Siena 1-1 AC Milan
AC Milan opted to make changes to the side, presumably with the midweek Champions League game with Benfica in mind. So Brazilian playmaker Kaka, full back Massimo Oddo, and the ball playing Andrea Pirlo, did not make the journey. Once again Ronaldo was forced to miss out through injury.
Milan striker Alberto Gilardino was denied twice in the opening stages of the game, before the visitors keeper Nelson Dida was called into action to stop Daniele Gallopa's impressive run and shot.
Siena were seeking their first points of the season, and took the lead on 25 minutes, albeit in comical circumstances (unless of course you are a supporter of Milan). Dida could only parry a very tame and speculative effort from Siena's Cristian Bucchi, before Kakha Kaladze made a complete hash of the follow up by missing his kick, leaving Massimo Maccarone to take the ball round Dida and slam the ball home. There were suggestions that Maccarone was in an offside position when the original volley was struck.
Milan were not at their best, and did not trouble Siena's defence half as much as they would have expected to. But in injury time they found an unlikely saviour in the shape of Alessandro Nesta. Milan had won a free kick on the right hand side, and when the cross was delivered, Siena were unable to clear decisively and the ball dropped to Nesta who hammered the ball home conclusively.
There was still time for Siena forward Mario Frick to receive a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Clarence Seedorf. The Dutchman then struck a late free kick against the crossbar and onto the line, just inches away from giving Milan a slightly undeserved victory.
Napoli 2-0 Sampdoria
Napoli followed on from their 5-0 thrashing of Udinese, by taking care of business at home to Sampdoria. Marcelo Zalayeta made it three goals in three games for him in Serie A, and Marek Hamsik sealed the game, finishing off a fine move, with just under 15 minutes to go.
The San Paolo faithful will have been much happier with this display, in comparison to their inept efforts on the opening day of the season. Sampdoria, however, were without Antonio Cassano who was one a handful of Sampdoria players unable to make the trip.
Zalayeta had already headed one against the crossbar after 18 minutes, when he put his side in front with only three minutes on the clock till the break. A collision between defender Alessandro Bastrini and keeper Luca Castellazzi, resulted in the ball dropping at Zalayeta's feet, who will not score many easier goals this season. The Uruguyan took a touch to control it before easing the ball into the empty net.
Ezequiel Lavezzi was on fire in Napoli's previous fixture and he was once again proving a real handful for Sampdoria.
Zalayeta was invovled in Napoli's second, exchanging a one-two with Hamsik, who then took the ball round the last defender and slid the ball past Castellazzi into the bottom left corner.
A deserved win for the home side, inflicting Sampdoria's first defeat of the campaign.
Reggina 0-2 AS Roma
Roma remain the only side in Serie A who are yet to drop a point, following another highly accomplished performance against Reggina.
Brazilian defender Juan got his first for the club after his summer move from German side Bayer Leverkusen, and inspirational captain Francesco Totti put the game beyond Reggina with a late strike.
The first half struggled to get into top gear, and Roma were dealt a half time blow when keeper Alexander Doni could not take the field in the second half because of an injury. Under-21 international Gianluca Curci was his able stand-in.
Reggina were unable to deal with a Totti free kick just after half time, and Juan was allowed to lose his defender and get in round the back. In typical Brazilian style, Juan flicked the ball past Andrea Campagnolo, with the type of finesse rarely associated with a centre back.
It went from bad to worse for Reggina, just minutes later, Carlos Adrian Valdez thudded into Simone Perrotta and received a straight red card, to leave his side with 10 men for the remainder of the game.
Roma were now in full control and creating chances seemingly at will. But it was not until after 84 minutes that the game was secured. Cicinho rolled the ball into the area, Alberto Aquilani, who failed to score another stunning strike today, cleverly dummied enabling Totti to power the ball inside the far corner for another three points for the side from the capital.
Juventus 0-1 Udinese
After scoring a double for Italy in the Ukraine in midweek, Antonio Di Natale was on the scoresheet again, as Udinese shocked Juventus in Turin.
Looking to keep their winning run going, Juventus were not counting on being turned over by an Udinese side that lost their last Serie A fixture 5-0 at home to Napoli.
Jonathan Zebina was suspended for Juventus after his altercation with a cameraman in their last game at Cagliari. He still has a further three games to sit out, while Hasan Salihamidzic failed to recover from his injury in the same game.
Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero will still be scratching his head and wondering how he failed to find the back of the net after he struck the woodwork on three separate occasions, despite one being marginally offside.
Mauro Camoranesi added to Juventus's injury problems when he limped off after 30 minutes, and was replaced by Antonio Nocerino.
The decisive move of the game came early in the second half, when the home team's defensive deficiencies were exposed once again. Andrea Dossena lifted the ball forward into the inside left channel, just inside the box, Gigi Buffon found himself in no man's land, as Gokhan Inler's intricate first time volley went straight to Di Natale who had plenty of room to head home. It was nice football that had an incisive end product.
Juventus huffed and puffed but could not find the equaliser, Gyan Asamoah, the Udinese targetman, came closest to scoring, when his sizzling half volley struck the post.
Inter 2-0 Catania
Inter Milan maintained pressure on the top sides, with a comfortable victory over Catania.
