Unbeaten Juventus reclaim Serie A summit
Sunday, December 18, 2011
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Juventus replaced AC Milan at the top of Serie A after a 2-0 success against Novara Calcio, on a day when Udinese Calcio and S.S. Lazio drew 2-2 and FC Internazionale Milano went fifth.
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Juventus returned to the Serie A summit after goals in either half by Simone Pepe and Fabio Quagliarella ensured the Bianconeri completed their ninth victory of the season.
Italian international Pepe struck his fifth goal of the campaign after just four minutes of the match in Turin, while Quagliarella's 100th strike of his professional career with 15 minutes remaining – his first since 19 December 2010 – took the Vecchia Signora two points clear of AC Milan at the top of standings.
Udinese Calcio could have joined Antonio Conte's side on 33 points but instead remain third after drawing 2-2 against S.S. Lazio, a further two points adrift in fourth. Udinese took the lead through Antonio Floro Flores (27) but were behind just after half-time. Senad Lulić (43) drew Lazio level, with a Damiano Ferronetti own goal completing the turnaround. Giampiero Pinzi struck 17 minutes from time, though, to ensure the spoils were shared.
FC Internazionale Milano's recovery continued away at AC Cesena, where Andrea Ranocchia's second-half goal earned the Nerazzurri a third successive league victory and fifth place in the table. AS Roma leapfrogged SSC Napoli to move seventh, recording a 3-1 win, with a Morgan De Sanctis own goal and strikes from Pablo Osvaldo and Fábio Simplício proving decisive.
Elsewhere there were home wins for Calcio Catania and Genoa CFC, against US Città di Palermo and Bologna FC respectively, while two goals in the last four minutes salvaged a 3-3 draw for Parma FC against US Lecce.