EURO BITES: Serie A - Napoli crowned winter champions, Roma’s boss on the brink and goal-line technology causes controversy

Salvatore Avallone asks whether Napoli can win the Serie A title along with the latest news from Italy.

NAPOLI SOARS TO FIRST PLACE AFTER CRUSHING FROSINONE

Maurizio Sarri, Napoli’s coach, celebrated his 57th birthday in the best possible way…with a crushing 5-1 victory away against Frosinone. The win took Napoli to first place on the Serie A table as they took advantage of unexpected defeats of Inter and Fiorentina, making them Winter Champions for the first time since 1989-1990. In this last match of the first round of the season, there was no competition for Napoli with Frosinone conceding two goals in the first half and three more in the second, including a brace by superstar Gonzalo Higuain. Sarri described the striker as not only the most successful in the league (he has scored 18 goals in 19 matches), but as the greatest forward in the world. In terms of Napoli’s results, however, Sarri remained cautious: “Nobody ever won a marathon halfway through,” he told reporters.

JUVENTUS PROVE UNSTOPPABLE

After their first ten matches this season, Juventus’ situation looked dire. With only 12 points, there was talk of the Bianconeri handing over their title this year, but after their ninth consecutive victory on Sunday against Sampdoria that prospect looks more and more unlikely. Juventus has climbed nine places to join Inter in second in the Serie A table following the run of wins. The match was decided by the goals from Paul Pogba, whose physical and technical prowess was unparalleled, and Sami Khedira, as well as the magic of young but seasoned striker Paulo Dybala. Although Sampdoria star Antonio Cassano reduced the deficit, his goal did no more than try the Bianconeri’s nerves. Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri was proud of his players after the match, but warned that the title race would be tough and tight. “Inter and Napoli will fight to the end,” he told reporters.

INTER’S 1-0 SPECIALTY…BUT FOR THE WRONG TEAM

Inter is known for their 1-0 victories: this season they have won nine matches by that very scoreline. Sunday’s match against Sassuolo also finished 1-0, but for once Inter were on the wrong end. Inter played well and created numerous opportunities to score, but the imprecision of strikers Mauro Icardi and Adem Ljajic and the extraordinary skill of Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli kept the score goalless until added on time, when Sassuolo scored a penalty. Sassuolo demonstrated once again that they deserve their sixth place on the Serie A table. They have already defeated Napoli, Juventus and Lazio. Inter coach Roberto Mancini was not discouraged, but said that “if we continue in the second round (of the season) the way we played in the first, we will reach our objective: a spot in Champions’ League.”

ROMA TO DISMISS RUDI GARCIA? SINISA MIHAJLOVIC HANGS ONTO AC MILAN JOB?

AS Roma and AC Milan approached Saturday’s match knowing that the losing team might also lose their coach. Both Rudi Garcia and Sinisa Mihajlovic have been hanging on to their positions by the skin of their teeth after a disappointing first half of the season. But after the 1-1 draw between the sides, the Milan coach seems to have saved himself for now while Roma’s Garcia appears to be on his way out. Roma’s American president James Pallotta reportedly confirmed that Garcia will be replaced, after a prolonged Roma crisis in which players seem to be technically, tactically and physically out of shape. Roma has won only one match of the last ten. In the first half of Saturday’s match the team rallied, only to lose steam in the second half, giving Milan the chance to equalise and almost take the lead. Possible replacements for Garcia include Leonardo, Luciano Spalletti and Marcello Lippi, among others.

LAZIO CONTINUES TO SURPRISE

Lazio is the most unpredictable Italian team at the moment. After having defeated top side Inter before Christmas, Stefano Pioli’s team ruined the beginning of the new year for second placed Fiorentina. In an impressive 3-1 victory on Saturday night, Lazio’s new 4-1-4-1 formation brought results, and highlighted the talent of Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia. Fiorentina felt the absence of Federico Bernardeschi and suffered from the dubious tactical choices of coach Paulo Sousa, who benched Josip Ilicic, Giuseppe Rossi and Babacar. Nikola Kalinic was isolated in attack and didn’t create many problems for Lazio’s defence. If Fiorentina is to continue to fight for the title and a place in Champions League, new acquisitions in the transfer window will be crucial. At the end of the match, Lazio coach Pioli called the match the best his side has played this year. “But we need continuity,” he added.

GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY CAUSES CONTROVERSY

Goal-line technology was introduced in Italy at the beginning of this season. It is a system of 7 video cameras positioned on the goal line to help the referee determine whether the ball has passed and a goal has been scored. In the first four months, the technology was never used because there were no borderline cases, but in December a penalty kick by Marek Hamsik was confirmed by the technology. It surprised no one, since the replay showed a clear goal. Last Wednesday, however, goal-line became a protagonist on the pitch in a match between Chievo and Roma when Simone Pepe’s free kick was saved by the Roma goalkeeper…or so everyone thought. The play continued, until the referee whistled and indicated that a goal had been scored. When players protested, he made a simple gesture to his watch, where it showed that the technology had registered a goal. To that, there was no argument.