For the first time this season Juventus go three points clear at the top, easily beating a disappointing Inter, whilst Fiorentina and Napoli claimed a point each.
Roma are now third having won again with a brilliant Stephan El Shaarawy on form, whilst AC Milan continue to climb the table and are now properly stuck in the Champions League fight. At the bottom of the table there were important wins for Udinese and Sampdoria, killing the hopes of Hellas Verona and Frosinone.
Our Team of the Week will see a 4-3-3 formation deployed.
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Gianluigi Buffon – Juventus (2 Team of the Week appearances)
It was either him or Ciprian Tatarusanu, who worked some miracles against Napoli. At 38 he beats his own record of minutes without conceding a Serie A goal, now 746, putting together eight consecutive clean sheets and after 85 minutes of nothing, making three wonderful saves in the final minutes to deny Inter a goal. What more to add?
Andrea Barzagli – Juventus (5 apps)
Take the game against Inter and have a look at how elegantly and easily he takes the ball from Mauro Icardi on 75 minutes. Absolute quality that is maintained throughout the whole game, with the Inter attack barely seeing the ball.
Leonardo Bonucci – Juventus (4 apps)
A missile from super close range blasting past Samir Handanovic giving Juventus the lead. Not only Bonucci was the usual first playmaker of the Bianconeri, as well as a precise centre back: this time he also scored a crucial goal.
Gonzalo Rodriguez – Fiorentina (5 apps)
After the terrible night at White Hart Lane against Tottenham in the Europa League, it took a lot of character to put together a wonder performance against one of the best strikers on the planet. Gonzalo Higuain did score, but it was not the Viola’s captain’s fault.
Luca Antonelli – AC Milan (2 apps)
He is now Sinisa Mihajlovic’s preferred left back being decent in both defending and going forward. Against Torino he had to control Davide Zappacosta, which he did well, and his goal gives the Rossoneri the ninth consecutive positive result and a crucial boost in the race for the third spot.
Emmanuel Badu – Udinese
As often he is everywhere, running at all opponents and helping Udinese win the battle in midfield against Verona. A great run to slot home the header that made it 1-0 to the home side in a very important relegation clash.
Hernanes – Juventus
First appearance for the Brazilian, who after a stuttering start to his adventure at Juve is finally finding his spot as a regista rather than a No.10. Against Inter he combines good quality with the right quantity, outplaying the Nerazzurri midfield and dictating the game from deep.
Cristian Tello – Fiorentina
Every time he touches the ball the whole stadium cheers. Everyone expects him to push the ball ahead and go get it, which he often did. If only his shot was slightly lower than the bar, he could have been the match-winner for Fiorentina, with a perfect performance. Close.
Stephan El Sharaawy – Roma
Despite three crazy months, where everything happened in the Giallorossi world, Roma are now third. And a lot of the merit goes to this new signing, who, with another two goals in Empoli helped Luciano Spalletti’s team to a crucial win. The first goal an absolute beauty, too.
Gregoire Defrel – Sassuolo
Hard work in keeping the ball up for his team and some good combinations with the other two up front, before he decided it was time to be decisive and change the game. He earns the penalty that Domenico Berardi scores and then goes for goal himself to make it 2-0.
Fabio Quagliarella – Sampdoria
Here is someone who seems reborn with his old club. Since he left Torino he looks in great form and in a fundamental game for the Blucerchiati, Quagliarella finds his second goal since his return, firing home the 2-0 and securing the three points.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com