The eleventh round of the Serie A season showcased a stunning Atalanta side that triumphed 3-0 at the home of league leaders Napoli. Gasperini’s team, propelled by their usual stars Lookman and Retegui (who started from the bench), delivered a commanding performance, sending a clear message to their rivals in the title race.
Crucial away victories were also secured by Juventus, Milan, and Fiorentina: the Bianconeri tamed Udinese at the Friuli with a brilliant play by Thuram leading to their first goal, followed by a spectacular strike from Savona. Meanwhile, the Rossoneri endured a tough match against Monza, with Reijnders coming to Fonseca’s rescue, while Fiorentina edged past Torino with a goal from the ever-reliable Moise Kean.
In the evening match at San Siro, Inter faced a major scare, winning only 1-0 against Di Francesco’s Venezia. They had a last-minute goal from the visitors disallowed in the 97th minute, which would have cost them two critical points in the title race.
Juric’s Roma, however, seems completely out of the running for the top spots, suffering a 3-2 defeat in Verona. With the Friedkin ownership absent, the club is in disarray, with management at an all-time low, underperforming players, and a confused coach, creating a lethal mix that has sunk Roma in the early stages of the season. If Juric were to be dismissed, Roberto Mancini, who has not won a club trophy since 2012 and is coming off Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup and a disappointing stint with the Saudi national team, would be a frontrunner. Many in Rome might frown upon Mancini’s past as both a captain and coach of Lazio.
Lazio will play tonight at the Olimpico against Cagliari; a victory would see the Biancocelesti level with Fiorentina and Atalanta on 22 points, putting them in a strong position for the top spots. One could say that among the capital teams, to revisit an old classical adage, “if Sparta weeps, Athens is certainly laughing.”
