Merry Christmas

All Goes Down To The Last game

AC Milan and Marseille will have to wait until the last matchday of this season's Champions League campaign to discover their fate as both sides played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at San Siro this evening.

Marco Borriello's early Strike was cancelled out by Lucho Gonzalez but neither side could bring together the right combination to locate a winner.

Brandao should have given OM a second half lead when he missed a close ranger with the goal at his mercy but Didier Deschamps' side will now need to find a favourable result in their final game against Real Madrid while Milan visit FC Zurich with the odds stacked in their favour.

The openness of this encounter was as much down to poor defending as it was to capable attacking play. Defenders on both sides struggled to exert any sort of authority throughout, with the jitters not discriminating whom they struck.

Marseille had set themselves out to use a counter-attacking tactic, which was defenestrated once they submitted to an early-striking Milan. Gianluca Zambrotta, from an Andrea Pirlo pass, had forced a fine early save from Steve Mandanda but only nine minutes had elapsed when Borriello had his name in lights.

Alexandre Pato fed the Italian on the right side of the Rossoneri attack and in the absence of Taye Taiwo, the former Genoa man roasted a static Gabriel Heinze before firing a cool finish under the legs of Mandanda.

It did not take OM long to rouse themselves into a response though, with the leveller coming in the next significant passage of play and prompted again by some abject back work.

Lucho fed Mamadou Niang and the captain beat Massimo Oddo all too easily on the left wing to cross; Dida could only punch the ball into the area, from where Lucho stroked home a crisp equaliser.

The Argentinian was the midfield protagonist, playing ahead of the enforcer Eduardo Cisse, and put a limiter on Pirlo's contributions with some rough-house tackling.

By the middle of the half, les Phoceens were in charge; Fabrice Abriel fired narrowly over and Niang forced Dida into action. A move involving the neat Abriel, Niang, Benoit Cheyrou and Lucho was close to locating Brandao in the area but Milan managed to remain steadfast just after the half hour.

Alessandro Nesta's game form betrayed his recent hot streak and his loose pass then gave Niang the chance to cross for Brandao as the half drew to a close, but Pirlo was on hand to block in front of Dida before the Brazilian forward could strike.

For all their attacking fluidity, OM could have been undone by some maladroit defending during the first period.

Zambrotta should have made more from an excellent Clarence Seedorf pass and Souleymane Diawara was exposed twice from a pair of Thiago Silva long range passes.

The first fell to Borriello, who was denied by a great last ditch tackle from the Senegalese international; the second saw Pato lift a lob narrowly over the top.

Milan had an initial period of dominance at the start of the second period which eventually segued into sustained Marseille pressure, as the French side sought the win.

Early in the half, Borriello should have done better from a Seedorf cross when his header failed to register on target; Pirlo and Pato both had long-rangers that failed to trouble Mandanda sufficiently before Ronaldinho's exquisite flick put Borriello again in the clear. His finish, on his left foot, was again lacking.

With the pressure on, OM went for broke and left gaps in their rearguard; on one such occasion, Clarence Seedorf, from a Pato, pass, was expertly denied by a block from Cisse. Borriello was again at fault when a headed attempt from a sumptuous 'Dinho cross hit his shoulder and it preceded a frenetic last few minutes when Marseille threw it all at the Diavoli.

Milan's legs were heavy in midfield as energetic OM came on strong in the closing stages. Had Bakari Kone's touch been better in the 85th minute he might have won more than a corner.

Milan I hope will go through.

till next time

Gabriella

From our special envoy Gabriella

Great surprises in the Fantaliga 'Welcome is Switzerland'

This are the results:

From our special envoy Gabriella

An In-form AC Milan moved up to 3^rd place in Serie A after inflicting a home defeat on Lazio which leaves the Rome side floating just above the relegation zone.

Thiago Silva put the visitors ahead in the 21st minute before Alexandre Pato extended his team's lead before the break.

Lazio reduced the arrears in the 64th minute when Silva deflected Mauro Zarate's strike into his own goal.

The hosts had chances to level the score but Milan held on to claim all three points.

The outcome means it is four wins in the last five league games for Leonardo's Milan while Lazio are still searching for their first triumph since August 30.

The hosts went into the game on the back of a 4-1 midweek humiliation at Villarreal in the Europa League.

