Lazio 1-0 Roma: Second win in the Derby delle Capitale for I Biancocelesti this season 

Lazio return to winning ways after a win in a fiery encounter versus Roma. The first chance of the derby fell to the home side in the 4th minute. Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto sent in a cross from deep which had too much height to reach Felipe Anderson in the box. However, the cross from Alberto nearly found the top corner just dropping wide of the far post. It had Roma goalkeeper Rui Patricio worried. In the 29th minute another chance for Lazio saw Mattia Zaccagni picked up the ball. The Italian cut inside Georginio Wijnaldum and faked a cross before letting fly. The wingers’ shot was saved comfortably by Patricio in the Roma goal. In the 32nd minute Roma were down to 10-men. Paulo Dybala sprayed the ball across the pitch to find left-centre back Roger Ibanez. The defender took a heavy touch and the ball fell to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Serbian was then clipped by Ibanez who was trying to retrieve the ball. Ibanez had already been booked and referee Davide Massa had no choice but to give the Brazilian his second yellow of the match and his marching orders. It was now a uphill battle for I giallorossi in the rest of the match.  

In the 53rd minute a chance for Lazio saw Felipe Anderson find Luis Alberto. From range the former Liverpool man took a powerful shot, which swerved and had to be tipped over by Patricio. In the 62nd minute Lazio had another chance. Adam Marusic picked up the ball in an attacking position and found Anderson, the former West Ham man slipped in Pedro. Pedro was bearing down on goal from the right-wing, but the angle was too tight, and his chipped shot was saved by Rui Patricio somewhat unorthodoxly hitting the former Wolves goalkeeper in the face. In the 65th minute Lazio finally broke the deadlock. Luis Alberto passed the ball to Felipe Anderon on the left of the pitch in attacking third. The make-shift striker flicked the ball on towards Zaccagni. The ball was missed by Nicola Zalewski of Roma and fell to Zaccagni who from the left of the box curled the ball on the floor right into the bottom right corner. Patricio was left with no chance a brilliant finish from the 27-year-old, his ninth of the season his best in a Serie A season. In the 67th minute Roma thought they had equalised. A freekick was crossed in by Lorenzo Pellegrini it fell to Gianluca Mancini in the 18-yard-box however his header was saved by Ivan Provedel. The ball then fell to Chris Smalling who flicked the ball back across goal where it was turned into his own net by Nicolo Casale. However the goal went to the VAR and was ruled out as Chris Smalling was in and offside postion. This meant the first chance by Mancini would have stood is the defender found the back of the net. In the 77th minute another chance for Roma saw Tammy Abrham picked up the ball and find Pellegrini who flicked the ball out wide first time to left-wing back Leonardo Spinazzola. The Italian cut inside and sent in a cross from inside the box which nearly went all the way in and had to be tipped over by Provedel in the Lazio goal. The game ended 1-0 to the home side but the drama did not end their. After the match, Roma’s Bryan Cristante and Lazio’s Adam Marusic were both shown red cards for violent conduct after a altercation got heated. It is the second win of the season for Lazio in the Derby and second by a one-nil scoreline. Whereas for Roma, it is another disappointing loss in their hunt for Champions league football. Lazio themselves are in good stead to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 2020/2021 season.  

Inter 0-1 Juventus: Back to Back losses for I Nerazzuri

Juventus do the double over Inter this season after win at the San Siro. The first chance of the match fell to the home side in the 2nd minute. Hakan Calhanoglu found Nicolo Barella in space, the Italian opted to take a shot on from range which was punched away by Wojciech Szczesny in the Juventus goal. In the 18th minute Szczesny denied Barella again. Calhanoglu lifted the ball into the Juventus box to find Romelu Lukaku. The Belgium striker held the ball up and found Barella who played it back to Lukaku who flicked it over the Juve defence back to Barella. The Italian chested the ball down before hitting a sweet right footed volley which was saved by Szczesny who made himself big. In the 23rd minute against the run of play the visitors were in the lead. A long ball forward was controlled by Adrein Rabiot and flicked on to Dusan Vlahovic who played it back to the Frenchman. Rabiot saw attacking left-wing back for Juventus Filip Kostic in space on the left and found him. Kostic took one touch inside the box to steady himself before hitting a left-footed shot low into the bottom right corner of the net. Andre Onana in the Inter goal had no chance and Juventus had a goal out of nothing. In the 29th minute once again Kostic had space on the left. The Serbian was slipped in by Manuel Locatelli, but this time Kostic squared the ball across the goal. It reached Matias Soulé, but the Argentinians slipped when making contacted and his shot rolled past Onana’s goal.  

