Controversy, upsets, comebacks and goal-fests, this weekend had it all. Whilst the biggest topic of the last few days centered around Inter’s postponed match against Sasssuolo, Juve’s shocking defeat at the hands of Benevento stole the headlines. Elsewhere, Milan won a back-and-forth thriller in Florence, and Napoli earned an important away victory against Roma in the Derby del Sole. So here are the our Top 3 stories from Serie A round 28.
Protocol Controversy Strikes Again
Since the start of the campaign, we all realized that this will be a season like no other. On the positive side, we, football fans, should count ourselves lucky for being able to enjoy the non-stop action despite the ongoing health crisis.
Nonetheless, things have been complicated to say the least. From the postponed Juventus-Napoli fixture that is yet to be played, to Lazio’s possible breaching of the protocol, all the way to Inter’s recent outbreak which prompted the Serie A organizers to postpone their round 28 encounter against Sassuolo.
At least four Nerazzurri players tested positive for Covid-19, so should it be enough to call off the match?
Inter’s rivals obviously argued against the decision, believing that other teams had to compete despite missing several players. Moreover, the international break offers the chance for Antonio Conte to retain his men for the upcoming matches.
Whether we agree or disagree with the decision, the Covid protocol has added a new layer for a nation that embraces controversy.
The Champions Practically Dethroned
Although mathematics might tell you otherwise, but Juve’s surprising defeat at home to Serie A newcomers Benevento in round 28 should be more than enough to practically rule them out of the Scudetto race.
The reigning champions have been trailing since the beginning of the campaign, but whilst a number of observers were still expecting them to bounce back, we’re unlikely to witness anything dramatically different from Andrea Pirlo’s men in the final quarter of the season.
At a time when Inter have been able to gain steam, Juventus just couldn’t maintain their consistency, and the writing is on the wall for the Old Lady.
Napoli Find Their Form at the Right Moment
Gennaro Gattuso had reportedly been on the chopping block throughout the last few months. Nonetheless, the fiery manager was always able to pull off the win whenever he need it the most.
Therefore, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis eventually kept faith with his manager – at least until the end of campaign – and the former Milan man repaid it with a string of good performances in the last few weeks.
After beating Milan last week, the Partenopei brought down Roma at the Olimpico stadium in a crucial round 28 win in the battle for the 4th place within the Serie A table.
Whilst the 2-0 result puts the Giallorossi in a bad spot after their second defeat in a row, Napoli are now in prime position to fight for a Champions League spot against the high-flying Atalanta.
But the question remains whether or not they’ll be able to maintain their recent form?