It’s time to take our weekly look around the Italian league.
Napoli 4-0 Livorno
Yesterday, we saw Roma blast Inter to continue their unprecedented start to the season. Today, it was Napoli’s turn to keep pace.
Four different players scored goals as Rafa Benitez’s squad continues to fly through Serie A. Jose Callejon, Goran Pandev, Gokhan Inler, and Marek Hamsik all got on the scoresheet, and the Azzurri bounced back from their midweek Champions League failure against Arsenal.
Even with Gonzalo Higuian and Raul Albiol injured, they roll on and head into the international break unsure whether their blockbuster matchup with Roma on October 19 will even take place. It could be postponed or moved to Naples due to a major demonstration due to take place in Rome that day.
Bologna 1-4 Hellas Verona
Verona continue to shock the Italian soccer world as the newly-promoted club claimed their first away win of the season by demolishing Bologna wire to wire.
The win sends Verona to fifth in the table with 13 points from seven matches, including four wins. Four different players scored for the visitors meaning now four players on the squad have at least three goals on the season. The result sends winless Bologna down to 19th.
Parma 3-1 Sassuolo
Parma lost a man early on a questionable penalty decision that saw goalkeeper Antonio Mirante sent off, but they rebounded with fantastic play from Antonio Cassano to win 3-1.
Mirante’s red-card challenge just before halftime saw Sassuolo level the score at the break, but Cassano’s goal and two assists were too much for the newly promoted side.
Udinese 2-0 Cagliari
The home side preserved their fortress, as Francesco Guidolin’s squad kept their undefeated home streak alive and moved to the top half of the table. Antonio Di Natale and Danilo were the two on the scoresheet.
Udinese hasn’t lost at home since September 2012. Despite this, they only progress to eighth in the table thanks to having lost every game on the road so far.
Cagliari now remain in 14th place as they have not won in six games, and have not grabbed three points on the road since February.
Sampdoria 2-2 Torino
Torino will be leaving Genoa with their heads hung low as they saw a lead evaporate at the last moment to share points with winless Sampdoria.
Eder Citadin won a penalty just seconds before the final whistle and took the responsibility himself cooly. It’s been a rough few weeks for Torino, with this result on the heels of their tough 1-0 loss to Juventus in the Turin derby.
Catania 1-1 Genoa
Catania ruined their own fortunes as an own goal at the end handed Genoa a point and erased two of Catania’s own. Nicola Legrottaglie headed the ball into his own net just three minutes before full time.
It’s a surprising start to Gian Piero Gasperini’s coaching stint at Genoa, after he replaced Fabio Liverani who was sacked after a loss to Napoli last week. Both sides now sit on just five points, just above the drop zone.
Still to come:
Later today, Juventus takes on Milan in a massive tie, and Lazio hosts Fiorentina.