After another exciting weekend of Serie A football, Dave Taylor selects his best XI from Week 13.
Ciprian Tatarusanu [Fiorentina]
Had to be alert from the start as he blocked a Massimo Maccarone shot and kept it up throughout. In the second half he also blocked shots from Maccarone again and a Riccardo Saponara strike. All in all a good day at the office. Steady.
Wallace [Lazio]
After another exciting weekend of Serie A football, Dave Taylor selects his best XI from Week 13.
Ciprian Tatarusanu [Fiorentina]
Had to be alert from the start as he blocked a Massimo Maccarone shot and kept it up throughout. In the second half he also blocked shots from Maccarone again and a Riccardo Saponara strike. All in all a good day at the office. Steady.
Wallace [Lazio]
The 22-year-old Brazilian defender hardly put a foot wrong. He was also unafraid to take the ball up field and was rewarded with the third goal as he collected a loose ball and beat Mattia Perin from close quarters. Excellent.
Kalidou Koulibaly [Napoli]
A completely solid performance from the big defender, who never gave an inch to his opponents making several crucial interceptions and clearances. Always anticipated any incursions by the hosts and had Duvan Zapata in his pocket for most of the game. Comprehensive.
Massimo Gobbi [Chievo]
The veteran former Parma defender was on top form using his initiative to get forward at the right times to cause problems. Worked well with Lucas Castro and after a splendid one-two between them the 36-year scored the game’s only goal after skipping past a defender. Concrete.
Felipe Anderson [Lazio]
A man of the match performance saw him constantly moving and creating space for his teammates to exploit as well as scoring a brilliant goal. Finding space at the edge of the box he hammered the ball into the far corner. Complete.
Sami Khedira [Juventus]
Took players out with his quick movement and it was his inspiring opener that shook the game into life. After a swift exchange of passes with Mario Mandzukic he slotted the ball past Albano Bizzarri. Continued to look for another and eventually produced the assist for Mandzukic’s goal. Devastating.
Franck Kessie [Atalanta]
The teenage Ivorian was everywhere and forced an own goal for the equaliser when his goal-bound effort was palmed out only to rebound off teammate Mattia Caldara’s face into the net from close-up. Meanwhile keeping his cool to take a penalty in the last minutes, he sent Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way. Overwhelming.
Josip Ilicic [Fiorentina]
Back on form and back in the goals the Slovenian was a complete performer and scored a brace. Making the most of crosses and passes his first goal saw him convert a penalty while his second was a thunderous effort that screamed past the ‘keeper into the far corner. Matchless.
Lorenzo Insigne [Napoli]
Took a little time to warm up but once up to speed he tortured the Udinese defence scoring both Napoli’s goals in the win. His first saw him collect Jose Callejon’s cross before his screamer into the top of the net while his second saw him beat Orestis Karnezis one on one. Clever.
Mario Mandzukic [Juventus]
Always on hand as an outlet for his teammates he took the game to the visitors and produced the assist for the opener as well as scoring the second by being in the right place to redirect Kheidra’s effort into the net. Irreplaceable.
Luis Muriel [Sampdoria]
Like trying to wrestle a greased pig the visitors could not get near him as he scored the equaliser and the winner in the last few minutes. His first came from a Fabio Quagliarella pass while his second saw him send Andrea Consigli the wrong way from his penalty. Predator.
Alejandro Dario Gomez [Atalanta]
Played a blinder and did everything but score, narrowly missing on several occasions. Yet it was thanks to him the hosts won the points as following another run into the box he was brought down with teammate Kessie converting the subsequent winning penalty. Awesome.
Special mentions: Fabio Quagliarella [Sampdoria], Antonino Ragusa [Sassuolo], Roberto Gagliardini [Atalanta], Suso [Milan], Andrea Belotti [Torino], Federico Bernardeschi [Fiorentina].