Juventus and Napoli pulled ever further away from the chasing pack, while Roma still look disjointed – what we learned in Week 23.
Words: Ciro Di Brita
Inter still can’t buy a win
Luciano Spalletti accused his side of having weak character after they failed to pick up all three points at home against lowly Crotone.
Since sitting top of the table on December 9, the Nerazzurri have failed to win in 10 matches only beating Lega Pro side Pordenone on penalties in the Coppa Italia.
Juventus and Napoli pulled ever further away from the chasing pack, while Roma still look disjointed – what we learned in Week 23.
Words: Ciro Di Brita
Inter still can’t buy a win
Luciano Spalletti accused his side of having weak character after they failed to pick up all three points at home against lowly Crotone.
Since sitting top of the table on December 9, the Nerazzurri have failed to win in 10 matches only beating Lega Pro side Pordenone on penalties in the Coppa Italia.
The Nerazzurri have now gone a record equalling eight league games without a win. With top-goalscorer Mauro Icardi missing through injury it was Eder that opened the scoring, the Italo-Brazilian scoring just his second goal of the season.
Therein lies the problem for the Beneamata, who struggle dos core if Icardi isn’t playing or in form.
Napoli can win ugly
Benevento tried to play the Azzurri at their own game early on in this derby game.
Pressing high and attacking in numbers, the Stregoni had probably more shots at Pepe Reina’s goal in this game than Napoli’s defence have allowed in the past two months combined.
Luckily for the table toppers most of those shots went high and wide. Maurizio Sarri’s men didn’t panic though and settled into the game and it was their attacking quality that took control of the match. First a wonderful attempt by Lorenzo Insigne hit the crossbar then Dries Mertens scored a delightful chip which might or might not have been a cross to Insigne.
Marek Hamsik made it 2-0 at the start of the second half but the Benventani kept Napoli professional and on their toes.
It was far from the Partenopei’s best performance of the season, but champions have to know how to win ugly, and Napoli proved they can do that.
Roma still look disjointed
Young Turkish starlet Cengiz Under scored a peach of a goal inside the first minute against Hellas in the lunch time game on Sunday. Unfortunately for him and his side that was to be the highlight for the remaining eighty-nine minutes.
Lorenzo Pellegrini saw red for a daft tackle in midfield leaving his misfiring teammates to finish the game with ten men. Eusebio Di Francesco’s side need to find a creative spark from somewhere, whilst relying on Edin Dzeko for goals can be hit or miss. Lately more miss than hit.
Mazzarri has brought some fight to Torino
Walter Mazzarri remains unbeaten in four games, winning twice since taking over I Granata, his side shipping just two goals in those games.
After falling behind in the Marassi to Lucas Torreira’s opener for Sampdoria Il Toro fought back through Afriyie Acquah only for the Ghanaian to get himself sent off for two yellow card offences.
Mazzarri himself was directed to the stands by referee Gianluca Rocchi for protesting and will now sit out the next two games after receiving a ban. Mazzarri has his work cut out for him to solidify a leaky defence and to turn what is a flaky side into a more confident and tough to beat unit.
The corner flag is the new penalty spot
Two goals directly from corners in the same game you say? Haven’t seen that before unless it was at a windswept pitch beside the sea in some amateur division.
Jordan Veretout opened the scoring in Fiorentina’s 2-1 win over Bologna at the Dall’Ara when his first half corner flew over everyone’s head and into the far corner. Eric Pulgar then decided to get in on the act when his set piece somehow went in at the front post catching Marco Sportiello napping.
Federico Chiesa won the game for La Viola when he jinked his way into the box and fired in to the top corner with his left foot, proving yet again that he could be Italy’s brightest young talent.