| |
| | Spotlight: Paloschi to the rescue |
Monday 11 February, 2008
|
| Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 22 of the Serie A season |
|
 |
|
|
The winners…
Alberto Paloschi (Milan)
Milan’s unlikely hero against Siena. Called up into the squad given the club’s lack of attacking options, the youngster marked his Serie A debut by scoring the winner with his first touch after just 18 seconds. It was a decisive strike and one which moves the Rossoneri even closer to Champions League qualification.
Gigi Buffon (Juventus)
Mauro Camoranesi and Vincenzo Iaquinta may have scored the goals, but Gigi Buffon proved just as vital for Juventus in their 2-1 win at Udine. Some may question his actions in the build up to Udinese’s opening goal, but the Italian international underlined his importance to the side on his return from injury. And to think Sunday’s Buffon was, as he admitted, only 60-70 per cent fit…
David Di Michele (Torino)
Thrown on in minute 52 with his side trailing 1-0 to Palermo, the striker inspired his side to victory with a performance that Toro fans have been waiting for since his arrival. An assist for fellow ex-Rosanero Aimo Diana brought the scores level. He then helped himself to his first League goal of the season before grabbing a second.
The losers…
Ronaldo (Milan)
He’d only resumed training on Wednesday and it showed in his 45-minute stint against Siena. Having started alongside Pippo Inzaghi, the big Brazilian struggled to combine with the Italian veteran and his performance was sluggish throughout. Rightly substituted at the break, his replacement – Clarence Seedorf – didn’t let the side down.
David Trezeguet (Juventus)
It proved to be one of those quiet days for David Trezeguet at the Stadio Friuli. He may be the League’s top scorer, but anonymous performances like Sunday’s do help to explain why France boss Raymond Domenech will seemingly find no place in his Euro 2008 squad for him. Saying that, the Bianconeri did little to assist him during his 74-minute game.
Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)
The new Andrea Pirlo? Not judging by his performance against former club Atalanta on Saturday. While fellow Bergamo youth product Giampaolo Pazzini scored, the Italian didn’t live up to his potential in the Fiorentina midfield. His evening went from bad to worse when his lost possession in the dying minutes saw Atalanta break forward and score a costly equaliser.
The goals…
Alberto Paloschi (Milan)
Not only does Alberto Paloschi deserve credit for scoring the only goal of the game, he warrants even more plaudits for the way he scored it. Clarence Seedorf’s perfect pass over the top saw the youngster run on to it, allow the ball to bounce before thrashing it into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. Power, precision, Paloschi!
Jeda (Cagliari)
When you sign Jeda you know that he comes with two primary assets – dribbling technique and goals. The January arrival from Rimini combined both to net a stunner against Parma. Having received the ball just outside of the centre circle, he converged on the Gialloblu goal, side stepped to the right before rocketing the sphere past Luca Bucci.
Ighli Vannucchi (Empoli)
The ultimate provincial fantasista was back to his best against Lazio. With Empoli being awarded a free-kick in a central position about 30 yards out, there was only ever going to be one taker. The captain coolly stepped up and curled the ball into Marco Ballotta’s bottom left-hand corner. A strike worthy of the three points.
The numbers…
Speedy subs
It was an afternoon for inspired substitutions. Not only did Alberto Paloschi net for Milan only 18 seconds after his introduction, but Vincenzo Iaquinta bettered him. The Juventus striker scored the winner against former club Udinese just 14 seconds after he was thrown on.
Dad’s army
An 18-year-old may have scored the winner for Milan on Sunday, but the Rossoneri showed their age at the weekend. Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI against Siena hit the headlines because the side’s average age at kick-off was 33!
Seven nil
Sampdoria continued their odd winning trend at home thanks to their 2-0 over Napoli. Whenever they have triumphed at Marassi this season, they’ve not conceded a goal. Sunday’s victory was their seventh of the campaign at the Stadio Ferraris.
|
|
| Words: Antonio Labbate |
|
Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of the 2007-08 Serie A campaign. More |
|
| |
| |
