Udinese 3-2 Spal
Three first-half goals allowed the Friulans to get a vital win at home to Spal in their relegation fight… In just the fifth minute, Samir headed home from a Rodrigo De Paul free-kick. Then, Stefano Okaka grabbed a brace, also using his head to score both goals, with De Paul being the supplier from the corner flag. Just after the re-start, Andrea Petagna went on a solo run and scored a lovely goal, finished off with a powerful right-footed strike. Incredibly, the away side within just one goal soon after, as Mattia Valoti headed a Jasmin Kurtic cross. Spal created a couple of half chances, but the home team held on for the victory. Udinese just two points above the drop, while Spal’s safety was confirmed a few weeks back.
Genoa 1-1 Cagliari
Former Grifone player Leonardo Pavoletti opened the scoring for the Sardinians, as he collected a pass inside the box, turned and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. It was nearly two in the second half, but the home team’s goalkeeper pulled off some stunning saves. Late on, with the use of the VAR, the Ligurians were awarded a spot-kick and captain Domenico Criscito stepped up and converted to give them a share of the spoils. Genoa occupy the last relegation place, while Cagliari are safe for another year.
Sassuolo 0-0 Roma
Roma dominated this match, but a combination of poor finishing, bad fortune, last gasp defending, and goalkeeper Andrea Consigli from the Neroverdi, left them with just one point to take back to Rome. In the first half, it was Cengiz Under who had the best chance, as he had the ball inside the box but shot straight at Consigli. Throughout the match, the home team did have their moments as well, but it was the home team’s defense who were under the most pressure. In the second half, Consigli saved a Bryan Cristante header from point-blank range, while Stephan El Shaarawy missed with a shot that went just wide from 10 yards out. Sassuolo comfortably in mid-table, while Roma still a very small chance of making the Champions League.
Chievo 0-0 Sampdoria
This day was deemed “Pellissier Day” as the Flying Donkeys skipper played his last home game for the club, before retiring. It was the away side that dominated this scoreless game, as Manolo Gabiaddini and Fabio Quagliarella had good opportunities, but failed to convert. Chievo are already down off-course and they honored their legend Pellissier after the match in a fitting tribute; were many in tears at the Stadio Bentegodi.
Parma 1-0 Fiorentina
An end to end encounter just won by the home team… In the first half, the Crociati hit the woodwork twice through Gervinho. In the second half, Federico Chiesa hit the crossbar after brilliant wing play and Nikola Milinkovic hit the post with a sliding effort from a corner. The home team did eventually get the go-ahead goal, with an own goal from Gerson from a free-kick. Parma confirmed their Serie A status for next season, while Fiorentina to battle for their safety on the final day.
Empoli 4-1 Torino
The Tuscans took the lead just before the half-hour mark, as former Torino player Afriyie Acquah placed the ball into the corner of the net. Just over 10 minutes into the second, the Granata were level, as Iago Falque scored with a lovely curling effort that hit the post and went in, and it was nothing less than they deserved after being the dominant team, after going behind. However, Empoli scored three goals in the rest of the half to take home the points. It was Matteo Brighi who got the first goal after being on the pitch for just a minute, tapping home from Giovanni Di Lorenzo shot. Di Lorenzo then got himself on the score-sheet himself, faking his defender after collecting the ball, to rifle the ball into the roof of the net. Just at the end, Francesco Caputo was left all alone in the box, he was fed through by Diego Farias, and he calmly slotted the ball into the goal. Empoli are one point above the drop zone, while Torino’s European dream is hanging by a thread.
Milan 2-0 Frosinone
Two second-half goals kept Milan’s European ambitions alive… The first half was without any real incident, but that all changed after the break. Early on in the second the Lazio based side had a penalty after Ignacio Abate committed a foul in the box. Camillo Ciano stepped up, but his spot kick was saved by Donnarumma diving to his left. Just before the hour mark, the Rossoneri took the lead, as Piatek flicked a scuffed shot from Fabio Borini into the goal. Less than 10 minutes, the home team doubled their lead with a sumptuous Suso free-kick and the points were assured. Milan in fifth, one point off fourth.
Juventus 1-1 Atalanta
End to end game… Except for a Cristiano Ronaldo shot inside the box, La Dea dominated this first half, as Hans Hateboer and Duvan Zapata just missed good chances. The away side did take the lead, as Josip Ilicic tapped home a pass from Andrea Masiello, who played a ball that went right across the Bianconeri defense. The home team slowly came into the game, and duly equalised late on as Mario Mandzukic slide home to put the ball into the net from a Juan Cuadrado cross. Federico Bernardeschi was sent off late on for Juve, and the match ended in a draw. Juventus celebrated their Scudetto win and said farewell to Andrea Barzagli, while Atalanta are in pole position to clinch a Champions League place.
Napoli 4-1 Inter
A dominant display from the Partenopei… It was all started by Piotr Zielinski with a rasping drive in the 16th minute that gave Samir Handanovic no chance in the Nerazzurri goal. At the hour mark, the home team doubled their lead as Dries Mertens jumped between Miranda and Danilo D’Ambrosio to head home a cross. A few minutes later, Kalidou Koulibaly made one of the best goal-line saving clearances you will ever see, as Lautaro Martinez’s shot seemed destined for the goal, as it was hit with pace, but somehow the Senegalese cleared the ball perfectly with his head over the bar. The home team continued to pile on the pressure and Fabian Ruiz grabbed a brace; first guiding home a Kevin Malcuit cross into an empty net and smashed a shot a few minutes later from close range to make it 4-0. Mauro Icardi scored a penalty late on as a consolation. Napoli’s Champions League place has been assured a long time now, but will Inter join them?
Lazio 3-3 Bologna
Entertaining clash on Monday night… It was Coppa Italia hero Joaquin Correa who opened the scoring, with a lovely finish; the Argentine collected a pass inside the box, flicked it past his defender and scored into the goal. There was, however, plenty more to come in the second half. In the space of two minutes the Rossoblu had the lead as first Andrea Poli beat the Biancocelesti goalkeeper at his near post and then Mattia Destro flicked home a Rodrigo Palacio header after the initial cross had gone right across the home team’s defense. Lazio defender Bastos then produced a moment of real quality and surprise, curling in a right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area. Just after the hour mark and again the Emilia-Romagna side were in front, as Riccardo Orsolini volleyed in a shot from close range from a Destro header. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, the other goalscorer in Lazio’s Coppa success, tied the game up with a lovely free-kick after being on the pitch for just a few minutes, just like last week Wednesday. Lazio in the Europa League, while with the point, Bologna safely in Serie A for next season.