Locked in between the two legs of the continental quarter-finals, this round proved to be a daunting task for Italian football’s representatives in Europe as most of them are struggling to cope with the packed April schedule. Therefore, Napoli, Milan, Inter and Juventus all dropped what should have been routine points. Nonetheless, Roma and Lazio seized the opportunity to consolidate their spots on the podium with comfortable wins. So let’s recap the weekend’s action and identify the best and worst performers in the Tops and Flops of Serie A Round 30.
Top (Player): Luca Caldirola
As Massimiliano Allegri would occasionally tell us, football was invented by the devil. At the moment, Inter supporters hardly need a reminder. Simone Inzaghi’s men are seemingly unable to collect points in the league even if their lives depend on it (or at least their manager’s job).
To make matter worse, here comes that guy again: Luca Caldirola.
The 31-year-old defender began his playing days as an Inter youth product but following a nomadic career, he has finally found his niche at Monza.
When the two sides met earlier this season, the Italian was the protagonist in the last-gasp equalizer, even if was registered as an own-goal from Denzel Dumfries.
But this time, there was no question about it, Caldirola nodded home an unstoppable header that deepened his original club’s wounds, while also helping his current employers in maintaining a clean sheet.
A memorable evening for the well-traveled defender at the Giuseppe Meazza.
Flop (Player): Roberto Pereyra
Sometimes, it’s just not your day. Surely Roberto Pereyra felt this way on Sunday night with nothing going in his favor. The Argentine’s handball gifted Roma with a spot-kick to break the deadlock.
In the second half, the experienced midfielder took it upon himself to convert Udinese’s penalty kick, but rather than scoring the equalizer, he saw his effort saved by Rui Patricio. Eventually, the Zebrette faltered in the capital and the match ended 3-0.
Pereyra will never ask to review the highlights of this one.
Top (Manager): Maurizio Sarri
Don’t look now, but it seems that Lazio are 10 points above 5th-placed Inter and have gathered a bigger point tally than Juventus regardless of the 15-point penalty.
So this is the perfect timing to give some props to the architect behind the project, Mr. Maurizio Sarri.
On Friday, the Biancocelesti saw off Spezia in comfortable fashion, scoring three unanswered goals to consolidate their runner-up spot.
As things stand after Round 30, it’s increasingly difficult to envision the Top four spots in Serie A without the soaring Eagles.
Flop (Manager): Massimiliano Allegri
On Sunday, it was anything but a happy return for Massimiliano Allegri to the Mapei Stadium, as almost every risk he took spectacularly backfired.
From starting Leandro Paredes in front of the defense to pairing up Arkadiusz Milik and Dusan Vlahovic up front, none of his maneuvers worked, as the sterile Bianconeri struggled to create anything noteworthy en route towards a deserved defeat at the hands of Sassuolo.
Top (Team): Roma
While an abysmal Udinese side facilitated Roma’s mission, José Mourinho’s men have done their due despite the absence of the injured Paulo Dybala.
Although he didn’t score, Andrea Belotti gave positive signals, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is slowly but surely regaining his best form. Moreover, Tammy Abraham came off the bench to grab his side’s third goal much to the delight of the Olimpico crowd.
Flop (Team): Inter
This Inter side is a dilemma of its own. The European high-flyers yet domestic strugglers have once again dominated the match for the most part, but simply couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
That’s right, Romelu Lukaku, Joaquin Correa, Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko combined failed to score a goal against Monza at the Giuseppe Meazza despite a flurry of chances.
For the moment, Inzaghi is still standing his ground, and he has his Champions League run to thank.
Top (Goalkeeper): Michele Di Gregorio
Yes, Inter strikers should have done better in front of goal, but Michele Di Gregorio made life miserable for the Nerazzurri lot.
The 25-year-old is probably one of the best hidden gems in Serie A, and his Round 30 performance is just another testament to his vast potential.
Top (Reaction): Adriano Galliani
For the second time this season, Monza CEO Adriano Galliani lost it when his side scored a late goal against his personal arch-nemesis, Inter.
The legendary director will forever be associated with Milan, so one can understand why he couldn’t contain his thrill as his team delivered a major upset at San Siro.
Galliani went NUTS after @ACMonza's winner vs Inter ???#InterMonza pic.twitter.com/1JZHRlz05t
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) April 16, 2023
Top (Super-Sub): Marcos Antonio
Since making the transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk to Lazio, Marcos Antonio has been struggling from the lack of playing time in the Italian capital.
But this weekend, he made his second-half cameo count by scoring his team’s third goal against Spezia from a fabulous solo effort before bursting into tears.
Now surely the hosts were playing with a man down and the encounter was already a finished affair at that point, but the Brazilian’s maiden goal for Lazio might prove to be an upturn in his Italian stint.
Top (Heart): Cremonese
Are we witnessing the beginning of another miraculous survival? At this point, we must maintain realistic expectations, but regardless of how this story ends, Cremonese deserve major credit for fighting until the very end.
For the first time this season, the Tigres have picked up two wins in succession after beating Empoli on Friday with another determined effort.
Keep it up, boys!
Top (Goal): Tommaso Pobega
While this wasn’t a goal-frenzy weekend, we still had a few decent contenders for the top strike of Serie A round 30.
But while Marcos Antonio and Joakim Maehle produced sublime solo efforts, our personal pick is Tommaso Pobega’s smashing shot that salvaged a point for Milan in Bologna.
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