After another exciting, extra extended Serie A round, Dave Taylor selects his best XI performers from Week 22.
Mattia Perin [Genoa]
Kept Genoa in the game with several top saves including pushing a Dusan Basta strike on to the crossbar. Other superb worldies saw him deny Lucas Biglia and Andrea Candreva, which helped keep a clean sheet and the points. Alert.
Leonardo Bonucci [Juventus]
After another exciting, extra extended Serie A round, Dave Taylor selects his best XI performers from Week 22.
Mattia Perin [Genoa]
Kept Genoa in the game with several top saves including pushing a Dusan Basta strike on to the crossbar. Other superb worldies saw him deny Lucas Biglia and Andrea Candreva, which helped keep a clean sheet and the points. Alert.
Leonardo Bonucci [Juventus]
Showing all the awareness of a top striker he scored a six yarder with his back to goal after a corner. Back in defence he was his erstwhile self, commanding and controlling when needed. Authoritative.
Jose Maria Basanta [Fiorentina]
On Monday Mrs Jose’s washing machine was making big noises and after opening it up, out tumbled Atalanta’s forward line after Jose had left them in his pocket from the day before. He also cleaned them out with a spotless equaliser. Unassailable.
Francesco Acerbi [Sassuolo]
Another authoritative performance at the back making every tackle count while clearing the ball and generally subjugating Samp’s attacking arm. Had a battle on his hands controlling Eder but was rewarded early on by scoring the vital opener. Imposing.
Fredy Guarin [Inter]
As exotic as foie gras lollipop wrapped in candyfloss, his all-round classy display resulted in him heading home the opener then setting up Mauro Icardi’s first goal, while always menacing to the visiting defence like a falcon on bate. Magnificent.
Marek Hamsik [Napoli]
Like a staircase designed and built by Scarpagnino his artistic performance saw him building up attacks with utter precision. Always alert to the half chance, he perpetually pushed and probed and had a massive hand in two of the goals. Prepared.
Dries Mertens [Napoli]
The Belgian buzzed and bugged the Bianconeri, combining beautifully with Gonzalo Higuain before breaking away and bundling the ball home for the opener. Continuing his questioning, it was from his set piece that Udinese scored an own goal. Scintillating.
M'Baye Niang [Genoa]
Was absolutely everywhere and seems to have settled in immediately showing his worth with his runs down the left while uniting superbly with Diego Perotti. It was his run into the box that earned the penalty that Perotti converted. Sparkling.
Josef Martinez [Torino]
Arguably MotM and linked excellently with Fabio Quagliarella to score the first goal and caused more confusion than Italy’s FA reason for paying out £80,000 for 20,000 copies of President Carlo Tavecchio’s new book. Plus he earned the penalty. Predatory.
Carlos Tevez [Juventus]
“Specious and farcical controversy” or not the Apache showed that “Football's about goals” and sure enough he was alive from a throw-in to subsequently score the opener then hit the bar while later setting up both of the other goals. Glorious.
Alvaro Morata [Juventus]
The 22-year-old was on top form testing Diego Lopez immediately and continued to do so, including forcing him into a fingertip save before scorching home the third goal by being alert from a rebound. Superb.
Special Mentions: Fabio Quagliarella [Torino], Daniele Verde [Roma], Mauro Icardi [Inter], Andrea Bertolacci [Genoa], Alessandro Diamanti [Fiorentina], Diego Perotti [Genoa] Ervin Zukanovic [Chievo].