Gazzetta

Serie A returned after the international break with some familiar news. Inter scored three and maintained their lead at the top, city rivals Milan scored four with their Brazilians again leading the way, Alex Del Piero was back playing for Juve again and just for good measure, Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini sacked another manager.

Inter's victory 3-1 away at Bologna demonstrated their strength once more. They even let Bologna draw level through Marcelo Zalayeta after 'Il Principe' Diego Milito had given them the lead. But super Mario Balotelli responded to his manager's stinging criticism earlier in the week to put them 2-1 up before half time. Esteban Cambiasso wrapped up all three points with his goal in the 72nd minute following a break down the right by Milito.

The only cloud on the horizon was the sending-off of Maicon after he swore at the linesman rather foolishly. He now risks not playing against Juventus in two weeks' time in a showdown that could either close or reopen the scudetto.

The next day Milan were involved in a topsy-turvy match that had absolutely nothing to do with catenaccio. It finished 4-3 to the rossoneri and saw a fantastic goal by Alexandre Pato following build-up play from the other duo in the attacking trident - Boriello and Ronaldinho. They also got on the score sheet along with Clarence Seedorf to show that Milan's attack is not faltering at the moment. The same could not be said about the defence though. Cagliari seemed to cut through them like a hot knife through butter at times and again showed their counter-attacking prowess. Last year they also beat Juventus in Torino using their swift 'repartenze'.

Leonardo was pleased with his side's exhilarating display: "I'm happy for the way everyone played. There are some problems with our defence but we know about that. Today I wish to focus on our spectacular performance. I don't agree on the criticism for our lack of balance: it's true that at times the team is split in two but it's also true that our adversaries have to stay back and can't attack with great numbers."

General manager Adriano Galliani also expressed his opinion for the open style Milan now play. "It's better a 4-3 than a 1-0: I prefer to suffer like this."

Juventus' 1-0 victory over Udinese kept them within touching distance of Inter, bearing in mind the big clash in a fortnight. It also marked their 1000th victory at home and the return of Del Piero to the line-up. He came on in the second half with Momo Sissoko who replaced the disappointing Felipe Melo. The breakthrough came in the 51st minute with a goal by Fabio Grosso. Who swept in a cross by Martin Caceres.

The other significant thing to come out of this match was the abuse levelled at Mario Balotelli from some sections of the Juve tifosi. This mirrors last year's match when Super Mario was also abused at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. Chants of 'Se saltelli/muore Balotelli' translated as 'If we jump/Balotelli dies' were heard around the ground. Let's see if the authorities step in to nip this situation in the bud.

And finally, Zamparini in his 21 years in football is now on his 28th manager. He sacked Walter Zenga after a 1-1 draw at home to Catania, who happened to be Zenga's ex-team. The new man will be ex Lazio manager Delio Rossi. I wonder how long he will last.

Brendan Allen