Serie A returns after the international break with the sixth round carrying more weight than an ordinary October weekend. Three leaders — Roma, Inter and Lazio — have set the early pace, while Milan, Juventus and Napoli are still trying to establish what sort of seasons they are building. The fixtures offer a chance to measure both groups, beginning with Como’s lunchtime meeting with Roma on Sunday.
Key takeaways
- Gonçalo Ramos scored three times for Portugal during the break, having managed one goal in Milan’s opening league spell.
- Inter can take advantage of the Como-Roma result if Cristian Chivu’s side overcome Parma on Saturday.
- Parma arrive with Alberto Gilardino in charge after Carlos Cuesta’s departure and with Argentine striker David Romero ready for a major test at San Siro.
- Lazio host Monza as Rino Gattuso prepares his leaders for the counter-attacking threat associated with Ivan Juric’s team.
- Frosinone, Sassuolo and Cagliari have already produced results strong enough to make Napoli, Milan and Juventus wary.
A weekend shaped by the leaders
The international sides are beginning to return their players to club football, and two Serie A figures come back with renewed confidence. Ramos was productive for Portugal, scoring three goals across the break — two more than he had recorded during the opening stretch at Milan. His connection with the national team has also looked more natural than the understanding he has so far developed at club level.
Kevin De Bruyne’s performances for Belgium offered Massimiliano Allegri another reminder of the conditions in which the midfielder can make the greatest impact. Whether Napoli can provide a comparable setting remains another matter. Allegri’s side are unlikely to resemble Mark van Bommel’s Belgium, even though van Bommel played under the Italian coach at Milan in 2011-12.
At the top, Como against Roma is the round’s clearest point of focus. Como are only three points behind first place, a narrow gap that has inevitably brought title discussion into the conversation around Cesc Fabregas’s team. If those ambitions exist internally, victory matters particularly strongly against a Roma side led by Gian Piero Gasperini. Both coaches are inclined to chase wins rather than settle for caution.
The contest promises two teams willing to impose themselves. Como have been noted for the speed of their passing combinations, while Roma bring aggression and direct running forward; both sides seek to move the ball vertically when the opening appears. The outcome will affect more than the two clubs involved.
Inter could gain ground on one leader, or on both if Como and Roma draw. First, however, Chivu’s side must handle Parma. On paper, the task appears favourable to Inter, but Parma’s changes give the game some uncertainty. Gilardino has taken over from Cuesta, while the club have recruited David Romero from Argentina. The quick striker, likened in profile to a smaller version of Lautaro Martinez, faces his first substantial examination at San Siro.
Lazio complete the trio at the summit and welcome Monza, a side with several promising young players. Gattuso will be conscious of the danger posed by Juric’s transitions, particularly if Lazio allow the match to become stretched.
The chasing clubs face awkward evidence
The three established powers beneath the leaders all face opponents who have already shown they can disrupt the expected order. Napoli play Frosinone, Milan travel to Sassuolo and Juventus visit Cagliari. When the calendar was drawn up, each fixture may have seemed more straightforward than it does now.
- Frosinone have collected 10 points and defeated Como.
- Sassuolo have seven points, including a win over Juventus.
- Cagliari have 12 points after victories away to Atalanta and Udinese.
Napoli remain the most unsettled of the three. Allegri’s football has yet to take firm hold. The coach has attempted to move away from the more conservative version of his approach, but Napoli have not retained the ruthless efficiency associated with his earlier work and have not yet found a convincing new attacking identity either.
Milan and Juventus, meanwhile, are looking for continuity after wins over Lecce and Atalanta respectively. Those results alone cannot define either side. Ruben Amorim’s Milan and Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus had shown signs of progress before the pause, but both teams remain works in progress and need clearer personalities on the pitch.
That is why the sixth round matters beyond its immediate points. Como and Roma can underline their credentials at the front; Inter and Lazio have opportunities to reinforce their position; and Napoli, Milan and Juventus must show where they truly belong in the early championship picture.
