Football games in Serie A this weekend had everything.
Enough twists and turns for even the most ardent live betting fan.
What would the betting odds have been on six red cards in 10 matches and extra controversy with goals allowed and disallowed and penalties awarded courtesy of VAR (video assistant referee)?
Sassuolo 0-3 Atalanta
A close contest until late on as Atalanta showed the ruthlessness which has taken them to the fringes of the European spots.
This was like a home match for the visitors who are playing their Europa League home games at the Mapei Stadium this season.
Andrea Masiello nodded them in front on the half hour before Bryan Cristante and Remo Freuler bagged late goals as the hosts finished with 10 men.
Chievo 0-2 Juventus
Chievo battled but the odds were always stacked against them once Samuel Bastien was dismissed for two yellow cards before the break.
When Fabrizio Cacciatore was shown a straight red just after the hour mark, it was surely only a matter of time before Juve turned the screw against nine men.
Cue Sami Khedira and Gonzalo Higuain as Juventus went top for 24 hours.
SPAL 1-1 Inter Milan
A real boon for SPAL as Alberto Paloschi grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser for the relegation battlers.
A real blow for Inter’s hopes of a top-four finish (though they remain in fourth).
The visitors had seemed on course for a first victory in two months, courtesy of Francesco Vicari’s own goal at the start of the second half.
Crotone 1-1 Cagliari
It’s a draw neither side really wanted.
Marcello Trotta’s 29th-minute penalty, awarded by VAR, put the hosts in front; and their chances of leapfrogging their opponents was helped on the stroke of half-time when Fabio Pisacane received a straight red card for a high tackle.
Yet, injury-hit Cagliari weren’t to be denied and replied immediately through Luca Cigarini’s perfectly executed free-kick.
That they held on for the whole second period with 10 men—key players missing and another VAR decision, which this time went in their favour (a last-gasp home goal disallowed)—keeps a bit of daylight between themselves and the drop zone.
Fiorentina 1-4 Hellas Verona
You can say what you like but few saw this coming.
A fine victory at the Stadio Franchi in Florence as two goals in the first 20 minutes from debutant Jagos Vukovic and Moise Kean gave the visitors confidence.
A fabulous win for under-fire coach Fabio Pecchia and one which means an escape route from the bottom three is in sight.
Genoa 0-1 Udinese
Here was another case when a side reduced to 10 men thrived.
Valon Behrami struck the only goal just after the hour, three minutes before Samir Santos was dismissed (again courtesy of VAR which persuaded the referee to rescind his initial yellow for a straight red).
Udinese weren’t to be denied though as they held on for only their second win against Genoa since 1983.
Napoli 3-1 Bologna
Only 24 seconds had elapsed when Rodrigo Palacio headed the visitors in front. However, Napoli stayed calm to return to the top.
Dries Mertens’ double, after an own goal, sealed a sixth successive league win for Maurizio Sarri’s side.
Torino 3-0 Benevento
Despite providing some joyous moments this season, Benevento seem destined for the drop.
This latest result showed yet again what an uphill struggle they face.
Their cause wasn’t helped by the 34th-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Vid Belec.
Torino ultimately made short work of the bottom club, thanks to three first-half goals from Iago Falque, M’Baye Niang and Joel Obi.
AC Milan 2-1 Lazio
Milan needed this!
There was more VAR controversy as their opener was allowed to stand despite Patrick Cutrone appearing to score with his arm.
Adam Marusic quickly levelled, but Jack Bonaventura’s header just before the break settled the San Siro contest—a venue where Lazio haven’t won since 1989.
Now to their midweek meeting in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final.
AS Roma 0-1 Sampdoria
A tale of goalkeeper heroics and a fine win in the capital for Sampdoria.
Both sides had chances but were thwarted by Emiliano Viviano and Alisson Becker respectively, the former denying Alessandro Florenzi’s first-half spot kick.
In the end, however, Duvan Zapata helped Sampdoria close the gap on Roma to just four points. His tap-in settled the club’s second meeting of the week.
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