Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/219723
55 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2013 FOOTBALL Parma held by Bologna Genoa and Torino also share the points Parma's Cassano celebrates after scoring PARMA spurned the chance to move into the top seven of Serie A after being held at home by a Bologna side who played almost the entire second half with a man less. Bologna took a 10th-minute lead through Panagiotis Kone, but Parma quickly levelled thanks to Antonio Cassano and they looked firm favourites to go on and claim the three points when visiting defender Frederik Sorensen was dismissed eight minutes into the second half. Despite that advantage, Parma could not find a winner and they missed the opportunity to leapfrog Lazio and Genoa into the top seven. Bologna, meanwhile, remain in the bottom four after recording their third draw in their last four matches. The visitors had only claimed two league wins coming into the match, but they gave themselves a chance of recording a third thanks to Kone's superb early opener. Rolando Bianchi's perfect pass created the opportunity for his team-mate, who produced a finish to match as he lashed home a fantastic 25-yard volley into the top corner of the net. Bologna were only ahead for 15 minutes though before Cassano drew the teams level. The much-travelled striker almost netted in the 19th minute with a right-footed effort that skimmed the woodwork, but he was not to be denied four minutes later with a thumping finish into the roof of the net. Both sides had chances to net again before the break but Parma keeper Antonio Mirante tipped over Lazaros Christodoulopoulos' shot and Cassano fired just over as the half finished without any addition to the scoreline. Bologna's hopes of getting anything out of the game looked to have suffered a major blow when Sorensen was given his marching orders at the start of the second half after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Nicola Sansone. However, despite creating four decent openings, Parma could not find a way through for the winner. Visiting goalkeeper Gianluca Curci did well to keep our efforts from Mattia Cassani and Sansone before Marco Marchionni missed a gilt-edged chance as the match entered stoppage time when he fired wide from close range. Parma, who survived a brief scare when Kone's late free-kick skimmed the crossbar, had one last opportunity after that but substitute Amauri headed Cassano's cross over. Meanwhile in the other match Davide Biondini cancelled out an Omar El Kaddouri opener and Mattia Perin performed heroics as Genoa held Torino to a 1-1 draw. The Grifone have been revived under Gian Piero Gasperini, earning 10 points in four rounds. Juraj Kucka recovered from injury with Tomas Manfredini suspended. Ciro Immobile faced his former club, though Danilo D'Ambrosio was banned with Marcelo Larrondo and Guillermo Rodriguez sidelined. Toro hadn't won a Serie A tie at Marassi since September 1981, managing seven draws and nine defeats in all competition. Davide Biondini cancelled out an Omar El Kaddouri opener as both teams had to settle for a draw. Italian Serie A Standings 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Juventus Roma SSC Napoli Inter Fiorentina Hellas Verona Genoa Lazio Parma Torino Atalanta Udinese AC Milan Cagliari Sassuolo Bologna Livorno Sampdoria Catania ChievoVerona 13 13 13 13 13 13 14 13 14 14 13 13 13 13 13 14 13 13 13 13 34 33 28 26 24 22 19 17 17 16 16 16 14 14 13 12 12 10 9 9 Chelsea double spending to agents The amount of money Chelsea pay to agents has more than doubled in the space of a year FIGURES released by the Premier League show Chelsea top the table of payments to authorised agents, spending more than £13million between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013. The Stamford Bridge club spent nearly £6.5million the in the previous year, between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2012. The return of manager Jose Mourinho will have contributed to that increase in outlay, with the Portuguese boss bringing in a raft of new signings. Captures like Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o and Brazilian playmaker Willian are bound to have had an effect on such a large hike. Chelsea spent a total £13,721,721 between October 2012 and September 2013, as opposed to £6,490,382 a year earlier. Manchester City sit second in the big-spenders list when it comes to paying agents. City spent £11,179,817, to account for the arrival of new manager Manuel Pellegrini and another set of expensive summer captures. City's spending has increased from £10,537,982 the year before. Premier League clubs spent nearly £100million paying agents in the 12 month period just elapsed, a rise of almost £20million, with Liverpool contributing £9,400,973. Despite bringing in David Moyes as manager and signing the likes of Marouane Fellaini f r o m Everton, Manchester United sit at the low end of the spending. The Old Trafford club only shelled out a comparatively modest £4,317,690, though that does incorporate a rise of nearly £700,000. Crystal Palace are bottom of the payment to agents ranking, hardly surprising given their promotion from the Sky Bet Championship in the summer. Newcastle United were another club to see a big rise on expenditure to agents, handling transfers and other dealings with players. The Tyneside club spent £7,294,018 in the last 12 months, more than doubling from £3,485,503 in the period prior to that. Manager Alan Pardew was busy in the transfer market in January and across the summer, while Joe Kinnear also returned to the north east club as director of football. Arsenal have shown minimal change between the two years, spending roughly £5.5million in both time periods. Tottenham spent more than £3million extra on paying agents this year than last, with their bill totalling £9,787,676, an increase from £6,595,905. Spurs used the cash from the world-record transfer fee sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid to rejuvenate their squad and offset the loss of the Wales midfielder. Arrivals like Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen will account for some of that increase, as manager Andre Villas Boas bolstered the squad considerably. Southampton's outlay jumped from £646,106 to £2,184,412, which would take in the change of man- ager from Nigel Adkins to Mauricio Pochettino and the influx of players the new boss has brought in. Sunderland's spending jumped from £2,173,762 to £4,640,227, accounting for the raft of signings Paolo Di Canio made in his abortive spell on Wearside. The Premier League agreed in June 2008 that every club would publish the total amount paid to agents once a year. The figures also include any payments made by clubs to agents on behalf of their players. Captures like Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o (pictured) and Brazilian playmaker Willian are bound to have had an effect on such a large hike