Outside90’s Joshua Scarcella casts an eye over the five best individual performances to come from the weekend’s Serie A action.
Emiliano Viviano (Sampdoria vs Chievo)
Much of the reason Sampdoria do not currently enjoy the company of Frosinone, Carpi, Palermo and Verona is because of the heroics performed by their veteran goalkeeper.
He has made an incredible 112 saves in the 30 matches so far this season, five of these appearing in the home match against Chievo and even though one included a penalty, it was not enough to get the Blucerchiati over the line.
Spending time with Fiorentina, Palermo, Bologna and Brescia, Viviano has become a key component of Vincenzo Montella’s squad playing all thirty matches.
Key Stats
69% Passing Accuracy
Five Saves
One Penalty Saved
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Francesco Acerbi (Sassuolo vs Udinese)
It is the second time this season Acerbi has impressed us enough to make the cut for the top five of the week and perhaps even more so this time around, considering the round was dominated by attacking performances.
The centre-back was pivotal in his side’s draw at home against Udinese, which kept the pressure on AC Milan. The Bianconeri did not enjoy a large amount of possession in their attacking-half due to Acerbi’s efforts and even though his team struggled to find the net, he made it equally as difficult going the other way, at times visibly frustrating Cyril Thereau.
Key Stats
95% Passing Accuracy
Nine Interceptions
Four Tackles
Three Clearance
Five Aerials Won
Paul Pogba (Torino vs Juventus)
After a disappointing result in the midweek champions league clash against Bayern Munich, the frenchman took the responsibility of leading his team into battle and did so with an outstanding free-kick to give them the lead. Not too long after he made Daniele Padelli work hard to keep another set piece out, before looping a wonderful ball over for Alvaro Morata to tuck home.
He also provided Morata with a tap-in goal after his initial free-kick hit the wall and rebounded back. With Claudio Marchisio suffering an injury and Sami Khedira to missing the next match due to suspension, Pogba will again need to lift his team in much the same fashion against Empoli in two weeks time.
Key Stats
81% Passing Accuracy
Six Tackles
Five Dribbles
Two Shots on Target
Two Assists
One Goal
https://youtu.be/EHrOEWnEsqI
Alessandro Diamanti (Atalanta vs Bologna)
After a rather unsettled experience post-Bologna in both Italy and China, Diamanti finally got back on the scoresheet in the Serie A, sensing the opportunity to nab a goal on the stroke of halftime and hitting the net against his old club.
This was after an impressive assist for Alejandro Gomez, bamboozling the Rossoblu defense and sliding a ball across the six-yard line for a tap-in.
The veteran striker will need to use the last seven matches as an audition for next season if he is to stay in Bergamo though, yet to leave an impression on Edoardo Reja.
Key Stats
79% Passing Accuracy
Four Key Passes
One Shot on Target
One Assist
One Goal
Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli vs Genoa)
One of our top five positions can almost be reserved for the Argentine on a weekly basis, such that he continues to deliver for Napoli in 2015-16.
With personal records tumbling and the Capocannoniere all but wrapped up, Higuain can now solely focus on leading his team to a Scudetto should Juventus slip-up.
Another two fabulous goals reeled Genoa back in and then put Napoli in front, to which they never looked back.
Key Stats
67% Passing Accuracy
Two Dribbles
Five Shots on Target
Two Goals
Most goals in Europe's top 5 leagues:
G. Higuain (29)
Z. Ibrahimović (27)
C. Ronaldo (27)
L. Suárez (26) pic.twitter.com/sxRCVeRwdg— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 20, 2016
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