In the 60th minute patient build up play for Juventus saw Soulé have the ball in the box with his back to goal. The 19-year-old found Locatelli, who took a shot from long range which was gathered by Onana. In the 77th minute the dangerous Kostic brought the ball inside and then found Rabiot who was on the overlap. Rabiot sent in a low cross which hit of Francesco Acerbi but fell to Kostic who’s shot was just narrowly wide of the Onana’s goal. However, it did take a deflection of Henrikh Mkhitaryan who did excellent to get in the way of the shot from Kostic. In the 78th minute a three-on-two for Juventus saw Vlahovic find Federico Chiesa, the Italian sent in a cross looking for Locatelli which was just too high for the Sassuolo loanee running in. Chiesa’s cross was flicked on by goalkeeper Onana which made it more difficult for Locatelli. In the 86th minute Marcelo Brozovic won the ball after a scrappy Inter attack in the Juventus box. The Croatian laid the ball back to Mkhitaryan who from distance took a shot which flashed off target. Four minutes into added time a corner for Inter was headed away by Rabiot it fell outside the box to Mkhitaryan who hit a powerful volley first time over the bar. The final whistle blew but an argument between Danilo D’Ambrosio and Leandro Paredes was still ongoing which led to some pushing and shoving by both players. Referee Daniele Chiffi sent off both players for violent conduct even after the final whistle. For Inter the match was another disappointing loss where they were outplayed by the Turin based side. For Juventus it was a great performance and including the Europa League the Old Lady have won their last four.  

Torino 0-4 Napoli: Dominant display from the League Leaders 

Napoli cruise to back-to-back wins after a four goal-haul in Turin. The first big chance of the match was the opening goal for the visitors. In the 9th minute a corner from Piotr Zielinski from the right was headed into the far corner by talisman Victor Osimhen. It was the Nigerians 20th goal in Serie A this season and one of his trademark headers. In the 14th minute a chance for Torino saw Karol Linetty find Nikola Vlasic on the left. The winger let fly and his shot was tipped away by Alex Meret in the Napoli goal. In the 22nd minute somehow the home side did not equalise Vlasic controlled the ball in the area and laid the ball back to Samuele Ricci, who hit a thunderbolt from distance which was saved by Meret. The ball bounce on the line and there was Antonio Sanabria who from a yard out hit the post after pressure from a diving Meret. It was a glorious chance for Torino and one Sanabria should of finshed. In the 34th minute Napoli were awarded a penalty, a cross from Mathias Olivera found Hirving Lozano. The Mexican, headed the ball to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who took the ball on his chest before he was scythed down by Linetty and it was a penalty to Napoli. Kvaratskhelia stepped up from the spot and sent Vanja Milinkovic-Savic down before calmly rolling the ball into the middle of the net. In the 38th minute a great save by Milinkovic-Savic prevented it from being three. A Stanislav Lobotka header fell to Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian found Osimhen, who first time hit the ball low into the bottom right corner. The Serbian goalkeeper did excellent to get down in time and tip the ball around the post for a corner.  

In the 51st minute it was 0-3 to the visitors and game over. Kvaratskhelia picked the ball up and cut inside taking Torino right-wing back Wilfried Singo with him. The 22-year-old then backheeled the ball to Olivera on the overlap who sent in a first-time cross towards the far post which was headed in by Osimhen. It was a brace for the Nigerian and just like the tittle Napoli were running away with this game. In the 68th minute it was Four for the Gli Azzuri Osimhen chased a loss cause and outstregthened Torino centre back Perr Schuurs to win the ball. The former Lille striker then played in Kvaratskhelia who unselfishly squared the ball to Tanguy Ndombélé who rolled the ball into the back of the net through the legs of Milinkovic-Savic. That is how the game finished Napoli now sit 19 points clear at the top of Serie A and will be looking to progress in the Champions League after a favourable Quarter-final draw versus Ac Milan. Torino’s two game unbeaten run comes to an end which they will be looking to change after the international break.  

Udinese 3-1 Ac Milan: Milan now winless in three after another away defeat

Udinese are now unbeaten in four matches after a win against Ac Milan. The first big chance of the match was the opening goal for the home side. Fikayo Tomori lost the ball for Milan, and it was intercepted by Lazar Samardzic. The Serbian ran down the right flank before cutting inside sending Tomori sending him inside and  out and then finding Roberto Pereyra. The Udinese Captain calmly rolled the ball into the bottom left corner. It was the former Watford man’s fourth of the season in Serie A. In the 40th minute Sandro Tonali played the ball out wide to Rafael Leao, the winger opened his body up before curling a shot towards goal which had to be tipped away for a corner by Marco Silvestri in the Udinese goal. In the 43rd minute, Ac Milan were awarded a penalty a long ball from Pierre Kalulu found Leao in the box, the wing controlled the ball and tried to flick the ball over Jaka Bijol but the defender blocked it with what looked like his hand. It was not given by Referee Danielle Doveri until he was advised to go to the monitor. The Referee then overturned his decision and gave a penalty. In the second minute of added time Zlatan Ibrahimovic stepped up from the spot and his penalty was saved by Silvestri down to the bottom right corner. However Danielle Doveri then called for the penalty to be retaken after there was encroachment by Udinese striker Beto. Udinese Manager Andrea Sottil was sent off for his complaints over the decision to retake the penalty. Ibrahimovic stepped up a second time and this time finished sent his penalty into the top left corner with Silvestri going the wrong way. The goal made Ibrahimovic the oldest player to score in the Italian topflight at 41 years of age. In the sixth minute of added time, Udinese re-took the lead. A great run by Iyenoma Udogie saw the 20-year-old make his way into the box where he tried to shoot but slipped. The ball fell to Isaac Success, who took on Alexis Saelemaekers on the outside before sending a cross across the box. The ball fell to Success’ strike partner Beto who rolled the ball into the bottom left-corner from just outside the 18-yard-box.  

