Serie A. AC Milan stalls, Inter and AS Roma take advantage.

Roma and Inter Milan were ruthless for promoted Monza (3-0) and Cremonese (3-1) to take advantage of AC Milan’s misstep, saved from a defeat at Sassuolo (0- 0) thanks to a penalty saved by Mike Maigan, Tuesday during the 4th day of Serie A.

Paulo Dybala sealed his early love affair with the Olimpico with his first two goals for La Louve as San Siro were reassured by the awakening of the Nerazzurri, four days before the highly anticipated derby against the Rossoneri.

“Centenary” Dybala

And two that add up to a hundred: Dybala has reached the 100 goals mark in Serie A, almost ten years since his first goals – already a double – with Palermo.

On Saturday, he offered Tammy Abraham the equalizing goal against Juventus (1-1). The Englishman returned the favor by being decisive on Dybala’s two goals against Monza. He first launched the Argentinian with a deflection of the head (18th) then armed a strike which returned to the feet of the “Joya” (32nd).

“I really wanted to score. Luckily it happened here in front of our tifosi”, smiled Dybala on DAZN. And his best goal out of the hundred? “The next…”, he slipped. Roma then managed and knocked out the promoted with a header from Roger Ibanez (61st).

Here is José Mourinho temporarily alone in the lead (10 pts), with a team reinforced by Andrea Belotti, entered for the last ten minutes, and the Guinean Mady Camara, who arrived on Tuesday to compensate for the absence for several months of Gini Wijnaldum (broken tibia) .

Inter boosted

Beaten by Lazio (3-1) on Friday and deprived for perhaps a few weeks of Romelu Lukaku, who injured his thigh on Sunday, Inter needed to cheer themselves up.

Joaquin Correa, at the conclusion of an express counter initiated by Nicolo Barella (12th), and Barella himself, with a perfect volley (38th), reassured San Siro before the break. Lautaro Martinez, entered in the second half, participated in the celebration (76th) against a combative promoted, justly rewarded for his efforts by the reduction of the score of David Okereke (90th).

“We wanted this victory after the defeat in Rome, we took three important points,” said Martinez. The Nerazzurri (9 pts) come back ahead of the Rossoneri (8 pts) before the highly anticipated Milan derby on Saturday. For the Cremonese as for Monza, the beginnings in the elite are very difficult with zero points after four games.

Milan held back

On the ground of Sassuolo where they had conquered their title of champions by winning easily (3-0) on the last day of the 2021/22 season, the Rossoneri experienced a thousand difficulties with a revamped team. They were particularly clumsy like Rafael Leao or Olivier Giroud and jostled in defense despite the return of the pillar Simon Kjaer after nine months of absence since his serious knee injury.

But Milan can always count on the solidity of Mike Maignan. The N.2 goalkeeper of the Blues pulled out all the stops to repel the penalty from Berardi (23rd), who was injured in the second half. “Magic Mike” was still impeccable on a header from Davide Frattesi (45th) then a strike from Kristian Thorstvedt (53rd).

“Too much haste, not enough lucidity. But the derby will be a different match,” promised coach Stefano Pioli.

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