Serie A Review: Week 12
A review from all the action from Italy including an Old Lady comeback and a thriller in Fiorentina in the last round of fixtures before the international break.
Saturday 4th November
Bologna 2-3 Crotone
A crucial win for strugglers Crotone who came from behind twice against mid-table Bologna to lead for the first time in an away game. Both Bologna’s Simone Verdi and Crotone’s Ante Budimir scored braces for their sides after only scoring once each all season. The result means Crotone gain crucial points and climb into double figures with 12 points, six above the relegation zone.
Genoa 0-2 Sampdoria
Sampdoria are fast converting their good start to potentially a very promising season, inflicting more misery on Genoa on Saturday. Gaston Ramirez and veteran Fabio Quagliarella chipped in with the goals, the latter tapping in from six yards. Marco Giampaolo’s side stay sixth and dare to dream of a European spot for the first time since reaching Champions League playoffs in 2010-11. Genoa remain in serious trouble down in 18th with six points.
Sunday 5th November
Inter 1-1 Torino
Inter were in danger of losing their first league game of the season against Torino when Iago Falque scored on the hour mark. However, substitute Eder equalised for the hosts to gain a crucial point in the race for the Scudetto. In the end, a draw was a fair result as Inter prepare for a tough home game against Atalanta after the international break.
Cagliari 2-1 Verona
Former Manchester City prodigy Bruno Zuculini scored his first Serie A goal of the season to give Verona a precious away lead after six minutes. A win would lift them out of the relegation zone and level on points with Cagliari. Instead, the home team dominated the rest of the game and found a late winner in the 85th minute through Paolo Farago.
Chievo 0-0 Napoli
Many would have predicted Napoli’s formidable attack to sweep aside Chievo and extend their lead at the top of the table. Instead, Chievo became only the second team (after Inter) to stop the league leaders from scoring. Despite a total of 19 shots and 73% possession, Napoli couldn’t find a way through but stay top of Serie A.
Fiorentina 2-4 Roma
Game of weekend came courtesy of a six-goal thriller in Florence, with both teams starting the season slightly underwhelmingly. 20-year-old Brazilian, Gerson, opened the scoring after five minutes and made it 2-1 after Jordan Veretout’s equaliser. Fiorentina levelled again through Giovanni Simeone’s fourth goal of the season before Kostas Manolas scored a rare goal to put Roma ahead. Diego Perotti continued his run of goals after his strike against Chelsea mid-week to secure the points. Roma now sit in fifth, just one point behind rivals Lazio.
Atalanta 1-1 SPAL
SPAL continue to be tricky customers in their first season back in the top flight, this time with an impressive away point. Luca Rizzo cancelled out Bryan Cristante’s opener, with Remo Frauler being sent off for the hosts, disrupting what should have been a home win. It made the match a much more even game with SPAL hitting the bar in what could have been upset of the weekend.
Juventus 2-1 Benevento
What definitely would have been upset of the weekend is Benevento holding on to their 1-0 lead which Amato Ciciretti gave them in the 19th minute with a free kick. However, Juventus showed why they are champions and managed a win even when not playing anywhere near as well as they can. Benevento are left with the unwanted statistics of zero points and 12 consecutive defeats, the only team with a worse record was Brescia in 1994/95 (15 consecutive losses).
Sassuolo 0-2 AC Milan
Before the match, this was labelled the game which decided whether Vincenzo Montella would keep his job or not. Under pressure, the ‘Little Aeroplane’ piloted his side to an away win against struggling Sassuolo. Alessio Romagnoli out-jumped goalkeeper Andrea Consigli to nod in the opener before half-time. In the second half, Suso provided a moment of quality, cutting inside and finishing with a superb left-footed strike. The result means Milan stay in seventh, and only slightly eases the pressure on Montella’s shoulders.
