After an unprecedented 20-day abstinence for the national teams, club football returns thunderously, with a glut of 6 matches in a month, which become 9 with the cups. We begin with the spotlight on the eagerly awaited match between Como and Roma, which now has the flavor of a big match. The risk of a turnaround in the standings is just around the corner, given that the group is almost compact: there are eight teams in three points led by an unusual trio made up of the surprising Lazio and the aggressive Inter and Roma, who kept their run in balance with a crackling draw at the Olimpico.
The restart seems tailor-made to capture the fifth success of Inter and Lazio, who have uncomplicated home commitments with Parma and Monza, who however come off a reassuring success before the break. Against the team with which he cut his teeth as a coach, Chivu embraces Calhanoglu again, loses Jones and leaves both Pio Esposito and Lautaro on the bench: it's up to Bonny to team up with Thuram against a Parma team that has relied on Gilardino and tries to sting with the Romero-Lontani pairing.
Gattuso preaches caution but Lazio is starting to think big with the progress of Frattesi, Tavares and Noslin. However, Juric's Monza seems to be making progress and has an interesting attack with Colpani and Cutrone lending a hand to vice-top scorer Varela. The obstacle that Roma is called upon to face, engaged in the super away match in Como, is of varying depth. Gasperini's suffocating pressing against Fabregas' harmonious and bubbly play: the conditions are there for a superlative show after last year's excellent matches.
Gasperini brings back Malen and Dybala, to whom the baby Mora could be added (but a portion will also fall to the returning Pellegrini), while in Cristante's place there will be the very faithful De Roon. Fabregas chooses Douvikas alongside the jugglers Baturina, Nico Paz and Diao. From Monday, Gasperini will think about the super challenge with Real Madrid and Mourinho's long-awaited return to the Olimpico.
The other two surprises in the first segment of Serie A, Frosinone and Cagliari, will test their actual consistency with two big names following them in the standings, Napoli and Juventus. Allegri continues to lose pieces (Vergara, Favasuli and Oliveira also out) but benefits from the newfound form of De Bruyne and Hojlund. However, if they stick with Alvini's beautiful Frosinone, which features Kvernadze but has to give up Raimondo, they risk stabilizing in the mid-table. Even more treacherous is Juve's task away from Pisacane's solid Cagliari, led by Romano, Maldini and Mendy, who has the best defense in Serie A.
Spalletti, without half of his team, is hoping for the revival of Kolo Muani, however well supported by Conceicao and Nico Gonzalez, who from being purged is turning into a pillar of the team. Milan tries to contain their bête noire Berardi against Sassuolo away.
The captain has 'chastised' the Rossoneri 12 times in his career and Aquilani presents a reliable team with the proven Matic-Adzic duo, behind the offensive trident completed by Lauriente' and Esposito. Amorim hopes to find a more continuous Milan than usual: they will have to give up Saelemaekers but will have a reliable attack made up of Pulisic, Moreira and Goncalo Ramos, irresistible in the national team.
Atalanta is still looking for an identity, with a qualified squad but not yet well assembled by Sarri, who relies on Scamacca, De Ketelaere and Rowe against Venezia, last with zero points despite a good level transfer market, financed by the sale of Doumbia, who made a good debut in the national team.
In the match between Torino and Udinese, tied on 4 points, the possibility of moving away from the safety zone is up for grabs: Adams and Zaniolo will be missing, with Davis in doubt. Delicate match for Bologna without victories who, having sacked Tedesco, were entrusted to Palladino. The summer transfers are proving to be more serious than expected and now Bologna urgently needs points at home to Lecce who Di Francesco is leading with mixed success, but still in a reassuring mid-table position. Daniele De Rossi, on the other hand, risks being put on the bench because his Genoa are second to last, have not yet won and receive a Fiorentina transformed by the arrival of Vanoli. If he doesn't score points, the coach risks being sacked before the return to the Olimpico next week against Roma.
