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Serie A Top Five, Round 15: Sepe and Godin see stoppers on top
Serie A

Serie A Top Five, Round 15: Sepe and Godin see stoppers on top

Elsewhere Parma's Sepe produced goalkeeping display of the round

9:00am on Monday 9th December 2019
By
Team FC
Cristian Ansaldi
M, DM (L) - Torino - 33 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
8.5
Dec 8, 2019
1Goals
1Assists
4Dribbles
11Duels won
12Ball recovered
1Big chances
55Touches
5Crosses

Ansaldi was in excellent form in his position at left-wing back as Torino recorded their third win in four. His first contribution was a teasing cross that Simone Zaza dispatched with conviction, before his intelligent run and well-placed shot doubled the advantage. His four completed dribbles and five crosses from the left flank meant he was Torino's best attacking option in the round.

Luigi Sepe
GK - Parma - 28 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
8.4
Dec 8, 2019
90Minutes played
4Saves
22Long balls
1Duels won
6Ball recovered
33Passes

Sepe and Parma's backs were very much against the wall for much of their away victory at Sampdoria and their goalkeeper was in excellent form. He made two excellent saves from Ronaldo Vieira - the one in the second half showed fantastic instincts to block from point-blank range - and also flung himself to his right to save Fabio Quagliarella's second-half penalty. In a match that could have easily been lost, Sepe won the points.

Diego Godín
D (CR) - Inter - 33 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
90'
8.4
Dec 6, 2019
104Touches
76Passes completed
93Successfull passes %
1Big chances
4Clearances
5Ball recovered
3Tackles won
9Duels won

In a match that promised much but delivered very little, Diego Godin was partly responsible for the score ending 0-0 in Inter's clash with Roma on Friday. The veteran defender is still able to keep forwards at bay and his performance was as commanding as ever. He completed 76 of his 82 passes, as well as producing a multitude of excellent defensive numbers - nine duels won, five recoveries, 3/4 tackles won and four clearances. He may be 33 but he's still as reliable as it comes.

Filip Đuričić
AM (L), M (C) - Sassuolo - 27 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
89'
8.3
Dec 8, 2019
1Goals
1Assists
3Total shots
1Shots on target
5Fouled
5Dribbles
11Duels won
7Ball recovered

Sassuolo will be left wondering how they failed to defeat Cagliari, stumbling to a 2-2 draw despite being 2-0 ahead, but Duricic did everything he could to get his team over the line. His brilliant bursting run laid on Berardi to slot in, then he was in the right position to sidefoot his finish from inside the area with confidence. From there, Sassuolo missed a penalty and really should have built on the platform Duricic gave them.

Samuel Di Carmine
ST (C) - Verona - 31 yrs
MAN OF THE MATCH
87'
8.3
Dec 7, 2019
2Goals
3Total shots
2Shots on target
4Touches in box
4Duels won
2Aerials won
3Clearances
36Touches

Another player unfortunate not to record victory was veteran forward Di Carmine who, despite putting Verona in front twice at Atalanta, had to watch his side succumb to a 3-2 loss. His first took advantage of a quick throw-in to blast home from close range, and the second was a well-taken effort from a good position inside the area. He will have been the most disappointed player that his goals ultimately counted for nothing.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Berat Djimshiti (8.2) did everything possible to drag Atalanta from a position of defeat to win in the final moments.

ROUND TO FORGET

Mattia Bani (4.7) didn't have the best of games in Bologna's loss to AC Milan.

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