The Serie A returned to action in 2021 with style. The highlights were taken by Inter, Atalanta, Napoli, and Juventus, with only two games ending in stalemates.
There were 33 goals scored, and the tally would have been greater if the VAR rules were more transparent. Udinese had a goal ruled out for an unforced handball, as the Zebra player was getting trudged upon by his Juventus counterpart. The early goal might have changed the outcome of the game. However, justice was served as Aaron Ramsey had a goal disallowed for handling the ball while on the ground and trying to get up.
And then there were chances missed. Spezia would rue their luck as they slip into relegation slots. The defeat to Hellas Verona was their sit third successive result, which could have been averted had M’Bala Nzola hit the target after leaving the goalkeeper in his wake.
The 6-2 win for Inter after going behind in the 12th minute showed the Nerazzurri are back on the right path. Lautaro Martinez’s first hat trick in Inter colors was one to relish. A similar result was witnessed in Bergamo as Atalanta did short work of Roberto De Zerbi’s Sassuolo. The 5-1 thrashing gave La Dea the pushup Serie A points table, while the Neroverdi slipped out of the top-four.
The results came through exciting goals at crunch moments. Considering the impact of the goal and the difficulty, here are the top five goals from Serie A Round 15.
Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Udinese
Juventus were rocked by Fiorentina in their last competitive outing for 2020, getting thrashed 0-3 at the Allianz Stadium. The Old Lady were bent on starting the calendar year on a high and had their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, firing on all cylinders. The Portuguese marksman finished the game with a brace and an assist to show for his efforts. It was his opener that got the Turin giants on the way, cutting in from the left flank before leaving everyone in his wake. Rodrigo De Paul was at fault for the goal, an unfortunate night for the Argentine who had Udinese’s goal ruled out in uncertain circumstances.
Wilfried Singo vs. Parma
After going six games without a win, Torino finally managed to reverse the trend with a convincing win in Parma. Andrea Belotti did not get on the scoreboard, but his two assists were enough to force Parma’s second win in fifteen games. The Torino captain ran with the ball before expertly slicing the Parma defense with a through ball. It was a race between him and Wilfried Singo that the young Ivorian won. Luigi Sepe had no answer for Singo’s low shot, which hit the back of the net. Torino had the lead and would weather the storm before a late blitz ensured the three points were secured.
Matteo Pessina vs. Sassuolo
Atalanta put the Sassuolo defense to the sword in Bergamo. Gian Piero Gasperini’s men were ruthless on the night, thanks to an all-around outing from Duvan Zapata. The Colombian forward finished the game with two goals and the same amount of assists. However, the goal that makes our list did only had Zapata stretching the defense with his movement. Josip Ilicic’s ran the right flank’s length before crossing into the path of Matteo Pessina from inside the box. Pessina received the ball on the volley, to which Andrea Consigli never had a chance of stopping. The goal just before half-time put the Neroverdi on the back foot, from which they never recovered.
Piotr Zielinski vs. Cagliari
Napoli could only manage a dull draw against the out of sorts Torino in their last outing but gave a better account of themselves against Cagliari. Piotr Zielinski was on first for the Neapolitans, scoring a brace to take his tally for the season to three. His first was an excellent shot from outside the box, worth earning his place, but it was the second that made a mockery of Cagliari’s defense. Zielinski controlled the cross from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and casually dribbling past the Isolani as if they were Sunday league players. By the time he fired a shot from within six yards, the fate of Cagliari was already sealed.
Mattia Zaccagni vs. Spezia
After an inspired start to the campaign, Hellas Verona lost their way. Spezia would rue their profligacy in front of the goal as the Mastiffs showed the resolve to get the three points on offer. The two sides battled on until the final quarter, where Verona pulled ahead, with Mattia Zaccagni finishing a brilliant team effort. The ball ping-ponged from one Mastiff player to another in the Spezia penalty box before it reached Zaccagni. The 25-year-old controlled it on his chest and perfectly timed an overhead bicycle that left the outstretched Ivan Provedel clawing at thin air.