Fabian Ruiz’s goal at the last second, which gives Napoli the three points and the possibility to dream of the Scudetto, Tammy Abraham’s goal at the last second against Spezia, Gregoire Defrel’s last-minute goal in Sassuolo-Fiorentina: the last weekend of Serie A was characterised by goals right at the death.
MATCH OF THE WEEK – Lazio vs Napoli
It could have been the turning point for Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, who seemed to have finally found the right way to make his team perform at its best, while it could really be the game that could sanction the beginning of the crisis for Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli, surely it was a game full of surprises, right up to the last second of the game.
The first-half was without a goal between the two teams, but in the 62nd of the match came the first, scored by Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne, in the last match harshly booed by his fans, with a nice shot from outside the box.
The game seemed destined to end 0-1, but Pedro scored the equaliser in the 88th minute of the match, with an incredible left footed volley from outside the box.
It seemed over, and it could have been a great regret for Napoli, but at the 94th minute mark, Fabian Ruiz scored an incredible goal, with a wonderful shot in which the Lazio goalkeeper was unable to do anything.
Napoli won a very important match, with Spalletti who at the end of the game responded harshly to the press, which according to him is always too critical of his team.
These three points for Napoli could really mean something important. In the most difficult moment, Napoli has found a victory that allows them to dream of the Scudetto, above all because Inter and Milan have dramatically slowed down, continuing to draw game after game.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Tammy Abraham (Roma)
To tell the truth, if the penalty hadn’t arrived in the 99th minute for him it would have been a very negative weekend, because against Spezia for Roma it really seemed a cursed game, one of those haunted matches in which the ball just doesn’t want to enter the goal.
The Giallorossi played very well, many scoring actions, many shots towards goal, especially by Lorenzo Pellegrini, finally back in shape, with the Spezia goalkeeper Ivan Provedel man of the match and protagonist of sensational saves.
At least a couple of easy chances for Abraham, especially a header after a great cross from Pellegrini, but the Giallorossi just weren’t able to score. In the final moments of the game, Pellegrini, Abraham, Stephan El Shaarawy, Nicolo Zaniolo, Eldor Shomurodov and Henrikh Mkhitaryan were on the pitch at the same time, all on the pitch trying to score the winning goal.
At the 90th minute mark, Jose Mourinho replaces Mkhitaryan with Bove, with the intention of lengthening the injury time (and so it happened, another 30′ in which Roma then took the decisive corner kick).
Two crossbar hits by Zaniolo during the development of the corner kick, then the ball stops on the goal line, Spezia players manage to clear the area, then referee Michael Fabbri is called by the VAR, because in those excited moments Zaniolo took a kick in the face from Giulio Maggiore: penalty kick, Pellegrini gives the ball to Abraham, who after a difficult match, with many mistakes, with ice in his veins, scores the penalty.
Goal, race toward the fans present at the stadium and three points. Tammy continues to score and Roma to bless his arrival.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK – Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta)
Dusan Vlahovic, game after game, is becoming the most important player of Juventus.
The former Fiorentina striker took Juventus by the hand and even in the last match he was the decisive man, having scored a brace that allowed Max Allegri’s team to beat an excellent Empoli, well organised and dangerous in more occasions during the match. Juventus haven’t been playing well lately, but with such a lethal Vlahovic inside the penalty area, the Bianconeri just need to build a couple of scoring chances, because then there is Dusan.
Having arrived in Bergamo to play as a playmaker yesterday against Sampdoria, given the offensive emergency in Gian Piero Gasperini’s team, Teun Koopmeiner played behind the only striker, if you can call it that, Mario Pasalic (Luis Muriel and Duvan Zapata are both injured).
The Dutch midfielder scored a brace yesterday, sealing the growth process started since his arrival in Serie A. Atalanta showed, once again, how good its managers are in choosing the right players. Koopmeiners quickly becoming one of the most interesting players in the league.
COACH OF THE WEEK – Walter Mazzarri (Cagliari)
It seemed an impossible mission for Walter Mazzarri, Cagliari seemed destined to a sad relegation to Serie B, but the club trusted him, supported him in all his choices (even on the transfer market, sending away players considered more a problem than a resource) and the coach is proving to be still one of the best coaches in Italy.
Cagliari continues to grow game after game and the victory in Turin is the perfect example of the work of this coach, as well prepared as he is underestimated (guilty) by the Italian press and Italian football.
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