Serie A Week 25 Round-Up (Powered by @MatthewDoyle95)
Juventus 1-0 Napoli:
Juventus went top of the table on Saturday night after a hard fought 1-0 victory over Napoli. Napoli had the better of the first half and could have gone into half time leading but for a world class interception from Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci to stop Higuain heading in his 25th of the campaign. In the second half the best chance of the game fell to Juventus Striker Paulo Dybala who shot over from 15 yards in the 60th minute. Then just as the game looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw substitute Simone Zaza unleashed a shot from 20 yards which took a deflection of a Napoli defender and looped over goalkeeper Pepe Reina. The victory stretches Juventus winning streak to 15 while Napoli suffer their first loss since December.
Fiorentina 2-1 Inter Milan:
Inter Milan’s poor run of form continued on Sunday night as they lost 2-1 to Champions league rivals Fiorentina in Florence. Inter Milan took the lead in the 25th minute after good work from Palacio who got to the by-line and cut back the ball for Brozovic who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from 6 yards out. It took Fiorentina till the 60th minute to reply and it was from their Spanish talisman Borja Valero, the Fiorentina midfielder ghosted into the box to head in a in swinging cross from Bernardeschi. Then in the 81st minute Inter Milan defender Telles was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Bernardeschi. It went from bad to worse for Inter when Handanovic spilled Zarate’s weak shot into the path of Babacar who bundled the ball home in the 90th minute. In a hectic final few minutes both teams had players sent off, Fiorentina had Zarate sent off and Inter had Kondogbia sent off. Inter Milan are now 4 points of 3rd place and Fiorentina have a 2 point lead over 4th placed Roma.
Milan 2-1 Genoa:
Milan continued their good form with a 2-1 win over struggling Genoa on Sunday morning at the San Siro. Milan almost took the lead in the 3rd minute when Honda’s long ranged strike was brilliantly saved Mattia Perin, from the resulting corner though Milan did take the lead when a well worked corner found Carlos Bacca at the left corner of the six yard box and the Colombian hit a powerful half volley which Perin couldn’t stop. Milan extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Honda produced a piece of brilliance, the Japanese international picked the ball up from 40 yards out and powerfully struck the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. Genoa did get a consolation goal in the final few seconds when teenage goalkeeper Donnarumma pushed a shot in to the air and former milan player Alessio Cerci headed in from a few yards out. Milan’s good form has seen them rise up to 6th in the table just 1 place behind fierce rivals Inter Milan, Genoa however remain just 3 points off the drop zone.
Other results:
Lazio 5-2 Verona
Carpi 1-3 Roma
Empoli 1-2 Frosinone
Chievo 1-1 Sassuolo
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Udinese 0-1 Bologna
Palermo 1-3 Torino