There is a remarkable balance after five matchdays in Serie A, with seven teams separated by just three points and even 13 teams within five points. With 15 points available, the standout observation is that no team has managed to achieve a perfect score; the best-performing team, the surprising Torino under Vanoli, has dropped four points. The Granata’s draws against Milan and a victory over Atalanta in the first two rounds provided an immediate boost to their standings and instilled confidence in the squad. However, there is some regret for not arriving at the fifth matchday with a perfect score, particularly due to the two points lost in stoppage time against Milan, where they were equalized from 2-0 to 2-2, and the two points dropped at home against Lecce in a match that ended in a 0-0 draw, which arguably represents the biggest missed opportunity.
It’s surprising that none of the top teams have managed to surpass the 11 points collected by Torino. Inter, the reigning Italian champions and favorites for the title, has only secured eight points, failing to win any away matches and losing in the derby to the revitalized Milan under Fonseca. The Rossoneri have seen their stock rise following their victory in the city derby, allowing them to tie with Inter on points, but they arrived at the derby in a results crisis with only one win in their first four matches.
Thiago Motta’s Juventus remains the only team yet to concede a goal in Serie A but has experienced three consecutive 0-0 draws and must quickly address their scoring issues to think big again. Antonio Conte’s Napoli suffered a heavy defeat in their opener against Verona but has since found their identity and results, aided by the late arrivals of Lukaku, who has added a different dynamic to the attack, and David Neres, who has already proven valuable with three assists and often decisive plays. With the draw against Juventus, Napoli has also shown defensive solidity and has climbed to second place in the standings with 10 points.
Atalanta is the only top team yet to play their fifth match of the season; the Monday night fixture scheduled for last night was postponed to today due to an unplayable pitch caused by heavy rain in Bergamo. A victory against Como would see Gasperini’s side join Juventus and the surprising Empoli on nine points in fourth place, though the two defeats in their first four matches, particularly a heavy loss at home to Inter, remain a cause for concern.
Roma has experienced a surreal week, with the dismissal of Daniele De Rossi, fan protests, the resignation of CEO Lina Souloukou, and a statement from the Friedkins to the fans arriving the day after their first victory of the season, which was secured with Juric at the helm. From a purely statistical perspective, the six points from five matches are quite low, especially considering the team has dropped nine points out of a possible 15.
