Serie A Team of the Week – Round 11

Samir Handanovic (7 points): five clean sheets in the weekend, by Inter, Milan, Frosinone, Parma and Sassuolo, but there was no particularly superb performance by any goalie, so Handanovic gets the nod by default because he has earned the most points so far in the season and he is also the most owned in the bunch.

Alessio Romagnoli (8 points): it is hard to believe that a centre-back could be involved in late goals in two games in a row, but this was the case for the Milan captain. The one versus Genoa was more impromptu, while in Udine he followed a fast-break and punished an howler by the back-line with a powerful strike from inside the box.

Francesco Zampano (5 points): the Frosinone defense is no longer a dumpster fire and it did not allow a goal for the second game in a row. The right wing back always sprints several times down the flank, creating a power play for his team and had a good chance to score and almost set up a teammate on Sunday.

Rogerio (5 points): Sassuolo held in check Chievo and the youngster extended his streak of solid performances by scurrying down the wing in few occasions.

Dries Mertens (16 points): the Belgian star was certainly in fine form before, but he erupted on Friday, heaping misery on Empoli. He bagged a hat trick, including a pair of beauties: the first one in the bottom right corner from the distance was surgical, the second, lofted over the outstretched arm of the goalie from the right-hand side of the box, was magical. The final one was easy, as he beat the goalie to the ball on a solo counter and put it in the empty net.

Joao Mario (10 points): Luciano Spalletti is working his magic on some reclamation projects and none was more arduous than the former West Ham player’s one, much maligned for €40M price tag and the subpar performances in the first stint. The midfielder was excellent against Genoa, providing two assists and scoring from distance. He could carve a decent role as substitute of Radja Nainggolan in the hole moving forward.

Roberto Gagliardini (10 points): another reserve that seized the moment on Saturday, as he pounced on two rebounds in the box for a rare brace to round up the score in a commanding win.

Danilo Cataldi (6 points): a day to remember for the midfielder, who was playing for 50^th time in a Lazio jersey. He first assisted Ciro Immobile with a corner kick and, later on, he beat the goalie with a sudden cannon shot from distance. He answered the bell with both Lucas Leiva and Milan Badelj hurt.

Andrea Belotti (10 points): the Rooster finally had a scintillating performance this season, as he buried a very pretty header to open the dances at Marassi and completed his brace with a penalty.

Ciro Immobile (8 points): Lazio rarely disappoints against the minnows and that was the case again when they hosted SPAL. Immobile had a great display and his chemistry with Felipe Caicedo is improving by the day. His first goal came on a magnificent volley, the second on a deflected shot from medium range.

Lorenzo Insigne (8 points): Mertens took centre-stage versus Empoli, but Insigne had another fruitful outing, finding the target with a clever finish with the outside of his foot that caught the goalie by surprise and dishing two assists.

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