Despite dropping points in the week’s opening fixture at Bologna, Juventus remain at Serie A’s summit after AC Milan held Napoli to a 1-1 draw in the round’s biggest fixture on Monday evening.
The Old Lady weren’t quite at the races as they kicked things off earlier than usual due to their Champions League commitments, and Massimiliano Allegri will be hoping his side can return to their usual ways when they welcome Bayern Munich to the Juventus Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Having chosen to rest Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado for the trip to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, Allegri was forced to introduce them in the second half as the Bianconeri looked blunt in attack despite dominating possession. Though they livened things up somewhat, the duo failed to turn the game in Juve’s favour as a determined Rossoblu held out for a point.
Napoli passed up the chance to leapfrog Juventus at the top when they drew 1-1 with Milan at the Stadio San Paolo. A packed crowd saw the hosts start in ominous fashion as they looked hungry to claim all three points.
The first half was lively, energetic, and should have produced more goals, but as half time approached the deadlock was yet to be broken. Lorenzo Insigne eventually gave them the lead with 39 minutes on the clock, however, Giacomo Bonaventura snuck in at the back post to draw the Rossoneri level before the break.
Though the second half was considerably quieter than the first, the hosts still had chances to clinch the victory, most notably as Gonzalo Higuain, Dries Mertens and Omar El Kaddouri could not convert when they perhaps should have, meaning the Partenopei remain two points behind the reigning Scudetto holders in second.
Third-placed Fiorentina ensured they held onto the final Champions League spot for another week at least with a 3-2 win away to Atalanta. Matias Fernandez put La Viola ahead on 67 minutes and the score remained that way until the final ten minutes before the real action began.
Cristian Tello celebrated a first Serie A goal to double Fiorentina’s lead, only for Andrea Conti to halve it three minutes later with his second professional goal. Nikola Kalinic then restored his side’s two-goal cushion before Mauricio Pinilla scored his first goal since returning from injury in the 90th minute.
The action was not quite finished just yet, however, as La Dea’s goalscoring full-back Conti was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Roma forgot their off-field troubles to record a resounding 5-0 win over Palermo, to seal what was, rather appropriately, their fifth consecutive win under Luciano Spalletti. Misfiring striker Edin Dzeko opened the scoring though he will likely remember the game for somehow managing to miss an open goal from within the six-yard box.
The second half saw the Rosanero floodgates open, allowing Seydou Keita, Mohamed Salah (2) and Dzeko again to complete the scoring. Salah scored an astounding goal from a seemingly impossible angle in what was the pick of the bunch.
Inter looked to get back on track as they beat Sampdoria 3-1 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Danilo D’Ambrosio, Miranda and Mauro Icardi were among the goals for the Biscione while a late Fabio Quagliarella strike proved to be little more than a consolation for the Blucerchiati. The result sees Roberto Mancini’s men keep within four points of third. Sampdoria, on the other hand, need to start finding results soon as they now sit just two points above the relegation zone.
Hellas Verona claimed bragging rights over Chievo in the Derby della Scala as they ran out 3-1 winners, thanks to goals from Luca Toni, Giampaolo Pazzini and Artur Ionita.
A Sergio Pellissier penalty had drawn the Flying Donkeys back within one goal in the 72nd minute after Vangelis Moras was sent off, only for Federico Spolli’s dismissal to level the playing field once more and thus allowed the Mastini to restore their two-goal lead in stoppage time.
Sassuolo ended their run of seven winless matches with a 3-2 defeat of Empoli in one of the most action-packed games this week. Simone Missiroli looked to have spoiled the Neroverdi’s chances as he picked up his second yellow card with just half an hour played. Eusebio Di Francesco’s woes grew when Piotr Zielinski gave the Azzurri the lead just four minutes later.
However, Lorenzo Tonelli then also saw red before Domenico Berardi levelled the scores two minutes later. A three-minute brace from Gregoire Defrel gave the hosts a comfortable lead, meaning Massimo Maccarone’s 70th-minute penalty was easily forgotten.
Genoa overtook Udinese and climbed to 14th place in the process after they came from behind to beat the Zebrette 2-1. Ali Adnan gave the Friuli outfit the lead in the first half before Alessio Cerci and Diego Laxalt turned things around in the second.
Veteran striker Antonio Di Natale passed up the opportunity to take home a point for Stefano Colantuono’s side as he saw his 90th-minute penalty saved by Mattia Perin.
Elsewhere, Torino and Carpi played out a scoreless draw at the Stadio Olimpico, while the same scoreline at the Stadio Matusa saw Frosinone edge closer to safety as they kept out a below par Lazio.
