The final round of Serie A fixtures was one of the most entertaining and enthralling weeks we have seen this season.
The final Champions League place was decided as Napoli fell to a 4-2 defeat against Lazio at the Stadio San Paolo, in a game which had absolutely everything you could want from a football match.
Fiorentina claimed all three points against Chievo which saw them leapfrog the Partenopei and secure a fourth place finish.
Meanwhile, Roma slumped to a loss against Palermo and Juventus could not overcome a Luca Toni inspired Hellas Verona as the two sides shared the points at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.
The final Serie A Team of the Week for this season will see an attacking 4-3-3 formation deployed.
Alberto Pomini – Sassuolo
The 34-year-old goalkeeper made what was only his fourth Serie A appearance of this season in the final round of fixtures and he did a fine job. Pomini had a fantastic evening, making several brilliant saves with the most vital coming as he denied Diego Laxalt just moments after the Neroverdi had missed a penalty and the momentum looked to be swinging in the direction of Genoa.
Bruno Peres – Torino (6 Team of the Week appearances)
The Brazilian’s season was nicely summed up in his final day performance, as he consistently caused problems for Cesena with his marauding runs forward down the right flank. He and Matteo Darmian add great balance and provide Toro with another dimension going forward.
Davide Astori – Roma
Though the Giallorossi slumped to a 2-1 defeat to an out-of-form Palermo side, the promising Italian defender carried himself in an impressive manner. His performance was quite an apt end to his season as it was almost his campaign in microcosm, calm and composed in possession and never really looked overly troubled despite the result.
Stefan Savic – Fiorentina (2 apps)
The former Manchester City defender was dominant in the air at both ends of the field. It’s hard to recall an aerial duel the Montenegrin didn’t win, he spent his evening heading crosses clear at one end and flicking them on at the other to create chances for his team.
Matteo Darmian – Torino (3 apps)
Much like the aforementioned Bruno Peres, the Italian international was in the mood to excite in what could prove to be his final game in a Granata shirt. He attacked with his usual troubling demeanour and came close to adding a second for his side while the score was 1-0.
Antonio Nocerino – Parma (2 apps)
The former Juventus and AC Milan midfielder has been a rare bright spark in this Parma team all season long, and this weekend was no different as he put in a monumental shift as the Gialloblu drew with Sampdoria. Nocerino never stopped running all game and played a part in everything the Crociati did.
Giacomo Bonaventura – AC Milan (3 apps)
Going back to the club he made his name at, Bonaventura was received warmly by the Atalanta supporters and he showed them exactly what they were missing this season as his two goals helped secure the three points for the Rossoneri, after they found themselves a goal behind early on. The man affectionately known as Jack in Bergamo returned to the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia and departed by shaking hands with and high-fiveing members of the Curva Nord, despite being responsible for La Dea’s defeat.
Antonio Candreva – Lazio (3 apps)
The Italian once again proved to be one of Serie A’s most consistently impressive performers as he played a crucial role in his side’s defeat of Napoli which secured Champions League football for the Biancocelesti. He will be happy to have gotten on the scoresheet as well as he added his side’s second goal on a memorable night.
Simone Zaza – Sassuolo (3 apps)
The Italian international ended a good season with a bit of a bittersweet taste, on a personal level at least. He played a huge part in an impressive win for the Neroverdi as he bagged a brace, but it could have been so much sweeter had he not missed a penalty which would have seen him take home the match ball.
Mauro Icardi – Inter (2 apps)
The Argentine striker got his name on the scoresheet twice as he left it late to draw level with Luca Toni in the Capocannoniere race, meaning both strikers finished the season with 22 goals in Serie A. It perhaps could have been better for Icardi had he not selflessly assisted Rodrigo Palacio’s opener when he might have shot himself.
Gonzalo Higuain – Napoli (4 apps)
The 27-year-old Argentine striker will be facing a few sleepless nights in the aftermath of Napoli’s defeat to Lazio, as he missed a penalty which would have put the Partenopei 3-2 ahead and could potentially have sent them in to next season’s Champions League. However, were it not for his two goals the San Paolo side would never have been within touching distance of Lazio, as he dragged them back from 2-0 behind to be on level terms.
