sport news Juventus are devoid of attacking ideas, Inter Milan have a potential heir to ... trends now
While the title race may have already been decided with Inter Milan securing their 20th Scudetto, there remains a lot to play elsewhere in the table in Serie A.
The battle for European places remains as fierce as ever, with Juventus having seemingly run out of momentum with just one win in their last five at a critical juncture of the campaign.
Last season's all-conquering champions Napoli continue to flounder in mid-table, with talisman Victor Osimhen looking increasingly destined for a move abroad though he continued his fine form in front of goal in a 2-2 draw with Roma.
Meanwhile, Udinese's near-three decade stint in the Italian top flight looks increasingly threatened as a 1-1 draw with Bologna leaves them two points adrift of safety despite having only suffered 13 defeats this season, the same as seventh-placed Lazio.
Mail Sport's Alvise Cagnazzo takes a look at 10 things we learned from this weekend's Serie A action...
Juventus were frustrated in a goalless draw against AC Milan as their faltering form continued
This is the main question that Juve supporters continue to ask themselves after enduring yet another lacklustre performance in a 0-0 draw with AC Milan
Their third place position in the table is looking increasingly tenuous as calls for a radical reshaping in the leadership structure continues to grow from disgruntled fans.
Massimiliano Allegri has created a very tense and restless atmosphere in the dressing room and the nervousness of the players on the pitch seems so evident that it cannot be analysed.
Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa no longer tolerate the coach's technical management and suffer as a result of his obsession with being pragmatic.
Against Milan, Allegri's poor choices slowly reduced the team's range of action, reducing the attack to a toothless imitation of the sum of its parts. At the end of the game the most dangerous men in attack, despite the terrible game played, were Adrien Rabiot and Federico Gatti, further laying bare the total lack of offensive ideas.
Juventus proved toothless going forward as their poor recent run continued against Milan
Milan's Malick Thiaw proved to be an almost insurmountable wall during the clash at the Allianz Stadium, repeatedly stifling Dusan Vlahovic in his efforts to fire the hosts in front.
Thiaw's performances are attracting significant attention from several clubs in the Bundesliga casting uncertainty on his long-term future in Italy.
The 22-year-old could be tempted by an offer to return to the German top-flight just two years after arriving in Serie A from Schalke.
Thiaw's performance in keeping Juventus at bay proves just how important he could be for Milan as they look to rebuild in the coming seasons.
Malick Thiaw repeatedly denied Juventus on Saturday and could be set for a move back to the Bunesliga
Hakan Calhanoglu is currently the best playmaker in Europe, and is perhaps the best in all of world football.
The Turkish midfielder has earned comparisons to Andrea Pirlo for his ability to score from set-pieces and has become a beacon of Inter's midfield since arriving at the club in 2021.
Calhanoglu's recent goal-scoring form, including a brace against Torino on Sunday is a testament to the intuition of Simone Inzaghi who chose to sacrifice Marcelo Brozovic to accommodate the former AC Milan star in his team.
13 goals in the league, 15 in the season: he had never scored so much in Italy, but it is the 30-year-old's all-round contributions to his team that have proven just as vital as his ability in front of goal.
On the pitch he screams, fights and allows all players to move to the rhythm of his vertical and precise passes. In the middle of the pitch he dictates the law in every way and does not shy away from a tackle.
He has become Andrea Pirlo's heir, making that role even more attacking, and now he can write Inter's history.
Hakan Calhanoglu is enjoying the most prolific campaign of his career at Inter Milan
Tammy Abraham may not yet have returned to full fitness but he has retained a goalscoring instinct that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries in Serie A.
His first goal since returning from injury will come as a huge boost to the Englishman who has been forced to spent most of the campaign on the sidelines through injury.
Roma's draw against Napoli is not an ideal result for Danielle De Rossi's side because it offers an assist to Bologna and Juventus in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
The former Chelsea striker's last equaliser will come as a relief after such a tough clash but there remains a feeling that the Giallorossi missed an opportunity to put pressure on the teams above them.
With Romelu Lukaku seemingly destined to depart the Stadio Olimpico this summer, Abraham has an opportunity to press on as Roma's main offensive threat next season, particularly given that he appears to suit De Rossi's style of play.
Though he is far from the most well-rounded forward to grace Serie A, the 26-year-old's eye for goal and willingness to fight for his opportunities will be effective weapons for Roma next season if he is able to stay fit.
