Internazionale Milano - Serie A champions 07/08

The scudetto day of destiny: Sunday the 18th of May. Someone will be crowned Champions of Italy.

Atalanta Vs Genoa
Cagliari Vs Reggina
Catania Vs Roma
Empoli Vs Livorno
Lazyomerda vs Napoli
Milan Vs Udinese
Parma vs Inter Sampdoria vs Juventus
Siena vs Palermo
Torino vs Fiorentina

Inter 82 37 24 10 3 67 26 15 3 1 41 14 9 7 2 26 12
Roma 81 37 24 9 4 71 36 15 3 1 43 20 9 6 3 28 16
Juventus 71 37 20 11 6 69 34 12 5 2 39 12 8 6 4 30 22
Fiorentina 63 37 18 9 10 54 39 12 4 3 35 18 6 5 7 19 21
Milan 61 37 17 10 10 62 37 7 7 4 27 17 10 3 6 35 20


Catania 36 37 8 12 17 32 44 8 5 5 20 13 0 7 12 12 31
Parma 34 37 7 13 17 42 60 7 6 5 28 24 0 7 12 14 36
Empoli 33 37 8 9 20 27 51 4 7 7 16 20 4 2 13 11 31
Livorno (r) 30 37 6 12 19 34 58 3 8 8 18 28 3 4 11 16 30

The course of the season has come and gone, a season's work rides on the results of Sunday's afternoon matches.

I didn’t see it coming. It’s as though the sounds of church bells and angels on harps have awoken me from a deep calcio-induced slumber. All of a sudden there was hope of Roma winning the Scudetto. It feels like yesterday Inter were 11 points up, sure mathematically we were in the race but I had all but lost hope. Of course, I strongly doubt I’m the lone man in this boat. Inter was so dominant for so long that even a fall back to earth would’ve meant being chauffeured on cruise control to the scudetto. The good money, perhaps the only money, was on their victory. Something which may still happen. If I ever neede another reason to love the Giallorossi this is it. When we were decimated by injuries, others stepped up. When very few believed, we still kept fighting. When the Champions League ended in sorrow, we simply switched fronts. When the symbol of Rome went down, we each brought a little something extra to the equation, outscoring our next three opponents 9-1. And when everyone thought all was lost, we proved to the world it wasn't. This is not a stable. This isn’t Inter or Manchester United, and it’s not quite Cinderella. This is not a team which, on paper, should even be in contention with the northern bank accounts. This is the true epitome of a team with a tactical Geppetto pulling the strings on parts of varied qualities and skill. It’s just Roma. A team unlike any other.

Whatever happens, I just hope everyone realizes we watched something special this year, Inter collapse or not. Roma has set its all-time point total. (though benefited by four extra games in the Serie A season) We'll be defending our Coppa Italia title in the final in a couple of weeks. We hold the Supercup, doing all of this without our best player, leader and icon.

It’s going to be a great future, of this I’m convinced. I’ve always thought Destiny would come calling to bring the wolves home next season, and she still may. But for now I'm going to savour one of the greatest times to be a Romanista. This, only a couple of years after being 17th in the Serie A and having a new coach more than I replace my underwear. No matter what happens these players have already achieved my dream, achieving more than anyone could have ever thought.

FORZA PARMA!
GRAZIE ROMA, GRAZIE!

So if Fiorentina draw and Milan win and they both end up on 64 points, how is it decided and who goes into the CL?

Parks lives wrote:So if Fiorentina draw and Milan win and they both end up on 64 points, how is it decided and who goes into the CL?

Head to Head. I think Milan go through.

PARMA! PARMA! PARMA!!! wrote:

Parks lives wrote:So if Fiorentina draw and Milan win and they both end up on 64 points, how is it decided and who goes into the CL?

Head to Head. I think Milan go through.

Yes, Milan have won away at Florence, and drawn at home.

Same with Inter, so if Roma draw their game at Catania, we will win the scudetto even if we lose to Parma.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Cataniaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There also is a battle for the Inter Toto cup slot... Napoli and Genoa are both in running for that spot, Napoli (2 points ahead) face Lazio in Rome, while Genoa travel to Atalanta.

Interestingly, as Udinese are still not registered for UEFA competitions, there is a good chance that both Napoli and Genoa make it. Which would be a strange thing, as it would mean that all 3 promoted teams make it to Europe!!! Has that ever happened before in any league?

bluenine wrote:There also is a battle for the Inter Toto cup slot... Napoli and Genoa are both in running for that spot, Napoli (2 points ahead) face Lazio in Rome, while Genoa travel to Atalanta.

