MILAN (AP) — Paulo Dybala showed he is fully recovered from his recent injury with a stunning goal for Roma against Napoli on Sunday against Sassuolo that lifted the Giallorossi to the top of Serie A.
It was Dybala’s first Italian league goal since February 2nd. season-ending thigh injury. The often-injured playmaker also scored a goal. europa league midweek.
The game at Sassuolo was Dybala’s third in Serie A since the World Cup-winning Argentine returned from injury again this season.
Roma level with defending champions Napoli beat Inter Milan 3-1 Saturday. Both teams have one more point than AC Milan and three points more than Inter.
After some late drama, Bologna trailed Fiorentina 2-2, leaving them one point behind. Juventus lost 1-0 to Lazio and are now in 8th place, three points behind the top four.
Roma knew that if they won, they would be able to tie for the top spot on points, but they have lost three of their last four games in official competition. However, all of those losses were at home, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side having won every away game this season.
Roma took the lead in the 16th minute. Dybala handed the ball over to Brian Cristante, whose shot was deflected well by Arijanette Muric, but Dybala volleyed the rebound well.
Dybala tucks a ball under his shirt, sucks his thumb, blows a kiss to the camera to celebrate, and his wife is pregnant with their first child.
McKechnie escapes
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is under even more pressure as his team has not won in any competition since September 13th. Additionally, the Bianconeri went four consecutive games without scoring.
Lazio took the lead in the ninth minute following a roar from Juventus forward Jonathan David. The Canadian player was deep in his own half and, without any pressure, headed the ball to Lazio’s Danilo Cataldi, who played the ball to Thomas Basic, who slotted it into the bottom right corner.
Juventus were lucky that Weston McKennie was not sent off in the 57th after appearing to push down an enraged Lazio player Matteo Guendouzi. McKennie had been booked three minutes earlier, but the American international avoided another yellow card and sending off.
It was Lazio’s first win in about a month.
Almost 3-0 to 2-2
Struggling Fiorentina may not have won their first league win of the season, but it will surely feel like it.
Fiorentina snatched a point after it looked like they were losing 3-0 at one point.
A sensational volley from Santiago Castro and another from Nicolo Cambiaghi gave Bologna a 2-0 lead. Thayce Dalinga looked to have sealed all three points midway through the second half, but his goal was ruled out for offside and the visitors instead faced a nervy finale.
Fiorentina pulled one back in the 74th minute through Albert Guðmundsson from the penalty spot after Lewis Ferguson’s arm shot, and nine minutes later Bologna defender Emil Holm was sent off after receiving a second booking.
Home side Fiorentina then earned a second penalty in stoppage time after Moise Kean’s overhead kick hit former Fiorentina player Federico Bernardeschi in the arm, claiming he was trying to save his face.
Keane stepped up and sent the goalie flying the other way.
Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano missed the trip to his former club Fiorentina because he was hospitalized with pneumonia.
Verona denied first victory
Hellas Verona missed out on their first Serie A win of the season as Mattia Felici scored an equalizer in stoppage time and Cagliari were held to a 2-2 draw.
Verona led 2-0 until the 77th minute, leaving them just one point out of the relegation zone.
Guillermo Maripan scored the winning goal in the last minute to give Torino a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over bottom club Genoa.
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