It was yet another exciting round of Serie A action at the weekend as the new season really starts to heat up. The big game, of course, was in the Eternal City where a last-gasp header from substitute Mirko Vucinic possibly saved Claudio Ranieri his job (cough, cough Francesco Totti) - previously winless Roma defeating nfl throwback jerseys
champions Inter 1-0.
The other big guns, Milan and Juventus, also returned to winning ways after recent disappointments. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was once again the Rossoneri saviour with the winner over Genoa, while Juve fans can worship a new hero following a devastating display of dazzling wing-play by another summer signing, Milos Krasic, who tore Serie A's last unbeaten club Cagliari to pieces by grabbing a hat-trick in a 4-2 triumph.
Joining Inter at the top of the standings are the peninsula's most consistent side in these early weeks, Lazio. The Biancocelesti were very impressive as Mauro Zarate ended his seven-month goal drought by downing third-placed Chievo. Elsewhere, Fiorentina won their first game and Udinese their first point of 2010/11, Edinson Cavani-inspired Napoli thrashed Cesena 4-1 with three late strikes and Palermo recovered from two down at home to Lecce to draw. For all the results and round-up, click on this link.
What all these results helped confirm is that Serie A is currently the most competitive league in Europe. Just two points separate the top eight places, and there is only five points difference between Inter and Lazio in first, and Lecce down in 19th. In the Premier League, the new ‘Big Four’ of Chelsea, Arsenal and the Manchester clubs are already threatening to pull away from the pack, Carlo Ancelotti’s league-leaders a whopping 11 points ahead of 19th placed West Ham, with a goal-difference of +19 after just six matches. In Spain, table-toppers Valencia enjoy a 10-point cushion over second-from-bottom Deportivo, with Barcelona and Real Madrid just behind ready to compete in their own glorified two-team Scottish Premier League. Only the increasingly exciting German Bundesliga can challenge Serie A for competitiveness, with Stuttgart and Schalke holding up the rear, Bayern Munich 10 points off the pace, and Mainz the shock leaders after six matches with a 100 per cent record.
Unlike in Spain and especially England, there are no easy games in Italy. You can tune into a match at the weekend and watch a relegation-battler outplay a Champions League outfit. This season, the gap in quality between top and bottom is so small that 70-75 points could very well be enough to win the Scudetto. In particular, a handful of Steelers jersey
new imports - some with the potential to be world class - have added extra quality throughout the division and further complicated Inter’s quest to dominate as they have done since Calciopoli.
The star signing of the summer so far has undoubtedly been Brazilian playmaker Hernanes - the inspiration behind Lazio's ascent to the Serie A summit. The 25-year-old was for so long courted by Milan, but they may now regret not snapping him up. The €13.5 million arrival from Sao Paulo possesses the creativity, skill, twists, turns and left foot - just ask Alessandro Nesta after he skinned the Roman for Sergio Floccari's equaliser against the Rossoneri last Wednesday - to cause all kinds of problems for defences and some believe Lazio could challenge for a Champions League place as a result.
An unknown breakout star has been Palermo's Josip Ilicic, who arrived from Maribor along with compatriot Armin Bacinovic the day after impressing against the Sicilians in a Europa League playoff clash in August. The 22-year-old is 6ft 3in and cuts a lanky appearance, but there is nothing clumsy about him. He is graceful with a beautiful left foot shot, insightful through balls and fast free-flowing dribbling qualities. Ilicic has already scored against both Inter and Juventus, and tallied up a number of asissts. Immediately it is clear that he is a player with immense potential, and Palermo will be a great side to watch this season with Ilicic and Pastore supporting the likes of Fabrizio Miccoli and Abel Hernandez.
Hopes are not high in Turin this term, but the club at least have their hands on an explosive talent whom they can build a bright future around. Milos Krasic's hat-trick last night confirmed the brilliance of the Serbian, who has pretty much been a one-man team in these first five games. His pace and agressiveness will be too much for many full backs. While on the topic of full backs, this is the one position where Serie A is lacking. But Cesena newboy Yuto Nagatomo, who was featured extensively in Chris Paraskevas' piece on Japanese footballers starring in Europe, is having something to say about that. The final imports to shine are the Milanese newboys Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng. The former we already know all about through his time at Juventus and Inter, but the latter has brought some much-required Vikings jersey
physical energy to the Rossoneri. A midfield three of Pirlo, Boateng and Flamini/Ambrosini must surely be the starting trio to protect and support Milan's outrageously gifted attack.
This weekend sees Italy's two bitterest enemies Inter and Juventus battle it out at San Siro, but there will be another nine matches worth watching - such is Serie A's strength in depth this season.
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