It was another exciting weekend in Italian football with action-packed fixtures spread between Saturday and Monday. Juventus and Roma collected three points at home, while Luciano Spalletti’s men returned to Napoli with a timely away win over Bologna. Atalanta and Inter fought in goalless yet entertaining stalemate, but the major upset came from the San Siro, as Milan – who were the biggest favorites of the whole round – were dealt a massive blow by Spezia who snatched a dramatic winner in the 96th minute. So let’s check out the tops and flops from Serie A Round 22.
Top (Player): Ivan Provedel
As always, we had several candidates to choose from for our vastly prestigious away. Chucky Lozano bagged a brace for Napoli and Antonin Barak even completed a hattrick for Sassuolo.
Moreover, Samir Handanovic and Juan Musso each produced a host of brilliant saves to maintain clean sheets in the battle between the two Nerrazurri clubs.
And yet, there could only be one winner, and that is Ivan Provedel, a kid out of nowhere (he’s actually from Pordenone) who frustrated Zlatan Ibrahimovic and company from start to finish, allowing his teammates to snatch a victory at the San Siro in the most dramatic of fashions.
Now surely Leao beat him on the goal and also earned a penalty kick at his expense, but the Italian kept producing one shocking save after another – whether with his feet, arms or else – to keep his team’s hopes alive.
Top (Wingbacks): Wilfried Singo – Mergim Vojvoda
In the last few weeks, Torino has been one of the clubs who are slipping under the radar. Well, stop right there, fellas! Because you’re about to receive some mandatory praise.
Last week the Granata’s two wingbacks combined to score the opener against Fiorentina, when Mergim Vojvoda’s cross found Wilfried Singo at the far post.
Well guess what, they somehow managed to replicate the same drill in round 23 at the expense of Sampdoria are lately degenerating into on of most prestigious whipping boys of Serie A.
These two certainly earned their mention.
Flop (Manager): Roberto D’Aversa
Although we’re not in favor of kicking a man when he’s down, Roberto D’Aversa can hardly argue against his sacking as it was definitely earned.
The former Parma man insisted on adopting an overly-cautious approach. While he would have been forgiven if it had bore its fruits, one might suggest that the Sampdoria directors (or at least the ones who aren’t in jail) were actually quite prudent, waiting for Serie A round 22 to wield the axe.
Top (Manager): Thiago Motta
On his return to the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, former Inter star was merely hoping to earn a point against his old crosstown rivals.
The Italo-Brazilian knows exactly the strengths and weaknesses of his men, and with a little bit of luck (as well as awkward officiating), he somehow managed to navigate Spezia towards a dramatic victory thanks to Emmanuel Gyasi’s extremely late winner.
Flop (Referee): Marco Serra
Which brings us to Marco Serra. While we don’t like to talk about refereeing decisions too often, the official’s horrible call arguably cost Milan the match.
Serra decided to blow his whistle too early to award the Rossoneri a freekick at the edge of the box instead of giving Junior Messias the advantage and the chance to score the winner after being put through on goal.
Stefano Pioli’s men were obviously furious with the incident, and to add insult to injury, Spezia snatched their second goal just few minutes later.
Top (Team): Lazio
In the “Claudio Lotito Derby”, the patron’s favorite child completely smashed her poor little sister.
Well, that’s the best metaphor we could come up with for the occasion.
Anyway, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic ran riot in an epic performance – even if it came at the expense of one of the league’s weakest sides – while Ciro Immobile (temporarily) put himself in the lead of the Serie A scoring charts with a personal brace… but of course Dusan Vlahovic had the last word in round 22.
Flop (Team): Genoa
After sacking their second manager this season, things are only getting worse for Genoa who were massacred at the hands of Fiorentina with six unanswered goals.
No further explanation needed.