It’s been an interesting weekend of Serie A action.
Juventus’ indifferent form continued with the Old Lady being held to a 0-0 draw by Genoa, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side having now claimed only one win in their last eight matches.
Bologna, meanwhile, have never qualified for the Champions League, but if they keep things up, they can outlast Roma to gain a berth in the illustrious European competition. Both sides won this weekend with Roma claiming victory against Sassuolo but Bologna maintained a three-point advantage over Daniele De Rossi’s side with a win against Empoli.
AC Milan, meanwhile, might be some way off catching their city rivals, Inter, at the top of the league table, but are certainly kicking into gear, having claimed their fifth win on the bounce against Verona this weekend.
Mail Sport’s Alvise Cagnazzo provides 10 things we’ve learned from another epic round of Serie A action.
Juventus have won just once in their last eight games and pressure is mounting on their coach
Milan have struck upon a rich vein of form – having won all five of their previous matches
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1. Is Allegri losing the dressing room?
Juventus have won just one game in their last eight matches across all competitions. That solitary victory came in the dying embers of their 3-2 victory against Frosinone. But the Old Lady seem to have lost their playing identity.
They look as though they do not know what to do with the ball at their feet. It doesn’t take a psychologist to understand that the team has turned its back on its coach.
Equally, there are also concerns that some of their top stars could seek a move away from the club, if Allegri stays on as their manager for the next year.
Question marks are being raised over Juventus’ recent form, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side having won just once in their last eight Serie A matches
Juventus drew 0-0 with Genoa and managed only two shots on target from 17 attempts
Dusan Vlahovic’s red card in the final minutes of their goalless draw against Genoa is proof that members within Allegri’s squad are frustrated of playing in a system that currently lacks any tactical identity.
Juventus had 17 attempts during Sunday’s match, but of those chances, they managed to record a meagre two shots on target. This perhaps isn’t up to the standards of a team of their stature.
Following a series of dismal performances, Juventus are at risk of not qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Despite that, Allegri seems more worried by the journalists arriving at his post-match press conferences.
The Italian criticises the team’s physical form instead of offering adequate answers for their lacklustre performances.
It also appears that both his nerves and frustrations are linked to his inability to read the matches and find solutions to the problems.
2. Darmian is one of Inter’s greatest revelations
Matteo Darmian is an immovable starter in Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan side. Together with Lautaro Martinez, the pair have been the Nerazzurri’s top performing stars so far this season.
After struggling to impress during his four-year spell at Manchester United, the 34-year-old seemed headed towards a slow decline in his career.
Yet, he has turned things around and is ageing like a fine Italian wine – improving year on year.
His goal during Inter’s 1-1 draw against Napoli at the weekend was a testament to that. He is a box-to-box full-back who can also play the role of a third central defender when needed.
Matteo Darmian has been one of the most pivotal players in Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan side this season
On Sunday, he scored to give Inter the lead in their game against Napoli and kept Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet throughout the match
While he’s not as young as Denzel Dumfries and neither does he possess the athleticism of Tajon Buchanan, he has risen to the top of Inzaghi’s pecking order for his tactical discipline.
Defensively, Darmian was excellent on Sunday. He kept Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet throughout the match.
Due to his age and physique, the Italian is unable to play 90 minutes at a high intensity, but Inzaghi manages him almost perfectly.
While he was substituted in the 84th minute on Sunday, on average, Darmian is almost always on the pitch for approximately 65-70 minutes, with the full-back returning two goals and two assists so far this season, while having made 36 appearances in all competitions.
3. Pulisic writes his name in the history books
AC Milan became the third Italian team to reach the huge milestone of having scored 5,000 goals in Serie A.
Juventus and their rivals Inter Milan are the only two other clubs to have achieved the sensational feat.
The Rossoneri have been in flying form of late, having gone unbeaten in their last five matches. In their last 14 league games, Milan have amassed 33 points, claiming 10 victories and just one defeat.
Those are some impressive numbers that have helped Stefano Pioli’s side rise to second in the Italian top flight.
As Milan’s statistical reports claim, Christian Pulisic put his name in the history books after he helped his team take a 2-0 lead during their 3-1 victory against Verona on Sunday.
It was the club’s 5,000th goal in the top flight, with the American joining several club legends to have achieved similar milestone feats.
On May 28, 1950 Gunnar Nordahl scored the club’s 1,000th goal during a 6-2 victory against Roma. On May 31, 1964 Paolo Ferrario scored the 2,000th goal for the club, during a 4-2 win against Serie C side SPAL. Daniele Massaro added his name to the history books with their 3,000th goal on December 8, 1991 against Turin.
