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The double-header matches took place in the Italian championship on Saturday. The 27th round matches started with both league leaders winning with tough victories on the road - "Milan" narrowly defeated the underdog "Atalanta" team in the last moment, while "Juventus" club won in nerve-wracking matches against "Roma".
1 - 2
72' [0 - 1] Massimo Ambrosini
73' [1 - 1] Stephen Makinwa
90+4' [1 - 2] Andrea Pirlo
Injury-plagued "Milan" had difficulties playing in Bergamo against the last-place team in the league "Atalanta", and scored their first goal only in the 72nd minute when after an A. Pirlo penalty kick, M. Ambrosini scored with a header.
However, the visitors' lead did not last long, as just a minute later "Atalanta" equalized the score with a similar scenario. After a awarded penalty kick, A. Bernardini passed the ball into the penalty area, and the very active S. Makinwa scored with a header to beat the goalkeeper Dida.
Just when it seemed like the match would end in a draw, in the last minute of the game, during stoppage time, A. Pirlo received the ball in the penalty area after a corner kick, sent it towards the goal, and secured a victory for his team.
1 - 2
12' [0 - 1] Fabio Cannavaro
39' [1 - 1] Antonio Cassano
44' [1 - 2] Alessandro Del Piero (pen.)
The match between "Roma" and "Juventus" at the Olympic City stadium was filled with tension. These teams had always had disagreements and the events of last summer, when players J. Zebina, Emerson, and coach F. Capello moved to Turin, only added fuel to the fire.
This time "Juve" took the lead after their first opportunity - a header by Z. Ibrahimović was saved by goalkeeper I. Pelizzoli, but F. Cannavaro was the first to reach the ball and scored for his team. The pace slowed down in the first half as both teams started playing roughly and engaged in a tough battle.
Just over five minutes before halftime, "Roma" managed to equalize the score. M. Zalayeta lost the ball, and after a precise pass from F. Totti, A. Cassano left G. Buffon helpless from ten meters away.
However, just a couple of minutes later, "Juve" restored their lead. T. Dellas brought down M. Zalayeta and the referee awarded a penalty kick, causing great dissatisfaction among the Roma players as it seemed like the foul occurred outside the penalty area. Nevertheless, the referee did not change his decision, and "Juventus" team captain A. Del Piero successfully converted the penalty kick.
In the second half, the hosts pressed the opponents and were close to scoring multiple times, but the visitors held on and clinched a difficult but valuable victory, restoring the deadlock in the league standings.