In the 55th minute a chance for Milan saw Brahim Diaz picked up the ball down the right by line. The Spanish midfielder sent in a cross which was chested by Kingsley Ehizibue of Udinese who tried to find his goalkeeper. It was instead won by Fodé Ballo-Touré who’s header from close range was over the crossbar. In the 70th minute it was 3-1 to the home side Success was too strong for Ac Milan centre back Malick Thiaw who went to ground, the Referee saw nothing wrong with the challenge and Success made his way into the box where he squared the ball to Udogie. Udogie dragged his shot to the far post and there was Ehizibue who from one yard out couldn’t miss. It was the goal which sealed the victory for Le Zebrette. A great performance from Andrea Sottil’s team and one where both fullbacks impressed. Whereas for I Rossoneri it is another disappointing lost and after the International break it doesn’t get any easier for Stefano Poli’s men who are away to Champions elect Napoli.  

Sampdoria 3-1 Hellas Verona: First Win in Eleven for Sampdoria in relegation six-pointer

Sampdoria move of the bottom of the league with a win against relegation rival Hellas Verona. The first big chance of the match fell to the home side a corner whipped in by Filip Djuricic from the right was met by Bruno Amione. The Hellas Verona loanee’s header hit the inside of the left post and went across the goal line where it was cleared by Davide Faraoni before it was tapped home by Manolo Gabbiadini. In the 24th minute Sampdoria did find the net. Another cross from the right by Djuricic was headed by Amione. The defender’s header was blocked and fell to fellow centre-back Bram Nuytinck who found Gabbiadini who rolled the ball in the bottom left corner. In the 29th minute a chance for Hellas Verona saw Darko Lazovic shoot from a tight angle inside the box. His shot came of Sampdoria goalkeeper Martin Turk in goal but was still heading in until Nuytinck cleared the ball off the line. A great block from the Dutchman. In the 35th minute it was two-nil to the home side and what a goal it was. A flick on from the Hellas Verona defender kept Gabbiadini onside. The former Southampton striker took a few touches before hitting a powerful left-footed shot into the top right corner of the net. Lorenzo Montipo got a hand to it, but the power of the strike beat him. The goal was Gabbiadini’s sixth of the season.  

In the 49th minute Hellas Verona hit the post. Miguel Veloso picked up the ball and slipped it through the centre of the park to Jayden Braff. The 20-year-old cut inside before shooting towards the near post, the Borussia Dortmund loanne’s effort hit the post and went out for a goal kick. In the 87th minute Hellas Verona did eventually pull a goal back. A corner from the right by Veloso was flicked on by Pawel Dawidowicz and was chested into the bottom right corner by Davide Faraoni. Hellas Verona now had a lifeline and a chance to equalise the match up. However with Hellas Verona attacking, in the 8th minute of added time a counterattack added a third for Sampdoria. A two-on-one saw Jesé picked up the ball just outside the box, the former Real Madrid man sent in a cross which was tapped in by Alessandro Zanoli. It was Sampdoria’s first win at home all season and they are now only four points away from Hellas Verona who sit in the last relegation spot. A hugely disappointing lost for Verona who could have been only two points away from safety with a win. 

Matchday 27 Results:

Sassuolo 1-0 Spezia 

Atalanta 2-1 Empoli

Monza 1-1 Cremonese

Salernitana 2-2 Bologna 

Udinese 3-1 Milan 

Sampdoria 3-1 Hellas Verona 

Torino 0-4 Napoli 

Fiorentina 1-0 Lecce 

Lazio 1-0 Roma 

Inter 0-1 Juventus 

Player of the Matchweek!!!

Bram Nuytinck

Bram Nuytinck is the Player of the Matchweek after a great defensive display against Hellas Verona for Sampdoria. The centre-back provided an assist for Gabbiadini to make it 1-0. It was a great pass  from the central defender to find his club captain. Also the Dutchman made a goal saving clearance in the 29th minute to keep the game at 1-0. The goal line clearance was the reason Sampdoria stayed ahead and who knows what would of happened if Hellas Verona equalised the game could have gone the other way. In the end of the season three points could be the difference between survival and relegation for Sampdoria. Nuytinck also had the most tackles in the match in four and had a 82% pass completion rate.