half onslaught but three minutes into the six extra, Denilson’s long range effort was palmed away by keeper Boaz Myhill and Bendtner’s volley bounced into the ground and past the keeper to break Hull hearts.

Attendance : 25,023
Red Card : Boateng 46 (Hull)
Assists : Vennegoor (won pen), n/a, n/a

STOKE 0
ASTON VILLA 0

Attendance : 27,598
Assists : n/a

TOTTENHAM 3 (Defoe 46, Pavlyuchenko 55, Pavlyuchenko 85)
BLACKBURN 1 (Samba 80)

Spurs consolidate fourth place with a decent win against Blackburn. Spurs went ahead in stoppage time of a decidedly drab first half as a near post corner from Niko Kranjcar was touched on by Vedran Corluka and thumped in at the far post by Jermaine Defoe from a matter of two yards, beating sub keeper Jason Brown who replaced the injured Paul Robinson during the opening half. Rovers began the second half well but were caught by a sucker punch as an attack broke down and Spurs countered with Defoe finding Roman Pavlyuchenko who made space before drilling a low shot which flew under the keeper. Spurs were in control and were denied one, possibly two, clear cut penalties before Rovers pulled one back as a deep corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen was headed home at the far post by Chris Samba although the hosts felt that he used Michael Dawson to get leverage in his leap. Five minutes later, Spurs clinched it as a drilled low cross from Gareth Bale was tapped in at the far post by Pavlyuchenko just seconds after totally miss-kicking with the goal at his mercy.

Attendance : 35,474
Assists : Corluka, Defoe, Pedersen (ck), Bale

10 March 2010

BURNLEY 1 (Nugent 52)
STOKE 1 (Tuncay 23)

Attendance : 20,323
Assists : Sidibe, Paterson

9 March 2010

PORTSMOUTH 1 (Kanu 92)
BIRMINGHAM 2 (Jerome 16, Jerome 42)

Attendance : 18,465
Assists : Benitez, Benitez, O’Hara (ck)

SUNDERLAND 4 (Campbell 1, Bent 64, Bent 74 Pen, Bent 88)
BOLTON 0

Attendance : 36,087
Red Card : Ricketts 74 (Bolton)
Assists : Cana, Cattermole, Bent (won pen), Campbell

LEADERS
63 points - Manchester United
61 points - Chelsea *
61 points - Arsenal
49 points - Tottenham *
49 points - Manchester City **

* = 28 games played
** = 27 games played

Gary Dowden - Joint Admin YahooGroups Premier-L list
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/premier-l/
Leeds United and Scotland and proud of it

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REAL MADRID 1 (Ronaldo 6)
LYON 1 (Pjanic 75)

It took Real Madrid only six minutes to level the tie on aggregate. Guti sent a longball over the halfway line to Ronaldo who ran between two defenders before beating Lloris at his near post with a low drive the French youngster should have saved. Real, or to be more precise, Higuain wasted the chances that should have buried Lyon. Sent clear by Granero Higuain jumped past Lloris as he flew off his line and with an empty net at his mercy he struck a feeble shot against the inside of a post. Kaka’ was swarmed by three defenders as he drove into the box, the ball broke for Higuain and once again he supplied a powder puff finish. I can’t STAND strikers who would rather place the ball than put their boots through it - like Henry for example. First leg hero Makoun shanked Lyon’s only notable effort.

Higuain was off target again, wasting a superb Granero cross. Casillas throw the ball to Ronaldo who ran almost the length of the field before centring to Kaka’ but the Brazilian’s fierce drive whistled wide of the left post then the chances dried up and Lyon pounced. Mediocre Argentinean winger Delgado played a ball inside to Lisandro, under pressure from Albiol, he miss-controlled but the ball bounced off his knee and Pjanic slammed a half volley past the despairing Casillas. Maybe Real Madrid will sign him in the summer? Lyon let Real Madrid off the hook late on when missing two one vs ones against Casillas in the closing minutes, with Lisandro’s particularly embarrassing.

Pellegrini is gone at the end of the season and deservedly so even if Real Madrid win the league. As for who will be their next coach, Real Madrid are running out of candidates. Benitez will inevitably be linked but in light of what Valdano said a few years ago it’s hard to see that happening. My guess is Dunga and failing that Real Madrid will go back in for Del Bosque.

Lyon are an awful side and have been deeply unimpressive throughout the campaign. If they play like this in the quarter-finals I hope they get hammered, unless they draw United of course.

Lyon win 2-1 on aggregate.

