A weekend full of surprises in Serie A. The heavy defeat suffered by José Mourinho's Roma against Andrea Sottil's Udinese, the resounding victories of AC Milan and Napoli over Inter and Lazio: let's see what happened.
MATCH OF THE WEEK - Madonnina's Derby
It was the most awaited match of the weekend and it did not fail to meet expectations.
It was a very fun game, with many chances, with Mike Maignan being the absolute protagonist, with Rafael Leao who proved for the umpteenth time that when he's in the zone, it is difficult for anyone to counter him and prevent him from scoring. A very tense atmosphere, the teams were nervous, because there was so much at stake. Inter showed the now usual defensive fragility: between Lazio and MIlan they've conceded 6 goals in two games, a poor number for a team that can count on Milan Skriniar, Stefan De Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni in defence.
The match was won by Milan, in a comeback, after Marcelo Brozovic's goal in the 21st minute, thanks to Leao's brace and Olivier Giroud's goal, who always scores on the day of a big match. A lot of work to do for Simone Inzaghi and his team, because every defeat weighs and the defeat in a derby weighs even more.
Stefano Pioli can smile, because he managed to take his team to a new dimension. The squad is aware, continuous, solid, convinced of its own means and always dangerous. It's a difficult team to beat for everyone.
SURPRISE OF THE WEEK - Udinese thrash Roma
A truly unexpected setback. No Roma fan and no sportsman expected that Udinese could easily win against the team coached by Jose Mourinho. A real blackout for Lorenzo Pellegrini and his companions. A bad evening, many individual errors, little concentration in the key moments of the match and the Friulian team won easily, scoring 4 goals, even creating few chances but with great ruthlessness.
The game was immediately uphill for Mourinho and his team, since not even after 5 minutes of play Rick Karsdorp decided to give his opponents a goal, with a chest pass aimed at Rui Patricio, whom Destiny Udogie sent to the net by shooting on the fly. An error that is rarely seen at these levels, but the game was immediately uphill and then fighting back was difficult. In the second half came the goal of two to zero, with a gross error committed by the Giallorossi number one, Rui Patricio, who conceded with a shot that could have been saved without any problem.
Surely many were the fault of Tammy Abraham and his companions (the Englishman in particular so far has appeared rather exhausted and tired), but the right merits must also be given to Sottil and his men, who after beating Fiorentina also beat the Giallorossi, showing an important continuity of performance, like a top team.
TEAM PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK - Napoli against Lazio
A real football lesson. Maurizio Sarri's Lazio was completely outclassed by Luciano Spalletti's Napoli, much more than what the final score of the match can actually tell.
Victor Osimhen and his teammates shot 19 times (and 7 towards the goal protected by Ivan Provedel), also hitting the post twice, while Ciro Immobile and his team only shot 8 times throughout the game (twice on goal). Domination was also in possession of the ball, 62% in favor of Napoli: Spalletti's team dominated and controlled the pace of the match from start to finish, despite falling behind after 4 minutes thanks to a fine goal scored by Mattia Zaccagni.
Shortly afterwards, Napoli's comeback started again and they began to push on the accelerator as if there were 5 minutes left in the game. A continuous siege, with Provedel called to make big saves to avoid a bigger result.
If the match had ended with a 3 or 4 goal difference in favor of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, no one could have had anything to say, despite the bad injury suffered by Hirving Lozano, forced to leave at the end of the first half. Matteo Politano's entry into the field was excellent, Sarri tried in every way to correct the course of the match, but there was nothing to be done: too much Napoli, too much quality, too high a pace.
Lazio had to raise the white flag and Immobile left the field defeated along with his teammates. Napoli, however, sent a good signal to the championship.
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK - Mike Maignan
There is little left to say about this incredible goalkeeper. Without a doubt the best in the Italian league, the Frenchman is a real guarantee for Stefano Pioli.
The Rossoneri always concede something to their opponents, but the surprising thing is the difficulty that the teams experience in scoring goals against Pioli's men. The merit is above all belongs to the French goalkeeper: Maignan saves everything. Even in the last league match, the derby against Simone Inzaghi's Inter, the former Lille goalkeeper was the best of his team. High shots, low shots, penalty kicks, free kicks. No matter what kind of shot it is, no matter from what distance, most of the time Maignan saves and protects Milan's goal.
A purchase perhaps underestimated last summer, but the results came with the Scudetto and continue to arrive game after game, with the French goalkeeper who has now accustomed his fans to sleep peacefully, because he is always there.
