Serie A Roundup, Matchday 36
The 36th round of games in the 2023/24 Serie A season featured exciting matches, unexpected outcomes, and standout performances. Here is a recap of the weekend’s games.
Frosinone 0-5 Inter
Inter, the champions, extended their Serie A points total to 92 by securing their sixth consecutive victory over Frosinone at the Stadio Benito Stirpe. Frosinone, who are facing relegation, will now focus on their upcoming match against midtable AC Monza as they seek their first away league win of the season. They will then return home for a crucial match against Udinese, where they will aim to improve their poor record of just two wins in 11 games at the Stadio Benito Stirpe (with three draws and six losses). Inter, on the other hand, have a significant 21-point lead over second-placed AC Milan, which could potentially widen in their remaining two league matches.
Napoli 0-2 Bologna
Thiago Motta’s impressive Bologna team has qualified for the UEFA Champions League after defeating last season’s Serie A champions Napoli in their first victory in four visits to Campania. The game’s best opportunity, and arguably the entire match, was missed by the usually reliable Osimhen, who failed to score from a position where it seemed more difficult to miss. This highlighted that Osimhen and Napoli have had a disappointing day and season overall. Napoli will need to win their remaining two matches to maintain their slim chances of UEFA qualification.
AC Milan 5-1 Cagliari
AC Milan broke a streak of six winless games by defeating Cagliari 5-1 at the San Siro, virtually securing second place in Serie A. On the other hand, Cagliari’s loss keeps them in a tight battle against relegation with only two league matches left. Leão, who came on as a substitute in the second half, made a significant impact by scoring a fourth goal after being set up by Bennacer and beating the goalkeeper to score into an empty net. Cagliari still has a lot at stake in their remaining league matches as they are just a point above the relegation zone.
Lazio 2-0 Empoli
Igor Tudor has matched the best home start of any Lazio head coach in the post-war era by winning his first four home Serie A games in charge, equaling the records set by Delio Rossi in 2005 and Alfredo Monza in 1958. Lazio’s 2-0 victory over Empoli has kept their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive, with a Europa League spot for next season now looking probable. Tudor’s team remains in seventh place, while Empoli has not scored in their last five Serie A away games and is in 18th place.
Verona 1-2 Torino
Torino scored two goals in the final 15 minutes to secure a thrilling 2-1 comeback win against underdog Hellas Verona, extending their unbeaten streak in head-to-head matches to 10 games (4 wins, 6 draws). The first goal sparked Torino’s energy, leading to an equalizer by debutant Zannetos Savva and a late winner by Pietro Pellegri. Despite Verona’s efforts to salvage a result by pushing forward, it was not enough as Torino claimed their first victory in six league games.
Genoa 2-1 Sassuolo
Genoa staged a quick turnaround in the second half to secure a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo in Serie A, with Marash Kumbulla’s own goal proving to be the decisive moment. This win further solidified Genoa’s strong form, having suffered only one loss in their last eight matches. On the other hand, Sassuolo, who had struggled in away games recently, were unable to recover from the setback and now find themselves in a precarious position, three points away from safety with just two games left in the season.
Juventus 1-1 Salernitana
Juventus narrowly avoided a humiliating loss at home to last-placed Salernitana thanks to Adrien Rabiot’s late goal, securing a 1-1 draw for the Bianconeri. This result adds to Juventus’ poor form, with only three wins in their last 17 games. Salernitana’s goal was under constant threat, and Juventus almost equalized in the final minute when Fabio Miretti’s shot hit the crossbar. However, Rabiot managed to score in stoppage time from Manuel Locatelli’s cross, earning Juventus their fifth consecutive draw under Allegri. Salernitana, on the other hand, continue their winless streak of 19 matches across all competitions, still searching for their first victory in 2024.
Atalanta 2-1 AS Roma
Atalanta solidified their position in the Champions League spots by securing a crucial 2-1 victory over AS Roma, who were also vying for a top-five spot. This win put an end to Roma’s streak of seven undefeated away matches in Serie A. Despite Roma’s late surge and pressure on Atalanta, the latter managed to hold on for the win. This defeat marked De Rossi’s first loss in a domestic away game as Roma’s manager, leaving them three points behind Atalanta with one more game played. Atalanta, under Gasperini’s leadership, extended their unbeaten streak to seven matches in all competitions.
Lecce 0-2 Udinese
Udinese earned a crucial win by defeating Lecce 2-0 at the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero, moving out of the Serie A relegation zone and breaking a streak of four winless matches against Lecce in Serie A. The visitors then comfortably held on to secure three important points, lifting them to 15th place in the standings. Lecce, on the other hand, remain in 13th place and while not yet safe from relegation mathematically, their chances of avoiding it seem very likely.
Fiorentina 2-1 Monza
Fiorentina defeated Monza 2-1 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in the late Serie A match, closing the gap to seventh-placed Lazio to just six points and remaining in contention for European qualification. The decisive goal was scored by Arthur Melo, marking his first goal for the club. This victory capped off a successful five-day period for Fiorentina, while Monza, now winless in seven matches, have little left to compete for except pride.
