MILAN, Dec 10 (Reuters) – Chievo goalkeeper Stefano Sorrentino produced a memorable double save to frustrate AS Roma while fading Napoli were held at home by Fiorentina as Serie A’s weekend of 0-0 draws continued on Sunday.
Sorrentino defied Patrik Schick and then Gerson in quick succession to cap an outstanding performance in their goalless stalemate, denying fourth-placed Roma a chance to close the gap on the leading trio.
Napoli’s draw, which followed the previous week’s 1-0 defeat to Juventus, was the first time they had failed to score in successive league games in Maurizio Sarri’s two-and-a-half seasons as coach.
AC Milan gave Gennaro Gattuso his first win as their new coach when two goals from Giacomo Bonaventura gave them a 2-1 win over Bologna at snowy San Siro, their first at home in the league since late September.
Inter Milan, still unbeaten, lead with 40 points from 16 games after they also drew 0-0 away to titleholders Juventus on Saturday. Napoli are a point behind in second, followed by Juve on 38 and Roma in fourth on 35.
Roma dominated their match but found Sorrentino, on the wrong end of a 5-0 defeat against Inter Milan one week ago, in unbeatable form.
The highlight came when the 38-year-old parried the ball at point-blank range after Schick deflected Aleksandar Kolarov’s drive with a back-heel. Sorrentino then also managed to block Gerson’s effort from the rebound.
He also made a point-blank save by Maxime Gonalons in the second half, stopped another powerful Kolarov effort and then managed to block a deflected Schick effort with his leg to keep the Flying Donkeys afloat.
“Our goalkeeper gave us a big hand today. Sorrentino’s secret is that he is a great professional with real fire,” said Chievo coach Rolando Maran, whose side are tenth.
Piotr Zielinski had Napoli’s best chances when he fired over the crossbar from a good position and then saw another shot turned on to the post by Fiorentina goalkeeper Marco Sportiello.
Marek Hamsik hit the post from the edge of the area and Dries Mertens missed another good chance as Napoli’s usually lethal finishing let them down.
Milan, held 2-2 by bottom-of-the-table Benevento on Gattuso’s debut one week ago and beaten by Rijeka in the Europa League on Thursday, got off to a perfect start when Bonaventura scored with a deflected shot in the tenth minute.
Simone Verdi replied for Bologna 13 minutes later and the San Siro crowd was starting to get impatient when Bonaventura outjumped his marker to head in from Fabio Borini’s cross in the 76th minute.
Milan, seventh with 24 points, still had to cling on as Verdi saw a header turned around the post by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Adam Masina’s deflected volley bounced off the top of the crossbar.
SPAL scored twice in the final five minutes to draw 2-2 at home to Verona.
Alessio Cerci, from a penalty, and Martin Caceres netted after halftime for the visitors but Alberto Paloschi pulled one back in the 86th minute and Mirco Antenucci converted the second penalty of the match two minutes later.
Benevento, who picked up their first point of the season at home to AC Milan a week ago, went back to their losing ways in a 2-0 defeat at Udinese, leaving them bottom with one point from 16 games.
Former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga made a losing start in charge of lowly Crotone as they lost 2-1 at fellow strugglers Sassuolo. (Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne, editing by Neil Robinson and Clare Fallon)
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.