Serie A 24th Round Recap: Inter Dominate Sassuolo, Juventus and Lazio Draw, Roma and Atalanta Secure Vital Wins

The 24th round of Serie A showcased a series of dramatic and crucial matches as the league intensifies in the race for European places and survival. The day kicked off with a tight match at the Dall’Ara where Bologna clashed with Parma. The game was marked by two red cards, one for each side, and ended late dramatically as Ordóñez secured a 1-0 victory for Parma in the dying moments, handing Bologna a harsh defeat despite their efforts in the closing stages.

At the Mapei Stadium, Inter Milan put on an emphatic display, dismantling Sassuolo 5-0 with goals from Bisseck, Thuram, Lautaro Martínez, Akanji, and Luis Henrique. The Nerazzurri started coolly but quickly took control of the match, capitalizing on a red card shown to Sassuolo's Matic which effectively ended the contest as a competitive encounter. This win was key for Inter, consolidating their position in the top tier of the standings.

Juventus and Lazio clashed in a thrilling 2-2 draw that saw Lazio take an early two-goal lead through Pedro and Isaksen. However, Juventus fought back with McKennie and a dramatic 96th-minute equalizer from Kalulu, sparking wild celebrations. The match was intense, filled with near-misses including a missed penalty by Dele-Bashiru and a close header by Openda with the final whistle. Both sides demonstrated resilience and attacking intent in a match that had fans on the edge of their seats.

At the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, Atalanta secured a 2-1 victory against Cremonese. Goals from Krstovic and Zappacosta gave the home team a foothold, though Cremonese hit back late through Thorsby. A late VAR disallowed goal from Djimsiti helped maintain the tension until the final moments. Atalanta’s win was crucial for their ambitions this season.

Roma defeated Cagliari 2-0 at home thanks to a fine performance from Malen, who scored a brace. The Dutch forward first opened the scoring in the 25th minute and doubled the lead early in the second half, both times assisted by teammates highlighting Roma’s attacking cohesion. Cagliari struggled to threaten the hosts in this important victory for the Giallorossi under Gian Piero Gasperini’s management.

Lecce came from behind to beat Udinese 2-1 in a match that swung dramatically. Gandelman put Lecce ahead early, but a second-half penalty from Solet leveled the game. The decisive moment came at the 90th minute when Banda scored a stunning free kick to seal the victory for Lecce, showcasing their determination in a tough battle.

On the defensive side of the game, former Torino defender Giacomo Ferri has weighed in on the state of Italian centre-backs, naming Napoli's Alessandro Buongiorno and Atalanta's Giorgio Scalvini as the best in Italy. Speaking to Radio TuttoNapoli, Ferri remarked, "For me, Scalvini and Buongiorno are the best Italian centre-backs right now." He notably ranked Buongiorno above Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni as a pure centre-back, praising Bastoni's qualities mainly in attacking roles and as a left-sided defender in a three-man defense system.