| |
|
| Spotlight: Villainous Matrix |
Monday 12 May, 2008
|
| Football Italia rounds up the winners and the losers from Week 37 of the Serie A season |
|
 |
|
|
The winners…
Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)
Class personified, the youngster took it upon himself to lead by example against Parma. With his outfit 1-0 down, the former Atalanta jewel inspired his side to a crucial Champions League victory thanks to an array of silky passes and sharp vision. He, along with Roma’s Alberto Aquilani, is the future of Italian football.
Francesco Cozza (Reggina)
Already a club legend, the veteran cemented his Granillo status with a performance to remember against Empoli. He was at the centre of everything good his Amaranto side did on Sunday and was rewarded with a standing ovation when substituted. The southern minnows probably wouldn’t have survived without him.
Davide Ballardini (Cagliari)
Few thought he would keep his job, never mind maintain Cagliari’s Serie A status when he replaced Nedo Sonetti in late December. A tactician with limited top-flight experience, he somehow managed to get a team who were at one stage 10 points from safety to stave off relegation with a surprise 2-0 win at Udinese.
The losers…
Marco Materazzi (Inter)
Anyone can miss a penalty, but the fact remains that Materazzi’s eagerness to be the hero cost his team the three points on Sunday. Not the designated penalty taker, the stopper took the ball off Julio Cruz and subsequently saw Alex Manninger deny him. He put himself before the team – and that’s something you can’t do at this stage of the season.
Alessandro Nesta (Milan)
He certainly wasn’t the only Milan player to disappoint at the San Paolo, but some of Nesta’s errors had to be seen to be believed. Given plenty to think about by Ezequiel Lavezzi, the former Italian international made the game safe for the home side by giving away a penalty with a needless challenge. Goodbye Champions League?
Marco Rossi (Parma)
Youngsters are going to make mistakes, but his dismissal ended any hopes Parma had of salvaging a point against Fiorentina. One can understand his frustration after seeing Fiorentina just take the lead, but it takes discipline as well as skill to remain in the Italian top flight.
The goals…
Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)
It looked a little too far out to be considered as a serious free-kick scoring opportunity, but Antonio Cassano made it look easy. The Bari enigma showed us his genius side by curling his 30-yard shot into the top corner. Unstoppable.
Edgar Barreto (Reggina)
It was going to take something special to pierce the Empoli defence and Barreto delivered it. The ball fell to him in a central position from 35 yards and the midfielder, with barely a run up, smashed it into the Tuscan net. Wow!
Marek Hamsik (Napoli)
Hamsik’s goal against Milan will live on in San Paolo folklore. The youngster robbed Gennaro Gattuso of the ball midway in his own half, sprinted past the halfway line and with the Milan defence opening up for him, he slipped inside Kakha Kaladze to fire low past Zeljko Kalac.
The numbers…
Top of the Pops
Alessandro Del Piero joined David Trezeguet and Marco Borriello at the top of the Capocannoniere chart with his goal against Catania. If the Juventini remain there next week, it’ll be the first time a Serie A side have the two top scorers since the Napoli duo of Diego Maradona (15) and Antonio Careca (13) in 1988.
Siena surprise
Siena’s draw at Inter shouldn’t have come as a surprise. The little Tuscans have taken points off all the top teams this term by beating Fiorentina, Juventus and Roma, while drawing with Inter, Milan and Udinese.
Off the spot
Inter chose the worst day to miss their first spot-kick of the campaign. Marco Materazzi’s error came after nine successful attempts. The Italian champions have only conceded three penalties this term – of which just one was scored.
|
|
| Words: Antonio Labbate |
|
Past Spotlights
A unique review of each round of the 2007-08 Serie A campaign. More |
|
|
|
| |
