Inter's 17th consecutive win isn't news, just like the umpteenth Totti's mistake from the penalty spot. Today we want to talk about three teams that have been punished after Calciopoli scandal, and now are trying to get into Europe by its main door: Champions League. Now it's Lazio seating on the fourth step, but Milan is just one point behind and Fiorentina is some distance from them but maybe is in very good shape and don't mind if they are six points under. Reasonably, they are fighting for just one place, but we see that Palermo is in a bad moment and there are still 14 games to play. Will the Sicilians resist in the Top Four? We'll see...

Another remark we should do is that all the people saying this year Serie A is not so good, are a little bit wrong. Take for example the table as it would be if all those teams weren't penalized. At least for the top 6, it should be: Inter 66, AS Roma 52, Fiorentina 46, Palermo 44, AC Milan 44, Lazio 40. Top teams are all there, except Juve that is still paying for its scandals, so it's not Inter's fault if they are too strong. We should talk anout no history for its strenght, but not that the level is lower than the past for the reason Juve is not there.

Anyway, yesterday night AC Milan won without deserving, for the second time three points came during the extra-time, once again Ambrosini's header has been decisive: without him now Milan would be sixth with 31 points, 35 less then Inter. Ronaldo played badly, but had to carry the weight of the attack as Oliveira has been replaced by Cafu after 10', due to Oddo's sending-off. Mach 11th is going to be the moment of truth for Ancelotti: that day his team will play against Inter for the derby. Anyway, choosing Ronaldo -that cannot play Champions League- Milan has shown how important is fourth place to them.

Lazio forward Tommaso Rocchi is the man of the day. His beautiful goal in Cagliari has been applauded by all the viewers, and he had a standing ovation by the opposite fans, and this doesn't happen every day, especially in Italy, where fair play is just a pipe-dream. Now Lazio on Wednesday is going to play Catania at the Stadio Olimpico, it won't be easy, though Catania is in deep crisis and needs some point after the unsuccessful match against Inter.

We think Fiorentina is Serie A third best team, after Inter and Roma (according to Mutu, they are second, after Inter). They have a good coach, a fantastic pair of forwards, Luca Toni and Adrian Mutu, a technical skilled player as Liverani and some good youngsters (Montolivo, Pazzini and Donadel). Sporting director Pantaleo Corvino confirms their interest to young players: today Fiorentina has signed Arturo Lupoli (Arsenal forward, now at Derby County on loan) for the next five years. So, Neapolitan forward will be back to Italy since July, as he left Parma some years ago, "stolen" by Arsenal.

So, as from now until the end of may, at least we'll see an exciting fight for Europe: giants are back!

In a surreal atmosphere, with no viewers, Inter won 2-0 against Chievo and this is Nerazzurri’s fifteenth consecutive wind. Real Madrid (46 years ago) and Bayern (in 2005, but not in the same season) have been equalized, but it’s not an European record yet.
Inter scored after 41”, with Adriano from a very difficult angle, then Chievo tried to make life difficult to Julio Cesar but in second half Crespo (with a suspect handball before kicking) scored for the final 2-0.

Roma won at home vs. Parma (3-0, all goals in second half), but we have to remark that before the match (an open door match, we have to specify) AS Roma fans did not participate in a silence minute in memory of policeman Raciti. There were also slogans against police, a shame one week after Catania events. And it’s been the proof that if the stadium is ok, but you fill it with stupid people, violence problem has not been solved.

AC Milan had to face a difficult test, Livorno is a very good team, even more today with Stefano Fiore and Cesar Rodriguez, two former Lazio players. Ronaldo played in second half, but the decisive goal has been scored by Czech left back Jankulosky. At the end, in Milan San Siro stadium season tickets could watch the match, showing that at the end Italians find compromise between “zero tolerance” and anarchy. Everything went well, and we think they will go well next Sunday for Inter-Cagliari.

All matches started at 3 pm, for security reasons, as we already said. But at the end not every match started on time: Messina-Catania, another risky Sicilian derby, started at 4pm due to heavy rainfalls. An important win in Palermo, and Empoli now is fourth and will have to fight against Milan and Lazio (0-0 in Bergamo behind closed doors vs. Atalanta) for the Champions League qualifying round. Fiorentina had a very good afternoon: Toni and Mutu could not play, but their substitutes Reginaldo and Pazzini scored: Fiorentina is officially one of the candidates for fourth place!