Another exciting week of soccer from Italy’s best teams, full of excitement and disappointment. Sampdoria continue their winless drought and Juventus’ lead stays secure with a loss from Napoli and draw from Roma.
Sassuolo 1-3 Fiorentina
Mohamed Salah scores his first goal for Fiorentina in the 30th minute by cooly finishing a great ball played to him by a great backheel pass from Khouma Babacar.
Babacar extended the lead just 2 minutes later turning perfectly with the ball in the box and hitting it in the low left corner.
Babacar, already having a great game, got his second after being left alone in the box to control a ball in from David Pizarro and put it past the keeper with ease.
Sassuolo were able to grab a consolation goal in the 67th minute with Domenico Berardi’s fantastic header from a fifty-yard pass from Francesco Magnanelli.
Fiorentina claim fourth as Salah fires on all pistons for his new club.
Palermo 3-1 Napoli
Napoli take a disappointing defeat to eighth place Palermo after a six game winning streak.
Palmero took the lead in the 14th minute after keeper Rafael Cabral was unable to deal with Achraf Lazaar’s shot from almost 30 yards out after taking a bounce before him and letting it slip into the goal.
Palermo increased the lead in the 36th minute with a great curling strike into the near post by Franco Vazquez off of a layoff by Paulo Dybala.
Palermo secured the points in the 65th with their third goal as Vasquez was able to drop a cross with his head to Luca Rigoni for the easy tap in.
Napolis consolation goal came from a deflected ball by Manolo Gabbiadini in the 82nd minute.
Atlanta 1-4 Inter
Inter started off well after being awarded a penalty in the 3rd minute.
Xherdan Shaqiri stepped up to the spot and was able to get it past the keeper despite him guessing the right way.
Atlanta equalized it in 28th minute as Maxi Moralez did well to control the ball and hit it quickly into the bottom corner from just inside the 18 yard box.
Fredy Guarin gave inter the lead in the 37th minute with a great solo run attacking defenders and ultimately placing the ball into the low far left corner of the net.
As if Guarin’s first was not good enough, his second was an absolute stunner. With time to pick his spot and wind up a good strike, he chose to curl it into the far right corner. The keeper had no chance.
Inter made it four with some great build up play. Two passes near the half-field line, one to Guarin and his to a striding Rodrigo Palacio allowed him to place the ball into the far corner.
Inter finally seem to be getting into the groove of things and only sit five points behind fifth place.
Chievo Verona 2-1 Sampdoria
Samuel Eto’o got his first start for Sampdoria. He looked dangerous and was able to at least get an assist, but Sampdoria were unable to take home any points.
Chievo delivered the first blow just two minutes in as Mariano Izco’s shot was deflected off the chest of a Sampdoria defender to find its way into the low right corner.
Their second came in the 39th minute when Riccardo Meggiorini stripped the ball from Pawel Wszolek in the midfield and sprint with the ball to the 18 yard box where he was able to beat the keeper and bury the ball.
Sampdoria found the net far too late in the match in the 90th minute.
Eto’o flicked a ball over the defense towards Luis Muriel who fought well for the ball and was able to slide it across the goal and into the net.
After some time in the top five, Sampdoria sink to to seventh and are winless in thier last five.
Cesena 2-2 Juventus
It was Cesena who would open up the scoring in the 17th minute. Gregorie Defrel intercepted Andrea Pirlo’s pass and attacked the defense until he was able to thread a ball over to Milan Djuric who was able to get the ball under Gianluigi Buffons’ arm and into the net.
Juventus responded 10 minutes later as Paul Pogbas cross was placed perfectly for Alvaro Morata and hit home with ease.
They took the lead six minutes later as Cesenas defense was not able to deal with Moratas flicked header and Claudio Marchisio was allowed to run into the box and punch in the ball from a few yards out.
Cesena were able to grab a point in the 70th minute as Djuric headed a cross down to Franco Brienza who hit the half-volley towards the far post leaving no chance for Buffon.
Juventus were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute when Frenando Llorentes attempted bicycle-kick was blocked, unintentionally it seemed, by a Cesena defender.
Arturo Vidal stepped up to take the penalty, but his attempt was wide-right and he was not able to take all three points home.
Juventus are a bit lucky as their lead stays at seven as Roma were unable to take the three points from Parma, but had an opportunity to raise it to nine again.
Other Results
AC Milan 1-1 Empoli
Torino 1-1 Cagliari
Genoa 5-2 Hellas Verona
Udinese 0-1 Lazio
Roma 0-0 Parma
