Italy was not happy about playing at midweek, or so it seems from the five red cards handed out across seven Wednesday matches in Serie A.
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Juventus moved back atop the table by a point over Inter Milan, but had to work to the wire for it, while Atalanta held firm against Napoli’s challenge to see two Roman clubs move into the Top Five.
Juventus 2-1 Genoa
It was supposed to be easier for The Old Lady at home against a Genoa side which hasn’t done much well this season, especially after a 51st minute red card for the visitors made a 1-1 score line appear destined to move toward the hosts.
Despite taking 20 more shots than the guests, Juve could not make it an easy win. Adrien Rabiot was sent off in the 87th minute, and Maurizio Sarri’s men only triumphed when Cristiano Ronaldo converted a stoppage time penalty.
Napoli 2-2 Atalanta
The hosts lost a pair of leads as goals from Nikola Maksimovic and Arkadiusz Milik couldn’t deliver three points against the third place La Dea.
Remo Freuler’s 41st minute goal meant the score line was tied at halftime, and Josip Ilicic struck in the 86th minute to give Atalanta a share of the points in a match with 13 shots on frame.
Lazio 4-0 Torino
It was a bit of cakewalk for Lazio, who scored in the 25th and 33rd minute and saw Nicolas Nkoulou sent off in the 68th. Ciro Immobile scored two in the win, as 18-point Lazio is a point back of their fourth-place city rivals.
Udinese 0-4 Roma
Manchester United loanee Chris Smalling has his first Serie A goal, nodding in Roma’s second as i Lupi move back into the Top Four.
Roma led 1-0 when Federico Fazio was sent off, but still scored the game’s three remaining goals. Nicolo Zaniolo, Justin Kluivert, and Aleksandar Kolarov joined Smalling on the score sheet.
When asked about the performance, Roma boss Paulo Fonseca offered this gem:
Elsewhere
Sassuolo 1-1 Fiorentina
Sampdoria 1-1 Lecce
Cagliari 3-2 Bologna
AC Milan v. SPAL -- 4 p.m. ET Thursday
STANDINGS
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS |
| Juventus | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 5-0-0 | 3-2-0 | 26 |
| Inter Milan | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 3-1-1 | 5-0-0 | 25 |
| Atalanta | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 30 | 16 | 14 | 2-1-1 | 4-2-0 | 21 |
| Roma | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 2-2-1 | 3-2-0 | 19 |
| Lazio | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 10 | 12 | 3-2-0 | 2-1-2 | 18 |
| Napoli | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 3-1-1 | 2-2-1 | 18 |
| Cagliari | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 3-1-2 | 2-2-0 | 18 |
| Fiorentina | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 2-1-2 | 2-2-1 | 15 |
| Parma | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 3-0-3 | 1-1-2 | 13 |
| Bologna | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 15 | -1 | 2-1-1 | 1-2-3 | 12 |
| Verona | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 1-2-2 | 2-1-2 | 12 |
| Torino | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 16 | -5 | 2-2-1 | 1-0-4 | 11 |
| AC Milan | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 1-1-2 | 2-0-3 | 10 |
| Udinese | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 17 | -12 | 3-0-3 | 0-1-3 | 10 |
| Sassuolo | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 18 | -2 | 2-0-3 | 1-0-3 | 9 |
| Lecce | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 19 | -8 | 0-1-3 | 2-2-2 | 9 |
| Genoa | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 13 | 23 | -10 | 2-1-2 | 0-1-4 | 8 |
| Brescia | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 0-1-3 | 2-0-3 | 7 |
| SPAL | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 | -9 | 2-1-2 | 0-0-4 | 7 |
| Sampdoria | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 19 | -13 | 1-2-2 | 0-0-5 | 5 |
