Serie A Team of the Week: Round 16 - Buffon & Lucio help in-form Juventus & Inter keep clean sheets

Goal.com picks the best performers from Italy's top flight as the Bianconeri and Nerazzurri kept up their positive run of matches by defeating Novara and Cesena

Dec 19, 2011 9:00:00 AM

More On :  AC Milan, Atalanta, Catania, Chievo, FC Internazionale, Genoa, Juventus, Roma, Udinese
Serie A

Team Of The Week:

Round 16

Table/Results

GOALKEEPER

Gianluigi BUFFON
Juventus
TOTW Apps: 2
The Italy international was dominant in his area once again; Buffon was secure behind the defence in Turin, always claiming crosses and making one fantastic save to deny Rubinho's header as Juve earned a 2-0 win over Novara.
DEFENDERS

LUCIO
Inter
TOTW Apps: 2
 JUAN
  Roma 
  TOTW Apps: 1 


THIAGO SILVA
AC Milan
TOTW Apps: 4
A trio of Brazilians feature in our three-man back line this week. It's no coincidence that Inter's trend of keeping opponents out has improved since the comeback of Lucio; the 33-year-old committed several great challenges in the narrow victory over Cesena. Roma picked up a shock win at the Stadio San Paolo and Juan's return from suspension helped to shackle Napoli's attackers. Meanwhile, the impeccable Thiago Silva was able to quell the rare threat Siena striker Emanuele Calaio posed with relative ease.

MIDFIELDERS

Ezequiel SCHELOTTO
Atalanta
TOTW Apps: 2
Giampiero PINZI
Udinese
TOTW Apps: 1
Francesco LODI
Catania
TOTW Apps: 1
Simone PEPE
Juventus
TOTW Apps: 2
Schelotto pushed down the right side effectively for Atalanta, causing Fiorentina plenty of problems and crossing for German Denis' late strike. Pinzi was a key player in the enthralling 2-2 draw between Udinese and Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, helping to set up the winner with a fine through ball before finishing off a counter himself to salvage a point for his side on the road. Catania were the victors of the Sicilian derby and Lodi was simply superb in midfield, also executing a pearl of a free kick to open the scoring. Another Juventus man in our Best XI is Pepe, the winger tapping in Paolo De Ceglie's ball across the area and also assisting Fabio Quagliarella's header from a corner.

FORWARDS

Lucas PRATTO
Genoa
TOTW Apps: 1
David DI MICHELE
Lecce
TOTW Apps: 1
Cyril THEREAU
Chievo
TOTW Apps: 1
Genoa have shot up to eighth place in the standings after a 2-1 triumph over Bologna that starred Pratto. The Argentine waltzed around the goalkeeper before laying the ball off for Marco Rossi's opener and then won the game with a fine strike in the 85th minute. Veteran hitman Di Michele could not lead Lecce to victory, but did score twice, including a spectacular bicycle kick in a 3-3 draw versus Parma.

Finally, the Flying Donkeys got back on track by beating Cagliari and Thereau combined brilliantly with Alberto Paloschi up front, showing plenty of strength to score the first before he burst down the left and set up Gennaro Sardo to make the points safe.


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