Results from round 26:
Serie A table:
The Derby della Mole ends in a draw
The clash between the two teams from Turin is probably felt more by the fans of Torino than those of Juventus. Sometimes, it feels like a win for the Granata not to lose against their rivals, but on Friday it was them to be most disappointed after a 1-1.
Torino, in fact, approached the game right and played some great 90 minutes, despite going down after a corner scored by Matthijs De Ligt. In the second-half, they got a deserved draw that keeps them in 10th place.
Ivan Juric is doing a tremendous job, as it must be considered that Torino were on the verge of relegation last year and finished with the fifth worst defence. Now, they are in the top 10 with the fourth best defence.
Embed from Getty ImagesEternal Quagliarella mounts on Empoli
Fabio Quagliarella’s days are nearing an end, but despite not living a great season, the striker proved decisive against Empoli.
His two goals decided the game and they were both great strikes. He came to the rescue in a moment in which Sampdoria need to score points to avoid entering the relegation zone.
Empoli, instead, cannot manage to end their poor form and looked powerless in front of Quagliarella’s class.
Youngs substitutes save Roma
A spectacular Hellas Verona side moved 2-0 up at the Stadio Olimpico against a troubled Roma side. Hit by covid and a few suspensions, Roma were rescued by two teenagers.
Cristian Volpato and Edoardo Bove ended up on the scoresheet after coming on in the second-half to deny the Gialloblu. It could have been an amazing chance for Igor Tudor’s side to close up to two points off Jose Mourinho’s.
Roma are still living a year below expectations, with only 12 wins so far and having by now abandoned dreams of a top four finish for the fourth year in a row.
Salernitana perform a miracle against Milan
For the first time in almost six years, the team that sits at the bottom of the table is unbeaten in a game against the league leaders. Salernitana went close to winning, but settled for a 2-2 against Milan.
Theo Hernandez and Junior Messias opened the hosts apart, with the Brazilian scoring inside five minutes. However, the early lead didn’t set the game in Milan’s way and only a late effort by Ante Rebic gave them a point.
After some glorious performances, Mike Maignan made a few mistakes and Milan as a whole didn’t have a perfect night. Federico Bonazzoli and Milan Djuric almost condemned them to a loss. It’s the first time this season Salernitana are unbeaten for three consecutive matches.
Piatek yet again decisive in great Fiorentina performance
Fiorentina are missing the consistency to be in the top four places, but some of their performances let people believe they still have a chance. In a week in which every big team dropped points, Fiorentina’s win against Atalanta is significant.
Krzyzstof Piatek is once again on the scoresheet as Vincenzo Italiano’s team give Atalanta their first away defeat of the season and prove they are not reliant on Dusan Vlahovic.
Already having surpassed their points tally from last year, la Viola need to avoid slipping in their next round, as some shocking slips against bottom sides are what really is preventing them to be any further up.
Genoa’s drawing streak continues
Genoa continue their unbeaten run under Alexander Blessin, but it is once again a point that cannot be satisfying considering it comes against a direct rival. Genoa lose another chance to close the gap to the safety zone, albeit coming back against Venezia.
It’s Blessin’s fourth game in charge and he has a 100% drawing record, with only Sinisa Mihajlovic ever getting more consecutive draws since his Serie A debut, with five, in 2008.
Sassuolo thrash Inter, as the Nerazzurri lose a big chance
Sassuolo are the first team since 1956 to beat Inter, Milan and Juventus away in the same season. The Neroverdi are undoubtedly experts at beating top sides and enjoy a great record against Inter, with their eighth win since the two sides first met in 2013.
Giacomo Raspadori and Gianluca Scamacca, two players who are reportedly looking to be signed by Inter, punished the Nerazzurri, who were dominated in the first-half and missed a lot of chances in the second to get back in the game.
Without Marcelo Brozovic due to suspension, there was a huge lack of creativity, but the statistics said 29 shots and the strikers’ poor moment meant none of them were converted to goals.
Lazio struggle and lament mid-week fixtures
It was surely an unusual matchday. Lazio may have been warned that up to their game none of the “seven sisters” won this weekend and the same fate was reserved to them.
Udinese, who are typically a tough team to play against, held them to a draw, after Gerard Deulofeu put them in front. Felipe Anderson equalised, but Udinese attacked until the end and were rather unlucky not to have won the game.
Lazio lost another chance, this season, to move to within two points of the top four. Coach Maurizio Sarri was once again unhappy about the congestion of fixtures, having had to play on Thursday in the Europa League, three days before travelling to Udine.
Embed from Getty ImagesCagliari hold Napoli to a draw
Napoli’s draw against Cagliari means it’s the first time since 2004-05 that none of the teams sitting in the top seven places at the start of the matchday win. It was a great chance to return to the top of the table, but it was only with a few minutes to go that Victor Osimhen’s goal gave Napoli a point.
Cagliari scored 12 points in seven games since the start of the year, after just getting 10 in the first months. It was a great performance against title candidates, in which they were the better side.
In-form Gaston Pereiro scored for the Sardinians, with the complicity of David Ospina, who gave away the goal, but then proved vital in rebounding at least three big chances.
Arnautovic takes Bologna back to winning ways
After two months, the wait is finally over for Bologna, who return to winning ways thanks to a double by Marko Arnautovic.
The Austrian striker even hit a crossbar during the game and was very active. He endured a nine game streak without scoring, since the game earlier this year, against Spezia, but now his goal tally says eight this season.
Spezia will be disappointed, as three points could have created a safe gap between them and the relegation zone.
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