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| | Spotlight: Iron Mancio |
Monday 28 January, 2008
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| Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 20 of the Serie A season |
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The winners…
Roberto Mancini (Inter)
In the week he was snubbed by the Players Association awards, the Inter boss not only grabbed a point in Udine despite Cesar Aparecido’s 21st-minute dismissal, he did so by keeping an attacking team on the field that had the best opportunities to win. In past years this side would’ve crumbled, but Mancio has created an iron will within the Nerazzurri.
Alexandre Pato (Milan)
He may have wasted a host of chances, but The Duck also bagged a brace in a difficult game that earlier this season Milan would have drawn or even lost. With three goals from two home matches, few can doubt the 18-year-old has had quite an impact.
Davide Ballardini (Cagliari)
Congratulations on his first Serie A victory, something few expected to ever happen considering Cagliari had been rooted to 10 points since December 2. It looked like another disastrous defeat – the seventh on the trot – but in injury time the Sardinians somehow found the motivation to score twice and stun Napoli. It could be the turning point of their season or more likely the only fond memory.
The losers…
Rolando Bianchi (Lazio)
Has anyone ever had a worse debut? The former Manchester City flop was on the field for precisely five minutes, during which he touched the ball twice and picked up two easily avoidable yellow cards. Things can only get better.
Cesar Aparecido (Inter)
One has to be really quite stupid to be booked and 30 seconds later launch into a sliding tackle at the byline. Had he not been carded moments earlier, that foul probably would have passed without incident, but Cesar was determined to get himself noticed. Shame he so rarely stands out for something positive.
Reginaldo (Parma)
The Brazilian has made a rather nasty habit of missing open goals. While not quite as disastrous as last week’s mistake against Inter, he did nod wide of a clear target and should have won in Catania for his team. Parma must be rushing Cristiano Lucarelli back to fitness just to get Reginaldo out of the side.
The goals…
David Trezeguet (Juventus)
A sensational goal in build-up and execution. Raffaele Palladino’s dribbling, David Trezeguet’s dummy, Alessandro Del Piero’s first time flick and of course the magnificent volley that finished it off.
Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)
It combined all the elements of a great striker – a poacher’s instinct to take advantage of Luca Rossettini’s poor first touch and a snooker cue precise shot in off the inside of the post.
Claudio Rivalta (Atalanta)
The midfielder isn’t known for his attacking tendencies, but he burst forward, cut past Franco Brienza and feinted a cross before unleashing a powerful left-foot rocket.
The numbers…
Udinese taboo
For two seasons on the trot Inter have been unable to beat Udinese. Last term they were the only side to avoid defeat against the record-breaking Scudetto winners and they repeated the trick with another two draws in 2007-08. That's particularly impressive considering in this period the Nerazzurri have played 58 games ending in 45 wins, 12 draws and one defeat.
Sardinian success
Cagliari had not picked up a single point since a goalless draw with Livorno on December 2, but to find their last win in Serie A we have to go all the way back to September 30 and their 1-0 victory over Siena at the Stadio Sant’Elia.
Red mist
This was the least prolific round of the season so far with just 17 goals, only three of them in the first half. It was also a tense weekend after six red cards, but surprisingly not a single penalty. The players dismissed were Leandro Rinaudo (Palermo), Rubinho (Genoa), Simone Barone (Torino), Rolando Bianchi (Lazio), Cesar (Inter) and Daniele De Vezze (Livorno). |
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| Words: Susy Campanale |
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Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of the 2007-08 Serie A campaign. More |
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