Attendance : 80,354
Assists : Guti, Lisandro

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 (Rooney 13, Rooney 46, Park 59, Fletcher 88)
MILAN 0

Ronaldinho wasted a poorly defended free kick with a header that bounced wide of a post and Huntelaar was guilty of a worse miss when, free inside the box, his heavy first touch allowed VDS to claim before he could shoot. United’s old stagers combined to help Rooney score the goal that killed the tie just 13 minutes in. Scholes passed to Neville who was not adequately closed down and he produced a fine inswinging cross for Rooney who easily got above Bonera to head in his third goal of the tie. At the start of the second half Thiago Silva miss-controlled a crossfield pass and Nani raced upfield before flicking a superb ball with the outside of his right foot to Rooney who shot first time past a hopelessly exposed Abbiati. Huntelaar missed another chance but at this stage it was academic. Park took advantage of a Milan defence that were presumably trying to play offside to score a third. Beckham struck VDS’ palms with a 20 yard volley and Fletcher completed the rout when he ghosted in unmarked at the back post to head in Rafael’s great first time pass.

Berlusconi is going to blow his top, and he should as Milan’s proud record against Manchester United is just that - history. Leonardo has failed all his big tests bar one (Real Madrid) this season - twice against Inter, twice against Manchester United and against Roma at the weekend. He’s a weak coach.

Manchester United win 7-2 on aggregate.

Attendance : 74,595
Assists : Neville, Nani, Scholes, Rafael

9 March 2010

ARSENAL 5 (Bendtner 10, Bendtner 25, Nasri 63, Eboue 66, Bendtner 91 Pen)
PORTO 0

Porto surrendered as feebly as they did last season against an Arsenal side missing Fabregas. Midget Arshavin headed an Almunia goalkick to Nasri, Nasri returned the pass, Helton crashed into Rocha as they tried to cut it out and Bendtner slid the ball into en empty net. 20 yards from goal Fucile shielded Diaby as he waited for a ball to cross the touchline, it didn’t, so he turned away from his goal and tried to play the ball out of defence only he gave it straight to Arshavin, he wriggled his way between three players as he ran into the box then centred for Bendtner’s second. Fantastic assist. Nasri’s third goal was off the charts. From the left touchline he drifted into the box, turned three players inside out and as Helton covered his near post slammed a shot in off the far post. Arsenal countered from defending a corner, Arshavin ran onto a Vermaelen header, carried the ball 70 yards before releasing Eboue on the overlap, Eboue flicked the ball away from Helton as he ran off his line then tapped into an empty net. Bendtner completed Porto’s misery from the penalty spot after Eboue again proved too hot to handle. Bendtner’s first career hat-trick.

Arsenal were spectacular but Porto should be banned from Europe for this disgraceful showing.

Arsenal win 6-2 on aggregate.

Attendance : 59,661
Assists : n/a, Arshavin, Diaby, Arshavin, Eboue (won pen)

FIORENTINA 3 (Vargas 28, Jovetic 54, Jovetic 64)
BAYERN MUNICH 2 (Van Bommel 60, Robben 65)

Marchionni tried his luck from distance, Butt spilled the ball and Vargas smashed home the rebound. Robben missed a sitter for the visitors while Gilardino should have made it 2-0 before the break. Jovetic began a ten minute spell which decided the tie with a tap-in from a fantastic Gilardino back heel. As the Fiorentina defence swarmed on Ribery he played a centre to Van Bommel who struck a low, first time shot inside Frey’s left post. Fiorentina hit back four minutes later, Gilardino was once against the provider with a return header from a deflected Jovetic pass, the youngster held off Van Buyten, sending the hulking defender crashing to the turf then nutmegged Butt. Just over a minute later the ball was passed out to Robben on the right flank, he beat three players before unleashing a rocket into the top left corner from 25 yards. A stunning goal which completely deflated Fiorentina. They didn’t recover and failed to muster another chance as Bayern comfortably saw out the remainder of the match to book their place in the last eight.

Fiorentina will of course blame crooked officiating from the previous leg but when a team is leading 2-0 at home and 3-2 on aggregate at this stage of the competition and are still eliminated they only have themselves to blame.

Match is tied 4-4 on aggregate, Bayern Munich win on away goals.

As it stands Germany now have a significant lead over Italy in the battle for 3rd place in the coefficient rankings for 2011-2012 which means four Champions League places for the Bundesliga barring something extraordinary i.e. Inter beating Chelsea then drawing and beating Bayern in both leagues in a QF or Semi-Final tie and Juve taking out Bremen and Hamburg in the Europa League.

Attendance : 40,000
Assists : n/a, Gilardino, Ribery, Gilardino, n/a

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