Interestingly, as Udinese are still not registered for UEFA competitions, there is a good chance that both Napoli and Genoa make it. Which would be a strange thing, as it would mean that all 3 promoted teams make it to Europe!!! Has that ever happened before in any league?

Good observation.

It shows how competitive Serie A was outside the top two. It really is tight everywhere. And if Juve and Milan strengthen for next season, it's going to be great.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

bluenine wrote:There also is a battle for the Inter Toto cup slot... Napoli and Genoa are both in running for that spot, Napoli (2 points ahead) face Lazio in Rome, while Genoa travel to Atalanta.

Interestingly, as Udinese are still not registered for UEFA competitions, there is a good chance that both Napoli and Genoa make it. Which would be a strange thing, as it would mean that all 3 promoted teams make it to Europe!!! Has that ever happened before in any league?

Good observation.

It shows how competitive Serie A was outside the top two. It really is tight everywhere. And if Juve and Milan strengthen for next season, it's going to be great.

I wrote last summer that Serie A is going to reverse the declining trend and considerably strengthen... that has clearly happened this season, and we will hopefully see the effects of that in Europe next season (there is always a lag).

Now I think Serie A will strengthen further, with ambitious clubs like Genoa, Napoli, Doria, Fiorentina, Torino and Lazio planning investments. So are Juve and Milan. Roma and Inter will definately touch up their squads to face the new competition. If clubs like Udinese, Palermo & Atalanta can remain competitive, next season is going to be even better, much better.

My money is on Napoli. There are so many players who would love to play for them, and a president who seems intent on making a dent in Europe. They are ones to watch out for...

My heart wants Roma but my head says Inter will win.

monty wrote:My heart wants Roma but my head says Inter will win.

You seem like an intelligent guy who needs a heart transplant!

Both Roma and Inter fans have been banned from attending their respective away matches. Disgraceful from the FIGC! There will be no fans to cheer on the Scudetto winners in the Presentation on Sunday.

PARMA! PARMA! PARMA!!! wrote:Both Roma and Inter fans have been banned from attending their respective away matches. Disgraceful from the FIGC! There will be no fans to cheer on the Scudetto winners in the Presentation on Sunday.

I just posted on this on the Serie A thread... it is so silly. Specially for Inter fans, as they got banned for no apparent reason - even the police think there is no threat. We got banned just coz the Roma fans got banned.

The silly authorities cannot make the stadiums safe for away fans, and then they complain of low attendances... if you keep banning fans in the most important game of the season, what else do you expect?? Idiots!

bluenine wrote:

PARMA! PARMA! PARMA!!! wrote:Both Roma and Inter fans have been banned from attending their respective away matches. Disgraceful from the FIGC! There will be no fans to cheer on the Scudetto winners in the Presentation on Sunday.

I just posted on this on the Serie A thread... it is so silly. Specially for Inter fans, as they got banned for no apparent reason - even the police think there is no threat. We got banned just coz the Roma fans got banned.

The silly authorities cannot make the stadiums safe for away fans, and then they complain of low attendances... if you keep banning fans in the most important game of the season, what else do you expect?? Idiots!

Very stupid, no reason for loyal tifosi to be banned just because some things MIGHT happen.

Inter tifosi are going anyways... I am sure so are Roma's... The police are only making the situation more dangerous by banning them...

Inter Ultras plot 'peaceful invasion'
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Inter director Ernesto Paolillo is sad to see away fans banned from the Stadio Tardini and it seems the Curva Nord Ultras will head to Parma anyway. It was confirmed this morning that away supporters will not be allowed to watch Inter’s Scudetto decider away to Parma this Sunday. After Roma fans were prevented from travelling to Catania, it was deemed unfair for the Nerazzurri to have the benefit of support at the Stadio Tardini.

“I’m disappointed not only that our followers can’t got to Parma, but also that Roma fans can’t go to Catania,” Inter official Paolillo moaned. “For the good of football, the fans of all teams should be able to go to the stadium to watch games. “We didn’t want any privileges or favours, but just that Roma and Inter should be allowed to play in front of their supporters on Sunday, so this decision has really upset us.”

