Up until the weekend, Sampdoria had only scored six goals at home in the league this season, and nearly doubled that tally all in the one match as they beat Brescia 5-1. After going a goal behind and managing to get back into the game, it would be Jakub Jankto who would put them in front with a brilliantly taken side-footed volley into the bottom left corner after a cross from the right. He then turned into the assist maker for the final two goals, digging out a cross from the line for Gianluca Caprari before finding Fabio Quagliarella with a lofted pass down the right channel.
Although starting in central midfield, Karol Linetty could often be found venturing out to the right wing in the win versus Brescia, and it was from there that he eventually caused huge problems for the visitors. Before that, however, he actually got Samp back on level terms with an opportunistic chested touch and volleyed finish into the bottom corner after a poor defensive clearance. Then, he bulldozed his way down the right flank, emphatically muscling Ales Mateju off the ball before picking out Jankto at the back post with a cracking cross.
Udinese's hot run of league form continued this week as they won their third Serie A match in a row, with Sassuolo on the end of a 3-0 defeat on this occasion. Seko Fofana was the star of the show for the hosts, laying on assist for the second and third goals. Both set-ups came via lung-bursting runs, with him playing to the left for Ken Sema to smash home and then playing right for Rodrigo de Paul to score, with him displaying an unselfish attitude in both moves. As well as being integral going forward, he helped out defensively, too, making the third-most ball recoveries of anyone in the league this weekend with 14.
After four games without a victory, Fiorentina finally got back to winning ways, just, as they defeated SPAL 1-0 on Sunday. They may have gained all three points, but they didn't play at all well, and had to rely on a superb corner-kick delivery from Erick Pulgar and a subsequent towering header from German Pezzella to win it. Pulgar was their best player on the day, though, and as well as assiting the winner he completed 44/52 passes, won the majority of his duels, and made 13 ball recoveries.
Quagliarella scored two in Sampdoria's win over Brescia, but arguably should have had more as before he netted his first he missed two great chances with a close range header and from a wasted finish at the back post. He finally got the chance to get on the scoresheet from the penalty spot which he took with gusto, firing high above the keeper. His second goal was arguably the best of the day, as he rounded off the Samp victory by running through on goal and expertly lobbing a delicate finish over the oncoming keeper. Lovely stuff from the veteran.
HONOURABLE MENTION
Atalanta had Inter on the ropes at San Siro on Sunday, and would have probably left with all three points instead of one had it not been for Samir Handanovic (8.2) denying Luis Muriel with a penalty save.
ROUND TO FORGET
It wasn't a great day at the office for Brescia, conceding five against Sampdoria, especially for defenders Massimiliano Mangraviti (4.9) and Aled Mateju (5), who only made one successful tackle, between them, the whole game.
