Following rain-offs and call-offs in Serie A’s five-day feast of football, Dave Taylor selects his best XI from round 24.
Marco Sportiello [Atalanta]
Showed his potential throughout especially when pure instinct helped him stop a powerful effort from Paul Pogba. Made several more crucial blocks including sensational saves from Roberto Pererya and Martin Caceres, while he could do nothing about the goals. Commanding.
Nemanja Vidic [Inter]
Following rain-offs and call-offs in Serie A’s five-day feast of football, Dave Taylor selects his best XI from round 24.
Marco Sportiello [Atalanta]
Showed his potential throughout especially when pure instinct helped him stop a powerful effort from Paul Pogba. Made several more crucial blocks including sensational saves from Roberto Pererya and Martin Caceres, while he could do nothing about the goals. Commanding.
Nemanja Vidic [Inter]
Like trying to hold onto the tail of an excitable crocodile, he never allowed Duje Cop or sub Samuele Longo to get any sort of grasp. Unafraid to be physical when needed, he was strong, resilient and concrete. Professional.
Giorgio Chiellini [Juventus]
Like Dante’s ferocious ferryman Charon when beating straggling passengers with an oar, Chiello was his normal self, keeping German Denis and teammates under keel throughout. Always aware of his opponents’ positioning and made things look simple. Complete.
Daniele Rugani [Empoli]
After opening the scoring with a perfectly placed header from a corner, he continued his all-encompassing grip on the game making the Flying Donkeys look more like mad ostriches, with their heads in the sand, with Dingoes circling. Comprehensive.
Andrea Candreva [Lazio]
Always looked forward and was the fulcrum of all Lazio’s best efforts. His goal was a stunning solo effort that brought the house down and despite a self-inflicted knee-knack it was just reward for his man of the match performance. Pivotal.
Andrea Pirlo [Juventus]
For this man there is no such thing as luck, everything is orchestrated to eradicate and remove chance. His expertise at foreseeing every possibility, anticipating every response and moulding reality to the desired outcome helped him scream home the winner. Unique.
Giacomo Bonaventura [Milan]
In his position as a trequartista Jacky B was a reliable link between the forwards and midfield. After 20 minutes everything fell into place, when he scored the opener via a fierce strike from the edge of the box. Measured.
Marek Hamsik [Napoli]
Always looking for the adventurous pass, he was at the heart of all Napoli’s positive action. Apart from his midfield heroics he set up Duvan Zapata’s opener then converted the Colombian’s measured pass for the second goal. Responsive.
Mohamed Salah [Fiorentina]
Igniting the game after coming on in the 66th minute, it would not have mattered whether the ball was as big as Brunelleschi’s Duomo or not, defenders could not touch him as he scored the opener and caused problems. Aware.
Massimo Maccarone [Empoli]
The veteran striker’s brilliant brace saw him score his fourth and fifth goal in four games. His first was a thunderbolt under the bar while his second saw him strike home into the back of the net from a difficult angle. Classic.
Duvan Zapata [Napoli]
Involved with both goals and caused real problems in the second half. The first saw him outmuscle three defenders before cracking the ball home, then a clever pass to Hamsik secured the second goal and winner. Splendid.
Special Mentions: Eder [Sampdoria], Stefan Mauri [Lazio], Francesco Totti [Roma], Mateo Kovacic [Inter], Mauro Icardi [Inter], Mario Rui [Empoli], Iago Falque [Genoa], Emiliano Viviano [Sampdoria].