Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Dive of the season contender in Juve vs Inter as ex-Arsenal target leads theatrics

talksport.com, 4 April 2022, 14:22
Dusan Vlahovic produced a contender for the dive of the season in a Derby i'Italia clash full of theatrics from both Juventus and Inter Milan stars.

There was a comical delay between the former Arsenal transfer target being touched and dropping to the ground in feigned agony - but he wasn't the only one as teammate Matthijs de Ligt also went down, as did opposition player Lautaro Martinez.

It was a significant game at the top of Serie A, with defending champions Inter in need of three points to keep in touch with joint leaders AC Milan and Napoli in the title race.

Whilst I Nerazzurri didn't create many clear cut chances, having only produced five shots in the entire match, they came away with victory.

A penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage-time was enough to give Inter a 1-0 win against their arch rivals in Turin.

Juventus were made to pay for not working Samir Handanovic enough in the opposition goal, having only been on target five times in 22 attempts.

A loss at home meant they missed the chance to claw themselves back into the title race, with Juve now seven points adrift of the pace-setters.

And now they will be anxiously looking over their shoulders as Jose Mourinho's Roma side are just five points behind them.

However, despite a result that had a big impact on the Serie A title race, the questionable antics of players on both sides were what commanded the post-match headlines.

Ex- Arsenal transfer target Vlahovic went down theatrically as if he had been hit by a heavyweight boxer, when in reality, he had been accidently been on the end of a little flick in the face by Danilo D'Ambrosio.

It was a ridiculous moment as the Italian defender only raised his arms in what appeared to be a protest, when the Serbian striker was inadvertently caught with the slightest of touches as he was jogging back.

D'Ambrosio raised his hand to apologise but the 22-year-old felt the damage caused to him was enough to go down, after an obvious and hilarious delay in his reaction.

It is becoming a bit of an issue though for Serie A officials, as it's the second time in months the £63million star has attempted to win a decision by unfair means.

Against Atalanta in February, the 22-year-old tried to win his side a penalty by falling to the ground when he simply was not touched.

Understandably, the opposition defence were furious, and the striker quickly rose to his feet.

And in the match between Juve and Inter, if one piece of 'violent play' wasn't enough, there was another.

De Ligt went down after being 'struck' by former Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian.

The Italian moved his arm and looked to have laid a ferocious finger onto the former Ajax captain sending him to the ground.

And to round off a hat-trick of slapstick dives, Martinez produced his own act for Inter.

Attempting to shoot on goal, the Argentine forward completely missed his effort, and appealed for a penalty after he felt he was fouled in the box.

However, replays showed that he had actually gone to ground after missing the ball and kicking the defender's foot instead.

Plonker.

Top News

23 December 2024 talksport.com Big things were expected of Marko Mitrovic when he joined Chelsea as a 16-year-old in 2008. 23 December 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT has today announced that is has won radio rights to the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 coverage. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Boxing Day football is beloved by fans and one of the highlights of the Christmas schedule - but it can prove tricky for the players. 23 December 2024 talksport.com A handful of Premier League stars will be able to spend Christmas at home this year after receiving a Boxing Day ban. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea return to action on Boxing Day when they play host to local rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lisandro Martinez has claimed that Manchester United were "playing so well" before losing 3-0 to Bournemouth on Sunday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has allegedly made a further two senior players available for transfer. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Arsenal have reportedly scouted Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui as an alternative transfer target to Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly discovered the asking price of Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro. 23 December 2024 talksport.com Denis Suarez wasn't the player Arsenal fans wanted to sign - but he's the footballer supporters have a hard time in forgetting. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be aiming to avoid four straight defeats across all competitions when they welcome Everton to the Etihad in the Premier League on Boxing Day. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After spending Christmas Day in the bottom half of the Premier League table, Tottenham Hotspur endeavour to atone for recent failings when they travel to Nottingham Forest for a Boxing Day battle. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After celebrating Christmas Day at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool get back to business on Boxing Day, when they welcome Leicester City to Anfield. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hatayspor vs. Adana Demirspor (Monday, 5.00pm) The battle of the bottom feeders in the Turkish Super Lig unfolds on Monday as Hatayspor host Adana Demirspor at the Mersin Stadyumu. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica vs. Estoril (Monday, 6.45pm) Separated by 10 places in the Primeira Liga table before gameweek 15, second-placed Benfica are clear favourites to outdo Estoril Praia at Estadio da Luz on Monday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fiorentina vs. Udinese (Monday, 5.30pm) After their incredible success streak was finally brought to an end last week, Fiorentina will aim to start another winning run on Monday, when they meet Udinese. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk First place in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup will be at stake on Wednesday as Bahrain and Iraq celebrate Christmas Day at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window.