AC Milan became the third Italian team to reach the huge milestone of having scored 5,000 goals in Serie A after Christian Pulisic scored against Verona this weekend
The victory means Stefano Pioli’s side are now three points clear of Juventus in second but will likely not catch their rivals Inter who are clear of them by 14 points
Milan legend Kaka would seal their 4,000th goal, during a 3-0 win against Genoa on August 26, 2007.
The victory means Stefano Pioli’s side are now three points clear of Juventus in second place in the Serie A standings.
While the Milan derby will be played in just over a month, it will not reopen any debates around who will win the Scudetto – with Inter 14 points ahead of their rivals at the top of the table.
Yet, the huge clash will show the real strength of Pioli’s side, who seem to be flourishing right now, thanks to their manager’s patience and Pulisic’s growth.
4. Lorenzo ‘Il Magnifico’ Pellegrini
Since De Rossi took over from Jose Mourinho at Roma, Lorenzo Pellegrini has enjoyed more game time in midfield.
Lorenzo ‘Il Magnifico’ is an irreplaceable player who, together with Leandro Paredes, completes a midfield that has aggression, tactical intelligence and the ability to score goals.
Despite having endured a tough spell under Mourinho, he has returned seven league goals this season, with Roma now dreaming of leapfroging Bologna to claim fourth place.
It was Pellegrini’s goal that helped Roma claim a 1-0 victory against Sassuolo, with De Rossi’s side now just three points shy of Bologna in the final Champions League spot.
He is probably the most complete midfielder in Serie A right now and is also an important example for some of the younger stars rising through the ranks at Roma.
He doesn’t make technical errors. He has a clean and precise shot and is always good at making himself free at the right times and in the right ways. His best quality is perhaps his sense of position and can be lethal in attack too.
The positive news for Roma, in addition to having found their captain again, is that they won without really having to get out of second gear, claiming three points with patience and tactical discipline.
Daniele De Rossi took over from Jose Mourinho as Roma manager, after the latter was sacked
Lorenzo Pellegrini has improved under the new manager and is seen as a guide for some of the squad’s younger players
5. Djed Spence difficulties
Having moved to Genoa as part of a swap deal for Radu Dragusin, Tottenham loanee Djed Spence is having some difficulties adapting to Italian football.
Deployed as a right back in Alberto Gilardino’s 3-5-2, he appears competent enough when it comes to the physicality and speed of the league, but is still lacking in game management skills.
Tottenham will monitor how he develops in the next few months at Genoa, in the hope of bringing an improved player back to London.
But he is a problematic talent and seems to be missing something that could take him to the next level. While at Leeds, he did not leave pleasant memories, being sent back to London without too many regrets after six months on loan at Elland Road.
Tottenham loanee Djed Spence (left) battles with Filip Kostic (right) for the ball during Juventus’ clash against Genoa
The Spurs defender moved to the Serie A side in January after spending the first half of the season on loan at Leeds
On Sunday, Genoa were held to a 0-0 draw by Juventus who were slow to get going in the first half.
Despite that, Spence failed in his duel against Juventus’ Filip Kostic, losing many tackles against the Juventus star.
The England U21 international seems to struggle to read his opponents. He runs empty and in a slightly disorganised manner and lost possession several times.
Alberto Gilardino will have to work with him to help him improve.
6. Valentin Castellanos takes the place of Ciro Immobile?
Valentin ‘Taty’ Castellanos came off the bench to score twice for Lazio and help them seal a 3-2 victory against relegation-threatened side Frosinone.
It came after Maurizio Sarri was dismissed last week, with Lazio appointing Igor Tudor as their new manager on Tuesday.
The Eagles went on to obtain a crucial three points, with Castellano scoring for the first time in Serie A since December 29, 2023.
He came on in the 56th minute to replace Ciro Immobile and in just one evening perhaps he might have changed his career at Lazio forever.
Immobile is a decadent hero of this team and Castellanos seems to have the technical characteristics and personality to become the heir to the iconic Lazio striker.
Valentin Castellanos came of the bench to score twice for Lazio against relegation-threatened Frosinone
He put the Frosinone defence under pressure throughout the match and seems to be hungry to usurp Immobile to become Lazio’s first choice centre-forward
The former Girona star could have also had two more goals, too. He put the Frosinone defence under pressure throughout the match and seems to be hungry to usurp Immobile to become Lazio’s first choice centre-forward. And he will most likely succeed.
Castellanos is an intelligent and fast striker, capable of getting behind defenders and into attacking spaces. He is the perfect player for the pace of Serie A.
On Saturday, he enjoyed his best game since arriving in Italy and demonstrated that he can be a starter in the Lazio attack of the future.
