My word, this Serie A title race is quite something, eh?
While Juventus have pulled away in their bid to claim a top-four spot, the Scudetto race and fight for survival are both rife with competition.
While little changed at the bottom of the table, there were big implications at the top on Matchday 29. Here’s a round-up of all the action.
Inter Milan fall behind in title race
AC Milan piled the pressure on fellow title contenders Napoli and Inter Milan on Saturday night as they edged past Empoli thanks to a Pierre Kalulu strike from distance.
Napoli responded on Sunday with a huge 2-1 victory away at Hellas Verona as Victor Osimhen bagged a brace. The Nigerian’s poised to lead the Neapolitans’ title charge.
Inter, however, were fortunate to escape Turin with a point on Sunday night. Ivan Juric’s Torino, who entered the contest without a win in six, were magnificent in the first half and fully deserving of their 1-0 lead at the break. Reported Juventus target Gleison Bremer opened the scoring for the hosts, and they should’ve had the chance to double their advantage but VAR failed to pick up Andrea Ranocchia’s foul on Andrea Belotti in the box.
The Nerazzurri, who desperately missed Marcelo Brozovic at the base of midfield, improved after the restart but it appeared that they’d leave Piedmont with nothing after spurning several gilt-edged chances. That was before Alexis Sanchez struck at the death to earn what could end up proving to be a crucial point.
Despite their late equaliser, Inter fell further behind Milan at the top. The margin is now four points, with Napoli three behind. Although, Simone Inzaghi’s side still have their game in hand against Bologna.
Atalanta falter once more
Juventus’ eyes are now looking upward following yet another victory on Matchday 29. Their 3-1 victory over Sampdoria had cut the deficit on the league leaders to four points before Kalulu helped Milan sink Empoli.
Juve are now huge favourites to secure the final Champions League spot after Atalanta succumbed to the draw specialists on Sunday. Genoa continued their utterly ludicrous run under Alexander Blessin at the weekend by holding La Dea to a stalemate.
Atalanta were usurped in the Serie A table by Lazio on Monday night after Ciro Immobile helped the Biancocolesti to a slender victory over the relegation-threatened Venezia.
AS Roma, meanwhile, rescued a point at Udinese thanks to a late Lorenzo Pellegrini penalty. Jose Mourinho’s side are eight points adrift of Juventus in fourth.
Spezia the BIG winners at the bottom
Spezia were the big winners in the Serie A relegation fight as they were the only side in the bottom six to claim victory on Matchday 29.
Thiago Motta’s side had suffered four straight defeats before they hosted Cagliari on Sunday, but they produced a stellar performance to down Walter Mazzarri’s side by a 2-0 margin. Spezia’s three points eased any relegation fears as they stretched their advantage over 18th-placed Venezia to seven points.
Salernitana joined Genoa in the one-point club as they played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Sassuolo. Gianluca Scamacca and Hamed Traore both added to their goal tallies for the Neroverdi, but they were pegged back by a Milan Djuric equaliser in the second half.
Then, in the least consequential fixture of the weekend, a dominant Fiorentina were only able to put one past Bologna in a 1-0 triumph. La Viola are poised to fight for the European places until the last.