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Serie A picked back up where it left off in the drama department as the Italian top-flight’s electrifying start to the campaign looks to not be letting up by any means. Week nine witnessed Roma remaining perfect to match a prestigious record, Milan’s mercurial force of nature struggling in yet another loss, and Juventus appearing to have been shocked back to life on the back of a painful pair of results in the preceding days.
Historic Roma cope without stars
The league leaders faced a true test of their mettle in heading to Udinese without forwards Francesco Totti and Gervinho, but emerged victorious to end Udinese’s 22-game unbeaten run at home.
In the process Rudi Garcia’s men equaled the previous record of nine straight wins to open the Serie A season, held by Fabio Capello’s 2005-06 Juventus side, securing the 1-0 triumph through Michael Bradley’s late strike from distance after Maicon was sent off 25 minutes from full time.
The American, making his first appearance since September 1 following an injury lay-off, needed just a single shot to leave his mark on proceedings and completed two passes in his only other action of an efficient 12-minute cameo.
Marco Borriello disappointed stepping in for Totti, registering a Performance Score of -17 as he laboured to have an impact, but Adem Ljajic did well out wide in the Ivorian’s stead, tallying four take ons, a pair of shots on goal, and completing 91% of his passes.
2. Balotelli out of sorts in early exit
“We had to change something for the second half,” Massimiliano Allegri told Sky Sport Italia Sunday after Milan slumped to a fourth defeat in their first nine matches. “I took off Balotelli because he didn’t have a good game, while [Andrea] Poli had done well and it was a tactical issue.
“Balotelli had a few good moments, but overall it was not a good game. I needed a centre-forward who could really play that role and Balotelli wasn’t doing it, although he has the characteristics. He’d also been booked, so I was afraid we’d go down to 10 men.”
The Milan boss’ seeming condemnation of the temperamental Italy international is indeed well-supported by the striker’s dismal line of statistics on the day.
In 52 minutes of play Balotelli had just two attempts on goal, both of which came from miles out and were blocked, whilst he compled just eight of 15 passes and won one of four headed duels en route to a Performance Score of -5.
And as the famed San Siro outfit continues to flounder, sitting tenth in the standings at weekend’s end, Allegri quite rightly appears to be particularly troubled by the poor showing from the greatest talent in his squad.
3. Juventus galvanised by troubling defeats
The Bianconeri’s crushing loss to heated rivals Fiorentina last Sunday and subsequent demise midweek in the Champions League against Real Madrid look to have provided the reigning Serie A title-holders with the necessary antidote to their ills.
Though Juventus actually did quite well in the Spanish capital despite falling 2-1 to former coach Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte’s men victimised themselves once again in suffering the wrath of profligacy and defensive lapses.
Yet the Old Lady looked reborn against Genoa at the weekend, posting a Performance Score of 455 as they dominated Genoa courtesy of previously slumbering giants Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and Kwadwo Asamoah.
The trio posted Performance Scores of 75, 62, and 62 respectively, the Italian shining above all in creating three chances, completing 92% of his passes, and succeeding in a perfect four of four attempted take ons.
Conte’s charges look to have been reinvigorated at the perfect time after largely lacking the intensity the coach has made the hallmark of his side since assuming the helm in May 2011, as they face an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League whilst needing to keep the pace on the domestic front as well.
4. Klose the difference maker for Lazio
A substandard first half against Cagliari on Sunday left the Lazio in danger of failing to win for the sixth time in as many matches across all competitions, but the experienced German’s introduction at the break changed the complexion of the encounter in a move that may have well saved boss Vladimir Petkovic his job.
Klose needed just seven minutes on the pitch to net one of his trademark headers, moments later winning an insurance penalty for his side with his veteran guile.
Despite playing for only half of the match, the 35-year-old racked up the third-highest Performance Score of the evening with 38, netting on one of his two shots, and succeeding in 100% of his headed duels and take ons.
The Biancocelesti will be hopeful that Klose has finally overcome the niggling injuries that have limited him to 400 minutes of action thus far in the term, given the convincing evidence of how important he is to the side’s success.
5. Hellas Verona’s dire defending on corners
The newly-promoted club may be the surprise package of the season in Serie A, but nonetheless suffered from the realities of life in the top flight against Inter on Saturday.
They were nothing short of an abject disaster in defending corner kicks, allowing the Nerazzurri to pick out a team-mate on eight of nine attempts from the flag and conceding three goals as a direct result of their contemptible efforts.
Coach Andrea Mandorlini will be certain to address such a starkly apparent issue, as the Gialloblu’s storybook sixth place position on the table certainly won’t last long should his troupe not improve in this fundamental area.
