Winners and Losers from Serie A Week 5
Though there are still two games left to play in Round 5 of Serie A for 2014-15, let's take a look at the winners and losers from the matches played over the weekend.
As happened in the previous four rounds, both Roma and Juventus recorded wins, meaning the joint-competition leaders both have a perfect 15 points from five games.
The biggest result elsewhere was Inter's shocking 4-1 capitulation to Cagliari, while Sampdoria came out on top over Genoa in the Derby della Lanterna to move into third place on the table.
Click on for our overview of the weekend's action.
Winners: Sampdoria
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As far as derbies go, this one was typically high on tension and low on pretty football.
It was Sampdoria who came out on top, however, thanks to a Manolo Gabbiadini free-kick delivered from the right in the 75th minute, which somehow missed everybody waiting in the box and sneaked into the far corner.
The win ensures Sinisa Mihajlovic's side remain undefeated in Serie A so far and jump to third in the table.
Samp also deserve credit for their wonderful banter in the lead-up to the contest. When Genoa's goalkeeping coach, Luca De Pra, was caught hiding in a bush at Sampdoria's training session the day before the game, the club released this magnificent statement, via The Guardian:
"That the derby is a question of nerve, tactics and strategy we already knew, but frankly we could never expect that it could turn into an scene of espionage.
Like Rambo hidden among the branches on the hill, Luca De Pra, Genoa goalkeeping coach and man of noble footballing ancestry, failed to overcome Sampdoria's intelligence and counter intelligence operations.
However, no prisoners were taken, and no blood was shed. Once tracked down and caught red-handed, the opposing side's soldier was let free to return to base. You should always forgive your enemies, as nothing annoys them more.
"
Loser: Christian Abbiati
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Milan fans must be counting the days until injured first-choice goalkeeper Diego Lopez's return after back-up Christian Abbiati once again proved he is no longer a reliable shot-stopper.
In a tight game against Cesena, Milan were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw after Abbiati pushed a Guido Marilungo shot straight at Davide Succi, who promptly dispatched the ball into the back of the net.
Points are precious in the chase for Champions League and Europa League places, and sloppy errors like the one committed by the veteran keeper can make a world of difference at season's end.
Winners: Cagliari
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When Serie A owners hire Zdenek Zeman as manager, by now they know exactly what they are in for.
Having narrowly avoided relegation last year, Cagliari took the gamble of appointing the ultra-attacking coach in the hope that the side could blast their way to enough wins to dodge the drop once more.
Four games in, it looked like the punt had been a poor one, as the Rossoblu sat on the bottom of the ladder with just one win to their name.
But when a Zeman team hits its straps it can be a wonderful thing to watch, as Sunday's match demonstrated.
Despite being on the back foot in the early stages, Cagliari took the lead when Marco Sau caught the Inter defence napping.
Following Yuto Nagatomo's dismissal, the southern club's confidence grew, and they swept forward fearlessly.
Swedish winger Albin Ekdal cashed in with a well-taken hat-trick, but the side was particularly impressive down the right thanks to Daniele Dessena and Victor Ibarbo.
Such a convincing win against a big club may give the side the self-belief they need in the coming weeks.
Losers: Inter's Defence
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The Nerazzurri had only conceded one Serie A goal prior to this match, but things fell apart very quickly against Cagliari.
After a long ball caught the centre-backs napping for Cagliari's opening goal, Yuto Nagatomo was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, and from there, the back line was in total disarray.
From then on the Rossoblu met little resistance as they swept forward, especially down the right flank.
Gary Medel had a poor game trying to act as a shield, while all three central defenders will prefer to put this match behind them after a series of glaring positional errors.
Nemanja Vidic conceded his second penalty in four games, and although Samir Handanovic saved his blushes on this occasion by saving the spot-kick, it made little difference as the defence was opened up again moments later for Cagliari's fourth goal.
Walter Mazzarri has much work to do before the team's Europa League clash with Qarabag on Thursday.
Winner: Mattia Destro
5 of 7The goal of the weekend goes to Roma striker Mattia Destro, who sealed a 2-0 win for his side over Hellas Verona with a spectacular dipping effort from 36 metres out.
The capital club had taken the lead only moments earlier through the superb Alessandro Florenzi after much-dogged resistance from the visitors, and Destro's effort was all the more stunning because of how unexpected it was.
To that point the forward had endured a reasonably quiet evening. His wonder strike will ensure, however, that it is a game he won't forget in a long time.
Winner: Carlos Tevez
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The Juventus juggernaut rolls on for another week, led by the side's diminutive talisman, Carlos Tevez.
The Argentine forward struck twice in Juve's 3-0 win over Atalanta, and both he and the team look a cut above everyone else in Serie A bar Roma.
Tevez, now in his second season with the champions, now has 23 goals in Italian league football and looks to be as settled and content as he has been since his Boca Juniors days.
Such is his form that he could well prove the difference when front-runners Juventus and Roma clash next week.
Loser: Fernando Torres
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A somewhat curious signing over the summer, Fernando Torres has yet to prove himself in a Milan shirt after being handed a couple of recent starts by manager Filippo Inzaghi.
The Spanish forward, who was once regarded as one of the best in the game due to his superb movement, silky skills on the ball and wonderful finishing ability, now looks like he would rather be anywhere else than on a football pitch.
Against Cesena, the 30-year-old was once again sloppy in his play and stroppy in his attitude.
If anyone can instill enthusiasm and a love of scoring back into his game, it's Inzaghi, so if Torres doesn't turn his form around soon, it may be time to abandon hope that he will ever get back to anything near his best.
