Speak to fans of clubs around Europe and they will tell you Serie A can pretty much be summed up this way; teams with granite like defenders grinding out victories through organisation, mental strength and a win-at-all-costs mentality.
It seems at odds with a nation famed for it’s flamboyance in food and culture, but ever was it thus. Fans winced whenever their team drew an Italian side in European competition, knowing that the chances of breaking down their opponents were alarmingly slim. And that’s how it played out for three of the top sides this weekend as Juventus, AC Milan and league leaders Napoli all chiselled out 1-0 victories, while there were red cards for Lazio and Milan in two of the big games.
Antonio Conte’s Napoli visited mid table Empoli on Sunday and spent much of the game on the back foot as the teams shared possession but the hosts won the shot counts by 11 to nine and four to one on target. Empoli’s resistance was little surprise as they came into the game with just one defeat from seven and without conceding a goal at home. An hour had passed before I Partenopei broke the deadlock and they needed a penalty to do that. Giovanni Di Lorenzo had a shot charged down and then Empoli defender Tino Anjorin made enough contact with Matteo Politano for the referee to point to the spot.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sent the keeper the wrong way to collect all three points and keep Napoli top of the table. The Serie A 2024 betting odds still back Inter Milan for the title but, for now, it is Conte’s boys who are top dogs.
Big moments favour the Old Lady
In my SBOTOP preview of the Juventus vs Lazio game I predicted a home win and a 1-0 score line and so it turned out; it’s nice when a plan comes off, but I have to say I Bianconeri rode their luck. When Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli copped an early red card, Juve had well over an hour to go at ten men and, while they huffed and puffed, the hosts lacked the cutting edge to take advantage.
Romagnoli can have few complaints because he clearly brought down Pierre Kalulu who was through on goal. And with 70 per cent possession and 16 shots Juventus pushed, and eventually the door opened with just five minutes remaining and thanks to a huge slice of luck and a big help from a Lazio defender. Khephren Thuram sped to the bi-line and pulled back a dangerous ball which the weary Mario Gila diverted into his own net, leaving his keeper Ivan Provedel with no chance.
The Lazio stopper will be hugely frustrated as the only real work he had to do came in the 81st minute when he reacted well to keep out a curling effort from Dusan Vlahovic. The latest Serie A 2024 betting odds rank I Bianconeri as second favourites for the Scudetto, behind Inter Milan who are due to visit Roma on Sunday night. A win for I Nerazzurri will take them second while a draw will mean Juve keep hold of that spot.
Ten Man Milan scrap it out
AC Milan entered their game against Udinese with some questions to answer and they succeeded in doing that, picking up a crucial three points, but not without an almighty struggle. It all seemed to be plain sailing for I Rossoneri when they went ahead as early as the 13th minute, Nigerian forward Samuel Chukwueze firing home. But, on the half hour, the match changed complexion when Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijdners was sent off, leaving the hosts over and hour to hold out. Udinese sensed their chance and threw men forward but could only manage one shot on target and battling Milan picked up a deserved victory, with keeper Mike Maignan well protected by his defence.
Attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic has been outstanding since he signed for Milan in 2023 and he made the assist for the goal; and he now has eight goal involvements this season, while Chukwueze struck a top flight goal at home for the first time since February 2023. I Rossoneri moved up to 14 points, five behind leaders Napoli.
In other Serie A 2024 news, two of the leading pack did manage to score more than once on Sunday and Fiorentina did it in some style, hitting Lecce for six at the Via del Mare. The hosts had a player sent off, Antonino Gallo, and the visitors went goal crazy, as Danilo Cataldi and Andrea Colpani both scored twice. And Atalanta moved up to 13 points and on the edge of the European places alongside La Viola, thanks to a 2-0 win away to Venezia.
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