Serie Aaaaargh! took the opportunity to watch the Inter-Juventus dust-up in the company of two couples from opposing camps.
The city of Milan was the venue, where everyone supports Inter, Milan or Juventus, with a smattering of Napoli and Cagliari die-hards lurking in the service industry.
With icy blasts hitting northern Italy and due to the fact that demand for tickets, for once, had outstripped supply, this peace-making mission would take place in the comfort of a restaurant.
The establishment was packed with hungry patrons, enjoying fine pasta dishes and liberal doses of fortified wine.
However, it was fare at the San Siro that held everyoneâÂÂs attention although a bit of Juve-baiting did threaten at one stage to derail the meat course.
Sulley Muntari saves Serie Aaaaargh! a fat food bill
There was certainly plenty at stake, so to speak, with the vanquished paying for dinner and Serie Aaaaargh! feeling a little short-changed at the prospect of footing the bill in the event of a draw
It was case of âÂÂplease let there be a winner,â throwing neutrality out the window when Sulley Muntari finally put ahead the champs ahead.
Up until then the evening had been more note-worthy for the colourful language of the diners along with Zlatan IbrahimovicâÂÂs inability to put the ball in the net.
The Italians call it âÂÂeating a goalâ when a players misses a sitter and the Swede choked on two clear-cut chances.
ItâÂÂs moments like this that keep Ibra from being a genuine candidate for the Golden Ball despite all the protestations coming from Massimo Moratti.
Good-humoured gloating followed over coffee and the odd limoncello or two, but there was plenty to digest in the press on Sunday, with Corriere dello Sport catching the mood of the previous evening perfectly.
âÂÂInter, what a party!âÂÂ
Tuttosport, of course, took the defeat with itâÂÂs usual good grace. âÂÂLucky goal gives Inter winâ was one was one such one-eyed offering.
It was certainly a strange goal and Muntari, whom Serie Aaaaargh! would be happy to buy a coffee any day, had the good grace to admit he had been a lucky so and so.
However, what was Juve goalkeeper Alex Manninger doing waving to an invisible friend as MuntariâÂÂs mis-kick from six yards rolled past him?
The former Arsenal man did attempt some sort of explanation. âÂÂIbrahimovicâÂÂs shot was going wide but Muntari popped out of nowhere and we all thought it was offside.âÂÂ
Hmmm, well, that âÂÂweâ would have been you Alex as the rest of your team-mates were left aghast at your ineptitude.
That left AC Milan to keep InterâÂÂs lead in check on Sunday evening and, seeing as it was Torino, a pizza in front of the telly with a couple of Rossoneri fans felt appropriate.
Watching Milan playing away from home is a bit like eating fast food: it looks tasty but ultimately you will be left feeling unsatisfied.
Rosina penalty denies Rossoneri a 'Milan-Turin' double
Carlo AncelottiâÂÂs men donâÂÂt have the appetite for holding on to a lead against the lesser sides, conceding a late equaliser at Lecce, and then repeating the feat in Turin.
They arenâÂÂt helped by having Ronaldinho and Kaka remaining oblivious to the needs of helping out with some midfield defensive duties, leaving Rino Gattuso to run himself into the ground making tackles for two or three players.
When the change came it was only to introduce, that creaking sofa of a man, Emerson leaving Ronnie rooted to the left side of the pitch somewhere around the halfway line.
Meaning full-time brought only another serving of disappointment and Inter enjoying a three-point lead at the top.
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