After another exciting, extended Serie A weekend where the top three all dropped points Dave Taylor selects his best XI from Week 14.
Luigi Sepe [Empoli]
The Napoli loanee kept Empoli in the game and his save from David Lopez early on set his standards for the rest of the match. The Neapolitan was especially alert when saving brilliantly from first Jose Callejon then Jonathan de Guzman. Inspired.
Paolo Cannavaro [Sassuolo]
After another exciting, extended Serie A weekend where the top three all dropped points Dave Taylor selects his best XI from Week 14.
Luigi Sepe [Empoli]
The Napoli loanee kept Empoli in the game and his save from David Lopez early on set his standards for the rest of the match. The Neapolitan was especially alert when saving brilliantly from first Jose Callejon then Jonathan de Guzman. Inspired.
Paolo Cannavaro [Sassuolo]
Another commanding performance in the back line, making every tackle count and clearing the ball no less than 12 times. With Roma having the majority of possession the captain held firm, was a real rock and crushed Mattia Destro. Resolute.
Gonzalo Rodriguez [Fiorentina]
In a game that made underwater archery in the Antarctic look exciting he was arguably the man of the match. Always exact in tackles he anticipated most of Juve’s attacks down the left and denied Federico Llorente throughout. Tenacious.
Leonardo Bonucci [Juventus]
Like the offspring of a rhino and a Chieftain tank, he was unyielding, making several crucial challenges and twice denying a dangerous Mario Gomez with last moment tackles. Also set up several attacks with some sublime passing. Determined.
Luca Rizzo [Sampdoria]
Put in a tireless shift making five key passes, more tackles than anyone else and delayed, destroyed and disrupted the hosts whenever possible. Never frightened to take on his man and when he did he inevitably beat him. Energetic.
Maxi Moralez [Atalanta]
Always alert to any chances he was lively and covered every blade of grass in his pursuit of the points. The energetic Argentinean also inspired quite a few attacks before scoring the eventual winner after exploiting a defensive mistake. Persistent.
Adem Ljajic [Roma]
Like a warthog chased by a cheetah he was a bag full of feints and false stops, yet his converted penalty was a no-frills straight-down-the-centre shot. Continued to menace before cleverly side-footing home the crucial equaliser in stoppages. Relentless.
Diego Perotti [Genoa]
A real handful as he served up some great balls into the area, that were unfortunately not exploited, whilst he also hit the post and assisted Luca Antonelli’s goal. Always tricky with the ball he split Milan asunder with some amazing dribbles. Threatening.
Manolo Gabbiadini [Sampdoria]
Always looking to cause problems for Verona right from the whistle and in the second-half within five minutes he did, setting up Stefano Okaka’s goal, forcing Rafael into a top save then finding the space to score himself. Exceptional.
Simone Zaza [Sassuolo]
The youngster was in dazzling form and scored twice in the first half. His first saw him sliding in to rob the ‘keeper before scoring from close-up. His second was a screamer into the net after beating an offside call. Outstanding.
Paulo Dybala [Palermo]
A man of the match performance as he assisted the first goal before Maradona-like he flicked the ball up with his heel, ran a few yards then volleyed it home from the tightest of angles for the second. Sensational.
Special Mentions: Jonathan de Guzman [Napoli], Daniele Rugani [Empoli], Stefan Mauri, [Lazio] Felipe Anderson [Lazio], Eder [Sampdoria], Stefano Okaka [Sampdoria] Andrea Bertolacci [Genoa], Allan [Udinese]