Serie A Roundup, Matchday 30
The 30th round of games in the 2023/24 Serie A season featured exciting matches, unexpected outcomes, and notable performances. Here is a recap of the weekend’s games.
Napoli 0-3 Atalanta
Atalanta BC secured a 3-0 victory over SSC Napoli in Serie A after benefiting from defensive mistakes made by Napoli. This win marked Atalanta’s first victory over Napoli since December 2021 and extended their lead over their European rivals in sixth place to four points. Atalanta effectively capitalized on their opportunities and effectively balanced their defensive and offensive strategies to achieve their first Serie A win since mid-February. Napoli’s positive momentum under new manager Calzona, which included a six-match unbeaten streak, was abruptly halted by Atalanta. As a result, Napoli now faces a challenging task in securing a spot in European competitions for the upcoming season.
Torino 1-0 Monza
Torino moved ahead of Monza in the Serie A standings by defeating them 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, extending their unbeaten streak to four games, with 2 wins and 2 draws. Monza faced a tougher challenge when Pessina received a second yellow card for fouling Ricci with less than 20 minutes left in the match. This allowed Torino to comfortably secure a 1-0 victory and move up to ninth place in the Serie A standings, while Monza dropped to 11th place, diminishing their chances of qualifying for European competitions.
Genoa 1-1 Frosinone
Genoa and Frosinone had a fast-paced 1-1 draw at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. The result meant that Frosinone continued their unbeaten streak against Genoa to three games, with two wins in their favor. This draw places Frosinone in 17th position, with only goal difference separating them from Empoli in 18th. Despite this, Frosinone’s winless streak extends to nine games, with three draws and six losses. On the other hand, Genoa remains 10 points clear of the bottom, but they should be worried about their own poor form, as they are now winless in four games, with two draws and two losses.
Lazio 1-0 Juventus
Igor Tudor’s debut as Lazio’s coach resulted in a victory over his former team Juventus, breaking a streak of three consecutive losses at home with a 1-0 win. The winning goal was scored by Adam Marušić in the last minute of the game. Lazio struggled to create scoring opportunities throughout the match, but everything changed when Marušić headed in a cross from Matteo Guendouzi. This win marked Juventus’ fourth consecutive away match without a victory, drawing 1 and losing 3 and Lazio’s second win in their last 10 encounters against Juventus in all competitions.
Fiorentina 1-2 AC Milan
AC Milan won their sixth consecutive game by defeating Fiorentina 2-1 in Serie A, putting an end to the hosts’ unbeaten streak. Despite the tough victory at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Milan continued their trend of scoring in every away league match this season. However, they are still 14 points behind Inter at the top of the table. Fiorentina, on the other hand, remain in 10th place after the loss and their best chance for European competition next season seems to be through the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Bologna 3-0 Salernitana
Bologna achieved a historic feat by defeating Salernitana again in Serie A with a 3-0 win at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. This victory strengthened their quest for direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League. On the other hand, Salernitana’s poor performance has left them 11 points away from safety, making their relegation from the top-flight seem more likely each week. Bologna, on the other hand, extended their lead to five points in the race for the top-four, bringing them closer to their dream of competing in Europe’s elite competition.
Sassuolo 1-1 Udinese
Florian Thauvin scored a goal to help Udinese recover from a one-goal deficit and secure a draw against Serie A relegation rivals Sassuolo. This match marked the third consecutive draw between the two teams. Sassuolo may view the result positively as they continue their battle against relegation, having earned four points in four matches since Ballardini took over in early March. Udinese, managed by Gabriele Cioffi, also gained a point, keeping them three points clear of the relegation zone.
Cagliari 1-1 Verona
Ibrahim Sulemana came on as a substitute and prevented Hellas Verona from securing their third win in four Serie A matches, as Cagliari’s unbeaten streak at home extended to three games with a 1-1 draw. Verona suffered from a costly VAR decision, allowing Cagliari to equalize 15 minutes before the end of the match. Sulemana, who had just entered the game, scored a goal from about 25 yards out, leading to jubilant celebrations at the Sardegna Arena. In the final moments, Zito Luvumbo’s attempt was saved by Verona’s goalkeeper, maintaining the level score. This draw doesn’t significantly impact either team in the relegation battle, as both are only two points ahead of 17th-placed Frosinone.
Lecce 0-0 AS Roma
Leece were disappointed after missing numerous opportunities in a goalless draw with Roma, despite their previous struggles against the strong opponent. The match ended in a tie, with Roma somewhat lucky to secure a point. Leece’s streak of scoring in 11 straight games was broken, but their new head coach Gotti has managed one win and a draw in his first two matches at the helm.
Inter 2-0 Empoli
Inter Milan continued their march towards the Serie A title by defeating Empoli 2-0, extending their unbeaten streak to 24 league matches. Empoli tried to push for an equalizer in the final 10 minutes, but Inter capitalized on the space left behind to score a crucial second goal. Denzel Dumfries set up Alexis Sánchez for his second league goal of the season. With this win, Inter increased their lead at the top of the table to 14 points, while Empoli’s fourth consecutive loss without scoring leaves them in a precarious position above the relegation zone.
