Serie A's Top 5 sides' performances analysed

Twelve games in, it is safe to say that this season’s instalment of the Serie A has been a thrilling one with blowouts, goals, and excitement (aided by the introduction of Video Assistant Referee technology).

La Vecchia Signora or the Old Lady as Juventus are known are not having it all their way this season and there is a hunger in the Italian peninsula for a team other than the Black & White to win the Scudetto.

The biggest spending team of the summer transfer window, AC Milan, have failed to justify the big spending with its expensively assembled squad (£175.05m) struggling to find coherence in performances.

They have lost all the big games they have played this season (0-2 losses to Juventus & AS Roma at home) & (3-2 to Internazionale in the Milan Derby).

The promoted teams have been abysmal as well with Benevento yet to even draw a match after 12 games and with a goal difference of -26.

#1 SSC Napoli

Maurizio Sarri's men have been near unstoppable this season, scoring goals and winning in style

The Partonepei have been the standout team of the season so far though they seem to have slowed down recently with draws against Inter Milan and Chievo Verona allowing the chasing pack to gain ground.

Maurizio Sarri’s side has been one of the most exciting teams in Europe and by some distance, the most entertaining team in Serie A.

The frontline of diminutive stars Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne combining with Spanish winger Jose Callejon has been destroying defences in the league with 32 goals scored in the twelve matches played.

In midfield, Jorginho has continued to grow in stature and is undoubtedly one of the best central midfielders in the world at the moment. The young trio of Piotr Zielinski, Marco Rog, and Ahmadou Diawara have continued to mature and their performances are already more accomplished than last season’s.

While the continued absence of striker Arkadiusz Milik through injury has not been felt too keenly, coach Sarri will be a happier man when the Polish striker returns to action as his presence and abilities offer a different attacking option for the team.

The team’s staying powerful given the light-in-numbers nature of the team has been questioned and it seems that progression in this season’s UEFA Champions League will be sacrificed as many Neapolitans believe that the team is good enough to go the distance and secure the team’s first Scudetto title in 28 years.

#2 Juventus F.C

Juventus' stranglehold on the league title is under serious threat this season

It is not yet time to hit the panic button but even the most optimistic Juventini will have to admit that something seems off with the team this season.

A defence that has proven to be more brittle than ever, an inability to impose themselves on big games and a general listlessness in play, have pushed coach Massimiliano Allegri to earn his bread this season more than he has ever done.

The loss of defensive stalwart Leonardo Bonucci and right back Dani Alves has robbed the side of two very experienced campaigners and replacements Mehdi Benatia and Mattia De Sciglio have not exactly set Serie A on fire.

The attack has continued to deliver with Paulo Dybala on course to deliver his best ever goal haul in the league. The Argentine wizard already has 11 goals this season (and 2 missed penalties). Gonzalo Higuain has scored 7 goals as well.

New wingers Federico Bernadeschi & Douglas Costa are still trying to find their feet in the league and it can be argued that once the duo gets up to speed, La Vecchia Signora will have a new attacking variation to worry teams in Serie A and in the Champions League.

The new signings: De Sciglio, Bernadeschi, Costa, Blaise Matuidi, Wojciech Szczesny have all had varying degrees of success so far but it is still early days so much more is expected from these new players and the team in general.

#3 Internazionale

Luciano Spalletti's experience is rubbing off on this Inter side

Not really a surprise package when considering their illustrious history but given the happenings of the most recent past, the performances of I Nerazzurri so far have been very encouraging.

Coach Luciano Spalletti has been able to forge a coherent unit out of the scattered squad of players he inherited and with prudent spending, some promising players have been brought in.

Young Slovakian centre-back Martin Škriniar cost €23m from Sampdoria and has slotted in seamlessly alongside the more experienced Miranda providing the side with a very solid base on which to build on.

Midfield signings from Fiorentina; Borja Valero & Mattias Vecino have provided control in midfield while Spalletti has been able to make misfiring players like Joao Mario deliver quality performances.

The biggest beneficiary of Spalletti’s regime has been captain and star forward Mauro Icardi who has become an even better version of himself with his goals and leadership from the front helping propel the team forward.

A lack of European football should come in handy for the team when the long December-March period comes up as other members of the chasing pack; Juventus, Napoli, AC Milan, AS Roma are expected to still be involved in the thick of European competition.

#4 SS Lazio

Immobile has been very mobile this season and is crucial to Lazio's hopes of glory

Coach Simone Inzaghi has been doing wonders with I Biancocelesti (the White & Sky Blues) as Lazio are known and has the team punching way above its budgetary restrictions.

The younger of the Inzaghi brothers have been able to squeeze performances from a disparate bunch of footballers and has each player playing to the best of their abilities.

Looking even more resolute in defence despite the loss of Dutch defender Wesley Hoedt to Southampton, the addition of the experienced Brazilian Lucas Leiva in midfield has helped solidify the base of the team.

Dutch centre-back Stefan de Vrij has continued his fine partnership with Brazilian partner Marcelo. The pairing aided by the improved performances of Jordan Lukaku & Patric in the full-back positions have provided the platform for a surprisingly fluid attack.

More than the solidity at the back, the free-scoring nature of the team’s forward line has been a big factor behind the unfancied side from the capital doing so well.

Italian striker Ciro Immobile has been enjoying an Indian summer of sorts with everything he touches turning to gold. Spanish journeyman Luis Alberto has also been reborn this season and alongside Immobile, his performances have earned him a call-up to the national team.

The team has scored 31 goals and conceded just 12 goals in its 12 league matches and are still going strong both in Serie A & in the Europa League.

As long as the team can keep this momentum up and with the return from injury expected for star men like Felipe Anderson, this team seem capable of achieving the feats of the great Lazio sides of the early 90s.

#5 AS Roma

The Romans have regenerated and it remains to be seen if the team can mount a sustained title challenge

When Luciano Spalletti left and switched to Internazionale and given the gale of player sales that took place in the summer transfer window, AS Roma’s title chances were dismissed outright by certain pundits.

These pundits failed, however, to take into account, the genius of acclaimed sporting director Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo or “Monchi” as he is popularly called.

Following the big money sales of Mo Salah (to Liverpool for €42m), Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea for €35m) and Leonardo Paredes (€23m to Zenit St Petersburg), Monchi oversaw a recruitment drive that earned for the club €118.25m in transfer and loan fees and expended €92.95m on a slew of players.

Eusebio di Francesco was brought in from Sassuolo to manage the team and while they had a slow start to the Serie A season, he has been able to get the players to buy into his methods.

Star striker Edin Dzeko has continued from where he left off last season banging in the goals and leading the line with aplomb.

Stephen El Sharawwy has responded brilliantly to di Francesco’s coaxing and is delivering performances that have not been seen from him in a while.

The retaining of the services of Greek centre-back Kostas Manolas has helped solidify the backline and alongside summer signings Hector Moreno and Federico Fazio, the team has solid foundations that can help them mount a sustained challenge for the Serie A title.

Summer signings Rick Karsdrop and Patrick Schick have only featured once each due to long-term injuries and given the squad depth, I Giallorossi should be able to compete favourably for the Serie A title.