The outcome of the Genoa Derby also left Bologna, Parma, and Cesena frowning. In the past week, Italian media had been discussing the draw between Parma and Bologna, two teams from a unified region, which ultimately resulted in a mutually beneficial draw. In the first half, only Giovinco and Valiani posed a threat to the opposing goal, while in the second half, the only notable aspect was the boos from the fans. Cesena's away victory came against Cagliari, a team that already had no further ambitions. After this match, Donadoni even expressed his personal apology to the home fans. Over the weekend, Cagliari will be guests at San Siro for AC Milan's championship celebration, marking Donadoni's final major event before the break...
The game where Lecce defeated Napoli 2-1 at home was not peaceful either. It wasn't just about the three goals or the red cards received by Corvia and Cavani; the drama extended beyond the pitch, almost announcing Mazzarri's departure from Napoli in advance. In fact, during this match, we only saw one team—Lecce—fighting hard. Where was Mazzarri's team? Aside from Mascula's goal, Napoli had nothing praiseworthy in the game. There are now two uncertainties surrounding Napoli: firstly, the team still needs one point to secure third place in the standings; secondly, what is Mazzarri's future? The speculation about Mazzarri going to Juventus has clearly disturbed the players' performance, and their lackluster play on the field has angered film tycoon De Laurentiis, increasing the rift between the chairman and Mazzarri. After the game, De Laurentiis bluntly said that the players lacked shame, and they were unworthy of wearing Napoli's jersey. Later, the chairman criticized the team for being dishonest and specifically mentioned Cavani, who received a red card, was surrounded by transfer rumors, and whose agent was demanding a raise.
Interestingly, Mazzarri emphasized during an interview with the national television that he needed to have a good talk with Chairman De Laurentiis. However, on the bus from Lecce to Brindisi Airport, despite sitting together, they avoided eye contact and did not converse, contrasting sharply with previous interactions. By Monday, Mazzarri told the media and indirectly informed De Laurentiis through them, "I've already discussed once with Fasone and Bigon. I can leave. I can say the same to Mr. Chairman. My chance of staying here is only 10%. I think it's much greater than 10%, but anyway, I have a contract with the club. A signature doesn't guarantee that many things remain the same throughout different times of a year." From the perspective of the national television, Mazzarri's compatriot Allegri has chosen Juventus as his next destination. Interestingly, Mazzarri received an unexpected supporter. Mariano, De Laurentiis' first sports director at Napoli who was later fired, commented, "I don't like Mazzarri. He never mentioned that his current team was built piece by piece over the years. But one thing is clear now. In De Laurentiis' eyes, players and coaches are less important than actors and directors, and De Laurentiis should show more respect towards players and coaches. Juventus? It's an ideal stage for Mazzarri. Moreover, I know that the disagreement between Mazzarri and De Laurentiis lies in their plans for the future. Mazzarri wants assurances from the club regarding the squad for the new season, so if he stays in Napoli, it would certainly be a good thing." However, De Laurentiis also has supporters. Moggi stated, "In that position, I wouldn't give Mazzarri a chance to speak. I would dismiss him immediately..." Meanwhile, the latest news from Naples indicates that De Laurentiis is already in contact with Ranieri.
Last weekend in Italy, perhaps only Catania's fans could rival AC Milan's joy. This is because at Brescia's home ground, Catania secured its first away win of the season, sending Brescia down to Serie B while securing their own place in Serie A for a sixth consecutive season. Another Sicilian team, Palermo, defeated Bari on Saturday. Goals from Bovo and Miccoli helped Palermo reverse the score to a 2-1 victory. Notably, Rossi extensively rotated his lineup, giving many young players playing time. The reason for Rossi's move was to better prepare for the second leg of the Italian Cup semifinal against AC Milan. It's worth emphasizing that Catania's survival was facilitated by Sampdoria. In a fiercely contested derby, Boselli's goal in the 96th minute fixed the final score at 2-1. As a result, Genoa's victory with only ten men was meaningless, but it pushed Sampdoria into a dire situation. Under Coach Cavasin, the team has fallen to third from bottom. Furthermore, Cavasin's team scored only five points in nine rounds, and the Gallo family faced criticism and condemnation from fans. Cassano and Pazzini became objects of fan nostalgia. At this point, Old Gallo had gone into hiding, and his son defended his father, claiming that Cassano self-exiled himself and Pazzini actively requested to leave. But his words didn't matter anymore. By today, even Coach Cavasin admitted that Sampdoria's chances of survival, being two points behind fourth from bottom, were slim.
At Udinese's home ground, the clash between Udinese and Lazio was quite spectacular. The game was full of twists and turns, and ultimately Guidolin's team emerged victorious. In this match, Di Natale scored twice in the first half. In the second half, after Handanovic saved Sarate's penalty, although Kozak scored, it wasn't enough to save Lazio from defeat. Notably, in the last few minutes, both Kozak and Dias had chances to equalize, but Handanovic's heroics and Lady Luck ensured Udinese took all three points, putting them two points ahead of Roma and Lazio with two rounds remaining. Afterward, national television commented that Udinese's win was hard-fought, but they successfully returned to fourth place. Damico specifically praised veteran Di Natale, whose 28 goals this season positioned Udinese in a place unimaginable last summer and set a great example for young players. Additionally, Lazio's counterattack was praised but deemed too late. Rea showed great character in a difficult moment. Throughout the season, he battled against Zarate's individual heroism, and when the Argentine missed a crucial penalty, drawing heavy criticism afterward, Rea defended his player and took responsibility, admitting the team's poor performance against strong opponents.
Round 36 of Serie A wasn't just about the Milanese clubs. This round saw Udinese beat and surpass Lazio, reclaiming fourth place in the standings. Meanwhile, the battle at the bottom was intense. Catania completed their survival mission, Cesena is close to achieving a miraculous escape, and Lecce gained some breathing room after defeating Napoli. Sampdoria, having lost the Genoa Derby, currently finds itself in an extremely tough situation, lacking spirit and with little hope of survival. Similarly, Brescia, losing this round, became the second team after Bari to be relegated.
On Friday, Mazzarri had informed the media that he couldn't confirm his presence at Napoli for the next season. After the match, De Laurentiis publicly criticized Mazzarri. "These words are everywhere in the media, and I don't like them. But I'm a practical person. If he hasn't directly told me these things, then I consider them unimportant." In response to De Laurentiis' criticism, Mazzarri's reply, though subtle, was also a rebuttal. "The team's performance isn't good enough? I agree, but this season has been a great and unforgettable one." Despite prior warnings from De Laurentiis, Mazzarri wasn't hesitant to discuss his future, "Juventus? I haven't contacted any club. Before my current contract ends, I won't meet with anyone. My future? We'll talk about it after the season. But I've already discussed this with the general manager and sports director, and if necessary, I can have a good conversation with the chairman. At Chelsea, Ancelotti had similar issues, but my life is more like a Kafka novel, but it's fine. My shoulders are broad, and I will persevere until the end. If the chairman said that, then there's no problem. I shouldn't be the one commenting on these. Football games can be lost or won, but this has definitely been a great season." Sky TV believed that this actually exposed the public split between Mazzarri and De Laurentiis.