FC Como hosted Inter Milan today in a Serie A Sunday night showdown. Both teams came into the game looking to pick up a crucial three points. For, Inter a win would just put them out of Napoli reach and help secure a league title. Meanwhile a win for Como would see them reclaim fourth place and a Champions League spot after Juventus overtook them yesterday.

The game would start fairly even but Como had the slight front foot with the home ground advantage. They used this to pick up the lead in the 35th minute after Alex Valle scored. Valle goals came off a rebound from Nico Paz’s shot from Yann Sommer fell perfectly for the young spaniard to push it home.

However, Como were not done there as Nico Paz would find a second goal only ten minutes later. Jean Butez would play Paz into space with a long ball from a quick goal kick. From there he only had to beat one before finishing wonderfully past Sommer to make it two-nil Como.

But, Inter wouldn’t accept a defeat lying down, even away from home. Marcus Thuram managed to score only a minute later as Inter look to create a quick attack before the end of the half. Nicolo Barella crossed him a ball in before he easily beat Diego Carlos and pocked the ball passed Jean Butez to cut Como’s lead.

Marcus Thuram then managed to equalise the game for Como only three minutes into the second half for Inter. Nicolo Barella would play Thuram through again who would chip Jean Butez who was outside his box. However, that wasn’t all that Inter would have in store. They would manage to take the lead in the 58th minute after being two goals down. The goal to give Inter the lead came from a header from Denzel Dumfries from a free kick from Hakan Çalhanoglu.

One goal wasn’t enough for Dumfries as he managed to score again to secure all three points for Como. He put a lovely finish home after Marcus Thuram played him in the box after an Inter free kick. However, Como wouldn’t role over to Inter as they kept on the attack through the second half. Lucas Da Cunha would get one back from a spot kick. This came after Nico Paz was fouled inside the box by Denzel Dumfries.

Player Ratings:

The Best

Marcus Thuram – 8: Marcus Thuram warmed up to this game slowly but once he started going he couldn’t be stopped. He had two goals in four minutes of match time and was a constant threat for Inter. He also played a key role distributing the ball creating the assist for Denzel Dumfries second goal.

Nico Paz – 7: Nico Paz showed off his undoubted quality once again as he looked like the point guard to Como’s attack. Every single chance Como had came through Paz in the centre of their attack and he was rewarded with a goal.

Denzel Dumfries – 7.5: Dumfries was key for Inter Milan on the left flank as his counter part Federico Dimarco struggled. He was strong on both sides of the ball before topping up his performance with the goal to give Inter the lead. His two goals were also key for Inter winning the match.

The Worst:

Anastasios Douvikas – 4: Douvikas was poor for Como today despite his recent for as he struggled for an impact. He couldn’t beat Francesco Acerbi in the middle of the pitch and even when he did, Douvikas didn’t take any of his big chances, especially not when Inter had momentum in the first half.

Pio Esposito – 4: Pio Esposito had a poor game for Inter in his first start since missing the penalty for the Azzurri. He let the pressures of the game get to his head as he felt he need to play well. This lead to him make simple mistakes trying to play correctly instead of as himself.

Jean Butez – 3: Jean Butez was strong with the ball at his feet today, even managing an assists to Nico Paz. However his shot stopping has been nothing but a liability throughout the game, and if he didnt’t make a bunch of simple mistakes, Como could have easily taken a point or all three.

Napoli travelled to Parma today in the hopes to keep their slim Scudetto dreams alive by picking up all three points. However, they would have a disaster start instead with Parma managing to score within the first minute. Gabriel Strefezza broke free on the counter attack, before managing to beat Vanja Milinkovic Savic with a finesse shot off the post.

Napoli would then look to claim back an equalise almost immediately as they looked to turn the game into their favour. But, amongst the fierce support from inside the Stadio Ennio Tardino, Parma would manage to hold out until halftime. This was despite the fact Napoli lead the possession count 72-28% at the break.

Napoli would continue with their sluggishness into the second half as they would fail to break down Parma’s low block set up. However, Napoli wouldn’t be denied for ever as Scott McTominay would find a goal in the 60th minute. Rasmus Hojlund would lay off McTominay who slotted home a right footed finish with ease. Napoli would keep on the front foot for the rest of the game but be unable to score.

