They may have been expected victories, but both AC Milan and Juventus picked up a crucial three points this weekend to make it a profitable Serie A round for both.
I Rossoneri have reached the summit of the table, for now anyway, thanks to Atalanta’s draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro, while I Bianconeri have finally begun to climb up the table. There are winners and losers every week, so let’s take a look at the Big Three to see who had a ball this weekend and who had a game to forget!
Winners: AC Milan
I Rossoneri had to work hard for their win away to the minnows of Spezia, and a victory looked unlikely when the hosts’ Daniel Verde equalised Daniel Maldini’s opener, with just ten minutes remaining. But Milan hit back with four minutes on the clock through substitute Brahim Diaz to finish the job.
Milan’s opener made a piece of history as the 19-year-old Maldini became the third generation player of his family to score for I Rossoneri. On his first start for the club, he rose to meet a cross from Pierre Kalulu and his header was too powerful for the Spezia stopper to save. Maldini’s dad, Paulo, now a technical director at the club scored his last league goal for the club almost 14 years ago and his grandfather, Cesare scored against Catania in 1961.
With the Rome Derby still to come and Napoli’s home game against Cagliari on Sunday night, there could be more movement at the top of the table but, for now, Milan sit proudly at the top. And as the Serie A 2021 results continue to roll in Stefano Pioli’s side are sure to stay among the title candidates.
Losers: Spezia
Having survived their first-ever season in the top flight last term, finishing in 15th place, Spezia made a decent start to this campaign, with four points from their opening four games. But back-to-back defeats to Juventus and Milan have left the Little Eagles hovering just above the drop zone.
Manager Thiago Motta knows his side has a huge task to equal last season’s finish but, as yesterday, the fans at the 10,000 capacity Stadio Alberto Picco will be with them every step of the way.
Winners: Atalanta
2021 Scudetto winners Inter Milan have looked like champions in the early rounds of the new season, and fellow title hopefuls Atalanta headed to the San Siro knowing their opponents had an 18 match winning run on home soil. When Lautaro Martinez volleyed Inter in front it looked like business as usual, but goals from Ruslan Malinovsyi and Rafael Toloi put Atalanta in charge before veteran striker Dein Dzeko levelled with his fifth goal in six games for Inter. The visitors ran out with a deserved point but they thought they had all three when Samir Handanovic fumbled Roberto Piccoli’s shot, but VAR spotted the ball had gone marginally out of play in the build-up.
Loser: Federico Dimarco – Inter Milan
Once Inter had drawn level with Atalanta they had a great chance to make to 3-2 when they were awarded a late penalty for handball. Dimarco took the responsibility and promptly smashed his spot-kick against the bar as Inter failed to win a game at home in the league for the first time since October 2020, when they drew with Parma.
The early season Serie A 2021 betting odds place Inter Milan as marginal favourites, though the odds are shifting quickly with the challenge of the Rossoneri, Atalanta, Napoli and the improving Juventus already intensifying.
The heat is on.
Winners: Juventus
Yes really…the Old Lady has won again! After a shocking start to the 2021/22 campaign, back to back league wins have lifted Juventus to the heady heights of ninth in the table, though neither win has been particularly convincing. I Bianconeri followed up a 2-3 win away to Spezia with a victory by the same scoreline at home to Sampdoria on Sunday. Paulo Dybala gave Juve a great start with a long-range effort and then Leonardo Bonucci doubled the lead from the penalty spot.
Maya Yoshida halved the deficit but Sampdoria went 3-1 down when Manuel Locatelli, creator of Juventus’ first goal, scored the third. Antonio Candreva made it a tense final few minutes when he pegged the hosts back again, but I Bianconeri held on to edge the five-goal thriller.
The Old Lady will hope to keep the winning run going in the Champions League on Wednesday when she hosts Chelsea in a clash of the Group H favourites. They both won their openers and the two teams will be keen to stamp their mark on Europe’s flagship competition… and you can get all the latest updates and odds right here at SBOTOP.
Loser: Nicola Murru – Sampdoria
At 1-0 down Sampdoria were well in the game against Juventus, but when Bonucci hammered the 41st-minute penalty home the visitors had a mountain to climb. When Juve’s Dejan Kulusevski crossed for Federico Chiesa his effort was blocked by Murru, but the left-back was adjudged to have used his hand, the ref pointed to the spot and Bonucci did the rest.
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