Cesena go top as Inter and Juve show form

Cesena went top of Serie A yesterday on a weekend that saw impressive wins for Inter, Juventus and Brescia.

The Serie A newcomers lead the Italian pack after defeating Lecce 1-0 despite playing most of the match with 10 men following the sending off of Giuseppe Colucci.

Erjon Bogdani, who had netted in the victory over Milan two weeks ago, scored the goal for the hosts.

Cesena are joined on seven points by champions Inter, who were in imperious form in Sicily, defeating Palermo 2-1.

Taking charge from the start, Dejan Stankovic smacked a typical 25-yarder against the bar on 13 minutes with the ball rebounding off the head of goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

There were more chances for the Italian champions before Palermo broke and scored with their first attack on 28 minutes. Javier Pastore’s toe-poke was parried by Julio Cesar into the path of Josip Ilicic, who had begun the move with a brilliant dribble and pass, to side-foot home from 12 yards.

Inter responded with two glorious chances in the next four minutes.

First, Eto’o’s follow-up was blocked after Sirigu flapped at a cross. Then, on 32 minutes, Diego Milito, clean through, could only shoot at the onrushing Sirigu.

Palermo should have doubled their lead after a breathtaking move five minutes after the restart. Spread from one side of the pitch to the other, the ball ended up at the feet of Armin Bacinovic but the midfielder’s finish was weak and Cesar saved.

Milito missed two more glorious chances before his strike partner Eto’o showed him the way with a brace to turn the game.

In irresistible form this season, the Cameroonian turned Ezequiel Munoz and drilled into the corner from 15 yards on 62 minutes.

Eight minutes later, Eto’o side-footed home from closer in after meeting a cross from the impressive Stankovic.

A series of penalty shouts were waved away as the home side searched for an equaliser but Inter had Cesar to thank for three well-earned points after the Brazilian keeper turned a thundering shot from Pastore against the post with two minutes to go.

“We changed Eto’o from the left to a second forward and he responded like the champion he is,” said Inter boss Rafa Benitez, who also had words of sympathy for the misfiring Milito.

“Milito played brilliantly – he did everything but score. It’s clear he was angry after being taken off but then we talked about (Peter) Crouch, who at Liverpool went 14 games without scoring and then did well and fans asked us why did we sell him.”

Free-scoring Juventus sounded a warning to their scudetto rivals with a crushing 4-0 win at Udinese.

Defender Leonardo Bonucci opened the scoring before new signing Fabio Quagliarella doubled the lead with an exquisite back heel at the front post. Claudio Marchisio then made it 3-0 with a sweet volley three minutes before half-time.

Bottom of Serie A ahead of kick off, Udinese’s heads dropped well and truly low as substitute Vincenzo Iaquinta added a fourth 13 minutes from time.

Chievo fell back to earth after succumbing to Brescia 1-0 at home. Alessandro Diamanti won the points with a brilliant free-kick after half an hour with Brescia moving up to fifth.

Elsewhere, a late brace from Marco Di Vaio earned Bologna a 2-2 draw at struggling Roma, while Parma and Genoa shared the points after a 1-1 draw.

Next Fixtures
Wednesday: 20.45 - Bologna vs Udinese; Brescia vs Roma; Cagliari vs Sampdoria; Catania vs Cesena; Genoa vs Fiorentina; Inter vs Bari; Lazio vs Milan; Lecce vs Parma; Napoli vs Chievo.
Thursday: 20.45 - Juventus vs Palermo.