Serie A round-up: Best and worst performers from Boxing Day's action

Despite only managing a 2-2 draw with Atalanta, Juventus still managed to increase their lead at the top of Serie A to nine points with one game left to play before the winter break starts. Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench to save Juventus’ blushes with his 12th league goal of the campaign.

Lazio maintained their two point lead over fifth place with a 2-0 win away to league strugglers Bologna, courtesy of an inspired Luiz Felipe. The 21-year-old centre-back opened the scoring in the 30th-minute with his first league goal of the campaign before providing the assist for Lazio’s second in second half stoppage time.

Coupled with the fact Lazio also kept a clean sheet, Felipe finished Boxing Day as the highest WhoScored rated player in Serie A (9.43 rating). Furthermore, the young Brazilian also won five aerial duels and made four tackles.

Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata has been in outstanding goalscoring form of late, netting in each of his last five appearances after scoring twice against Juventus on Boxing Day. Zapata, who has scored eight goals in total across those matches, drew Atalanta level midway through the first half before giving them the lead after the break.

The 27-year-old had four shots against Juventus in total and also weighed in with four key passes, to secure the second highest WhoScored rating in Serie A on Boxing Day (8.58 rating). The Colombia international impressively completed 93.3% of his passes and drew three fouls in a dominant centre-forward performance against Juventus.

Rounding off the top three is Torino striker Andrea Belotti (8.39). Torino ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at home to Empoli on Boxing Day, with Belotti providing an assist and hitting the woodwork. The 25-year-old had four shots in total, hitting the target on two occasions and winning three aerial duels. Belotti also completed four dribbles and won three fouls for his team. The Rooster also chipped in with Torino did not have the ball, completing three tackles and interceptions combined.

While the aforementioned trio had a day to remember on Boxing Day, the same cannot be said for Fiorentina defender Vitor Hugo. The 27-year-old was sent off 65 minutes into Fiorentina’s shock 1-0 defeat at home to Parma, garnering a WhoScored rating of 4.29 - the lowest in Serie A in GW18. Hugo had not even completed a tackle during his time on the pitch, while also committing an error that led to Parma’s winner.