Serie A - Round 2 Round Up

Article by e-Football's Serie A Correspondent Daniel Pisani

 

In my last article I set aside the Juventus vs Lazio game as the stand out and it lived up to it's expectations with the black and white continuing to demolish the Lazio defence with another 4 goal performance. Klose managed to get Lazio's only goal but that meant nothing in a night where Vidal and Tevez owned the pitch. This was the 8th goal Juve has scored against Lazio in 2 weeks! I think Petkovic needs to go back to the drawing board as the sky blues seemed very very flat.

 

Around the grounds:

 

I tell you what, Roma, Inter, Napoli and Fiorentina are looking very impressive. Roma put 3 passed Hellas Verona at the Olimpico, Inter travelled to a Catania who are renown for their fortress ground and also won 3-0. Fiorentina showed off their new attack as Gomes and Rossi both bagged a double in their 5-2 win at Genoa and Napoli opened up Round 2 fixtures after beating Chievo away 4-2.

 

This season seems poised to be a battle of 3 or 4 quality squads to challenge for this years Scudetto title. Juventus are favourite's yes but Napoli spent well and it's showing. Fiorentina who I tipped to finish 2nd will also be there come end of season if the squad keeps healthy and Montella doesn't suffer to many set backs. Inter and Roma may be around the 3rd or 4th mark but of course it is still very early to see. Inter will face Juventus after the International break which will be a mouth watering clash and a great test for Inter.

 

One game surprised me this week as Livorno travelled to Sassuolo and demolished them 4-1. The reason I'm surprised is due to the excellent pre season Sassuolo had and the way they won the Serie B title last year I really thought they would come out with all guns blazing but we have seen a very immature squad with plenty of holes and mistakes.

 

In other matches:

• Atalanta beat Torino at home 2-0 to sit in 9th spot
• Bologna opened their home account with a 2-2 draw with Sampdoria
• AC Milan welcomed Matri and their first 3 points of the campaign with a well drilled 3-1 win at home against Cagliari.

The International break has come at the right time for sides such as Sassuolo, Genoa and Catania who have yet to post a point on the board and can re group, get back to the drawing board and fix themselves.

Player of the Round = MAREK HAMSIK:

The Slovakian 26 year old is sitting on top of the goal scorers charts with 4 goals as he bagged a double last week against Bologna and this week managed to go at it again and put another double on Chievo. The stand in captain has been a great leader for this squad and where originally the goals depended on Cavani, with his departure Hamsik has put on his goal scoring boots and filled in very well. Napoli face Atalanta next and a chance of another double is very high.

ITALY WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION:

Italy face 2 games to decide whether they are on the plane to Brazil for next years World Cup. They play Bulgaria then Czech Republic during next week.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has thrown a few surprises by picking 6 strikers and also giving Thiago Motta a chance to re claim his spot.

 

Manolo Gabbiadini gets a well deserved call up to the squad which includes Balotelli, El Shaarawy, Gilardino, Insigne and Osvaldo in the attack.

 

The defence is very much Juventus orientated with Buffon in goals and Chiellini, Barzagli and Bonnuci ahead of him.

 

Should be a great and interesting week in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

 

Until next time guys!!

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Daniel Joseph Pisani #23