Lazio 3 Juventus 1FT
Juventus last weekend lost their grip on the top of Italian football. Ever since they beat Inter Milan despite having not played well they remained on the top of the league. Despite this, too many slip-ups saw Inter Milan overtake them. The opportunity was there for Juventus to go back to the top of the table as Inter Milan was held by Rome at the San Siro. However, this would be easier said than done. Juventus took a trip to the Stadio Olimpico to go up against Lazio a small club in Rome who has the most in-form striker in the entire league in Ciro Immobile not to mention Luiz Alberto A midfielder that has proven his quality in Italian football. Going back to the top of the league was going to be difficult Lazio is a team that has proven to be a threat this season. It has been a decade since Lazio has beaten Juventus in Rome. Juventus could go to the top of the league with a victory and for Lazio, it was an opportunity to try to sneak into the title race that seemingly looks like a two-horse race between Inter Milan and Juventus. It was high tension throughout the match aggressive play and physicality sewed in the early parts of the match. Both teams had moments throughout the game there wasn’t really a team in control. This match was going to come down to opportunities as it typically does. Both sides put themselves in position to come in front on multiple occasions. It was a very physical match and at times borderline dirty as some really aggressive fouls that were ignored. The tempers between the teams flared however despite Lazio’s quality Juventus found a way to breakthrough. Displaying incredible passing ability Rodrigo Bentancur supplied Cristiano Ronaldo with a perfect pass as the Aging Portuguese star put the ball into the back of the net to give Juventus a 1-0 lead. Despite that Lazio continued to play aggressively and try to find moments in which they could get themselves back in the game. It had looked like Juventus was going to go into the second half with a lead. However, Felipe a player that probably should have been sent off previously for a dirty tackle on Blaise Matuidi put his team level. Luis Alberto supplied the touch and he connected on the header putting the ball into the back of the net to equalize just before half-time. It continued to be a battle going into the second half. It was hard to split the teams apart Lazio had more chances but Juventus continued to look dangerous throughout. The game turned on its head when Juventus were taken down to 10 men. Juan Cuadrado was given a straight red in what was a questionable decision. The referees usually favor Juventus but in this case, they really screwed them. The Colombian midfielder was going for the ball on the counter-attack before taking out a Lazio player a truly abysmal decision. As you could expect lightning would strike for Lazio as Milinkovic-Savic would have his moment late in the game supplying a blow to the league champions as the Serbian scored A massive moment to give Lazio a to 2-1 lead. Momentum shifted when Juventus was reduced to 10 men. Lazio was in complete control at least it felt like that way after the red card. Juventus tried to fight back as they were running out of time. Lazio we’re allowed to kill off the game from the penalty spot but Immobile was denied from 12 yards out. Despite that Lazio would eventually get that third goal in the closing moments of the match as Lazio beat Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico in what was a 3-1 victory. Lazio certainly showed up in a massive game but the red card did shift momentum as Juve is handed their first loss of the season as they choked up the possibility of going back to the top of the table.
