Just the way it has been in the Serie A this season, Saturday’s action saw some breath-taking football in Italy. The Rossoneri delivered a majestic comeback against Hellas Verona, whilst Lazio came from 1-0 down to defeat Inter Milan 3-1.
At SanSiro, shortly after Ivan Ilic missed a great chance to take Verona ahead, a poor defensive clearance allowed Miguel Veloso to head it in the path of Gianluca Caparari, who smashed it past a helpless Ciprian Tatarusanu. The 35-year-old Romanian got a hand on the strike, but failed to prevent it from going in.
Darko Lazovic’s overlapping run allowed him to get in a position inside the Rossoneri box, where he swept a brilliant low cross towards Nikola Kalinic. But the Croatian forward was brought down by Alessio Romagnoli, making the referee point towards the spot. Antonin Barak fired it low and wide to the keeper’s left, who went the right way but couldn’t prevent the goal.
Verona went into the second half with a 2-0 lead, but a passive approach allowed AC Milan to get back in the game. It all started with Olivier Giroud preying inside the box, heading home a Rafael Leao cross from close range.
Samu Castillejo was fouled inside the box by Davide Faraoni, and the penalty awarded to Milan was converted neatly by Franck Kessie.
Just two minutes later, Samu Castillejo was in the mix once again, whose cross was inadvertently tucked into the goal by Koray Gunter, who mixed up his footwork as Milan went 3-2 up. They managed to save that lead eventually, registering their seventh league win in eight games this season.
At Stadio Olimpico, Lazio’s Elseid Hysaj failed to deal with Nicolo Barella’s pace and gave the visitors an early penalty, allowing Ivan Perisic to beat Pepe Reina. Internazionale held the lead in the first half, but the real drama followed in the second 45.
Lazio won a penalty after appeals of handball against Alessandro Bastoni went their way. Ciro Immobile started the hosts’ comeback by sending Samir Handanovic the wrong way before a stellar counter helped Felipe Anderson tap home a priceless 81st-minute lead.
The Nerazzuri knocked the door towards the end, but right at the end of normal time, Luis Alberto’s curling ball from the right side was met by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, who once again got on the scoresheet against Inter.
Maurizio Sarri’s men picked three vital points, but they will have defensive concerns in the next game, as Luis Felipe was sent off in stoppage time.
Spezia picked up three crucial points against Salernitana at home. Joel Obi and Simeon Mwankwo combined together spectacularly, with Obi guiding down an aerial cross inside the box into Simeon’s path. The Nigerian gave the visitors an unexpected lead, but the joy was negated early in the second half.
A low cross from Viktor Kovalenko on the left flank was met by David Strelec, who went the first time and curled it brilliantly to get the equalizer. After providing the assist for the first, the Ukrainian smashed a spectacular curler from outside the box as Spezia confirmed their second win of the season, taking them out of the relegation zone.
