Juventus given 15 point deduction!
Big news came out in Serie A this week as it was confirmed that Juventus had been deducted 15 Serie A points for alleged financial irregularities and false accounting.
The Italian National football federation’s (FIGC) decisions of deducting 15 points from Juventus meant the Old Lady dropped down to 10th place, prior to the start of match week 19. Juventus sat in third before the deduction and were still in the title race, even after losing 5-1 to top of the table Napoli.
In response on Friday night, Juve indicated they are waiting for a written reason for the sanction and will start an appeal. Juventus lawyers also suggested that there had been “clearly unequal treatment” compared to clubs like Parma, Sampdoria and Genoa who were all acquitted for similar actions. The lawyers also mentioned they are “looking forward to carefully reading the written reasons for the ruling.”
The court also gave huge bans to board members involved in the wrongdoings. Former Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli has been banned for holding office in Italian football for two years. Juve former sporting director, Fabio Paratici has been handed a 30-month ban from involvement in Italian football for his involvement. Paratici is currently managing director of football at Tottenham. Former vice-president Pavel Nedved also was given a 8-month ban.
This ban comes not even 20 years after the Calciopoli scandal which saw the Turin giants relegated to Serie B for the 2006-07 season, the current Serie A winners at the time, will be found out to be match-fixing.
Juventus 3-3 Atlanta: A six goal-thriller at the Allianz Stadium
The hectic week did not slowdown on the pitch for Juventus who welcomed inform side Atalanta to the Allianz Stadium. The visitors with a huge shot at Champions League Football following Juventus’ points deduction.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 5th minute when winger Jeremy Boga was given space and got to the Juve 18-yard box. The forward looked up and passed the ball out on the right to Ademola Lookmann. The inform Nigerian steadied himself before taking a shot from the angle with his right foot which beat Wojciech Szczesny at his near post. The Polish Goalkeeper would have been very disappointed with the goal as the shot was at a good height for the goalkeeper. In the 24th minute, Juventus were given a penalty after Brazilian midfielder Ederson found Nicolo Fagioli in the box. The penalty wasn’t given at first by referee Livio Marinelli. However, after going to the monitor the Italian pointed to the spot. World Cup Winner Angel Di Maria stepped up and slotted the ball in the bottom right-corner past Atalanta goalkeeper Juan Musso. In the 34th minute The Old Lady completed the turnaround, 21-year-old Fagioli picked up the ball he found Di Maria who flicked it back to Fagioli on the right touchline. The youngster swung the ball in and there was polish front man Arkadiusz Milik to volley it in at the first time of asking. At the break it was Juventus 2-1 Atalanta.
Only 30 seconds into the second half, Atalanta equalised a mistake by Danilo was cut out by Giorgio Scalvini. The centre defender found Lookman with a square pass and the forward played it through to wing-back Joakim Mæhle. The Danish international slotted the ball into the far corner. In the 53rd minute Atlanta retook the lead, it was the man inform Ademola Lookmann. Jeremy Boga found the ball in the left-wing role the Ivory Coast international went past Danilo before swinging in a cross. Lookmann lost his marker and rose highest to attack the delivery and put his clinical header past Szczesny. The goal was Lookmann sixth in a week and third brace in three games. Juventus had only conceded three goals all season at home and Atlanta double that in only 52 minutes showing they are a force to be reckoned with. However, the Nerazzuri could not hold on as in the 65th minute Juventus equalised. A clever free kick saw di Maria role the ball to Danilo who struck a low first-time effort into the bottom corner. It was the Juve captain’s 2nd of the season. 3-3 is how it ended at the Allianz Stadium in a great game match of football and one which captures the openness of Serie A.
Salernitana 0-2 Napoli: Comfortable win for the Run Away Leaders
Napoli make it three wins in a row in Serie A. In the 34th minute Napoli thought they made the breakthrough as Victor Oshimhen took a ferocious shot which went in off the crossbar and Guilhermo Ochoa from close range. However, Salernitana were let of the hook as Oshimhen was offside from the flick on by club captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Napoli did take the lead in the third minute of first half added time. Former Fulham man Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa had the ball on the left in the box he put the ball across the box where it reached right-back Di Lorenzo. The former Empoli man took one touch before hitting the ball into the roof of the net, putting Gli Azzuri 0-1 at the break.
Three minutes into the second half it was 0-2 Napoli. A shot from midfielder Eljif Elmas from the outside of the area beat Ochoa but hit the post. Luckily for Napoli their frontman Oshimhen was there to tap in the rebound and make it 0-2 to the team from Naples. It was the former Lille striker’s 13th of the season in Serie A. Salernitana came close in the 82nd minute when Krzysztof Piatek took a shot from range after a mistake from Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka. However, Piatek’s shot was turned onto the post by Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret. With the win Napoli now are on half a century of points and are runaway favourites for the tittle.