7. Is Elia Caprile Alex Meret’s heir at Napoli?
Elia Caprile’s first season in Serie A has been more than positive so far. The former Bari goalkeeper, who is on loan at Empoli from Napoli, had an exceptional game despite seeing his side lose 1-0 to Bologna.
He demonstrated that he can become Alex Meret’s heir. After two years of loan spells around Italy, Caprile deserves a chance to start for Napoli.
He produced several extraordinary saves during their game against Bologna, denying Sam Beukema and Kacper Urbanski.
Elia Caprile’s first season in Serie A has been more than positive so far and had a game to remember on Friday, producing several excellent saves despite Empoli losing 1-0
He demonstrated that he can become Alex Meret’s heir at Napoli, his parent club
The Italian goalkeeper impresses with both his intelligence and physical condition, notably performing a miracle to block Alexis Saelemaekers’ close-range effort but could do nothing to keep out Fabbian’s right-footed shot.
Despite his heroics, Empoli continue to disappoint, recording their third consecutive defeat and seem to have lost the confidence that had been instilled in them from when coach Davide Nicola arrived.
The defeat against Bologna was a heavy one, despite it only being 1-0, as it keeps Empoli just a point away from the relegation zone.
8. Maldini can be a top player
From Cesare to Paolo, from father to son, the Maldini family dynasty seemed to be over after 50 years of football and the later hung up his boots.
But Daniel is on the right path to becoming a top player like his predecessors.
He has become a tactically astute player in Adriano Galliani’s Monza side in recent months and his stunning free-kick goal vs Cagliari was marvellous. It also sealed an important 1-0 win.
Maldini’s goals always somehow seem to be decisive and with three in six games he has also helped the team obtain nine points this season.
His strike at the weekend against Cagliari was his second consecutive goal in Serie A after claiming the winner away to Genoa.
Quality, sacrifice and patience: these are the secrets of the young star, who is a sharp shooter in Monza’s attack and is capable of breaking down the prejudice that has been made against his career which, according to many, would have been facilitated by the weight his surname carries.
Compared to Monza last year, coach Raffaele Palladino’s team plays more prudent football, with an almost obsessive attention and concentration in defence. With his presence Maldini offers quality and unpredictability and will most likely be a starter in the remaining nine games. He is starting to carve out an important role as the future of his club.
Daniel Maldini is growing into one of the league’s most tactically astute footballers
He scored a brilliant free-kick at the weekend to help Empoli claim victory against Cagliari
9. End of the road for Salernitana
This is the end. Salernitana’s home defeat against Lecce at the Arechi Stadium condemned the Salerno-based side to an almost certain relegation to Serie B.
Having won 14 points in 29 games, Salernitana have failed in the top flight this season, scoring 23 goals while conceding 59.
The change of managers from Filippo Inzaghi to Fabio Liverani did not reverse the team’s direction and the situation even worsened, even after the arrivals of Kostas Manolas and Jerome Boateng.
Salernitana have disappointingly won two points in their last 11 games.
Serie B will soon become a reality, probably long before the natural end of this championship, and will be the result of an unprecedented management disaster that began with sporting director Morgan De Sanctis and continued with Walter Sabatini in this unfortunate season.
The whole team also seems to be playing in slow motion and has a lack of a definitive game plan.
No Salernitana player seemed to want to take on the responsibility of orchestrating an attack during their 1-0 defeat by Lecce on Saturday.
10. Fabbian is lightning on a dark night for Bologna
After an overall subpar performance against Empoli, Bologna managed to keep some distance between themselves and Roma, who are chasing them down for the final Champions League Spot.
It came thanks to Giovanni Fabbian, whose goal helped them hang on to fourth place, subsequently staying three points clear of Roma in fourth place.
Giovanni Fabbian scored to help Bologna seal a late 1-0 victory against Empoli on Friday night
Fabbian is one of the most promising young stars in the Serie A and his goal could have helped them qualify for the Champions League
Fabbian is certainly among one of the best emerging prospects in Serie A. He is the second player after Matias Soule to reach at least five goals in the Italian top flight and this tally could increase in the final nine games of the season.
Bologna coach Thiago Motta often uses him as the 12th man on the pitch and as a decisive substitution from the bench. Against Empoli his goal was decisive.
Joshua Zirkzee’s absence had been a clear problem for Bologna, who struggled to create chances without him. Despite that, a few seconds from the end of the match, Fabbian erased any fears by finding the back of the net.
He is destined to be a point of reference for Bologna in the future. And his fifth goal in Serie A may be one of the most important in his career as it has allowed Bologna to continue to hope for a berth in the Champions League next season.