However, it appears that Inter’s Ultras are ready to make the trip to Emilia-Romagna against express police advice. “From within this chaos that reigns, the Curva Nord wants to confirm the only certainty – the Inter fans will be there,” a statement on their website reads. “It’s clear that on Sunday, like it or not, there will be a Nerazzurri invasion that will be absolutely peaceful and our voices will roar inside or outside the stadium.

“They can’t think that the 60 miles that separate Milan and the Inter fans from the possibility of winning a Scudetto can be an obstacle. “The wish that we have heard from thousands of emails and phone calls is to welcome the players as they arrive and leave the ground, even if we can’t go inside.”

Dessena suspension not overturned, he'll miss the weekend match.

PARMA! PARMA! PARMA!!! wrote:Dessena suspension not overturned, he'll miss the weekend match.

Tho TBH, it does not matter much... Inter are playing against themsleves, against the pressure, against the ghosts of May 5, 2002.

I hope we can bury those ghosts! If not, then I hope Catania do it for us

Yeah Im not THAT worried either. Parma won't win us the Scudetto, Inter will.

Choke, choke, choke.

PARMA! PARMA! PARMA!!! wrote:Yeah Im not THAT worried either. Parma won't win us the Scudetto, Inter will.

Choke, choke, choke.

Funny, coming from a Roma fan...

bluenine wrote:

PARMA! PARMA! PARMA!!! wrote:Yeah Im not THAT worried either. Parma won't win us the Scudetto, Inter will.

Choke, choke, choke.

Funny, coming from a Roma fan...

You can't call us chokers AND accuse us of scoring late goals. One or the other man.

It would be a great comeback if Roma wins and I like Roma but think would go for Inter in this one , Inter to wrap it up.

Inter fans banned from Parma
Thursday 15 May, 2008

It has been confirmed that Inter fans will not be allowed to travel to Parma’s Stadio Tardini for the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto decider this weekend.

The title race has gone to the wire and will be decided this Sunday, but the top two are both away from home for their all-important final games.

The initial decision from the Osservatorio – a task force set up to stem football-related violence – was that Inter supporters would be allowed to follow their side to Parma, while Roma fans were banned from visiting Catania.

Police in Sicily had feared the possibility of violent clashes should Giallorossi tifosi pour into Catania and felt they should put safety first, while such concerns weren’t voiced in Emilia-Romagna.

However, this ruling provoked outrage in the peninsula as many saw it as an unfair advantage for the leaders.

After reviewing the situation, Parma police chief Paolo Scarpis has announced that there will be no away fans at the Stadio Tardini on Sunday.

“I had no doubt that the fans of Parma and Inter are well behaved but I have to declare that the away end will be closed to Nerazzurri Ultras and that the tickets will be given to school children or sold to the local public,” he stated.

“Furthermore, the indication from Rome’s police that Giallorossi fans could arrive has increased the possible danger.

“The forces of law and order in our city will be in a position to control the situation and it is our duty to prevent any possible damage to the city. I hope that Sunday is a festival of sport whatever the final score is.”

While there can be no more accusations of favouritism, there is likely to be widespread disappointment that fans will have to watch the finale of an epic title race on TV.

Zanetti is injured and is in doubt for this game... this is terrible news, just when we also lost Cambiasso and Chivu. Lets pray our inspirational captain recovers by sunday, its 50-50. Knowing Zanetti, if he has one fit leg, he will play for 90 minutes!!

Injured: Samuel, Cordoba, Chivu, Stankovic, Cambiasso, Figo, Ibrahimovic.

Likely starting lineup:

------------------Cesar
Maicon - Materazzi - Burdisso - Maxwell
Zanetti --- Vieira ---- Pele --- Jimenez
-----------Balotelli - Cruz

Subs: Toldo, Rivas, Maniche, Cesar, Crespo, Suazo, Stankovic(?), Ibra(?)

I would prefer to see Rivas starting instead of Burdisso, the Matrix+Burdisso partnership is too risky. Also would prefer Zanetti taking Cambiasso's place at the centre, with Cesar/Stankovic playing on the right, and Jimenez on the left. We need to attack Parma. What I would prefer:

------------------Cesar
Maicon - Materazzi - Rivas - Maxwell
Jimenez - Vieira - Zanetti - Stankovic
-----------Balotelli - Cruz

There is a small chance that Ibra may be fit enough to come in as a supersup if required. Not sure whether that would be a good idea anyways - Crespo/Suazo will be better supersubs. Stankovic is working hard to be fit for this game, and it will be great if he could start instead of Cesar! I hope Zanetti and Stankovic make it.

