Internazionale successfully defended the top spot in Serie A for another Matchday after comfortably defeating Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona with a 0-3 clean sheet victory.
The home team seemed to be under control for the most part, despite suffering a devastating defeat. They had the majority of possessions and had more shots at the goal compared to the visiting Inter. Napoli had 58 per cent of the possessions, shot four more attempts, and had 140 more passes than the visitors.
But even though they had the advantage in multiple aspects of the match, they failed to find the back of the net against the best defence in the Italian top flight. In fact, it was Napoli who had the more convincing first few minutes of the match, as they went on an early attack that culminated with a proper chance from former Internazionale Politano, who launched the ball with his textbook left-footed strike that bounced off the crossbar.
Nothing much happened next, until Hakan Çalhanoğlu delivered a long-ranged cannonball that got past Alex Meret and gave the visitors the lead right before halftime. In the second half, it was Inter’s bulwark-like defence that was on full display, shutting down Napoli’s advances right on track.
In turn, this gave Inzaghi’s offence a chance to go to work, starting off with a tiki-taka ball movement that culminated with a tremendous carry and strike by Barella to give him his first goal of the season and Inter’s second goal of the match.
Frenchman Marcus Thuram put the nail on the coffin by scoring Internazionale’s third goal a few minutes before fulltime. With this win, Simone Inzaghi’s club successfully keeps the top seed in Serie A with 35 points, maintaining their reputation as the SBOTOP Serie A 2023 odds favourites.
Meanwhile, Juventus stay within striking distance after their 1-2 win against Monza, giving them 33 total league points after Matchday 14. Napoli, on the other hand, slips down to fifth place as they now try to fend off Fiorentina and Bologna.
Roma overtakes Napoli
I Giallorossi have won three of their last five matches in Serie A. They’re getting hot at the most opportune time as some rivals like Napoli and Atalanta are slipping down the league table. After their win against Sassuolo at Mapei Stadium, Roma find themselves jumping past Napoli, taking the fourth seed in the standings.
It was a thriller in Sassuolo, as the home club drew first blood in minute 25 thanks to a masterful feed from Sassuolo’s number 10, Domenico Berardi. The veteran forward got control of the ball inside the box before delivering a surgical cross that will surely be featured in the top Serie A 2023 highlights. Berardi’s cross sliced through multiple Roma defenders, then found Henrique, who comfortably tucked the ball into the net, giving the home team the lead.
Roma had no answer, not until the minute-76 penalty goal courtesy of who else but Paulo Dybala. The penalty was a result of a fumble inside the box as Rasmus was in the middle of a threatening carry close to the goal. He fell on his back, and officials immediately blew the whistle.
This pivotal goal changed the whole narrative of the match. Now that the visitors have equalised the game, it all comes down to who can deliver in crunch time. That question was immediately answered after a few minutes, as Rasmus Kristensen got the last laugh and delivered a clutch but bizarre goal in minute 81.
The Danish once again carried the ball in convincing fashion before letting loose a strong left-foot strike. It hit a Sassuolo player, then deflected in the most opportune manner, losing velocity but gaining a favourable angle and lift. The ball found its way above the goalkeeper’s head before falling perfectly into the net.
Rasmus’ cheeky goal completed the 1-2 come-from-behind win for Roma, rewarding them with three league points and the fourth spot, overtaking Napoli in the Serie A standings.
Fiorentina bounce back
Another team that found pivotal success on Matchday 14 are Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina. They had been shaky in the top flight these past few weeks, losing three of their last five matches. After their loss against Milan, Italiano’s squad slipped all the way down to the eighth spot.
But even though Fiorentina have been struggling in the top flight time and time again, they manage to bounce back and find themselves back in contention. Their win against Salernitana was just what the doctor ordered for La viola. They dominated every facet of the game against the visiting club, having 58 per cent of the possession and 11 more attempts at the goal.
Lucas Beltran went to work early, scoring a penalty kick after Arthur Melo suffered a hard foul right inside the box. After a few minutes, Riccardo Sottil doubled La viola’s lead to two goals before halftime with a beautiful curling kick from way outside, slotting its way to the far side of the goal.
It was more of the same in the second half, where Fiorentina kept on the pressure. The home team sealed their victory in minutes 56 when midfielder Bonaventura comfortably tipped the ball into the net from a slicing Riccardo Sottil feed.
Fiorentina ended the match with a 3-0 clean sheet victory and rewarded themselves with three league points as well. With this win, La viola once again find themselves in sixth place, well within striking distance of Napoli and Roma, who are just one point above Vincenzo Italiano’s team.
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