Serie A weekend review: Udinese and Roma secure European spots

There you have it. That’s it. After shocks, sackings, goals, tears and quite a few ill advised decisions, the Serie A season is over. It’s been tumultuous ride, but a vastly enjoyable one – complete with all the spills, thrills tricks and flicks you would expect from the typically suave and slick Italian football. From Maurizio Zamparini’s constant stream of venomous comments and even more toxic decisions, to Kevin Prince Boateng’s Moonwalk last week – Serie A has never been short of entertainment, and I for one, look forward to a new season.

The last week in the 2010/11 Serie A season focused on Champions League and Europa League qualification, a battle that had gone down to the wire, and left all parties involved with a reasonable chance of qualification for various continental competitions.

In the driving seat was Udinese, needing a point from Champions Milan to guarantee qualification for Europe’s premier competition, and did so in a fairly passive fixture against the Rossoneri. Neither side created much – Udinese having the two best chances of the match – a penalty, which was brilliantly saved by Marco Amelia, and a shot from Gokhlan Inler which managed to loop over Amelia before hitting both crossbar and post and trickling out.

However, Udinese held on to the stalemate before the referee’s final whistle kicked off frantic celebrations from all those in support of the Friuli outfit. There was a melancholy end to the Milanese season, Andrea Pirlo leaving at the end of the season, and Clarence Seedorf rumoured to follow – the former in tears as he waved goodbye to the club to which he gave so much.

Udinese beat Lazio to fourth, who despite beating Lecce 4-2, will have to settle for the Europa League. A vastly entertaining game, Lazio twice penned back by Lecce, the second equaliser a beautiful lob from Ignacio Piatti, before a converted penalty from Mauro Zarate and an unfortunate own goal from Giuseppe Vives allowed La Aquile to grab a comfortable victory.

The battle for the Europa League between Roma and Juventus ended this weekend as well, the Gallarossi ending victorious after beating the already relegated Sampdoria 3-1, goals from Francesco Totti, Mirko Vucinic and Marco Borriello ending Sampdoria’s chances of ending the campaign on a high, and guaranteeing European football next term.

Juventus had only a thin chance of scraping some success this season, needing to win whilst requiring Roma to lose, but failed to beat Napoli, who despite having nothing to play for, still looked the brighter more motivated side, taking the lead through a header from Christian Maggio, before Giorgio Chiellini gave Juve a chance. However, it was not to be, the game ending 2-2 after Cristiano Lucarelli put the Partonepei ahead, before the Bianconeri equalised 6 minutes from time thanks to Alessandro Matri. After a season that promised so much, La Vecchio Signoria have only themselves to blame for how it ended, and will need to reshuffle to return to the success that they once had.

Elsewhere in Serie A, Inter beat Catania 3-1, after a brace from Giampaolo Pazzini and a fantastic long range effort from Yuto Nagatomo gifted the Nerazzuri an easy victory. Pablo Ledesma gave the Sicillians a consolation goal, but the result was never in doubt.

Palermo ended the season in disappointing style, the Rosanero’s 3-1 loss to Chievo indicative of the season the islanders have shown great promise, but losses to teams Delio Rossi’s men should be beating have cost Palermo this year. Antonio Nocerino’s 15^th minute opener was rendered redundant as the Flying Donkeys equalised before the break, and then took advantage of a poor second half performance from the home side to end the game, and campaign, in high spirits.

The other games in Serie A concluded as such: Fiorentina ended in style typical of their own campaign, failing to beat Brescia. The latter, already relegated held La Viola to a draw after twice being penned back, Juan Manuel Vargas’s opener cancelled out by Eder, while Alessio Cerci’s 75^th minute goal was levelled by Pietro Accadri in the 88^th minute. Fiorentina must now improve to guarantee European positions next year, or fear of slipping into mediocrity.

Genoa edged out Cesena 3-2 in an entertaining thriller, the latter fighting back from three down but failing to rescue a point. An Antonio Floro Flores double and a goal from Rodrigo Palacio gave Genoa what they thought was an unassailable lead, before a Erjon Bogdani penalty and a 85^th minute goal from Luis Jiminez made La Grifone sweat for a while, but that’s all they did, Genoa holding onto the result until the end.

Nearer the bottom half of the table, Parma finished the season with a draw against Cagliari, whilst Bari went down to Serie B fighting, beating Bologna 4-0, leavings fans of the Galetti hope for the future regarding the return to the peninsula’s highest altar.

By Sam Lewis