Another change at the top: Milan lose their lead after stumbling at home against Pisa. Juventus in free fall. And what a mess with the VAR protocol!
The Serie A weekend has just wrapped up, and already attention turns to the midweek fixtures starting tomorrow. That means there’s only today to digest and analyze Matchday 8.
Let’s start with the main takeaway: Serie A still doesn’t have a true frontrunner. As I pointed out in Saturday’s column, Inter had a golden opportunity at the Maradona — facing a Napoli side that looked in crisis — not only to reclaim first place but also to send a strong signal to the rest of the league, laying the groundwork for a possible breakaway.
Instead, the marquee matchup of Matchday 8 went to Napoli. Conte’s post-Champions League outburst clearly had its effect, as the team responded with energy and authority, reshuffling the balance of power at the top. Chivu’s Inter came away beaten and frustrated, as shown by Lautaro’s heated reaction toward the Napoli bench — and especially toward his former coach Conte — in the second half.
Adding to Inter’s frustration was referee Mariani, misled by assistant Bindoni when awarding the penalty that put Napoli ahead in the first half. VAR official Marini also failed to intervene — though he could (and should) have advised his almost-namesake Mariani to calmly review the incident on the monitor.
The penalty for Napoli shouldn’t have been given, but Napoli nonetheless deserved their victory, validating it with a commanding second half — the display of a great team. Still, the “VAR protocol” issue remains as confusing as ever: when can VAR step in, and when shouldn’t it?
In Sunday night’s late game, which confirmed the collapse of Tudor’s Juventus, the Bianconeri were denied a clear penalty. A blatant step on the foot by Gila on Conceição. The remarkable part — if you can call it that — is that immediately after the contact, the Lazio defender, realizing what he’d done, briefly put his hands on his head. It all happened quickly on the field, but the foul (and Gila’s reaction) were crystal clear on VAR review. Yet neither Abisso nor Sozza felt the need to intervene.
The credibility of Italian football in the VAR era depends on eliminating these “gray areas.” There needs to be a unified, consistent protocol that leaves no room for misinterpretation.
Back to the pitch: Roma, too, seemed to be in crisis under Gasperini, coming off two consecutive home defeats across league and cup. But in Reggio Emilia, against Sassuolo, the Giallorossi bounced back — and reclaimed the top spot. The difference-maker was Paulo Dybala, dazzling once again with his play. When he’s fit, he’s by far the best player in Serie A. There had been plenty of doubts about how well he’d fit into Gasperini’s system, but the field — the ultimate judge — is proving that even under the Gasp (who coached him early in his career at Palermo, a lifetime ago), the Argentine’s talent still “turns on the light,” as Mourinho used to say.
In the second half, Roma controlled the game and deserved their lead, though once again they lacked the killer instinct to seal the win earlier. The three points came anyway, thanks to a defense that remains by far the best in the league: just three goals conceded, a fourth 1-0 victory, and a fifth clean sheet in eight games.
L’articolo Serie A: Roma and Napoli Back on Top proviene da Soccer Made In Italy.
