Correcting past mistakes

This afternoon's game between Torino and Cagliari, up north at the Olympic Stadium, will have a particular significance.

Apart from the fact that vital points will be up for grabs as both sides are in the mire of relegation, the match marks the return of coaches Gianni De Biasi, at Torino, and Marco Giampaolo, at Cagliari.

The changes, completed on Monday, were a last-ditch desperate move by the two ailing Serie A clubs with a view to stave off the dreaded drop. The decision to re-call De Biasi and Giampaolo to their jobs means a lot and, perhaps, shows how wrong Torino and Cagliari were when sacking them in the first place.

Giampaolo did very well at Ascoli last year despite being a novice to the Serie A. Ascoli made sure of survival with weeks to spare by playing simple, though effective, football.

In summer, Giampaolo was expected to sign for the more-quoted Udinese before club owner Giampaolo Pozzo deemed it fit to confirm veteran Giovanni Galeone.

Touted by many as one of the most promising coaches in circulation, Cagliari boss Massimo Cellino acted fast to lure Giampaolo.

His start to this season was not at all impressive, albeit the team never slipped down the red zone. With Giampaolo in charge, Cagliari garnered 16 points from their opening 16 games. However, Cellino was not happy and thought Giampaolo could have done better with the squad he had. For that reason, the coach was shown the back door.

Giampaolo's successor - Franco Colomba - did not do any better. From their last eight games, Cagliari chalked up two wins and a draw.

Cagliari are one of several low-budget Serie A clubs who strive to stay afloat year after year.

Cellino has to put his financial resources behind the club to challenge for the honours. A new coach sometimes is not beneficial at this stage of the season.

It is time, perhaps, for Cagliari to realise that only great players make great sides. And great players imply huge investments. A modest team can only fight for survival. So, why expect more from a coach who was on his way to leading the side to safety?

The same applies for Torino. By sacking De Biasi three days before the start of the season, club supremo Urbano Cairo took a risk. He appointed a man - Alberto Zaccheroni - with a completely different playing system than that of his predecessor. That made the transition time longer and less smoother.

Torino have been nothing less than a fiasco this season. Cairo thought that with Zaccheroni around, a team of Torino's calibre would suddenly become a formidable side.

A common factor behind De Biasi and Giampaolo's appointment was the players. Reports said they preferred working with their previous coaches. The players have a huge say in this regard and if Torino and Cagliari are to avoid the drop, then it has to be thanks to them.

Critics were quick to point out the serious blunders committed by Cellino and Cairo in the past.

However, one has to remark as well that, at least, both were modest enough to admit their own mistakes and correct them in due course. Only time will tell, starting from today's game, if the moves were enough to guarantee another year under the sun for Cagliari and Torino.

Serie A statistics

1st win for relegation-threatened Messina since beating Chievo 2-1 on the ninth day. At the San Filippo Stadium, it was Siena who created the best chances as the visitors looked like struggling. When the game seemed heading for a goalless draw for the second season running, substitute Edgar Alvarez notched a sensational winner for Messina to revive their prospects in their desperate battle against relegation. In a vital Tuscany derby, Fioren-tina scored a goal in each half to beat Empoli for the third time in six home Serie A encounters. Fiorentina's fourth straight win coincided with Empoli's first defeat after a flawless run comprising four wins and a draw. The only time Empoli left the Artemio Franchi stadium with a win was on September 28, 1997 (2-1).

2 of the four penalties awarded by referees last weekend went off-target. Antonio Di Natale put Udinese ahead against Parma from the spot. Later in the game, Giuseppe Rossi salvaged a priceless draw for Parma by scoring from another penalty. Elsewhere, Francesco Totti missed his umpteenth penalty of the season as his spot-kick was stopped by Reggina keeper Andrea Campagnolo. Sergio Pellissier could have made Chievo's home win vs Torino even more comprehensive had he converted a 64th-minute penalty. His shot went wide. Meanwhile, four players - Massimo Oddo (Milan), Ruben Olivera (Sampdoria), Antonio Langella (Cagliari) and Jonathan Spinesi (Catania) - were sent off last weekend.

4th successive draw for Atalanta as they forfeited a half-time lead to share the spoils with back-to-form Palermo. Overall, Atalanta are undefeated in their last six outings. On Saturday, they were superior to their opponents in the first half. Riccardo Zampagna's goal gave Atalanta a slight edge over their opponents, who, however, never threw in the towel. After the break, it was Palermo's turn to dictate matters as the Sicilians succeeded in salvaging a point. For the record, Palermo's only win in 14 Serie A visits to Bergamo dates back to November 8, 1953 (1-0). In a highly-contested clash at the Friuli stadium, Udinese and Parma shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller. This was Parma's first positive result after successive defeats to Milan (0-1), Roma (0-3) and Sampdoria (0-1).

6th straight defeat (vs Inter 1-3, Parma 0-1, Udinese 2-3, Reggina 1-2, Lazio 0-2 and Chievo 0-3) for Torino as they were beaten by Chievo for the third time in as many matches at Verona. It was a must-win game for both sides. However, it turned out to be a non-contest as Chievo dominated from start to finish. Following the weekend results, Torino and Chievo are now just two points above the relegation zone.

10 years have gone by since Sampdoria's most recent of eight wins in 50 Serie A visits to Milan. On Sunday, the Blucerchiati were floored by a last-gasp Massimo Ambrosini goal. It was Samp's first upset after back-to-back wins against Ascoli (2-0) and Parma (1-0). Lazio extended their unbeaten run to seven games (four wins and three draws) as they cruised to a significant away win against Cagliari. For the Sardinians this was their third defeat in the last four winless outings. Cagliari have not beaten Lazio at home since the 4-1 win of 1993 (4-1).

17th consecutive win for unrivalled leaders Inter as, on the neutral ground of Cesena, they emerged easy winners over a stuttering Catania side who have now gone seven successive games without recording a win (two draws and five defeats). Prior to Sunday's 5-2 win, Inter's most recent of four victories in nine away matches to Catania dated back to March 28, 1971 (1-0). On the other hand, over 41 years have elapsed since Catania's latest of three home wins on Inter. Reggina proved to be tough clients for Roma as they held on solidly in the first half. However, two goals inside 10 minutes after the break paved the way for Roma's 10th home win of the season. Roma and Reggina have never shared the spoils in seven Serie A meetings at the Olympic Stadium. For the record, Roma lead with five victories to two.

27 goals were scored on the 25th day: 16 coming from the hosts and the remaining 11 from the visitors, who managed only two wins. Foreigners contributed with 12 goals while there were nine first-half goals. Total number of goals scored so far is 602. Two players - Erjon Bogdani (Chievo) and Antonio Di Natale (Udinese) - grabbed a brace each. Giorgio Corona (Catania) and Edgar Alvarez (Messina) came on as substitutes and scored. Despite not being on the scoreboard for the second league day running, Francesco Totti still leads the scorers' list with 14 goals. The Roma talisman is closely followed by last season's leading marksman Luca Toni on the 13-goal mark. Inter are still undefeated. All top division sides have recorded one away win except for struggling Messina and Parma.