Practically a quarter of the way, Serie A gives the first indications in the fight at the top
Poker of victories for the Italian Magnificent Four competing in the Champions League. At the Juve Saturday in the derby they answered yesterday in chronological order Inter at lunchtime, the Naples at snack time and on Milan at dinner time. A little more than a quarter of the way to the Scudetto requires a first partial check up. A comparative balance after 10 days that makes all the more sense considering that practically all the greats have the same coach on the bench as last season and that among the top of the class only Udinese (Sottil instead of Gotti who was then replaced by his deputy Cioffi) has changed leader.
NAPLES points 26 – In the lead this year alone, in the lead last year in cohabitation with Milan who would later win the tricolor. Spalletti’s battleship has two points less (26 against 28), with positive balance for the goals scored (25 against 22) but almost triple the number of goals conceded (8 against 3). All this, however, topped off by the amazing European campaign: 12 points in 4 games in the Champions League group, best attack of the event with 17 goals (more than 4 per game on average).
ATALANTA points 24 – For the first time in the Gasperini era it remained outside Europe. But those who feared the collapse due to the crisis of the seventh year of marriage between the Turin coach and the Goddess were disappointed. Atalanta have six points more than last season (24 against 18), a clear sign that the absence of the double commitment is beneficial.
MILAN points 23 – The victory of the Bentegodi is important and vaguely auspicious (also last year with Tonali and we know how it ended …) but the gap compared to the tenth day of the past championship remains quite wide: -5 passing from 28 points to the current 23 Three goals less (20 to 23) and defense with practically the same numbers (10 goals today, 9 yesterday) despite the numerous, prolonged and qualified absences in the department (above all Maignan). However, Pioli still has fair chances to continue on the European path: in the last season the fourth place in the group decreed the continental stop, now both the Champions League round of 16 and the third place that is worth the Europa League are within walking distance.
LAZIO points 21 – Significant +4 for Sarri’s team (21 points against 17) which also improved the data relating to goals scored (21 against 19) and goals conceded (with Atalanta being the best defense of A with just 5 goals collected against 17 of the last tournament). Thus so the path in the Europa League (qualification however within reach), full of pitfalls the future of Ciro Immobile whose muscle injury could keep him away from the fields until the stop for the World Cup.
UDINESE points 21 – It is obviously the revelation of the season: his 21 points are almost double the 12 collected in the first ten games of the past tournament. Seven goals scored more (19 against 12), four less conceded (10 against 14).
ROME points 19 – Engaged tonight in Marassi, Mourinho’s team version 2022-23 is a photocopy of that of 2021-22: same points (19) in the first 9 days. Mou pays Abraham’s poor streak in attack (12 hits against 18), practically the same defensive strength (9 goals against 10).
INTER points 18 – With the Champions League round of 16 in their sights (exactly like last season), Inter’s Inter of the Zaghi-bis have three points less than last season (18 against 21). However, the negative balance of the goals scored / conceded boxes: while waiting for Lukaku, the Nerazzurri attack scored only 18 times (against 26 in 2021-22) while the rearguard collected 14 goals against 12 in the past tournament.
JUVENTUS points 16 – La Vecchia Signora alias Grande Malata has a surprisingly better score than last season. The limited success in the derby brought the Bianconeri to 16, one point more than last year. And if the attack continues to score with the dropper (13 goals, in 2021-22 there were 14) the defensive resistance is far better (7 goals conceded compared to 12 last year). The very painful notes obviously come from the Champions League: for the first time in his career Massimiliano Allegri seriously risks not detaching the pass for the second round. At Juve, a similar sporting tragedy has not happened since the 2013-14 season when under the guidance of Antonio Conte (not exactly an … Ancelotti in the international field) he rebounded in the Europa League having only ranked third in the group behind Real Madrid (which precisely with Carletto he would later win the Tenth) and Galatasaray.
