Serie A: 5 Things That We Learned from Week 27 in Italy

Jack Alexandros RathbornMar 13, 2012

This week in Serie A seems to be the most pivotal at the top of the table with the Scudetto race becoming much clearer. There were also some significant results directly affecting those involved in the chase for that lucrative third place.

Milan claimed a comfortable win at home to a resurgent Lecce to extend their lead over Juventus at the top of the table to four points, as the Bianconeri were frustrated in their 0-0 draw in Genoa.

Napoli's pursuit of third place continues with a fifth straight Serie A victory to close the gap on Lazio to two points after the Biancocelesti were humiliated at home by Bologna, 3-1. The Partenopei leapfrogged Udinese into fourth place as the Zebrette were defeated 1-0 by lowly Novara.

Roma and Inter remain rank outsiders, but maintained a degree of hope after their key victories moved them to within seven and eight points of third, respectively. In total there are five sides chasing that final Champions League spot to make Serie A the best league in Europe in terms of competition and quality combined.

Here are five things we learned from the weekend.

Relegation: Cesena Doomed, Novara Keep Hopes Alive & Cagliari Enter Crisis

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Regarding the regulation battle, the picture became clearer this weekend. Two teams defined the remainder of their seasons with significant results.

Cesena, who are rooted to the bottom of Serie A, are almost certain to be relegated after a 2-0 defeat to relegation rivals Siena at home.

The Cavallucci Marini are now 14 points off survival and have taken just two points from their last nine matches. That is disastrous form—it will almost certainly see them return to Serie B.

The second-to-last club, Novara, gave themselves a fighting chance with victory at the Stadio Silvio Piola, triumphing over Udinese. Jeda gave the Biancoazzurri a vital victory to move to within six points of Cagliari, who occupy 17th place.

The Isolani should be worried, as their form has not improved since they sacked Massimo Ficcadenti in November of last year. His replacement, Davide Ballardini, has been a resounding failure and was sacked just four months later. Chairman Massimo Cellino has rehired Ficcadenti in order to prevent Cagliari from being relegated.

Cagliari are just six points ahead of Lecce and have lost three consecutive games to ignite a relegation battle that seemed devoid of life only a few weeks a go. Parma, Fiorentina and Siena remain in trouble, too.

Borini and Nocerino Vying for Signing of the Season

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Fabio Borini continued his remarkable return to Italian football this weekend by helping Roma defeat Palermo 1-0 at the Stadio Renzo Barbara.

The Azzurrini international scored his ninth goal in just 12 starts to further enhance his reputation and stake his claim to be part of Cesare Prandelli's Euro 2012 squad in Poland and Ukraine.

He left the Blues on a free transfer in the summer after a fruitful loan spell with Swansea. Originally joining Parma, the Gialloblu sent him to Roma on loan for a fee of €1 million, which will be made permanent for a further €5 million in the summer.

It has proven to be a remarkable piece of business by Luis Enrique and would be the signing of the season if it was not for the impact that Antonio Nocerino is making with the Scudetto holders, Milan.

The former Palermo midfielder has become an integral member of Massimiliano Allegri's side, relishing his role as the right-sided carillero. Maurizio Zamparini was foolish enough to accept a €500,000 bid for the Italy international.

The Rossoneri have been the beneficiaries with Nocerino chipping in with a career-high nine goals to become the club's second-highest scorer after Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

So who has been the better signing this season?

Vincenzo Montella Is Manager of the Season

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Vincenzo Montella has performed wonders with Catania this season. The Elefanti is up to eighth in the league table. L'Aeroplanino is just two points from delivering the club's pre-season target of 40 points with 11 matches remaining.

Catania secured their ninth victory of the season at home to Fiorentina, 1-0, thanks to Francesco Lodi's 58th-minute penalty. Montella's wonderful brand of football again proved to be enough against a poor Fiorentina side. The 37-year-old integrated 10 Argentines into the squad successfully and has shown his versatility as a tactician by regularly alternating the side's formation between a 4-3-3 and a 3-5-2.

The Argentine trident of Pablo Barrientos, Gonzalo Bergessio and Alejandro Gomez has been a pleasure to watch in recent weeks as Catania performed particularly well against Inter and Juventus.

Montella has proven he has the potential to develop in to one of the country's finest coaches and is showing why Roma were foolish to have discarded him so quickly after his short spell as the caretaker manager when Claudio Ranieri was sacked.

Ultimately, Montella's management style combined with the results should see him named manager of the year in Serie A—beginning what should be a glittering career in the dugout.

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Bologna: Ramirez Destined for the Top, Stars in Lazio Mauling

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Stefano Pioli has all but ensured that Bologna will remain a Serie A club for another season after an impressive victory against third-placed Lazio.

The Rossoblu coach has revitalised the side in recent months after switching to a 3-5-2 formation and being brave enough to field two attacking midfielders, Alessandro Diamanti and Gaston Ramirez, in addition to a striker, normally Marco Di Vaio.

Gaston Ramirez has been particularly impressive of late with a string of fine displays as he creates and scores in equal amounts. The Uruguayan has attracted widespread interest from Europe's leading clubs and will almost certainly be sold for a highly lucrative fee in the summer.

He has a languidness and wonderful balance which helps him dribble the ball past his opponents with ease. That makes for a legitimate comparison to PSG star Javier Pastore, who was so impressive last season in Serie A while with Palermo. The Uruguayan possesses a more ruthless touch in front of goal, though.

Juventus are known to be strongly interested, but Bologna's general manager Roberto Zanzi confirmed that plenty other clubs from Serie A and further afield are likely to enter the bidding this summer.

AC Milan: Ibrahimovic Is Now Favourite for Capocannoniere & Scudetto Double

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is having a tremendous season and quite possibly the best of his illustrious career to date.

The Sweden international has been ruthless in front of goal this season, taking his tally to 19 goals in 21 leagues games at the weekend with a powerful volley from outside the penalty area that flew past Lecce stopper Massimiliano Benassi.

Ibra has scored 26 goals in 30 games in all competitions. Combined with 10 assists, that further enhances his reputation and makes for a legitimate discussion as to whether he is deserving of being among the top three players for the Ballon d'Or.

Ibrahimovic is one goal ahead of Antonio Di Natale and a further two goals clear of Edinson Cavani in the race to be Serie A's leading marksman. Ibrahimovic will hope to secure a second capocannoniere-scudetto double after achieving this feat with Inter in 2009.

Andriy Shevchenko is the last player to replicate this in 2004 with Milan.

Ibrahimovic would be the first player to achieve this double with two separate clubs and is seven goals short of surpassing his previous best league total of 25 goals while with Inter Milan in 2009. With 11 games remaining, it is a distinct possibility.