Team of the Week

Serie A Team of the Week, Round 14: Milan can't handle maverick Ilicic

The Slovenian and team-mate Christian Romero were in outstanding form for Atalanta who won 3-0 at the San Siro

 
10:48am on Monday 25th January 2021
By
Martin Macdonald

Atalanta moved to within a point of the Champions League spots in Serie A this weekend after one of their most complete performances of the season, defeating league leaders Milan 3-0 at San Siro.

Key to the victory was maverick forward Josip Ilicic (8.4), who scored from the penalty spot to add a deserved goal to an overall excellent outing.

He won 9/15 duels, sent 23 passes into the final third, and sent eight successful crosses into the box.

However, the leading player in FootballCritic's Serie A Team of the Week is his team-mate Christian Romero (9.1).

The Juventus loanee not only recorded a goal and an assist, but kept Zlatan Ibrahimovic relatively at bay with a commanding performance at the back. He made seven ball recoveries, four Interceptions, and three clearances.

Joining Ilicic in the three-man forward line is Simone Zaza (8.4), who scored two for Torino in a 2-2 draw against Benevento, and Borja Mayoral (8.2), who also scored two goals as Roma narrowly defeated Spezia 4-3.

Just behind the forward line is Mattia Zaccagni (8.1), who contributed to two goals via one scored himself plus an assist as Verona moved up to eighth after superbly overcoming Napoli 3-1.

Lazio made it four Serie A wins in a row at the weekend as they beat Sassuolo 2-1, with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (8.6) scoring a key equaliser after the visitors had taken the lead.

Nobody was involved in more duels than the Serbian midfielder this weekend with 23, and he won a brilliant 15 of them.

Alongside him in midfield is Lorenzo Pellegrini (8.7) of Roma, who scored and assisted for the Giallorossi.

Only one Juventus player makes the cut this week, with Juan Cuadrado (8.9) slotting in at right-back after his assist for Weston McKennie in the 2-0 win against Bologna. The Colombian won 11/15 duels, too.

Joining Romero in the centre of defence is Maya Yoshida (7.9). He scored as Sampdoria defeated Parma 2-0 away, but they rode their luck at times as goalkeeper Emil Audero (8.4) had to be relied upon to make five saves to earn his clean sheet.

In at left-back is Genoa's Domenico Criscito (7.9).

 
 
8.4
79
7.9
78
7.9
74
9.1
94
8.9
91
8.7
84
8.6
85
8.4
88
8.4
74
8.2
83
8.1
73

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