Davide Ballardini's men enjoyed a good start and should have taken an early lead.

Roberto Baronio's pass found an unmarked Tommaso Rocchi inside the area and he fired wide.

Shortly after, Aleksandar Kolarov's left-footed strike forced Dida to make a good save.

At the other end, Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera did well to keep out Massimo Oddo's strike from the edge of the area.

There was little Muslera could do to prevent the Rossoneri taking the lead as Silva latched onto a free-kick by Andrea Pirlo and nodded past Muslera.

The Rossoneri maintained the pressure and almost doubled their advantage soon after.

Pato did well to get behind Pirlo's cross from the right but his weak header proved an easy catch for Muslera.

The home side reacted and almost levelled the score on the half-hour mark when Zarate smashed in a powerful free-kick that Dida managed to palm over the bar.

Ten minutes before half-time and Pato made it 2-0.

Ronaldinho's cross found his fellow Brazilian inside the area and Pato's header went inside the top right-hand corner of the goal.

Dida made sure his team went into the break with a 2-0 lead, diving to his right to parry away Matuzalem's stinging drive from distance.

Ballardini made his first substitution after the re-start, with Julio Cruz replacing Stefano Mauri, but Milan's dominance continued in the second half.

Pirlo's curled free-kick went just over the bar.

Shortly after, Marco Borriello did well to control Pirlo's pass inside the area but was unable to fire on target.

On the hour mark, Massimo Ambrosini made a crucial clearance inside the area with Cruz ready to strike from close range.

Lazio reduced the deficit soon after, with Dida having no chance to save Zarate's deflected shot.

The goal inspired the hosts, who surged forward looking for an equaliser.

They were almost rewarded with 15 minutes remaining.

Meghni's cross from the left found Rocchi inside the area but his header went wide.

The visitors dominated the closing stages of the game.

Muslera made a great save to deny Flamini while the Lazio keeper was forced to fully stretch to clear Pato's killer strike from the edge of the area in what was the last chance of the game.

From our special envoy Gabriella

The Azzurri, under the guidance of Mazzarri, have shrunk as a group, growing conviction and determination, with the consequent conquest of 7 points on the nine available, corroborated by a desire to believe in it that allowed them to score as many as 4 goals in injury time.

Great is thus an expectation in Turin for a classic of Italian football, who has lived his most striking chapters in the days of Maradona's Napoli, and therefore refers the public for special occasions, filling the stands in a setting of warm and fans colored.

Ferrara has a 4-2-3-1 with Juventus Buffon, Grygera, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Poulsen (from 77 ° Amauri), Melo, Diego, Giovinco (85 ° De Ceglie), Camoranesi (31 ° Tiago), Trezeguet.

Mazzarri responds deploy Naples with a 3-4-3, De Sanctis; Campagnaro (from 58th Dátolo), Cannavaro, Contini; May, Gargano, Cigarini, Aronica, Lavezzi (from 87 ° Patience), Hamsik, Denis (from 69 ° Quagliarella).

It takes 18 seconds to Juventus to create the first scoring, Camoranesi Giovinco is avoiding the offside trap and is presented only in front of De Sanctis, the diagonal of the Juventus playmaker, however, is just off and gets lost on the side of a span.

The response of Naples, after a header from the top of Denis, comes with an assist on the 6th of May too violent Denis in which we do not get crushed in a breath with Buffon already passed.

Juventus try to make the match but after the initial embarrassment Naples tighten the defense and closes all passages offensive to the hosts, really unimaginative and predictable.

The Naples with the minutes passed and grows, taking advantage of the gaps left by the offensive sorties Juventus occurs more often from parts of Buffon, and Aaron first with a shot from 20 meters to the violent forcing the goalkeeper, new father, to divert more than the crossbar at 20 °, on developments in the corner and Lavezzi to touch the target bulk.

Juventus seems difficult to contain attacks and guests leave with danger, still the head tank to 23 to miss by sending the ball heading wide of a breath, finally, Juventus and reacts with Felipe Melo missing the goal for a trifle with a shot that grazes the pole to 26 °.

At 31 ° Camoranesi struck out randomly by Contini, for a deep cut in the face,

Tiago in its place, three minutes later, after a long-acting maneuvered, Grygera calibrate a cross into the area, Trezeguet jumps higher than all the advantage to beat De Sanctis Bianconeri.

