We head into October and Serie A is taking shape – and it’s not necessarily how you’d think!
Now don’t get me wrong. The top four clubs in the Italian top flight are exactly the four I’d predict to be occupying those places come the end of the campaign (although not necessarily in the order they are currently).
But, six games into the new campaign, there is no lack of excitement or Serie A highlights to keep you – and the SBOTOP Serie A betting odds – guessing.
Until this weekend Torino were the surprise leaders and unbeaten.
The table toppers had the bit between their teeth and were hoping to extend that run at home to Lazio.
Yet after losing key players this summer, new boss Paolo Vanoli always had his work cut out and they were finally defeated as Mattéo Guendouzi, Boulaye Dia and Tijjani Noslin were on target to help the visitors to a 3-2 win in Turin.
It was a performance which frustrated Vanoli, who was later sent off for dissent, although he at least saw substitute Che Adams net his third in as many games which should see him a starting berth next time out.
Torino are now tied on 11 points with the Milan giants who both enjoyed routine wins.
Milan scored three times in five first half minutes to see off Lecce at the San Siro and build on their unexpected success in the Milan derby five days earlier.
Alvaro Morata, Theo Hernandez and Christian Pulisic were the marksmen in a 3-0 victory.
Milan ended the game with 10 men as teenager Davide Bartesaghi was shown a harsh red card for a sliding tackle, a decision which incensed manager Paulo Fonseca.
Meanwhile, Inter bounced back from derby defeat to see off high-flying Udinese by the odd goal in five.
Lautaro Martinez notched his first goals of the season either side of half-time to seal the victory, all this after Davide Frattesi had scored in the opening minute.
After 43 seconds to be precise as, on a rare start, he raced onto a Matteo Darmian through ball and surprised a distracted Maduka Okoye with a scuffed finish at the far bottom corner.
That set the tone for the victory, which also leaves them on 11 points.
Just off the pace on 12 points are Juventus, 3-0 winners at Genoa, but it is 2023 champions Napoli who lead the way.
On Sunday, they saw off basement battlers Monza (I don’t expect them to stay bottom), courtesy of first half goals from Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia goals.
Since making an awful start in new manager Antonio Conte’s first game, a 3-0 defeat to Verona, Napoli have only dropped points once and the rush of optimism he brought to a club that was coming off one of the worst-ever title defences, finishing in 10th position, 41 points behind the Inter team that dethroned them, appears to have some momentum.
That is six different league leaders after each of the first six weeks.
Newly promoted Como appear to have some momentum too now as they made it two wins on the spin with Patrick Cutrone’s double helping them to a 3-2 win over 10-man Verona.
The final game of the Serie A weekend on Monday night was exciting as last season’s Serie B champions Parma entertained Cagliari.
Nadir Zortea, Razvan Marin and Roberto Piccoli grabbed the goals as the visitors gained their first win of the campaign to move out of the drop zone.
Zortea powerfully headed home the home the opener before Parma levelled just after the hour when Dennis Man rifled home into the far corner of the net – the Romanian international is averaging a goal every two games this season and this was his third in the first six league games so far.
Marin emerged off the bench to put Cagliari back ahead 12 minutes later with a shot which had bend and dip, but the most dramatic finish was still to come.
Just three minutes were on the clock when, following a lengthy VAR review, Jose Luis Palomino was adjudged to have fouled Gabriel Charpentier inside the penalty area and Hernani squeezed the resulting spot kick into the bottom right corner, although goalkeeper Simone Scuffet did get a hand to it.
That seemed to have rescued a point for the spirited hosts but Cagliari restored their lead immediately after the restart with what proved to be the winner as Piccoli converted a Gianluca Gaetano ball.
Cagliari were delighted, Parma were kicking themselves, Serie A keeps on delivering.
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