With Juventus and Napoli extending their winning runs, Dave Taylor selects his best XI from Week 24
Nicola Leali [Frosinone]
Could not do much about either goal but certainly saved his side from a bigger defeat. He made two superb saves in the first half from Stefano Sturaro and Alvaro Morata and was always well positioned to deal with any danger. Imposing.
Andrea Barzagli [Juventus]
With Juventus and Napoli extending their winning runs, Dave Taylor selects his best XI from Week 24
Nicola Leali [Frosinone]
Could not do much about either goal but certainly saved his side from a bigger defeat. He made two superb saves in the first half from Stefano Sturaro and Alvaro Morata and was always well positioned to deal with any danger. Imposing.
Andrea Barzagli [Juventus]
The veteran defender took care of Daniele Ciofani and did not allow him any space. Always a move ahead of the opposition’s forwards he ruled in defence and was impassable. Commanding.
Kalidou Koulibaly [Napoli]
The big Frenchman was again at his best and apart from his stalwart defensive duties, recovering balls and making clearances, he also got up field, won the penalty and laid on several good balls for Jose Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne. Impenetrable.
Mauricio [Lazio]
The 27-year-old Brazilian was the very heart of Lazio’s defence and made short work of any danger that Leonardo Pavoletti attempted. Had to use his head on every level when defending high balls and was fearless in the air. Authorative.
Alessandro Florenzi [Roma]
Constantly on the move he set up several chances and had a couple of efforts himself before he broke the deadlock. With Roma on the counter-attack he exploited a deflected shot to head home with simple efficiency. Attentive.
Godfred Donsah [Bologna]
Did not allow the Viola midfield to get a grip, harrying and chasing loose balls he literally played box-to-box. Always alert to a half-chance it was his pull back that fed Emanuele Giaccherini for the equaliser. Elemental.
Luca Marrone [Verona]
The Juventus loanee was involved in everything of value to the hosts and produced the assist in all three goals. The first came from his whipped in corner for Filip Helander to head home while the next from a perfect freekick and finally a pinpoint corner again. Critical.
Federico Bernardeschi [Fiorentina]
Worked hard in the middle and was a constant nuisance throughout setting up a couple of chances soon into the game before scoring the opener after finding space and time inside the box to side- foot home Christian Tello’s fine cross. Essential.
Juan Cuadrado [Juventus]
Was always ready to be an outlet out on the flank and made darting runs to trouble the hosts throughout. Was eventually rewarded for his labour with a fine goal when he drifted in to fire home past the ‘keeper. Integral.
Ivan Perisic [Inter]
The Croatian made a massive difference coming on at half time. At 3-1 down he set up Mauro Icardi for Inter’s second then went onto to score the vital equaliser when he slotted home Rodrigo Palacio’s cross. Fundamental.
Gonzalo Higuain [Napoli]
Always looking to trouble Belec in the opposition goal, who needed to fingertip away an early effort by the Argentinean. Eventually the Partenopei hotshot scored when he converted the penalty for a record 24th league goal in 24 games. Unplayable.
Special mentions: Stephan El Shaarawy [Roma], Diego Perotti [Roma], Emanuele Giaccherini [Bologna], Gonzalo Rodriguez [Fiorentina], Gianluigi Donnarumma [Milan].