THINGS WE LEARNED from Serie A this weekend as Rafael Leao dazzles at AC Milan, Paul Pogba falls sufferer to ANOTHER damage setback and Jose Mourinho’s Roma nightmare continues

One other dramatic weekend of Serie A motion has thrown up but extra speaking factors.

Fierce rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan prolonged their good begins to the season with each golf equipment boasting three wins from three and topping the desk at this early stage.

Jose Mourinho‘s Roma, nevertheless, discover themselves within the relegation zone and with out their first victory this marketing campaign. Once more, they lacked high quality in a number of essential areas.

Mail Sport‘s ALVISE CAGNAZZO talks us by means of 10 issues we discovered.

1 – WONDERFUL LEAO

After Sandro Tonali’s departure, Rafael Leao has turn out to be the chief of the AC Milan dressing room. 

In opposition to Roma he scored his first purpose with the quantity 10 on his again, a rare bicycle kick that silenced the Stadio Olimpico and sparked wild applause from Stefano Pioli and the Rossoneri’s supporters.

On the finish of the match, with childlike comfortable eyes, he revealed his pleasure to DAZN, saying: ‘I have been searching for such a good looking purpose for 3 years.’

Within the first half he beat Zeki Celik and Gianluca Mancini together with his dribbling at the least thrice and within the second half he gave the impression to be enjoying towards a workforce of kids.

He runs, dribbles, smiles and scores, and is proving to be the best participant for Pioli.

Final 12 months, Leao scored 16 objectives this season. He netted 14 the 12 months earlier than that and three years prior, he might muster up simply seven. Clearly, his progress is constant. This season, he might turn out to be Milan’s high scorer.

Leao appears to bop throughout the pitch and his contagious smile is harking back to Ronaldinho. Luka Jovic’s arrival strengthens the assault however Leao’s affirmation as an icon of the membership’s future will reassure followers greater than some other signing.

2 – THURAM FILLING ROM’S VOID

Marcus Thuram’s first purpose at Inter Milan was worthy of a real centre ahead.

The acrobatic effort rewarded the motion of the attacker, who occupies the penalty space like Romelu Lukaku and snatches balls earlier than his opponents.

His begin to the season has been constructive, thanks partially to the unconditional belief of Simone Inzaghi. The Italian coach has chosen to guess on him, handing him three video games from three as a starter and leaving Marko Arnautovic on the bench.

Inzaghi prefers to make use of a 3-5-2 and Thuram is ready to slot into the position of a typical No 9 higher than Arnautovic. 

Thuram repeatedly plunged Luca Ranieri and Nikola Milenkovic into bother by attacking them from behind.

Along with Lautaro Martinez, he can rating between 10 and 15 objectives in Serie A. It will likely be necessary for him, nevertheless, to turn out to be a key point of interest in central areas and cut back the chance of losing pointless power in wider positions.

3 – POGBA’S INJURY WOES

The 2 most awaited gamers after final 12 months’s severe damage woes have lastly returned to Juventus. 

Paul Pogba and Federico Chiesa took the ‘Previous Woman’ by the hand, regaining their shared standing as high gamers regardless of that title slipping away over previous seasons.

For Massimiliano Allegri, Pogba resembles a holy card carried in wallets within the hope of sparking miracles. He has a constructive psychological impact on Juventus and his teammates, having turned on the sunshine in midfield on the weekend.

The French midfielder changed Fabio Miretti and performed as an attacking midfielder, providing vertical passing and strokes of genius. However he was injured once more within the 79th minute, and this can create extra concern at a membership petrified of shedding him once more.

This isn’t unhealthy luck, as a substitute it’s a continual weak point that forestalls the World Cup winner from being thought of a high participant.

Chiesa scored his second purpose in three video games towards Empoli, changing into to all intents and functions the most effective striker in Allegri’s workforce alongside Dusan Vlahovic. He runs and fights and when he has to defend, he’s not afraid of bodily contact. 

Probably the most ‘British’ participant in Serie A has lastly returned to his roaring type and Juventus are prepared to take advantage of his qualities. 

Allegri’s administration was good and proper now, Chiesa is essentially the most consultant man within the workforce.

4 – ROMA LACKING IDEAS

One level, 4 objectives scored and 6 conceded. Roma desperately want a jolt of power in an effort to be reborn after their horrible begin to Serie A. 

Jose Mourinho’s nightmare continues to take form and regardless of his a number of signings in assault and midfield, the workforce is struggling.

Rui Patricio appears to be like like a circus bear that falls into the pool each time it’s struck by a small ball, whereas Chris Smalling remains to be too gradual. Roma are weak out extensive, too.

Is the 3-5-2 the most effective tactical scheme for this workforce? Wanting on the first three video games as an early taster, most likely not. Mourinho should change his strategy and he should do it rapidly to keep away from damaging Roma’s workforce spirit.

Leandro Paredes and Houssem Aouar transfer too slowly throughout the pitch, and this allowed AC Milan’s midfielders to envelop their opponents with a formidable press.

The sensation is that Mourinho requested for and obtained skilled and skilled gamers, all of whom arrived in Rome in nice bodily situation. 

Romelu Lukaku is but to settle in however with out a strong tactical construction he too will wrestle.

5 – WEST HAM REGRETS?

Gianluca Scamacca is already making a distinction. 

On the day of his first-minute debut, he celebrated his return to Italy with two tremendous objectives, dragging Gian Piero Gasperini’s workforce in direction of an thrilling victory towards an unsightly Monza. 

