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Following every round of Serie A fixtures, Pulse Sports presents the most impressive performers of the matchday.
Napoli will have to wait a few more days to ratify their coronation after Sunday’s draw with Salernitana, and the battle for the Champions League spots heats up.
Here are some of the best performers from the Serie A weekend.
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Goalkeeper
Guillermo Ochoa (Salernitana)
The ticker tape was readied for Napoli’s coronation on Sunday, but Ochoa did not get the memo.
Salernitana denied the Partenopei with several saves at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, frustrating Victor Osimhen three times, thwarting Andre Zambo Anguissa from range and denying Giovanni Simeone late on.
The Salerno outfit are unbeaten in nine games, and the Mexican has played a vital part in the ongoing run.
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18:14 - 30.04.2023
FOOTBALL Champagne on ice for Napoli as Salernitana score late to hold their title celebrations
The Serie A leaders will have to wait until Thursday to seal a first Scudetto in 33 years after Dia cancelled out Osimhen’s strike at the death
Defenders
Dodo (Fiorentina)
Dodo scored for the first time in Serie A when Fiorentina hit cellar-dwelling Sampdoria for five in Florence on Sunday.
The result was a bit tighter than the final score suggests, with the away side giving everything before the hosts opened the scoring just before the interlude.
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Fiorentina’s right-back came out on top in four of six duels and completed both dribbles attempted for the Viola, who returned to winning after last week’s 3-2 loss at Monza.
Armando Izzo (Monza)
Monza’s debut season in Serie A keeps prospering, and the Biancorossi secured a 2-0 success at relegation-threatened Spezia.
Izzo played commendably in the Lombardy outfit’s latest victory, showing close to the best version of himself in defence.
The defender won eight of 10 ground duels, had the most tackles in the game and made nine recoveries in Liguria.
Monza are unbeaten in four, thus rising to 10th in the standings.
Pablo Mari (Monza)
Staying with Raffaele Palladino’s men, it would be remiss to ignore Mari, who played commendably against the Aquilotti.
The Spaniard was near unbeatable in his aerial duels, winning four from five, aiding the side’s defending from crosses and set-pieces.
Mid-table Monza have kept two clean sheets in their last three league games.
Davide Zappacosta (Atalanta)
Atalanta looked out of the Champions League conversation, but consecutive wins and the inconsistent results of the side above them have put them back in contention.
Zappacosta netted an unexpected individual effort at Vanja Milinkovic-Savic’s near post in the 34th minute to open the scoring against old side Torino in the eventual 2-1 success.
Seventh-placed La Dea are outside the European positions, even if only two points separate the Bergamaschi from Inter Milan in fourth (AC Milan and Roma are also level on points with Inter).
Midfielders
Alfred Duncan (Fiorentina)
The Ghanaian scored for the first time in Serie A this season in Fiorentina’s rout of Sampdoria, making it three with a shot from just inside the penalty area.
Duncan also created three chances in the game, won every ground duel (three) and completed every attempted dribble (two) in 90 minutes.
Fiorentina returned to winning ways after a three-game winless run.
Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina)
Duncan’s midfield partner was also in outstanding form on Sunday, setting up Christian Kouame for the Viola’s fourth.
Amrabat’s passing range was a joy to behold, and the Morocco international completing 10 long-range passes demonstrated the variety in the midfielder’s passing.
Sunday’s assist was Amrabat’s first in Serie A this term, ending a three-year wait for one in the league.
Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)
Berardi needed only 32 minutes to turn what looked to be another defeat for Sassuolo into a 2-1 turnaround against Empoli.
The wide attacker was introduced just before the hour but twice netted for the 10-man hosts — substitute Andrea Pinamonti was sent off with 15 minutes left — in the game’s closing stages to secure maximum points.
Scoring a volley in the 82nd minute was commendable but converting a 97th-minute penalty showed the Italian’s nerves of steel.
Berardi has netted eight goals for the Neroverdi this season.
Rafael Leao (AC Milan)
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17:30 - 28.04.2023
SERIE A Milan looks to Leao for continuity against walking-wounded Roma
The Rossoneri talisman’s recent upswing puts Stefano Pioli’s men in good stead before facing Jose Mourinho’s injury-hit side.
Leao was expected to carry the can for Milan in Saturday’s visit to Roma, and the wide attacker set up a late equaliser for Alexis Saelemaekers as it ended 1-1 at the Olimpico.
The superstar had hitherto fashioned a quality chance for the Belgian, who failed to keep his effort on target, but there was no mistake from the second.
Milan are level on points with fourth-placed Inter and Jose Mourinho’s troops.
Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan)
After contributing to two goals against Empoli, Lukaku was decisive in Inter’s 3-1 success over second-placed Lazio, assisting Lautaro Martinez’s leveller and brilliantly setting up Robin Gosens for the Nerazzurri’s second to complete the turnaround.
After enduring a challenging season, the Chelsea loanee is ending 2022-23 positively.
Luka Jovic (Fiorentina)
Jovic set up not one or two but three goals in Fiorentina’s 5-0 triumph over Sampdoria, ergo edging Lautaro Martinez this week.
The former Real Madrid man set up Dodo, Duncan and Aleksa Terzic for his first of the season, taking him to seven direct involvements in 22-23.
Fiorentina stayed ninth after the triumph.
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11:48 - 25.04.2023
SERIE A Team of Week 31: Lukaku with a bang, Verdi over Leao, Udinese players thrill
Following every round of Serie A fixtures, Pulse Sports presents the most impressive performers of the matchday.
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