As another week of football has passed by in Serie A, so it has in other leagues around the globe where the peninsula’s exports continue to showcase their talents.
Let’s take a look at how those Italians abroad fared in the latest action for their respective clubs.
France – Ligue 1
Salvatore Sirigu, Paris Saint-Germain
Sirigu was an absolute giant between the sticks as Les Parisiens downed fierce rivals Marseille 2-0 in Le Classique on Sunday evening. The former Palermo stopper highlighted his day with a stunning flying parry on a vicious volley by Rod Fanni to keep his side in front late on, making a total of seven saves through the 90 minutes from all angles to earn a thoroughly deserved clean sheet.
Marco Verratti, Paris Saint-Germain
The €12 million summer purchase from Pescara started against Marseille in his usual deep-lying playmaker role, going 76 minutes before making way for Clement Chantome. Verratti was forced into a more defensive performance than usual as PSG took a balanced approach to the match tactically, but coped well, contributing three tackles whilst linking well with former Serie A stars Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi with accurate distribution.
Thiago Motta, Paris Saint-Germain
The Brazilian-born oriundo missed out once again as he continues to rehabilitate an injury picked up in the French capital club’s January 27 matchup with Lille.
England -Premier League
Davide Santon, Newcastle United
After being left out of Toon’s squad to face Metalist Kharkiv in the Europa League midweek, Santon returned to the starting lineup on Sunday as Newcastle defeated Southampton 4-2 at St James’ Park. The Italy international turned in an industrious performance at both ends of the pitch, making an assist of sorts when his 79th minute cross was cleared off of Jos Hooiveld by Daniel Fox and into the back of the net for an own goal.
Fabio Borini, Liverpool
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed that the 21 year-old bomber will miss the remainder of the campaign after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the Reds’ 5-0 thrashing of Swansea last week. Borini’s agent responded to reported interest from Fiorentina in the past few days by declaring that his client is happy in England despite a trying first campaign in the Premier League and would like to stay with his current club.
England – League Championship
Davide Petrucci, Peterborough United
Petrucci slotted into the starting eleven once again after missing out for Posh the previous week with an injury, but was forced from the pitch after only 42 minutes with a relapse as Peterborough went on to lost 1-0 to Bolton Wanderers.
Marco Cassetti, Watford
The Hornets’ resident Italian continued his remarkable display of longevity and fitness on the year in a 2-1 win over Derby County at Vicarage Road, going the distance at right-back in his 26th start of the season for Gianfranco Zola’s side.
Fernando Forestieri, Watford
Forestieri was on the bench for Watford’s victory over Derby County, but failed to make an appearance after being handed a full 90 minutes the prior match against Ipswich Town.
Spain – La Liga
Samuele Longo, Espanyol
The Inter-owned 21 year-old came off the bench on 51 minutes to replace Juan Forlin as the Periquitos fell 1-0 to Atletico Madrid on Sunday, failing to make much of an impact on the game and having only 11 touches in 39 minutes.
Germany – Bundesliga
Cristian Molinaro, Stuttgart
Molinaro was an unused substitute midweek as Stuttgart dumped Genk out of the Europa League on the road, but went start to finish in the Swabians’ 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Nurnberg at the weekend in his return to the first eleven after an injury.
Federico Macheda, Stuttgart
Manchester United owned Macheda twice made late cameos for Stuttgart against Genk and Nurnberg this week, totaling 13 minutes between the two appearances but not impacting the outcome of either match.
Netherlands – Eredivisie
Graziano Pelle, Feyenoord
Pelle proved the hero for Feyenoord in the Rotterdam club’s 2-1 victory against fellow giants PSV, turning a series of defenders on the edge of the area before curling a precise low strike into the bottom left corner on 68 minutes to net the winner. The goal was the Italian’s 16th of the Eredivisie campaign, good for third in the Dutch top flight.
Greece – Super League
Leandro Greco, Olympiakos
Greco played the opening 45 minutes before being substituted at halftime as Olympiakos crashed out of the Europa League with a 1-0 defeat to Levante midweek, and made just a two minute cameo for the Greek giants at the weekend in a 2-1 win over Aris Thessaloniki as he struggles to recover full match fitness.
Australia – A-League
Alessandro Del Piero, Sydney FC
The Juventus and Italy legend went the distance for the Sky Blues as they fell 3-1 to Melbourne Heart on Sunday, failing to get on the scoresheet in a tough encounter for Frank Farina’s men. Del Piero announced during the week that he would be extending his stay in Australia, choosing to remain with his current club for next season.
Iacopo La Rocca, Western Sydney FC
Lazio youth product La Rocca started in central defence as Western Sydney FC downed Perth Glory 1-0, turning in a stellar performance in aiding his side to a shutout win.
You can follow Ian Capasso on Twitter: @capasso10
