What’s been going on in Italian football over the past seven days? Well, every week, FloFC’s 10 Things gives you a chance to get you caught up with the key events in the world of Calcio, and here’s the latest edition!
1. Football Has A Concussion Problem
Just moments into Napoli’s clash with Udinese on Sunday, David Ospina made a brave stop at the feet of Ignacio Pussetto. The two men collided heavily and the goalkeeper undoubtedly came off worst but, despite a nasty cut to his forehead needing lengthy treatment, he remained on the field and the game continued as if nothing had happened.
Both teams scored twice in the first half and the game was heading into the break when Ospina, who hadn’t looked 100 percent right following that early knock, collapsed to the ground. An ambulance crew rushed on to tend to the former Arsenal man, who was immediately rushed to hospital for tests.
David Ospina has had a CAT scan after being involved in a collision during the game. The scan has come back clear but Ospina will stay in a clinic overnight for observation.
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) March 17, 2019
Napoli later issued a brief statement updating his condition, and while it seems he will fully recover, it was a chance that need not have been taken and football needs to consider how cases of potential concussions are dealt with during matches.
2. And Italian Football Has A Racism Problem
This week, Inter fans were found guilty of racist chanting during the Derby against crosstown rivals A.C. Milan. It is the second time the Nerazzurri have been charged with this offense this season, the first being their abhorrent treatment of Kalidou Koulibaly during December’s game with Napoli.
So the authorities threw the book at them right? Wrong. It was announced that the Curva Nord—where Inter’s hardcore supporters sit and the area the racist taunts originated on both occasions—was given a suspended one-match ban. That is a pathetic “deterrent” and it is no surprise that, in 2019, Italian football continues to have this problem blighting even its biggest games.
3. The Milan Derby Display
The Derby della Madonnina never disappoints, and supporters of both teams ensured that Sunday night’s meeting was celebrated in the right way. As usual, they delivered stunning choreography at both ends of the ground, A.C. Milan fans unveiling a giant red devil chopping up black and blue snakes, a play on the nicknames of the two clubs.
Curva Sud’s amazing choreography:
— TheMilanBible (@TheMilanBible) March 17, 2019
“Send them to hell”
?⚫️? pic.twitter.com/ru4bDAvPAm
Inter dedicated their much more subdued display to the memory of the Varese ultra who died after being hit by a car amid violence before the Napoli game.
The Nerazzurri also wore a commemorative shirt celebrating their 20-year association with Nike, and while the mash-up look of their traditional stripes might not have been to everyone’s taste, the numbers offered a neat little touch for those paying attention.
Hidden in the gold numbers for each player was a map of the city of Milan. Beautifully done!
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4. Danilo D’Ambrosio Is The Man!
Undeniably one of the most criticized players in Serie A, Danilo D’Ambrosio was identified as one of the weak links in Inter’s starting XI ahead of the Milan Derby. The stand-in right back was only in the lineup after Šime Vrsaljko’s season-ending injury, but is likely to be seen in a completely different light after his performance at San Siro.
He completely shut down Milan’s left flank, while venturing forward when he could to contribute to the Nerazzurri attack. According to Opta statistics, D’Ambrosio completed 32 of his 39 passes (82.1%), created two scoring chances for his teammates and registered one successful take-on, one tackle and two interceptions.
However, with the game still in the balance in the dying seconds, it was the sensational, perfectly timed and flawlessly executed block shown above that will live longest in the memory. It denied Patrick Cutrone an equalizing goal and ensured Inter collected not just all three points, but bragging rights for the city until the two giant clubs next go head-to-head.
I mean, this is just superb defending from D’Ambrosio pic.twitter.com/TUa23aUR4k
— Adam Digby (@Adz77) March 17, 2019
5. Walter Mazzarri Slams His Own Players
Walter Mazzarri has never been a coach who hides his true feelings. The Torino boss rarely hides behind well-rehearsed media-speak, instead often just letting rip with a blunt honesty that can catch some reporters off guard.
However, even those who have followed his career closely were taken aback this past weekend as the 57-year-old delivered a sharp assessment of how his side had performed in a 3-2 home loss to Bologna.
“It was an off night, as after an unbeaten run of eight games, we caused most of the problems ourselves,” Mazzarri told Sky Italia after Torino’s relegation-threatened opponents won the game. “It was cursed, evidently it was written we had to lose this match. We made Rodrigo Palacio look like Diego Maradona!”
That’s not a sentence you’re likely to hear again…
6. Juventus Lose!
This is not a drill. For the first time this season, Juventus lost a Serie A game and, if it was always going to take something special to defeat the Bianconeri, how about this stunning goal from Stefano Sturaro?
