Serie A. AC Milan annex, Inter and Roma benefit. sport
Roma and Inter Milan were ruthless for promoted Monza (3-0) and Cremonese (3-1) to take advantage of AC Milan’s misstep, saved from a defeat at Sassuolo (0- 0) thanks to a penalty saved by Mike Maigan, Tuesday during the 4th day of Serie A.
Paulo Dybala sealed his early love affair with the Olimpico with his first two goals for La Louve as San Siro were reassured by the awakening of the Nerazzurri, four days before the highly anticipated derby against the Rossoneri.
Paulo Dybala “centenarian”
And two that make a hundred: Dybala has reached the 100 goal mark in Serie A, almost ten years since his first goals – already a double – with Palermo.
On Saturday, he offered Tammy Abraham the equalizer against Juventus (1-1). The English returned the courtesy being decisive on Dybala’s two goals against Monza: he first launched the Argentinian with a deflection of the head (18th) then armed a strike which returned to the feet of the “Joya” (32nd). Roma then managed and knocked out the promoted with a header from Roger Ibanez (61st).
José Mourinho and Paulo Dybala have something to smile about. © Photo: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP
Here is José Mourinho temporarily alone in the lead (10 pts), with a team reinforced by Andrea Belotti, entered for the last ten minutes, and the Guinean Mady Camara, who arrived on Tuesday to compensate for the absence for several months of Gini Wijnaldum (broken tibia) .
Inter boosted
Beaten by Lazio (3-1) on Friday and deprived for perhaps a few weeks of Romelu Lukaku, Sunday injured in a thigh, Inter needed to cheer up. Joaquin Correa, at the conclusion of an express counter initiated by Nicolo Barella (12th), and Barella himself, with a perfect volley (38th), reassured San Siro before the break. Lautaro Martinez, entered in the second half, participated in the celebration (76th) against a combative promoted, justly rewarded for his efforts by the reduction of the score of David Okereke (90th).
The Nerazzurri (9 pts) come back ahead of the Rossoneri (8 pts) before the highly anticipated Milan derby on Saturday. For the Cremonese as for Monza, the beginnings in the elite are very difficult with zero points after four games.
Milan held back
On the ground of Sassuolo where they had conquered their title of champions by winning easily (3-0) on the last day of the 2021/22 season, the Rossoneri experienced a thousand difficulties with a revamped team. They were particularly clumsy like Rafael Leao or Olivier Giroud and jostled in defense despite the return of the pillar Simon Kjaer after nine months of absence since his serious knee injury.
The frustration of Olivier Giroud, silent on the lawn of Sassuolo. © Photo: Jennifer Lerenzini / REUTERS
But Milan can always count on the solidity of Mike Maignan. The N.2 goalkeeper of the Blues pulled out all the stops to repel the penalty from Berardi (23rd), who was injured in the second half. “Magic Mike” was still impeccable on a header from Davide Frattesi (45th) then a shot from Kristian Thorstvedt (53rd). “Too much haste, not enough lucidity. But the derby will be a different game”promised coach Stefano Pioli.