Roberto Mancini surprised a few people by selecting Brazilian Adriano in the starting line-up for the first time this campaign, but it was his strike partner Hernan Crespo that opened the scoring. Adriano bundled his way into the box, before his fellow countryman Douglas Maicon played in Crespo, who neatly tucked the ball in at the far post.
Catania appeared helpless to stop Inter's progression, and their pressure told ten minutes from time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic released Cesar Aparecido down the left side, and he was allowed to continue into the area, before lifting his left foot shot high into the roof of the net, giving Albano Bizzarri no chance at all.
The home side remain unbeaten, with seven points from their opening three games, and a midweek Champions League fixture away at Fenerbahce coming up in midweek.
Palermo 1-1 Torino
Alvaro Recoba scored his first goal for Torino to help the visitors to a hard earned point at Palermo. Former Palermo captain Eugenoi Corini was returning to his former team, not long after he had joined Torino.
It was the home side that took an early lead, Aimo Diana's low cross from the right, was helpfully deflected off Amauri and landed fortunately in the path of Fabio Simplicio, who made no mistake in side footing home.
Torino Matteo Sereni did his bit in keeping the scoreline to just 1-0, when he pulled off saves from Giulio Migliaccio and substitute Mark Bresciani. His good work did not go to waste, as Torino got back into the game after 54 minutes. Playmaker Alessandro Rossina and Recoba linked expertly, before the latter pulled the trigger and sent the ball into the bottom left hand corner. It is a partnership that is still growing, but the early indications are that 'Rosinaldo' and Recoba are going prove more than a handful for most sides they come across this season.
Fiorentina 2-2 Atalanta
Both sides kept their unbeaten starts intact, as Christian Vieri struck his first goal for Fiorentina when he put them 2-1 in front with 16 minutes remaining. Sadly for him and Fiorentina, Riccardo Zampagna struck an absolute beauty four minutes from time, to deny the former international forward his glory, and give ten-man Atalanta an away point. Riccardo Montolivio was still missing for the home side, while Atalanta were boosted by the return of Cristiano Doni and Leonardo Talamonti.
Claudio Rivalta got the goalscoring underway, but not in the net he would have hoped. Following a messy scramble in the box, the Atalanta defender unfortunately got the last touch to put the ball into his own net. Following the restart, Moris Carrozzieri certainly hindered Atalanta further, when he was awarded his second yellow card for a foul on Gobbi. Doni then dragged Atalanta back into the game with an inch perfect free kick from just outside the area.
Next on the sheet was Vieri, with a trademark header. He had come on to replace Adrian Mutu, and powered home Fabio Liverani's free kick, the ball going in off the underside of the bar. 'Bobo' Vieri excitedly ripped off his shirt and went to celebrate with the Fiorentina fans. Then with minutes remaining, Zampagna latched onto a forward pass, but he seemed to have nothing on. He had his back to goal and was being closely marked, when he saw Sebastien Frey was nothing more than slightly off his line, but Zampagna's execution was so good it gave Frey no chance. The striker had flicked the ball over the keeper to equalise in stunning style. Fiorentina threw men forward in search of a late winner, but despite going close, had to settle for a point.
Genoa 1-1 Livorno
Both these sides remain without a win, but at least Genoa scored their first goal of the season, and Livorno limited a side to only one goal, after conceding nine goals in their opening two games.
Genoa also suffered a penalty miss when referee Paolo Dondarini pointed to the spot after a tussle involving Genoa forward Marco Borriello and Livorno defender Alessandro Grandoni. Omar Milanetto, however, smashed his penalty against the crossbar to give Livorno a reprieve.
One they duly accepted, and used to punish Genoa with a penalty of their own. This time Francesco Tavano made no mistake, after Massimo Bega brought down Giovanni Pasquale. Genoa's first goal of the season came after 57 minutes, Marco Rossi crossed from the right, and Borriello got across his man well to glance his header into the far corner.
In the latter stages of the game, both sides lost a player for second bookable offences, both of which were for diving. Luis Vidigal of Livorno was first to go with four minutes remaining, then Ivan Juric levelled things up just before the final whistle.
Parma 1-1 Cagliari
Bernardo Corradi returned to Parma with a goal on his debut, as Parma held Cagliari to a draw, despite missing a second half penalty. Cagliari were unlucky to go down against Juventus in their last game, and they were hampered by their impressive winger, Pasquale Foggia, who was missing from the starting line up due to a bout of flu, and was risked only for the last 10 minutes.
Alessandro Matri was gifted the opener, when an Andrea Parola free kick drifted past everybody and rebounded off the post and straight to Matri to slot home. When Diego Lopez mistimed his tackle on Steffano Morrone, Parma had a chance to level it. It was not to be, as Paolo Castellini's spot kick was easily palmed away by Marco Fortin. It only delayed the equaliser that came after 73 minutes, on loan striker Corradi volleyed home from just inside the box.
Lazio 0-0 Empoli
Lazio drew their third game of the season, and visitors Empoli registered their first point of the new campaign, in a stalemate that failed to get going at the Stadio Olimpico.
Empoli had claims for a penalty after 69 minutes, when they thought Luca Saudati was held back by Emilson Cribari. It was not a particularly inspiring match, and Lazio will need to step up their performance in the week when they face Greek opposition, Olympiakos, away from home.
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