Lovely Jubbly. No inspirational captain for either sides.

Burning Glenn ye Conte wrote:Lovely Jubbly. No inspirational captain for either sides.

We are also missing 7 of our regular starters!!

Samuel, Cordoba, Chivu, Stankovic, Cambiasso, Figo, Ibrahimovic

Too many injuries at Inter have made this scudetto interesting... I am quite sure if we had not suffered so many injuries, we would have wrapped this up a long time ago. We have literally played our B team for a large part of this season!

Both games are live on 5!

TV: Five offer D-day choice Friday 16 May, 2008

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Calcio fans in Britain will be able to watch the Scudetto drama unfold in full this Sunday as Parma-Inter and Catania-Roma will both be broadcast live.

One of the most exciting final weeks in Serie A history beckons as the title race and relegation dogfight have collided with Inter travelling to Parma and Catania hosting Roma.

Leaders Inter have seen an 11-point advantage at the top of the table reduced to a single point and need a win at the Stadio Tardini to secure the silverware.

But they will meet with spirited resistance from a Parma side who need to win to keep their hopes of extending their 19-year residency in Serie A alive.

Meanwhile, Roma must beat Catania at the Stadio Massimino to stay in with a shout of winning the Scudetto.

That’s easier said than done, given that their hosts need a result to consolidate their position as a top-flight side after conceding a last-gasp equaliser against Juventus last weekend.

Channel Five are giving viewers the chance to choose between Inter-Parma, which will be shown on Five and Catania-Roma, which will be available on Five’s digital channel Fiver.

Coverage starts at 1.45pm this Sunday. Fiver can be found on Freeview channel 36, Sky channel 182 or Virgin Media channel 186.

Inter fret, Roma calm for season finale

* Leaders Inter Milan, who will retain the title with a win at relegation-threatened Parma, have doubts over flu victim Maxwell so Nicolas Burdisso may be forced to play left back.

Striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to make the bench after a month and a half out with a knee problem while captain Javier Zanetti has returned to full training.

Inter's preparations have been upset by a late decision to ban their fans from Parma and a police drugs probe involving a tailor used by the club's players and coaches. There is no suggestion anyone at Inter has done anything wrong but the Italian press is still full of the story.

* AS Roma, who will snatch the scudetto if they win at Catania and Inter slip up, have no new injury problems for the trip to Sicily.

Media reports have said midfielder Alberto Aquilani will get the nod ahead of Ludovic Giuly.

* Parma, who will go down after 18 years in the top flight if they lose, welcome back experienced Portuguese defender Fernando Couto from a long ban but injury and suspension continue to bite.

* Catania, one place outside the three-team relegation zone, have injury doubts over striker Giuseppe Mascara as they seek the point that will effectively keep them up.

* Empoli, one from bottom, must beat already-relegated Livorno and hope other results go their way to avoid the drop. Defender Andrea Raggi may miss out with a swollen ankle.

* AC Milan, two points behind Fiorentina in the race for the fourth and final Champions League spot, are without suspended duo Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Nesta for the visit of Udinese.

* Fiorentina travel to Torino with no new injury problems but striker Adrian Mutu and midfielder Marco Donadel are banned.

* Third-placed Juventus visit Sampdoria on Saturday (1300) with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon expected to rest his injured back as there is nothing left to play for.

* Brazilian striker Amauri is poised to play his final game for Palermo at Siena ahead of a move to Juventus or Milan. (Reporting by Mark Meadows, editing by Rex Gowar)

Great game so far

HT

Sampdoria 2 - 2 Juventus
7' [0 - 1] A.D. Piero
16' [0 - 2] D. Trezeguet (pen.)
22' [1 - 2] A. Cassano
39' [2 - 2] C. Maggio
45' A. Cassano missed a pen.

Gol Del Piero
3-2 Juventus
Del Piero makes some great dribblings in the area and a clumpsy tackle brings him down. Come on Cassano!!

Del Piero makes it 3 for Juve. He has 21 goals now this season

Sissoko gets himself a red card....

Come on Doria!!!

Was a bit harsh on him. He had no harmful intent & was going for the ball

bluenine wrote:Sissoko gets himself a red card....

Come on Doria!!!