Without an Italian team in the Champions League quarter final draw you might think that Serie A is behind the other big leagues in terms of quality.
Well that is questionable to start with, but one thing is certain; Serie A is gearing up for the most exciting run-in in Europe. While La Liga and Ligue 1 look to be all but done and dusted, and the Bundesliga and Premier League are both two horse races, three Italian giants, and maybe even four, are battling it out for the 2021/22 Scudetto.
On Saturday Milan maintained their three point lead over Napoli in second place, while Inter are three points further back with a game in hand, after the top two both picked up victories while the 2020/21 champions continued to stutter.
Osimhen the man for Napoli
The Naples fans have enjoyed a period of attacking football over the past few seasons with exciting players such as Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens in their ranks, and now they have a new hero in 23 year old striker Victor Osimhen. He began the campaign in fine form as Napoli went on an explosive run, winning 11 of their first 12 games, but then he suffered a horrific injury after a clash of heads with Inter’s Milan Skriniar when the two teams met at the San Siro in November, a game the Nerazzurri won 3-2. Osimhen suffered a fractured eye socket and had 18 metal screws and six plates inserted to rebuild his facial features.
Well it’s good to see that Osimhen is back on the pitch and firing, scoring his second successive brace as Napoli fought back to beat Udinese 2-1. Former Barcelona and Everton midfielder Gerard Deulofeu gave the visitors a first half lead and Napoli couldn’t have had many complaints at the break. But they made amends in the second half as Osimhen turned the match on its head; first with a powerful header and then with a brilliant finish on the hour mark.
The Nigerian striker has climbed into the top ten league scorers with 11 for the season and Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli are sure to improve on last season’s fifth placed finish. This could be their year as they seek a first title since 1990.
Milan are grinding out the wins
But Napoli will have to better Milan’s performances as I Rossoneri’s Serie A 2022 results have been the model of consistency, harking back to the glory days of the 1990s when they ruled Italy, winning five Scudettos and two Champions Leagues. Stefano Pioli’s side recorded a third successive 1-0 win thanks to a spectacular strike from Ismail Bennacer as the league leaders eventually broke the Cagliari resistance after a frustrating first half. Oliver Giroud was instrumental in the 59th minute winner, teeing up Bennacer’s volley on the edge of the penalty area and the Algerian star hit it sweetly to score a goal worthy of the three points.
The Rossoneri rode their luck when a late Leonardo Pavoletti header crashed back off their crossbar as Cagliari pushed for a leveller, but they are still on track for a first Scudetto since 2011.
Miss-firing Inter looking shaky
But, while Milan are clinical, their city neighbours are beginning to look a little blunt.
The fast moving Serie A 2022 betting odds have been behind I Nerazzurri for much of the campaign but they dropped vital points on Saturday when they were held to a draw by an impressive Fiorentina. Simone Inzaghi’s Inter have been starting to feel the pressure and, while the SBOTOP odds heavily backed Inter for this game, we had a feeling La Viola could cause problems.
With Lautaro Martinez and Edin Dzeko on 14 and 12 goals for the campaign, Inter have the firepower to challenge for the Scudetto, but it was keeper Samir Handanovic who was the busiest man in the first half. Fiorentina’s pressure was rewarded with a goal when Former Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira converted a pass from Nicolas Gonzalez. A Viola win looked on the cards but Inter fought back and when Ivan Perisic sent over a cross the unmarked Denzel Dumfries stole in to head home.
It was an important point to save, but Inter Milan have won just one of their last seven league games, only a 5-0 victory over bottom club Salernitana interrupting a run of four draws and two defeats.
On Sunday fourth placed Juventus can climb to within a point of I Nerazzurri with a victory over Salernitana in Turin. So we haven’t ruled out the Old Lady just yet…
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