Tops and Flops of Serie A Round 9: Inter & Juventus Delight, Bove Haunts Roma | OneFootball

Although the bad weather deprived us of one of the main fixtures of the weekend (that is the one between Bologna and Milan), the rest of the field delivered the sort of glorious chaos that more than made up for the lack of action at the Dall’Ara. It suffices to say that Inter and Juventus wrote history in a Derby d’Italia for the ages, while Roma completely faltered in Florence and Atalanta reminded the world why they remain one of the most feared sides in the peninsula. So let’s discuss the action of the eventful Serie A weekend while identifying the Tops and Flops from Serie A Round 9.

Top (Player): Edoardo Bove

While his Fiorentina teammates Moise Kean, Yacine Adli and Pietro Comuzzo also deserve some shoutouts, it was the Edoardo Bove show at the Artemio Franchi.

The young midfielder obviously had a chip on his shoulder as he met Roma on the pitch for the first time as an opponent after rising through the ranks of his beloved club and being ditched by the management last summer.

Nevertheless, the Roman native showed little mercy to his former comrades, especially the poor Zelik Celik who was tormented all night. The 22-year-old won the spot-kick that yielded the second goal, then dispossessed the Turkish right-back to create the third for Kean, before scoring the fourth himself following some neat dribbling.

Perhaps another one to regret for the sorrowful Giallorossi.

Flop (Player): Danilo

Not so long ago, Danilo was considered among the most reliable and consistent defenders in Serie A. And while the 33-year-old isn’t terribly old, it feels as if he aged several years during the summer vacation, returning to Turin as a frail, declining version of his former self.

Following a shocker display in the Champions League against Stuttgart, the Juventus captain once again gave away a spot-kick and in an almost similar fashion, as he was too slow to react to the ball while Inter striker Marcus Thuram was well ahead of him.

The Bianconeri eventually managed to come away with a precious point, but this could be a long season for Thiago Motta’s defense in the absence of the injured Gleison Bremer.

Top (Manager): Raffaele Palladino

Following a slow start to the season, many were ready to dismiss Raffaele Palladino’s excellent work at Monza and label him an overrated manager.

But luckily for the young tactician, the Viola management had none of it, but instead continued to back the 40-year-old’s work in Florence, and it didn’t take too much time for the positive results to arrive.

The Tuscans produced their best showing of the season thus far by dismantling Roma by five goals to one while displaying a proactive and entertaining brand football. They have now won four of their last five Serie A outings, and boast the best goal difference (+11) in the league alongside Napoli.

And based on the current evidence, the best has yet to come.

Flop (Manager): Paolo Zanetti

After a promising start to the campaign, Verona are worryingly slipping down the standings with every passing week while conceding goals left and right.

While we’re not exactly sure if Paolo Zanetti has totally lost the plot or not, he certainly failed to properly set up his team for the trip to Bergamo, as Gian Piero Gasperini’s men sliced through the Gialloblu defenses like a knife through butter, molesting their opponents with six strikes, including five in the first half.

Top (Team): Atalanta

On the individual level, Ademola Lookman arguably deserves to be the best player of the Serie A weekend after bagging a brace and creating another two. Nevertheless, Gasperini’s project has always been about the collective, and their astonishing show of grandeur at the expense of Verona is the perfect depiction of the manager’s brilliant philosophy.

Regardless of the opponents, on their day, the Orobici are simply unstoppable.

Flop (Team): Roma

A clueless management, an unwanted manager, a band of resigned players and a furious fanbase. Welcome to the Roma circus!

It’s easy to blame Ivan Juric (as they blamed his predecessors) for the team’s poor showings, but the players have been so woeful that it’s hard to even pick a single individual who has been performing to the required standards this season.

In the horror show in Florence, Celik was agonizingly outplayed by Bove, while Bryan Cristante, Angelino and Gianluca Mancini were sent to early showers by Juric. Moreover, Mario Hermoso got himself sent off, while Mats Hummels marked his debut with an own goal.

At this point, we don’t even dare to ask if it could get any worse.

Top (Goalkeeper): Vanja Milinkovic-Savic

While Alieu Njie emerged as the hero after scoring the solitary goal in the contest between Torino and Como, the Granata wouldn’t have stood a chance if it wasn’t for the exploits of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic between the sticks.

The Serbian produced a flurry of impeccable saves to preserve a clean sheet and put an end to the club’s three-match skid.

Flop (Goalkeeper): Lorenzo Montipò

Perhaps he wasn’t the main culprit on most occasions, but Lorenzo Montipò could have done slightly better on a couple of Atalanta goals.

Nevertheless, it was hardly going to change the outcome, as his Verona teammates were long resigned to defeat.

Top (Super-Sub): Kenan Yildiz

The super-sub to end all super-subs!

While Thiago Motta was staring his first league defeat at Juventus in the face, he resorted to the player he decided to drop from the starting lineup on the back of underwhelming displays.

Ironically, Kenan Yildiz produced more in his cameo against Inter than he did since the start of the Serie A season. The Turkish teenager scored two lovely strikes with his weaker foot to salvage what seemed to be a lost cause and earn Juventus a morale-boosting draw from San Siro.

Flop (Not-So-Super-Sub): Mats Hummels

The debut that had been months in the making swiftly turned sour, thus encapsulating Roma’s campaign thus far.

In his defense, there was little Mats Hummels could do to save Roma from a humiliating defeat in Florence, as the scoreline was already showing 4-1. However, the Giallorossi could have done without an own goal that added insult to injury.

At times, accepting lucrative wages in Arabia or embarking on a late-career experience in MLS aren’t terrible options to consider.

Top (Match): Inter vs Juventus

We’re not really sure what we did to appease the Calcio gods during the week, but it certainly worked!

On Sunday night, we were treated to one of the most captivating editions of the Derby d’Italia in history. Between twists and turns, comebacks and counter-comebacks, spot-kick drama and tactical skirmishes, the San Siro crowds witnessed eight goals.

Based on the circumstances, Juventus might consider it a “moral victory”, especially after trailing by two goals at one stage, but seeing the two giants share the spoils felt fair, as neither side deserved to leave the pitch empty-handed.

Top (Assist): Hassane Kamara

Lorenzo Lucca is a giant of a man, but he can’t score headers if not provided by proper delivery. And luckily for the Italy international, he has the right sort of company in Friuli, including Hassane Kamara.

This simply was one of the most jaw-dropping crosses you’re bound to see all season.

Top (Goal): Charles De Ketelaere

Although Lazio’s Tijjani Noslin and Verona’s Amin Sarr had solid claims, Charles De Ketelaere’s fabulous curler edges past both of them.

While his striking partners Mateo Retegui and Lookman each walked away with a brace, the Belgian eluded them in terms of aesthetics.