Serie A: Maicon double clinches Inter victory

godtabh

Review

Brazilian Maicon scored twice to steer Inter Milan to a 2-1 win at Siena on Saturday to claim their eighth consecutive league victory and ensure they have a comfortable lead ahead of Serie A's three-week winter break.

The defender dinked in the winner seven minutes from time after Houssine Kharja's header just before halftime had cancelled out his 35th-minute opener.

Champions Inter have 42 points from 17 games, nine points more than second-placed Juventus who visit Atalanta on Sunday.

"We didn't deserve to win this match," Inter coach Jose Mourinho told Sky. "We had fantastic spirit (while) not playing well, not playing better than the opposition.

"You have to win some games like this to win the championship."

Earlier, Lazio beat Palermo 1-0 with a 66th-minute goal by substitute Tommaso Rocchi to record their first league win in six weeks and rise to sixth.

Palermo, who almost equalised when Mark Bresciano blasted a good chance wide, had defender Federico Balzaretti sent off for a second yellow card in the 72nd minute.

Siena showed no sign of being overawed by Inter or of being distracted by this week's news that president Giovanni Lombardi Stronati was under investigation for real-estate fraud.

Moroccan midfielder Kharja had a shot well saved and forward Mario Frick missed two early opportunities.

The hosts seemed to be containing Inter with some robust tackling until Maicon nipped in behind their back line to tap the ball in from a corner.

Siena kept plugging away though and Kharja did well to beat defender Maxwell to a Cristiano Del Grosso cross and equalise.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit the crossbar with a powerful strike from outside the area just before the hour but Mourinho's side still struggled to establish supremacy in the second half.

Siena's Massimo Maccarone had a shot cleared from close range shortly before Maicon ran on to a back-heel from Maxwell to score, although TV replays suggested he was offside.

Maxwell then produced an excellent block to deny Abdel Kader Ghezzal at the end.

AC Milan, who are three points behind Juve, entertain Udinese on Sunday with loan signing David Beckham due to attend.

Napoli, who share third place with Milan, visit struggling Torino.

Saturday, December 20, 2008
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
Final Lazio 1 - 0 Palermo Olimpico (20,000)
Final Siena 1 - 2 Internazionale Artemio Franchi Montepaschi Arena (14,000)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
Final Atalanta 1 - 3 Juventus Stadio Azzurri D`Italia (22,000)
Final Cagliari 1 - 1 Reggina Stadio San Elia (10,000)
Final Catania 3 - 2 AS Roma Stadio Angelo Massimino (19,401)
Final Chievo Verona 0 - 1 Genoa Stadio Marc`Antonio Bentegodi (13,000)
Final Lecce 0 - 0 Bologna Stadio Via del Mare (9,109)
Final Sampdoria 0 - 1 Fiorentina Comunale Luigi Ferraris (23,000)
Final Torino 1 - 0 Napoli Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino (18,000)

Its a bit late. its been a busy weekend!

Big Chief

Couldnt believe bookies were giving 7/2 on Catania to beat Roma, was a steal.. Roma continuing their poor Serie A bad situation..

Genoa picked up a great away result aswell which wasnt fully unexpectied either which was a good turn out for them, their last few games have been rather messy and i like to watch genoa do well so was delighted to see them pick up the result

Expected Cagliari to get the win i must admit but they gave away a silly penalty or something i heard?? Still managed to come back and get the point but dissapointing not to get the 3 points

Mr. Presentable

Hard luck on Roma (totti injured) Siena (offside goal) and Atalanta (offside goal).

The Italian press today were full of the Inter bias. Tomorrow they will be filled with the Juventus bias.

Odd how this never happens in England when a top side is favoured........

Pato, whose season has been mixed, to be kind, has two tonight (woohoo, he's on my fantacalcio teamsheet this week) so may finish the 90 minutes.

Mr. Presentable

Big Chief wrote: »

Genoa picked up a great away result aswell

Hah! Rubinho on my teamsheet also!

Bateman

Some result for Milan, I wonder are they going hell for leather for the league while paying no attention to the UEFA Cup, with the opposite being the case for Udinese. Definitely don't think Milan are a bet at the current UEFA Cup outright prices.

Mr. Presentable

Hard to say. The Udinese wheels have fallen off in the last few weeks.

x in the city

off topic....

Bordeaux won 4:3 tonight after being 3 nil down by half time

not too shabby......!