'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan)
Milan Skriniar, a key player in Antonio Conte's Inter Milan, has been one of the best defenders in Serie A this year.
The 25-year-old centre-back, who played his part in the Nerazzurri conceding the fewest goals in Serie A last season, scored his first goal in the competition in four years.
A hard-tackling, ball-playing no-nonsense defender, Skriniar is one of the first-choice defensive personnel for Antonio Conte, who recently said about the player:
“Skriniar is part of the team, today D’Ambrosio played but we have a lot of games and so he is available, he is in the project. But Milan is part of the project and will play as he has always done."
#2 Francesco Acerbi (Lazio)
Francesco Acerbi has been one of the key players for Lazio since his arrival at the Roman club two summers ago. This is evident in the fact that the centre-back missed only three Serie A games in the last seasons combined.
The 32-year-old, who is renowned for his tackling prowess, particularly impressed in Lazio's unlikely surge to the Serie A title last season before losing steam.
This season too, Acerbi has continued to be an assured presence in the heart of the Lazio defence despite the club languishing in a lowly eighth place in the league table.
#1 Theo Hernandez (AC Milan)
Theo Hernandez, one of the most sought-after left-backs in the game at the moment, has made a blistering start to life with Serie A leaders AC Milan since arriving at the club last summer.
The 23-year-old Frenchman has already racked up an impressive ten goals and eight assists in 46 Serie A games during his relatively short stint in Italian football.
Unsurprisingly, Hernandez's goals and assists have played a big role in the Rossoneri managing to outshine the likes of Juventus and cross-town rivals Inter Milan and remain the only unbeaten team in Serie A this season.
