The Italian Serie A completed its 17th round of matches this past weekend, spanning from December 20 to December 23, 2024, showcasing thrilling contests and impactful results across various stadiums.
On December 21, Fiorentina faced Udinese at home but suffered a heartbreaking 1-2 defeat. The match began well for Fiorentina, with Moise Kean converting from the penalty spot at the eight-minute mark. Yet, Udinese fought back successfully with goals from Luca Lucca and Florian Thauvin, sealing victory and leaving Fiorentina ponderous about their defensive weaknesses.
Inter Milan displayed dominance over Como, winning comfortably 2-0 thanks to goals from Carlos Augusto and Marcus Thuram. This victory reinforces Inter’s competitive spirit as they strive to maintain championship contention. An Inter player remarked after the match, "We are determined to keep the pressure on the top teams as we move closer to the title race."
Earlier matches during the round saw Verona clash with AC Milan, where Milan managed to scrape through with a narrow 1-0 victory courtesy of Teun Koopmeiners late in the second half. Meanwhile, Torino fell to Bologna with a score of 0-2, with decisive performances from the Bologna squad.
Genoa hosted Napoli, resulting in another close match where Napoli emerged victorious 2-1 with goals from Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Amir Rrahmani, emphasizing their intent to challenge for the league title deeply. Genoa’s single response came from A. Pinamonti early in the second half.
Lecce, coming off their previous victory against Monza, faced Lazio but could not maintain their momentum. The game ended 1-2, with Tete Morente equalizing briefly before Lazio's Adam Marusic secured the winning goal late on. A disappointed coach of Lecce noted, "We played competitively against Lazio but could not secure the points."
Roma showcased their attacking prowess against Parma, dominating with a resounding 5-0 win. Paulo Dybala was particularly impressive, scoring two goals and demonstrating his elite level of play. The final score saw significant contributions from players like Alexis Saelemaekers and Leandro Paredes, leaving Parma with much to ponder about their tactical setup.
Venezia battled Cagliari to end with a scoreline of 2-1, showcasing resilience and capitalizing on their home advantage. A goal from F. Zampano opened the scoring, and M. Svarc added another before Cagliari’s late effort through L. Pavoletti.
Atalanta displayed their intent with a nail-biting 3-2 victory over Empoli, highlighted by Charles De Ketelaere's two goals, with Lorenzo Colombo’s goals for Empoli underscoring the competitiveness of the fixture. The thrilling clash left fans on the edge of their seats.
Monza tried to prove tough against Juventus, yet fell short with the match concluding 1-2. Weston McKennie and Nicholas Gonzalez were on target for Juventus, solidifying their status as the only unbeaten team this season with seven wins and ten draws. An analyst commented, "Juventus showed why they are undefeated this season, putting up strong performances every week."
With the round closing out with games like Fiorentina’s against Udinese and Inter vs. Como left to conclude the matchdays, the Serie A table sees Atalanta leading the charge with 40 points. Napoli and Inter follow with 38 and 34 points respectively. Lazio is closely behind also on 34 points. The battle for the top scorer remains fiercely contested, with Mateo Retegui from Atalanta leading on 12 goals.
Next week, Lecce will face Como away, and Lazio will take on Atalanta at home, promising more action as teams look to secure their positions going forward.