The game is vibrant and full of reversals in the face before and Giovinco, served by Poulsen not realize then is to try to Gargano out with Buffon that accompanies the ball for a corner, finally De Sanctis anticipate Trezeguet, launched by Grosso.

If the first time it was great that recovery is incredible, after a series of high-risk situations in an area and the other at 50 ° Trezeguet Poulsen serves on the band, the French put the center where the head is all alone Contini unfortunately Giovinco, for little imagination is simple to realize displacing De Sanctis in a kind of rigor in motion.

After an accident like a team less convinced and determined it could risk the defeat, but the Neapolitan seem to ignore what had happened and toss the assault metacampo opponent.

At 58 ° Mazzarri decides a change that seems risky, outside and inside Campagnaro Dátolo, obviously Mr. Toscano is a true magician, kissed by that bit of fortune favors the bold, passes just a minute and just steals it Dátolo on the left wing and puts at the center, the ball is not a bunch of players at the near post and draws Hamsik, perfectly free at the far post for Slovak and a breeze to beat Buffon with a shot of dish from bottom to top.

Juventus looks on her knees and gives no tangible signs of reaction, the Naples believes and continues to attack, at 64 °, the development of a corner, Denis impact of head, Buffon saved the desperate, but the ball still comes Tanke who can only touch, but is ready to hit Dátolo sub and put the equalizer.

The Bianconeri, having thrown to the winds the double advantage, he threw himself desperately in attack, but they do it with ideas rather than a disorderly and confused, go for Amauri Poulsen, but 82 ° is the Naples area that draws on a restart with textbook hail from the ball to Lavezzi Dátolo always him who set gently in area, Tiago flying scissors in his dirty hit on feet dell'accorrente that Hamsik, flat, scores a sensational goal, which completes the comeback of the blue, giving them even advantage.

The desperate final forcing Juventus produces only an occasion for De Ceglie that undersized, poorly cross svirgola of external Trezeguet, and a furious scrum in front of goal with De Sanctis that saves the feet of Amauri, the Brazilian touches the foot face of the goalkeeper, he was born a general melee that brings the referee D'Amato to show the red card to Brazil.

Ends up with the incredible, but all in all deserved victory of Naples, who returns to conquer the land of Juventus after 21 years, able to return to the surface after it, quite unexpectedly, finished in 2 to 0, still a large firm of blue when the hand is seen Mazzarri is all right if the team will follow its directives Neapolitan fans have something to rejoice this year.

Juventus really do not know what to say, already the approach to the match I had thought of the best, the only form with Melo and Poulsen in midfield to dam it seemed too light to oppose the strong and equipped median Naples, then on trovatisi double advantage, the Bianconeri are literally sunk the team has seemed helpless and with even fewer ideas, Diego who has seen it?

The best: Chiellini and Trezeguet at Juventus, in Naples Dátolo and Hamsik.

On the eve of the match is lived on the beautiful statements made by Mourinho on Zenga and the special relationship of friendship that binds it to him, however, fully reciprocated by the former number one Inter.

After five rings the league launched last night by Juventus, exit fortified and inspired by its direct clash with Sampdoria, Inter has called to gather with proven successful, but mainly just as convincing and commanding, the gauntlet trowed the eternal rivals Juventus.

The Rosanero Sicily, past the headlines last summer as a result of bombastic statements by Zenga on a Palermo in contention for the title, met initially more of a difficulty going to encounter some setbacks and performance far from convincing, but lately seem to have chosen the right path and arrived three wins in a row that they have relaunched the noble area of the league.

Mourinho chose a 4-3-1-2 and relies on Julio Cesar, Maicon, Cordoba, Samuel, Chivu (46 ° Santon), Muntari, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Stankovic; Eto'o (75 ° Motta), Balotelli (from 49 ° Milito).

Zenga answer relying on a 3-4-1-2 with Sirigu, Goian, Kjaer, Migliaccio; Melinte (46 ° Hernandez), Simplicio (from 86 ° Nocerino), Bresciano, Cassani, Pastore (85 ° Bertolo) , Miccoli, Cavani.

No time to settle in the area and the whole passage, Melinte, drawn from a surprise Zenga, ruin stupidly Balotelli in area, impeccable penalty that Eto'o turns displacing Sirigu minute number 7.

