Serie A Team of the Week: Round 20 - Benassi's super saves deny Inter a point & Matri keeps Juventus top of the table

Goal.com picks the best performers from Italy's top flight as the Lecce shot-stopper helped his team to a narrow triumph over Ranieri's men and the striker silenced Udinese

Jan 30, 2012 8:30:00 AM

More On :  AC Milan, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Genoa, Juventus, Lazio, Lecce
Serie A

Team Of The Week:

Round 20

Table/Results

GOALKEEPER

Massimiliano BENASSI
Lecce
TOTW Apps: 2
The 30-year-old masked man was the star of his side's historic win over Inter, making great saves to deny headers from Walter Samuel and Giampaolo Pazzini. His one-handed stop on the Italy striker's powerful effort during the final minute of the match was stunning and befitting of a superb performance.
DEFENDERS

Alessandro NESTA
AC Milan
TOTW Apps: 2
Giuseppe BIAVA
Lazio
  TOTW Apps: 1 


Andrea BARZAGLI
Juventus
TOTW Apps: 1
Milan did not suffer a single shot on target as they waltzed to a 3-0 win over Cagliari and veteran centre-back Nesta was perfectly positioned and kept his team organised throughout. Similarly Biava did the same as Lazio snuffed out Chievo by the same scoreline on the road.  It is never an easy task going up against Antonio Di Natale and Udinese, but Barzagli was elegant and timely in his tackles and forays forward despite the snowy weather conditions as Juventus beat the visitors.

MIDFIELDERS

Ezequiel SCHELOTTO
Atalanta
TOTW Apps: 3
Mark VAN BOMMEL
AC Milan
TOTW Apps: 1
Riccardo MONTOLIVO
Fiorentina
TOTW Apps: 1
Juan CUADRADO
Lecce
TOTW Apps: 3
Schelotto put his former side Cesena to the sword, his constant drive and threat eventually leading to the Seahorses suffering an own goal. Van Bommel has had his critics of late, but bossed the midfield at San Siro. The Netherlands international negated the threat of Radja Nainggolan and Co. In Tuscany, despite a few lapses in concentration, Montolivo orchestrated play from the centre of the pitch to help his side to a derby win over Siena. The midfielder displayed intelligence and some nice movement in directing the Viola's attack. Showing great energy down the flank, Cuadrado not only set up shop to frustrate Inter but also made several dangerous runs forward and took on defenders to good effect.

FORWARDS

Zlatan IBRAHIMOVIC
AC Milan
TOTW Apps: 6
Alessandro MATRI
Juventus
TOTW Apps: 2
Rodrigo PALACIO
Genoa
TOTW Apps: 2
It seemed all too easy for Ibrahimovic on Sunday, the towering forward placing a fine curling free kick over the wall to open the scoring and also showing his worth as an assist man, teeing up the ball for Nocerino's strike that made it 2-0. Meanwhile, Matri's two goals could prove crucial to Juve's Scudetto chase, the striker pouncing on a rebound for the first before showing fine control and strength to turn his marker and fire past Samir Handanovic to complete his brace.

Finally, Genoa stunned Napoli with a 3-2 victory in which Palacio and Alberto Gilardino combined to great effect up front. The Argentine bagged a brilliant double, including a stunning opener as he struck a first-time volley from outside the area that flew inside the far post following his strike partner's cushioned header.


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