Serie A Team of Week 26: Lazio's Klose Sinks Fiorentina, Pogba Stuns Sassuolo
Thanks to a Paul Pogba wonder-strike and another dull draw against Chievo Verona, Roma are now almost certainly out of the race for this year's Serie A title.
Juventus extended their lead to 11 points with a 1-0 win over Sassuolo, while Lazio crept closer to their city rivals with a stunning 4-0 victory over Fiorentina at the Olimpico.
Napoli failed to keep pace, drawing 2-2 with Inter, while Sampdoria are now behind the Viola only on goal difference after they beat Cagliari 2-0 and ultimately cost Gianfranco Zola his job.
Emiliano Viviano
1 of 11
Sampdoria's Emiliano Viviano was excellent against Cagliari. He made a couple of crucial saves to keep the Sardinians at bay, and at times almost looked like a sweeper, contributing to the defence effectively.
His highlight came with a one-handed save to block a fine strike from Samuele Longo, which could have turned the tide of this game.
Lorenzo De Silvestri
2 of 11
Lorenzo De Silvestri defended well, won tackles, got forward and scored Sampdoria's opening goal with an excellent header. There's not much more you could ask from a full-back.
Alessandro Lucarelli
3 of 11
Parma's Alessandro Lucarelli deserves plenty of credit for the way he's handled himself throughout his club's recent troubles.
The veteran captain has been a leader off the pitch, and when the Crociati returned to action at the weekend against Atalanta, he was one on the pitch, too. Lucarelli organised his defence well, minimised the visiting side's attacking threat and proved to everyone watching that there's still some life left in Parma.
It would have been very easy for Roberto Donadoni to collapse under the huge pressure they're burdened with right now, but instead they put in a credible performance, giving the Bergamaschi as good as they got.
Kostas Manolas
4 of 11
Roma's attack is misfiring, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that Kostas Manolas and his colleagues at the back are doing a fine job.
The young Greek defender was by some margin the Giallorossi's best player in a turgid game against Chievo Verona. If only Rudi Garcia's side were as dependable in front of their opponent's goal as they are in front of their own, there might still be a race on for this year's Scudetto.
Eros Pisano
5 of 11
Eros Pisano controlled the left flank well for Hellas Verona and limited Milan's effectiveness throughout this tie. Also contributed in central areas at key times.
Lucas Biglia
6 of 11
Lazio's superiority in this game surprised many, not least because Fiorentina have been so impressive in recent weeks—particularly going forward.
That threat was nullified brilliantly by the Aquile, however, and on top of a typically solid defensive display in front of the back four, Lucas Biglia also scored the opener against the Viola after just six minutes. He later saw his wonderful strike from distance tipped onto the bar and wide by Neto's diving save.
The Argentine has been in good form of late, and Stefano Pioli will be hoping he can keep it up until the end of the season.
Paul Pogba
7 of 11
Him again. Paul Pogba spared Juventus' blushes against Sassuolo and in doing so, almost certainly sealed the Bianconeri's fourth consecutive Serie A title.
The young Frenchman's wonderful strike from distance broke the deadlock in Turin after 82 minutes of frustration. It was the kind of inspired, solo effort for which he's become famous, and it's because of goals like these that Juve will fight desperately to hold on to him come the summer.
The Gazzetta dello Sport's headline after the game said it all: "Pogba scores, and closes." The race for this Scudetto is now surely over.
"La #primapagina di oggi: @robymancio a #GazzettaTv: "ecco perché può arrivare #Tourè. Icardi? Bene" @Inter #mercato pic.twitter.com/fypp2T7lE7
— LaGazzettadelloSport (@Gazzetta_it) March 10, 2015"
Marek Hamsik
8 of 11
Marek Hamsik was central to most positive things Napoli did against Inter. He linked excellently with Gonzalo Higuain in front of him, and a goal and an assist from the Partenopei captain meant that Roberto Mancini's men only managed to leave the San Paolo with a point. Had the Slovakian not been playing, they might well have left with all three.
Antonio Candreva
9 of 11
Lazio's Antonio Candreva ran Fiorentina ragged on Monday night. The Roman was involved in Biglia's opener and later converted a penalty for the Aquile's second. Might have also had a goal in the first half had Miroslav Klose not decided to go it alone despite the Italian being in space nearby.
Samuel Eto'o
10 of 11
This season hasn't turned out to be the happy return to Serie A that Samuel Eto'o was expecting, but after finally showing his best form in a Sampdoria shirt this weekend fans of the Blucerchiati will be hoping he can finish the campaign strongly and help their push for European football.
Against Cagliari, the three-time Champions League winner proved that he can still score incredible goals, chesting down a pass in the area before calmly setting himself up with a volley to blast home past Zeljko Brkic.
Miroslav Klose
11 of 11
His two goals in the second half killed off the game completely for Lazio, but Miroslav Klose had already been brilliant against Fiorentina before finding the back of the net.
The 36-year-old hasn't been as central to Lazio's success this season as last, but with eight goals and four assists in just 11 starts, he remains one of the most dependable performers at the Stadio Olimpico.
The veteran German could serve as some inspiration for Sampdoria's Eto'o, who is two years his junior. Both are past their best, and have been written off at various times in recent memory, but on form the pair are still devastating strikers with the skill and experience to be useful at ambitious mid-table clubs.
