Serie A resumes on Saturday after four Nations League matches, with around 100 foreign internationals returning to Italy. For coaches, the break has offered both encouragement and concern: goals, assists and leadership for some, but injuries, suspensions and difficult international nights for others.
The decision
At Genoa, Daniele De Rossi will have seen solid work from Leo Ostigard, who played three times for Norway and recovered 11 balls, while Ibrahim Sulemana Sow started against North Macedonia before a muscle problem forced him off. Albania’s Mario Mitaj was dependable on the left, Nikola Krstovic’s Montenegro partner Milutin Osmajic scored, and Mikael Ellertsson found the net in Iceland’s 3-0 win over Bulgaria.
Paolo Vanoli has less certainty around Fiorentina’s returning group. Marin Pongracic managed only one half against Spain before Croatia’s situation worsened, while Radu Dragusin endured a damaging Romania camp: after defeat in Sweden, he was left out against Bosnia, prompting debate at home, then returned for the 0-6 loss to Poland and was sent off after 22 minutes, conceding the penalty that brought Poland’s opener.
Inter coach Cristian Chivu can welcome back Manuel Akanji in particularly strong condition. Switzerland’s captain played every minute of a perfect opening Nations League sequence in which his side conceded only once. Piotr Zielinski operated as Poland’s No. 10 and scored, while Yann Bisseck was among Germany’s better performers on his debut despite defeat to Greece. Andy Diouf was used at left-back in two matches under Zinedine Zidane, a possible detail for Chivu to consider, and Aleksandar Stankovic started twice in two defeats. Josep Martinez remained on Spain’s bench throughout.
Parma’s international contingent had fewer minutes. Moise Kean played only three minutes, Vincent Sierro started the final match but lasted one half, and Albian Hajdari Britschgi benefited from Switzerland’s positive run.
Napoli return with several players in form. Kevin De Bruyne produced two goals and an assist, Rasmus Hojlund scored against Norway and Portugal before adding a penalty in Wales, and Stanislav Lobotka again controlled Slovakia’s play without being substituted. Billy Gilmour supplied an assist for Scotland, Noa Lang helped the Netherlands turn their match against Greece after coming on, while Vanja Milinkovic-Savic conceded six times in three games, with only the Douvikas goal raising questions over his handling.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side face a Frosinone team whose internationals also produced some useful signs. Romano Schmid ended Austria’s campaign with a goal and an assist, while Nikola Terzic registered an assist across 182 minutes. Daniel Birligea scored in Romania’s defeat to Bosnia, but Giorgi Kvernadze struggled for influence, Robert Bobcek had only 25 minutes for Slovakia and Luis Hasa made just a brief appearance.
Monday’s Atalanta-Venezia meeting brings further evidence of uneven international fortunes. Maurizio Sarri’s Atalanta players include Sead Kolasinac, ever-present for Bosnia and credited with 23 recoveries in 351 minutes, and Nikola Krstovic, Montenegro’s outstanding performer with two goals and an assist. Nicola Zalewski returned with three assists, while Charles De Ketelaere impressed as Belgium’s centre-forward against Italy before Romelu Lukaku’s return.
Mario Pasalic and Lazar Samardzic had limited impact, Eljif Elmas finished a pointless cycle with North Macedonia, and De Ketelaere’s other matches were less convincing. Venezia coach Giovanni Stroppa, meanwhile, saw Toma Basic score the winning Bosnia penalty against Poland and provide an assist. Filip Stankovic sat on Serbia’s bench four times, Adrian Rrahmani played only 69 minutes against Israel, and Helgi Helgason did not feature.
Torino coach Ignazio Abate will be monitoring an injured Scotland group after Liam Pattersson played less than an hour. Ardian Ismajli remained essential for Albania under coach Alberto Maran, Gvidas Gineitis started all three Lithuania matches and made an assist, while Ricardo Rodriguez scored a fine free-kick for Switzerland in Scotland. Nikola Vlasic had little influence during Croatia’s troubled spell, and Koffi Comert did not play.
Udinese’s Kosta Runjaic can take steadier returns from Jesper Karlstrom, a key figure for Sweden, and Festy Ebosele Abankwah, who missed only one of four matches and performed reliably. Mergim Vojvoda played every minute for Kosovo, Sandi Lovric scored an impressive goal against North Macedonia, and Lewis Miller did not get on for Scotland. Giorgi Chakvetadze wore Georgia’s No. 10 shirt but could not lift a team that ended bottom with two points.
