Serie A’s fifth round opens on Friday 18 September, with Monza hosting Sassuolo at 20:45, and closes on Sunday night when Lecce travel to Milan. Between those fixtures, a few lower-priced midfield options have already given their clubs reasons to look at the next chapter with confidence.
Serie A Gameweek 5: Coulibaly, Winks and Cinquegrano offer value in midfield
Lecce will arrive at San Siro facing an exacting evening against Milan, but Lassana Coulibaly has given Eusebio Di Francesco a player capable of changing the rhythm of a match at both ends. His two goals against Monza came in an all-round display, underlining his role as a midfielder who works back early and still gets forward when Lecce attack.
Coulibaly had also created Gorter’s goal in the opening match against Venezia and carries a fantasy average of 8.1 into the Milan fixture. The trip to Milan is a difficult test for Lecce, yet his recent form has made him one of the more attractive low-cost midfield selections for the round.
Harry Winks has become a dependable presence for Fabio Pisacane in midfield. Against Atalanta, he completed all 56 of his passes, combining control in possession with nine recoveries. He has improved notably across his past two appearances and now has a fantasy average of 6.4.
Winks is not usually selected for goals or assists, but his ability to slow the game when needed and move play into wider areas has strengthened his standing. Udinese are next, and he will hope that his growing influence is eventually matched by attacking returns.
For Sassuolo, Cinquegrano’s first Serie A season has already shown evidence of personality. He dealt with a difficult start against Juventus, initially finding Alajbegovic troublesome before adjusting to the duel and producing a more composed performance.
His assist for Doig against Bologna offered a clearer glimpse of his quality going forward. Sassuolo begin the round at Monza, where Cinquegrano’s pace down the flank could again give the opposition a problem to manage.
SEO Title: Serie A Gameweek 5: Coulibaly, Winks and Cinquegrano in focus
Meta Description: Serie A’s fifth matchday begins with Monza vs Sassuolo and ends with Milan vs Lecce, with Coulibaly, Winks and Cinquegrano among the midfielders in focus.
