Serie A game week three round-up: Napoli maintain 100% record
Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A match between Napoli and Atalanta at the San Paolo Stadium on September 14, 2013. (Getty Images)
Genoa win the derby
Genoa took all three points on Sunday in the Derby della Lanterna, leaving Sampdoria without a win so far in this campaign. The nine-time Scudetto winners scored the opener in the ninth minute through a Luca Antonini goal.
The score was doubled after half-time with Emanuele Calaio running across goal to knock the ball in through the smoke of flares to the delight of the away fans behind the goal.
A flurry of yellow cards were shown – eight in total – living up to the derby atmosphere! A 66th minute Francesco Lodi free kick was fired in to seal the win and bragging rights until the two next meet in February.
Napoli only club on maximum points
A third straight win for Rafa Benitez’s Napoli leaves them top of the Serie A table, and the only club to have not dropped points this season so far.
Their performance against Atalanta on Saturday was considerably more attractive than their camouflage style shirts; not that the shirts affected Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon’s form as the latter scored his third goal in as many games.
Things are looking well at the San Paolo.
Derby D’Italia deadlock
Inter Milan and Juventus, both on a perfect record coming into this game, cancelled each other out at the San Siro.
The Nerazzurri went in front in the 73rd minute when Ricky Alvarez played in Mauro Icardi, who fired past Gigi Buffon. Juve equalised just two minutes later when Kwadwo Asamoah crossed to Arturo Vidal who, on the turn, finished perfectly bringing a point back to Turin.
Mario leaves it late…again
It was widely reported that Mario Balotelli wanted to go to sleep rather than go to a meeting this week, but he did manage to make it to the game against Torino on Kaka’s return.
AC Milan were two goals behind when Danilo D’Ambrosio brilliantly planted the ball at the near post whilst taking on two defenders before Alessio Cerci chipped the ball over Christian Abbiati.
It wasn’t until the 88th minute when Sulley Muntari gave the Rossoneri a little bit of hope with a scrappy goal before Balotelli scored a penalty in added time to scrape a point. Better late than never…
The rest
Lazio easily beat Chievo 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico. Goals from Antonio Candreva, Luis Cavanda and Senad Lulic means they are now seventh in the table and the result sets them up for the eagerly awaited Rome derby on Sunday.
Fiorentina drew at home to Cagliari 1-1, losing two points and their main striker – Mario Gomez was injured during the game, meaning he’ll be out of action for up to three months, which if the case, would miss games against Inter, Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan and possibly Roma.
Elsewhere, the game between Udinese and Bologna matched that 1-1 score line, completing the set of won one, drawn one and lost one for the home side, placing them right in the middle of the table.
There were two games which finished 2-0. Hellas Verona brushed aside bottom placed Sassuolo at the Bentagodli with goals from Raphael Martinho and Romulo, two of five Brazilians on the pitch. Both teams have tough games next weekend as Hellas are away to Juventus while Sassuolo host Inter Milan.
Finally, Livorno beat Catania by the same score with two goals by (another Brazilian) Paulinho who is in cracking form, getting his third goal in three games.
Next week
It’s the big one on Sunday – Roma vs. Lazio in the Derby della Capitale at Rome’s modern day Colosseum, the Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio will hope to continue their excellent form against their fiercest rivals with the last match between the two being the Coppa Italia final where Senad Lulic won the game for the Biancocelesti.
The other stand-out fixture next weekend involves AC Milan, who host leaders Napoli on Sunday.