Serie A Team of Week 17: Juventus Draw with Inter as Roma Beat Udinese
Thanks to Inter's Mauro Icardi and a contentious goal from Davide Astori, Roma climbed to within a point of league leaders Juventus this week with a 0-1 win over Udinese.
The current champions were held to a 1-1 stalemate in Turin by the Nerazzurri in an exciting Derby D'Italia, while Lazio and Napoli stole a march on their rivals for third place with two impressive wins, over Sampdoria and Cesena respectively.
This round threw up a couple of surprises, too, as Fiorentina fell to struggling Parma and a woeful Milan side were deservedly beaten at the San Siro by Sassuolo. And Gianfranco Zola won't be in the Cagliari job very long if things continue like this, as the Sardinians were thrashed 5-0 in Sicily by Palermo.
Antonio Mirante
1 of 11
Parma do like to make things hard for themselves. After an early goal from Andrea Costa, the Crociati might have been held to a draw at home by Fiorentina—even though the Viola had two defenders sent off late in the game—if it hadn't been for the penalty-stopping heroics of Antonio Mirante.
The 31-year-old ex-Sampdoria stopper dealt well with a couple of dangerous efforts from Mario Gomez and one from Juan Cuadrado before the German striker fired his penalty—won by Cuadrado, who was tripped in the area by Paolo De Ceglie—too close to Mirante, who dived to parry the shot comfortably clear.
He also denied a close-range header from Gonzalo Rodriguez, before the Argentine was sent off, to keep his side in the lead.
In all, Roberto Donadoni's men had just six shots to the visitors' 17, so the outfield players have a lot to thank their 'keeper for this week. This is just their third win all season, and unless more of Parma's talented squad can lift their game like Mirante has done, they'll be going down come May.
Dusan Basta
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Lazio's Dusan Basta has been impressive of late, and the Aquile's 3-0 win over Sampdoria at the Olimpico was another fine performance from the Serbian.
Basta linked up brilliantly with Felipe Anderson farther up the flank, and his support and service played a large part in the Brazilian's man-of-the-match performance. The 30-year-old also made several important tackles and worked hard to protect his side's clean sheet.
Davide Astori
3 of 11
Even discounting his debatable match-winning goal, Roma's Davide Astori was imperious in defence against Udinese and would have made this selection regardless of his questionable header.
The 28-year-old Italian was a rock at the back for Rudi Garcia's Giallorossi, making a slew of vital interventions, and even if you don't think his goal actually crossed the line, Astori deserves credit for being in the right place at the right time to score it.
Much like his old teammate from Cagliari Radja Nainggolan, Astori has adapted very well to the step-up in quality since joining Roma and appears to get better game by game. How the Sardinians could use him now.
Andrea Costa
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Andrea Costa proved himself a reliable defender while at Sampdoria, and seems to be settling in at Parma following his summer move, even if Roberto Donadoni's side is currently in turmoil.
The 28-year-old Italian was brilliant in the previous round against Cagliari and was again decisive against Fiorentina, scoring the winning goal after just 11 minutes to give the Crociati an unlikely win.
Jose Holebas
5 of 11
After a slow start to life in Serie A, Jose Holebas is now flying at Roma. Ever since his debut goal for the Giallorossi, against Inter back in November, the Greek full-back has been one of Garcia's best performers and has now made the left-back position his own, at the expense of the disappointing Ashley Cole.
The ex-Olympiacos star linked well with Adem Ljajic against Udinese and provided plenty of support going forward, without compromising himself defensively.
Marek Hamsik
6 of 11
It's been a while since we've seen vintage Marek Hamsik, but the Napoli captain was back to his brilliant best against Cesena.
Hamsik and Gonzalo Higuain worked excellently in this match, and it was the pair's tireless work that pulled the home side out of shape and allowed Jose Callejon to strike for the Partenopei's first of the night.
An excellent ball from midfield then unleashed Higuain for Napoli's second, the Argentine beating the offside trap before slotting home cooly past young Nicola Leali.
Higuain then returned the favour in the second half, setting up Hamsik for his own goal, which was bundled into the net by the hapless Cesena defence.
Napoli have been too streaky this season, but if this is more than a flash in the pan from Hamsik, and he really is back on form, we can expect them to win many more games in the second half of the campaign.
Paul Pogba
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If the rest of Max Allegri's starting XI had played like Paul Pogba, Juventus would have won the Derby D'Italia comfortably.
Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo were both uncharacteristically ineffectual against Inter this round, leaving it to the young Frenchman to do the bulk of the positive work in Juve's midfield.
Pogba also went on a mesmerising run in the first half, and on another night his silky footwork would have certainly resulted in a goal.
Arturo Vidal
8 of 11
So often the main man for Juventus in recent seasons, Arturo Vidal put in a virtuoso display against Inter, setting up Carlos Tevez for the early opener with a piece of incredible skill.
Playing behind the two strikers, the Chilean was a nuisance throughout, but his most influential contribution came early on, when he met Fernando Llorente's pass in the box with a cheeky back heel to send the ball towards the touchline. It left his marker, Gary Medel, totally flat-footed and allowed Vidal plenty of space to follow up with a lethal square ball to the onrushing Tevez.
Felipe Anderson
9 of 11
Lazio's Felipe Anderson didn't put a foot wrong against Sampdoria.
The Brazilian set up Marco Parolo for the opener before grabbing a goal of his own three minutes later—an outrageous effort from long range. It's worth checking out, and can be seen here via the Corriere della Sera's website. He was marvellous in setting up Filip Djordjevic's tap-in, too.
He has now been Lazio's standout player in their last four games, and the €8 million they spent bringing him to Italy from Santos looks like an inspired bit of business.
Mauro Icardi
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Mauro Icardi's goal, against the run of play, completely changed the game and gifted Inter a point against Juventus and for that reason alone, he makes the week's best XI.
Fredy Guarin's through ball was inspired, but Icardi still had plenty to do before scoring from a difficult angle past Gigi Buffon. He also came very close—twice—to bagging the winner, first shooting wide after his new teammate Lukas Podolski created an excellent chance on the break, and then forcing Buffon into a fine save with a forceful shot later on.
The young Argentine continues to be something of a bete noire for Juve, having grabbed plenty of headlines last season with a memorable brace for Sampdoria in Turin.
Paulo Dybala
11 of 11
New year, new round of games, same young striker taking Serie A by storm. Palermo's Paulo Dybala has been one of the league's biggest—and perhaps most surprising—stars this campaign and he delighted again against Cagliari.
It was a goal-fest in Sicily, and several of Dybala's teammates were extremely close to making this week's selection. But as ever this term, it was the 21-year-old who shone brightest with an absolutely flawless performance.
Dybala is one of the division's most fearsome forwards because he's playing with such confidence that he looks a constant threat.
The Rosanero were already 2-0 up when he won—and converted—the penalty for their third, and deserved a goal to finish his captivating run from midfield shortly after. His partnership with Franco Vazquez is a constant problem for defences, and it was his countryman's lobbed pass that set Dybala up for his second.
A night to remember at the Renzo Barbera for Palermo fans—and one to forget for new Cagliari boss Gianfranco Zola.
