On a weekend when none of Italy’s Champions League sides won, Giancarlo Rinaldi picks out the biggest successes and failures of the latest round of games.
Maybe Maurizio Sarri was right – Serie A sides can’t compete in Europe and their own league. His Lazio team – long since eliminated – were resounding victors while Milan, Napoli, Inter, Juventus and Fiorentina all struggled. But who were the triumphs and disasters from matchday number 30?
WINNERS
The fickle nature of football was summed up to perfection by Lorenzo Pellegrini as he helped Roma to an ultimately comfortable victory over Udinese. He had come under fire midweek for failing to convert a penalty against Feyenoord but answered his critics to perfection with a strike at the Stadio Olimpico. He did not take the spot-kick his side was awarded, but Bryan Cristante also failed to convert, which permitted Edoardo Bove to share the starring role for the Giallorossi as the youth product coolly slid home the rebound. With Tammy Abraham ending a long-goal drought, it was just about a perfect night for the Giallorossi.
The beaming grin of Adriano Galliani underlined why beating Inter is never just a result like any other for Monza. Hats off, in particular, to Luca Caldirola, the man who came through the ranks with the Nerazzurri and popped up with the winner to put Simone Inzaghi under even more pressure to progress in the Champions League against Benfica. To add insult to injury, visiting goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio also has the Milanese giants in his past and he produced a string of fine saves to deny his former employers. If there is anything you can guarantee in football, it is probably that the players you let go will come back to haunt you.
They have only mustered three Serie A wins all season, so huge credit has to go to Cremonese, who delivered their second consecutive victory as they saw off Empoli to make their league position look a little less painful. An early strike from Cyriel Dessers – with an assist from the in-form Leonardo Sernicola – was enough to see off their Tuscan visitors. It almost certainly won’t be enough to help them survive in the top flight, but at least it provides a roar of pride to show that they won’t throw in the towel without a fight.
LOSERS
It was not a great weekend for Welsh international Ethan Ampadu, who suffered a series of unfortunate events in Spezia‘s defeat against Lazio, leaving them the closest target for the sides battling to avoid relegation. He gave away the penalty, which seemed a little harsh, that allowed Ciro Immobile to break his drought – and the deadlock – shortly after the half-hour mark. Worse was to follow, though, when his follow-through caught a Lazio player in what was judged to be a second yellow card offence and resulted in his marching orders. It all felt a little unfair, but none of that will be of any consolation to the player or his team.
They have been praiseworthy for their passionate backing both home and away this season, but a section of the Lecce support turned on its own team after failing to beat Sampdoria. While it was undoubtedly a poor result against the bottom side in Serie A, it did seem more than a little harsh to question the players’ effort. They huffed and puffed but simply could not stick the ball in the net to get the win both they and their fans craved. Their form has been woeful of late, but only by everyone pulling together can they hope to drag themselves out of the mire.
Only a heart of stone would not have felt sympathy for young Nicolò Fagioli who has hit the headlines for Juve for the right reasons for much of this season. We all make mistakes, and the poor midfielder was to blame for an involuntary assist for the game’s only goal in the Bianconeri’s defeat by Sassuolo. He was promptly substituted and later pictured looking distraught on the bench as he came to terms with what had happened. One error, though, should not spoil what has been an impressive campaign for the youngster. He will surely come back stronger.
Giancarlo Rinaldi is the author of a number of books on Italian football. He is also half of the Rigore! Podcast team. You can follow him on Twitter @ginkers.