Sunday’s picture
Sunday begins with Roma’s visit to Como. Cesc Fabregas will have received mixed reports: Ivan Smolcic played only against Spain in Seville and had Alex Baena on his side, Martin Baturina managed 64 minutes and was substituted at half-time in Croatia’s heavy defeat to England, while Jean Butez stayed on the bench throughout. Maxence Caqueret Da Cunha’s lost ball led to Alessandro Bastoni’s goal, although Trevoh Chalobah was secure in England’s 2-0 win over the Czech Republic.
Anastasios Douvikas gave Greece victory over Serbia with a header but was otherwise used sparingly. Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini can point to strong displays from Manu Koné against Belgium, particularly in the first meeting, while Dimitrios Koulierakis played once and did well in his start.
Lazio host Monza with Gennaro Gattuso facing a significant injury issue: Albert Gudmundsson played only 30 minutes against Estonia before suffering a shoulder injury, returning to Formello for what is expected to be a lengthy absence. Gustav Isaksen scored against Wales and then struck the post and won a penalty in Cardiff. Oliver Provstgaard started every Denmark game and was never replaced.
Josip Sutalo was involved in three of Spain’s four goals in the first match against Croatia and played only the final 15 minutes of the subsequent 0-7 defeat to England. Christos Mandas remained unused, Taylor played 23 minutes, and Nuno Tavares received only 14 minutes behind Nuno Mendes. Monza’s goalkeeper Viktor Tornqvist was also an unused substitute in all four Sweden matches, while Saba Goglichidze recovered 14 balls in 265 minutes.
Lecce have little physical burden on their squad, with Omri Gandelman limited to half an hour. Bologna are less fortunate. Emil Holm suffered a serious injury and returned early, while Torbjorn Heggem was sent off in Wales as Norway lost. Lewis Ferguson played throughout Scotland’s fixtures without finding the same level from the team, Martin Vitik was exposed in the 0-3 loss to England, and Arthur Theate did not play for Belgium. Vitik was out of position for England’s second goal, though Harry Kane’s finish came at the end of the move.
Sassuolo welcome Milan with Alberto Aquilani able to draw confidence from Luka Adzic’s decisive double in Montenegro’s 2-1 win over Latvia. David Bowie scored and attempted 12 shots in 135 minutes, while Josh Doig played only 15 minutes for Scotland. Arijanet Muric conceded three against Austria before leaving injured midway through the second half, and Kristian Thorstvedt had only a minute of action.
For Milan coach Ruben Amorim, Mike Maignan made outstanding saves from Moise Kean and Turkey’s Bardacki, while Adrien Rabiot again brought balance and reliability. Gonçalo Ramos assumed Portugal’s attacking responsibility with three goals and an assist, and Luka Modric scored against the Czech Republic after receiving a lengthy standing ovation in Seville, though Croatia’s 0-7 defeat to England also formed part of his break.
Strahinja Pavlovic played 275 minutes for Serbia but did not reach his Milan level, Samuel Chukwueze Moreira was better against Italy than in the two games with France, and Ardon Jashari held Switzerland’s midfield well alongside Remo Freuler. Koni De Winter did not feature.
Cagliari-Juventus closes Sunday. Cagliari goalkeeper Alen Sherri entered after Etrit Berisha’s dismissal against Finland, conceded twice from free-kicks and returned to Sardinia injured. Adam Obert started all three Slovakia wins. Juventus have more varied reports: young Amar Alajbegovic supplied a goal and an assist, Teun Koopmeiners scored a free-kick against Serbia, and Edon Zhegrova scored a penalty in Austria before assisting Asllani in the return meeting.
Kenan Yildiz’s Turkey took no points and conceded 11 goals, Francisco Conceiçao was dismissed for Portugal, and Nick Woltemade missed a major chance in his only start against Serbia. Pierre Kalulu started twice on the right with few mistakes, while Vlahovic’s international contribution was more restrained. The championship returns, then, with each bench carrying the residue of the international week: some players sharpened by responsibility, others arriving with repairs still to make.
