Italian Serie A heats up as Lazio top, AC and Inter Milan chase
Inter Milan have been dominating the Italian Serie A for the past several years by winning the last five of them but things could change this season as they face a challenge from a rejuvenated AC Milan, who are their arch rivals.
Other teams, who will be looking to end the run of Inter, are Juventus and Lazio. Though it is just the start of the season with only seven games gone but the way things have started it seems the title chase would go down to the wire. The likes of Napoli,
Sampdoria, Palermo and Chievo are hanging in there to ruin the dreams of the big boys of Italian football.
One team, who has been surprisingly slow to get off the mark, is AS Roma, who finished second last season and gave Inter Milan a tough time while chasing them for almost a whole season.
Inter’s fiercest rivals AC Milan look to be in the best of form in more than six years as they have started to gel as a team with a blend of experience and youth giving them the perfect balance. The signing of former Inter talisman, Zlatan Ibrahomvic, from
Barcelona has made an immense impact as the Swede has lived up to the expectations by scoring several goals.
In addition the capture of Brazilian star Robinho from Manchester City on the deadline day has added the attacking options for a team, which already has three-time World player-of the-year, Ronaldinho, and compatriot Alexander Pato, one of the best young
strikers in the World.
The games at the weekend have proven that the ongoing season of Serie A would be one of the most closely contested seasons after a long time as there are six to seven teams in the mix, in quest for a domestic league title.
Defending champions, Inter Milan, defeated Cagliari by one goal to nil. The game was marred by racist chants at Cameroonian striker, Samuel Eto’o, who has been victimized throughout his career, may it be in Spain or Italy.
The same racist remarks were used for Mario Balotelli, who got so much fed up that he opted to leave Italy, and moved out of Inter to join Manchester City. The game could have been postponed as the officials thought to stop it.
Samuel Eto’o, who has a knack of performing under extreme pressure, showed his class just before the half time whistle to put Nerazzurri a goal up, which in the end prove to be the only goal of the game.
Brazilian goal keeper, Julio Cesar, was at his best to keep Cagliari at bay with some glorious saves, which have made him presently the best goal keeper on the planet.
Elsewhere, Lazio moved to the top of the summit after beating Bari by two goals, thanks to strikes from Anderson Hernanes and Sergio Floccari. Bari players had several chances but they were not able to convert them into goals, which caused their defeat otherwise
they could have easily earned a draw in a hard fought game.
Meanwhile, Juventus routed Lecce by four goals to nil, which took them to fifth position. Alberto Aquilani's gave an early lead, which was doubled by Brazilian Felipe Melo. Italian Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Del Piero scored the other two goals.
On Saturday, Brazilian strike force took AC Milan to the top which lasted only for a day. Alexander Pato scored a brace and Robinho scored in stoppage time to seal the win, three goals to one for Milan against unlikely high fliers Chievo.
Zlatan Ibrahamovic showed his red hot form and scored an own goal. Fans will be hoping that next time Ibra would score at the other end of the ground.
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