Serie A Team of Week 28: De Rossi Rallies Roma, Menez Magic Sparks Milan
Juventus extended their unbeaten home run with a 1-0 result over Genoa, while Roma finally returned to winning ways with a slim victory over Cesena away during Week 28 of Serie A.
Lazio strengthened their hold on Serie A's final Champions League position with a 2-0 win over Hellas Verona. Sampdoria beat Inter to overtake Napoli and move into fourth place in the league.
Elsewhere, Fiorentina were held to a 2-2 draw by Udinese and AC Milan grabbed a precious three points thanks to a convincing 3-1 win against Cagliari.
Marco Sportiello (Atalanta)
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Rafa Benitez felt aggrieved at the end of Napoli's 1-1 draw with Atalanta, but he can't deny that Marco Sportiello had a brilliant game.
The Spanish coach gave a sarcastic post-match interview to the Italian press, reported here in English by Football Italia, questioning the referee's competence.
The Partenopei's official Twitter feed continued the theme, saying that the refereeing was shameful, had falsified the league and that such unfairness would not be possible in the Premier League.
Still, Atalanta's 22-year-old Italian 'keeper was probably the difference between the two sides, and though Napoli had the lion's share of attacking opportunities—including 20 shots—the young star managed to limit his side's losses and help them hold on for a valuable point.
Dusan Basta (Lazio)
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Lazio's right flank was excellent at the weekend. Dusan Basta, Marco Parolo and Antonio Candreva performed perfectly, and the trio played a huge role in the Aquile's 2-0 home win over Hellas Verona.
The full-back was the foundation of it all, playing a key defensive role while also getting forward whenever possible. He also set up Felipe Anderson's opening goal after just three minutes.
Cesare Bovo (Torino)
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When a Torino defender makes this list, it's usually Kamil Glik. But against Parma, Cesare Bovo outshone his captain with a superlative display at centre back.
The 32-year-old Roman was everywhere on Sunday night and regularly went on surging runs into the midfield to help out his team-mates farther up the pitch.
Davide Astori (Roma)
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A lot has been made of Roma's problems of late, but those issues shouldn't take away from what is still a solid defence in spite of their many injury problems.
Only Juventus have conceded fewer goals in Serie A this term, and Davide Astori's performance against Cesena was a clear illustration of why.
The Italy international linked well with Kostas Manolas, was strong in the air and, when he had to be, confident in his tackles.
Cristian Molinaro (Torino)
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Cristian Molinaro hadn't been at his best going into Torino's game at the weekend, but at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, he showed why he's still an important player for Giampiero Ventura's side.
The former Juventus, Stuttgart and Parma wing-back was involved in a lot of Toro's best football, and it was his cross that set up Migjen Basha for the second goal that sealed the game against Parma.
Daniele De Rossi (Roma)
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Whenever Roma struggle, Daniele De Rossi is usually among the first to come under fire. As a local, the 31-year-old is always under enormous pressure to perform for the Giallorossi. Even if the slightest dip in his mercurial skills is met with frustration and, occasionally, derision.
After promising so much, his team are now out of the Scudetto race, out of Europe and out of the Coppa Italia. To make matters worse, city rivals Lazio are now breathing down their neck for second place in the league.
In that context, De Rossi's goal was priceless; the World Cup winner's surging run into the box to drive home the game's only goal earned an elusive win and ended a miserable couple of months for the Lupi.
The man who assisted that goal, Salih Ucan, also deserves a mention. There hasn't been a lot seen of young Turk in Serie A yet, but Romanisti will be hoping there's more of this to come.
Antonio Candreva (Lazio)
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Competing with Felipe Anderson for the limelight at Lazio might be making Antonio Candreva a better player. The Roman was on song again for the Aquile against Hellas and matched his brilliant Brazilian team-mate with a stellar performance of his own.
Candreva's goal just before half-time effectively wrapped up the game for Lazio and kept them within a point of Roma in second place. And with his wingers playing like this, Stefano Pioli must now believe automatic qualification for next season's Champions League is attainable.
Riccardo Saponara (Empoli)
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Riccardo Saponara never really shone at AC Milan, but in games such as his most recent outing, you can see why the Rossoneri took a chance on the young Italian.
Now back at his old club, Empoli, on loan, the 23-year-old is starting to find his form. Against Sassuolo, he showed just how devastating an attacker he might yet become.
Two goals and an assist ravaged a defence that is usually tight and inspired another win for the Azzurri to put the small Tuscan club comfortably in mid-table.
Eder (Sampdoria)
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Eder's goal just after the hour mark shocked Inter and earned Sampdoria their first win against the Nerazzurri in Genoa since 2009.
The victory means that the Blucerchiati are still unbeaten at Marassi this season, and more importantly, it has allowed them to leapfrog Napoli into fourth in the league, four points behind Lazio in the final Champions League spot.
The match-winning goal came on the back of some other good news for the the player, who has been called up to Antonio Conte's Italy squad thanks to his dual nationality.
Jeremy Menez (Milan)
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If they'd known he'd be this good, Paris Saint-Germain would surely never have let Jeremy Menez go.
The Frenchman was superb for Milan against Cagliari, scoring the game's first goal from open play before setting up Philippe Mexes for the second and going on to convert a penalty for the Rossoneri's third.
The brace brought his tally to 15 goals for the current campaign, eight of which have been penalties. It means that he's scored more than Milan's top goalscorer for 2013-14, Mario Balotelli, and become the league's highest-scoring Frenchman since Juventus' David Trezeguet in 2007-08.
Carlos Tevez (Juventus)
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Forget all the drama surrounding Paul Pogba's future at Juventus—the Bianconeri should be worrying what they'll do once Carlos Tevez leaves Turin.
The Argentinian never fails to impress in a Juve shirt and now has 24 goals in all competitions for the Old Lady this season.
He missed a penalty later on in the game, but his strike after 24 minutes earned Juve another three points and extended their unbeaten home record in the league to 38 wins and four draws.
Interestingly, the 31-year-old has opened the scoring in more Serie A games than another other player this term, breaking the ice nine times. Simply put, there isn't a more important player in Max Allegri's dressing room.
Would you have added someone else to the list? Let me know on Twitter @ColliOBrien.
