After an exciting weekend when Roma scored a last minute goal against Napoli to hand Juventus the title Dave Taylor selects his best X1 from Week 35.
Gianluigi Buffon [Juventus]
Decisive in winning the points following several crucial stops especially his reactions to strikes from Federico Bernardeschi. Showed once again why scoring against him is like nailing jelly to a lamppost, also stopped the penalty and the subsequent follow up. Stupendous
Bruno Peres [Torino]
After an exciting weekend when Roma scored a last minute goal against Napoli to hand Juventus the title Dave Taylor selects his best X1 from Week 35.
Gianluigi Buffon [Juventus]
Decisive in winning the points following several crucial stops especially his reactions to strikes from Federico Bernardeschi. Showed once again why scoring against him is like nailing jelly to a lamppost, also stopped the penalty and the subsequent follow up. Stupendous
Bruno Peres [Torino]
Did not deserve to lose purely on the significant interceptions and dangerous crosses he made. Scored the equaliser on the counter attack when Daniele Baselli’s cross found him in the right place to drive home with an angled strike. Immovable.
Kalidou Koulibaly [Napoli]
Another top performance from the defensive colossus, who mashed up the hosts like a giant foot on a tin can. Also made some crucial blocks including a storming last-ditch tackle on Mohamed Salah, who would have been clear on goal. Unyielding.
Francesco Acerbi [Sassuolo]
Helped the visitors come away with the points and had a big hand in the second goal. The 28-year-old stood solid, as he has most of the season, and along with Paolo Cannavaro deserves the dream of Europa football. Concrete.
Federico Peluso [Sassuolo]
The 32-year-old was in a great form and held firm during several waves of pressure down his flank. Eventually rewarded for his efforts with a goal when he dodged his marker at a corner and headed home from six yards out. Imperious.
Radja Nainggolan [Roma]
The Belgian was his usual busy self, scoring the match-winning goal that could help his team into eventual second place after finding space at the edge of the box before his heat seeking missile flew into the far bottom corner. Potent.
Mario Lemina [Juventus]
An excellent performance and threatened whenever he had possession. Faster than the rev rate of a souped up motor he menaced both off and on the ball and it’s hard to see why he hasn’t played more often on this showing. Effective.
Enzo Maresca [Palermo]
Perhaps not used as much as he should have been recently but the 36-year-old was at the heart of everything good for the visitors, ghosting into difficult pockets and despite his age, he showed that he still has a trick or two. Valuable.
Paul Pogba [Juventus]
Displayed all the technique of a truly mature player and produced the assist for Mario Mandzukic when he out jumped his marker to head on. At times carved open Fiorentina’s defenders and made them look like they were pulling a tank. Electric.
Stevan Jovetic [Inter]
The Montenegrin was a nightmare for the Udinese defence scoring a brace and worrying the visitors with his technique and left defenders looking as professional as a host of Milan-shirted clowns attempting the Haka. Inspiring.
Mario Mandzukic [Juventus]
The Croatian demonstrated his qualities throughout and he scored the opener after a crisp header from Pogba to volley home from 12 yards out. It was a telling example of the partnership he and the Frenchman have developed of late. Clinical.
Special mentions: Mauro Icardi [Inter], Alberto Gilardino [Palermo], Emiliano Viviano [Sampdoria], Franco Brienza [Bologna], Sergio Floccari [Bologna], Luca Siligardi [Verona], Federico Bernardeschi [Fiorentina], Fernando [Sampdoria].