Outside90’s Joshua Scarcella casts an eye over the five best individual performances to come from the weekend’s Serie A action.
Albano Bizzarri (Verona vs Chievo)
This is the second time in three weeks the Chievo shot stopper has clinched the title of goalkeeper of the round, albeit in rather unfavourable circumstances. Even though his team went down in the Verona derby, had it not been for some key saves in the first half, the Gialloblu could have found themselves a lot further behind at the beginning of the second half.
A total of five saves for the match was his final tally, including a penalty save off the boot of Luca Toni who eventually turned the goal in. Chievo are beginning to become all the more reliant on Bizzarri which will not please Rolando Maran.
Key Stats
Fifty Three Touches
Two Clearances
Five Saves
POPULAR ARTICLES
Serie A – What We Learned – Matchday 26
Serie A – What We Learned – Napoli 1 AC Milan 1
Serie A – Player Ratings – Napoli 1 AC Milan 1
Artur Ionita (Verona vs Chievo)
The Moldovan was the star in what was an enthralling derby and was present in just about every important moment of the match. Ionita’s defensive pressure in midfield was immense, clocking up five tackles which helped keep the away side to just two shots on target for the match.
The most impressive moment, however came in the last minute of added time where the 25-year old dropped the shoulder, got the ball on his left foot and unleashed a sensational curling shot which zinged past Bizzarri, sealing the match.
Keys Stats
77% Passing Accuracy
Six Interceptions
Five Tackles
Four Aerials Won
Two Shots on Target
One Goal
Miralem Pjanic (Roma vs Palermo)
He is very much the head orchestrator of the Roma midfield, with Radja Nainggolan acting as the workhorse, it allows the Bosnian to operate as freely as possible.
A defeated Rosaneri side had no answer for Pjanic who was involved in just about every one of Roma’s five goals, with his through ball to set up Salah’s first goal the highlight for the match.
Key Stats
86% Passing Accuracy
Three Interceptions
One Blocked Shot
Four Key Passes
One Assist
Edin Dzeko (Roma vs Palermo)
Dzeko’s time at Roma has been somewhat disappointing with a lack of goals, match time and overall performance. The match against Palermo started as much of his season had, with the Bosnian missing a comical tap in chance from four yards that was reminiscent of Fernando Torres’ time at Chelsea. Lucky for Dzeko, he would turn it around.
Just two minutes later he displayed his strength and skill to bring down a ball in the box and strike home. His second saw him leap high in the box to send a powerful header past the Palermo number one.
Key Stats
75% Passing Accuracy
Four Key Passes
Two Shots on Target
Two Assists
Two Goals
Mohammed Salah (Roma vs Palermo)
The Egyptian has found a spring in his step over recent weeks after a disappointing first half of the season filled with injury and poor team form. Now with the team on a five-match winning streak, Salah is placing himself right in the middle of success.
A sometimes forgotten strength of the 23-year-old is his exceptional passing ability which was on full display against Palermo, but this could not top an outrageous second goal scored by the winger. Salah scrambled with the goalkeeper for a loose ball where the eighteen yard box and the goal line meet and after winning possession he curled a shot right into the open net.
Key Stats
83% Passing Accuracy
Two Dribbles
Two Shots on Target
Two Goals
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.