The reaction of Palermo is weak and it involves a very high bad shoot Simplicio, the Rosanero seem provocative, unbalanced, nearly split in half and, when they lose the ball, you give the Nerazzurri terrifying restarts, tries Eto ' or a deviation wheel, the ball just high end.

Inter appear to have opponents at will, driven by a Balotelli, feverish, but really unstoppable, Simplicio dismissed after a shot by Julio Cesar, Maicon and another rejected by Sirigu edge of the pole, it is precisely to devour SuperMario the easiest of goals header wide from a lovely cross from near the bottom.

Palermo tries, first with a free kick from the edge on which Kjaer is tugged in area, details of the penalty would seem to be there, then it's time to Miccoli's free-kick to commit Julio Cesar that comes at the very last moment and deflects for a corner .

Inter put on fire the halfcourt opposing, first and Eto'o to commit Sirigu a difficult intervention, the goalkeeper saved with the help of the crossbar, then comes the inevitable doubling, to 34 °, the development of a corner kick from the right, Balotelli is ready to find the height of the first pile of bags and head.

Palermo reacts with such a huge opportunity that happens on the feet of Cavani, only in area, which tow the chest but then kicks unbelievably wide from two steps.

The finish is a real nightmare for Rosanero suffering two goals in a minute, Balotelli is still at 42 ° to give the coup de grace, crushed to a header from Cambiasso after an unfortunate collision between aircraft Sirigu and Kjaer at 43 ° is always Balotelli to win the bottom line and serve a delicious assists for the onrushing Eto'o who puts near to the first post.

Ends the first time with the devastating impression of a whole, responding tit for tat to goleada Juventus yesterday, Palermo and a dazed and confused that sinks beneath the merciless blows of the opponent.

At the beginning of recovery two substitutions changed the course of the race, in Rosanero enters Hernandez to a frightened and disastrous Melinte in Inter Santon succeeds Chivu.

Inter remain with the head in the locker room while the other team seems a Palermo, compact, convinced, determined and lethal.

In 18 minutes the guests leave in goals three times by reopening the game at 49 ° is Miccoli, launched by Simplicio, get rid of Cordoba and strength to overcome Julio Cesar output at 62 ° Cassani, fished just beyond the defensive line Nerazzurri, Center low for the onrushing Hernandez flat bags, then to the 67th passage no look delicious Cassani only area which is Miccoli, precise touch of fantasy to overcome Julio Cesar output.

Inter in the second half, close to scoring only with Milito on 4 to 2 with a shot at sure shot grazed by Kjaer just enough to let go a few inches from the pole, finally rallied and put a muzzle on the kids to Zenga, than just getting good are lost.

The sensational solo effort, stubborn and irrepressible, Maicon in excess of the Pastore Center and bottom low for Milito who has no problem in Sirigu to beat the goal that finally closes the game at 83 °.

The half ends with still a number of occasions by both sides not materialize for a trifle, I'm trying Hernandez with a shot that ends up, then Miccoli with a free kick from the edge rejected by Julio Cesar, who is finally Motta sees rejected by Sirigu hurled the shot from close range.

Inter, showing his usual devastating power athletics, accompanied and enhanced by tram and intoxicating with Balotelli and Eto'o still elusive to the rear guest, so a tame Palermo with two sides, vulnerable in the first half, cynical and practical in recovery

What is not convinced that the resumption of the Inter does turn up their noses at Mourinho and the fans, the team sits on the large advantage, pulling the plug and seeing almost powerless to attempt to climb the opponents, only to be able to regroup and reentering in the match, helped from opponent's braking, stopped inexplicably after the third goal. 

Zenga is overall a good figure, completely misses the training and tactical initial form, then, in the locker room can give input and to his conviction, and with some well-aimed choices, manages to re-open the match and frighten his old home ground, Palermo confirmed team perspective, with some great individuality and various patterns and fungible.

In the end everyone enjoyed themselves that this was one of the best games of the year, Inter respond, if ever it were needed, to Juventus, confirming that arrived before the 38th day will be difficult if not impossible, for all but confirming true to his innate character, team-mad ...

The best: in Inter Balotelli and Maicon in Palermo Miccoli and Cassani.