Player Ratings

Best

Gabriel Strefezza -6.5: Strefezza was my man of the match during today’s game. He provided Parma so much more than his goal as he was influential in most to all of Parma’s attacking chances.

Zion Suzuki – 6: Suzuki had another strong performance for Parma as he has been a foundation for them for the last two seasons. He dealt with all of Napoli’s Ariel chances today keeping them out for a solid hour.

Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa – 5: Zambo Anguissa was playing the conductor role for Napoli today in the center of midfield while the rest of the team played more frantically. Which allowed him to standout while he was on the field.

Worst

Kevin De Bruyne – 4: KDB looked lost out there for Napoli today as he struggled to get on the ball and maintain it. The oage of the game just looked too quick for De Bruyne to help Napoli.

Rasmus Hojlund 3.5: Hojlund struggled to get involved for Napoli today as the faltered early. Once he started behind in the game he failed to catch-up similar to how he has done in the past.

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic 3: Vanja could have cost Napoli the one point that they were able to pick up today. He looked panicked at all times if he was defending his goal or looking to move into attack.

Bologna hosted AS Roma tonight for the first leg of the Europa League round of 16. Both teams were hoping to avenge losses in Serie A on the weekend. This came as both teams were playing angry and looking for a win to get their form back on track.

This led to the start of the game being a skittish grudge match. Bologna and Roma both saw a player pickup a yellow card in the first 15 minutes. It was worse for Bologna as Juan Miranda picked up the yellow and will now miss the second leg.

A fairly even first half would end up scoreless in a physical battle. Both sides had good chances on either end mainly through counter attacks, but both failed to create a big one. This came as both Santiago Castro and Donyell Malen were kept quite by the opposing defences in the first half.

However, in the second half the game would blow open. Bologna managed to find a spark plug through Jonathan Rowe who had a magnificent second half. He would create more with the ball beating Roma defenders on the ground and opening up the Giallorossi’s defence.

Rowe would manage to create the opening goal of the game for Bologna. He bought the ball down from a long pass dribbled past four Roma players and threaded the needle to Federico Bernardsechi who would then finish beautiful across goal to give the Rossoblu the lead.

Roma would look to create an equaliser after Roma scored but started off with little success. Bologna was aiming to keep up some pressure but Roma would have more control in the game. However, Roma would manage to find their break through substitute Lorenzo Pellegrini.

Joao Mario would be unable to control a high ball which would bounce allowing Cristante to take it. He would then find Donyell Malen who would beat 3 Bologna defenders and force Lukasz Skorupski to dive allowing him to find Lorenzo Pellegrini with an open net to equalise.

Donyell Malen would have another big chance to score after beating two defenders and Skorupski one on one, however his shot would be deflected off the post. Meanwhile in the 88th minute Martin Vitik managed to beat Mile Svilar with a header but it went off the crossbar and out of play, leaving the game level until full time.

Player Ratings

Bologna

Jonathan Rowe – 7.5: Jonathan Rowe was my man of the match today as he was key for Bologna, throughout the game. He created most of their chances including the second goal were he found Federico Bernardeschi open on the left side of the box.

Lukasz Skorupski (5.5), Juan Miranda (6.5), Jhon Lucumi (5.5), Nicolo Casale (5.5), Joao Mario (6), Tommaso Pogeba (6.5), Remo Freuler (5.5), Lewis Ferguson (6), Federico Bernardeschi (7), Santiago Castro (6)

Roma

Donyell Malen – 7: Donyell Malen was on the end of the most of Roma’s chance while also being responsible for creating some of them. However, his performance lacked the clinical end product today which we have come to know him for with Roma so far this season.

Mile Svilar (6.5), Zeki Celik (5.5), Evan Ndicka (6.5), Daniele Ghilardi (6), Devyne Rensch (5), Neil El Aynaoui (5.5), Niccolo Pisilli (5.5), Wesley (6), Bryan Cristante (6), Bryan Zaragoza (5),