The second half of this exciting Serie A season got underway this past weekend, with Napoli and Juventus both showing signs that they are set to pull away at the table’s summit.
Atalanta and Inter kicked off the weekend’s action at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, where the hosts can feel aggrieved to have only come away from the game with a solitary point. Two own goals from Jeison Murillo and Rafael Toloi respectively had the sides level at the break after La Dea had dominated the first half. Samir Handanovic earned the Biscione a point with one of the best performances of the campaign, pulling off some remarkable saves as the game progressed, including one incredible stop, in particular, to deny Luca Cigarini from close range.
Two own goals from Jeison Murillo and Rafael Toloi respectively had the sides level at the break after La Dea had dominated the first half. Samir Handanovic earned the Biscione a point with one of the best performances of the campaign, pulling off some remarkable saves as the game progressed, including one incredible stop, in particular, to deny Luca Cigarini from close range.
Ciro Immobile returned to the Stadio Olimpico to help Torino secure a 4-2 win over Frosinone in a thrilling encounter. A ninth-minute penalty presented the Italian with the perfect opportunity to mark his return with a goal, which he duly converted. Andrea Belotti scored twice for the Granata after Paolo Sammarco had levelled the scores, sending the hosts in at the break with a two-goal cushion. The Canarini pulled one back in the second half through Danilo Avelar, however, this proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Marco Benassi completing the scoring with eight minutes to play.
Andrea Belotti scored twice for the Granata after Paolo Sammarco had levelled the scores, sending the hosts in at the break with a two-goal cushion. The Canarini pulled one back in the second half through Danilo Avelar, however, this proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Marco Benassi completing the scoring with eight minutes to play.
Napoli overcame a potential banana skin in the form of Sassuolo with an impressive 3-1 win at the Stadio San Paolo, despite falling behind to a third-minute Diego Falcinelli penalty. Jose Callejon levelled the scores shortly after, before the runaway leader in the race to be crowned this year’s capocannoniere took centre stage, with Gonzalo Higuain bagging a brace to leave him on 20 Serie A goals in as many appearances this season.
On Sunday, Genoa recorded a resounding victory over Palermo at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris to get the day’s action underway, marking the first time this season they have won consecutive games in Serie A. Recent arrival Suso put the Grifone ahead with a delicate dink over Stefano Sorrentino, with Leonardo Pavoletti scoring twice as well as Tomas Rincon getting in on the action to secure a shock 4-0 win over the Sicilians.
Reigning Scudetto holders Juventus continued their recent resurgence with an emphatic 4-0 demolition of Udinese at the newly-renovated Stadio Friuli. Two goals from Paulo Dybala as well as a goal each for Sami Khedira and Alex Sandro gave the Old Lady a four-goal lead at the break, with the score remaining the same for the entirety of the second-half.
Luciano Spalletti’s return to Roma was not enough to inspire the Giallorossi to victory over the still winless Hellas Verona. Radja Nainggolan gave I Lupi the lead just before half-time, only to have a Giampaolo Pazzini spot-kick on the hour mark see the Mastini escape with a point.
Lazio fought back from two goals behind to snatch a 2-2 draw away to Bologna, with two goals in quick succession as the game neared its end. Emanuele Giaccherini and Mattia Destro had given the Rossoblu a comfortable margin in the first half, though goals from Antonio Candreva and Senad Lulic allowed the Biancocelesti to leave with Stadio Renato Dell’Ara with a point.
Struggling Carpi edged towards safety with a rather surprising 2-1 home defeat of Sampdoria. Lorenzo Lollo put the Biancorossi ahead before the half-hour mark, only to have his effort cancelled out by Joaquin Correa moments later as he drew the Blucerchiati back on level terms.
Just ten minutes into the second-half, Jerry Mbakogu scored what would prove to be the decisive goal for the hosts. Riccardo Gagliolo was dismissed late on for Carpi, but Fabrizio Castori’s men managed to hold on for the win.
Chievo and Empoli played out a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. Alberto Paloschi had the Flying Donkeys jumping for joy in the game’s early stages, though Lorenzo Tonelli equalised shortly after the break to ensure Marco Giampaolo’s side left Verona with a draw.
In the week’s final fixture, AC Milan recorded a huge win over high-flying Fiorentina, as Sinisa Mihajlovic guided the Rossoneri to a 2-0 win over La Viola amid speculation that he was set to be replaced at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza by Italian World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi. Carlos Bacca gave the Diavolo the lead in the first half before the returning Kevin-Prince Boateng sealed the points for Mihajlovic’s men over his former club.
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Source: forzaitalianfootball.com