Napoli lose their second match of the season and first in two months. Napoli, however, are still 15 points clear at the top of the table. Lazio sit in 3rd position with a focus on Champions League football for next season. The first chance of the match in the 5th minute did fall to the visitors. A Freekick was swung by Luis Alberto, which was flicked towards goal by former Inter midfielder Matias Vecino. The ball was heading into the bottom right of the net but was cleared of the line and over the bar by Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo. In the 25th minute a chance fell to Napoli. Piotr Zielinski did well down the left and found Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian talisman flicked the ball back into the path of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who hit a thunderous shot from distance, which was tipped over by Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.
In the 58th minute a chance for Napoli saw the captain Di Lorenzo move down the right flank. The twenty-five capped Italian found Osimhen who backheeled the ball into the path of Zielinski. The Polish international took a shot but it rolled past the right post. In the 67th minute Lazio took the lead, and it was a stunner by Vecino. A cross from Mattia Zaccagni from the left was headed away by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. However, the Georgians header is poor, and it falls into the middle of the park right into the path of Matias Vecino. On the half volley the Uruguayan hits a powerfully struck shot which flew past Alex Meret in the Napoli goal. The leaders will stunned. In the 78th minute a cross from Kvaratskhelia was headed on to the bar by Osimhen. The ball then rebounds out and finds it way to South Korean centre-back Kim-Min-Jae who has his shot saved by Provedel. The ball then fell to Mathias Olivera, but his shot was cleared of the line by Lazio captain and striker Ciro Immobile. In the first minute of stoppage time a freekick from Lazio and Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic hit the bar. However, this did not matter for Lazio as the held on for a shock win over the runaway leaders. The win meant Lazio would be above their city rivals Roma for another game week no matter I giallorossi result vs Juventus.
Roma 1-0 Juventus: A thunderbolt from Mancini the difference
Roma still breathing down the neck off rivals Lazio. The victory puts the Rome based outfit one point behind Lazio. Meanwhile for Juventus the defeat almost signifies the end to their push for the top four. The first big chance of the game fell to former Juventus favourite Paulo Dybala. The 29-year-old picked up the ball just outside the corner of the box to the right-hand side. The World-Cup winner curled and effort which saved by Wojciech Szczesny. In the 41st minute in a quiet half, Alex Sandro found Manuel Locatelli. The 25-year-old hit a powerful effort from far out which was caught by Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio. In the 44th minute a brilliant cross from Danilo from the right-back position found Adrien Rabiot the Frenchman nodded the ball down towards the goal. The ball hit Patricio on the knee and then off, the former Wolves keeper’s, right post. It was an excellent save from the 35-year-old.
In the 52nd minute the deadlock was broken and what a goal it was. Bryan Cristante found the ball in the centre of the park he found centre back Gianluca Mancini. The 26-year-old took one touch to steady himself before hitting a power driver into the bottom left corner of the net leaving Szczesny helpless. It was Mancini first goal in Serie A since March 2021. In the 58th minute a freekick from Juan Cuadrado from the left of the box clipped Patricio left post. In the 74th minute an in-swinging cross from the right was missed by Szczesny it fell to Chris Smalling whose header was saved by Szczesny who did well to make up for his earlier mistake. In the 78th minute Angel Di Maria found a pocket of space and let fly from distance. The former Paris Saint Germain wingers’ shot was saved brilliantly with his right hand by the impressive Patricio. In the 82nd minute a corner by Leandro Parades was nearly headed into his own net by Mancini but his header hit the near post. In the 90th minute only a minute after coming on Moise Kean saw red for I bianconeri. Kean was blocked by Mancini but before a freekick could have been given the 23-year-old kicked out at Mancini and there was only one outcome. Fabio Maresca went to his back pocket and dismissed the Everton loanee. In the 97th minute a cross from Federico Chiesa was whipped in from the left it eventually fell to Danilo, who’s shot was straight down the throat of Patricio. Roma held on for an impressive victory and it was a welcoming three points for I giallorossi.
Fiorentina 2-1 Ac Milan: The Viola to strong for the Rossoneri
Mid table Fiorentina produce an impressive display to beat Ac Milan at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. The first big chance of the match fell to Fiorentina in the 25th minute. Nicolas Gonzalez played a lovely ball through the lines, which broke the Milan defence the Argentine found Rolando Mandragora in the penalty area. The midfielder squared the ball to fellow midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura. The former Ac Milan player took one touch before hitting an off balance shot past Mike Maignan in the Milan goal. However, clearing it of the line and to safety was Fikayo Tomori. In the 33rd minute Milan had their first chance of the match, Ismael Bennacer played a lovely cross field ball to Olivier Giroud. The forward at the far post met the ball with a left-footed volley, but it is saved low by Pietro Terracciano.
