Serie A, Round 12 – This Week's verdict (Part 1)
The Italian Serie A returned this week with some truly mouth watering fixtures. Roma and Juventus played out a highly entertaining draw at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. Vincenzo Iaquinta’s acrobatic finish was cancelled out by a controversial penalty from
Roma skipper Francesco Totti.
Fiorentina and Palermo returned to winning ways, while a Cassano-less Sampdoria were held to a draw at home by Chievo Verona. An Antonio Di Natale-inspired Udinese continued their dramatic climb up the Serie A charts with yet another victory. Zebrette thrashed
Lecce 4 – 0, as the Lupi continue to ship-in goals a plenty.
Despite the weekend’s other fixtures, all eyes were on the Derby della Madonnina. City rivals Internazionale and AC Milan fought for bragging rights and it was the 10-men of the Rossoneri who emerged victorious.
All the action left us with a lot to discuss and as usual, Bettor.com presents its readers with the talking points from this week’s action.
Javier Pastore – you beauty!
Javier Pastore just might have outgrown a modest Palermo outfit with his latest hat-trick. Against Sicilian rivals Catania, Pastore was back to his mesmerising best as he tore apart the
Etnei defence with some of the best playmaking you will ever see. While his first goal came from a sublime header, his next two were the epitome intelligence inside the penalty box.
The press and the fans all have something in common when it comes to Javier Pastore; they have all run out of superlatives praising this gem of a player. An ambidextrous player with brain of a genius, Pastore is undoubtedly the best youngster in the peninsula
– yes, even better than Alexandre Pato.
In an era where physicality and brute strength is the order of the day, Javier Pastore, with the elegance of a floating swan, continues to dazzle the Sicilian crowd week in and week out. The Argentine is one of the very few world class trequartista’s left
in the modern game and watching the player in full flow is simply a joy to behold.
For all his promise, it’s arguable whether a player of his ability will stay long with the
Rosanero. Should Pastore make a move outside peninsula the next summer, it would be a huge blow for the Italian game.
Inter Milan will draw a blank this season
Inter lost to city rivals AC Milan last night in a game that turned out to be a spectacle. What the match lacked in terms of goals, the two sides made up for through controversy, tackles and brawls.
Rafa Benitez hasn’t had the best of starts with his new team and last night was no different. The Nerazzuri, following their recent dip in form, find themselves outside the Serie A top four for the first time since 2006.
AC Milan is not the best of sides when it comes to defending, but the Nerazzuri couldn’t get past the Rossoneri defence, even when they were down to 10-man. Diego Milito has lost the plot completely, while Wesley Sneijder is clearly struggling following
two hectic seasons. With two of their main players struggling for form, there is only so much that Samuel Eto’o can do.
With Maicon clearly past his best and Walter Samuel out for the season, Rafa Benitez will win nothing come the end of year. Massimo Moratti decided against going into the transfer market during the summer, something it seems will come back to haunt the Inter
president.
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