Serie A Roundup, Matchday 27
The 27th set of matches in the 2023/24 Serie A season showcased thrilling games, surprising results, and notable performances. Here is a summary of the weekend’s matches.
Lazio 0-1 AC Milan
AC Milan secured a last-minute victory against SS Lazio in a tense match that saw Lazio finish with only eight players. Stefano Pioli’s team emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline, breaking a streak of three winless games. This win marked a second victory over Lazio in the league this season for Milan, putting pressure on second-placed Juventus who are just one point ahead. Lazio suffered a tough loss, finishing the game with eight men after Adam Marušić and Matteo Guendouzi were sent off. This defeat at home was only their third in 16 competitive matches with 11 wins and 2 draws.
Udinese 1-1 Salernitana
The struggling US Salernitana managed to secure a draw against Udinese at Stadio Friuli, further highlighting Udinese’s poor home form with only one win in 14 league games. This result marked Liverani’s first point as Salernitana’s coach, breaking a streak of three consecutive Serie A losses. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Udinese’s coach Gabriele Cioffi may be disappointed with the missed opportunity to claim a win, especially after a recent 2-0 loss to Genoa, which he described as the worst match of his managerial career. The draw leaves Udinese just a point above the relegation zone.
AC Monza 1-4 AS Roma
AS Roma continued their undefeated streak against AC Monza, making it four matches in a row with a 4-1 victory at the Stadio Brianteo. This win brings Roma within four points of the final UEFA Champions League qualification spot, currently held by Bologna. Monza still has a chance to qualify for their first-ever European appearance, but they must recover quickly in their upcoming match against Genoa.
Torino 0-0 Fiorentina
Torino extended their streak of not losing at home against Fiorentina in Serie A to six matches by playing to a 0-0 draw in Turin, even though they were reduced to 10 players. The determined home team settled for a draw, while Vincenzo Italiano will be frustrated by another lackluster performance from his team on the road, as Fiorentina continues to struggle to secure wins away from home in 2024. Ultimately, the draw does not benefit either team in their quest to secure European spots for the next season.
Verona 1-0 Sassuolo
Karol Świderski scored a late goal to help Hellas Verona secure a crucial 1-0 win over US Sassuolo at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi, pushing them above the relegation zone. Sassuolo, missing Berardi, struggled to equalize and suffered their seventh loss in eight games. Their upcoming match against Frosinone is now more significant. Verona will face US Lecce, Cagliari, and Genoa in their next four matches, all teams in the lower half of the league. This victory could be the spark they need to start a positive streak.
Frosinone 1-1 Lecce
Nikola Krstović’s penalty secured a 1-1 draw for US Lecce against Serie A relegation rivals Frosinone, extending their unbeaten streak against them to nine matches. Frosinone will be disappointed after surrendering their lead, leaving them with only five points from 11 league games and just one point above the relegation zone. Krstović’s penalty ended Lecce’s three-game losing streak in Serie A, but Roberto D’Aversa will be worried about his team’s away form, as they are yet to win on the road this season.
Empoli 0-1 Cagliari
Cagliari secured a 1-0 win against Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani, earning their first away victory in Serie A this season. The Rossoblù defended well against Empoli’s attacks and managed to climb to 18th place in the league table, tying with Hellas Verona. On the other hand, Empoli dropped to 14th place and their lead over the bottom three teams decreased to just two points.
Atalanta 1-2 Bologna
Thiago Motta’s Bologna FC 1909 team achieved their sixth consecutive victory in Serie A, a feat not seen since 1967. They secured a remarkable 2-1 win over Atalanta BC at the Gewiss Stadium after coming from behind, solidifying their position in the top four. This crucial win extended Bologna’s lead over their opponents to five points. However, both teams face tough upcoming matches, Bologna will host league leaders Inter, while Atalanta will travel to Turin to take on second-place Juventus.
Napoli 2-1 Juventus
Giacomo Raspadori’s last-minute goal helped SSC Napoli secure a 2-1 Serie A victory over Juventus at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, extending their unbeaten streak at home to six games. This win propelled Napoli to seventh place in the standings, while Juventus’ hopes of winning the title are now in ruins as they trail Inter Milan by 15 points.
Inter 2-1 Genoa
Inter Milan took a significant step towards winning the Serie A title by defeating Genoa 2-1 at the San Siro, extending their unbeaten streak in the league to 21 matches. Despite Genoa’s strong attacking efforts and possession in Inter’s territory, the league leaders demonstrated their ability to defend a narrow lead and secure the win. The victory further solidifies Inter’s position at the top of the table, with Martinez likely to lift the Scudetto soon. Genoa, on the other hand, can take pride in their resilient performance after falling behind by two goals, and their recent strong form has alleviated any concerns about relegation.
