Serie A Weekend Roundup: Napoli climbs to the top of the table as Inter and AC Milan drop points
The race for the title is getting packed as we reach the end of the season, teams have been going back and forth on the points table, let’s take a look at the results from Serie A Matchday 27.
Empoli vs Juventus
A goal-scoring feast between Empoli and Juventus saw the Old Lady come out on top thanks to a brace by their latest recruit Dusan Vlahovic. Moise Kean opened the scoring in the 32nd minute of the match. In a matter of a few minutes, Zurkowski brought things back to level.
Post that, it was all about the brilliance of Vlahovic who converted two beautiful worked goals to give his team a 3-1 advantage. He scored late in the first half and then in the 66th minute to keep his side in the lead. Empoli did fight back and got a goal back but they ended up losing 3-2 to the record Italian champions.
AC Milan vs Udinese
Table-toppers AC Milan dropped points against 14th placed Udinese costing them the top spot in the title race that seems to be going down to the wire. A brilliant ball into the box by Tonali from the right-hand side allowed Rafael Leo to score giving AC Milan the advantage. Despite having the bulk of the possession Milan failed to capitalize in the final third. Udinese bounced back with a 66th-minute winner and managed to secure a point.
Genoa vs Inter Milan
Another title contender dropped a point on matchday 27 of Serie A. 19th placed Genoa who is fighting relegation secured a valuable point against one of the giants of Italian football as they managed to keep a clean sheet. Inter dominated possession and had over 20 shots but couldn’t convert and were forced into a goalless draw.
Salernitana vs Bologna
Bottom-placed Salernitana managed to secure a point against mid-table side Bologna thanks to a late goal in the second half by Nadir Zortea. Salernitana dominated the ball and were the better team for the majority of the game but they lacked composure in the final third.
They went behind late in the first half because of a brilliant ball into the box by Hickey which was headed home by Arnautovic. Salernitana did manage to bounce back but would be disappointed because three points would have made a huge difference in their fight to avoid relegation.
Sassuolo vs Fiorentina
10-men Fiorentina ended up on the wrong side of the result as an injury-time winner by Defrel gave Sassuolo all three points. Fiorentina did show character despite going down to 10 men after Bonaventura was shown a yellow card in the 79th minute of the match which was then turned into a red card as he talked himself into the book.
Hamed Traore gave Sassuolo the lead early in the first half but Fiorentina did manage to bounce with a late goal deposited by reduced by a man only to lose the match with the very last kick of the match.
Lazio vs Napoli
Fabian Ruiz scores a banger in the last minute to help Napoli edge past Lazio
A brilliant goal by Fabian Ruiz in injury time helped Napoli claim all three points against Lazio and go top of the Serie A table. It was an evenly contested encounter between two top sides, Insigne gave Napoli the lead in the early stage of the second half. Pedro did manage to level things up late in the second half only to lose it all in the final minute of extra time.
Cagliari vs Torino
Relegation candidate Cagliari did themselves wonder with an emphatic win against mid-table side Torino. It was an evenly contested encounter that saw Cagliari take the lead with a 21st-minute goal by Bellanova.
One of the best strikers in the league, Bellotti did manage to pull one back for his team Torino in the second half. Just 8 minutes after conceding the equalizer Cagliari went all out and Alessandro Deilo got the goal that gave them all three points and a chance to keep themselves alive in Serie A.
Verona vs Venezia
Giovanni Simeone’s magnificent hattrick helped 9th place Verona thrash bottom side Venezia 3-1. Simeone who was enduring a mini goal drought went berserk as he score three well-worked goals to ensure that Verona come out with all three points. Venezia did get a consolation goal thanks to David Okerreke but was not good enough on the day to trouble Venezia.
Spezia vs Roma
Late drama at the Stadio Alberto Picco guaranteed Jose Mourinho’s Roma all three points after his summer signing Tammy Abraham scored a 90+9 minute penalty. Giulio Maggiore ended up catching a Roma player with the boot mid-air in an attempt to clear a delivery into the box which resulted in the penalty.
Spezia was on the back foot all throughout the match as they were reduced to 10 men when Kelvin Adou was shown a second yellow card in the 45th minute.
Atalanta vs Sampdoria
The final game of the weekend saw Atalanta lock horns against Sampdoria in a home fixture at Atleti Azzurri d’Italia. The home side thrashed their opponents 4-0 as they looked solid throughout the contest.
Koopmeiners scored a brace for the side, converting in the 29th and 61st minute of the game. Pasalic opened the tally with a goal in the 6th minute of the game. Sampdoria tried to take the game back but was hammered down with the 4th goal from Miranchuk in the 86th minute.