Serie A – 10 Things We Learned – Matchday 1

Serie A – 10 Things We Learned – Matchday 1 [VIDEO]

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The opening weekend of the 2015-16 Serie A season proved just how unpredictable the Italian top flight can be. It was a round of very few outstanding performances, however, there we plenty of upsets to keep onlookers intrigued for the campaign ahead.

Most notably it was the teams who finished first and second on the ladder during 2014-15  that seemed to struggle the most, being Juventus and Roma respectively.

In the meantime, the red side of Milan continued their bad form which seems to be a regular occurrence in recent years, while their crosstown rivals capitalised on their busy offseason transfer market.

Alessandro Florenzi becomes a utility

Most Roma fans would have awoken to watch the Giallorossi play Sunday morning, viewed the team sheet with Alessandro Florenzi at right-back and could have been forgiven for thinking that they were still dreaming.

Yet thhis turned out to be an inspired formation change from Rudi Garcia, who’s defensive stocks are on the lean side at the moment. Florenzi’s forward movement was one of very few positives to come out of Roma’s display.

He did what many teammates could not during the match, that being able to take a shot that would trouble the ex-Napoli goalkeeper Rafael, eventually scoring a stunning equaliser from outside the area.

Stefan Jovetic puts his stamp on his Serie A return

The Nerazzuri have thrown a large amount of funds around in the offseason transfer market to prepare themselves for a return to glory in the Serie A, including a return to the competition for the ex-Fiorentina and Manchester City centre-forward Stefan Jovetic.

He was called upon early from the bench in the match against Atalanta at the San Siro, when Mauro Icardi had to be substituted 15 minutes after kick-off due to a muscle injury sustained in training.

Jovetic was frustrated by Atalanta’s resolute defence until the closing minutes of added time where he may not have been able to believe his luck, walking into the edge of the area unmarked and unleashing a curling shot past Marco Sportiello to secure all three points for Inter.

The Bianconeri from Udine take the spoils

Udinese took a 1-0 win back home from Juventus Stadium, a feat only Inter Milan and Sampdoria have been able to achieve since the venue hosted it’s first match in 2012.

Juventus were plagued by key injuries, most notably Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Alvaro Morata. Even though it was an average performance from the Turin side, they will die wondering the amount of chances that were not put past Orestis Karnezis.

Cyril Théréau made the most of Stephan Lichsteiner’s defensive lapse and scored with Udinese’s only shot on goal for the match to record a shock opening round victory.

Cyril Thereau celebrates his monumental goal against Juventus
Cyril Thereau celebrates his monumental goal against Juventus

Same old story for Milan

A.C. Milan began their match against Fiorentina with new signings Luiz Adriano, Carlos Bacca and Alessio Romagnoli all in the starting XI. The fans had a positive outlook on the new season with these additions, however,  this glimmer of hope would not last more than the first 90 minutes.

An extremely disappointing performance with very few chances created, a seemingly non existent midfield and the first red card of the season in the 36th minute to Rodrigo Ely had the visitors on the back-foot. Marcos Alonso made Milan pay with an unbelievable finish from the corresponding free-kick for the opening goal of a 2-0 defeat.

https://youtu.be/mopPmM6PMUc

Rather long highlight reels

Despite most of the fixtures lacking high intensity play or what you would call ‘beautiful football’, there were plenty of spectacular goals on offer.

Florenzi, Jovetic, Fernando, Ryder Matos and Alonso all scored from outside the penalty box, meanwhile Floro Flores was on the end of a fantastic through ball, lobbed over the Napoli defense by the Domenico Berardi.

Eder looking for a permanent spot in Gli Azzuri

The Blucerchiati striker was involved in everything during the first-half of the match against newly promoted Carpi, two goals along with an assist setting up a big 5-2 win for Sampdoria.

Antonio Conte awarded Eder’s form during the 2104-15 season by selecting him for a rather controversial debut cap for Italy, some experts say the Italian National Team is no place for players who are naturalised in the country.

An equaliser during Euro 2016 qualifying against Bulgaria was an instant highlight  and if he is to continue the form displayed in the first game of the new season, Conte will have no choice but to include the Brazilian born attacker in the squad for the next round in September.

Evergreen Quagliarella

Fabio Quagliarella has never had any problems finding the net during his career and this trend looks set to continue for the new season after a goal and numerous near misses in Torino’s match against Frosinone.

Recent moves from Napoli and most recently Juventus, where a lack of game opportunities may have tarnished the careers of most others, have certainly not done so for the 32-year-old. He will be looking to build upom his successful partnership with Maxi Lopez in hopes of a national team opportunity.

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Will Sarri take Napoli to long awaited glory?

After a six-year wait, Maurizio Sarri guided Empoli back to the Serie A after spending most of his career in the lower leagues of Italian football.

Known for setting up his teams in a defensive formation and relying on a counter attacking movements, he was able to achieve this feat with the success of Mario Rui, Daniele Croce and Riccardo Saponara.

Although his new appointment has not begun on the highest note after a 2-1 defeat to Sassuolo, players such as Gonzalo Higuain, Lorenzo Insigne and Mirko Valdifiori who followed from Empoli will mean Sarri is able to expand on his preferred system to incorporate quality attacking play using high quality talent.

Carpi may be outclassed

Matchday one may turn out to the template for Carpi’s season. Although they have managed to acquire some loan players, namely from Udinese, Fiorentina and Juventus, the uncompromising quality of other Serie A teams may prove too much to handle.

Hopefully we are able to see some of the attacking play that clinched the 2014-15 Serie B title, as it would be almost criminal to deny the deserving fans otherwise.

Will a new capocannoniere be crowned?

Of the top 20 goal scorers during 2014-15, Quagliarella and Théréau were the only two players to hit the target during matchday one.

Although 2015-16 has just begun, will we be seeing an unexpected Capocanniere? Or will the joint winners from last season have to battle with new arrival Jovetic for top honours?

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