Reuters

The big story of the weekend was the snow that postponed four matches including the much anticipated Fiorentina-AC Milan match, rescheduled for January 27.  However, the weekend still had plenty of drama, especially around Juventus.  In honor of the holiday season, this week’s Lessons will be handing out presents to various people and teams in Serie A:

Stocking of Coal to Juventus Manager Ciro Ferrara

When your job is hanging by a thread and you are playing a club (Catania) at your stadium that has not beaten you there in 46 years, you should probably win the match.  Instead the Bianconeri dropped another match thanks to an Izco goal in the 87th minute.  The biggest concern for the management must be the fans turning against the club – fans at one goal turned their back on the team, and that was the polite protest.

A Hotel Upgrade for Sampdoria

Sampdoria’s road skid that reaches back to September 13 was extended by Livorno this weekend.  Tomas Danilevicius scored the go-ahead (47th min.) and clinching (90th min.) goals for the home club.  The win greatly helps Livorno gain some distance from relegation, while Sampdoria falls to eighth in the standings.

An Oxygen Mask for Inter Fans

It was not only the dramatic 1-0 victory over Lazio that caused Inter fans to gasp for air.  Rather, it was the up-and-down nature of the past few weeks that has caused heartburn to the faithful.  Despite having a firm grasp on the top of the standings, Inter has been unable to take advantage of the inconsistency of Juventus and AC Milan.  Additionally, it took Inter the full number of matches in the group stage to advance in the Champions League.  At least Inter fans can go into the break happy with their standing.

A Shorter Winter Break for AS Roma

Roma’s huge 2-0 win over Parma moved them into fourth place in the table and in control of their spot for the Champions League next year.  It was a few weeks ago that we were wondering if Roma could even secure a Europa League spot.  Now the January transfer period will be there opportunity to secure a striker or other reinforcement for a possible Champions League bid.  If only they did not need to take a few weeks off.

AP Photo/Daniela Santoni

The best way to sum up the action this past weekend is more of the same.  The top 4 remain the top 4 (with one switch) and those looking in danger of relegation still look in danger of relegation.  However, a few major lessons were learned this week on (and off) the pitch.

Racism is Sadly Alive in Serie A

With reportsthat Juventus midfielder Mohamed Sissoko was the target of racist chants this past weekend and the Italian player’s union is already calling for a possible match stoppagethis weekend in the Juventus/Inter match, racism is unfortunately very much a part of Italian soccer right now.  Of course the sport is still marred by last season’s Balotelli controversy in Turin.  But the problem is a respect issue – while black players are a target of abuse, all players are subject to offensive taunts (such as the famous Napoli-Vesuvius taunts).  Maybe Serie A needs its own EPL Respect Campaign for fans?

i Giallorossi are Making Their Move

A 2-1 comeback victory over Atalanta ran Roma’s unbeaten streak to five matches and moves them up to ninth in the standings.  They now sit only 3 points behind fourth-place Sampdoria and are active in the transfer-speculation market: ESPNhas them negotiating with Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko over a January transfer and the Luca Toni rumors persist (although his agent has denied them).  While a scudetto this season is unattainable, a top four finish and Champions League berth is not.

Who is Fired First: Mourinho, Ferrara, or Ballardini

One man’s team is sitting firmly atop the table with a 1-0 victory over Fiorentina this weekend, but could be eliminated from the Champions League group stage, which is a problem when a major goal was competing for a Champions League title.  The second manager’s team could advance in the Champions League, but after a 2-0 loss to Cagliari this weekend, has seen their chance of finishing first in Serie A greatly diminished despite great talent.  The third reportedly has two matches to turn his club around, and his replacement has already been selected.  The managerial intrigue of Serie A is one of its endearing qualities (unless you are a manager).

Stay in Front of Your TV Next Weekend

This past weekend’s Juventus and Sampdoria losses sets up a great weekend for soccer: #3 Juventus v. #1 Inter, #2 Milan v. #4 Sampdoria, and #6 Genoa at #5 Parma.  The big winners this weekend (if they also win) are the clubs sitting at positions #7-11 in the table, who have a chance to move up in the standings depending on how the marque matches shape up.

Last Chance for Siena, Catania to Survive

There is still time for both Siena and Catania to avoid relegation this season, but that time is increasingly short.  Siena’s 2-1 loss to Bari and Catania’s 2-0 loss to Milan have left the clubs with 6 and 9 points, respectively.  They face each other at Stadio Artemio Franchi this Sunday.  Both are odds-on favorites to be relegated, especially Siena who is on its third manager this season, but the victor will receive three points and a small boost that could eventually propel them out of them bottom three.  Think of it as the inverse Inter/Juve match.

Robert is a Serie A fan in the United States who is a contributor to this site.

Introducing the Fearsome Chickens of AS Bari.

Promoted side Associazione Sportivo Bari are not too attractive. But you could have said that about Hull, or Stoke, for that matter. In each case, the Premiership club became more attractive with exposure.

Despite the horror fashion-mistake of the kit, Bari took two points from Inter last week. Not only that, they defended mightily — with order and togetherness. And they looked capable of snatching all the points on the counter.

We’ll do well to expect this team to fight for its Serie A place this season — catenaccio spoken here. They are probably tired of bouncing back & forth from Serie A to B. And the new American ownership (yes, they are a cliche’ from Texas!) might be able to shepherd their growth investment in soccer to a new plateau. [I know nothing about them save the rumor that they want to bring over American players. Since there are none, their intent is obviously sinister.]

Here’s a little bit about AS Bari for those of us to whom the southern Apulia region club is news. AS Bari looks like it serves as Juventus’ farm club by the looks of their players-on-loan list. They’ve added, as promoted sides do; there’s nothing spectacular about that. Yet they have a rare commodity: a Belgian Keeper, a Belgian Keeper who will win for Bari precious points in the table because he is a penalty-stopping specialist with exceptional reflexes and good feet. By the looks of him against Inter, he’s positionally & fundamentally sound as well as passionate.

He is Jean-François Gillet, Bari’s Captain and a heavily-capped international (280) in the land of beer & cheese. Why he stays at Bari is anybody’s guess, but he says he loves his club. We have no choice but to take him at his word.

Whom to watch for at AS Bari …

Barreto (Paulo Vitor Barreto de Souza) is a Brazilian striker on loan from Udinese, originally via Treviso.

Andrea Ranocchia is a promising Italy U-21 defender on loan from Genoa (Arezzo co-owns his contract). It is believed Juventus manager, Ciro Ferarra, admires him and Ranocchia is expected to move over to the Turin club next year.

Additions …

Iago Falque (loan from Juventus) is a Spanish 19-year old who is compared to Cesc Fabregas who a year ago transferred to Juve having come up through the Barça youth system.

Massimo Donati (just transferred from Celtic) has signed a 4-year deal with Bari. Massimo enjoyed his time at Celtic but sought to return to Italy for family reasons. You just saw Donati’s extraordinary extra-time consolation goal for Celtic against Arsenal in the very same Champions League match we are still discussing which featured Eduardo’s penalty area dive and subsequent 2-match Champions League ban by UEFA.

(Sergio Bernardo) Almiron (on loan from Juventus) is the Argentine product of Newell’s Old Boys who comes to Bari on loan from Juve. He appears to have been loaned all over Serie A since coming to Italy in 2001. Not much to crow about.

If you want to follow an underdog this season, track AS Bari. And if you are serious about following AS Bari, I know of no better than the lively feed of Eros & Vincenzo over at Bari.TheOffside.com.