Juve Edge Nearer Shaky Leaders
Sunday 14th January 2001
A hard-fought victory over Bologna saw Juventus gain ground on Serie A leaders Roma, who needed a penalty from skipper Francesco Totti to salvage a home draw against brave basement club Bari. Dino Zoff, meanwhile, made a triumphant return to Lazio.
Roma were looking set to lose only their second match of the season when Mazzarelli put Bari, in bottom spot in Serie A, ahead on 69 minutes with a stunning free kick. But Roma captain Totti put the scores level on 74 minutes from the spot after he had been fouled as he tried to round Markic.
Juventus, for their part, were facing selection problems in midfield ahead of their clash with Bologna but still managed a crucial 1-0 win that takes them to within six points of Fabio Capello's side.
Alessio Tacchinardi was suspended and the combative pairing of Antonio Conte and Edgar Davids are injured, so Uruguay forward Fabian O�Neill was given one of his few chances this season.
France striker David Trezeguet put the hosts ahead on 12 minutes with a great strike. Juventus president Humberto Agnelli went into see the players at half-time and they came out fired up after the break but the Bologna defence remained resolute.
They even had a great chance of their own in the 80th minute from the spot but Julio Cruz blasted the ball over the bar following an Iuliano hand ball.
Former Italy coach Arrigo sacchi was deprived of a winning start on his return as coach of Parma by a clinical second-half strike by Christian Vieri for Internazionale.
It had been 14 years since Sacchi last managed a Parma side, and it looked like being a successful reunion when Marco Di Vaio put the visitors in front shortly after the half-hour mark.
But they had to settle for a 1-1 draw and a share of the points when Vieri, who had missed a hatful of chances, finally found the target with 20 minutes remaining.
It was a victorious return, though, for Dino Zoff as he began another spell as coach of Lazio, despite a stirring comeback by Udinese, as Hernan Crespo scored twice in a 4-3 victory.
Zoff started his career at Udinese and was delighted to return to his former stomping ground with a triumph � especially as it was over a side that had beaten Lazio 4-1 in the Coppa Italia last month - but concerned the side almost wasted a 3-0 lead.
Udinese helped Serie A's current champions on their way with an own goal on three minutes from Zomboni but Lazio had looked hungry from the off. The Rome side went further ahead on 35 minutes when Crespo buried from the penalty spot after Bertotto, who was sent off, handled in the area.
Chile striker Marcelo Salas scored the third on 50 minutes and Crespo knocked in the fourth five minutes later with a cracking snapshot.
The visitors, though, got back in contention after Lazio's third goal with strikes from Fiore, Margiotta and Sosa.
In-form Napoli floundered against Verona in a bad-tempered match where they let slip a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1. Claudio Bellucci scored Verona's goal on 71 minutes but Adrian Mutu and Adailton turned the game on its head. Mutu, Colucci and Da Silva were all shown red cards.
Reggina built on their shock away win at Parma last weekend with a 1-0 triumph over Atalanta. The decisive goal came from Diogini on 24 minutes.
Finally, Lecce gave Sweden midfielder Klas Ingesson � a loan signing from Marseille � his first start against Vicenza as the hosts secured an impressive 3-1 triumph. Striker Davor Vugrinec scored two goals for the hosts, one free-kick and one penalty.
