Napoli’s reign at the top of Serie A only lasted a week as on Sunday they got beaten by lowly Bologna and with Inter coming out winners on Saturday over Genoa, the nerazzurri regained immediately the top of the table with Fiorentina now second after their convincing win over Udinese. Juventus continue to topple the table as they get their fifth consecutive win over Lazio whilst both Roma and Milan were both held to a draw by Torino and Carpi respectively. Disastrous defeats for Palermo and Sampdoria who are still searching for their first win under their respective new managers. Same faith for Verona whose change in management in midweek did not bring any luck.
Inter regained the top of table with its eight win with a lonely goal over Genoa late Saturday night. At the Meazza, the nerazzurri produced some good football but had to wait for the 59’ to earn their deserved lead through a Ljajic free kick which ended at the back of Genoa’s keeper Perin who in the first half produced a very good save to deny Ljajic from opening the score. Only in the dying minutes with Inter reduced to ten men after D’Ambrosio was sent off, did Genoa put some pressure on Inter’s defence who held out without much difficulty.
Napoli travelled to Bologna with high hopes to keep their place at the head of the table but ended being defeated by ex-manager Donadoni’s team who put on a great performance especially striker Mattia Destro who scored two of the three goals, the other one coming from defender Luca Rossettini. Only in the dying minutes of the game did Napoli manage to pull two back from argentine Gonzalo Higuain, but Bologna held out to come out winners 3-2 over highly Napoli.
With Napoli’s defeat, Fiorentina regained second place a point away from the top of the table with a convincing win over Udinese. It took the viola only 26’ to open the score through Badelj and added another two after the interval through Ilicic penalty and Gonzalo Rodriguez’s header. In the first half, Udinese came close to equalize but Widmer only managed to hit the post.
Elsewhere, Juventus on Friday beat Lazio 2-0 for their fifth win in succession, the goals coming from an own goal after just 7’ play by Lazio’s defender Gentiletti and Paulo Dybala. The bianconeri are now in fifth place with 27 points, one behind Roma who could only manage a draw against Torino, after taking the lead through Miralem Pjanic, but Torino levelled in the fourth minute of added time through Maxi López contested penalty. Even Milan faulted as they could only earn a point when they travelled to Modena to take on newcomers Carpi who throughout the game where the better side creating various dangerous situations to the rossoneri defence. On the other hand, Mihajlovic team although giving the impression that they could score at any moment, did little to deserve all points.
Disastrous results for both Palermo and Sampdoria who still are searching for their first points under new managers. Palermo went down 3-0 at Bergamo against Atalanta, whereas Sampdoria at home were humiliated by a great performance from Sassuolo who now are sixth in the table with 26 points just one behind Juventus. Even Verona who replaced Andrea Mandorlini with Gigi Del Neri in the week were beaten at home by Empoli, with a lonely goal coming in the 61’ through defender Andrea Costa, whereas the other team from Verona, Chievo obtained an important 2-0 win at Frosinone.
