Best XI of Serie A Round 17: Inter Trio Take Nerazzurri Top

Empoli, Fiorentina, Inter, Roma, Sassuolo, Serie A, Serie A 2021-2022, Top 11

Serie A teams are slowly approaching the end of the first part of the season, with only two games left to play. Round 17 has once again brought a series of exciting games and a twist in the race for the Scudetto.

Although there were no battles between the Serie A heavyweights, even at first glance less interesting games proved worthy of discussion.

Napoli, unbeaten for most of the first part of the season, suffered their second defeat in a row with a 1-0 loss to Empoli, while Milan failed to take their chance to cement their place at the top of the table as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Udinese. Inter were the luckiest as they swept aside Cagliari 4-0 to take top spot in Serie A.

Here we take a look at the best stats XI of Serie A Round 17.

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario (Empoli)

Empoli pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the season so far when they beat one of Serie A’s title contenders Napoli 1-0.

Although Patrick Cutrone scored the winning goal, most credit goes to goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who played a big part in the team’s emphatic victory.

The 25-year-old stopped 6 of Napoli’s shots on Sunday night, accumulating 1.78 xGC (Expected Goals Conceded). This means that Vicario almost prevented Napoli from scoring twice.

FotMob Rating – 8.7

Right-Back / Right Wing-Back – Petar Stojanovic (Empoli)

Right-back Petar Stojanovic, like his Empoli teammate, was part of a great defensive performance against Napoli. The Slovenian international played a big part in helping his team keeping a clean sheet for the third time this season.

The 26-year-old contributed most to the defensive performance by winning 7 of his duels, successfully completing 80% of his tackles (4/5), recovering the ball 5 times and also making 2 interceptions. Stojanovic also made a decent contribution offensively, creating 1 big scoring chance and making 3 key passes.

FotMob Rating – 8.1

Right Centre-Back – Roger Ibanez (Roma)

Roma have been going through a tough time in recent weeks, losing their last two Serie A games against Inter and Bologna. However, Jose Mourinho’s men redeemed themselves in their last game against Spezia with a 2-0 win.

Central defender Roger Ibanez was Roma’s star player of the game, as he scored one of the two goals and also put in a solid defensive performance. Ibanez won 5 of his 8 duels, recovered the ball 5 times and made 3 interceptions.

FotMob Rating – 8.5

Left Centre-Back – Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina)

Fiorentina have really meant business this season and they proved it once again with a 4-0 win over Salernitana at the weekend.

The Viola were a few notches better against Salernitana both offensively and defensively, with left-back Lucas Martinez Quarta being the star player in the defensive line. The Argentine won 83% of his duels (5/6), was successful in 67% of his tackles and recovered the ball a remarkable 14 times.

FotMob Rating – 8.3

Left-Back / Left Wing-Back – Ridgeciano Haps (Venezia)

Venezia should be proud just for the fact that they are competing in Serie A this season, but after performances like the one against Juventus, the newcomers deserve even more praise.

Paolo Zanetti’s men did themselves proud in a 1-1 draw with 36-time Scudetto winners Juventus, and left-back Ridgeciano Hips is one of two players who deserve a mention. The Surinam native delivered his first assist of the season, which proved to be the equalizer, and also played 3 more key passes.

FotMob Rating – 8.2

Central Midfielder – Sasa Lukic (Torino)

Torino have been playing a rather inconsistent season so far, in terms of results and performances. Ivan Juric’s men showed their more positive side against Bologna, picking up a 2-1 win.

Central midfielder Sasa Lukic was one of the standout players of the afternoon, as he set up Antonio Sanabria’s opening goal. The Serbian also created 2 other big chances and played 4 key passes.

FotMob Rating – 9.0

Central Midfielder – Nicolo Barella (Inter)

Inter had moved up a gear in recent weeks and once again showed why they are the defending champions with a 4-0 win over Cagliari.

Nicolo Barella, one of the Nerazzurri’s stars from last season, put in a great performance on Sunday night. He contributed 2 assists, bringing his season tally to 7, and played 4 key passes.

FotMob Rating – 9.3

Central Attacking Midfielder – Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter)

When Inter play well, the team always has at least one of its star players putting in a top-notch performance.

Against Cagliari, that man was Hakan Calhanoglu, who has settled in extremely well at Inter. The Turkish international scored a goal and provided an assist in the win, taking his combined tally to 11 (6 goals and 5 assists).

FotMob Rating – 9.0

Central Attacking Midfielder – Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)

Having produced a 15-minute gem against Spezia in the previous round, Giacomo Raspadori repeated the feat in a 2-1 win over Lazio.

The Italian took just six minutes to score and provide an assist that eventually led to Sassuolo’s victory over Lazio. Raspadori now has 4 goals and 3 assists this season.

FotMob Rating – 8.8

Forward – Alexis Sanchez (Inter)

Although Alexis Sanchez is no longer the talk of the town when it comes to Europe’s best strikers, the Chile international still has what it takes to play at the highest level.

The 32-year-old scored his first goal of the season against Cagliari and also contributed an assist in Inter’s 4-0 win.

FotMob Rating – 9.0

Forward – Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina)

The man is simply an unstoppable goal machine this season. With his 2 goals against Salernitana, Dusan Vlahovic has overtaken Ciro Immobile in the Serie A scoring charts and is now the league’s leading scorer with 15 goals.

FotMob Rating – 8.8

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