Inter 0-1 Empoli: Inter lose at the San Siro to inform Empoli
Empoli started the game of better with a few chances. Inter Milan first chance did not come until the 20th minute when a cross from Hakan Calhanoglu found it way perfectly to Federico Dimarco at the far post the wing-back hit a sweet left footed volley, but it was saved by Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. In the 32nd minute a cross from Nicolo Barella found its way to Dimarco the 25-year-old played back across the goal for a chance for Lautaro Martinez. But the Argentinian hit the ball over the bar from close range. In the 40th minute things got worse for Inter as Milan Skriniar was sent off after picking up his second yellow for a high foot on Empoli striker Francesco Caputo Inter were down to 10 with more than half of the game to play.
In the 66th minute Empoli capitalised on Inter’s ten men. Substitute Tommaso Baldanzi, who had only been on for two minutes, picked up the ball from his own half and then pass it out wide to Nedim Bajrami. Bajrami than found Baldanzi just outside of the box he took two touches before shooting low and hard, his effort went under the body of Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana with the power beating the 26-year-old. It was Tommaso Baldanzi 4th goal in only 10 appearances in Serie A this season, the 19-year-old looks like a special talent.
The loss now gives Inter a near on impossible chance to win the league as they are now 13 points behind Napoli. Empoli’s impressive season continues as they sit in 9th.
Spezia 0-2 Roma: Dybala shines in I giallorossi victory
Roma picked up their third win on the bounce on Sunday. Putting them level on points with Inter, with the points deduction for Juve it gives Roma a real chance of getting Champions League football. In the 45th minute Roma took the lead a long ball from Chris Smalling was headed on by Tammy Abrham to Stephen El Shaarawy. The former Ac Milan man found Paulo Dybala who took the ball in his stride and barred down on goal before squaring the ball back to El Shaarawy who had the easiest of finishes. The goal put Roma 0-1 up at the break.
In the 48th minute Spezia substitute Salvatore Esposito gave the ball to Paulo Dybala in the middle of the park. The former Palermo and Juventus man found Tammy Abrham who put it through the legs of Spezia centre back Mattia Caldara before running through and slotting the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. The ball went through the legs of Spezia goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski. The victory puts Roma in a good position for the top four. However, Jose Mourinho side are away at Diego Armando Maradona to face Napoli which looks to be a great encounter.
Lazio 4-0 Milan: Milan stay 12 points behind Napoli after shocking defeat
Lazio move into third place with a 4-0 over Ac Milan. Lazio took the lead in the 4th minute thanks to a goal from Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic- Savic. The goal was agansit the running play , Lazio winger Mattia Zaccagni picked up the ball and was allowed to glide down the left wing unchallenged. The former Hellas Verona man sent in a low cross which avoided three players until reaching Milinkovic-Savic who slot the ball into the left corner. Lazio doubled their lead into the 38th minute thanks to Zaccagni this time. Montenegrin right-back Adam Marusic did all the hard work running into the box his shot went passed Ciprian Tatarusanu in goal but hit the post. Luckily for I Biancocelesti it fell right to Zaccagni who couldn’t miss. Lazio were 2-0 up at the break.
In the 65th minute Lazio were awarded a penalty after Pedro was found by Pierre Kalulu in the box. Two minutes later Luis Alberto converted the spot kick. The Spanish midfielder smash the penalty in the middle of the net with Tatarusanu diving to his left. In the 75th minute it was 4-0 to Lazio, Zaccagni ran towards the goal line before cutting the ball back to Luis Alberto. The midfielder disguised his pass, and while Milan players expected him to go to the edge of the box, the former Liverpool man slotted in Felipe Anderson. Lazio’s number seven calmly rolled the ball into the bottom right of the net.
Lazio now sit in third with a better goal difference and only one point behind Ac Milan. Milan are at home next week to Sassuolo, whereas Lazio entertain Fiorentina and the Stadio Olympico.
Matchday 19 Results:
Hellas Verona 2-0 Lecce
Salernitana 0-2 Napoli
Fiorentina 0-1 Torino
Sampdoria 0-1 Udinese
Monza 1-1 Sassuolo
Spezia 0-2 Roma
Juventus 3-3 Atalanta
Bologna 1-1 Cremonese
Inter 0-1 Empoli
Lazio Ac Milan
Player of the Match Week!!!
Ademola Lookman
The 25-year-old is the player of the match after scoring twice and getting a assist in Atalanta’s 3-3 draw against Juventus. The former RB Leipzig and Leicester City man has had the week of his life scoring 6 goals and getting two assists in three matches. The winger also brings flair and is a constant outlet for Gian Piero Gasperini side. The winger is looking like one of the signings of the season at a bargain of just nine million euros.