In the 48th minute Fiorentina were awarded a penalty. Jonathan Ikone turned passed Tomori on the right-wing and check past the Englishmen. The centre-back looked to regain his position but had his hands all over Ikone. The former Lille man went down, and Marco Di Bello pointed to the spot. Gonzalez stepped up from the spot and sent Maignan the wrong way calmy rolling the ball in the bottom right corner. It was the winger’s 4th of the season. In the 51st minute a cross from Ante Rebic from a corner fell to Giroud. The World Cup Winner’s header was heading in, but it was saved excellently by Terracciano. In the 57th minute a lovely longball from Pierre Kalulu found Milan captain Theo Hernandez in the penalty area. The full back took one touch before firing a shot on goal which was saved by Terracciano and out for a corner. In the 80th minute a cross from a freekick by Mandragora was flicked on by substitute Luka Jovic. The header was saved low down to his right by Maignan. In the 87th minute the Viola doubled their lead, and this time Jovic found the net. Ikone found right-back Dodo who was bursting through. The Brazilian looked up and played a delightful ball to find Jovic at the back post, the Serbian international headed the ball past the on rushing Maignan. In the last minute of stoppage time Ac Milan found a goal through their captain Hernandez. Alexis Saelemaekers found a pocket of space he rated for his captain on the overlap and found him. Hernandez latch onto the pass and rocketed the ball into the roof of Terracciano net. The victory leaves Milan outside the Champions League Spots on goal difference. For Fiorentina it is bonus win with the clubs’ focus being on the Conference League.
Inter Milan 2-0 Lecce: Inter back to winning ways with victory at the San Siro
Inter tighten grip on top four with comfortable 2-0 win over Lecce. The victory keeps Inter in second place whereas Lecce sit in 15th. In the 20th minute, a chance for Inter saw Edin Dzeko header wide a glorious chance. A corner from Hakan Calhanoglu was met by the Bosnian but his headed was planted wide of the bottom right corner. In the 29th minute Inter broke the deadlock. A clever touch from Lautaro Martinez released Robin Gosens down the left. The wing-back curled the ball into the box into the path of Nicolo Barella. The former Cagliari man, cut inside and faked to shot before laying the ball to Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The 34-year-old, hit the ball first time into the top right corner leaving Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone with no chance.
In the 53rd minute it was 2-0 to I Nerazzurri. Barella found Denzel Dumfries running down the right flank. The Dutch right-wing back looked up before pulling the ball back to Martinez. The striker was left with so much space as he smashed the ball into the top right corner. It was Martinez’s 14th in Serie A this season and third in five matches. In the 72nd minute Gosens found Calhanoglu near the left of the box. The Turkish midfielder turned before playing a pass to centre-back Alessandro Bastoni. The defender took one touch before taking a shot from the left of the box which was dragged wide of the far post. Inter held on for a comfortable win and they turn their attention onto Friday, where the Nerazzurri are away to Spezia. Lecce are at home on Sunday to Torino.
Sassuolo 3-2 Cremonese: I Neroverdi leave it late to grab all three points
Sassuolo move up to 13th with a victory over Cremonese. After picking up their first win of the season against Roma, Cremonese could not hold on to get a point at the MAPEI stadium. Sassuolo broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, through a wonderful freekick by Armand Laurientè. The Frenchman stepped up from the left of the penalty area and struck the ball high into the centre of the goal. The power of the strike beat Cremonese goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. In the 42nd minute it was 2-0 to the home side. Laurienté intercepted a poor pass from Charles Pickel and dribbled into the box. The ball found its way to Maxime Lopez who found Laurientè again. The winger backheeled the ball to Davide Frattesi who swivelled and hit a right footed shot into the bottom right corner.
In the 62nd minute a poor header from Martin Erlic played in Cyriel Dessers for Cremonese. The Nigerian striker took a touch on his chest before hitting a left footed half-volley past Andrea Consigli. It was now game on at the MAPEI stadium out of nowhere. In the 83rd minute a goal kick from Carnesecchi for Cremonese founds it way to Dessers in an attacking position. The former Genk striker took one touch to control the ball then one to go round Consigli and he then scuffed the ball passed Erlic into the bottom corner. The game was now 2-2 and a point from 2-0 would have been massive for Cremonese. However, in the 2nd minute of added time it was heartbreak for I Grigiorossi as Sassuolo found the back of the net. A great cross from the excellent Laurienté founds its way to Nedim Bajrami. The Albanian steadied himself before flashing a half volley past Carnesecchi. A great goal to end a thrilling game between both sides.
Matchday 25 Results:
Napoli 0-1 Lazio
Monza 2-1 Empoli
Atalanta 0-0 Udinese
Fiorentina 2-1 Milan
Spezia 0-0 Hellas Verona
Sampdoria 0-0 Salernitana
Inter 2-0 Lecce
Roma 1-0 Juventus
Sassuolo 3-2 Cremonese
Torino 1-0 Bologna
Player of the Matchweek
Armand Laurientè
The Frenchmen is the player of the match week after getting a goal and two assists in Sassuolo’s 3-2 win over Cremonese. The former Lorient man scored a stunning freekick and was a handful all game creating four chances and even winning 10 recoveries. The wingers is now into double figures for goals and assists this season in Serie A and is quietly starting to make a name for himself. Laurientè is in fine form with three goals and two assists in his last 5 games. It won’t be long until bigger Serie A clubs turn their attention to the 24-year-old.