Serie A Roundup, Matchday 33
The 33rd set of matches in the 2023/24 Serie A season showcased thrilling games, surprising results, and remarkable performances. Here is a summary of the weekend’s matches.
Genoa 0-1 Lazio
Lazio moved closer to securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League in Serie A by defeating Genoa 1-0, which allowed them to surpass Napoli and move into seventh place. Genoa, who had been on a four-match unbeaten streak, made substitutions in an attempt to equalize but were unsuccessful. They are now likely to finish around 12th place in the league.
Cagliari 2-2 Juventus
Juventus made a strong comeback in the second half to salvage a 2-2 draw against Cagliari, after initially being two goals behind. Claudio Ranieri’s team missed the opportunity to move seven points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Despite showing resilience in their comeback, Juventus continued their poor form on the road with a winless streak of six matches, their longest since 2010.
Although Juve have only won two of their last 12 league games, their significant lead over other teams ensures their place in the Champions League is almost guaranteed. On the other hand, Cagliari has lost just one of their last nine matches and is getting closer to securing their survival, despite a disappointing collapse in this game.
Empoli 1-0 Napoli
Empoli, who are currently struggling in Serie A, extended their lead over the relegation zone to three points with a 1-0 win against Napoli. This victory marked their first back-to-back home league wins of the season under the guidance of Davide Nicola. Despite Napoli’s increased efforts in the second half, they were unable to score an equalizer as Empoli successfully kept a clean sheet after nine games. With this defeat, Napoli finds themselves in eighth place, having won only one of their last seven matches across all competitions, and suffering a 1-0 loss to Empoli for the second time this season.
Verona 1-0 Udinese
Hellas Verona scored a late winning goal against Udinese to break a streak of four games without a win in Serie A. The victory came in a crucial match between two teams struggling to avoid relegation. This win could prove crucial in the season’s final standings, as Verona now climb to 15th place and hold a three-point lead over the relegation places. Meanwhile, Udinese finds themselves in a precarious position in 17th, just above the relegation zone due to a better goal difference.
Sassuolo 0-3 Lecce
Luca Gotti’s team, US Lecce, increased their lead over the Serie A relegation zone to seven points with a convincing 3-0 victory against US Sassuolo. This win puts Sassuolo in a difficult position to avoid relegation, as they may need a record-low number of points to stay in the league. On the other hand, Lecce can cautiously start planning for next season, as they are likely to remain in the top flight for the 2024/25 season unless there is a major setback.
Torino 0-0 Frosinone
Torino achieved their 17th clean sheet of the Serie A season but were unable to secure a win against struggling Frosinone, resulting in a goalless draw. Frosinone missed an opportunity to move out of the relegation zone as they extended their winless streak to 12 matches. Both teams made proactive substitutions in an attempt to improve the quality of the game, but it became apparent that a special moment was needed to break the deadlock.
However, that moment never materialized, leading to Torino’s 13th draw of the season, leaving them six points behind the top seven teams. Frosinone continued their poor away form in Serie A, remaining without a win on the road for the entire season, which could prove costly as they are still stuck in the relegation zone, level on points with Udinese in 17th place.
Salernitana 0-2 Fiorentina
Fiorentina had to put in a lot of effort against a determined Salernitana team, but managed to secure a victory with late goals from Christian Kouamé and Jonathan Ikoné. This win enhances Fiorentina’s chances of qualifying for European competitions, while Salernitana, who are at the bottom of the Serie A table. Despite the victory, Salernitana still trail Udinese by 13 points in the 17th position, and their relegation could be confirmed in the upcoming week. On the other hand, Fiorentina now have 47 points and are five points behind Lazio in sixth place, with a game in hand, as they aim to secure a spot in European competitions under the guidance of Vincenzo Italiano.
Monza 1-2 Atalanta
Atalanta climbed into the top six of Serie A with a 2-1 victory over Monza, a team also from Lombardy. This defeat marked Monza’s fourth consecutive winless game. Atalanta seemed to be comfortably heading towards victory with a two-goal lead, but Monza surprised them with a goal from Daniel Maldini in the final 15 minutes. Despite this late goal, Monza couldn’t gather enough momentum to equalize, and Atalanta held on for the win. This victory keeps Atalanta in the running for a spot in the Champions League, as the Italian league secured a fifth place for next season’s competition. On the other hand, Monza remains in mid-table after failing to win any of their last four matches.
AS Roma 1-3 Bologna
Bologna put on a strong performance on the road to defeat AS Roma 3-1, marking the first time they have achieved a Serie A double over the Giallorossi since the 1966/67 season. Despite Roma’s initial resurgence, Alexis Saelemaekers’ composed finish dashed their hopes, with Santiago Castro’s disallowed goal failing to deter Bologna’s momentum as they secured a two-goal lead and solidified their hold on third place, leaving Roma trailing by seven points in fourth.
AC Milan 1-2 Inter
Inter Milan won the Serie A title in a historic match against AC Milan, with goals from Acerbi and Thuram securing a 2-1 victory. The win made them the joint-earliest team to clinch the title. Despite a late goal from Tomori for AC Milan, Inter held on to win their 20th Serie A title and extend their unbeaten league run to 27 matches. The match was marred by late fighting that led to multiple players being dismissed. AC Milan will be looking to bounce back from their sixth consecutive defeat in the Milan derby when they face Juventus next.
