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Romelu Lukaku shows signs of being back to his best – TEN THINGS WE LEARNED from Serie A

Romelu Lukaku shows signs of being back to his best – TEN THINGS WE LEARNED from Serie A

It was another action-packed weekend in Italy as Serie A saw plenty more twists and turns.

Juventus secured a crucial win against Cremonese to all but secure their Champions League place for next season, Inter Milan continued their good form with a 4-2 victory over Sassuolo, but AC Milan suffered a costly defeat to Spezia, leaving them four points off the top four.

Mail Sport delves deeper into Serie A’s weekend action and brings you ten things we learned.

Oudin’s breakthrough moment

Remi Oudin has been a welcome surprise during the run-in in Serie A with his performances for Lecce. 

The Frenchman is very aggressive in his playing style and has impressed, culminating in two fine goals against Lazio on Friday.

The 2-2 draw was a huge point for Marco Baroni’s side as they look to stave of the threat of relegation.

They are currently 16th, two points and two places clear of the drop with just three games to play.

Leece are punching above their weight with an inexperienced squad so survival would be a fantastic achievement. 

Remi Oudin has shone for Lecce in recent weeks as the Serie A minnows look to secure safety

Remi Oudin has shone for Lecce in recent weeks as the Serie A minnows look to secure safety

Lazio dropping points could be costly 

Lazio’s defensive horror show against one of the worst attacks in Serie A will have frustrated Maurizio Sarri and could have costly implications in their race for the Champions League.

Luca Pellegrini had made a huge impact while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic shone of the bench with the equaliser, but they couldn’t force what would have been a hugely important win.

With these sorts of displays, Lazio risk missing out on the great opportunity to return to Europe’s elite club competition.

Perhaps the result showed they don’t have the mentality of a big club. 

Maurizio Sarri will be extremely frustrated with his side dropping points against Leece

Maurizio Sarri will be extremely frustrated with his side dropping points against Leece 

AC Milan supporters vent their anger 

AC Milan are in dreadful form, with just two wins in seven games and it is just 12 months since they sensationally won the Scudetto, while just a month ago they knocked out Napoli of the Champions League.

They risk throwing away all this good work by missing out on the top four in Serie A and the 2-0 defeat to Spezia was a bad day  at the office.

After the game, the players were summoned by ultras for a discussion on their disastrous performance and poor run of form. 

The group were seen solemnly listening to the fans read them the riot act and time will tell if they respond over the last few weeks of the season. 

The Rossoneri’s defence is leaky and they’re also struggling for fluency in attack.

Spezia outshot and outscored Stefano Pioli’s side and that is hugely worrying. 

AC Milan supporters confronted the team after the weekend's dismal 2-0 defeat to Spezia

AC Milan supporters confronted the team after the weekend’s dismal 2-0 defeat to Spezia

Stefano Pioli's side have now won just two of their past seven league games and lie in fifth

Stefano Pioli’s side have now won just two of their past seven league games and lie in fifth 

Lukaku shows signs of being back to his best

A seventh consecutive victory and two goals from Romelu Lukaku – things are looking good for this in-form Inter Milan side.

Since April, they have got the most points and scored the most goals in Serie A in what is exceptional from Simone Inzaghi’s side.

They are pretty set for the Champions League for next season which will bring a much-needed financial boost for the club, while they are on the verge of being in the final of this year’s competition.

Lukaku has recaptured his best form in recent weeks and he will hope to end his loan spell at Inter on a high before returning to Chelsea in the summer.  

Romelu Lukaku has showed signs of being back to his best for Inter Milan over recent weeks

Romelu Lukaku has showed signs of being back to his best for Inter Milan over recent weeks

Fagioli can be the next Pirlo

Nicolo Fagioli put in a confident display for Juventus at the base of midfield against Cremonese on Sunday.

If he keeps playing like this, Fagioli could even become the apparent heir to Andrea Pirlo.

He was tidy in possession and strong in defence at the weekend, and while Serie A’s 19th place side doesn’t represent the best test of his abilities, he can take great credit from his performance.

Paul Pogba’s injury gave him even more responsibility but he was never afraid to get on the ball and dictate play and he is becoming increasingly important for Max Allegri. 

Nicolo Fagioli put in a hugely impressive display at the weekend and demonstrated his class

Nicolo Fagioli put in a hugely impressive display at the weekend and demonstrated his class

Atalanta are in freefall

Atlanta’s second successive defeat has come at the worst possible time. Gian Piero Gasperini’s team are struggling in defence and their play is riddled with errors.

Perhaps they have reached the end of the cycle and need to undergo a major rebuild in the summer.

They are no longer showing many of the qualities their successful teams became so synonymous with such as their aggression and intensity.

President Antonio Percassi may need to have a re-think in the summer and refresh their ageing squad.

Maybe even after so many years, Gasperini has run out of energy and his side now look a shadow of their former selves. 

Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta side have looked a shadow of their former selves recently

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta side have looked a shadow of their former selves recently

Mourinho trusts the youngsters

Mile Svilar, Nicola Zalewski, Benjamin Tahirovic and Filippo Missori are all young and raw but Jose Mourinho placed his trust in them against Bologna on Sunday.

It seemed a controversial choice, but it reflected his side’s stretched squad due to injuries to players like Rui Patricio and Paulo Dybala.

They failed to break down a resolute Bologna side though and missed a golden opportunity to put pressure on fourth place.

However, Mourinho deserves credit for trusting the youth in such an important game of the season, although it now looks like they will have to settle for a place in the Europa League next season.

Jose Mourinho put his faith in youth, but it now looks like Roma will miss out on the top four

Jose Mourinho put his faith in youth, but it now looks like Roma will miss out on the top four

Rotten injury luck for Pogba again

Seven years after his last league start for Juventus, Paul Pogba suffered yet another injury after just 22 minutes.

The midfielder heartbreakingly burst into tears at the time, covering his face and he has only played 163 minutes in Serie A since his return to the club.

Is this really appropriate for the team’s highest-paid player? That is the question all Juventus fans are asking right now.

The diagnosis is worrying because he looks set to miss the second leg of their Europa League semi-final with Sevilla, and he could be absent for a long period of time. 

Paul Pogba had to limp off with injury just 22 minutes into his first league start this season

Paul Pogba had to limp off with injury just 22 minutes into his first league start this season

Belotti has been a flop at Roma 

When Andrea Belotti joined Roma last summer on a free transfer, he surely did not expect to be the only striker in Serie A still yet to score a goal after 29 appearances.

Jose Mourinho desperately wanted to sign him and has tried to help him in every way, but the move hasn’t worked out and Belotti cannot be considered a top player.

He struggled against Bologna on Sunday as he was too slow and wasteful in attack.

It is now likely that he will leave the club in the summer after just one year with the club. 

Andrea Belotti's move to Roma has been a disaster and he will likely move on in the summer

Andrea Belotti’s move to Roma has been a disaster and he will likely move on in the summer

Candreva having an Indian summer at Salernitana

Antonio Candreva was a forgotten man in Serie A but he has been revitalised by this season’s loan spell at Salernitana at the age of 36.

The former Italy international star has been the engine of the team and has thrived under Paulo Sousa.

He has played a more attacking role under the former Swansea City boss and as added five goals and three assists this season.

A second successive great escape from relegation is largely down to him and he could well stay on at the club in a coaching role after he eventually retires. 

Former Italy international star Antonio Candreva is enjoying a renaissance with Salernitana

Former Italy international star Antonio Candreva is enjoying a renaissance with Salernitana

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