? Genoa 1⃣?0⃣ Juventus ?
— JuveFCid ? (@JuveFCid) March 17, 2019
⚽ Sturaro ?? pic.twitter.com/vAjwgdbERC
Given that during his time in Turin, the midfielder could barely control a pass, that effort makes Rodrigo Palacio look like, well, Rodrigo Palacio. On loan at Genoa, Sturaro clearly enjoyed his goal, and with Juve still 15 points clear at the top of the table, they could afford to let him have his moment of glory.
“I’m happy for him, he suffered a lot from the tendon problems,” Max Allegri told Sky Italia shortly after the final whistle. “If we had to lose, it was better to lose with his goal.”
7. Fiorentina’s Midfield Misery
As bad as Stefano Sturaro might be, he’d probably be an improvement upon the players currently turning out in midfield for Fiorentina. That might sound damning given the Genoa man is more likely to do this again repeatedly before he scores another goal, but the loss to Cagliari once again highlighted the problems the Viola have in that area of the pitch.
Jordan Veretout—undoubtedly the one midfielder Fiorentina coach Stefano Pioli can rely on—was suspended, and the statistics for those who did play do not make good reading. According to WhoScored.com, Marco Benassi and Christian Nørgaard did not register a single tackle and made a combined total of just 40 passes in the 160 minutes of play that they shared on Friday night.
.@ChloeJBeresford reacts to seeing Bryan Dabo on the bench whilst Benassi is in #Fiorentina’s starting lineup pic.twitter.com/viLuNcdLQ6
— The Serie A Show (@SerieAShow) March 15, 2019
And don’t try to tell Fiorentina fans that Benassi’s goal tally justifies his inclusion, because—as FloFC’s own Chloe Beresford can (and will) tell you – that’s simply just not good enough.
Ok. In 90 mins Benassi completed just 17 passes, 0 chances, won 0 tackles, made 0 interceptions. Dispossessed twice.
— Chloe Beresford (@ChloeJBeresford) March 16, 2019
Dabo: In 19 mins completed 8 passes, made 2 chances, won 1 tackle and made 1 interception. Dispossessed 0 times.
The scary rate at which the Viola concede, their lack of attacking cohesion and their disappointing league position all stem from the inadequacies of Edimilson Fernandes, Benassi and Nørgaard, something the club desperately needs to address this summer.
8. SPAL Beat Roma… Again
Eusebio Di Francesco is gone, but A.S. Roma’s problems have not abated, losing to SPAL for the second time this season. The Minnows were good value for the victory and deserve immense credit, but there is no denying the huge ramifications that may follow for the Giallorossi who now sit four points behind the Champions League places.
“Today we lost against a team that was more humble, more determined, more desperate for points and was paid a lot less,” a very humble Claudio Ranieri told Sky Italia, but he also admitted what may lie ahead for his players.
“If Roma go into the Champions League, that is one thing,” Ranieri continued. “But if they don’t, then quite a few will get a change of scenery. I’ve told the lads since the first day, they have to prove themselves.”
9. Fabio Quagliarella’s Legend Grows
Fabio Quagliarella’s goal against Sassuolo this past weekend means that the veteran striker has now scored against all 19 other teams for Sampdoria this term, a remarkable record for the 36-year-old.
21 & 7 - Fabio #Quagliarella has now established both his goal record (21) and his assists record (7) in a single Serie A campaign. Legendary.#SassuoloSampdoria #SerieA pic.twitter.com/Cqr0colKMU
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 16, 2019
He was also called up for the Italy squad by Roberto Mancini, who admitted he simply could not leave out Quagliarella. “He keeps scoring so I couldn’t not call him up,” the Azzurri boss told Domenica Sportiva. “He’s getting old, that’s clear, but I think he can still give us a hand!”
10. Giovanni Trapattoni Turns 80
Giovanni Trapattoni—one of Serie A’s most successful and widely admired coaches—turned 80 this week, an occasion that was marked by a raft of his former clubs and players sending him congratulatory messages.
Juventus, Inter, Alessandro Del Piero and Lothar Matthäus were among those to mark the day with a special mention of their old boss, but the man himself perhaps did even better. Sky Sport Italia commissioned trap music artists Shade to write a track for “Il Trap,” even incorporating his trademark whistle and the famous line, “Don’t say cat unless you’ve got it in the sack.” Give it a listen and we’ll see you next week!
Adam Digby is an Italian football writer for FourFourTwo, The Independent, and elsewhere. Author of "Juventus: A History In Black & White." Follow Adam on Twitter.