The new Italian football season kicked-off spectacularly in August and September as Napoli made the perfect start in Serie A, Juventus plummeted to the bottom of the table and Jose Mourinho ran away with the headlines, all while Gianluigi Donnarumma was left out at Paris Saint-Germain and two managers lost their jobs.
Napoli march to the top
The Azzurri soared to the Serie A summit with six consecutive victories all while playing a brand of offensive, aesthetically pleasing football.
Even the most hopeful Napoli fans could not have envisaged such a positive opening to the season under Luciano Spalletti.
The Spalletti surge has its foundations in a rock-solid defence, led by the majestic Kalidou Koulibaly.
Every transfer window the Senegalese central defender is a constant feature in the gossip columns connected with moves to the English Premier League, but the 30-year-old has always affirmed his love of the city and club while staying silent about the incessant speculation.
Koulibaly even scored twice – the same number of goals Napoli have conceded in Serie A – with a scorching half-volley in the four-goal rout of Udinese and a crucial late winner at home to Juventus.
The arrival of unheralded Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa from Fulham failed to generate much excitement yet the strong running Cameroon midfielder has been a revelation, providing a rigid base as Fabian Ruiz and Piotr Zieliński dictate the tempo.
Up front Victor Osimhen has already plundered four goals and two of the highest calibre in the Europa League as Napoli came back to salvage a deserved draw at Leicester City.
The Nigerian forward’s continued good health and goalscoring exploits will be key factors if Spalletti’s side are to remain above the chasing pack with both Inter and Milan in strong pursuit of the league leaders.
Juventus struggle
As worst case scenarios go it was a ghastly nightmare.
Four games in, the mighty Old Lady of Italian football was in complete disarray, languishing in the relegation places yet to register a single victory.
Relinquishing a two-goal lead to pick up just a point at Udinese, stunned at home by dogged Empoli, beaten by Napoli and withstanding a second half fightback to draw with Milan it was an unexpectedly dreadful start to the new season.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri was forced to laugh it off even going so far as to joke that Juve’s game at minnows Spezia was a relegation clash.
At 2-1 down early in the second half at the Stadio Alberto Picco it was far from a laughing matter. Yet inspired by Federico Chiesa, the Bianconeri pulled through and completed a 3-2 comeback win with goals from the brilliant Italy international winger and Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt.
Juve finished September with a barely convincing 3-2 victory at home to Sampdoria which catapulted them into the lofty heights of 10th in the table.
It is doubtful Allegri is reconsidering his decision to return to the hot seat after the Turin giants’ catastrophic gamble with Andrea Pirlo at the helm last term.
However, there is no way he could have foreseen such a disastrous beginning to the league campaign.
Missing the influence and goals of Cristiano Ronaldo and with question marks hanging over Wojciech Szczesny in goal, a ponderous midfield and stuttering attack, there was at least a glimmer of hope as Juve defeated Chelsea in the Champions League with Chiesa on target again.
Leonardo Bonucci was at the heart of a defensive masterclass as Allegri gave goal scorer Chiesa a cheeky kick up the backside from the sidelines in what could be the start of the Bianconeri revival.
It does get any easier though as Juventus take on rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole on Saturday and then Roma, Inter and Sassuolo during the rest of October.
Mourinho embraces the passion of Roma
The special run, a full-time derby post-mortem on the pitch and pizza on the train – it’s never dull with Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese managerial showman has embraced the challenge of coaching in the eternal city with unbridled enthusiasm.
Never one for understatement, he embarked on a euphoric charge from the dugout to celebrate Stephan El Shaarawy’s terrific late winner as Roma overcame Sassuolo 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in his 1,000th game as a coach.
Mourinho talked about the ‘crazy, incredible passion’ of the Giallorossi tifosi and his sprint towards the Curva Sud to join in the celebrations backed up the emotional declarations.
Everything was running smoothly as the 58-year-old showed his love of Italian food when eating a pizza on the train following a four-goal demolition of Salernitana.
Yet the wheels came off spectacularly as Hellas Verona inflicted a first defeat of the season in a wildly entertaining five goal encounter at the Stadio Bentegodi.
The Derby della Capitale was another thrilling spectacle of attacking football as Lazio prevailed 3-2 and Mourinho held a bizarre on the field team talk after the final whistle.
There is surely more drama to come as Roma take on Juventus, Napoli, and Milan in what could be a season defining October for Mourinho’s side.
Gianluigi Donnarumma’s woes at PSG
From European Champion to bench warmer.
Italy’s number one could hardly have imagined he would spend more time as a spectator than on the field following his controversial, high-profile move to Paris Saint-Germain.
The 22-year-old is rightly considered to be among the best in the world in his position but try telling that to PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The former Milan shot-stopper started just two of the French capital club’s opening 10 Ligue 1 fixtures as second choice to veteran Costa Rican Keylor Navas.
Whether a victim of behind the scenes manoeuvres – Navas has allies in high places, not least Argentinian legend Lionel Messi – or an early breakdown in his relationship with Pochettino, the Italian international could not have been satisfied with his current role.
Already heavily linked with a return to Italy and Juventus in January, Donnarumma was finally handed a starting berth and kept a clean sheet in the crucial Champions League victory over Manchester City. Perhaps it’s a sign of better things to come in the French capital for the Euro 2020 winner.
Managerial changes
Eusebio Di Francesco had the ignominious honour of ‘winning’ the sack race.
Three defeats to open the new season was too much for Hellas Verona who quickly dismissed the 52-year-old on September 14.
The beleaguered coach is stuck in a dismal rut after similarly unsuccessful tenures at Cagliari and Sampdoria. Croatian Igor Tudor was drafted in as his replacement and immediately oversaw a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
Cagliari also opted for a managerial change just three games in as Leonardo Semplici was fired following a 3-2 home collapse against Genoa.
The vastly experienced Walter Mazzari was quickly appointed at the Sardinian club but has failed to steady the ship as Cagliari remain anchored at the wrong end of the standings.
The coaching status quo never lasts long in Serie A and more departures are all but guaranteed throughout the 2021-2022 term.
A version of this article appeared on the Football Italia website on Friday, October 1, 2021.
Stephen Kasiewicz 