Scamacca is a fury and Duvan Zapata’s farewell appears to have additional motivated the previous West Ham striker, who appears to have already discovered Gasperini’s tactical classes by coronary heart. 

Subsequent to Charles De Ketelaere, his actions are unpredictable and this has allowed to find a brand new tandem in assault.

Scamacca dominated aerially contained in the field and overcame each impediment. He was additionally appreciated for his laborious work in behind Monza’s midfield.

He may also be very helpful for Luciano Spalletti’s nationwide workforce, and Gasperini’s tactical nuances will solely enhance his efficiency. 

Nevertheless, for the primary two video games of the brand new Azzurri period, Spalletti most popular to name up Wilfried Gnonto from Leeds, leaving Scamacca out.

6 – LESSONS FOR GARCIA

Rudi Garcia would not appear to have metabolized his return to Serie A but after his sad spell in Saudi Arabia. 

The French coach duties Napoli with holding a really excessive line of defense, a selection that dangers compromising the solidity of the workforce and welcoming counter-attacks.

To this point, Napoli have conceded 4 objectives in three video games, too many for a protection that only some months in the past appeared insurmountable. 

Kim Min-jae’s farewell created an inner earthquake and towards Lazio, Garcia opted for Juan Jesus, leaving Natan on the bench. 

These tactical decisions recommend that Garcia is, very slowly, nonetheless looking for the correct outlook to offer stability to his workforce.  The sensation is that he’s relying an excessive amount of on the shows from their title-winning season, with new patterns and routines ignored.

Placing Mario Rui on the bench means shedding a charismatic performer in such a fragile second. With out Kim and with Juan Jesus nonetheless rusty, Garcia must also keep in mind the psychological affect of his choices.

The worldwide break will assist Garcia to search out options however already, supporters are starting to grouse.

7 – IS MIRETTI GOOD ENOUGH?

Among the many many gamers promoted to the primary workforce by Massimiliano Allegri, the younger Favio Miretti has to this point been the one who has did not stay as much as expectation.

The long run is actually on his facet however, judging from his efficiency towards Empoli, he’s nonetheless too immature and inexperienced to take management of the Previous Woman’s midfield. 

A possible mortgage to Salernitana, which didn’t materialise within the ultimate hours of the market, would have benefitted him, however the membership determined to maintain him. 

In opposition to Empoli he was afforded the chance to grab up a spot on the expense of Nicolo Fagioli, however did not seize it.

He misplaced easy-to-manage balls and and attracted grimaces from team-mates fed up with being served late.

A bunch of different gamers seem extra prepared than him, although Mirelli alternated with Manuel Locatelli within the position of playmaker on the weekend.

There may be time to enhance, however Juventus want gamers in a position to hit the bottom operating. 

8 – KAMADA CONQUERING LAZIO

He was named in Mail Sport‘s greatest potential rookies in Serie A, and Daichi Kamada has not upset. His first Lazio purpose got here towards Napoli on the weekend.

Kamada wanted three video games to settle into the midfield however has confirmed to be an inexhaustible marathon runner underneath boss Maurizio Sarri. 

Along with his current effort, he additionally grew to become the primary Japanese participant to attain within the Italian top-flight after Keisuke Honda, who netted his final Serie A title in 2017.

Kamada scored 9 objectives at Eintracht Frankfurt within the Bundesliga final season and can look to surpass that tally this marketing campaign. 

The street could also be lengthy however he’s displaying a willingness to be taught Sarri’s tactical schemes and actions as rapidly as doable.

The street to definitive consecration as a high participant remains to be very lengthy however Kamada is displaying quite a lot of good will in attempting to be taught as rapidly as doable the tactical schemes and actions required by Sarri. 

9 – CAGLIARI IN LUVUMBO

The defeat towards Bologna doesn’t affect on the judgement of one in all Serie A’s latest younger abilities.

Italy typically occurs to fall in love with gamers with a specific allure, particularly those that are apparently unknown however stuffed with expertise and able to explode. 

In Cagliari, the town the place strikers comparable to Dely Valdes, Dario Silva, Fabian O’Neill and David Suazo have handed, in the present day they’re in love with Zito Luvumbo. 

His first purpose towards Bologna licensed the start of a expertise, who was additionally the protagonist of the Sardinian facet’s promotion from Serie B to Serie A.

In 2019, Luvumbo was included by the Guardian among the many 60 greatest rising abilities and since 2020, with a small parenthesis in Como, he has turn out to be one in all Cagliari’s most stunning gamers. 

The small Angolan participant is a quick and technical winger who relishes honing in on purpose. In opposition to Bologna, he was a thorn in facet of Thiago Motta’s defence, proving that he deserved his alternative on the Serie A stage at simply 21 years outdated.

10 – BERARDI, FROM EXILE TO GOALS

In an effort to play for Juventus, he had determined to not practice with the primary workforce, attempting to grab a cross from Sassuolo. 

Within the third match of Serie A, Domenico Berardi returned to being decisive, instantly scoring two objectives in his first look within the league.

Now, Juventus’ curiosity is already behind him and he’s totally centered on Sassuolo.

With out the objectives from the Calabrian winger, the workforce coached wouldn’t have received the match on the weekend and in the present day would have two factors much less in Serie A.

Berardi’s sport ended within the 78th minute and he was afforded applause from your entire stadium, a well-merited standing ovation.