A.S Roma 0 Inter 0FT
We saw Serie A match of the week on a Friday night in Milan at the San Siro. Inter Milan was just coming off a victory that pushed them into the top of Italian football re were looking to extend that against a Roma team who continues to be a contender for Champions League football. Inter Milan has been the best team in the league this season largely because of the influence of Antonio Conte on the side. They were playing with much higher confidence and have the players and resources to capture the league title. Meanwhile, Roma is a much different team under Paulo Fonseca who is taken their attacking football to a different level. With all the hype surrounding this match, it was expected to be an absolutely stunning match of football. Last season the teams split the season series with two drawers. In fact, Roma has done remarkably well at the San Siro whether it was against AC Milan or Inter Milan. They have a fairly long unbeaten run at the San Siro against inter they would provide their own set of challenges against the league leaders. It was truly a battle for 90 minutes as both teams had their moments. But mostly it was a wasteful Inter Milan that stole the headlines. Roma was without their most explosive player Justin kluivert, they’re starting goalkeeper Pau Lopez, and edin Dzeko had the flu starting the game Off the Bench. This forced Nicolo zaniolo a midfielder to play the striker position because of their lack of options. This was set up perfectly for Inter Milan to light them up. Giving everything going for Inter Milan this match should have been something they were able to deal with. Roma’s backup goalkeeper Antonio Mirante made a great save on a romelu Lukaku in the opening minutes of the game. The save gave Roma momentum going forward as there was a time-space of about 10 to 15 minutes in which inter barely touched the ball. They won The Possession battle and got onto the counter-attacked once in a while even though they were unable to break through it gave Roma certain confidence about them throughout the match. Near the end of the first half, Roma made two mistakes in their backline essentially giving Inter Milan two relatively easy opportunities to score they squandered both. Chris Smalling and the Roma backline would make it incredibly difficult to manage. Romelu Lukaku was almost a non-factor with the defense his former teammate supplied. It was a goalless first half in the second half it seemed more of the same. Inter Milan that came out a little bit more energized and created several more chances but Roma’s backline and goalkeeper were able to deal with it. Roma did enough to secure a massive point at the San Siro against Inter Milan. Even with all the missing pieces Roma went to the San Siro and escaped with a point. Roma was short-handed and still managed themselves away from home against the best team in Italy in a 0-0 draw on Friday night to kick us off into the weekend. After a wasteful performance from Inter Milan. Had Roma been fully healthy they very well could have come away with all three points and what was an outstanding performance collectively from the Roman club.
Atalanta 3 Hellas Verona 2FT
We would be treated to a very exciting and dramatic matchup in Bergamo on Saturday night. Atalanta who has its eyes on Champions League football still is desperately trying to get back into it. In the long run, it will probably fall short but they still have that mentality to go out every week and try to deliver. Atalanta took the entire league by storm last season when they miraculously finished in third place qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history. It was absolutely incredible and they have done reasonably well this year considering how tough it is to maintain that level especially when you are a small team. They were the feel-good story of last season they hosted this year’s underdogs Hellas Verona. They are a team that has bounced back and forth between Serie A and Serie B. There were very little expectations on a team that just was promoted from the second division. They started quite poorly but eventually started grabbing some form as they somehow found a way into the top 10 in Italy they have struggled the last couple of games but it still has been an incredible display from a team that had little expectation. Two sets of underdogs going head-to-head it was a fun and exciting match-up that had some controversy as a typically does. Verona was the better team for the good portion of the first half they provided a spark that Atalanta wasn’t expecting. Defensively Atalanta was embarrassing. Hellas Verona took advantage of those gaps early as a Di Carmine buried the ball into the back of the net to give Verona the 1-0 lead. It was very controversial because there was confusion in the throwing and two balls were in the Run of play at the same time. Despite this Atalanta fell asleep on the attack and ended up conceding. Despite the circumstances, they would only have themselves to blame. Verona was the much better team in the first half but Atalanta would find a way back into it. Ruslan Malinovskiy hit a rocket through the roof of the net to bring Atalanta level just shortly before the first half concluded. An outrageous strike from distance no chance to save it as Atalanta scored a goal that they probably didn’t deserve. Early in the second half, we saw one of the most impressive goals of the weekend in regards to team chemistry. There were great communication and fluidity between passes that ended up leaving Goldini with too much to deal with as Verona score a very easy tap in on the break giving Verona to 2-1 lead as Di Carmine scored his second. Not being at their best Atalanta managed to get themselves back into the game again. Atalanta won a penalty on a tackle that took place inside the box. Luis Muriel stepped up for Atalanta he was cool calm and collected as he equalized for Atalanta. Atalanta was down 1-0 and 2-1 in this game and they found their way back into it again. There was late drama with 5 minutes ago Verona was reduced to 10 men after a red card was issued to Dawidowicz with just five minutes ago. It appeared we were heading for split points in Bergamo but we would have some late drama in the last moment of stoppage time Atalanta came back and delivered a gut-punch at the death. As Berat Djimsiti delivered a goal in the last minute of stoppage time to secure a massive Three Points for Atalanta in an absolutely thrilling Affair. Atalanta continues to find ways to pick up points without Duvan Zapata their best player who continues to be out. Atalanta overcomes adversity as they fight back twice to pick up a massive three points that will only Enrich their Ambitions for European football yet again next season.
Everything Roma 