Genoa shock clueless Inter
Inter looked as disjointed as they come on Saturday evening, boss Luciano Spalletti having to formulate a makeshift lineup due to absences to winger Ivan Perisic and striker Mauro Icardi. The lack of those key players wasn't the biggest problem, however, as disharmony manifested itself all over the pitch, members of the team visibly bickering as they struggled versus a well-organised Genoa side.
A reward for some real hard work from the Grifone in the first 45 minutes paid off just before the half-time whistle with a when Nerazzurri defender Andrea Ranocchia scored a bizarre own goal when a clearance from Milan Skriniar ricocheted off the former Hull man and hit the back of the net. Veteran striker Goran Pandev sent the passionate home supporters into dreamland just before the end, the 34-year-old finishing brilliantly from a thwarted attempt from Diego Laxalt, the final score 2-0.
Juve and Napoli both win again
The gap between title rivals Juventus and Napoli stayed with the Partenopei just one point ahead at the top of Serie A, both sides winning for the eighth week in a row. Maurizio Sarri steered his side to a controlled 1-0 victory over relegation candidates SPAL, while the Bianconeri encountered a more difficult fixture after a disappointing 2-2 home draw with Tottenham in midweek. They would not have to travel far as the calendar saw them face cross-city rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole, but the reigning champions would face adversity right from the start.
Striker Gonzalo Higuain was injured early on and would have to go off after just 15 minutes, Coach Max Allegri with no real alternatives on the bench with Paulo Dybala only just returning from a long layoff himself. He would initially put midfielder Sami Khedira up front and for a short time it looked like Juve were ripe for the taking, but an Alex Sandro goal just after the half hour mark eased the tensions. Toro made a valiant attempt to try and find a way through, but their adversaries were simply too strong on this occasion.
Roma leapfrog Inter
An impressive 2-0 victory over an in-form Udinese side saw Roma overtake Inter to seal third position by the end of the weekend, goals from Ceniz Under and Diego Perotti bagging the points for the Giallorossi. Indeed, a miserably out-of-form Inter side who were previously top of the table could slip as far as fifth pending Lazio’s result versus Hellas Verona on Monday evening.
Gattuso continues to succeed
Milan recorded yet another victory against Sampdoria on Sunday evening, ending the weekend in joint-sixth place after an impressive run of late. It was only ten rounds ago when the Rossoneri were 18 points behind cross-city rivals Inter, but - buoyed by their Coach Gennaro Gattuso - they now trail by just seven points.
AC Milan are now 10 games unbeaten across all competitions.
Gennaro Gattuso has found the formula 👏
Defender Leonardo Bonucci is putting in some much-improved performances after suffering a nightmare start to his Milan career following a summer move from Juventus, and he credits the current boss for turning things around.
“Gattuso has given us a mentality, a sense of belonging and fitness levels, basically everything we’d been missing,” said the centre-back after the match. “We weren’t a team before him, and we were also lacking physically. We worked to become a unit.”
