Serie A Roundup, Matchday 32
The 32nd round of games in the 2023/24 Serie A season featured exciting matches, unexpected outcomes, and impressive displays. Here is a recap of the weekend’s games.
Lazio 4-1 Salernitana
Lazio secured only their third victory in nine games by defeating last-placed Salernitana 4-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A, propelling them into the top seven. The home team controlled the game in the later stages and sealed the win with a fourth goal from substitute Gustav Isaksen, marking his first goal since January. This additional goal was a bonus for Lazio, while Salernitana, who are now 12 points away from safety and have the worst defensive record in the league, seem highly likely to face relegation.
Lecce 1-0 Empoli
Lecce secured a crucial victory in a Serie A relegation match with a last-minute goal from Nicola Sansone, earning their second win at Stadio Via del Mare this year. This win prevented Empoli from capitalizing on their previous victory and left them just 1 point above the relegation zone. On the other hand, Lecce moved further away from relegation, now 5 points ahead of 18th-placed Frosinone.
Torino 0-0 Juventus
Juventus fell further behind AC Milan in the Serie A standings after being held to a 0-0 draw by Torino in the Derby della Mole. This result extended Juventus’ unbeaten streak against Torino to 18 matches. The match ended without any further goals, dealing a blow to Torino’s chances of qualifying for European competition next season as they now sit 6 points behind sixth-placed Atalanta. Juventus, on the other hand, maintain an eight-point lead in the top four but are struggling for form, having scored only one goal in their last four league games.
Bologna 0-0 Monza
Bologna was unable to defeat a determined Monza team, resulting in the Rossoblù’s hopes of securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League taking another hit after two consecutive goalless draws. Despite Bologna’s efforts to score, they struggled to break down their resilient opponents, with Orsolini being the only player who had some success in getting past his marker. While Bologna remains in the top four, Roma is closing in on them, putting their fourth-place position in jeopardy. On the other hand, Monza missed an opportunity to climb into the top half of the table.
Napoli 2-2 Frosinone
On loan from Napoli, Walid Cheddira scored two goals to deal a significant blow to his team’s chances of securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League. Frosinone drew 2-2 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Demba Seck missing a potential winning opportunity by trying to chest the ball into the net instead of using his head. Even with Mário Rui receiving a red card towards the end of the game for fouling Seck, Frosinone couldn’t secure a victory and had to settle for a draw, leaving them in the bottom three with six matches left. Napoli, on the other hand, continued their disappointing season with just one win in six games, placing them in eighth position.
Sassuolo 3-3 AC Milan
Sassuolo from Italy’s Serie A surrendered a two-goal lead for the second consecutive round, resulting in a thrilling 3-3 draw against AC Milan at the Mapei Stadium. Milan’s late comeback extended their unbeaten streak at the stadium to eight games. Despite Sassuolo visibly struggling in the spring heat, Milan appeared to equalize after Chukwueze scored a fantastic goal, only for VAR to disallow it for offside. This signaled Sassuolo to defend their lead, but they failed to clear a corner, allowing Noah Okafor to score shortly after coming on for Yacine Adli. Sassuolo managed to hold on for a draw but remain below the relegation line with only six matches left in the season.
Udinese – AS Roma (Abandoned)
During a Serie A match between AS Roma and Udinese, defender Evan Ndicka collapsed on the field and had to be stretchered off, causing the match to be abandoned. The Ivory Coast center-back fell backwards onto the pitch 18 minutes before the end of the game, visibly in pain but conscious. Ndicka has been released from the hospital and will undergo further tests in Rome following the incident.
Inter 2-2 Cagliari
Inter Milan were unable to secure a win as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Cagliari, maintaining their 14-point lead over AC Milan in the Serie A standings with six games remaining. Cagliari had a chance to secure a victory in the 95th minute, but Viola’s header narrowly missed the target. Despite the draw, Inter still have the opportunity to clinch the title in the upcoming Milan Derby. Cagliari’s recent form has seen them lose just one of their last eight matches, helping them maintain a safe distance from the relegation zone.
Fiorentina 1-1 Genoa
Genoa initially took the lead with a penalty kick but had another penalty decision overturned, preventing them from securing their first head-to-head victory at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since Serie A introduced the three points-per-win rule. The referee initially awarded Genoa another penalty late in the game, believing Mateo Retegui was fouled by Michael Kayode, but after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor, the decision was reversed. Genoa now have to focus on an important upcoming match, while Fiorentina will be disappointed at missing out on a significant result.
Atalanta 2-2 Verona
Verona moved out of the Serie A relegation zone and broke their three-game losing streak against Atalanta with an impressive comeback from a two-goal deficit to secure a draw at the Gewiss Stadium. Failing to reclaim their advantage, Atalanta now have only one victory in their last six Serie A matches and are fighting to stay in contention for a top-four finish. Despite initially appearing defeated, Verona displayed resilience and turned the match around with a strong second-half performance. With just two losses in their last six games, Marco Baroni’s team has a chance to avoid relegation.
