After round 17 of Serie A action, here are the starting XI included in Italian Football Daily’s Team of the Week.
GOALKEEPER:
PEPE REINA (NAPOLI)
The Napoli keeper was immense in his side’s 3-1 win over Atalanta and was a major reason that the partenopei were able to keep pace at the top of the table. Reina made four crucial saves throughout the game and made a few in particular at 0-0 and 1-1 to keep parity. After a few seasons of uncertainty in goal, it appears that Reina has finally brought stability to Napoli between the posts.
DEFENDERS:
ALESSANDRO FLORENZI (ROMA)
The Italian international scored the game-winning goal in his side’s win over Genoa which was their first in the last eight games. While he had a few problems in the defensive zone early on, Florenzi was able to eventually find his feet in the game. Going into the Christmas break, Florenzi and Roma will just be happy to have returned to winning ways.
KALIDOU KOULIBALY (NAPOLI)
Like Reina, the French centre-back played an instrumental role in his team’s win in Bergamo. Outside of his solid defensive display in which he notched three interceptions and ten clearances, Koulibaly continued to establish himself as one of the best ball-playing defenders in the league completing 86.9% of his passes in the game.
DANILO (UDINESE)
Going into the Torino game, Udinese were in dire need of a win. Thanks to some resolute defending, the Friuli based side were able to claim all three points. Despite going down to 10 men twenty minutes into the second half, Danilo organized his back three in impressive fashion and earned the clean sheet making one tackle, an interception and nine clearances.
PATRICE EVRA (JUVENTUS)
The veteran fullback came in for Alex Sandro at left wing back and Juventus did not miss a beat. With the bianconeri level with Carpi at one, Evra got on the end of a Giorgio Chiellini through ball and found Mario Mandzukic in the box with an inch perfect cross. In addition to his assist, the former Manchester United man was successful in both his take-ons and won all his aerial duels (3).
MIDFIELDERS:
FEDERICO BERNARDESCHI (FIORENTINA)
The Fiorentina playmaker continued his good run of form against Chievo and dominated proceedings in the final third. Throughout the ninety minutes, Bernardeschi completed 91.5% of his passes (43/47) and created three chances for his teammates. Due to his continued good form, many are wondering whether Antonio Conte will call upon him for Euro 2016. With performances like these, a spot shouldn’t be too far away.
PAUL POGBA (JUVENTUS)
The French international played a key role in Juventus’ 3-2 triumph over Carpi and scored the game-winning goal after getting on the end of Claudio Marchisio’s perfectly-timed long ball. Pogba was also able to impose himself down the left hand side and routinely got the better of Carpi’s Gaetano Letizia. While his passing could have been tightened up, the 22-year still created two chances, recovered eight balls and completed two take-ons.
ROBERTO SORIANO (SAMPDORIA)
Soriano was among his side’s best performers against Palermo and benefitted from playing a bit higher up the pitch than usual. The Sampdoria midfielder scored the winner and posed a constant threat to Palermo’s defence. Whether the advanced role will become his permanent one in Vincenzo Montella’s setup is unknown but Soriano did not look one bit out of place.
GIACOMO BONAVENTURA (MILAN)
Another week of Serie A action and another game in which Bonaventura is Milan’s best player. The former Atalanta man added a goal late in his side’s 4-2 win over Frosinone and never gave Frosinone’s Matteo Ciofani a moment’s rest down the wing. Like the man on the opposing wing of this team, he will be hoping to have won over Conte with his good performances this season and claim a ticket to France.
FORWARDS:
MARIO MANDZUKIC (JUVENTUS)
The Croatian forward has been lights out in front of goal in recent games and has scored six goals in his last seven games. Against Carpi, Mandzukic would continue his good form and scored a first half brace to put Juventus ahead at the break. Going into a crucial phase of the season, Massimiliano Allegri will be more than happy with the form of his forwards and Mandzukic in particular.
MASSIMO MACCARONE (EMPOLI)
At 36 year’s young, ‘Big Mac’ as he has been nicknamed, is having one of the best seasons of his career and is a major reason Empoli find themselves in eighth place on the back of four straight victories. Maccarone scored a six-minute brace against Bologna gifting his side three more points and took a further five shots. While his brace was crucial, his celebration got more headlines. Following his first goal, Maccarone ran to the stands and took a sip of beer. Can you get anymore nonchalant than that?
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